155th New York Infantry

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Phillip was born in Bezange-le-Grande, France in 1819, coming over to the USA with his family in 1832 aboard the ship Charlemagne; departing from Le Havre, France and arriving in New York City. Upon entering the country, Phillip's family traveled up the Erie Canal, settling for a short while in Lockport, NY. They then moved on to Buffalo, where they stayed and eventually three Clabeaux brothers started a carpentry/joining business on Spring Street in Buffalo. Phillip was involved in his brothers' business at the onset of the Civil War. He was a widower with six children at the time he enlisted in the 155th NYVI in Buffalo, NY, in Sept. of 1862. He was severly wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor, Va. in June of 1864 during the first wave assault on the Confederate works; a minie ball entered his abdomen 3 inches to the left of his navel, exiting over his right hip; this indicates that he may have been in line of battle, aiming his musket and presenting his left side to the enemy at the time of his wounding. He was later medically discharged from the service in Dec. of 1864. Phillip remarried after the war, and died in 1874 during an epidemic of fever in Buffalo. He is buried in the GAR section of Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY.