George LeRoy Taggart: Company G, 64^th Regiment, NY State Volunteers. Age, 40 years. Enrolled at Randolph, to serve three years, and mustered in as Sergeant-Major, December 10, 1861; as 1^st Lieutenant and Adjutant, January 20, 1862; appointed Quartermaster, April 14, 1863; died of disease, May 27, 1864, at Addison, NY.

Commissioned 1^st Lieutenant and Adjutant, February 5, 1862, with rank from January 20, 1862, vice W. Cooper, deceased.

The Adjutant General's Report states that he was appointed Quartermaster on April 4, rather than April 14 and states that he died May 20 rather than May 27.

Reference: Adjutant General's Report, 1901

    George LeRoy Taggart was born November 22, 1821 in Truxton, Cortland County, New York. He was the oldest child of John and Jane C. (Earle) Taggart. The earliest known photograph of him was taken at the age of 26 while on a visit in New York in 1848 by "O. T. Cook, Daguerrion Artist."

   On September 5^th 1849 in Addison, Steuben County, New York he married Anne Elizabeth Baldwin. She was born September 27^th 1832 in Addison, the daughter of James and Mehitable (Allen) Baldwin. They took up residence in or near Addison and he was a merchant clerk there. Their first child, James Baldwin Taggart was born September 24, 1850 but died after living just over a year and six months on April 11, 1852.

   He was allowed entrance of membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Canisteo Lodge No. 285, Addison, NY February 7^th 1853. His brother in law, William A. Baldwin, was secretary of the lodge and George earned his degree in that organization, becoming a contributing member June 30, 1854, which was confirmed July third. In between this time their second child, Evalina Belmont Taggart was born May 17^th 1853. Their third child, Frances, was born September 28^th 1855 and lastly their son, Lucius Baldwin Taggart was born July 2^nd 1857 in Wellsville, NY.

   As I write "lastly" it brings to mind the 1860 census showing an infant daughter, "Sarah I. Taggert" age of one year, which must be so but we show no other record of her and assume she died at a very early age, perhaps before the war began. There is no record of her birth or death in the family bible, where the other four children are noted. At that time George is listed as a Saloon Keeper there in Addison with personal estate valued at $500. It is possible that the keeping of the saloon may have been expanded somewhat with a dry goods business as he was always made reference to as a merchant of good reputation.

   George L. Taggart joined the military as early as 1858 when he was commissioned Second Lieutenant August 25^th that year. On October 27^th 1859 he was commissioned Captain, 64^th Regiment, Thirteenth Brigade, Eighth Division, Infantry, Company G, Militia of the State of New York. He resigned the following year on June 19^th 1860 "in consequence of being about to remove from the state." At which time they took up residence in Williamsport, PA. His wife Anna, was baptized and confirmed there in October of 1860 by the Rev. Richard C. Moore. On May 21, 1861 at Williamsport Rev. Moore wrote a letter of recommendation for the family as they were returning to live in Addison. The letter was endorsed in February 1862 by Dewitt C. Loop, Rector of Church of the Redeemed in Addison.

   As a result of the war George Re-enlisted a month shy of the age of 40 and was enrolled October 26^th 1861 at Rathbonville, NY. He was mustered into service December 10, 1861 as Sergeant Major, 64^th Regiment NY Infantry Volunteers to serve three years. He was promoted to First Lieut. January 20, 1862 and assigned to duty as adjutant that day.

   On March 23^rd 1863 Col. D. G. Bingham wrote "Adjutant G. L. Taggart is a very valuable officer has always been prompt efficient + faithful in the discharge of every duty imposed upon him and the Reg't + Service would loose by his resignation but in consideration of his health… I, with great reluctance approve and Respectfully forward his Resignation (signed)" It would seem this was  merely a 20 day sick leave because he was appointed quartermaster April 14, 1863 and his letters home continue through April and May from Falmouth. On August 3^rd 1863 he writes "I most respectfully request that a Leave of Absence… be granted" enclosing "Surgeons Certificate of Disability"

   A letter of Jan. 9^th 1864 from Charles T. Kelsey, Asst. Surgeon reads in part, "I do hereby certify… that he has been suffering from rheumatism so as to be almost incapacitated for duty during the last nine months, and within the last thirty days he has become so much debilitated that his life is seriously threatened. …in my opinion, unfit for duty. …he will not be able to resume his duties in a less period than twenty days and the prospect of his recovery is distant and uncertain." George then requests for a leave of absence the next day, Jan. 10^th, but is yet performing duties 16 days later where upon he writes on January 26^th "To Henry Thompson… I would respectfully ask that a leave of absence for Ten (10) days be granted…" which was approved and forwarded the following day. Whether he returned to active duty through February I do not know.

   A letter was written March 11^th 1864, addressed to Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, and signed by 21 of his fellow* officers, petitioning President Lincoln "to appoint and Commission him Commissary of Subsistance with rank of Captain." George's health continued to decline and it seems sick leave was granted "from March 19: 20 days from April 8, 1864: 20 days from April 28, 1864."  Then at the age of 42 years 6 mos. and 5 days, he died on May 27^th 1864 at Addison, surrounded by his wife and three young children, the eldest, Eva, having just turned eleven years ten days earlier. Some months after his widow filed an application for pension there were written two further letters by Asst. Surgeon Charles T. Kelsey certifying that George had "died of Rheumatism and 'Bright's disease of the Kidney's', which diseases were contracted in the line of his duty with his regiment in the field, during the campaign of 1863."

    He had survived four horses being shot from beneath him during his participation in the war and it would be another year before the last of the Confederate soldiers would surrender and the Civil War would come to an end. In a "June 9^th 1862" letter from "U.S. Hospital Philadelphia" written to his wife from Rodney R. Crowley it reads "Your husband requested me… to let you know that he is well + escaped the tremendous battle of Sunday June 1^st unhurt. The 64^th lost 186 killed wounded + missing + it is almost a miracle that George did not get hit. I am slightly wounded and on my way home. (signed)" We have 23 letters that George wrote home to his family during the war, starting with Dec 13^th 1861 at Camp Fenton and ending with May 3^rd 1863 at Falmouth.

   There are 11 known images of him taken throughout his life, two of which he appears on horses, both tintypes. Another tintype is of him seated with Col. Daniel G. Bingham and an as yet unknown officer no doubt of the 64^th. Three are Daguerreotypes, one of which is pencil signed as noted above, another in a locket that belonged to his wife, Anne and shows that of their youngest son, James Baldwin Taggart, who died in infancy, on the reverse side. Four are albumen prints, 2 of which were taken in sequence of one another standing in full uniform, another larger in an oval frame of him seated.

   George L. Taggart was also a member of All Free and Accepted Masons, Scio Lodge No. 230, in which he was initialized as an entered apprentice, passed the degree of Fellow Craft and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Memoriam, July 19, 1864. On November 20, 1865 he was appointed in memoriam to "Brevet Major New York State Volunteers for gallant and meritorious services… " signed by Col. M. J. Farrell and Gov. Reuben E. Fenton.

   George was interred in the family burial plot in Addison, most often reffered to as the Baldwin Burying Ground also called "West Addison and the Baldwin Cemetery" located in the town of Addison, Steuben Co., NY. His wife Anna who died August 28, 1889 and two of his children are known to be there with him, infant son Jimmie and daughter Eva, who died July 24, 1874 at age 21. Each of their small markers merely state their first names simply giving the location of their resting place. At a later date it may have been planned to erect a larger central monument stating the Taggart name and vital information of each. There are more standard markers for Anna's parents, James and Mehetable Allen Baldwin and other family members resting there. It is a hope of mine that perhaps one day a more proper gravestone can be erected for George and his family.

Baldwin Burying Ground, Addison, Steuben County, NY

photo from: http://www.paintedhills.org/STEUBEN/AddisonBalwinCem.html
cemetery listing can also be viewed at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nysteube/ad/ad2.html

* Signatures, each with rank, of the following officers appear on the March 11^th letter; Brooks, Thompson, Glenny, D E Kelsey, C T Kelsey, Pittenger, Manley, Fassett, Willard, Ketcham, Wait, Bockoven, Meservey, Rumsey, Soule, P V Alton, Fisk, McCutcheon, Wiggens, Pierce and R F Lincoln.

Photo of George Taggart and additional information submitted by: Stuart MacPherson .

For further information, additions or corrections, send e-mail to:
bvanvlack@hotmail.com

BV²