To the Rev. John B. King, the issue dividing America in 1861 was more than a regional or political dispute. It was a clear cut question of right and wrong:owning slaves was an abomination in the sight of God. So, when the Civil War broke out, King was fired with zeal for the Union cause. He would not listen to friends who urged him him to become a chaplain. "No," he said"I have been preaching for peace much of my life,and now I'm going to fight for it."
King enlisted in the 10th New Yor Volunteer Cavalry, together with his second son, and was mustered in as a private on December 16, 1861. King's first taste of combat came in August 1862, when the 10th was attached to Bayard's Cavalry Brigade, Army of Virginia, in time for the Second battle of Mannassas(Aug29-30). The New Yorkers served on the fringes of that fateful battle.
November 26, 1862 King received a commission as a 2nd Lt.In his new rank the minister turned soldier fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Va, dec 12-15, 1862. He struggled through the muck on Major General Ambrose Burnside's "Mud March". a disastrous attempt to get the Army of the Potomac across the Rappahannock River at rain drenched Banks Ford, Va, in April 1863.
King was in the saddle when the Calvary Corps had its day of glory. It was June 9. 1863, when the Union horsemen met their Confederate counterparts in the Battle of Brandy Station, Va.There, the Federal Cavalry proved for the first time it was an effective fighting force. In the clash of men and horses, the 10th N.Y. joined a charge to recapture Fleetwood Hill, a key position.
The Union Troopers won their target, but Lt. King never reached the top of the hill. His left arm shatterred in the firing, he was captured by Confederates and taken to Libby Prison in Richmond. After about 5 weeks of misery there, his arm was amputated at the shoulder. Ten days later, on July 31, 1863, he died. Asked on his deathbed if he had a last message for his family, King replied, "Yes, .Tell them I died like a Christian and a soldier."
A fellow prisoner, Colonel Frank Place, noted:"Lt. King died, as he had fought, with his face toward his foe, and, though a captive, he died in the triumphs of a Christian faith."∼Enlistment Age-41.
Enlisted: Nov 9,1861, Syracuse,NY.
Mustered in Dec 16,1861, New york. Quartermaster Sgt.
Mustered into Co "G" 10th NY Cavalry.
Died of disease while a POW at Libby Prison, Richmond,VA.
POW, Jun 9,1863, Brandy Station,VA.
Wounded, Jun 9,1863, Brandy Station,VA.
Promotions: Sgt, Jun 24,1862, 2nd Lt,Nov 26,1862.
King enlisted in the 10th New Yor Volunteer Cavalry, together with his second son, and was mustered in as a private on December 16, 1861. King's first taste of combat came in August 1862, when the 10th was attached to Bayard's Cavalry Brigade, Army of Virginia, in time for the Second battle of Mannassas(Aug29-30). The New Yorkers served on the fringes of that fateful battle.
November 26, 1862 King received a commission as a 2nd Lt.In his new rank the minister turned soldier fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Va, dec 12-15, 1862. He struggled through the muck on Major General Ambrose Burnside's "Mud March". a disastrous attempt to get the Army of the Potomac across the Rappahannock River at rain drenched Banks Ford, Va, in April 1863.
King was in the saddle when the Calvary Corps had its day of glory. It was June 9. 1863, when the Union horsemen met their Confederate counterparts in the Battle of Brandy Station, Va.There, the Federal Cavalry proved for the first time it was an effective fighting force. In the clash of men and horses, the 10th N.Y. joined a charge to recapture Fleetwood Hill, a key position.
The Union Troopers won their target, but Lt. King never reached the top of the hill. His left arm shatterred in the firing, he was captured by Confederates and taken to Libby Prison in Richmond. After about 5 weeks of misery there, his arm was amputated at the shoulder. Ten days later, on July 31, 1863, he died. Asked on his deathbed if he had a last message for his family, King replied, "Yes, .Tell them I died like a Christian and a soldier."
A fellow prisoner, Colonel Frank Place, noted:"Lt. King died, as he had fought, with his face toward his foe, and, though a captive, he died in the triumphs of a Christian faith."∼Enlistment Age-41.
Enlisted: Nov 9,1861, Syracuse,NY.
Mustered in Dec 16,1861, New york. Quartermaster Sgt.
Mustered into Co "G" 10th NY Cavalry.
Died of disease while a POW at Libby Prison, Richmond,VA.
POW, Jun 9,1863, Brandy Station,VA.
Wounded, Jun 9,1863, Brandy Station,VA.
Promotions: Sgt, Jun 24,1862, 2nd Lt,Nov 26,1862.
To the Rev. John B. King, the issue dividing America in 1861 was more than a regional or political dispute. It was a clear cut question of right and wrong:owning slaves was an abomination in the sight of God. So, when the Civil War broke out, King was fired with zeal for the Union cause. He would not listen to friends who urged him him to become a chaplain. "No," he said"I have been preaching for peace much of my life,and now I'm going to fight for it."
King enlisted in the 10th New Yor Volunteer Cavalry, together with his second son, and was mustered in as a private on December 16, 1861. King's first taste of combat came in August 1862, when the 10th was attached to Bayard's Cavalry Brigade, Army of Virginia, in time for the Second battle of Mannassas(Aug29-30). The New Yorkers served on the fringes of that fateful battle.
November 26, 1862 King received a commission as a 2nd Lt.In his new rank the minister turned soldier fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Va, dec 12-15, 1862. He struggled through the muck on Major General Ambrose Burnside's "Mud March". a disastrous attempt to get the Army of the Potomac across the Rappahannock River at rain drenched Banks Ford, Va, in April 1863.
King was in the saddle when the Calvary Corps had its day of glory. It was June 9. 1863, when the Union horsemen met their Confederate counterparts in the Battle of Brandy Station, Va.There, the Federal Cavalry proved for the first time it was an effective fighting force. In the clash of men and horses, the 10th N.Y. joined a charge to recapture Fleetwood Hill, a key position.
The Union Troopers won their target, but Lt. King never reached the top of the hill. His left arm shatterred in the firing, he was captured by Confederates and taken to Libby Prison in Richmond. After about 5 weeks of misery there, his arm was amputated at the shoulder. Ten days later, on July 31, 1863, he died. Asked on his deathbed if he had a last message for his family, King replied, "Yes, .Tell them I died like a Christian and a soldier."
A fellow prisoner, Colonel Frank Place, noted:"Lt. King died, as he had fought, with his face toward his foe, and, though a captive, he died in the triumphs of a Christian faith."∼Enlistment Age-41.
Enlisted: Nov 9,1861, Syracuse,NY.
Mustered in Dec 16,1861, New york. Quartermaster Sgt.
Mustered into Co "G" 10th NY Cavalry.
Died of disease while a POW at Libby Prison, Richmond,VA.
POW, Jun 9,1863, Brandy Station,VA.
Wounded, Jun 9,1863, Brandy Station,VA.
Promotions: Sgt, Jun 24,1862, 2nd Lt,Nov 26,1862.
King enlisted in the 10th New Yor Volunteer Cavalry, together with his second son, and was mustered in as a private on December 16, 1861. King's first taste of combat came in August 1862, when the 10th was attached to Bayard's Cavalry Brigade, Army of Virginia, in time for the Second battle of Mannassas(Aug29-30). The New Yorkers served on the fringes of that fateful battle.
November 26, 1862 King received a commission as a 2nd Lt.In his new rank the minister turned soldier fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Va, dec 12-15, 1862. He struggled through the muck on Major General Ambrose Burnside's "Mud March". a disastrous attempt to get the Army of the Potomac across the Rappahannock River at rain drenched Banks Ford, Va, in April 1863.
King was in the saddle when the Calvary Corps had its day of glory. It was June 9. 1863, when the Union horsemen met their Confederate counterparts in the Battle of Brandy Station, Va.There, the Federal Cavalry proved for the first time it was an effective fighting force. In the clash of men and horses, the 10th N.Y. joined a charge to recapture Fleetwood Hill, a key position.
The Union Troopers won their target, but Lt. King never reached the top of the hill. His left arm shatterred in the firing, he was captured by Confederates and taken to Libby Prison in Richmond. After about 5 weeks of misery there, his arm was amputated at the shoulder. Ten days later, on July 31, 1863, he died. Asked on his deathbed if he had a last message for his family, King replied, "Yes, .Tell them I died like a Christian and a soldier."
A fellow prisoner, Colonel Frank Place, noted:"Lt. King died, as he had fought, with his face toward his foe, and, though a captive, he died in the triumphs of a Christian faith."∼Enlistment Age-41.
Enlisted: Nov 9,1861, Syracuse,NY.
Mustered in Dec 16,1861, New york. Quartermaster Sgt.
Mustered into Co "G" 10th NY Cavalry.
Died of disease while a POW at Libby Prison, Richmond,VA.
POW, Jun 9,1863, Brandy Station,VA.
Wounded, Jun 9,1863, Brandy Station,VA.
Promotions: Sgt, Jun 24,1862, 2nd Lt,Nov 26,1862.
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New York Civil War Rosters 1861-1865. Personal Research
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