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Col. J. B. Sinclair 79th New York Militia, Cameron Highlanders


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Here is a group to Colonel James B. Sinclair, Co. E, of the 79th New York Militia, Cameron Highlanders and 14th U.S. Infantry. The group consists of a G. Wostenholm & Son, Washington Works, Sheffield, England, dagger marked I*XL which was presented to Lieut. J. B. Sinclair 79th Regt. by J. Height, May 25th, 1861. The dagger is eleven inches long overall. The fittings are German silver with ivory scales. A 79th Veteran Association, Highlanders, menu for their reunion on Wednesday, May thirteenth, 1885. General Grant is on the cover to honor him in the year of his death. Sinclair died one month before the reunion at a gathering of officers planning the reunion. Sinclair’s silver 14th U.S. Infantry Corps badge, his Civil War captain’s shoulder boards and a cased tintype of Sinclair. The image of Sinclair is from The United States Army Heritage and Education Center, at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. I had a modern tintype made of his image and placed it in a period tintype case.

James Bruce Sinclair was born in Tarrytown, New York in 1840. He mustered into Co. E, of the 79th New York Militia, Cameron Highlanders, as a private in April of 1861 and as a 2nd Lieutenant on May 13th, 1861. He engaged at the actions of Blackburn’s Ford, Virginia and at the First Battle of Bull Run, Virginia, where he was severely wounded in the head and left knee. Sinclair was promoted to First Lieutenant in August, 1861and Captain of the 79th New York State Militia in September, 1861. First Lieutenant Sinclair was transferred to the 14th U. S. Infantry in October, 1861. He was assigned to guarding the Philadelphia and Baltimore Railroad from December, 1861, to March, 1862. Sinclair was engaged at the siege of Yorktown, actions on the Chickahominy and the battle of Gaines Mill where he was severely wounded in the left knee. He took part in the battles of Malvern Hill, Manassas, Leetown, the march to Falmouth, action of Snicker’s Gap, battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and pursuit of the enemy to Warrenton, and in suppressing the New York draft riots on July 13-16, 1863. In September, 1863 he was Aide-de-Camp to General Burbank, whose brigade was composed of regiments of regular infantry. Sinclair was engaged at the battle of Brandy Station, the action of Bristoe Station, the battle of Rappahannock Station and operations at Mine Run, Virginia. He was Assistant Commissary of Subsistence, lst Regular Brigade, Army of the Potomac, in December, 1863and Aide-de-Camp to General Ayres in April of 1864. He was engaged at the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court House Virginia where he suffered five gunshot wounds of the left leg, four near the knee and one through the thigh near the hip joint. Sinclair commanded the regiment in front of Petersburg and at the battle of Poplar Spring Church, Virginia. He commanded the 10th U. S. Infantry, and 1st Battalions of the 12th and 14th U. S. Infantry, at the battle of Chapel House, Virginia. Sinclair was acting Regimental Adjutant while engaged at the action of Davis Farm, Virginia. Aide-de-Camp and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, to General Winthrop, First Regular Brigade. Engaged at the action of Hatcher’s Run, the battles of Weldon Railroad, and the action on the South-Side Road, Virginia. Sinclair served at Fort Trumbull, Connecticut from January to March, 1865. He was on recruiting duty to July, 1865. Sinclair reverted to Captain 14th U. S. Infantry, July, 1865. He was sent to California in November, 1865. Sinclair was transferred to 23rd U. S. Infantry, by the re-organization of the army. He served in California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington Territories where he was engaged against hostile Indians. Sinclair commanded Fort Boise, Idaho, in 1866 whereupon elements of the 23rd undertook operations against Snake River Shoshone Indians from 1866-1868. He was then sent to Oregon and engaged Indian tribes then served in Arizona against the Apache Indians. Sinclair was involved in suppressing riotous conduct of the Idaho Legislature in the Territory of Idaho and suppressing riotous conduct of the miners in Silver City, Indian Territory. Captain Sinclair was retired from the army in 1871 because of complications from wounds he received during the Civil War. James Bruce Sinclair died at New Rochelle, New York, on April 5, 1885. He is buried in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

 

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Great collection! What a military career! With all those combat wounds it had to hurt getting up every morning!

 

Frank

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