Remembering Civil War veterans

On Veterans Day, we take the time to remember those we lost in wars of the past and celebrate veterans who are still here to tell their stories. For many Freeport residents, there is a long history of young people going to war, dating back to the American Civil War.

According to Freeport Memorial Library archives, about 40 men from Freeport served during the Civil War. After the war ended, residents celebrated near Main Street and Merrick Road, where a bonfire was lit and party goers could hear the sounds of a cannon being fired in procession. Over a thousand men from the tristate area of the time, including areas such as Hempstead, Freeport, and Jamaica, lost their lives in Civil War Era Battles.

Registered accounts in the Freeport Memorial Library archives detail the names of some of these soldiers, their rankings and their final resting place:

Tredwell Bedell, 1843-1864. Union infantry Private, Company H, 119th Regiment, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland.

John Combs 1822-1863, Union Infantry Private Company H, 119th Regiment, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland.

William T. Golder, 1829-1863, he enlisted in the Union as a private in the Union Artillery, Company H, 4th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery.

John Hutchinson,1853-N/A, he was ranked as a private and enlisted in the Union Infantry, Company C, 158th Regiment, 1st Empire Brigade, New York Infantry.

Benjamin Franklin Losse, 1843-1864, enlisted at 19 years old as a member of the Union Infantry.

William R. Mead, 1841-1864, enlisted in the Union Artillery, Company H, 4th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery.

Dandridge Beverly Pitts Mott, 1847-1864 enlisted in the Union Infantry, Company H, 119th Regiment, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland.

Joseph Mott, 1845-1864, enlisted in the Union Artillery as a Corporal, Company H, 4th Regiment, Heavy Artillery, New York Volunteers.

Enoch E. Mulliner, 1826-1867, Union Navy Captain Company H, 119th Regiment, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland.

Elijah K. Raynor, 1843-1864, Union Infantry Private, Company A, 139th Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 18th Army Corp, Army of the James.

William H. Seaman, 1842-1864, Union Infantry Corporal, Company H, 119th Regiment, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland.

Cornell L. Simonson, 1843-1862, Union Infantry Private, Company A, 139th Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Division,18th Army Corp, Army of the James.

Asa Smith, 1839-1862, Union Artillery Private, Company A, 139th Regiment, Heavy Artillery, New York Volunteers.

Vanderveer Smith, 1843-1864, Union Infantry Corporal, Company A, 139th Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 18th Army Corp, Army of the James