Allen S., Daniel W. and Nelson T. Shattuck

Allen S. Shattuck was born in 1839 in Pittsfield, Washtenaw County, Michigan, the son of Asa (1807-1889) and Adaline (b. 1813).

New Hampshire native Asa married New Yorker Adaline in 1835. Soon afterwards, probably around 1838, Asa moved his family to Michigan, possibly from New York, settling in Pittsfield, Washtenaw County by 1839. By 1840 Asa was still living in Pittsfield, Washtenaw County, eventually settling in Lansing in 1850 where he worked as a cooper and Allen attended school with his siblings (two of whom, Daniel and Nelson would also join the Old Third).

By 1860 Allen was probably a farm laborer working for James Finch in Sheridan, Calhoun County, and living with his family in Lansing’s Second Ward, where his father was a “mover of buildings.” Late that same year or perhaps in early 1861 Allen became a member of the Lansing militia company called the “Williams’ Rifles,” whose members would serve as the nucleus of Company G.

Allen stood 5’10” with blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion and was 22 years old and probably still living in Lansing when he enlisted in Company G on May 10, 1861; his older brother Daniel and younger brother Nelson would join Company G the following year.

During the retreat from Bull Run on July 21, 1861, Allen noticed the regimental colors had been left behind and took it upon himself to rescue them. Lieutenant James Ten Eyck of Company G described the particular “bravery of Allen Shattuck, a Private in company G, and son of Captain Shattuck, of this place [Lansing], who had the honor of saving the Regimental colors” during the recent action at Bull Run. “It appears that the U. S. Regimental flag of the Mich 3d had been planted upon a battery and was left by the color Sergeant, thro’ accident. Shattuck was on picket guard and came in after the retreat of the Regiment. He prevailed upon those who were with him to assist him in taking down the flag staff, when they left. Nothing daunted, he tore the flag from the staff, coolly wrapped it up, turned to the enemy's cavalry which were only about fifteen rods distant, put his fingers to his nose in K. K. style, and then overtook the Regiment some 80 rods in advance of him.”

Probably as a consequence of his actions, Shattuck was promoted to eighth Corporal of the company. Frank Siverd of Company G wrote in early August that Allen “deserved the promotion. He has distinguished himself on several occasions, last particularly on the 21st of July, by mounting to the top of an old building and cutting away the flag staff, thereby preventing the Michigan 3d from wearing the dishonor of turning their backs to the stars and stripes. On our expedition to Bull's Run our Regimental colors were not unfurled from the time we left the Potomac until we retreated. If the same bearer and guard are to be retained the ladies of Grand Rapids need never fear that the colors they presented us with so much pomp and ceremony will ever be taken by the rebels, as there is not the least fear that they will ever get sight of them, nor will there be an opportunity for any of the brave members of the 3d to either distinguish or have themselves extinguished, in defense of our Regimental standard.”

Shattuck was indeed a risk-taker. According to Siverd, at about 9:00 a.m. on Friday morning, September 27, 1861, Shattuck, along with Privates Abram Shear and Amsey C. Johnson, “ventured beyond the lines, and incautiously leaving cover and appearing in an open lot, they were sighted by a rebel rifleman and Johnson became his victim. He was shot with a minie ball, in the right leg, about half way between the knee and ankle. The ball struck the inner angle of the tibia, and completely shattered both bones. Several pieces of bone come entirely out and lay in his stocking. Shattuck and Shear carried him to our lines and a Surgeon was immediately sent for.”

Sometime in early 1862 Allen was probably taken sick, and by the first of June of 1862, he was reported to be “recovering his health.” In fact, on June 2 he left the hospital at Yorktown and returned to the company. Homer Thayer of Company G wrote the following day that Shattuck reported to “Sergt. J. B. Ten Eyck as getting better, but not yet able to return to duty.” Shattuck had returned to duty by the time he was wounded slightly during the action at Second Bull Run on August 29, 1862. On June 12, 1889, during the dedication of the Michigan monuments at Gettysburg, Allen gave an address recollecting the movements of the Third Michigan during the Gettysburg campaign.

July 1 [he said] we went into camp on the grounds of St. Joseph’s Academy at Emmitsburg and remained there for the night, but were astir at an early hour on the morning of July 2, making a forced march of twelve miles to Gettysburg, while the almost death-like stillness on all side as we moved along foreboded the storm that was to break upon our heads so soon. On reaching Gettysburg, or the scene of action near that place (for the regiment never saw the village) we were halted and informed that we could get our dinner, which we set about as promptly as we could, but again disappointment met our wishes and needs, for before the water for our coffee had begun to boil we were ordered to fall in, and in quick time moved on our back track, or in the direction from which we had just come. We halted for a few minutes in the peach orchard, where there was a small force of cavalry sitting uneasily in their saddles, but soon we were ordered forward to support the sharpshooters, who were on the skirmish line. But hardly had the battle opened when it was found necessary to lengthen the skirmish line, when we were ordered forward on the right of the sharpshooters, while they were crowded to the left to near or into Little Round Top. In this position, unsupported by even any excuse for troops, we fought and even gained considerable ground, which we held until the right had been broken and a large force of the enemy were pouring down across our right flank. Still the “Old Third” held on, until Gen. De Trobriand, riding onto the line unattended by staff or orderly, commanded us to change front to right, saying as he did so, “Third Michigan, change front to right. I give ze order tree or four times. Change quick, or you all be gobbled up; don’t you see you are flanked? Ze whole rebel army is in your rear.” And true it was, a very large force of the enemy had broken through on our right and were swarming across our right flank. Never did a regiment change its front in quicker time than did the “Old Third” on this occasion, all the time contending for the ground which the rebels were trying to reach, and after our lines were once more established we did hold them in check until reinforced, when they were driven from the field, and we retired a short distance to cook and eat our supper

But little sleep visited our eyes that night, for well we knew that lee was not whipped and would renew the conflict as soon as he could make his new plans, which had been upset by Gen. Sickles’ prompt action this day. We were kept under arms all night, and long before daylight were in line awaiting the attack which we knew would come and expected every moment, but, having failed to carry this point, Lee turned his attention in another direction, thinking to catch someone napping, but again he found Michigan on guard and was confronted by Custer and his Michigan Brigade of Cavalry, and was again driven from his desired position. But having cast his lot here, he must fight or surrender, and to Gen. Lee, surrender was an unknown term, so he chose to carry out his plans, hoping by desperate attacks to force the army of the Potomac from their position, and thinking that his cavalry had carried out their part of the program, he opened upon us from all the guns he could train upon our position. It has been said there were 125 of them belching forth their thunder and showering their iron hail upon our lines of infantry and batteries which had not been equaled except, perhaps, at Malvern Hill and Fredericksburg. They continued this terrific fire until our batteries were silenced, as they supposed, then came those veterans of Longstreet’s corps in solid column from their rendezvous, direct toward the position still occupied by the ‘Old Third’ and the one they had tried so hard to carry the day before.

Everyone believed this was his intention, for once in possession of these heights and the Army of the Potomac was done for. Our lines were quickly formed, our batteries put into the best position for defense, and everything was in readiness to receive their onslaught; but disappointment again awaited us, for on reaching the low ground halfway between their starting point and our line, they broke by the left flank, and at a run made their way to the front of Cemetery Hill and charged that with all the courage born of desperation. But with such courage of the flower of his army Lee was doomed to see that idol of the South wither and fall as the grass before the scythe, for our officers were quick to interpret that movement as the rebels themselves, and battery after battery changed their position, those that could not get a new position changed their direction of fire, and every soldier absolutely not necessary for picket duty was put on the run by the right flank. The distance being shorter than the one the rebels had taken made up for the advantage they had of being first in motion. When they did strike our lines of artillery, which were now pouring grape and canister into their lines with terrible effect, our lines of infantry numbered nearly fifty to contend for the possession of those guns and heights, and well did that infantry do its duty, holding the rebels back at the point of the bayonet, while the gunners double-shotted their guns and poured the contents upon the advancing columns. In this famous charge the “Old Third” formed the tenth line of battle, and while they did not fire a shot they received their share from the enemy’s guns and did their duty in holding this very important point. Having vanquished the enemy, large details were made from many regiments. Here again the “Old Third” came in for their full share of carrying and caring for the wounded and prisoners, working all night to get the wounded rebels into comfortable quarters.

On the morning of the fourth of July a detail was made to feel the enemy’s position, but were soon recalled and removed to the old position they had held up to their call to assist in holding the heights on the afternoon of the third. Here they remained inactive, except details to bury the dead, until the morning of the seventh they advanced by way of Emmitsburg, Frederick City and Middletown, and recrossed the Potomac at Harper’s Ferry on the 17th; crossed the Shenandoah and marched around the mountain and up the eastern slope, until near Leesburg and halted for the night. The march was continued without incident of any great consequence till the morning of the 23rd, when, after an all night’s march, we found ourselves nearly through Manassas Gap, and after a hasty breakfast we deployed our skirmishers and commenced our advance upon the -- not rebels, for they were too far away to be reached even by cannon shot, but we could see them on the mountains several miles away and tried to shoot them but had the satisfaction of seeing our bullets ground on the mountain side a long distance below them.

This ends the Gettysburg campaign, and standing here in this Peach Orchard today, where we stood twenty-six years ago, though under very different circumstances, I look upon this small band of heroes, a remnant of that noble band of patriots who filed out from their pleasant camp at Grand Rapids, Mich., just twenty-eight years tomorrow morning, the largest [?] infantry regiment in point of numbers that was sent from our State, and allowing my mind to run backwards, I take in the pleasant ride to Washington, one month of preparation at Chain Bridge, the march to Bull Run, our baptism in the art of war on the field at Blackburn’s ford, the retreat to Arlington, our daily toil building fortifications, the pleasant camp in Michigan [should read “Camp Michigan”] during the winter of ‘61 and ‘62, the Peninsular campaign, Yorktown, Williamsburg and Fair Oaks, where we left many of the noblest sons of Michigan to enrich the soil of the Old Dominion, the disastrous nine days from June 25 to July 4, in which Gen. McClellan made his masterly change of base from the Pamunkey to the James at Harrison Landing; the second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and thence to his memorable field; again I see the long line of patriots who have laid down their lives that the nation might live, and turning I behold this beautiful granite monument erected to the memory of the men who fell not alone on this field, but on every battlefield on which the ‘Old Third’ took part, and that stone tells a tale of the heroism of as brave and noble band of patriots as every shouldered a musket in any cause, and ages after the last man who took an active part in this struggle has passed away, the traveler will pause as he approaches this spot and, reading this inscription “from Bull Run to Appomattox,” may exclaim: What volumes would that fill if properly written!”

Allen reenlisted on December 24, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Lansing, Third Ward, was presumably absent on veteran’s furlough in January of 1864, and probably returned to the Regiment on or about the first of February. He was shot in the right elbow on May 6, 1864, at the Wilderness, Virginia, and subsequently hospitalized (at the same time that his brother Daniel was wounded slightly).

He was still absent wounded when he was transferred to Company F, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, and was reported absent wounded through September. In fact, by late June he was home in Lansing on a furlough, “awaiting the healing of his arm, which was shattered by a ball.”

Allen was discharged on September 28, 1864, at Finley hospital in Washington, DC, for “resection of right elbow joint.”

After he was discharged from the army Allen returned to Lansing where he lived the rest of his life.

He married Engish-born Emma (1844-1906), and they had had at least eight children: Isabelle (b. 1868), Arthur (b. 1869), Timothy A. (b. 1871) Louis (b. 1876), Mrs. Frank Van Hinck, Mrs. Louis Storrs, Mrs. R. H. Menhinick and Mrs. Gillet Valentine.

By 1870 he was working as a painter and living with his wife and two children in Lansing’s Third Ward. (His parents as well as his brother Nelson were also living in the Third Ward in 1870.) although one source also reported that upon returning to Michigan form the war he took a position in the US Post Office where he wroked for some 15 years. He also reportedly served 10 years in the Michigan Adjutant general’s Office. (This is possibly when he worked on the official history of the Old Third Michigan history.)

He was working as a painter and living in Lansing’s Sixth Ward in 1880 along with his wife and children (two doors down lived his brother Nelson). Allen was living in Lansing in 1884 when he attended the Sixth Annual Reunion of the Soldiers and Sailors, at Battle Creek, Calhoun County. He was residing in the Sixth Ward in 1890 and at 1117 Lee Street in 1906, 1910, 1911 and 1919.

Allen was the “one selected by the state to do the interior decorating of the capitol dome and the blue vault and gold stars. . . .”

Allen was a very active member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association, and for many years was the recognized “Regimental Association Historian.” At the association reunion held in Lansing in December of 1884 he served as Toastmaster, and during the banquet for the Twentieth reunion of the association in mid-December of 1891 he gave a presentation on the Regiment’s history, which was “a continuation of the previous one by him. It was full of reminiscences of the career of the Regiment, speaking particularly of the campaign at Fair Oaks [Virginia]. He spoke lovingly of the gallant Phil Kearny, their old leader.”

The following year, at the Twenty-first reunion of the Association, “Historian” Shattuck “made a sketch of the Battle of Chancellorsville, as seen from his own personal standpoint.” In 1893 Allen “took up the thread of his narrative of the Regiment’s deeds where he dropped it a year ago as they were leaving the field. He carried it forward to Gettysburg, where it was again left for another year.” According to the Grand Rapids Herald, he “took a half hour in relating the story of the work of the Regiment at Gettysburg. [He] criticized historians for not more specifically mentioning by name a Regiment which did some of the best fighting and held a position in the face of deadly fire, and probably gained the day for the union.”

In 1894, during the evening’s banquet held by the Association, Allen “was the first speaker and he gave several chapters of exciting incidents in the active service of the Regiment.” At the annual Association reunion banquet on December 17, 1895, he “gave a partial history of [the Regiment’s] movements,” and indeed, by now Shattuck’s comments became something of an annual tradition.

On December 17, 1896, the Herald and the Grand Rapids Democrat both reported that “A. S. Shattuck of Lansing, as is his custom at each meeting, gave reminiscences of the war, picturing in an impressive manner the action taken by the Regiment in the first day of the battle of the Wilderness. He stated that it is a mistake as printed in the histories that the battle began at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, for from a record he made in his diary at the time and his personal recollection, he knows that it began at 1 o'clock and lasted until midnight, after which it took three hours to bury the dead. At the next session he will take up a description of the second day's battle.” The following year, during the association banquet Shattuck “gave a graphic description of the engagement and the death of 2nd Lieutenant [Milton] Leonard of Company F.”

According to the report from the Thirty-third annual reunion of the Association, held on June 30, 1904, Shattuck “was authorized to correct the records of the Regiment, now being prepared at Lansing.” This referred to the official state history series known generally as the “Brown books,” then being prepared by the State of Michigan. However, for reasons which remain unclear, the following year during the annual association business meeting, Allen reported that he had in fact been unable to correct the official history then in the process of being published. We know that his wife died in 1906 so he may have been preoccupied during the last ye4ar or so of her life.

In any case, this was unfortunate since the present official history reflects inaccuracies and and incompleteness which would not have existed had it been proofed by Allen who must have possessed the historical information on the regiment and its men needed to produce a thorough and proper history.

In 1909 he was still providing the wartime anecdotes during the annual Association evening banquet and, according to the Herald, “gave a splendid account of some of the trying days of the war.” The following year he was elected president of the Association, and during the banquet held that evening he “gave a short history of the Old Third as he saw it personally.”

Allen was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Charles Foster post no. 42 in Lansing, and a witness in the pension application of Orville Ingersoll of Company G.

In 1864 Shattuck himself applied for and received a pension (no. 35,613), dated November of 1866, drawing $18.00 per month in 1883 for a wounded right elbow.

After an illness of some four months, Allen died of “old age” at his home on 1117 Lee Street in Lansing, on March 26, 1919, and was buried on March 29 in Mt. Hope cemetery, Lansing: 6-29-C.

Daniel W. Shattuck was born in 1838 in Michigan, probably in Washtenaw County, the son of Asa (1807-1889) and Adaline (1813-1888).

New Hampshire native Asa married New Yorker Adaline in 1835. Soon afterwards, probably around 1838, Asa moved his family to Michigan, possibly from New York, and by 1840 Asa was still living in Pittsfield, Washtenaw County, eventually settling in Lansing in 1850 where he worked as a cooper and Allen attended school with his younger siblings (two of whom, Allen and Nelson would also join the Old Third).

By 1860 Daniel was a fireman and engineer living with his family in Lansing’s Second Ward. According to his brother Allen Daniel was apparently with a woman named Lavina Cory, possibly since around Christmas of 1860, and they resided together until he enlisted in 1861. Allen was unsure whether or not they were married but he claimed years later that he was under the impression that they were.

In fact, according to another source, they were not married although they had been living together as man and wife. Mrs. Marietta Mises, a friend of the Shattuck family in Lansing both before and during the war, stated in that she “was present at an interview between Daniel . . . and Lavina Cory at the city of Lansing sometime in 1862 and the last time Daniel Shattuck came home in which conversation the said Daniel Shattuck said to Lavina Cory that he had wronged her and was willing to make it right as near as he could, and would marry her and make her his wife and asked me to go with them and witness the marriage; Lavina then and there refused to intermarry with Daniel and that after the death of” Daniel Lavina “told this affiant that she was sorry that she had not married” him.

Daniel stood 5’10” with blue eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion and was 22 years old and still living in Lansing when he enlisted Company C, First U.S. Sharpshooters, along with his younger brother Asa, on August 21, 1861, for three years, at Detroit, and was mustered on August 26. (The First U.S. Sharpshooters were comprised of companies from several different states; Michigan was represented in Companies C, I and K.)

By September most of the companies of the regiment were concentrated at Weehawken, New Jersey, but on September 24-25 they were moved to Washington, and were mustered into service on November 29. The regiment participated in the defenses of Washington through the winter of 1861-62. Daniel was discharged for disability on January 8, 1862, at Washington, DC.

Daniel returned to his wife in Michigan, probably to Lansing. He reentered the service in Company G, Third Michigan along with his younger brother Nelson and joining another younger brother Allen, on August 9, 1862, at Lansing for 3 years, crediting Lansing’s Third Ward, and was mustered the same day at Detroit. Daniel joined the Regiment on September 9 at Upton’s Hill, Virginia, and was sick in the hospital from October of 1863 through May of 1864. He returned to the Regiment and according to one report received a slight wound along with his brother Allen during the recent actions in early May at the Wilderness, Virginia or he was wounded severely in the hand and left leg.

Daniel was transferred to Company F, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, and taken prisoner on June 22, 1864, near Petersburg, Virginia.

He died on April 26, 1865, “from barbarous treatment in prison” (probably from disease), or he may have died on September 17, 1864, as a prisoner-of-war in Columbia, South Carolina, and if so was presumably buried among the unknown Union prisoners-of-war at Columbia.

Daniel’s “widow” resided with his parents for two or three years after his death. His parents were living in Lansing’s Third Ward in 1870.

In July of 1887 his mother Adaline applied for a pension (no. 357731).

Lavina eventually moved to Ionia County, married a Mr. Swanger, and after he died returned to Lansing. She eventually married a second time to a Mr. Fuller and they settled in Lamont, Ottawa County. In 1888 Lavina wrote to the Pension office, apparently replying to an inquiry about whether or not she and Daniel had ever been married. “I will say,” she replied, “that our marriage was a mutual agreement between us, that we would be husband and wife to each other so long as we both lived. We considered that sufficient as the laws of Michigan recognize marriage to be a civil contract.”

Nelson T. Shattuck was born in 1841 in Michigan. the son of Asa (1807-1889) and Adaline (b. 1813).

New Hampshire native Asa married New Yorker Adaline in 1835. Soon afterwards, probably around 1838, Asa moved his family to Michigan, possibly from New York, and by 1840 Asa was still living in Pittsfield, Washtenaw County, eventually settling in Lansing in 1850 where he worked as a cooper and Allen attended school with his siblings (two of whom, Allen and Daniel would also join the Old Third). It is possible that Nelson was living and working in Whiteford, Monroe County, Michigan in 1860.

In any case, Nelson stood 5’11” with blue eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion and was a 21-year-old farmer living in Lansing’s Third Ward when he enlisted in Company G, along with his older brother Daniel (and joining another older brother Allen who had enlisted the previous year), on August 9, 1862, at Lansing for 3 years, crediting Lansing’s Third Ward, and was mustered the same day at Detroit.

He joined the Regiment on September 8 at Upton’s Hill, Virginia, and was a Corporal when he was wounded on May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Virginia. According to one member of Company G, Shattuck had a finger shot off. One report listed him as being wounded a second time at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and in Summit House hospital in Philadelphia by mid-July, while another claimed in early July that he was wounded and in West’s Building hospital in Baltimore. In any case, Nelson was reported absent sick in the hospital from June through February of 1864.

Nelson eventually rejoined the Regiment and was apparently wounded a second (or third) time on May 5, 1864, at the Wilderness, Virginia, after which he he was hospitalized in Satterlee hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was still absent in the hospital when he was transferred to Company F, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, and remained absent wounded until he returned to duty on September 13. He was wounded severely a third (or fourth) time on October 27, 1864, probably at Boydton Plank road, Virginia, and subsequently hospitalized until he was discharged on February 18, 1865, at Alexandria, Virginia, as a consequence of his wounds.

Nelson eventually returned to Michigan.

He married Pennsylvania native Winnefred “Winny” (1846-1895), and they had at least seven children: Nellie (b. 1866), Asa (b. 1868), Carl (b. 1869), Adeline (b. 1871), Laura (b. 1873), Frank (b. 1876) and James (b. 1879).

By 1870 he was working as a laborer and living with his wife and children in Lansing’s Third Ward. (His parents as well as his brother Allen were also living in the Third Ward in 1870.) By 1880 Nelson was working as a laborer and living with his wife and children in Lansing’s sixth Ward (just two doors down lived his brother Allen). Nelson was living in Springport, Jackson County in 1883 when he was drawing $18.00 per month for a gunshot wound in the right arm and left hand (pension no. 39,804), but by 1890 he was residing in Lansing where he was living in 1911 and 1915.

Nelson may have been married to one Esther.

Nelson was a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association and in May of 1914 he joined Grand Army of the Republic Charles Foster Post no. 42 in Lansing.

Nelson died a widower on September 19, 1921, in Lansing, and was buried on September 21 in Mt. Hope cemetery, Lansing: 5-203-D 1/2.

Ira Dennis Locke - updated 5/2/2017

Ira Dennis Locke was born October 6, 1824, in Hillsborough, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, possibly the son of New Hampshire native Sarah (b. 1792).

Dennis, whose given name was probably Ira Dennis, married Asenith L. Mosher (1828-1862), on November 23, 1845 in Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, and they had one child: Adaline O. (b. 1847).

In 1850 Ira D. was working as a mechanic and living with his wife and daughter in Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire; also living with them was Sarah Lock. By 1860 Asenith and her daughter had moved to Michigan and were living with Thomas and Susan Mosher (probably her parents) in Boston, Ionia County. In 1862 Asenith was in Ionia County where she presumably died and was buried in South Boston cemetery; she is listed as the wife of Dennis Locke.

Ira was quite possibly the same Ira D. Locke, 37 years old when he enlisted for three years at Lawrence, Massachusetts, on September 26, 1861, in the 26th Massachusetts but was reported as having deserted as of October 20, 1861.

If so, he soon made his way to western Michigan and was possibly living in Ionia County when he enlisted in the 3rd Michigan infantry. Ira stood 5’6” with blue eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was 38 years old and possibly living in Ionia County when he enlisted in Company D on December 13, 1861, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, and was mustered December 23 at Detroit. He was a Corporal when he was wounded in the groin on August 29, 1862, at Second Bull Run, and was first reported to be in a hospital in Washington, DC in September, but in fact, he was hospitalized in a general hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 3. He remained hospitalized until he was discharged on December 20, 1862, at Philadelphia for “palpations of the heart, shortness of breath and debility due to an injury” received “before entering the service.” No pension seems to be available.

Ira listed Boston, Ionia County as his mailing address on his discharge paper. He eventually returned, possibly with his daughter, to New Hampshire. There was an Ira D. Locke living in Lawrence, Massachusetts, listed as a single man who had reported as having served in Company I, 26th Massachusetts when he registered for the draft in the summer of 1863.

His daughter Adaline was living in Manchester, New Hampshire when she married Clark Bovee in December of 1865 in Manchester.

Ira was probably living in Manchester, New Hampshire when he died of consumption on May 17, 1866, and was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Manchester, New Hampshire.

No pension seems to be available.

Daniel Webster Littlefield

Daniel Webster Littlefield was born on February 11, 1837 in Ellisburg, Jefferson County, New York, the son of James Pennell (1792-1856) and Anna (Saunders, b. 1803).

Vermonter James reportedly fought in Harrington’s company, Fifty-fifth New York during the War of 1812. According to one source James “was foremost a millwright, a licensed Baptist minister who pastored until 1833, a farmer, a politician and . . . an alderman of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan.” He married Phoebe Smith in 1820 and married his second wife Anne Saunders in 1833 in New York. James and his first wife settled in Ellisburg, Jefferson County, New York where they lived until sometime between 1841 and 1844 when they were living in Cicero, Onondaga County, New York where James worked as a constable. By 1850 Daniel was attending school with his siblings and living with his family in Cicero, New York.

Daniel’s family left New York in 1851 and eventually settled in western Michigan. In 1856 James died in Grand Rapids. By 1860 Daniel was working as a grocery clerk working in Grand Rapids’ First Ward, and living with his mother and family in the Fifth Ward.

Sometime in early 1861 Daniel probably joined the Valley City Guard, the prewar Grand Rapids militia company whose members would form the nucleus of Company A.

Daniel was 24 years old and probably still living in Grand Rapids when he enlisted in Company A on May 13, 1861. (Company A was made up largely of men from Grand Rapids, and many of whom had served in various local militia units before the war, specifically the Valley City Guards, or VCG, under the command of Captain Samuel Judd, who would also command Company A. Curiously, Daniel is not found in the 1905 Third Michigan Regimental history, although he is listed in the 1905 Seventh Michigan cavalry Regimental history.)

Shortly after the battle of First Bull Run, on July 21, 1861, Daniel wrote a detailed report on the role played by the Third Michigan in the events of July 11 to 21, 1861, covering the action at Blackburn’s Ford to the federal retreat from Bull Run.

We were ordered Tuesday [July 11] morning to be ready to march with three days rations in our haversacks, by 2 o'clock; consequently by half past two our tents were struck and our entire baggage put into wagons to be carried over to Camp Blair (the skirmishers were encamped in the rear of the 2nd Mich. reg.) and we were on the march. We went down the road below Camp Blair and along the river by the Clair [Chain] bridge singing "Patriotic songs" on the first days march.

Mrs. Richardson (our brigade colonel's wife) rode beside her husband at the head of the column, she is a bold, bright looking young woman but not very handsome.
It had rained all night before our march, and the weather was cold.

About 2 1/2 [miles] this side of Virginia we were joined by a brigade from Arlington Heights; this brigade contained about 1,400 good looking men, when our brigade fell in I brought up the rear, it formed quite a little army. We came to a halt at V____a [Vienna], to remain for the night, soon after our guns were stacked, a large camp fires were kindled from every combustible material that could be procured.

Some commenced cooking their rations others too tired to cook, if they had anything, threw themselves on the ground, wrapped their blankets around them and were soon in the land of dreams.

For a distance around was brilliantly lighted up with camp fires. Officers passing to and fro in the distance giving orders, their bright trappings glimmering in the lurid light, altogether formed a splendid sight.

The country we passed through today is better in appearance than that immediately along the Potomac, but buildings are dilapidated, the farms are run down, the people with a few exceptions look dull and shiftless. The whole country shows the destructive effect of slavery.

Wednesday 12

I got up this morning very early to take a walk about town [Vienna?]; saw the ruins of a train of ours fired into by the rebels from their masked battery, some of the Ohio reg. who had some of their friends brutally murdered, was here and swore vengeance on their murderers.

There was a store here, some one said the owner was a secessionist, some of the Ohio boys took the lead and broke down the door and the boys rushed in and took what they wanted and some more. I did not think it was right to steal and destroy private property in that manner, if it is excusable, it is not policy, for if we go through the country that way, many will join the southern army that otherwise would not; is this our protection?

I am sorry that some have joined our army for the purpose of plundering and stealing, how can human nature sink into that scale of existence an still be dignified by the name of men.

At half past six [a.m.?] we were on our way to Fairfax C. H. We expect little resistance. I saw little piles of feathers along the road and concluded that somebody had done a great deal of hunting that night.

When we got within three miles of Fairfax, came to a halt and wait for an attack. We were ahead of the time, and soon everything was fixed & I began method (or modus) -- Fairfax must be taken, the 1st 2nd 3rd brigades were to enter the town from the left the road leading from Alexandria, the fourth (our brigade) had to go through the fields in point or center, and the 3rd to the right. We, "the skirmishers" were thrown out and saw some cavalry towards Fairfax but they run and we still advanced. But soon saw the 3rd brigade enter the town without any resistance and we came to a halt. Charles Lyon told me to take one of the boys and go ahead and buy something to eat for him and us, so a man by the name of Barker [?] and myself started; the first 4 or 5 houses we stopped at were vacated but being determined not to come off without something went over and thought we would wait until our party came up; we stopped to a house, the people had been out in the woods to wait until after the battle was over, they seemed very glad to see us.

I told them I had some money & if they had anything eatable to spare perhaps we could trade. One of the laddies replied, certainly, but do not mention money. We were about to take some meat offered us when I heard a crash followed by the jingling of glasses. "O! dear! they have broken that nice door all to pieces, will you not be so kind as to go over and stop them?" I asked if he was a secessionist? she told me as he was neutral & was a very fine man. I said I would try and see what I could do, and started on the run and told Barker to follow and told him, going, that we must make them believe we were sent as guards. We entered by the glass door, most of them were in the dining room drinking some liquor that they had found & were smashing the dishes and throwing the furniture around & silver ware. It was a splendid house & as well furnished as any I ever saw. I met a man coming down stairs with a small rosewood box, I thought might contain some valuables and made him lay it down & then rushed into the dining room yelled to them in my commanding voice to hold on! There were about twenty of them unarmed, except four or five had revolvers. They said the house belonged to a secessionist & they were agoing to tear it down or burn it up and wanted to know what I had to say about it.

I said we were sent by Col. Richardson to guard the house; you know what the duty of a guard is. I want every man to leave this house immediately; this man is not a secessionist and if he was here he would treat every one of you. Take those small demijohns to camp & treat your friends, but don't take anything more; one man had drawn his revolver; all was still for a moment; when one of them told the boys, if this man is not a secessionist and these men are guards, we had better go. I took my position at the door and took away things as they passed out, and laid them in piles; while Barker was inside making them lay down some valuable articles and hurry out.

After an exciting time we got them out, but some more soldiers were coming, so we posted ourselves, Barker at the front door and I at the back door and kept everybody out.

I saw a carriage coming up the turn followed by a one horse lumber wagon containing some trunks. I was glad when the ladies run down and told me what the trouble was. The men drew up and helped out an elderly pleasant looking woman & a young lady. I thought it was Carrie Merchant and began to wonder how in the world she came out here but as she approached I saw her eyes were black and she had a rather bold look.

As the man came up I told him what we had done, he shook my hand and said he was very much obliged to us, the women said, we thank you ten thousand times, how good you are, you noble men; while the young lady smiled very sweetly when she saw my broad grin, I heard but these words "you are very kind.” I walked into the house and showed them what they had done, and what we prevented them from doing. When I pointed to that rosewood box you ought to have seen the girl. I thought that there was something unusual about her, for she made for me, but turned her attention to the other box; she took it in her arms and hugged and kissed it; I began to wish that I was the box. Her exclamations of joy were beyond bounds. "I forgot this box when we packed some of our most valuable things, it contains all of my school things, diploma & all." (The "all" & most prized I suppose were a lot of love letters.) But some soldiers began to make a noise and come in so we returned to the doors and drove them out and guarded the dooryard and had enough to do, I assure you for some time. When Mr. Barker went over to one of the regiments and got a guard.

The young lady had left the room when we got through and I was about to start when the woman wished to know whom she was indebted for so much kindness and handed me a paper and requested me to write our names and said, "if you ever get wounded, sick or anything, while in this part of the country, be sure to come here that I may partially repay you." I thanked her for her kind offer and told her we had but done our duty, and were doubly repaid by their kindnesses. We went into the hall to get our traps, was surprised to find our haversacks and canteens filled. You ought to have seen how roguish the girl looked when I took up the haversack. When we started, Mr. Burton said we must write and let them know how we got along and after the war was over we must come and spend a few weeks. "Yes, write when you are coming and I will be at home and have the pleasure of entertaining you, myself.” Her father said, "Lillian has spoken, we shall expect you." We told them that we hoped that we should have the pleasure of seeing them under different circumstances, if they remained here, we will still be of the same nation & bade our new friends goodbye, and started to find our party, feeling quite happy after getting out of that scrape safely, and to think our little Lieut. would have a good supper.

We found our brigade instead of coming to Fairfax had turned and gone back to the road that leads to Germantown, and also we were four or five miles behind. We came into camp about 7 o'clock, & was not Charlie [Lyon?] and Peter [Weber?] glad to get cold ham and bread. We are to take lodgings in a meadow.

Thursday morn [July 18]

Nothing happened worthy of note last night. We were aroused to arms by a false report. The boys were calm and fell in, in good order.

This morning we are ordered to march, our skirmishers are the fourth advance of the whole division and will undoubtedly see some pretty hot time, but all seem anxious for a fight, and bring this thing to a close; notwithstanding of what we expect a "battle,” they all are as cheerful as if they were going to a picnic. I don't know what the plans of movement are, but the rebels will do what they have done, retreat, and will fight as they retreat.

We are about two miles from Centerville on a hill, about 12 miles back is a quite large dirt [?] battery, and had the rebels had the courage to stand, they might have done us some considerable damage; our boys passed through Centerville very quietly, molesting nothing. As we gained the top of the hill by the battery, the beautiful level tract of land in front of us, and the "Blue Ridge" looming up in the distance formed the most beautiful landscape I ever saw. As I looked upon the beautiful scenery about me I could hardly think that I was one of the invading army, producing all evils that a war like this necessitates to subdue a rebellious people.

There is a large camping ground on the left of the battery; one of the inhabitants told us that the "rebel troops" left between midnight and sunrise. We went through another camp ground a mile south of Centerville, found lots of traps, also letters received by the soldiers.

When we started again we are to start as skirmishers.

Night

When we left the deserted camp grounds we took an advance, throwing out six pickets about half a mile ahead, they soon brought in a man that gave us information as near as possible, that they were about a mile ahead. Our pickets found the enemy and returned, but could not tell where they intended to give us battle. A message was sent back and soon the battery came thundering down the road. We opened right and left to let them pass. They drove their horses along on full gallop, they stopped, planted their batteries on an elevation about half a mile this side of a house and barn, where the enemy troops were first seen, and our two rifle cannon commenced fire upon them; some troops were seen leaving them and run into the woods to the left.

Our skirmishers were ordered to go about a mile ahead of the batteries deployed "Rezind down" when we got our position the enemy commenced firing & it was delightful to lay there in the hot sun, while the cannon balls were flying & whistling over our heads; the first ball struck about four feet from the men on our right. Soon the enemy's cannon ceased firing, we laid there in suspense not knowing what would be the next orders, all the boys were perfectly cool & picked berries, cracked jokes about the war, etc. Soon we were told to advance into the woods and thicket to find the enemy, we went cautiously, feeling our way along; we went in as coolly as if we were looking for wild game. Soon after we entered the groves saw lots of meanly made bush huts covered so thick with evergreen that we could not see through. Of course, there they were in waiting for us. Not one flinched & for my part I felt quite unconcerned and took some crackers out of box I found open on my way; our sergeant could hardly keep from laughing at the absurdity.

Soon we heard a report at the left in the thick woods, followed by a sharp volley, we wheeled to the left in deployed line of skirmishers while our right kept up a brisk fire; we advanced in a stooping position behind bushes, corners of fences, and from tree to tree, looking out sharp for the rebels (spelled rebles).

I saw the boys take deliberate aim & fire, at last I got sight of one through the bushes, & shot. I do not know whether I hit him or not, but he changed his position very sudden. I loaded and went on & saw some rebel troops along the bank of the ravine & brook that separated us. I posted myself behind a large tree & saw the smoke of a gun aimed at me. I jerked back my head, "yip" went a ball just ticking me. I stuck my gun out by the side of the tree and fired at him just as he was emptying the powder of his cartridge. He threw up both his hands and fell forward on his face. I stood there for about fifteen minutes behind the tree & shot, aiming at the piles and saw lots of rebels fall but could not tell if I killed any more than one or not. The last four or five minutes that I stood there behind the tree, I could not move from one side to the other, for the unceasing vollies that were pouring at random upon us.

The bugles had sounded for us to retreat & most of them had gone & gone out of the range of the fire, but there I stood & a little ways from me lay my companions in battle snugly nestled behind a rock while the bullets were flying and glancing over them.

I thought I should never get out alive; but soon the firing abated and I started to retreat on full run keeping the trees in range with them. My friend Chancy Graham, who by the way has been to "Pikes Peak" & is the coolest genius you ever saw, found me, soon I hear the command to fire by company & I jumped behind a tree when the bullets whistled by us in every direction tearing the bark off from either side of the trees, we stood behind, as the bullets were ripping by us & knocking the leaves from the trees. Chancy asked me a question that made me laugh, laugh one of our good old hearty laughs. He asked me if I thought it was Providence or bull head luck that kept the bullets from hitting us. I told him it was the trees at present, but if we got off alive it must be by the help of "God.”

I looked off in the left in a clean spot and saw some men (mostly of N.Y. 12 reg.) falling and I thought it would come my time next, but was perfectly cool and retreated from tree to tree & bending low when there was no large trees near.

We heard a cannon ball or a volley of musketry, we all threw ourselves on our faces until we got over the hill out of range of their guns, in climbing down the hill I heard the rebels yelling like a lot of wild beasts, because 8 or 10 thousand (I don't know but more) had driven back eighty men. It made me so mad that I turned around and fired at random for the first time, then stepped behind a tree and looked. Here my friends got away from me & I did not see them again until next night.

I fell in with some skirmishers and was ordered to fall in on the left of the 1st Mass. Reg. & after being ordered first one way & then another proper authority some of us boys fell out. I went down a ravine for safety. I was completely exhausted and almost melted, when I gained a place of comparative safety I partly laid down on a hill in the shade of small trees, in a gully washed out by the water. I lay there some time dreamily amusing myself watching in front of me as the cannon balls were splashing through them (the trees).

I had not been there long in that state when a man came along and asked me if I was wounded. I told him I was not but was exhausted. He turned some water out of his canteen on my head & said I better remain where I was at present. I laid my head on my hands and strange as it may seem went to sleep. I was awakened by some gravel that was thrown into my face by a cannon ball striking the bank above me. I jumped up and found that all except a few stragglers had retreated behind the guns, and all were preparing to fire again; in the meantime the rebels were firing. I picked up my traps & keeping in the ravine until I got directly in front of the guns, & ran up between them while they were firing; before I had got the range of our our batteries again, & as I came up, a ball struck one of the artillery men and took off his leg, he was passing shot to the loaders, two men carried him in rear behind behind a blast [?] house. As I got up one of them yelled to me "for God's sake lay down your gun & pass those shot this way." I took his place for a few minutes when I was soon relieved. The rebels could have done a good deal of damage but their guns were all aimed too high.

I went behind the log house and found our Capt. G. [?], and some of the boys, they came up and shook hands with me & said they thought I would be dead; our Capt. told us to follow him to a place of more safety & we went into the woods. It was fun after we were safely seated to see the cannon balls tearing & slashing through the trees. The Capt. told us there the object of skirmishing. what we did, by forming into a brigade in line of battle, was to find how & where the enemy was situated, to have us concentrate them there for defense, play on them from our batteries which consists of five cannon, two rifled.

From the place I could see them carrying the wounded & dead bodies to Centerville. I could look at the mangled bodies and hear the groans of the dying with comparative indifference, knowing it is the natural consequence of war.

After half past six both sides stopped firing & we all retreated back to Centerville. I never was so much impressed in my life as when we came across the 3rd [Mich.] reg. & have my friends run for me, catching hold of both hands & arms, shaking me almost to death. They had heard I was killed. Capt. Judd said he trembled to see me go into the woods and he never expected to see me come out alive.

Col. Richardson said we done good service & saved the whole brigade from being cut to pieces.

We are now lying in front of a house in Centerville as guard.

Friday July 19, 1861

Our brigade went forward in the hill in front of Bull Run & began the entrenchments for the defence, our skirmishers to the rear to guard the baggage wagons & lay around low in the shade & rest. We remained in that position all day, while the right & left flank were taking their position. There are lots of reporters, speakers, & citizens out to see the battle, and the eyes of the whole U.S. are upon us. We must be doing something more before long.

I went back to the hospital see the wounded & also see the surgeon perform some operations, most of the worst work was done. I saw a lot of mangled limbs, that had been amputated & thrown into a heap; & also 15 or 16 dead bodies that were laid along in a row, on a piazza.

I looked upon these with comparative indifference. I feel quite unwell tonight but am bound to hold out if possible for there are so many cowards trying to be sick.

Saturday [July 20]

Last night we expected an attack, our brigade held their position all night; but if the center are attacked it was to fall back to Centerville where there was a large battery. We were stationed in a field on either side of the road, & in case the center retired to let them pass by, & then engage the enemy & keep them back if possible, until our brigade formed themselves in line of battle to protect the battery, then we were to file, right and left from the center & run around to the rear.

No attack was made so that plan was lost. We heard the car whistle all night & thought the enemy were receiving reinforcements, they came out in squads, & firing into what they supposed to be our lines, hoping we would return the fire & find out our position; but not a gun was fired from our side.

Today we kept our position (and in bugle call) but no great movement was made on our side; some northern men that were pressed into service of the southern army came to us; we learned from them that on Thursday we had killed about 800 men. They said our battery made bad work in their masked batteries & in the reserves beyond; more of the enemy's batteries have been discovered on the right along the hills and near the "blue ridge.”

This morning I felt so bad I went to the Dr. of the 2 [Michigan?] reg. and asked him what was the matter with me. After telling him my symptoms (for he was close by & is a very nice man) he told me I must have a few days rest, or it would work into something serious, and I must not sleep in the dew tonight; so I have engaged the chance to sleep on the piazza Cavenaugh [SGT, A co.] who was melted on Thursday.

Sunday 21

I feel quite sick & weak this morning. Charlie Lyons looks miserable but he will have to lay out; we are stationed to guard a hospital. Here we are lying in the shade; my friend Barker is sick this morning; the skirmishers had to work too hard on Thursday.
All was quiet last night and is now; but I see thousands of men going down to the right from B. – Aides des camps are dashing here giving hurried orders -- it looks as if we were going to have a large battle today.

I hope not, we are not prepared; we have not got ammunition enough to silence those masked batteries and they are again to make a grand stand here instead of at Manassas (so that man said that came over to us). I had a talk with him, he told me about a canal that supplied the junction with water, if we can take that and the batteries about Bull Run, we can cut them off.

They commenced firing on the left wing about 8 o'clock. Our men have advanced about two miles from where the fighting first commenced. The contest is going to be a hard one. I have a good view from here. I have borrowed a glass of the surgeon & from the "haystack" upon which I have crawled & leaning against in the shade. A person's feelings while viewing a battle are similar to those experienced while looking at a large and destructive fire, only more intense. The roar of the powerful artillery as one report breaks into another continuously; now and then you hear the thundering of a whole battery, and steadily gun answers gun in stern defiance.

The heavy and unceasing volley of musketry; while you see the shells bursting in the air, and see clouds of the smoke rapidly rolling up and disappearing in transparent gasses, & to think of the poor fellows that may be sent to their last resting place at every discharge -- is quite exciting. . . .

[This was a transcription done in 1941, then perhaps again in 1985, of a series of letters which Littlefield wrote soon after the first battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861. These are also found in the collection of St. Mark’s Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. See Jean Heibel’s The Crown of Pearl Street: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmann’s Publishing, 2000, pp. 90-99.]

Daniel was promoted to Sergeant, probably in the winter of 1861-62, and absent on leave from August 19, 1862; by September he was recruiting in Michigan. In October he was reported First Sergeant on detached service at Brigade headquarters.

He soon returned to Michigan, however, and by the first of November he was in Grand Rapids where, on November 6, 1862, he was transferred and promoted to Second Lieutenant, Seventh Michigan cavalry, commissioned as of October 24, crediting Grand Rapids where the regiment was being organized. Rebecca Richmond, teenage daughter of William Richmond, one of Grand Rapids leading businessmen, and who frequently mentioned Littlefield in her diaries, wrote on November 1 that Littlefield “has left the Third Infantry and joined the Seventh cavalry here [in Grand Rapids] as Lieutenant.”

The First Battalion of the Seventh Michigan cavalry left Grand Rapids for Washington on February 20, 1863; the balance followed in May. The seventh was initially attached to the Provisional Cavalry Brigade and participated in the defenses of Washington until June of 1863. The Seventh participated in the occupation of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on June 28, in action at Hanover, Pennsylvania on June 30 and in the battle of Gettysburg on July 1-3 as well as the pursuit of Lee’s forces back into Virginia.

By July of 1863 Daniel was a First Lieutenant, commissioned on June 6, and on the staff of General Pleasonton from June 28 through August. However, according to one former member of the Seventh, Daniel was in fact a member of Custer’s staff during the battle of Gettysburg in early July. Frank Milbourn of Company D wrote many years after the war that sometime during the night of July 4, as the confederates were withdrawing from Pennsylvania, he and Littlefield “located the enemy’s train and our Command captured it.” Another source, however, claimed that around the time of Gettysburg, Dan was in command of a company in the Seventh.

In any case, by September the Regiment reported him sick in Grand Rapids, although there were no local reports about Daniel being home sick. Nevertheless, he had in fact at some point returned to western Michigan. The Eagle wrote on October 15, the day Dan had just left to rejoin the Seventh cavalry,. The paper noted that Littlefield “has been spending a short furlough among his friends in this city,” adding that “The Lieutenant has, by his bravery in the field and noble military bearing everywhere, won many new friends wherever he has been, and made himself beloved by his friends and acquaintances at home, whom, one and all, will invoke the God of battles to protect him, in the performance of his hazardous duties to his country.”

Daniel did indeed return to Washington, DC, but never rejoined the Seventh cavalry, and instead remained in Washington recovering his health.

According to Rebecca Richmond, Daniel intended to come back home to recruit his health if he could extend his furlough. She wrote in her diary on Saturday, January 8, 1864, that Dan “was just convalescing, having had camp fever. He intended coming home to recruit his health as soon as he could get an extension of his furlough. He sent to Mary [Rebecca’s sister] and me a cabinet-sized photograph of General Pleasonton and staff, conspicuous in which group is Dan himself. He is very kind to remember us so.”

He failed to recover, however, and died of smallpox on January 4 or 6, 1864, in Washington, DC. Upon learning of his death, Rebecca wrote in her diary on Wednesday, January 12, that it had been a “Pleasant day and a delightful moon-light evening.

I rode down to church this evening and, after service I proposed to convey Mrs. Church, Martha Kendall, Milly Hess and Hobart Chipman to their respective homes. While we were awaiting the arrival of the sleigh we entered into general conversation. One of the party remarked ‘How unexpected were the tidings of Dan. Littlefield's death.’ Why, the remark was a perfect shock to me! Dan Littlefield's dead! of whom I heard only four days since as preparing to come home! It seems the intelligence arrived here yesterday by a letter to his mother, Mrs. L., written by a nurse in the hospital where our lamented friend passed his last days. He was attacked by small pox, and, though the crisis favorably passed, his system, enfeebled by previous illness, could not rally and he survived by four days. He died on the 4th instant. Poor Dan! He was a noble, brave, energetic, faithful soldier, and a true, kind hearted fellow! We shall miss him much in our social circle and all who knew him will remember him kindly for he ever had a kind word and a smile for all. Dan is the 8th of my friends who have been laid to rest in soldier's graves. His age was 26. Poor Clara Calkins, his betrothed, is nearly heart broken. She was entirely prostrated and unconscious for a time.

Daniel was initially buried in Columbian Harmony cemetery, which was reportedly the burial ground for those men who died from contagious diseases. (It was also one of the first all-black cemeteries in Washington.) In 1868 the remains of all Civil War soldiers buried in Harmony were reportedly removed reinterred in Arlington, National Cemetery, although no record of Daniel’s interment in Arlington is listed.

In May of 1864 his mother applied for and received a pension (no. 33741).

James Little - update 8/20/2016

James Little was born in 1837 in Downs, Ireland.

James immigrated to America and may have settled first in Ohio before moving on to Michigan. By 1860 he was living in Muskegon, Muskegon County and working as a mill hand at the Lyman Mason and/or Alva Trowbridge mill, along with William Courser and Yans Knudson (both of whom would also enlist in Company H), or at the Hubbard mill with John Freeman (who would join Company A).

James stood 5’7” with blue eyes, black hair and a light complexion and was 24 years old and probably still living in Muskegon when he enlisted as Seventh Corporal in Company H on May 6, 1861. (Company H, formerly the “Muskegon Rangers,” was made up largely of men from the vicinity of Muskegon and Newaygo counties.)

On October 19 James was admitted to Seminary Hospital in Georgetown, reportedly suffering from typhoid fever; he was transferred to the hospital in Annapolis on November 1.

James was discharged on December 4, 1861, at Fort Lyon, Virginia, for asthma “of some five years standing.” Following his discharge from the army James returned to Muskegon where he worked as a sawyer. He was living in Muskegon in 1863 when he married Michigan native Thankful Parish (1844-1927) on September 10, 1863, in Muskegon.

There was one James Little who married Michigan native Theresa (b. 1848), and they had at least one child: Andrew (b. 1866). By 1870 he was working as a laborer (he also owned some $500 in real estate) and living with his wife Theresa and their son in Muskegon.

By 1890 James was living in California when he applied for and received a pension (no. 915213).

James died in San Francisco on January 27, 1898, and was buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio: WS-603. Curiously, his Thankful’s name (actually Thankful Parish) is engraved on the back of his stone.

His widow applied for and received a pension (no. 461915).