Active in civic and professional organizations, Sumner was a member of the Kings County and New York State Medical Associations, the American Institute of Medicine, the Long Island Historical Society and the Philharmonic Society (of which he was a director). He died of an apparent stroke while making rounds with his driver and carriage and could … Read more
After the War, Vail worked with his father in the merchant tailor business. His occupation was listed as tailor in the 1870 census. He last lived at 143 Avenue D in Manhattan. The cause of his death was Bright’s disease. Helen Vail applied for and received a widow’s pension in 1890, certificate 287,403. Section 24, lot … Read more
WALTER (or WALTERS), WILHELM (1837-1892). Private, 72nd New York Infantry, Company A. A native of Germany, he enlisted at New York City as a private on May 27, 1861. On June 21, he mustered into Company A of the 72nd New York from which he was discharged for disability on January 5, 1863, at Point … Read more
On the evening of April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was mortally wounded by gunshot while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre. Actress Laura Keene (1826-1873) was on stage that fateful evening, starring in “Our American Cousin.” A witness to one of the most infamous moments in American history, Keene is believed to have been the first to identify the assassin as fellow actor John Wilkes Booth. It is also widely claimed, though often contested, that the actress rushed to the President’s side just moments after the shot was fired, cradling his head in her lap as her dress became drenched in his blood.
In addition, he was the major in command of the 5th at Antietam, Maryland. Promoted to colonel in 1862, he led the 5th at Groveton (as part of the Battle of Second Bull Run, Virginia). It was there that his regiment, in ten minutes, lost 297 men, including 124 killed, the greatest number of fatalities … Read more