Friday, April 26, 2013

Bruce R. OR C., Burdick, 7th., Iowa Infantry.

Bruce R. OR C. Burdick, Age 25.  Enlisted and mustered in December 10, 1863.  Killed June 30, 1864, at Kenesaw Mountain Ga.  Buried National Cemetery, Marietta Ga.  Section A., Grave, 950.

From the 7th Iowa Regimental History.

On the 30th of June, our regiment was sent to the skirmish line; while marching up a straight road up the mountain, the rebel sharp shooters fired at us at long range. One shot struck B. C. Burdick of
Co. "B" in the breast, went through him, crashed through the vertebra in his back entering his knapsack, puncturing twenty-three thicknesses of his folded blanket. He was marching just ahead of me and fell against me. I asked him if he was hurt; he replied "not much", and immediately expired. I left him with fifer Thayer and went on with the company. We marched nearly a half a mile up the mountain before we left the road and deployed; so the shot must have been at range of nearly a mile. The bullet that killed him was about as large as the little finger and as long; it was sent to his mother.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

John S. Towle, 8th., New Hampshire, Infantry..

John S. Towle, Co. A., 8TH., New Hampshire; born Monmouth Maine; Age 43; Residence Nashua, New Hampshire; Enlisted September 9, 1861; Mustered in October 25, 1861, as a private.  Appointed Corporal July 17, 1862.  Wounded October 27, 1862, at Labadieville La.  Appointed Sergeant December 21, 1862.  Killed May 27, 1863, at Port Hudson, La.

From the 8th., Regimental History.

John S. Towle of Company A., was shot through the head near the close of the fight, on May 27,, 1863, he must have been killed instantly, as when found his gun was still in his hands.

Colonel William H. Worthington.

Colonel William H. Worthington.

5th., Iowa Infantry, Residence Lee County, Nativity Kentucky, Appointed Colonel July 15, 1861.  Shot by Federal picket while acting as general officer of the day, May 22, 1862, near Corinth, Mississppi.

From the 11th., Missouri Infantry, Regimental History.

It was in front of Corinth that Col. Worthington was killed.  He was doing duth on guard and the orders were very strict.  The sentinels were ordered to allow no one outside of the lines after night, he gave the order himself, and that night he was killed by one of his own men.  He belonged to the 5th., Iowa Infantry.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

John T. Bengough, 12th., West Virginia Infantry.

John T. Bengough, was born about 1837 in England was living in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania in 1860.  He enlisted in the 12th., West Virginia Infantry, Co. F.,, in 1862, Age 26. He was killed in 1863.  The records state that his widow put in for his pension.

The following came from the 12th. West Virginia Regimental History. 

Author Note.  His name is spelled Bengough, although here its spelled Beugaugh and Beugough.


In front of this battery off to the southwest the Johnnys were behind a stone wall. Our artillery did some very accurate shooting, knocking several holes in the wall behind which the Johnnys were, causing them, when the wall was struck, to scatter in a lively manner, and thus affording for the time being, at least, great sport for our boys, though they were quite worn out from want of sleep, having had little or none the night before. Occasional shots from the enemy reached this battery. It was one of these that struck and killed Lieut. Beugough of Company F, who was lying sleeping at the time, being overcome by want of sleep.

Lieut. John T. Bengough, of Company F, was killed in the battle of Winchester on Sunday, June 14th, 1863. Shortly after this his widow in company with another lady, went to Winchester to recover the body. The two women were arrested as spies.

Authors Note.  You can read their story by reading the History of the Twelfth West Virginia Infantry, by William Newitt.  This book can be found and read on line.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Martin Armstrong, 81St, Ohio, Infantry.

Martin Armstrong.

Birth: unknown.
Death: Apr. 6, 1862, Shiloh, Hardin County, Tennessee.

Enlisted as a Captain on 30 August 1861; Commissioned into Co B, 81st Ohio on 19 September 1861; Killed on 6 April 1862 at Shiloh, TN;

Buried in Shiloh National Cemetery, Pittsburg Landing, TN Burial: Shiloh National Military Park, Shiloh, Hardin County, Tennessee.

From the 81st., Ohio Regimental History. 

General Grant ordered the regiment back to the main lines. As this movement was be gun the enemy opened again with grape and canister, and just us Captain Martin Armstrong, who commanded the right company, gave the command, " by file right, march!" a grape shot struck him in the head and killed him instantly. His Orderly Sergeant caught him in his arms and bore him from the field. 

Update November 15, 2013.

The following information is given by Mark Hill.

Martin was born 22 Feb 1833. His father was Brigadier General of Ohio Militia William Armstrong, living in Lima township, Allen County Ohio. Martin's uncle, John Armstrong was a Major General living in New Lisbon, Columbiana County Ohio, and another uncle was Col. Martin Armstrong who, at one time, was a member of Daniel Harbaugh's Company of Light Dragoons.

John Gray, 40th., Ohio, Infantry.

It's not only important to find out if ones ancestor was in the Civil War, but how he may have lived or died in the service in this case there is not a lot of personal information on John Gray but you will find out how he died.

John Gray, Private, Co. C., 40th., Ohio infantry, Enlisted September 10, 1862.  Killed at Lovejoy Ga., September 4, 1864.

The following was taken from the 40th., Regimental History.

Battle of Lovejoy.

The order to charge was countermanded. Both divisions intrenched. On the 8d, 4th, and 5th, our regiment occupied a more exposed position than at any time in the campaign. In our immediate front there was a dense undergrowth which hid the enemy from view, but which did not prevent their bullets passing over and through our camp. The picket firing was incessant, and any exposure above the breastwork was hazardous, John Gray, of Company **C," was killed at this point by a bullett from the enemy's line, while standing on a slight elevation just in rear of our works.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Alexander H. Greenlaw or Greenlough, 40th., N. Y. infantry.

GREENLAW, ALEXANDER H.—Age, 23 years. Enlisted at Yonkers, to serve three years, and mustered in as private, Co-.H, June 27, 1861; killed in action, May 5, 1862, at Williamsburg, Va.

In the Regimental History his name was spelled Greenlough which was in error.

When we were within a mile or two of the battle ground,we were ordered to halt. Our knapsacks, and everything but our rifles, equipments and canteens were left behind,and two men from each company were detailed to guard them. We knew then that we had got to go into the fight. When the detail was made to stay with the equipments, Alexander Greenlough, one of our company, said he had been trying all day to discharge his rifle, but could not, since it had got wet. He asked to be one of the detail to stay with the equipments. The others of his acquaintance made fun of him, and said he was afraid to go into the fight. He said he did not care to stay behind, and would not, if he could help it, since they thought he was a coward, though he said he would be of no use in a battle with a rifle he could not use. He went into the fight, and was the first man in the company to be killed.