10 Facts Battle of Ball's Bluff-- Part 5: The 'Harvard Regiment" and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Fact 6:  Future Supreme Court Justice  Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.,  survived a nearly fatal wound at Ball's Bluff.

Shortly after graduating from Harvard , Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.,  secured a commission in the  in the 20th Massachusetts Infantry.  Holmes and his fellow officers in the 20th were Harvard graduates and close friends, and the regiment later became known as the "Harvard Regiment."

Holmes sustained his first major injury during the war at Ball's Bluff--  The 20th Massachusetts' first engagement.  They accompanied Devens across the Potomac River and was present  on the morning of October 21st.

At about 4:30 in the afternoon, Holmes was shot in the chest, a wound that was nearly fatal.  Holmes recovered, only to be wounded again at Antietam and again at Chancellorsville.  

He went on to serve as America's most influential and longest-serving Supreme Court Justice, a seat he held until the age of 90.

--Old Secesh

Three Other 118th Pa. Officers Killed at Shepherdstown: Captains Ricketts and Saunders and Lt. Moss

From the "History of the 118th Pennsylvania Volunteers:  Corn Exchange Regiment."

Right as Lt. Col. Gwynn took command of the regiment after the wounding of Prevost,  Captain Courtland Saunders was killed by a musket ball through the head.    Lieutenant  J. Mora Moss was killed by a bullet through the heart.  The regiment was under heavy fire at the time.

Captain Joseph Wattson Ricketts also fell while in the act of firing his pistol.  Staggering forward, he was saved from falling by  Private William L. Gabe, who started to escort him to the rear.  "Leave me, Gabe," ordered the captain, "and save yourself."

But Gabe refused and continued until both were shot together and went down.  Gabe was wounded and the captain killed by these shots.  As they fell, Captain Ricketts gasped, "My God!  I am shot by my own men."

"Not so," said Gabe, "but by the 'rebs,'  who are right on top of us."

And then, the Confederate line swept over them.  The enemy's stragglers stooped over the body of Ricketts and against the  protest of the wounded Gabe proceeded to rifle the pockets of the captain.  They took his watch, diary, money and everything, including his sword and stole his coat, vest and boots.

--Old Secesh

Writes His Dad- Part 4: The Battle of Shiloh and Death of Harley Wayne

Harley Wayne, however, did not miss U.S. Grant's second major battle, this time against Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston, considered at the time to be the South's best general.

On a Sunday morning, April 6, 1862, the two armies collided at Shiloh in western Tennessee.  Shiloh was virtually little more than a backwoods church, when the Confederates surprised Grant's Army at daybreak.  At daybreak the firing began and by 5 am, the noise and confusion was everywhere on the battlefield.

Johnston was at the front directing his men when he took a bullet to an artery and bled to death.

Harley Wayne was also in the midst of the fighting, right by a place that came to be known as the "Hornet's Nest" because of the bloody confrontation there.  He took a Confederate bullet in the chest and died instantly.

His body was shipped home and he was buried in Marengo Cemetery.

--Old Secesh

15th Illinois at Battle of Shiloh-- Part 4: Lt. Col. Ellis and Maj. Goddard Killed

"At the time the battery gave way a regiment in front of us (placed there I suppose to support the battery) gave way also; one at our right was seen to break and run without firing a single round.  We immediately received orders to open fire upon the enemy.

"Although everything was confusion around us and without supports, yet we maintained our position for some time against superior numbers, who had all the advantage they could wish in the lay of the ground.  Our men fired from 10 to 15 rounds each.  

"Lieut. Col. E.F.W. Ellis, commanding the Fifteenth Regiment, and Maj. William R. Goddard fell early in the fight while cheering the men.  They were frequently heard to say:  'Stand firm;'   'Do your duty, boys;'  'Stand your ground;'  'Take good aim.'

"Colonel Ellis was wounded in the arm severely at the first fire of the enemy upon us, but he paid no attention to that, and it was not until a ball  penetrated his heart that he ceased to cheer on his me.  Major Goddard fell a few moments before  Colonel Ellis, a ball passing through his head.  Two braver or better officers never lived.

"They were dearly loved by all their men and by all that knew them.  They were kind-hearted, and their loss will be a severe one  to the regiment and to the service."

--Old Secesh

Co. D, 15th Illinois Infantry Casualties at Battle of Shiloh

Thompson Hardy   Killed  April 6, 1862

Charles E. Hotchkiss   Died of wounds June 19, 1862  (Probably)

John Spicer   Killed April 6, 1862

Eugene A Wells   Died of wounds   April 22, 1862  (Probably)

Harley Wayne  Killed at Pittsburg Landing.

There were also a lot of men (20)  discharged because of disabilities during the remainder of 1862.  Perhaps they were wounded at Shiloh.

--Old Secesh

Thomas Bailey Aumack-- Part 3: Some Confusion of Where He Was Wounded or If He Ended Up Dying of Something Else

Served as a private in Company C, 87th  Regiment of New York Volunteers, under Captain  Samuel F. Knight, American Civil War.

He was wounded at the Battle of Antietam between September 14-17, 1862 and was sent home from Fort Monroe, Virginia, by reason of surgeon's certificate  of disability to die.

*************************

I could not find any mention of the 87th NY at the Battle of Antietam and then found out that the organization ceased to exist on September 6, 1862, when the regiment was consolidated with the 40th New York Infantry.

So, if Thomas Aumack was wounded, it would not have been at Antietam if he was in the 87th.

--Old Secesh

Oliver Dart's Brothers In Arms-- Part 1

Serving in the Union Army along with Oliver Dart were:

GEORGE DART  (1827-1889)

Company K, 3rd Connecticut Infantry (3 months)
Enlisted April 24, 1861
Mustered out, August 12, 1861

CHARLES E. DART (1830-1863)  cousin

Company D, 14th Connecticut Infantry  (Color Sergeant)
Mustered in July 15, 1862
Mortally wounded  at Fredericksburg, December 15, 1862
Died January 6, 1863

Two More.  --Old Secesh

The Nutmeg Regiment, 14th Connecticut

From Civil War in the East.

The 14th Connecticut lost 17 officers and 188  enlisted men killed or mortally wounded during the war.  In addition, one officer and 191 men died from disease.

The 14th sustained the largest percentage of loss of any Connecticut regiment.

The regiment is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.  Inscription on that monument reads:  "Lost in killed and died in service 366;  in wounded and disabled many hundreds.  Original muster 1015; recruits 697, final muster of original members, present and absent, 234."

Like I Said, One Heavy-Fighting Regiment.   --Old Secesh

Satterlee General Hospital-- Part 2: Only a 2% Mortality Rate

The hospital occupied roughly 16 acres of high ground, which, according to one of its staff, contributed to it possessing "all that could be desired as to pure air, and other natural helps to the procurement of round health."

During its nearly three years of operation (the hospital closed in August 1865) Satterlee buzzed with activity, its well equipped and trained doctors, nurses and other workers catering to the needs of a rotating array of sick and wounded Union soldiers.

Their effort proved remarkably successful, resulting in a patient mortality rate of approximately two percent.

Coming up next is a number of figures about Satterlee and its operations.

By the Numbers.  --Old Secesh

Death of Gen. William H.L. Wallace-- Part 2: Found Alive the Next Day, Meets Wife

A Federal counterattack on April 7th turned the tide at the Battle of Shiloh and the Confederates were driven from the field.  The Union had won.

About 9 a.m., that morning, a Union soldier found William Wallace where he had been left.  Incredibly, despite the severe head wound and the fact that he had lain outside in heavy rains,. Wallace was still alive.  He was placed aboard a river steamer and taken to Cherry Mansion, general Grant's headquarters in Savannah.

Also on board that transport was the general's wife, Ann Wallace.    She had arrived for a surprise visit just prior to the battle, but the two had not gotten together.  She had been told already that her husband was dead and was elated to see him still alive.

The gravely wounded general recognized her and was able to speak with difficulty.  She cared for him and he seemed to be getting better.

Kind of a Coincidence That His Wife Would Be There.  --Old Secesh

The Death of Gen. William H.L. Wallace-- Part 1

From the Iron Brigader blog.  "The Death of General W.H.L. Wallace at the Battle of Shiloh"  by Mark.

Wallace's division was farther back from the main Union line, nearer to Pittsburg Landing on April 6, 1862, as the Battle of Shiloh commenced.  He moved two of his brigades up to what became known as the Hornet's Nest.  As the Confederates continued attacks, eventually they got around the flanks of the Union soldiers there.

William Wallace decided to have his men fight their way out.  As this was happening, Wallace's aide-de-camp, Lt. Cyrus E. Dickey (who was also Wallace's brother-in-law) pointed out some advancing Confederate troops.  The two were on horseback and when Wallace rose up from the saddle for a better view a bullet hit him in the head behind his left ear and exited out his left eye.

The general immediately dropped to the ground.

Dickey believed Wallace was dead and with three others attempted to remove him from the field.  After a quarter of a mile they encountered heavy fire from both sides and were nearly overrun by Confederates so they left Wallace near some ammunition boxes hoping he wouldn't be trampled.

--Old Secesh

15th Illinois Infantry Regiment

From Wikipedia.

Raised under the 10 Regiment Act and mustered in at Freeport, Illinois, on May 24, 1861.

Companies  A, D and F from McHenry County,
B--  Boone County
C--  Winnebago County
E--  Jo Davies County
G--  Stephenson County
H--  Ogle County
I--  Lake County
K--  Carroll County

In all actions, the 15th was with the 14th Illinois Infantry.  Stationed around Rolla, Missouri.  Took part in the Fort Donelson Campaign and at the Battle of Shiloh.  On the second day of Shiloh, General Grant took personal command of the two regiments in the attack on the Confederates.

After the engagement, Grant ordered that the 14th and 15th remain together for the rest of the war.  As a result of losses and refusal to take in new recruits the two regiments were consolidated and became the 14th and 15th Illinois Battalion Infantry on July 1, 1864.

During the course of the war the 15th suffered 6 officers and 81 enlisted killed in battle or died from wounds and 5 officers and 135 died from disease.

Commanders were Col. Thomas J. Turner who resigned on November 2, 1862 and Col. George Clark Rogers to the end of the war.

--Old Secesh

10th Wisconsin Regiment-- Part 3: Just the Facts

From Genealogy Trails.

The regiment was organized October 14, 1861 at Camp Holton, Milwaukee in Wisconsin.  They signed up for a three-year enlistment.  The 10th mustered out October 25, 1864 at Milwaukee.

At muster in 1861, they had 1,049 commissioned and enlisted and one drafted.

Killed or Died of Wounds During War:  5 officers, 91 enlisted

Died of Disease:  1 officer, 147 enlisted

Prisoner of War:  191   Died While POW:  77

Disabled:  212

Missing:  7

Deserted:  16

Discharged:  109

Mustered Out:  298

Transferred Out:  133

--Old Secesh

44th New York, Ellsworth's Regiment-- Part 2: Losses During War

Everyone reported to Albany where they organized under orders of October 21, 1861, mustering for three years' service.  They left the state on October 21, 1861.

They were honorably mustered out October 11, 1864, under Colonel Freeman Conner at Albany.

During the war they lost KIA:  Officers 5, 120 enlisted.  Of wounds received in battle: 1 officer and 62 enlisted.  Of disease and other causes:  2 officers and 145 enlisted

Fifteen men died at the hands of the enemy.

Total 335 deaths.

At the Battle of Gettysburg, they were on the left of the Union line at Little Round Top where they suffered their greatest loss with 111 killed, wounded or missing.

--Old Sexesh

3rd Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment: Many Battles

From Wikipedia.

In the previous post, I recounted what Private  Jon W. Haley had to say about the veterans of this unit transferring to his 17th Maine.

The regiment mustered into U.S. service June 4, 1861, at Augusta, Maine for three years service.  They mustered out June 28, 1864.  veterans who re-enlisted and recruits still with time to serve transferred to the 17th Maine.

Its colonel was Moses B. Lakeman.

During its service, the regiment enlisted 1,586 men and lost ten officers and 124 enlisted killed in action or mortally wounded.  In addition, another one officer and 149 died from disease.

This was a regiment that fought in most of the major battles in Virginia and the east, including Bull Run, the Peninsular Campaign, 2nd Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and the Overland Campaign.

--Old Secesh

Fond du Lac's 3rd Wisconsin Infantry-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Last week, I was writing about Camp Hamilton/Wood in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, which served as a training camp and mustering camp for the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry which mustered into service June 19, 1861. They were the second regiment raised in Wisconsin.

They served throughout the war and participated in the Grand Review of the Armies in Washington, DC, on May 24, 1865, before mustering out at Louisville, Kentucky, on July 18, 1865.

Originally 979 men mustered in and later another 940 were recruited during the course of the war for a total of 1919 men.

Killed in Action or mortally wounded: 9 officers and 158 enlisted.
Died of disease: 2 officers and 113 enlisted.

Colonels commanding the unit were Charles Hamilton, Thomas H. Ruger and William Hawley.

--Old Secesh

W.H.L. Wallace: Grant's Greatest General?-- Part 2

Continued from October 6th.

The two Union generals with Wallace as both their last names causes a lot of confusion. When I first came across W.H.L. Wallace, I thought he was the one who wrote "Ben Hur." But, it was fellow General Lew Wallace who wrote that story.  Lew Wallace had commanded the 11th Indiana, wrote that the two generals being in the same army probably caused "great profanity in the army post office."

Before the war, W.H.L. Wallace had planned to study law under one Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, but ended up studying law and becoming a lawyer in Ottawa, Illinois.

At the onset of the Civil War, Wallace volunteered as a private in the 11th Illinois and soon was elected colonel of the regiment. For his conspicuous service at Fort Donelson, Wallace was appointed brigadier general.

At the Battle of Shiloh, Wallace's men were next to the Hornet's Nest and the Sunken Road and withstood six hours of Confederate attacks. Wallace was in command of the division there and was mortally wounded. Union soldiers found him barely alive and carried him to his wife in a home nearby. He died three days later on April 10, 1862.

He is buried in Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois, at his family cemetery at 815 LaSalle Street along with his war horse Prince. There is a mural of him in Ottawa.

It would have been interesting to see how he would have done in the war had he not been killed so early.

A Great, But Little-Known General. -B-R'er