New York Native Solomon R. Niles was a Ypsilanti blacksmith when he enlisted in company F on August 8, 1862 at Detroit. He was 42 years old, although he told the recruiting officer that he was 33. He mustered into service on August 15, 1862.
He was wounded in action at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1863 - three times, in fact! It took him quite a while to recover from his wounds. Even after recovering he was not deemed fit for active duty. Solomon was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps on April 1, 1864. He was discharged at Elmira, New York, July 13, 1865 from company D, 19th Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps. His unit was one of those assigned to guard the infamous Elmira Prison.
Solomon may have been distantly related to Walter
S. Niles of company A, who also was assigned to Elmira.
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