Although far from the fighting, the residents of Oswego County were forever changed by the Civil War. One of the few regions that never forced a draft, thousands of men volunteered, motivated by patriotism, abolitionism or a yearning for adventure. Neither they nor their families were ever the same, and local author Natalie Joy Woodall relates their diverse experiences. William Adriance enlisted twice, despite suffering from rheumatism, marrying and starting a family during the war. Otis Mason Miner and his brother enlisted shortly after Fort Sumter surrendered, and in later years, Otis and his wife became pillars of their community. Many others made the ultimate sacrifice or suffered from wounds--seen and unseen--for the rest of their lives. Discover the fascinating stories of survival and sacrifice from Oswego County and the Civil War.

"Explore the fascinating Civil War history of Oswego County"--

Of the 400,000 men from New York State called to duty in the Union armed forces during the Civil War, approximately 12,000 or 75 percent of the voting population, called Oswego County home. Veterans from other states or Canada later settled in Oswego County and made the place their home as well. This book tells the stories of thirty-seven of these soldiers. Some were chosen for their post-war activities, whether it was volunteerism, politics, or profession. Others were selected to demonstrate the high cost of war for survivors who returned to civilian life. Still others, who had re-enlisted for a second tour of duty, made the ultimate sacrifice, leading to far-reaching consequences for those they left behind. Along with the men who served, this book also tells the story of the women who supported them and who were involved in supporting the Union cause. Author Natalie Joy Woodall has conducted extensive research to uncover many previously unknown stories of many of these brave men and gives the precise location for each gravesite.

When Jay Gould died in 1892 he left behind an estate worth the equivalent of seventy-eight billion in today's dollars. He also left behind a reputation as one of Wall Street's most shrewd, astute, and (some said) manipulative operators. Long before his adventures in finance, the future "robber baron" was a young man on the make in his native Catskills, working as a surveyor and mapmaker in his natal place of Delaware County, where he had grown up side by side with the future writer and naturalist John Burroughs. Originally published in 1856, when Gould was just twenty, Gould's History of Delaware County and Border Wars of New York is based on primary sources and original testimony from second and third generation settlers, many of them Gould's own friends and cousins. The book continues to be an important source on the first settlement of the region and is highly regarded by scholars. This edition features a new introduction by Edward Renehan, the biographer of both Gould and John Burroughs.

Through wonderfully detailed letters, recruit rosters, and pension records, Edythe Ann Quinn shares the story of thirty-five African American Civil War soldiers and the United States Colored Troop (USCT) regiments with which they served. Associated with The Hills community in Westchester County, New York, the soldiers served in three regiments: the 29th Connecticut Infantry, 14th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery (11th USCT), and the 20th USCT. The thirty-sixth Hills man served in the Navy. Their ties to family, land, church, school, and occupational experiences at home buffered the brutal indifference of boredom and battle, the ravages of illness, the deprivations of unequal pay, and the hostility of some commissioned officers and white troops. At the same time, their service among kith and kin bolstered their determination and pride. They marched together, first as raw recruits, and finally as seasoned veterans, welcomed home by generals, politicians, and above all, their families and friends.

Presents a history of the various towns of Oswego County from 1877, maps of the county, engravings of various county scenes, and information about prominent individuals of that time and earlier.