Toussaint Roy (1843 - 1865)

Born 31 Oct 1843 in St-Philippe (St-Jean-François-Régis), Canada East

Ancestors

Died 25 Jan 1865 at age 21 in City Point, Prince George, Virginia, United States

Biography

Toussaint Roy served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Jan 8, 1862
Mustered out: Jan 25, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Company H 96th New York Infantry

Toussaint was born in 1843. He is the son of Antoine Roy and Salomee Vachereau.

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

WOUNDED ACCIDENTALLY - At 19 years old, Toussaint Roi was mustered into the 96th Infantry as Yousain King. Toussaint was the son of Antoine Roi and Salome Vachereau. He enlisted on January 18, 1862, in Champlain. Thirteen other men from the Champlain area enlisted between November 1861 and February 1862. The regiment organized in Plattsburgh where Toussaint was assigned to Captain Nicholas Day’s Company H to serve for three years. After drilling at the Old Stone Barracks on the Plattsburgh Reservation, they left for Washington on March 11th. Starting in April 1862, the 96th was on the Virginia Peninsula with the Army of the Potomac and between April and the end of July suffered about 150 casualties. In October they were ordered to participate in the Expedition from New Bern to Goldsboro in North Carolina to prevent the advance of blockade runners on the coast.

In January 1864, the regiment was at Coinjock, NC, and Toussaint re-enlisted. The 96th didn’t return to Virginia and the Seat of War until April 1864 with the Army of the James. Between May and October they had over 250 casualties with their bloodiest battle being at Chaffins Farm with 103 casualties on September 19, 1864. Fifty-two more casualties were received at 2nd Fair Oaks at the end of October. Coming out of winter quarters in April 1865, they were at the Fall of Petersburg on April 2nd. The regiment was retained at City Point a few miles away for the next few months. While at City Point, Toussaint was wounded accidentally, presumably by a gun, and he died of his wounds on January 25, 1865, less than two weeks before they were scheduled to come home.

Sources

• PRDH/ Repertoire des Actes de Bapteme, Mariage, et Sepulture, et des Recensements de Quebec Ancien XVIIe Siecle, Jacques Legare & Hubert Charbonneau, Les Presses de Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, (PRDH-IGD Family, Couples, Baptism, and Individual Records)
• Rosters Of The New York Infantry Regiments During The Civil War—96th New York Infantry