This post was written by library volunteer Gail Denisoff
Jacob Henry Sager was born into a farming family on May 18, 1844 in the town of Princetown. He was the son of Peter and Helen Sager, part of a family of early settlers of Schenectady County. When he was 19 years of age, he enlisted in the Union Army. Mustered in on October 10, 1863, Jacob was assigned to Company C, Heavy Artillery, 16th New York Volunteers.
During his service, he fought in many major campaigns including the battles at Chapin's Farm, Fort Fisher, Wilmington NC, and Andersonville. He spent six months in the hospital with a serious illness during his service. Jacob narrowly missed being shot when a bullet passed through the collar of his coat when he was on picket duty at "Fort Hell" (Fort Sedgwick) in Petersburg VA. He was also part of a large contingent of soldiers who dug the "Dutch Gap Canal" seven miles from Richmond VA.
After he mustered at the end of the war, on August 21, 1865 in Washington DC, Jacob returned home to work the family farm. He married Jennette Weast and together they raised six children.
Jacob was active in the Horsfall Post 90 Grand Army of the Republic. He was senior vice-commander and held many other offices in the post. When he died at age 86, on November 24, 1930, he was one of just six remaining Civil War veterans in Schenectady County. He is buried in Viewland Cemetery.
Cpl. Sager was featured in the 2025 Schenectady Hometown Heroes Banner Program: https://downtownschenectady.org/portfolio/2025-hometown-hero-banner-program/ His banner hung at the corner of State and Barrett Streets from May to November 2025.
No comments:
Post a Comment