Jesse Segoine formed and led the 111th New York Infantry during the Civil War. His enlistment dates were 20
Aug 1862 – 03 Jan 1863 when he resigned due to illness.
Family
Jesse Segoine was born in Long Island, New York on January 6, 1804. His father was also named Jesse Segoine.
Family records indicate that his mother was Charlotte Crooker. Family lore indicates that the Segoine family line were French Huguenots (Calvinist Protestants) who immigrated to Long Island and Staten Island in the 1700s. The family lived in Brooklyn New York and Jesse became a cabinet maker.
According to Jesse’s obituary, his grandfather (John Jean Segoine – name not verified by records) served in the French War under General Wolfe and fought at the Plains of Abraham in Quebec. The same obituary indicates that Jesse Segoine Sr. was a member of the 1st New York Artillery.
In 1822, Jesse Segoine enlisted in the infantry portion of the 11th Regiment of the N.Y. State Artillery. In 1825,
the N.Y. military organization was changed and the infantry portion of the 11th Regiment became the 27th
Regiment of National Guards. Jesse served in this regiment until 1830.
Jesse Segoine married Priscilla P. Fowler on 18 Jul 1824 in New York. Priscilla was born in 1806 in New York.
No information has been located on Priscilla’s family other than her sister Mary Fowler lived with Jesse and
Priscilla for many years. Jesse and Priscilla had 7 children: William F. Segoine (1829-1854); Charles Segoine (1834-1865); Henry Segoine
(1837-1915); Edward Eugene Segoine (1839-1853); Mary Francis Segoine (1843-1872); Charlotte F. Segoine
(1847-1922); and Jesse Irene Segoine (1849-1906). The member of Laura Belle Stoddard Tent 22, Daughters
of Union Veterans of the Civil War 1861-1865 descends through Jessie Irene Segoine who married James
Artemus Donahue on 27 Jan 1875 in Auburn. James Donahue also served in the 111th New York Infantry during the Civil War.
In 1836, Jesse and his family moved to Auburn in Cayuga County New York. He used his cabinet maker skills to
become a partner in the firm of Parsons, Hewson, and Segoine. That firm made furniture in the Auburn Prison
using contract labor.
In 1840, Jesse formed the Auburn Guard (Militia Company) and was their Captain until the New York Governor appointed Jesse Segoine as Brigadier General of state militia in 1853 in charge of the 23rd Brigade. In 1857, Jesse went to Michigan to run a furniture manufacturing plant and was appointed Major General in the Michigan Guard in charge of the Second Division.
Jesse Segoine returned from Michigan to Auburn New York before the Civil War. He was involved in local
businesses, including cabinet/furniture manufacturing, and also ran a farm. Jesse was active in recruiting
soldiers in the updated New York area. He helped muster and train the 19th, 33rd, and 75th infantry regiments.
Jesse died 14 Aug 1895 and Priscilla died 15 Apr 1893. Both were buried in the family plot in the Fort Allegan
Section of Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn New York. Priscilla’s sister and all of Jesse and Priscilla’s
children except Jesse Irene Segoine Donahue are also buried in the family plot in Fort Hill Cemetery.
Civil War Service
On 19 July 1862 at the age of 58, Jesse Segoine was authorized to raise a regiment in Auburn New York, and
surrounding areas. This regiment became the 111th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Jesse Segoine
mustered in as Colonel and was commissioned on 9 Sep 1862.
Between July 14 and July 26, 400 volunteers had been enlisted. The volume of volunteers in that short time
was attributed to the fear of a draft. Generous bounties were also offered in some areas for volunteers to join the new regiment. By the time the regiment left Auburn for Baltimore and then Virginia, it had about 1,000 officers and soldiers. The 111th New York Regiment was instrumental in holding the Union line at Harpers Ferry. However, the commanding Colonel Dixon Stansbury Miles, who was fatally injured during the battle surrendered approximately 12,500 Federal troops to Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson on Sept 15, 1862. Jesse Segoine was one of the soldiers made Prisoner of War as a result of this surrender. The regiment was paroled and sent first to Annapolis, Maryland, and then to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois.
The regiment was exchanged on November 23, 1862. Jesse returned to duty after the prisoner exchange, but due to age and ill health, resigned from his commission 03 Jan 1863.
Jesse Segoine was one of several officers who testified before Congress about the mismanagement of the battle at Harper’s Ferry. The surrender was done without consultation with a majority of the Union leaders.
References:
The 111th New York Volunteer Infantry, Martin W. Husk, McFarland & Company, Inc.; 2010 Colonels in Blue Union Army Colonels of the Civil War; New York; Roger D. Hunt; Schiffer Military History Series; 2003
https://civilwarintheeast.com/us-regiments-batteries/new-york-infantry/111th-new-york; article printed 09- 29-2023
https://antietam.aotw.org; article on Colonel Jesse Segoine; printed 01-07-2024
https://www.findagrave.com; Jesse Segoine; printed 01-07-2024
https://www.forthillcemetery.net/Notables/segoine/segoine.html; printed 09-29-2023
https://museum.dmna.ny.gov/unit-history/infantry-2/111th-infantry-regiment; printed 01-07-2024
Wikipedia; 111th_New_York_Infantry_Regiment; printed 01-07-2024
Signposts from Harper’s Ferry National Park – “We Began Firing at Will: The 11th New York Regiment” and
“From Skirmish Line to Burial Ground” – both found along the Union Skirmish line at Harper’s Ferry National
Park.