William Porter, Jr.

7th NY Heavy Artillery, Volunteer Artillery (Civil War)

Enlisted, January 25, 1864, at Livingston; mustered in as private, Company F, January 26, 1864, to serve three years; killed June 3, 1864, at Cold Harbor, Va. Based on news clippings, he was in Company H when he died.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cold_Harbor

History

The 7th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment was formed in the 13th Senatorial District in obedience to General Order No. 52, Headquarters State of New York, July 7th, 1862. Mustered into United States service August 18th, 1862. Left Albany 6 p.m. August 19th, 1862. Arrived in Washington, D. C., August 21st, and immediately placed in the defences of that city north of the Potomac. Left Washington May 15th, 1864 and joined the Army of the Potomac near Spottsylvania C. H., Va., on the night of the 17th. On the 19th fought its first battle at Spottsylvania, on the Po River, defending the Army trains from capture. Lost 13 killed, 62 wounded and 9 missing. Moving with the Second Corps, through Guiney's Station and Bowling Green, it reached the North Anna and was engaged on the 23rd, losing 4 killed, 24 wounded and 4 missing; passed through Chesterfield, crossed the Pamunkey River at Newcastle and reached Totopotomy Creek. On the 29th charged the enemy's works, carried them, losing 24 killed, 71 wounded and 12 missing. At Cold Harbor, June 3rd, carried the first line of works, captured a Battle Flag, 300 prisoners and several guns. Loss 76 killed, 248 wounded, 116 missing; most of the missing being killed inside enemy's works.

Leaving Cold Harbor, the Regiment crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge, thence to James River, crossed at Windmill Point, reaching Petersburg on the night of the 15th. Made a charge on the evening of the 16th, losing 35 killed, 105 wounded and 304 taken prisoners. The Regiment remained on duty near Petersburg during the Fall and Winter of 1864. It participated in the expedition of Deep Bottom July 27th and Aug. 22nd, from which place it had just returned when it was ordered on to the Weldon Railroad to destroy it, which was done for several miles.

It was also in the fight at Reams Station, where it lost 7 killed, 12 wounded and 83 missing; total 102. This was its last fight. When the Regiment joined the Army of the Potomac on the 19th of May it had, fit for duty, 66 officers and 1774. On the 28th of Aug. it had 6 officers and 168 men fit for duty. Feb. 22nd, 1865, it was ordered to Baltimore, where it remained until mustered out un June and August 1865.