Joseph J. Girard (abt. 1841)

Ancestors

Died [date unknown] in Grand Isle, Grand Isle, Vermont, United States

Biography

Joseph Girard served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: May 7, 1861
Mustered out: June 19, 1863
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Company C, 22nd New York Infantry

Joseph was born about 1841. He is the son of Joseph Girard and Louise Vallière.

The following story comes from the Clinton County, NY, Civil War Record 1861-1865 Facebook Page:

TWO YEARS IN VIRGINIA - In 1860, Joseph J. Girard (Gerard) was in his late teens and living in the Town of Chesterfield in Essex County with his parents, Joseph and Louisa Girard. All were born in Quebec, although some records say he was born in Vermont. The two men were working as iron rollers.

Young Joseph enlisted in the 22nd Infantry in Keeseville and was mustered into Company C on June 6, 1861 – Captain Oliver Peabody’s company. The regiment left the state at the end of June after organizing at Troy. When they passed through Baltimore, one of men from the 22nd was killed in an anti-war riot. They camped on Meridian Hill in the capital until July 24th, and then moved to Arlington Heights south of the river. Winter quarters were occupied at nearby Upton's Hill until March 10, 1862, when the regiment joined in the movement to Centerville, but returned to Upton's Hill immediately afterward, and proceeded to Falmouth, VA, opposite the city of Fredericksburg on the north of the Rappahannock in April.

In June the regiment became part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Corps of the Army of Virginia, and in September 1862, the same brigade and division, was made part of the 1st Corps of the Army of the Potomac. This brigade was known as the Iron Brigade before the Iron Brigade of the West was formed.

At Manassas in August, the loss to the regiment was 180 killed, wounded or missing, out of 379 engaged, of whom 46 were killed or mortally wounded, or over 12 per cent. Of the 24 officers present, 19 were killed or wounded, 9 mortally. The first week of September was spent in camp at Upton's Hill and it next advanced to South Mountain, MD, where it was closely engaged, then to Antietam, where again the loss was heavy.

About the middle of November, the command arrived at Falmouth and participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg, being stationed on the extreme left of the Army. It then returned to camp at Falmouth and joined in the "Mud March," in January 1863, after which it went into winter quarters at Belle Plain. On April 28, 1863, camp was broken for the Chancellorsville Movement, during which the regiment was held in reserve and met its only loss at Pollock's Mill Creek, where 10 men were wounded while acting as rear-guard. The regiment was mustered out at Albany, June 19, 1863.

Joseph returned to the North, married and had several children. He died on Grand Isle, VT.

Sources

• "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSRB-K6T : 25 August 2021), Joseph J. Gerard, 1861-1865.
• Rosters Of The New York Infantry Regiments During The Civil War—22nd New York Infantry
• (New York) Gerard, Joseph J - Unit: 22nd Infantry, Company: C - Enlistment Rank: Pvt, Discharge Rank: Pvt

• PRDH: Research Programme in Historical Demography (membership): famille: 168447
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCW5-F2W : 18 February 2021), Joseph Gerard in entry for Joseph Gerard, 1860.