James Albert Taber - updated 3/22/2015

Based on a review of pension records: 

James Albert Taber was born around 1843 in New York, possibly the son of Louisa M. (born 1810 in Massachusetts, died in 1879).

Massachusetts native Louisa was married sometime before 1840, probably in New York, and eventually settled in western Michigan. By 1850 “Albert” was living with his mother in Hastings, Barry County and by 1860 “James” was working as a clerk and living with his mother in Hastings, Barry County.

He stood 5’8” with black eyes, dark hair and a light complexion and was 18 years old and possibly still living in Barry County when he enlisted with his mother’s consent in Company E on May 13, 1861.

Shortly after the Third Michigan arrived at Camp Blair along the banks of the Potomac, on June 16, 1861, Tabor along with several other hastings soldiers wrote to the editor of the Hastings Banner.

We are all here in Camp in good spirits, occupying an elevated position on the Potomac, six miles north of the city of Washington, and going through the usual performances of Camp life. The days are occupied in drill, and the nights are more or less used for scouting, but we see none of the enemy. There are several regiments encamped close by us, and more coming in every day. The District of Columbia is so occupied by troops that there is, seemingly, scarcely room for another Regiment. Our Fourth of July was very curt [?].

We have about made up our minds that we have left no friends in Hastings; we have written from five to eight letters each, and have received no answers. A few lines from home would do us much good, especially from our friends, if we have any. If money is scarce out that way and our friends are out of postage stamps and envelopes, let them draw on us and they can be accommodated.

“James” was reported absent sick in the hospital, possibly in Philadelphia in mid-July, and from August of 1862 through February of 1863; Andrew Kilpatrick, also of Company E, reported that “Alembert” was present for duty with the regiment in late May of 1863. He was absent sick from July 6 and possibly through October of 1863. He suffred from chronic diarrhea. James had returned by the time he reenlisted on December 23, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Gaines, Kent County, and was absent on veteran’s furlough, possibly in Barry County, in January of 1864 and probably returned to the regiment on or about the first of February.

James was shot in the left hip on May 6, 1864, at the Wilderness, Virginia, and admitted as “James A.” on June 6 to Patterson Park general hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He was still absent wounded when he was transferred to Company E, 5th Michigan Infantry in June of 1864, and he remained absent sick through March of 1865. James was a Sergeant when he was furloughed on October 24, 1864, and while he might have gone home briefly to Hastings, we do know that he went to Philadelphia in late October or early November. He married Massachusetts-born Mary K. Miller (1845-1934), of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 2, 1864, in Philadelphia. James returned from furlough on November 15.

He rejoined his Regiment in early spring of 1865 and was wounded by a musket-ball in his right leg on March 31, 1865, at Hatcher’s Run, Virginia. He was transferred to Lincoln Hospital in Washington, DC, where he died of his wounds on April 18, 1865.According to the War Department: “the ball entering inside and exit outside, at middle of leg. Secondary hemorrhage.” On April 12 “a vertical incision three inches long was made along the outer boarder [sic] of the semi-membrane muscle and the popliteal artery legated. Died April 18, of secondary hemorrhage.”

James was reportedly buried on April 19, presumably in Washington, although it was also reported that his personal effects were taken by one William D. Miller of Philadelphia (possibly a brother- or father-in-law), and his body was sent “home” for burial, perhaps to Philadelphia.

In May of 1865 his widow was living in Philadelphia when she applied for and received a pension (no. 60502). In 1868 she remarried to Alpheus Norman (d. 1879).

James’ mother died in 1879, probably in Hastings and is buried in Riverside cemetery, Hastings. Mary was living at 125 Harrison Street in East Orange, New Jersey, when she died in 1934.

Ernst Synold

Ernst Synold was born in 1842 in Germany, the son of Charles F. (b. 1810) and Mary or Maria (b. 1808).

His family immigrated from Saxe Gotha, Germany to America, settling in Michigan sometime before 1849. By 1850 they were living in Westphalia, Clinton County where Charles worked as a physician. By 1860 Charles was working as a physician and living with his wife and son Conrad in Lyons, Ionia County.

Ernst or Ernest stood 5’10” with dark eyes and hair and a light complexion and was 19 years old and probably living in Ionia County when he enlisted with his parents’ consent as First Corporal in Company E on May 13, 1861. (Soon afterwards his father enlisted, as a 45-year-old private in Company B, Sixteenth Michigan infantry in August of 1861.) He was wounded on May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia, but soon recovered and by July he was a color guard. Ernest had, for reasons unknown, been reduced to the ranks by the time he was wounded a second time on August 29, 1862, at Second Bull Run.

As of early October he was a patient in Presbyterian hospital in Georgetown, DC, and he was subsequently hospitalized through January of 1863. By the end of May he was present for duty with the regiment and was wounded a third time on November 30, 1863, at Mine Run, Virginia. He reenlisted as Sergeant on December 23, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Gaines, Kent County, was presumably absent on veteran’s furlough in January of 1864, possibly in western Michigan, and probably returned to the Regiment on or about the first of February.

Ernest was wounded a fourth time on May 6, 1864, at the Wilderness, Virginia, and a fifth time on May 12, 1864 at Spotsylvania, Virginia, after which he was again hospitalized. He was still absent wounded when he was transferred as a Sergeant to Company E, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, and remained absent wounded through July. He was reported as First Sergeant in January of 1865, promoted to Second Lieutenant of Company A on January 1, replacing Lieutenant Daniel Birdsall, and in May he was promoted to First Lieutenant, commissioned May 8, 1865, and transferred to Company K, replacing Lieutenant Franklin.

Ernest was mustered out on July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Ernest eventually returned to Michigan.

He was married to Michigan native Mary (b. 1839).

His parents were living in Lyons, Ionia County in 1870. He was probably living in the upper peninsula when he acquired some 142 acres of land through the Marquette land office in January of 1877.

That same year Ernest applied for and received a pension (no. 160312). By 1880 he was working as a laborer and living with his wife in Menominee, Menominee County; his parents were also living in Menominee that year where his father continued to practice medicine.

Ernest eventually moved out west and by 1890 was living in Quilsene, Jefferson County, Washington.

Ernest died on October 2, 1925, in Hadlock, Washington.

Asslett Swinson

Asslett Swinson was born in 1827 probably in Norway.

Asher immigrated to America and was probably working as a farmer and living in White River, Greenwood Township, Oceana County, Michigan by 1860.

He was 34 years old and possibly living in White River, Muskegon or Oceana County when he enlisted in Company H on April 28, 1861. (Company H, formerly the “Muskegon Rangers,” was made up largely of men from the vicinity of Muskegon and Newaygo counties.)

He was wounded on May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia, and subsequently died from his wounds on June 24 or 25 at Portsmouth, Virginia. Asslett was probably reinterred in Hampton National Cemetery, but mistakenly listed under the name “C. S. Winslow,” section E, row 22, grave 19.

Ashley O. Swegels - updated 3/28/2015

Ashley O. Swegels was born in 1843.

Ashley was 18 years old and possibly living in Kent County, Michigan, when he enlisted with his parents’ consent as Second Corporal in Company K on May 13, 1861. He was discharged for consumption on June 2, 1862, at Newport News, Virginia.

He reentered the service in the U. S. Navy on August 1, 1862,for one year,  serving as ordinary seaman on the U.S.S. Robb. He was discharged from the navy at the expiration of his term of service on August 18, 1863.

Ashley eventually moved to Buffalo, New York where he worked for many years in the fire department, living (or working) at 123 Sixth street. He was working as an engineer and living at 337 Eagle in Buffalo, New York, in 1890 when he applied for a pension from the army (no. 757477), but the certificate was never granted. Five years later he applied (no. 40383) and was granted a pension for his service in the navy (certificate no. 37042).

Ashley was married to Mary E.

He was probably still living in Buffalo when he joined the GAR Post 254 in Buffalo, on January 23, 1903.

He died at Needles, California, on July 19, 1906.

In 1908 his widow applied for (no. 27500) and was granted a pension (no. 21283).