 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Levi I. Harvey was born in the county of Kent, Rhode Island, December 10, 1808.
He was apprenticed to a carpenter, and after learning his trade, removed to Cornwall, Vermont, where he married Phebe S. Bascom. After his marriage, he united himself to the Congregational Church at that place. Soon after, he settled in the city of Albany, and connected himself with the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of that city. He was a member of that church, in good standing at the time of his death.
Although moving in the humble walks of life, he was ever respected by all who knew him for his great integrity and consistent Christian character. Although he, at the commencement of the war, was quite advanced in life, he was prompted, by feelings of patriotism, to enlist in the service of his country as a private in Company B, Forty-third Regiment N. Y. S. V. He was with his regiment in the Division of Gen. Hancock, under Gen. McClellan, through the Peninsula campaign, and in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, until the retreat of the army to Harrison Landing, and their return to Alexandria, Va., where he was taken sick and sent to the hospital, and subsequently was honorably discharged from the service for disability.
Mr. Harvey, after his return home, and recovery from his sickness, could not content himself to remain out of the service, and again re-enlisted in Company G, Second Heavy Artillery, Massachusetts Volunteers. He was with that regiment at the capture of Fort Williams by the enemy, where he was taken prisoner with his entire regiment, and sent to Andersonville, Georgia. There he died from the effect of ill treatment, received at the hands of the rebels, July 18, 1864.
The record of Mr. Harvey is one among the many, of noble sacrifice made by loyal citizens in devotion to their country.
It was purely christian patriotism that prompted him, in advanced life, to yield up the comforts of a home, and a family to which he was devoted, to bear his part in the great struggle for the maintenance of the Government; and nobly did he discharge his duty.
His widow, Phebe S. Harvey, who is quite advanced in life, survives him, with five children to mourn his loss.
