Reuben Cory

Born in New York, At the time the Regiment was formed Reuben was a Farmer in Romulus. He was 25. He enlisted in Company D on August 12, 1862 , and was mustered into service the following day.

There is little mention of him in the official record, although he served with the Regiment throughout its campaigns. He was killed in action at Spottsylvania, Virginia on May 10, 1864.

O. B. Curtis, the Regimental historian, had this to say about the action on May 10 (p. 240-241)

Tuesday, May 10. Skirmishers were pushed forward at noon through thick woods to develop the character of the enemy's position., followed by the Iron Brigade. The enemy's skirmishers were forced back into their works, and our men got up near enough to learn that Lee had strengthened his lines with heavy artillery throughout, and had a flank fire along his lines, his works being concealed in great part by dense woods.. At 4 P. M. his position was assaulted by Crawford's and Cutler's Divisions. The forest of dead pine and cedar trees with hard sharp-pointed branches made it very difficult for our troops to advance under the heavy artillery and musketry fire which they met at the outset.

Moving forward into the open ground near the enemy's works with disordered ranks, in the face of terrible enfilading fire, they pressed on, some to the abatis, others of the Seventh Wisconsin to the very crest of the their parapet, but such as survived were driven back with heavy loss. In this attack, Cutler's Division was formed in three lines, the Iron Brigade being in the third line. The enemy broke the first line and sent them over the left wing of the Twenty-Fourth Michigan which broke and ran for their works, but immediately reformed and joined the regiment. General Rice commanding the Second Brigade of the division was mortally wounded. The assault was a failure and our troops returned to their works for a more desperate struggle toward evening. At 7 o'clock P.M. the Second and part of the Fifth Corps moved to the attack. Our troops struggled up the slopes of Laurel Hill in the face of a deadly storm of missiles, and even penetrated the enemy's breastworks, but this charge too, proved a failure, and our forces retired behind their earthworks for the night, after a hard day of fighting.

Many of the dead from Spottsylvania were later removed to Fredericksburg National Cemetery, and it is likely that Reuben Cory now lies there, probably as an "Unknown".

One of Reuben Cory's letters to his mother has been preserved. It was preserved because she used it as evidence of sole support on a pension claim.

Although Reuben's service records shed little light on his war-time experiences, his fellow soldiers held him in high regard. When a new Grand Army of the Republic post was chartered in Wayne Michigan in the 1880's they named it the Reuben Cory Post # 261. Fortunately the dedicatory speech has been preserved at the Wayne museum. It is very enlightening and contains may details about Reuben's life and service which are not found elsewhere.

Descendant: Susan Lindquist slindquist@ameritech.net