Civil War service. Private, corporal, sergeant, 1st sergeant, 1st Lieutenant, and captain, Company B, 20th New York State Militia. Served from 1861-1866. Wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863.
By March 26, 1862, A.C. Vredenburgh took over Ike Buswell's business in Rondout. He likely closed it in 1861 in order to go away to war.
The following is an extract from a letter published in the Rondout Courier written by "IKE BUSWELL," formerly of this village, and a brother of WILBER BUSWELL who fell at Antietam. He is a Sargeant [sic] in the 20th Regt. N. Y. S. M.; has been wounded, and a prisoner in Richmond; and be knows how to handle a "shooting iron," being a practical gunsmith. He says:—
"I hesitated considerably before I made up mind to leave the many ties and associations I had formed while a resident of Rondout, but I could not resist the lore and attachment that I bore for that glorious old flag, The Stars & Stripes. Traitors to our country had tramped in the dust with impunity that flag which they have lived under and prospered for generations so well. We had become a mighty Republic, and one that was to be feared by foreign powers. Our ships sailed all over the waters of the globe, and go where you would there you would find the industrious Yankee; and could I sit idle at home and see this glorious Republic severed in twain, and our constitution set at naught, which my forefathers had helped to establish! Ah! by no means. My grand father fought in the Revolution; and I was determined to help keep the fighting stock of the Buswells good. Hence my enlistment in the army. I have suffered more than tongue can tell. I have been in the hands of the enemy, and obliged to pay a visit to the Rebel capital, and the famous Libby Prison, as well as Belle Island. I have been three days and a half, while in their hands, without a mouthful to eat, but still I did not complain, for I had given up my life for my country. It seemed as though they could not starve me to death, but on the contrary, fasting done me good; for ever since I have been exchanged and back to my Regiment I have been fat and saucy; and at the battle of Fridericksburg [sic] last December, I had a good chance to get revenge for the treatment I had received while in the hands of the Hottentots. Hottentots did I say; they are a civilized people compared to the Southern heathens. I was surprised while marching through Richmond to see the feeling against the Union Soldiers. The little children insulted us, every one heaped insult upon insult on our unfortunate heads, and even the dogs would snap and snarl at us. But I will not discus War matters or southern chivalry any longer, only that I am bound to stick to them and not give up the ship until the Star Spangled Banner floats over every and each southern State. This must be done even though we lose a million of brave hearts in accomplishing it. We must let the world know that we can fight victoriously, not only foreign enemies, but traitors and enemies at home. If we fail to do so then we lose the principle that our Government is foundered upon.
Sergt. IKE BUSWELL."
