"Youth, pride in such a service, and the novel duties and scenes in which they were soon to act gave the "enchantment of distance" to a life filled with hardship, danger, and death."
Colonel William H. Noble
Contents
Introduction
Major Allen G. Brady
Sgt. Edwin O. Harrison
Lt. Hanford Hayes
Hubbell's in the 17th
Pvt. Timothy Donovan
Musician Henry Huss
Sgt. Isaac Crissy
Pvt. Francis H. Ferry
Pvt. George S. Ferry
Surgeon Robert Hubbard
Chaplain William K. Hall
Sergeant Isaac N. Crissy
Company H
By Jael Raymond
Isaac Newton Crissy was born on January 3, 1817 probably in New Canaan, CT to William and Polly (Mills) Crissy. Isaac's grandparents were William and Abigail (Howe) Crissy and Nathaniel and Hannah (Hoyt) Mills. He was the third of six children; his siblings were William Mills, Hannah Elizabeth, Harriet, Theodore, and Mary Jane.
Isaac was born into a family of skilled carpenters and made his living as a carpenter. Many historic houses in the New Canaan area today have interior carpentry done by this Crissy family.
On March 15, 1838 Isaac and Margaret Weed were married in New Canaan, CT. They were married for nearly five years when on February 11, 1845 a divorce was granted. On June 2, 1845, in the town of Lewisboro, NY, Isaac married Esther Weed Smith. She was born February 20, 1824 to Peter Francis and Betsy (Hoyt) Smith of southeastern NY. There were four daughters born to this marriage; Mary Jane, Julia May, and twins; Polly C. and Betty C.
At the age of 45, on August 28, 1862, Isaac was mustered as a sergeant into the 17th Connecticut Infantry, Company H. He moved with his regiment until the Battle of Chancellorsville, where he was wounded in the right ankle. The wound combined with a case of diarrhea contracted a couple of months before Chancellorsville caused him to be classified as disabled and he was transferred to the 21st Company, 2nd Battalion (VRC). In September 1863, Isaac was given a furlough to return home to recover from his illness. His doctor made several requests for extensions of this furlough over the next several months because Isaac was so debilitated by his illness. At one point, Isaac was classified as a deserter because of the furlough extensions, but the matter was later cleared up. He suffered from this illness until his death.
Isaac continued to work at light carpentry work for the rest of his life. He was a Mason, a member of the Harmony Lodge, an active member in the Grand Army, and a member of the Douglas Fowler, G.A.R. Post. Isaac liked to write poetry about his wife, daughters, and grandchildren. One poem was written to his family soon after he left Connecticut to fight in the Civil War.
He died on May 29, 1895 in Norwalk, CT where he was living with his daughter and son-in-law, the Williams'. His wife, three daughters, and five grandchildren survived him. His wife, Esther, died September 29, 1901 in New Canaan, CT.