Saturday, June 07, 2014

Adin B. Mickle, 23rd., Penn. Infantry.

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Adin B. Mickle.

Birth: Unknown.
Death Unknown.

Wife: Mary Mickle.

Children: Adin B. Mickle, ( 1882-1887 ), Catherine Mickle Dunn, (1880-1912 ).

Burial: Unknown.

Authors Note. Re-research before stating as fact.

Pennsylvania State Record.

Adin B. Mickle, Private, Mustered into Pennsylvania 23rd., Infantry, Company H., August 10, 1861, for 3 years.  Wounded at Cold Harbor; Mustered out with Company September 8, 1864
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Friday, June 06, 2014

John Moffitt, 23rd., Penn. Infantry.

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John Moffitt.

Birth: 1842, Ireland.
Death: October 20, 1905.
Age 63.

Father: Robert Moffitt.
Mother: Bertha Moffitt.

Brothers and sister: Margaret, John, Robert, William and Henry Moffitt.

Wife: Amanda Moffitt.

Burial: Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Authors note. Re-research the above names and dates before stating as fact.

Pennsylvania State Records.

John Moffitt, Private, Mustered in August 2, 1861, for 3 years.  Wounded at Fair Oak's, May 31, 1862; Missing at Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863; Mustered out with company September 8, 1864.

How General Stonewall Jackson Got His Name.

The following story came from the Shakopee Argus, Shakopee Minnesota, July 26, 1862.
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Thursday, June 05, 2014

George E. Sly, Fourth Minnesota Infantry.

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George E. Sly.

Birth: March 2, 1846.
Death: April 28, 1912.

Wife: Elenor Ann Sly.

Children: Sydney L. Sly.

Burial: Mount Hope Cemetery, San Diego, San Diego County, California.

In 1880 was living in Belle Plaine, Minn., with his family, he was a Shorthand Reporter.

Minnesota State Records.

George E. Sly, Private/Musician, Age 16, Nativity of New York, Enlisted September 30, 1861, Mustered in October 4, 1861, Residence Belle Plaine.  Re-enlisted January 1, 1864.  Discharged with Regiment.

Minnesota Fourth Infantry Regimental History.

p. 47-48, May 13, 1862, Tuesday. We passed Pittsburgh Landing at twelve o'clock. The steamboats Glendale and Silver Moon have steam calliopes, which play the tunes "Dixie'' and ",The Girl I Left Behind Me." This boat is not as large as the Roe, and our quarters are more cramped. Just after the boat touched the shore at Brown's Landing, Tenn., the men on both decks crowded forward and both decks broke down in front of the cabin, and about fifteen men were injured. Fully fifty men were precipitated to the lower deck, which was crowded with their comrades.

Captain White of Company F says : " I remember very well her breaking down, I was officer of the day that day, and in the Texas at the time, and told the pilot it was his fault in running on the bank so hard, and that if anyone was killed he would suffer for it." Mr. George Sly says: "I was sleeping on some cracker boxes on the cabin deck, and woke up down on the gang plank, the men crying 'Look out for, the bell.' I ran to the side of the boiler. Several men were wounded and one man was pushed 'overboard." That man was Anthony Capser of Company G, and in trying to save his gun from getting wet by holding it up, he was drowned."

p. 438, Mr. Sly says, under date of August 5, 1865.:

I left borne (Belle Flaine) with Colonel Edson and went down to Carver. Walked to Sbakopee. Went to J. L. McDonald's and stopped until Monday morning. Got on a boat and went to Fort Snelling. Got in a wagon and went to St. Paul. Signed the pay rolls. I was the only one of the drum corps who served the fall time.

Authors note. George E. Sly, name is stated 22, times in the Regimental History.  The History was written by ( Alonzo L. Brown ), published in 1892, and can be read on line.

James Miffin Linnard Jr.

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James Miffin Linnard Jr.

Birth: 1940, Canada.
Death: July 10, 1881, Pennsylvania.

Father: Stephen Beasley Linnard.
Mother: Emily Kelly Linnard.

Wife: Sara Jane Sounder Linnard, ( 1843-1911 ).

Children: Emily Sounder and Fanny Cecella

Burial: Woodlands Cemetery, Philadelphia. Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania State Records.

James M. Linnard, Captain, Mustered in August 2, 1861, for 3 years.  Promoted to Captain January 1, 1863,  detached to General Detreauriand's Staff, August 15, 1864.

Wednesday, June 04, 2014

Chester Bishop, Tenth N. Y. Cavalry.

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New York, State Records.

BISHOP, CHESTER.—Age, 18 years. Enlisted, October 1,1861, at Golden; mustered in as private, Co. B, October 12, 1861, to serve three years; re-enlisted, December 31, 1863; missing in action (probably killed), June 24, 1864, at St. Mary's Church, Va.; never heard from.

New York Tenth Cavalry Regimental History, p. 306-307.

Bishop, Chester. Promoted from private, date not given ; missing in action at St. Mary's Church, Va., June 24, 1864 ; probably killed.

Chester Bishop was born in Aurora, Erie County, N. Y., in the year 1843, being eighteen years old at the time of enlisting.

Previous to his enlistment his life was, as usual in the rural districts, uneventful. The eldest son of a large family, he was early accustomed to hard work. This, however, did not prevent his acquiring a very good common English education. As his father, Dr. F. T. Bishop, was infirm in health, and never in early life accustomed to physical labor, Chester was almost indispensable at home. But those who were his comrades can recall the martial spirit and enthusiasm everywhere prevailing in the fall of 1861.

Lieutenant Woodruff was recruiting for the Tenth New York Cavalry, and came to my father's house to obtain his consent to Chester's enlisting, which was much more readily procured than mother's ; although the patriotic blood of two Revolutionary soldiers, as grandfathers, coursed in her veins, it was only after a long argument, added to Chester's entreaties, that she yielded a reluctant consent to his enrollment. Still she believed, as did many others who had better means of judging, that in a few months the war would close, and her boy be home again. So, equipped with perfect health and a buoyant, cheerful temperament, he left us.

His earlier letters, written in a large, boyish hand, gave us pleasant incidents of camp life, and made kindly mention of "the boys." Then he is in hospital, having taken the  umps. From thence he is removed to convalescent camp near Fort Barnard, where he gets very impatient at the long detention from his Regiment. I give an extract from a letter while detained there : " We were to have a Christmas dinner. There were some New York people here, and they were going to give us a grand dinner. We were ordered to build a table in each street to seat one hundred men. We backed the boards and built the tables;  there were about twenty streets. Now comes the joke of it. We waited patiently for the roast turkeys, but when they reached our street, which was among the last, there was nothing left for a hundred men except five small pies. To-morrow will be New-Year's-day, but nothing is said about a dinner. After his return to the Regiment came long, cheerful, and affectionate letters, only complaining of the long delay in receiving equipment's, and longing to be sent to the front in short, to be doing something.

After the Regiment is engaged in active service, letters are more infrequent, but contained brief though enthusiastic accounts of raids and battles following in quick succession. His history henceforth is the history of his Regiment, now greatly reduced in numbers. In the winter of 1863-'64 came the re-enlistment, followed by a month's furlough. Every home that sent a soldier can remember what that means. There was no railroad to bring the soldiers nearer than Buffalo, and when the stage stopped and " Chet " was not among those that alighted, we were sadly disappointed, until told that he gave up his seat to a comrade who had a wife and child.

Every soldier and soldier's family remembers the glad home-coming. The change m Chester's personal appearance was quite marked. He left us a mere boy, small and youthful- looking for his age ; he returned matured, with the serious, candid manner of a thoughtful man. The month's furlough was one continued ovation. Neighbors and friends vied with each other in doing honor and giving pleasure to the returned soldiers; and I remember so well that, not a little to the regret and annoyance of ourselves, we were obliged to give up some precious days and one or two nights spent with '' the boys," as he termed his comrades.

But the last day came. By this time we all knew what war was, and felt the bitterness of parting ; and, although we repeatedly assured him that we believed he would come back, it was with tearful eyes and sinking hearts that we saw him ride away. And we all felt that he thought his return very doubtful. Soon after his return to the front our father's death occurred. I find among Chester's letters to my mother a very affectionate one, urging her to use whatever money of his she needed for debts, expenses, etc., saying he might never need it.

Not many more letters were received before the news reached us by a letter from John B. Buffum that on the 34th of June, 1864, after an engagement at St. Mary's Church, Va., he was missing, supposed to have been taken prisoner. After this mother received the following letter from Captain Blynn :

Headquarters Tenth N. Y. Cav., July 15, 1864.

Mrs. Bishop : Your letter to John Buffum, making inquiries for your son Chester, came to-day.

I should have written you before, had I not supposed his friends in the company had informed you of his probable fate.

On the 34th of June, Gregg's division of cavalry moved out to St. Mary's Church, and took up a position between the rebels and the road our wagon-train was passing to the James River on. We remained there until afternoon quietly, when, it becoming evident that the rebels were in force on our front, our Regiment, with many others, was dismounted and sent forward on the skirmish-line. The portion under my command pushed into the woods a short distance, until we reached a rail fence, which we hastily pulled down, piling up the rails for breastworks. We remained there for an hour or two quietly, when heavy firing commenced on the right of our line, and in a short time we heard the rebel officers giving commands to their men on our front, and in a second's time we were hotly engaged. After a short but terrific fight the rebels charged our breastworks with a force which our thin skirmish-line could not check. During the fight your son was the next man to me on my right, and I shall never forget with what bravery he fought, how deliberately he aimed his carbine, and how nobly he held his post.

When the rebels charged over our breastworks he was the only man left on my right, and there was but one on my left. When they came through the line they were not over five yards from me, and Chester was still between them and myself. I consider it almost a miracle that J escaped, and I consider it morally certain that your son was captured.

I have no idea that he was either killed or wounded, and I expect in time to welcome him back to the old company, if I am spared from the carnage of this wicked war. It gives me pleasure to be able to speak highly of him as an intelligent and dutiful soldier. Since I have commanded the company (October last) I believe I have not had occasion to reprove him once.

For his good conduct and soldierly bearing I had but recently made him a corporal of the company, which of course was but slight recognition of what he so well deserved. Chet, as we familiarly called him, was a general favorite among us, and none regret his loss more than I.

Anything further in regard to your son that I can do I will cheerfully.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Martin H. Blynn,
Captain Company B, Tenth N. Y. Cav.

As at this time communications had been opened with rebel prisons, every means was used to ascertain where he was, if he really was a prisoner ; but after months of anxious suspense we and some of his comrades came to the conclusion that he was killed in the charge of which Captain Blynn speaks, and that instant death saved him the tortures of a rebel prison. At the organization of the Grand Army post at Colden his comrades honored his memory by naming the post for him— a compliment which was greatly appreciated by his family, and especially pleasing to our dear mother. Anna Bishop Church.

Tuesday, June 03, 2014

William F. Chapple & "Curly".


W. F. Chapple, Co. f.
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William F. Chapple.
 
Birth 1832-1835.
Death: Unknown.
 
Father: Samuel Chapple.
Mother: Sarah Dismore Chapple.
 
Wife: Rebecca F. Cowley Chapple.
Married August 1, 1875.
 
Children: Non found.
 
Burial: Unknown.
 
Received pension May 17, 1879.
In 1880 was a Police Officer.
 
Authors note. research the above names again before stating as fact.
 
Massachusetts Eight Infantry Co. I., Three Month Service. 

William F. Chapple, Private; Residence Salem; Age 35; Enlisted April 15, 1861; Mustered in April 30, 1861; Mustered out August 1, 1861.

Massachusetts Twenty-Third Infantry Co. F., Three Years Service.

William F. Chapple, Private; Residence Salem; Police Officer; Age 35; Enlisted October 4, 1861; Mustered in December 4, 1861; Mustered out October 13, 1864; Corporal.

Regimental History, p. 31-32.

Morning found us with bright sky and fairly smooth sea, meekly following the Hussar in a similar, though more scattered, column, to that in the bay. Some of the boys found the motion too frisky, but the right wing of the 23rd was too web-footed to suffer long and we thought ourselves pretty fairly settled down to enjoy u sea-life. Towards dark a fresh gale from the southwest arose and so hindered us that it was decided to cast off the hawser.

All hands, but enough to work ship, were ordered below, and, then, as we stood off and on, ensued scenes which, though not without their laughable side, may perhaps best be left to the memories of the participants.  One of these was provided by Commissary Chappie's spaniel as " sick as a dog " in her master's bunk. " Curly," the pet of Company 'F', if not of the regiment, was conspicuous with her red blanket on the march through Boston and New York. Her pups, born on the eve of the battle at Roanoke Island, were in great demand as souvenirs of that affair.

Monday, June 02, 2014

William Whittier Brown & Son.

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William Whittier Brown.

Birth: 1805, Vershire, Orange County, Vermont.
Death: Jan. 6, 1874, Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire.

Children: William Gerrish Brown (1840 - 1865), Charles Lawrence Brown (1843 - 1863).

Burial: Valley Cemetery, Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire.

Civil War Record.

WILLIAM WHITTIER BROWN was born in Vershire, VT, in 1805. After attending school in his native state, he attended the academy at Hudson, NY. In 1827 and 1828 he taught school in NY.

At the age of 23 he began studying medicine with John Poole, M.D. at Bradford, VT. He also attended lectures at Hanover, NH and graduated from the NH Medical Institution in 1830. He began his practice in Fremont, NH and in 1835 moved to Chester, NH. In 1843 he went to New York City to further his education. He returned in 1846 and opened a new practice in Manchester, NH.

In 1861 he was appointed Surgeon of the 7th NH Volunteer Infantry. He served until July 22, 1864, when he resigned due to ill health and returned to his medical practice. At the time of his death he was the Post Surgeon for Louis Bell Post #3 GAR. He died on January 6, 1874 at the age of 68.

Extract from the Report of Surgeon WILLIAM W. Brown, 7th New Hampshire Volunteers. St. Augustine, Florida, quarter ending September 30, 1862.

The 7th New Hampshire volunteers sailed from New York about the middle of February, 1862, and arrived at Fort Jfferson, Tortuous, Florida, on the 9th of March. About the middle of June we were ordered to Hilton Head, South Carolina, and encamped at Beaufort. When we arrived the weather was extremely hot and the atmosphere close and unpleasant. At Baufort the sea breezes arc cut off by the outside islands. Our encampment was under a beautiful shade of old live oaks. A gneral hospital had been established under the direction of Surgeon C. H. Crane, U. S. A., Medical Director of the Department of  the South, and thither I was ordered to send all very sick men. Our men were rapidly attacked with bilious remittent fever.

Our first cases were most severe, and typhoid symptoms came on early. Some twenty died during our first month at Beaufort. As  the disease advanced it assumed a milder type. Nearly all the cases were attended with diarrhoea of a serous or bilious caracter, which was not easily controlled. Our treatment was at first an active mercurial cathartic, followed, when a remission ocurred, with qinine in doses of ten grains. For the diarrhoea we gave a turpentine emulsion containing laudanum. We left Baufort September 1st, and arrived at St. Augustine, Florida, on the 3d. Here the health of the regiment has evidently com mnced to improve, though cases of fever similar to those we had at Beaufort still occur.
 
Hospital Steward William G. Brown.
 
William Gerrish Brown, son of Surgeon William W. Brown, was born August 17, 1841, in Chester, N. H. ; when about five years old his father removed to Mancester, N. H., where William was educated in the public shools and afterwards spent two years at Phillips Exeter Aademy, preparing for Dartmouth College. He left the aademy at Exeter to enlist in the Seventh Regiment, in 1861, and was appointed hospital steward, to date from December14, 1861 : he suffered much from impaired halth during the last year of his service, but served out his enlistment and was discharged with the three years men, December 22, 1864. He died on July 11, 1865.