About this blog

The purpose of this blog is to compile all the records I have of my great-great grandfather, Henry Frank Babcock, who served in the Civil War in the 122nd New York Infantry.

Henry Frank Babcock, known as Frank to his friends and family, was born in Onondaga County, New York in 1845 to John Prentice and Abigail Ayer Babcock. On August 5, 1862 at the age of 18, he enlisted in the 122nd New York Volunteer Infantry, which was a regiment made up of men from Onondaga County (mostly Syracuse.) Their nickname was the "Onondagas" and their official commander was Colonel Silas Titus. Their acting commander was Lieutenant Colonel Augustus Wade Dwight.

The 122nd were immediately put into service as part of the Army of the Potomac in the Sixth Corps. They were put in reserve at Antietam and suffered no losses, but in the following battles they began to see more of the battlefield. They participated in the Battles of Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, the Second Battle of Petersburgh, Cedar Creek, and the Appomattox Campaign (among others.) This is a neat site I found detailing the 122nd's movements during the war: Original 122nd New York

Frank was mustered in as a corporal in Company I. His company was made up of men from Syracuse that he likely knew and had grown up with. According to his muster rolls, Frank was five feet, six and one-half inches tall with black hair and blue eyes. His occupation is stated as "farmer" but that is in question for many reasons, but perhaps it was a part-time job.

In December of 1862, right after the Battle of Fredericksburg, Frank's regiment was in camp near Falmouth VA. Some of his comrades were chopping down trees within camp lines, and one fell across Frank's tent, injuring his back (left lumbar region) and spine. He was sent to Carver Hospital in Washington DC, which sat atop Meridien Hill in Columbia Heights, north of the White House. He never returned to the regiment and was mustered out of the 122nd and into the 58th Company, 2nd Battalion Veterans Reserve Corps in October 1863. He worked as a clerk with the Medical Director's Office and then re-enlisted for U.S. Army service as a hospital steward in April 1865 until 1868.

Frank described his injuries thusly (taken directly from 1897 Claimant's Inability Affidavit):

I was crushed by tree which was cut by comrade within camp lines Dec. 17 1862 near Falmouth VA - was immediately sent to Carver Hospital Washington D.C. Never returned to Regt. consequently officers of Co. or Regt. had no knowledge of result of injury.

Was not treated in Regimental Hospital. Dr Tefft, Surgeon 122nd New York Vols., bound up injury to my back but he is now dead and he knew nothing of my hernia as it did not develop until I commenced to attempt to stand on my feet which was six months after date of injury. Then I discovered a lump in my left groin which gradually increased until it extended into the testicles. I then procured a truss. Have been compelled to wear one continually since.

Frank eventually made his way back to Syracuse, married Susie Hensler, and had a son, Frank Albert born in 1882, who became my great-grandfather. Susie died in 1913 while Frank (Henry Frank) lived until 1931 age 86.