Derrickson, James Gaunt, 1841-1865.

Derrickson, James Gaunt

Rank : Capt.

Regiment : 66th New York Infantry Regiment. Co. B.

Service : 1861 October 1861-1865 March

James Gaunt Derrickson, born on June 6, 1841, was the eldest son of James T. Derrickson, a pioneer paper merchant in New York City, and Eleanor Jane Buchanan. Twenty years old and just out of college (he attended the University of the City of New York), Derrickson mustered with Co. B of the 66th New York Volunteers as a 2nd Lieutenant, in October 1861. After campaigns in the Chickahominy swamps during the Fair Oaks and Seven Days campaigns in 1862, Derrickson, suffering from exposure, was hospitalized at Camp Confidence. He was promoted to adjutant of the New York 66th in August 1862 and fought in several key battles, including Antietam and Fredericksburg. The following December, he was appointed captain of Co. C. He fought at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and on July 3, 1863, was promoted to Acting Division Ordinance Officer for the First Division, Second Corps in the Army of the Potomac. He held this position until he was captured on June 22, 1864, near Petersburg, Virginia. He was first detained at Libby Prison in Richmond, but spent time at prisons in Macon, Georgia, and Columbia, South Carolina. He was paroled 8 months later in March 1865, from North East Ferry, North Carolina. He was discharged from the army two months later.

After the war, Derrickson worked at his father's paper business, but drowned while inspecting a paper mill on Friday, October, 13, 1865.

From the guide to the James G. Derrickson diary, Derrickson, James G. diary, 1864-1865, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)