Robert Gray
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2012
Here are two, nearly identical images, made with a multi-lens camera, at the National Portrait Gallery (Object numbers NPG.81.M2423 and NPG.81.M3282). Each glass negative is labelled "Camp Scene / New York 7th Regiment." However, if you look closely at the officer's trunk, you see "Silas Titus / Adj't 12th Reg't / N.Y.V."
Titus was born May 30, 1811, in Wolcott, New York. He lost both his parents when he was only three years old and was raised by his uncle. In 1827, when 16 years old, he left his uncle's farm in Cato, New York and served as a clerk in a general store and as Deputy Post Master. In 1832 he moved to Detroit, Michigan where in 1837 he married Eliza McCarthy. Titus returned to New York in 1840 and settled in Salina.
On May 13, 1861, Titus enlisted as a first lieutenant in the 12th New York State Volunteers (also known as the "First Onondaga Regiment"), where he served as the regimental adjutant. In September he was transferred to the staff of General John J. Peck, before being promoted to commanding colonel of the 122nd New York on August 22, 1862.
The 122nd New York was engaged at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. Shortly after Gettysburg, Titus was ordered to serve as Provost Marshal of the General Court Marshal in Trenton, New Jersey. After serving one year as a member of the court martial he resigned and returned to Syracuse. Titus died in Brooklyn, New York on October 4, 1899. He is buried along with his wife Eliza and two of his three children in St. Agnes Cemetery in Syracuse.
In the carte-de-visite Silas Titus is wearing Captains Bars, which dates the photo around the summer of 1862. The last photo is of the Titus family in Syracuse, ca. 1858. The oldest son, on the left, is Silas Wright Titus. I believe he is the boy with the bugle in the glass negatives. The remaining soldier is, for now, yet to be identified.
"THE ONONDAGAS"
A History of the 122d Regiment, New York Volunteers
Compiled by Kathy Crowell, Fayetteville, NY, 1998.
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Frederick Hill Meserve Collection.
Titus was born May 30, 1811, in Wolcott, New York. He lost both his parents when he was only three years old and was raised by his uncle. In 1827, when 16 years old, he left his uncle's farm in Cato, New York and served as a clerk in a general store and as Deputy Post Master. In 1832 he moved to Detroit, Michigan where in 1837 he married Eliza McCarthy. Titus returned to New York in 1840 and settled in Salina.
On May 13, 1861, Titus enlisted as a first lieutenant in the 12th New York State Volunteers (also known as the "First Onondaga Regiment"), where he served as the regimental adjutant. In September he was transferred to the staff of General John J. Peck, before being promoted to commanding colonel of the 122nd New York on August 22, 1862.
The 122nd New York was engaged at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. Shortly after Gettysburg, Titus was ordered to serve as Provost Marshal of the General Court Marshal in Trenton, New Jersey. After serving one year as a member of the court martial he resigned and returned to Syracuse. Titus died in Brooklyn, New York on October 4, 1899. He is buried along with his wife Eliza and two of his three children in St. Agnes Cemetery in Syracuse.
In the carte-de-visite Silas Titus is wearing Captains Bars, which dates the photo around the summer of 1862. The last photo is of the Titus family in Syracuse, ca. 1858. The oldest son, on the left, is Silas Wright Titus. I believe he is the boy with the bugle in the glass negatives. The remaining soldier is, for now, yet to be identified.
"THE ONONDAGAS"
A History of the 122d Regiment, New York Volunteers
Compiled by Kathy Crowell, Fayetteville, NY, 1998.
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Frederick Hill Meserve Collection.
Forum Host
Bringing the