Alexis Gatian Liger was also known as Gatien Lagier. He was listed in 1848 as a private with the 4th Company, 1st Battalion of Norfolk County Militia, in Ontario, Canada. On 29 April 1861 he enlisted at Niagara Falls, New York to serve 2 years during the Civil War. He was mustered in as a private in Company "I" on 22 May 1861 and was promoted to Corporal on 23 August 1861. He was captured on 9 August 1862 at Culpeper, Virginia and paroled on 13 September 1862 at Aiken's Landing, Virginia. He was promoted to Sergeant 1 January 1863 at Albany, New York. This record is under the name Gatien Lagier and refers to him as Gatien A. Liger, as found in the Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York published by James B. Lyon in 1900. He again had military service on 8 October 1863 when he re-enlisted in Company "I", New York 2nd Regiment of Mounted Rifles, a regiment known as the Governor's Guard. He was in unit number 1315. He was promoted to full sergeant on 2 November 1863. His regiment was attached to the 22nd Corps near Washington D.C. and joined General Grant's Army of the Potomac in the Richmond Campaign. After the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, he went on to fight at the Battle of Cold Harbor, where he was wounded early in the battle when a mini ball entered his left knee, passed down and lodged in the right side of the calf of his leg. Dr. Robert T. Paine Jr. cut out the ball & dressed the wound. He was taken to Mount Pleasant Hospital in Washington D.C. and missed one of the bloodiest battles during the war. He was absent from his regiment for 3 months and was honorably discharged and mustered out with his regiment on 10 August 1865 at Petersburg, Virginia. On 2 July 1866 Alexis Gatian Liger at Lewiston, Niagara, New York, applied for an invalid military pension (#78767), stating that his leg had never recovered fully. His pension was approved 19 March 1867. About 4 September 1871, his pension discontinued and he had to re-apply, which was approved, as he was receiving a pension of $4.50 a month in September 1873. In September 1877, his pension was reduced to $2.00 a month because the doctor declared the wound slight. On 26 April 1886, he was dropped from the pension rolls; he may have died by that date. He was a constable as listed on the 1870 New York census and he lists fishing as his occupation on the 1880 census. He and Eliza Smith appeared on the censuses of 6 June 1870 and 16 July 1880 at Lewiston, Niagara, New York.
US Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles about Gatien A Liger. Name: Gatien A Liger; Age at Enlistment: 35; Enlistment Date: 10 Aug 1863; Rank at enlistment: Private; Enlistment Place: Lockport, NY; State Served: New York; Survived the War?: Yes; Service Record: Promoted to Full Sergeant on 02 Nov 1863. Enlisted in Company "I", New York 2nd Cavalry Regiment on 08 Oct 1863. Mustered out on 10 Aug 1865 at Petersburg, VA. Birth Date: abt 1828. Sources: New York: Report of the Adjutant-General.