United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Theodore Basterdus Born in Chicopee. Son of Ferdinand Basterdus. By occupation a Machinist. Single. At the age of 18, on Jan’y 26, 1864, enlisted for 3 years in the 25th Reg. N.Y. Vols. Cavalry, Company “B”. Mustered into service on Feb. 2 1864. Rank Private. Joined his Reg. in camp on Riker’s Island, N.Y. harbor, having enlisted in N.Y. City. Thence he moved with the Reg. to Saratoga, N.Y., where he remained till about 28 Mar. 1864, at which date the Command was ordered to report at Camp Stoneman, near Cavalry Depot at {Giesboro} below Washington. From this date he participated in the several campaigns in which the Reg. took part. He was with his Reg. in the Brilliant campaign under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, and took part in some of the engagements of this campaign. Basterdus was promoted Corporal in his Co. on Jan’y 1st, 1865 and held that grade till his discharge. The campaign in the Shenandoah was the closing campaign of his Regiment. In May 1865, he removed with his Reg. from Berlin, Md. To Winchester, Va. Where the Command lay in camp about three weeks. Thence, about the last of May, it was sent to the Relay House, Md. And thence to Hart’s Island, N.Y. Harbor, where it was mustered out on the 26 June. Basterdus did not receive his {final} papers, though mustered out with his Reg., till July 7th, which date his discharge bears, succeeding his discharge he returned to his home in Chicopee.