Allegiance: Union
Highest Rank: Private
Unit: Company B, 76th New York Volunteer Infantry
Occupation: Farmer
Buried: Unmarked, Florence, SC
Charles Bush enlisted October 12, 1861 at Cortland, NY for 3 years in Company B of the 76th NY which was known as the Cortland County Regiment also the Cherry Valley Regt. and the Cromwellian Rifles. The regiment mustered into New York State service on October 17, 1861; and in to United States service Jan. 16, 1862 at Albany, NY. Charles was born at Truxton, NY; had blue eyes, brown hair, light comlexion; and was 5 ft 8 in tall.
Charles was present for duty with the regiment Mar & Apr of 1862 during McClellan's Peninsula Campaign and during the battles of The Seven Days. He was present with the regiment Aug 28, 1862 at Gainesville, VA -- the fight at the Brawner Farm where the 76th NY, in support of the famed Iron Brigade, fought the Stonewall Brigade to a standstill. Later, he was listed as "Missing in Action near Bull Run, VA Aug 29 1862". Bush had returned by the Battle of Chancellorsville May 1,2,3 1863. The Regimental history lists him as wounded in action Jul 1, 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg. He spent Jul & Aug 1863 in Ward 12, Lincoln USA Gen'l Hospital as a result of the wounds suffered at Gettysburg. In Nov & Dec 1863, Charles Bush was recuperating at DeCamp USA Gen'l Hospital, David's Island, NY Harbor.
After returning to the regiment he wrote his only letter known to still exist to his sister Mary in which he hoped to come home when his enlistement ended in Oct., 1864
Sunday the 24 (January)
Camp Near Culpeper 1864Dear Sister it is with much plashare that i rite you a few lines to let you no that i am well at presant and enjoying my-self as well as can be expected under presant circombstances our rigment is doing picket duty mostly this winter i have bin out on picket 3 times since i have bin back to the rigment i am fat as a bair this winter Soldiren agrees with me first rate at presant i weigh 167 pounds i was weighed last Thursday, we have got good winter quarters hear i have got a log house and 4 in family, but our rations is rather slim the most of the boys that com out when i did is re inlisted but i haint and that hait all i shant for unckle Sam haint got money enough to hire me again i will be glad when fall comes and if I live till that time i am going to see you all i roat you a letter when i was on davids island, but i never resived any answer and i didnt no whether you got mine or not i don't think of any more at presant rite to me as soon as you git this if you pleas and oblige me.
Charles BushTo Mrs. Mary E. Cross
Direct thus Charles Bush
Co. B. 76 Regt NYSV
Washington DC
On May 4, 1864 the 76th NY is in action, part of the 2nd Brigade under Gen. James Rice, Wadsworth's 4th Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac. The division crosses the Rapidan River that day and on May 5, 1864 moves on the Parker Store Road through the Wilderness. The division forms in line of battle and three companies of the 76th NY -- B, F, and K -- are deployed to protect the brigade's left flank. They are subsequently cut off and to a man killed or captured. Charles is captured and sent to Andersonville. He survives that place and in September is sent to the Florence Prison Stockade, Florence, SC.
From the Affidavit of William Jarvis Crozier on the 12th day of January 1887 at Pitcher, NY, Chenango County:
"I enlisted as a private in Co. B, 76th NY Vol. in September 1861 and was mustered out March 3, 1865 at Elmira, NY.
I was captured at the Battle of the Wilderness and was a prisoner of war at Andersonville, Ga. and Florence, S.C. sometime in December 1864.
(a) man Jerome W. Frink was captured at the same time and place I was and went along in the same party to Andersonville, Ga., and along about September 1864, was sent along in a party with me to Florence, S.C. I saw Lewis H. Fox another member of my company there. Everitt Fuller and Amos Minor and Charles Bush of our company was also there.
I do not know what became of Jerome W. Frink but I heard he had died there.
The last time I saw Everitt Fuller alive he gave me his diary to bring home to his Father and that day that Fuller gave me the diary I heard that Frink had died the night before. Fuller died the next day. I saw Fuller after he was dead, but I did not see Frink.
I heard Minor died there, Bush also died there..."
Charles Bush was sent along with a party of men from his company -- including Crozier, Frink, Fuller and Minor -- to the Florence Prison Stockade some time around the middle of September 1864. The best estimation is that he died on or about October 15, 1864 in the camp of the sick and disabled outside the stockade walls at Florence, SC.
Charles Bush, a farmer from Truxton, NY, was 24 years old when he died in the hands of the enemy, far from his family. He is buried in an unmarked grave at the Florence Prison Stockade, Florence, SC.
For more on the 76th NY, click http://bpmlegal.com/76NY/
Last Updated: 10/27/2005