George Haven Putnam, 176th., New York Infantry.

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George Haven Putnam. Bervet Major, 176th., New York, Infantry.  Prisoner at Libby and Danville in the winter of 1864-1865.


PUTNAM, G. HAVEN—Age, 21 years. Enrolled at New Orleans, La., to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. E, December 18,1862; promoted quartermaster sergeant, January10, 1863; captured in action, June 23, 1863, at Brashear City, La.; paroled and returned to duty, August 17, 1863; mustered in as first lieutenant, Co. B, December 21, 1863; as first lieutenant and adjutant, March 1, 1864; captured in action,October 19, 1864; paroled, February, 1865; discharged, May 29, 1865. Commissioned first lieutenant, October 16, 1863, with rank from October 10, 1863, vice Irving, Co. B; first lieutenant and adjutant, February 23, 1864, with rank from December 21, 1863, vice-T..H. Edsall mustered out; captain, not mustered, May 2, 1865, with rank from December 10, 1864, vice F. Cuzner discharged.

L. B. Maund, 4th., Georgia

The Sounthern Rifles, Company A., Fourth Regiment Georgia Volunteer, Infantry, A. N. V., C. S. A.

L. B. Maund.

 

Third Sergeant, April 26, 1861. Promoted Junior Second Lieutenant July, 1802. Mortally wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5. 1864, and died in field hospital. After being shot down he was fired upon and then bayoneted by the enemy.

George A. Blanchard, 85th., Illinois Infantry.

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CAPTAIN GEORGE A. BLANCHARD was born in Henderson, Jefferson county, New York, May 14, 1833, and with his parents, Aaron and Anna Blanchard, removed to Illinois and settled in St. Charles in Kane county, in 1838. He served for a time as deputy sheriff and circuit clerk of Kane county, married Amanda Walker, March 17, 1857, and removed to Havana, in Mason county, where he engaged in general merchandise. He assisted in recruiting Company C, and at the organization of the company was elected first lieutenant. He was promoted to be captain February 7, 1863, and commanded the company until captured at the battle of Peach Tree creek, Georgia, July 19, 1864. He was held in various rebel prisons until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged May 15, 1865. Upon his return to Havana he was appointed master in chancery for Mason county, holding the position until 1868, when he was elected circuit clerk. At the close of a four-years term he became the secretary of the Springfield and Northwestern railway, and was serving in that capacity when he died May 4, 1875.

Civil War Records.

Name: BLANCHARD, GEORGE A Rank: 1LT. Company: C. Unit: 85 IL US INF. Residence: HAVANA, MASON CO, IL. Age: 29. Height: 5' 5. Hair: BROWN. Eyes: BLUE. Complexion: LIGHT. Marital Status: MARRIED. Occupation: ROUST ABOUT. Nativity: WATERTOWN, JEFFERSON CO, NY. Joined When: JUL 23, 1862. Joined Where: MASON CO, IL. Joined By Whom: CPT BLACK. Period: 3 YRS. Muster In: AUG 27, 1862. Muster In Where: PEORIA, IL. Remarks: PROMOTED

CAPTAIN Name: BLANCHARD, GEORGE A. Rank: CPT. Company: C. Unit: 85 IL US INF. Residence: HAVANA, MASON CO, IL. Age: 29. Height: 5' 5. Hair: BROWN. Eyes: BLUE. Complexion: LIGHT. Marital Status: MARRIED. Occupation: ROUST ABOUT. Nativity: WATERTOWN, JEFFERSON CO, NY. Joined When: MAR 7, 1863. Joined Where: NASHVILLE, TN. Joined By Whom: GOV OF ILL. Period: 3 YRS. Muster In: MAR 30, 1863. Muster In Where: NASHVILLE, TN. Remarks: HONORABLY DISCHARGED MAY 15, 1865

James Ball & Sarah E. Ball

James Ball was a fireman on the steamer Vidette and died of disease while on the Burnside Expedition to capture Roanoke Island.  His wife was Sarah E. Ball and was living at Poughkeepsie, New York, they had to children: Elnora Ball, born June 26, 1853 and George D. Ball, born January 3, 1855.  She asked Congress for a pension and received $8., per month.

 

Note. If you have any information on this family drop me a line I would like to post it here.

Back Ground

 

The opening phase of what came to be called the Burnside Expedition, the Battle of Roanoke Island was an amphibious operation of the American Civil War, fought on February 7–8, 1862, in the North Carolina Sounds a short distance south of the Virginia border. The attacking force consisted of a flotilla of gunboats of the Union Navy drawn from the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, commanded by Flag Officer Louis M. Goldsborough, a separate group of gunboats under Union Army control, and an army division led by Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside.

The defenders were a group of gunboats from the Confederate States Navy, termed the Mosquito Fleet, under Capt. William F. Lynch, and about 2,000 Confederate soldiers commanded locally by Brig. Gen. Henry A. Wise. The defense was augmented by four forts facing on the water approaches to the island, and two outlying batteries. At the time of the battle, Wise was hospitalized, so leadership fell to his second in command, Col. Henry M. Shaw.

During the first day of the battle, the Federal gunboats and the forts on shore engaged in a gun battle, with occasional contributions from the Mosquito Fleet. Late in the day, Burnside's soldiers went ashore unopposed; they were accompanied by six howitzers manned by sailors. As it was too late to fight, the invaders went into camp for the night. On the second day, February 8, the Union soldiers advanced but were stopped by an artillery battery and accompanying infantry in the center of the island. Although the Confederates thought that their line was safely anchored in impenetrable swamps, they were flanked on both sides and their soldiers were driven back to refuge in the forts. The forts were taken in reverse. With no way for his men to escape, Col. Shaw surrendered to avoid pointless bloodshed.

James K. Ewer, Third Massachusetts Cavalry..

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REV. JAMES K. EWER.

Rev. James K. Ewer, the author of this work, was born in Hyannis, Mass., April 18, 1846. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and in Boston. At the age of sixteen, he enlisted for three years, or the war, and joined Captain John L. Swift s Roxbury Company, Company C, and was wounded May ist, i864, at Pineyville, La. He was mustered out at Washington, D. C. in July 1865.

After the war he prepared himself for the ministry. He graduated from Colby Academy, N. H., in 1871, and from Newton Theological Seminary in 1874. Was set tled eleven years in Reading, Mass., as pastor of Baptist church; was nine years in Concord, N. H., as pastor of Pleasant Street Baptist Church. While in New Hamp shire he served four years as chaplain of E. E. Sturtevant Post G.A.R., and six years as Department Chaplain. He was also chaplain of the New Hampshire

Legislature two years, and of the New Hampshire National Guards five years.

He was for ten years on the Board of Trustees of Colby Academy, and also of the New Hampshire State Convention. In 1894 he went to Providence, R. I., and became pastor of the Union Baptist Church, remaining eight years.

He settled, May ist, 1902, in Maiden, Mass., where he now resides.

 

Notes From The third Regimental History.

 

First Sergeant Nathan G. Smith called private James K. Ewer to the front at company roll call, and presented him with a beautiful silver bugle which had been purchased with money contributed for that purpose. That bugle was prized most highly by the recipient, but was unfortunately lost during the disastrous Red River Campaign.

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Early the next morning fighting began. The enemy drew nearer. The men were posted behind a rail fence, near the stream, which protected them somewhat from the enemy s bullets. Said bullets were now flying through the air in close proximity to their heads. Colonel Sargent s headquarters were near an old brick-kiln, and from this advantageous position he directed the move ments of the regiment. The men of the Third took good aim, and sent a well-directed fire into the ranks of the on-coming Confederates. At length the report came to the Colonel that the men s ammunition was exhausted. Buglers Rymill and Ewer, who were near the Colonel, were ordered by Sargent to carry down to the firing line an additional supply. It was a hazardous undertaking. As they passed across the open field they exposed themselves to the fire of the enemy sharpshooters, who lost no time in showing these young enthusiasts how well they could shoot. When once the buglers reached the line, they did not return. The attempt might have cost them their lives.

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After The Battle.

I was soon in the hands of the surgeon. I was faint from loss of blood from my wounds, which had been streaming, and which had stained the right side of my pants from top to bottom. " That was a narrow escape," said the doctor as he examined my right thumb and fore-finger. A little more, and you would have lost both. " What is this hole in your jacket?" he inquired. That s where another bullet went through," said I, smiling. On careful examination, it was discovered that the ball had entered the breast of my jacket on the right side, opposite the region of the heart, In its course, it had been diverted by a button on my blouse, which on that day I had worn beneath my jacket. That button saved my life ; for it not only lessened the force of the bullet, but caused it to glance and come out on the other side of the garment without doing me any harm. Had the ball entered an inch higher it undoubtedly would have gone through my left side and pos sibly through my heart.

" Here is another hole through your holster," said the surgeon, as he inspected me more carefully. Now, for the first time, I understood the meaning of that blow on my right hip. Another bullet had actually struck the holster of my revolver. Passing through the leather case, it had struck the barrel of the revolver, then slid down into the bottom of the holster. That revolver, like the button, had saved my life Like the button, it had come between me and death. When the fight began, it was loaded with seven cartridges. These I had discharged at the enemy, and, after emptying the several barrels, had dropped the wea pon into the holster on my right side. The bullet had come at an angle of forty-five degrees, striking squarely against the barrel of the revolver, which arrested its progress at once. Had it not done so, the ball would have gone through my hip, and, without doubt, have caused my death.

I think I shall never outlive the conviction that a kind Providence protected me most singularly on that neverto-be-forgotten May morning, in the year eighteen hun dred and sixty-four.

William F. M. Hyder, 13th., Tennessee Cavalry



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LIEUTENANT WILLIAM F. M. HYDER, CO. K.

Lieutenant Hyder belonged to an old and highly respected Carter county family. He was born in that county January 20th, 1824, and died at the place of his birth March 22, 1892.

He was an original and uncompromising Union man, a Lieutenant in the Carter county rebellion and a bridge burner.

Lieut. Hyder went out with the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry and was sent back from Strawberry Plains to recruit men for the Regiment. He sent in a number of men and was elected Lieutenant in Company H. He had recruited about 50 men in Carter county and had them concealed in the gorge of Gap Creek mountain, awaiting the opportunity to start through the lines with them when they were betrayed and were attacked by the rebels, one of them killed, twenty-two captured and the remainder scattered. He commenced recruiting again, but Longstreet's army being in East Tennessee and the country full of rebel soldiers he found it impossible to get back to the Regiment and w as compelled to hide m the mountains all
winter.

He went through the lines in March, 1864, with 20 recruits and rejoined the Regiment at Nashville, Tenn.  He found that in his absence another man had been mustered in his place. He was then appointed Brigade Ambulance-master. Later he was commissioned Second Lieutenant to date back to October 31, 1863, and assigned to duty with Company K. He did duty with that company on the march from Gallatin and in the campaigns in East Tennessee and the Stoneman raid into Southwest Virginia in December, 1864. He was in the fights at Greeneville, Carter's Depot, Morristown, saltville and Marion and all the marches and skirmishes up to March 20th, 1865, at which time he tendered his resignation, on account of an injury received while in the service. His resignation was not accepted and he was mustered out with the Regiment.

Dr. Nat. E. Hyder now (1902) Chairman of the County Court of Carter county, though a mere boy at the time, was with his father, Lieut. Hyder. in the army for more than a year. He was with the Regiment at Nashville and Gallatin and in the campaign in East Tennessee.but was too young to be mustered into service. He resides at the old Hyder homestead on Gap Creek, 5 miles south of Elizabethton, Tcnn.

Jacob Colmer, 5th., West Virgina Cavalry.

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Jacob Colmer was born April i, 1842, at Duff's Mills, Franklin town ship, Allegheny county, Pa., his parents being natives of the state. His father, William Colmer. was born in Allegheny county. Pa., and his mother, Lavina Rosensteel, was born near Emsworth, in tlie same county, and both were descendants of the Pennsylvania Dutch. The son remained at home until he was iS years of age, working at farming and in the blacksmith shop with his father. On the Monday evening following the call of President Lincoln for 75,000 three months men, Mr. Colmer placed his name as first on the roll of a company of volunteers being recruited by Thomas Gibson. Jr., at a place called Cross Roads, not far from Bakerstown, Allegheny county. After the company had been partly recruited, they went to Pittsburgh, but the quota from Pennsylvania was now filled, and the company was not accepted: but they still held their organization, and when the call came for three years men. they were again doomed to disappointment, so many troops being ahead of them.

They then decided to equip themselves as an independent company, and while preparations were being made to this end, word was received that they were wanted at Wheeling, Ya., to which place they went. Mr. Colmer was mustered into the service as sixth corporal, but on account of good conduct and attention to his duties, rose step by step until June 17. 1862, he was promoted first sergeant of the company, and held this position until September 29,, 1S62. when he was promoted to second lieutenant. On several occasions he acted as adjutant of the regiment, and had command of his company on the Salem Raid. On April 27. 1864, he was promoted to first lieutenant, and detailed to the position of adjutant, but declined the position, as he had become so attached to the members of his company that he did not wish to be taken away from them.

He served his full term of enlistment and was mustered out with the company. Lieut. Colmer received what education he had by careful attention to studies in the four months per year schooling then in vogue in country districts, and in the summer of i860, took a course of bookkeeping in Duff's College, Pittsburgh. He was married on December 22, 186S, to Miss Mary E. Scott, of Sharon, Mercer county, Pa., but a native of Allegheny county. The result of this marriage is a family of four bright children, the oldest, William H., now in his 21st year, Alice Scott 16, Lizzie Pell 14, and Charles Stevenson 4 years old. Since the war Lieut, Colmer has served in several responsible positions.

For a long time he was clerk in the Pittsburgh pension office; for over 12 years bookkeeper for one large firm in Allegheny City, and is now agent for the Allegheny Insurance Company, of Pittsburgh. He is now serving his 18th year as permanent secretary of Twin City odge, No. 241, 1. O. O. F. , also as trustee of the same lodge during the last 18 years. He also served as secretary of Allegheny Lodge 223. A. F. and A. M., for six years after the close of the war. He now resides at Avalon, Pa., on the P. F. W. & C. Railway, six miles down the Ohio river from Pittsburgh. Lieut. Colmer served his country well and faithfully. He was a brave and accomplished officer, respected as such by all the men of the regiment, and a gentleman held in the highest esteem by all his comrades. As a citizen there are none truer, and he is a worth}' and honored son of the country he helped so ably to protect.