William L. Blaisdell
1846 Oct 17 – 1941 Feb 13
William L. Blaisdell of Martville, the lone surviving veteran of the Civil War from Cayuga County died at his home on February 13, 1941 after a five week illness. Comrade Blaisdell was 94 years of age.
His birthday was annually celebrated in lively fashion by members of the Sons of Union Veterans of Auburn and members of other patriotic and civic organizations of Auburn participating. He was in the finest of health and spirits on the occasion of his 94th birthday and he looked forward to many more, hoping to reach the century mark. He had often been feted by Auburn Rotary Club.
He spoke with pride of meeting and shaking hands with Abraham Lincoln when the war time president welcomed the Ninth Heavy Artillery to Washington in 1864.
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William Blaisdell was born to William and Nancy Blaisdell in the town of Victory on October 15 (or 17 depending the source), 1846. He was a wagon maker in Victory at the time he enlisted at Savannah, New York on February 23, 1864, at the age of 17. He was a member of Company G of the Ninth New York Heavy Artillery which was originally the 138th New York Infantry, recruited in Cayuga and Wayne Counties.
He was first sent to New York City and then on to Fortress Monroe, aboard the United States Admiral Dupont. His first major engagement was at Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864, a few days after his 18th birthday. He had been stationed on sentry duty guarding supply trains on a turnpike near Strasburg, Virginia. Upon being relieved he rolled into his blankets and bedded down with Sheridan’s forces on the banks of Cedar Creek.
“About 4:00 o’clock that morning,” Mr. Blaisdell recalled, “I was awakened suddenly by the sound of gunfire. The camp was in confusion. General Early was attacking. We had orders to hold the fire until the enemy was within 30 yards. But one of the men got fidgety and fired. I was mighty fidgety myself. We were forced to retreat badly beaten three times that morning. But finally Sheridan, who bad been in Washington, showed up. He came thundering onto the battlefield riding a light bay horse which was nearly white with froth from hard riding. He rode within 10 yards of me. I heard him shout, ‘We’ll give them hell yet boys.’ And we did, too. That night after fighting all day and turning defeat into victory, we rolled up weary and sore, in our blankets which we had left that morning at Cedar Creek.”
The following spring he was promoted to Corporal.
“One time,” he recalled, “three other soldiers and I found it necessary to climb a stone fence in the direct line of fire. The three soldiers went over. I hesitated for a long time. Finally I started going over too. But, I didn’t get far. My pants caught on a stick or something and there I was, sticking up on that fence with bullets whistling around me. In that short moment, I could think of several places I’d rather be.”
Corporal Blaisdell served for the duration of the war until he was mustered out on September 29, 1865.
“I used to see Lincoln nearly every day,” he once remarked, “but I never got near him except when I shook hands with him.” He usually had a bodyguard of 50 to 100 men.
Returning from the war, he again engaged in wagon making at Butler Center, only to lose out to fire. He later had workshops at Port Byron, Jordan and Warners. He lived at Warners for 15 years before moving to Martville. After his first wife, Ella Patchen, died, he married in 1908, Mrs. Elizabeth Fuller of Sterling Center, widow of Doctor Fuller.
For more than 40 years he engaged largely in making children’s toys and became known at the “Santa Claus of Martville.” Later his attention turned mainly to producing crates for celery, lettuce, apples and various fruits.
Comrade Blaisdell was always a familiar figure at the various regimental reunions of the G.A.R. during the years when there were enough of the old “Boys in Blue” to continue their reunions and campfires in Auburn and nearby towns annually.
Despite his advanced age, Mr. Blaisdell had been quite active up until five weeks before his passing. He was survived by his wife and a nephew, Joseph Blaisdell of North Wolcott. Funeral services were held at the Blaisdell home in Martville. Rev. Edgar Sabin, pastor of the Martville Methodist Church, officiated. He was buried in Martville Rural Cemetery. G.A.R. services were conducted at the funeral hour under the supervision of Seward Camp, Sons of Union Veterans. A firing squad paid tribute.
By a strange coincidence, Cayuga County’s “Grand Old Man in Blue” passed away following a day of celebrating the birthday of the great Lincoln.