Brass personal identification shield / badge with Freemason's symbol and Engineer's castle at center and the inscription "H J CRUICKSHANK / CO C / 50TH Reg.^t N.Y.V. / ENGINEERS / WAR OF 1861."

32 year old Henry J. Cruikshank, a carpenter born in Deerfield, NY, enlisted on 8/30/62 at Rome, NY as a Private.  On that date he mustered into Co. C, 50th New York Engineers.  Listed in company rolls as Company Cook in October 1862. Present with regiment until March, 1863 when he is listed as being detailed to Major Spaulding’s command. Subsequent  Regimental Returns and Muster Rolls for March, April and May 1863 list him variously as a teamster, as well as a nurse and cook at a “Detachment Hospital”.  The Company C Morning Report for 6/13/63 shows that he was returned to his company for light duty, and is listed as present with his regiment through December 1863 when  he is listed as being on “Daily Duty as Brigade Carpenter By order Genl. Benham”. Given 10 day leave of absence to return to Oneida County, NY in January 1864.  On 2/13/64 he was promoted to artificer for general efficiency in the performance of his duty. In March 1864 he was on detached duty as a Cook/Attendent in the Brigade Hospital in Washington, D.C., remaining there until June 1865. Pension records show that he suffered from exposure due to being in the cold water of the Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg, VA in December 1862 while constructing pontoon bridges. He was mustered out on 6/13/65 at Fort Barry, VA. Cruikshank died in Florence, NY on 10/4/1906l; he is buried in Grilley Cemetery in Florence.

Colonel C. B. Stuart received, July 26, 1861, authority to recruit a regiment of infantry, which he organized at Elmira, and which was designated September 20, 1861, the 50th Regiment of Infantry. The companies were mustered in the service of the United States for three years at Elmira, A and D September 18; B August 16, C and F September 17; E August 29; G and H September 16; I August 26, and K September 30, 1861. October 22, 1861, the regiment was converted into and designated the Fiftieth, Regiment of Engineers. Two new companies, L and M, mustered in the United States service for three years in December, 1863, and January and February, 1864, joined the regiment in December, 1863, and February, 1864, respectively. Quite a number of men enlisted for this regiment in 1864 were assigned to the 15th N. Y. Volunteer Engineers. At the expiration of its term of service the men entitled thereto were discharged and the regiment continued in service. The regiment left the State September 20, 1861, and served as infantry at Washington, D. C., from September 22, 1861; in the 3d Brigade, Fitz-John Porter's Division, from September 30, 1861; as engineers at Alexandria, Va., receiving instructions in engineering duties, from October 22, 1861; in the Volunteer Brigade of Engineers, Army of the Potomac, from March, 1862. A detachment also served for a time in 1863, in the 8th Corps, Middle Department, and Company I, with General Sheridan from February, 1865, to Appomattox Court House, Va. Commanded by Col. William H. Pettes, the regiment was honorably discharged and mustered out at Fort Berry, Va., June 13 and 14, 1865.

During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 1 officer, 9 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 7 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 1 officer, 213 enlisted men; total, 2 officers, 229 enlisted men; aggregate, 231; of whom I enlisted man died in the hands of the enemy.

Accompanied by military and pension records from the National Archives.

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