Person Page - 112

Andrew Jackson Blackwood, husband of Mary M. Phanton

Andrew Jackson Blackwood II (born March 14, 1852 South Lubec, Washington County, Maine died Dec. 10, 1933 in St. Croix, British Virgin Islands) at 81 years of age. Andrew Jackson Jr. ran away from home when he was very young and went to live with a relative. He went to sea when he was between 10 and 13 years old and by the time he was 20, he had earned his master's papers. He eventually served as captain of several sailing ships for Bartram Brothers of New York until 1884, when he settled on the island ofSt. Croix in the Caribbean, then a Danish Crown colony, and became manager of their sugar properties in the Virgin Islands. The Bartrams owned several estates and two mercantile houses, all coming under his purview. The family resided at Golden Grove until Bartram Brothers sold their holdings on the island, at which time they moved to Estate Annaly, a large fruit and sugarcane plantation in the hills, where they lived until their deaths. Although he had no previous experience in the sugar business, Andrew set about building the most modern sugar factory on the island at Lower Love, receiving kudos for his work. In time, he supplanted his owners by becoming an independent planter. He was also the American Consular Agent at Christianstead, one of the two towns on the island. His home, Cushing's Castle, is on the historical tour of Fredericksted, St. Croix. Golden Grove now serves as the administration building for the University of the Virgin Islands. He married Mary Melvina Phantom in Washington County, Maine in October, 1873. His Wife: Mary Melvina Phantom (born 1857 Machias, Washington County, Maine died May, 1923 in St. Croix, British Virgin Islands) at 65 years of age. She was the daughter of Thomas Phantom and Ermina Lydia Stuart. Their Four Children . . . .

Andrew J. Blackwood, husband of 1st Julia A. Bluemortier, 2nd Annie C. Young, 3rd Julia A. Griffin

TWENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY (Nine Months)
Twenty-eighth Infantry.--Col., Ephraim W. Woodman; Lieut.- Col., William E. Hadlock; Maj., Joseph D. Bullen. This regiment, numbering 935 men, was organized on Oct. 6, 1862, and was mustered into the U. S. service at Augusta, Oct. 18, to serve for nine months. On the 26th it left the state for Washington, but stopped en route at New York, and was ordered to Fort Schuyler to report to Gen. Banks. On Nov. 26 it was ordered to East New York, and on Jan. 17, 1863, embarked for Fortress Monroe and New Orleans, arriving at the latter place on the 29th. It encamped at Chalmette, 7 miles below the city, until Feb. 15, when it was ordered to Pensacola, Fla. On March 29 it returned to New Orleans, and was at once ordered to Donaldsonville and Plaquemine. On May 27, six companies under Col. Woodman were ordered to Port Hudson, and assigned to Gen. Nickerson's brigade of Dwight's division. They shared in the advance of June 14, and on June 22 assaulted a bastion of the Confederate works, losing 3 killed and 9 wounded. Meanwhile, the portion of the regiment which had remained at Donaldsonville to garrison Fort Butler, was attacked by a vastly superior force of the enemy, but repulsed them with heavy loss in one of the most gallant engagements of the war. The little garrison killed, captured and wounded more than three times its number, and was mentioned for gallantry in general orders read to the troops before Port Hudson. On July 4, the six companies at Port Hudson were ordered to Fort Butler, then besieged by the enemy, and arrived there on the 5th. The same evening, Maj. Bullen, who had so recently won distinction for his brilliant defense of the fort with his little command, was foully murdered by private Francis G. Scott of the 1st La. infantry. Owing to a dearth of field officers, Col. Woodward had been retained at Port Hudson. After the surrender of that place on the 8th he again took command of the regiment on the 10th and two days later took command of the post at Baton Rouge, where the regiment was stationed until Aug. 6, when it started for Maine via Cairo, Ill., arrived at Augusta on the 18th, and on the 31st was mustered out at that point. Many of the men had reenlisted while in the South, but all the men captured had been paroled or exchanged, and were mustered out with the others.

A. J. Blackwood and wife of South Lubec, arrived home from the west on Friday’s boat. Mr. Blackwood is an old veteran of the war and for some time has been at the Eye Infirmary having his eyes operated on for cataracts. The operation has been so tar successful that he has regained his sight, whereas he was entirely blind. On arriving here he walked ashore without assistance and was able to recognize his old friends without difficulty.