John Ryan (abt. 1842 - 1902)

Died Feb 1902 at about age 60 in El Reno, Canadian, Oklahoma, United States

Biography

John Ryan served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: May 21, 1863
Mustered out: Aug 17, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Company C 16th New York Cavalry

John Ryan served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Aug 17, 1865
Mustered out: Sep 21, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Company I 3rd New York Provisional Cavalry

John Worked as a Blacksmith.

John was born about 1842. At the age of 21 he enlisted in the 16th New York Cavalry on 21 May 1863 in Buffalo and was mustered into Company C as a blacksmith.

The 16th Cavalry spent most of their time patrolling the Virginia countryside until the night when the President was shot. On that memorable night of April 14, 1865, when John Wilkes Booth fired the shot which killed President Lincoln, and, leaping to the stage of Ford's theatre, escaped, John was one of 27 men from the 16th New York Cavalry including their Captain Edward P. Doherty. Along with the Cavalry unit were two detectives from the Secret Service. They were sent in pursuit and took the assassin after he was shot by Corbett, from the burning barn at Garrett’s farm in Fredericksburg, after he had refused to surrender.

The 27 volunteers from the 16th New York Cavalry became known as Lincoln’s Avengers. John was among them.

In July 1865 he gave power of attorney to A. G. Riddle and on the 4 Aug 1865 a letter was sent from Riddle to the Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton concerning the applications of Henry Putnam, John Winter, John Ryan and Lewis Savage, privates of the 16th New York Cavalry. ^[1]

He was transferred on Aug 17, 1865 at Washington, DC to the 3rd New York Provisional Cavalry and mustered out on 21 Sep 1865 at Camp Barry in Washington following the end of the war.

In Aug 1866 he received his share of the Reward Money for his part in the capture of John Wilkes Booth and David Herold for a total of $1,653.84. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ [ Attorney A.G. Riddle to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton
2. ↑ RG 217, Misc. Treasury Accounts, Entry 347 - Account No. 156952 - Check paid to Private John Ryan-$1653.84 for the capture of Booth and Herold, in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln

• "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FST5-Y6D : 25 August 2021), John Rina, 1861-1865.

• "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSMD-3ZQ : 25 August 2021), Rina, 1861-1865.

• Rosters Of The New York Cavalry Regiments During The Civil War—16th New York Cavalry

• Rosters Of The New York Cavalry Regiments During The Civil War—3rd New York Provisional Cavalry

• RG 217, Misc. Treasury Accounts, Entry 347 - Account No. 156952 - Maj. H.W. Smith and others, Capture of the assassins of Abraham Lincoln

• Envelope - Powers of Attorney

• No. 1 - Military Commission - May 12th, 1865 (John Ryan June 7, 1865)