Mortuary Services In New England

Call to arms: Local men rally to Union cause

The following is the second part of a series of articles on the Civil War, the sesquicentennial of which is being commemorated this year.

Approximately 500 Fairfield and Westport servicemen enlisted or were drafted into the Union Army during the Civil War, but even though the conflict was the bloodiest in the nation's history, more than half of them survived and returned home.

The war, from 1861 to 1865, claimed the lives of more than 600,000 men -- from the estimated 4 million or more of both the Union and Confederate forces. The Union Army suffered more than 360,000 deaths, according to the best estimates. Of that number, more men were lost to disease than to battle. Disease took the lives of seven local men. They died of infections from their wounds or typhoid fever, dysentery, pneumonia, measles or chickenpox, among other ailments.

The Fairfield and Westport soldiers -- farmers, shoemakers, blacksmiths, clerks, mechanics, teachers or laborers -- ranged in age from their mid-teens to their late-40s. Some were married with children, others single. The majority of them were uncertain what they would face once they left the safe confines of Fairfield County.

Many entered the military as privates but later emerged as corporals, captains, majors or brigadier generals, and they served in various Connecticut regiments; some in out-of-state units. The tours of duty for some lasted only a year or two; others for the entire campaign. And yet others enlisted on one day, only to desert the next. More than 100 Fairfielders and Westporters fled, particularly those who entered the war in the later years.

Two Fairfield men died in battle. They were John Cavanagh and James Cable , both of whom were killed at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.

Westport was less fortunate, as seven men were killed. Both Francis Nash and Francis Foot died at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. The others were: Robert Werner , killed at Cedar Mountain, Va., on Aug. 9, 1862; Samuel Morehouse, at Bisland, La., on April 13, 1863; William Mott , at Bristoe Station , Va., on Oct. 14, 1863; Robert Foster , at Deep Bottom Run, Va., on Aug. 14, 1864; and George Schmidt , at Reams' Station, Va., on Aug. 25, 1864. Schmidt had been in the war for only about two weeks when he was killed.

Following is a snapshot of some of the Civil War soldiers from Fairfield and Westport. Two of them were highly decorated and regarded servicemen. The others explained, through letters they wrote to family and friends back home, life in the service 150 years ago.

Eduardo “Eddy” DeAnda | Belen Funeral Home - Romero Funeral Home ...

1932-2011

Eduardo “Eddy” DeAnda, age 79, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle passed away Friday, June 24. He was born on March 11, 1932 in Los Lunas, NM. Eddy was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church and served as an usher and money counter for many years. He always had a smiling face, open arms, and a friendly handshake. He had a beautiful voice and enjoyed acting and singing in the Pastorelas annually for several years. A lover of sports, he played center for the Los Lunas tigers in high school and loved the Dallas Cowboys. He voluntarily prepared income taxes for AARP and any family or friends in need. He worked for First National Bank of Belen for 30 years working up from a teller to district manager to loan officer and was one of the first people to learn and supervise the ATM systems. He was a dedicated family man always putting family first. He didn’t have a selfish bone in his body literally giving the shirt off his back to anyone in need. Super friendly and social, he spoke to everyone, no one was a stranger. Eddy and Jenny were always the best dancers in the room and enjoyed travel and went on many cruises, road trips, and especially loved visiting Jennifer and Ken in New Jersey. They traveled to New Jersey every year for 25 years and enjoyed New England, Cape Cod, New York, Philadelphia, and he especially loved Baltimore and the crab cakes. He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Leonard; parents, Jose Dolores and Concepcion Montes DeAnda; brother, Lorenzo; sisters, Julia DeAnda, and Mattie Williams;  father and mother-in-law, Presciliano “Buddy” and Elena Gabaldon Sanchez; sister-in-laws, Erlinda “Early” Garcia and Mary Tabet Sanchez; and brother-in-laws, Tranquilino “Kilo” Sanchez and Eduardo “Lalo” Lopez. Eddy is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Juanita “Jenny” Sanchez DeAnda; devoted daughter, Jennifer Leight and husband, Ken; daughter-in-law, Cynthia DeAnda; and cherished grandson, Steven. He is also survived by a brother, sisters, nieces and nephews.  All services will be held at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church beginning with a Visitation at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 29 with a Rosary to be recited at 11:30 a.m. and a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 12:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens. Honorary Urnbearers will be Kenneth Leight and Steven Lee DeAnda.

Funeral service, a bibliography of literature on its past, present, and future, the various means of disposition, and memorialization

The New England historical and genealogical register

Southern literary messenger

The New England medical gazette

Herald of gospel liberty