56th Massachusetts Infantry

Died May 1864 Battle of the Wilderness Virginia

Enlisted at Readville with his first cousin and best friend Charles Pratt who was wounded and did not survive long after the war. Cyrus was accidentally wounded at Bealton Station and was in the hospital during the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and Spottsylvania. He returned to his unit for the Petersburg campaign where he also suffered two bouts of mylaria. His letters describe serving on picket duty and 'getting pretty excited.' He received a neck wound at this duty that left a scar. He was mustered out as a corporal. His wife was Eliza Sophia Dean of the Taunton, MA area. His children were Helen, Sarah, and Charles. He died of appendicitis in 1874 and is buried in the family plot in Taunton.

My wife's 2nd great grandfather. Born Mar. 11, 1846 in Taunton, MA.. Enlisted into Co. F, 56th Massachusetts Infantry on Feb. 22, 1864. Wounded May 5, 1864 at the Wilderness. Discharged July 12, 1865. Stone mason by trade. Died in Taunton, MA about 1900. Married to Sarah Blodgett.

Enlisted January 27, 1864 and served with the other surviving members of the 56th until they were mustered out in July 1865. Regarding the Battle of the Wilderness, George Knighton told his daughter that 'when night came they lay on the ground with a large fallen tree at their head to protect them from the wind. Near daybreak someone shouted for the men not to move, a shot was fired and a large poisonous snake slithered off the log above their heads.' George also told his daughter that 'often the men didn't have enough to eat and the only medical help they had was what they gave each other.'