ALBERT
DAVIS
133rd New York Volunteers
Company A
Private
Yaphank
Albert Davis
133rd New York Volunteers
Private
Yaphank
Albert Davis was born in Middle Island in
1841. He was the son of Joseph and Eliza Davis.
Davis listed his occupation as carpenter.
He married his wife Elizabeth on October 23, 1862 at the
Yaphank Presbyterian Church.
Davis was drafted into the Union army and
was mustered in at Jamaica, Long Island on September 23,
1864. Recruitment numbers were falling and so it became
necessary to institute a draft. Returning war veterans
and battlefield photographs began to erase the illusion
of a romantic war.
The draft for Brookhaven Town took place
on May 11, 1863 and 201 men were taken from the town.
Davis was 23 years old, had gray eyes and brown hair, and
stood 5'-8" tall.
A man could avoid the draft, if he
could provide a substitute to take his place. Middle
Island resident, George Ritch, paid $300 for a substitute
and was able to avoid the draft.
He was sent to Harts Island on October 4,
1864 where he was assigned to Company A, of the 133rd New
York Volunteers. After a short training period, he was
sent to join the Regiment, which was stationed at Cedar
Creek, Virginia.
The war was to only last another seven
months, and the regiment did not participate in any large
action, just in a number of small skirmishes with the
enemy. The 133rd was stationed at Camp Russell in
November 1864, and then moved to Camp Sheridan in
December. In early January the regiment was moved to
Winchester Virginia where they stayed until March.
In April the regiment was assigned to the
defenses at Washington, where it remained until Davis and
the regiment was mustered out on June 6, 1865 at
Washington.
At the conclusion of the war Davis
returned to Yaphank where he continued his carpentry
trade. He and his wife Elizabeth had three children, Ada,
born in 1882, Perry born in 1884 and Edna born in 1886.
Davis had many physical problems, which
he attributed to his Civil war duty. He applied for a
government pension seeking a disability in which he
claimed.
" I contracted acute Nephritis or
disease of the kidneys at Washington D.C. in June 1865
from exposure, but did not have any treatment until I got
home the latter part of the month. After my discharge I
was treated by Dr. A.O. Van Horn, my family physician who
has treated me ever since."
Albert Davis died on May 20th 1895 at age
54, the causes of death was listed as pneumonia and
kidney disease.