Home Page Home Page Events Events Photos Photos Diocese of Ogdensburg Home Page  
Follow Us on Facebook


Archives Living Stones... Foundations of our Parishes
Clayton Catholic was a Civil War hero

June 1, 2016

By David Shampine, staff writer;
and Neil Fuller , contributing writer

CLAYTON  - An 85-year-old Civil War hero, Joseph Michael Lonsway, who was a life-long worshiper at St. Mary’s Church, thought he was just one in a crowd of veterans as he stood in front of the White House.
Wearing his faded-blue Congressional Medal of Honor, he soon learned on Nov. 11, 1921, that his service to the Union merited special recognition.

General John J, Pershing, the commanding officer of the United States Army, approached him and “literally Clayton Herohugged him, lifting the little old man high in the air,” the Watertown Daily Times reported.
And then, newsmen closed in on the two old soldiers in time to hear the general to say “I’m proud to meet a Medal of Honor man, and I know the president will want to see you.” Moments later, Joseph Lonsway was being introduced to President Warren G. Harding.

The occasion for the Clayton man’s memorable day was a ceremony honoring an unknown soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, to which Mr. Lonsway and several other Civil War veterans had been invited.

During his 15-minute chat with the president, Mr. Lonsway was asked if he had paid his own travel expenses. That affirmed, President Harding not only arranged reimbursement, for his round trip, but additionally asked the veteran to stay over another day in Washington.  The president wanted to have a follow-up discussion to hear about the old soldier’s war experiences.

Wrong train
When Joseph, traveling alone, was ready to return to Clayton, he inadvertently boarded the wrong train. In doing so, he entered the private car of Field Marshal Ferdinand Foch of France, who was also in Washington for the unknown soldier dedication. Recognizing the old soldier, the Field Marshal greeted Joseph, and they were able to converse in French.

The Field Marshal congratulated him for being so brave. He eventually ordered his private guard to escort Mr. Lonsway to his train and to make sure he was comfortably seated for his journey home.

The following month, on the eighth of December 8, Joseph appeared on stage in Clayton as “The Boy of 65” in a skit put on by the Knights of Columbus in a musical comedy, “The Merry Travelers.”

Clayton native
Joseph was born in Clayton on March 7, 1844, the son of Michael and Larose Amo Langevin Lonsway, who had come to Clayton from Quebec a few years earlier.

The community of Clayton was at the time referred to as French Creek because of the large number of French Canadians who had settled here.

With the arrival of these primarily Catholic French Canadians it became evident that a Catholic church would have to be constructed to meet their spiritual needs. Prior to 1842 most Catholic residents attended church in LaFargeville, and they were served by visiting priests from Rosiere. Construction of a church in Clayton, St. Mary’s, was begun in 1842 and completed in 1844.

The newborn Joseph Lonsway was in that year baptized in the newly constructed church by Father Francis Guth.
The family was very devout and although they had little means they supported their little church as best they could.

Young Joseph spent much of his early life on the St. Lawrence River working in boat liveries as fishing guide, raftsman and sailor. He received little formal education, but was a strong wiry little man who was known to have little fear. He spoke broken English because the family still spoke French at home. Many of the early pastors who attended St. Mary’s were also of French descent and the church records were recorded in their native language.

Recognized for bravery
With the Civil War raging in the south, Joseph enlisted at Sackets Harbor on Oct. 12, 1863 as a private in Company D, 20th Regiment of the New York Volunteer Cavalry.

The account of his bravery, as recorded in the Medal of Honor certificate, recognized him “For distinguished gallantry in action at Murfree’s Station, Va. October 16th, 1864, when, under cover of rapid fire from artillery and the carbines of the cavalry, he volunteered to swim across the Blackwater River to get a large flat used as a ferry boat on the other side of the river, succeeded in getting the boat safely across, thereby making it possible for the detachment to cross the river and take undisputed possession of the enemy’s breastworks.” 

In Private Lonsway’s account he went on to tell how several men had been killed before he accomplished this feat. Because he knew he may be killed himself he asked a friend from Clayton to write home to his family and let them know what had happened. Joseph then jumped stark naked into the river, swam across the river on his back with just his nose above the surface.

Undetected by the enemy he returned with the cable in hand, enabling his unit to secure the barge and transport men, horses and artillery across the river and win the battle.

Afterward, Joseph was asked how he had learned to become such a strong swimmer. “I learnt how to swim by watching the muskrats swim up French Creek…dat I know,” he said.

After his swim he got separated from his detachment. Trying to find his way back, he came across some rebel soldiers guarding 250 head of cattle.

He managed to “knock out” the guards and he stampeded the cattle back to his own men, solving their needs for fresh meat.

Upon his return to his unit, he was heard whooping and hollering as he drove the cattle, but his commander mistook the racket to be a rebel attack and ordered his men to take aim.

The friend from Clayton, identified only as Jenkins, recognized Lonsway’s hollering and begged the commander to hold fire.

Joseph credited Jenkins with saving his life that day.

According to the Harold Sanderson Master File of Civil War Soldiers from the North Country, that soldier may have been Jackson Jenkins of Clayton, who was a member of the 20th Regiment.

Private Lonsway was reportedly offered a promotion by President Lincoln, but he appreciatively declined, choosing to return to Clayton upon completion of his enlistment.

Marrying his sweetheart
Awaiting his return was his sweetheart, Mary LePage, to whom he was married at St. Mary’s Church. The ceremony on Sept. 11, 1865 was performed by Father James Sherry.

Joseph and Mary parented nine children, but five of them failed to reach the age of two: Joseph, born in 1870, James, born in 1871, Edward, given birth in 1872, M. Louise, born in 1875, and Paul, who was carried to his 1890 birth by his 43-year-old mother.

The first-born child, Mary, arrived on Oct. 25, 1866, and died on her 48th birthday, the victim of a flu epidemic.
Three survived their parents: Josephine, born in 1877, Louisa, born in 1879, and Addie Sophia, who was added to the family in 1883.

Many of their descendants still make their homes in Clayton and worship at St. Mary’s Church.

Joseph lived to be 81, passing on Jan. 22, 1925. Mrs. Lonsway died five years later, on April 9. Their funerals were both held in the new St. Mary’s, dedicated in 1889, which still stands today.

Joseph and Mary are buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery along with their parents and descendants.

In 2011, in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, a celebration was held to remember Pvt. Joseph Lonsway and his heroism.

It was attended by his surviving granddaughter, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren and great great great grandchildren. A memorial to Private Lonsway is on the wall of the Clayton American Legion. His medal is still in his family.

Per his wishes the medal is handed down generation to generation to the oldest male descendant.

A blue flag signifying his Medal of Honor adorns his grave.

North Country Catholic North Country Catholic is
honored by Catholic Press
Association of US & Canada

Copyright © Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg. All rights reserved.