Friday, April 05, 2013

SIX Men Of The 10th.,Massachusetts Infantry.

Edwin E. Day, Captain, Residence Greenfield; Stone mason; Age 35; Commissioned and Mustered in June 21, 1861.  Killed May 31, at Fair Oaks, Virginia.

Capt. Edwin E. Day, of Greenfield, was wounded early in the fight, and was being carried from the field by two men, when a shot killed Captain Day and wounded both the men.  The enemy had possession of this part of the field, for a time, and took from Captain Day's person $150.00 in money, his gold watch, and his shoulder straps.
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Alonzo C. Brewer, Co. D., born Hingham; Age 22; Tailor, Springfield; July 21, 1861.  Killed May 12, 1864, Spottsyvania.  Shot first in the bowels, but refused to leave the field, five minutes later was hit in the forehead and instantly killed.
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Snow, Leander A., (Asaph Leander), b. Colrain; 18, S.; farmer, Colrain; June 21, '61; trans. Aug. 4, '62, to U. S. Hosp. Service as Hosp. Steward; his said to be the first case of promotion from the ranks to the non-commissioned staff of the regular army; in the field, served in the division of the Mississippi; dis. U. S. service, Aug. 11, '65; Captain and Aide on staff of Gov. Brownlow of Tenn.; 
from '68 to 78 U. S. Claim Agent, Tazewell, Tenn.; was Postmaster, Tazewell, and, '82 and '83, Deputy Collector, Internal Revenue at McMinnville, Tenn.; in 1884, removed to Chattanooga, and later to Lafayette, Ga., in 1890, buying a farm and there residing until his death, May 1, 1899; accidentally killed at Snow's siding on his own farm by a locomotive; he was also Postmaster of
Lafayette.
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Joseph B. Parsons, Captain, Residence Northampton; Farmer; Age 22; Enlisted and Mustered in June21, 1861; wounded May 31, 1862, Fair Oaks, Virginia.  Commissioned Lieutenant Colonel, July 20, 1862; Mustered out with Field and Staff, as Lieutenant Colonel, July 1, 1864.  Brevet Colonnel Uninted States Volunteers to date March 13, 1865.

Joseph B. Parsons, Captain, was wounded at Fair Oaks, Virginia.  One ball hitting him on the head and another passing through the right leg above the knee between the bone and artery.
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Elisha Smart, Captain, Co. B.; Residence North Adams; Carpenter; Age 37; Commissioned and Mustered in June 21, 1861.  Killed May 31, 1862, Fair Oaks, Virginia.

Captain Elisha Smart, was left on the field of Fair Oaks, was wounded in the leg, and afterwards wantonly killed by a Rebel soldier of hom he asked assisyance.
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Wallace A. Putnam; July 28, '62; res. Jan. U, '63; later Second Lieut, and Captain, 56th Mass.; while in the Readville camp was presented by his Company with a sword, belt and sash, costing $200.00, as a mark of esteem; at Spottsylvania, commanded the Regiment; mortally wounded, May 24, at the North Anna; d. at his home, June 20, '64; had been commissioned Major, May 7th, but was never mustered.


Wednesday, April 03, 2013

William ''Billy'' Woods, 5th., New Hampshire.

There is very little information here.  If you have any information on William Woods and would like it posted here drop me a line.  I would be glad to post your information.
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William ''Billy'' Woods. 5th., New Hampshire Infantry, Company G; Born Nashoa; Age 19; Residence Chestertown; Enlisted September 27, 1861; Mustered in October 12, 1861, as a private.  Wounded September 17, 1862 at Antietam, Maryland, December 13, 1862, Fredericksbury, Virginia.  Re-enlisted and Mustered in February 19, 1864; Appointed Sergeant; Killed June 17, 1864, near Fredericksburg, Virginia.  Killed while going to the rear to make coffee.

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Robert Henry Hendershot, Drummer Boy.

Robert Henry Hendershot.

Birth: Mar. 1, 1850, Tecumseh, Lenawee County, Michigan.
Death: Dec. 26, 1925, Englewood, Cook County, Illinois.
Burial: Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois.

The following comes from the 12th., Rhode Island Infantry.

His name was Robert H. Hendershot. He was twelve years old. On the 11th day of December, 1862, when volunteers were called for to cross the river in the open pontoon boats to drive back the Mississippi sharpshooters who made it impossible for the engineers to finish the pontoons, slinging his drum over his back, this little patriot volunteered, and jumped into one of the boats. His captain ordered him back, saying, "You are too small for such work." "May I help push off the boat?" said Robert. '"Yes," said the captain, and, clinging to the boat he let it drag him across the stream. Many of the men in the boat were killed, and, as the brave boy climbed the bank, his drum was torn to pieces by a piece of shell. Undaunted he seized a musket belonging to one of his dead companions and fought bravely with the rest of the survivors, who drove the sharpshooters from cover and captured nearly one hundred of them.

Burnside gave the boy great honor, and the New York Tribune Association gave him a splendid new drum, and the proprietor of Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., gave him a home and a fine education

Monday, April 01, 2013

Alois Babo and Reinhold Wesselhoeft, 20th., Mass.

Alois Babo, 1st., Lieutenant; Residence Boston; Age 30; Clerk; Commissioned July 10, 1861; CO. C., 20th., Massachusetts Infantry; Mustered July 26, 1861; Commissioned Captain October 12, 1861, but not mustered.  Killed at Bull's Bluff Virginia, as a 1st., lieutenant.

Reinhold Wesselhoeft, 2nd., Lieutenant; Residence Dorchester; Age 25; Clerk; Commissioned July 10, 1861; Co. C., 20th., Massachusetts Infantry; Mustered July 31, 1861; Reported killed at Bull,s Bluff, Virginia.

The following was taken from the 20th., Regimental History.

Captain Alois Babo and Lieutenant Reinhold Wesselhoeft under took to swim the river without taking off their uniforms, their shoes, or their equipments, even pistols. Nevertheless they seemed to be doing well until, immediately after a volley was fired, one of them was heard to exclaim in German that he was shot, and that was the last that was seen of either of them until Lieutenant Wesselhoeft s body was discovered thirteen days afterwards in the river some twenty miles below. As there was no wound upon it, it is probable that Captain Babo was the one shot, and his devoted friend had lost his life in trying to save him.

Authors note; There is a lot more information and pictures on both of these men at the site of Find a Grave.

Sunday, March 31, 2013

James Getty, 9th., Illinois Infantry.

James Getty.

Service Record.

Name: GETTY, JAMES. Rank: PVT. Company; F. Unit: 9 IL US INF. Personal Characteristics. Residence; MONMOUTH, WARREN CO, IL. Age: 57. Height: 5' 11. Hair: LIGHT. Eyes; BLUE. Complexion: FAIR. Marital Status; MARRIED. Occupation: FARMER. Nativity: COOK CO, TN. Remarks: DISCHARGED FOR WOUNDS 11 JUL 1862 AT CORINTH MISS.

The following was taken from the Ninth Regimental History.

 During the time the Regiment was engaged in battle at Fort Donelson, James Getty, of Co. F, aged about 60 years, was observed by Lieut. Williford of his Co., to decline laying down to load. He stood, loaded his gun? and fired as deliberately as if he had been shooting at a target for a wager. The Lieut, told him he had better lay down to load, or he would get shot. His reply was, " I reckon I know my business," and again raised his gun and deliberately lowered it upon his selected rebel. Soon the Lieut, saw him tumble over, and supposing he was killed, I went to him. But he jumped up, and said he guessed he was not much hurt. He was shot in the shoulder, but he gathered up his musket  and went to firing again. It was not long until another ball struck his pocket-book. He had some silver in it. The ball struck a silver half dollar, and mashed it up, driving it against his thigh, bruising it very much.

Two or three buckshot were lodged in him. Still he stood firing away at the enemy. I might also say in this connection, that this same man, at the battle of Shiloh, when the Regiment ran out of ammunition and had to fall back for a new supply, fell in with some other Regiment; procured a supply of ammunition from some one, and went to fighting again. When that Regiment in turn fell back, he happened in with some other one, and there fbujrht. In this way he spent the whole of that terrible Sabbath day.

When he ceased Fighting with any company, he was careful to go to the commander of it, and get a certificate, stating that he had been fighting with it. When he returned to his company in the evening, he had certificates from several Captains and one Colonel. He preserved these certificates, so that he might show, when he returned to his Regiment, that he had not been straggling but fighting. He went into the fight on the next day, and was shot in the head. From this wound he recovered, but was afterwards discharged on account of it.