JAMES B.
DOWNS
174th & 162nd New York Infantry
Private, Company E
Middle Island
James B. Downs
174th New York Infantry
162nd New York Infantry
Private, Company E
Middle Island
James B. Downs lived in Middle Island, farming land owned
by his parents, John and Betsy Downs. Unlike many of the
other local young men, Downs was already married and had
a child when he enlisted in 1862. He married Dorcas
Rebecca Smith three years earlier, on September 30, 1859.
They had a daughter, Elizabeth, who was born in October
of 1860.
Downs was thirty-five, stood five feet
six inches tall, had blue eyes and light hair when he
enlisted on October 17, 1862. Captain Baker enlisted
Downs into the 174th Infantry, also known as the
Metropolitan Guard. Colonel Theodore Parmele organized
the Metropolitan Guard on October 3, 1862, after
receiving authority to recruit the regiment under the
auspices of the Metropolitan Police of New York City.
After brief training at Rikers Island, the regiment left
for Louisiana in November. They reached Baton Rouge and
were stationed at Fort Sturges for November and December.
The 174th joined with other Union forces to try to
capture key cities on the Mississippi River. Once these
key cities were captured, the Mississippi would come
under Union control. This would effectively cut the
Confederacy in half and no supplies or weapons would
cross west of the river.
The plan saw General Grant heading south
on the Mississippi towards Vicksburg. The 174th was part
of General Bank's troops marching north to capture Port
Hudson. Sitting high on bluffs overlooking a bend in the
Mississippi River, Port Hudson was in a strong and
strategic position, easily able to defend against Union
vessels slowly navigating the bend in the river.
General Nathaniel
Banks, in charge of Union Forces at Port Hudson.
The operation began in May. Downs was
present when the 174th saw combat for the first time at
Plains Store, Louisiana, only five miles from Port
Hudson. The Regiment was involved in the siege of Port
Hudson, which lasted from May 23 to the surrender on June
9, 1863. Port Hudson fell two days after Confederate
forces surrendered Vicksburg to Grant.
Confederate gun
emplacements at Port Hudson overlooking the Mississippi
River.
On July 13, 1863, Confederate forces
attacked the regiment at Bayou La Fourche. The regiment
suffered fifty-four casualties. In September, the 174th
was sent to Opelousa, Louisiana, to rest.
On October 12, 1863, James B. Downs was
reported as drowned at Berwick City, Louisiana. His
account was charged $26.30 for a lost rifle, canteen,
tent, and rubber blanket.
Downs did not drown; he deserted. He
returned to his company three months later on January 10,
1864. There is no information as to why he deserted, nor
is there any record of punishment. Downs was present when
the 174th and 162nd regiments were combined. Disease and
casualties had reduced both units, so they were
consolidated into the 162nd.
In March, the 162nd began the Red River
Campaign to control lower Louisiana. Downs did not
participate, for he was in the hospital from March
through April.
Soon after, the 162nd boarded the steamer
Leary and arrived at Fortress Monroe in Virginia
on July 19, 1864. They were then sent to Deep Bottom,
Virginia, where they crossed the James River. Once on the
other side, they dug trenches and built fortifications.
An attack by Confederate forces caught the 162nd by
surprise, and 37 men were captured. Union reinforcements
arrived and pushed the Confederates back.
On August 15, while marching near Harpers
Ferry, it was reported that Downs deserted. He returned
to his company on September 7, 1864. Again, there was no
record of reason or punishment for his desertion.
The Battle of Winchester took place on
October 19, but the 162nd was held in reserve and did not
see action. In November, the regiment set up quarters at
Winchester for the winter. Downs was detached to chop
wood starting in January. In June, the regiment left by
boat for Savannah, Georgia, arriving on July 1, 1865.
Downs was again detached to chop wood, and held this
position until August.
In the meantime, things were hard at home
for the Downs family. They were in serious financial
trouble. At a Brookhaven Town meeting on March 7, 1865,
the trustees ordered that "the child (Elizabeth) of
James Downs who is in the army as a volunteer be allowed
$.75 per week from this date until further notice."
Around the same time, Downs became sick
with chronic diarrhea. The regiment was mustered out of
service on October 12, 1865. James Downs left with the
regiment when it sailed for New York on October 14. The
ship arrived on October 18, and the regiment was ordered
to Hart's Island in New York Harbor. Downs' condition did
not improve and he was sent to the regimental hospital.
He died from chronic diarrhea on October 22, 1865.
Although it was six months after the war had ended, he
too lost his life in the war, as surely as if he had been
killed in battle.
His wife and daughter ended up moving to
New York City, where Dorcas filed for a widow's pension.