Josiah D. Wickham was born on July 20, 1809, in New York.
Josiah married Pennsylvania native Sarah (b. 1817), and they had at least two children: George (b. 1835) and a daughter Frances (b. 1840). By the time George as born they had settled in New York but sometime between 1835 and 1840 they moved to Michigan, and by 1850 Josdiah was working as a farmer (he owned $600 worth of real estate) and was living with his wife and two childrenin Sunfield, Eaton County.
Josiah was married to New York native or Vermonter Charlotte B. (1823-1890), and they had at least three children: Deming (1859), Frank B. (1866-1876) and Henry K. (1863-1896).
Josiah and his family were probably living in Clinton County in 1859 when their infant son Deming died (he was buried in South Riley cemetery). By 1860 Josiah and Charlotte were living on a farm in Riley, Clinton County (Josiah owned some $5,000 worth of real estate). Also living with them was 41-year-old New York native Susan Bassett and her 6-year-old son William (born in Michigan). Josiah eventually left New York and settled in western Michigan. By 1863 Josiah was working as a gunsmith in South Riley, Clinton County.
Josiah stood 5’10” with gray eyes, brown hair and a light complexion and was a 45-year-old farmer probably living in Riley, Clinton County, Michigan, when he enlisted in Company D on January 4, 1864, at Corunna, Shiawassee County or Riley for 3 years, crediting Riley. (He may have been related to Case Wickham of Company G. Case’s father James moved from Clinton County to Shiawassee County just before the war and lived there for many years afterwards.)
Josiah joined the Regiment on February 18 at Camp Bullock, Virginia, was absent sick in March and was still absent sick when he was transferred to Company A, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864. He remained absent sick until he was discharged for disability on April 3, 1865, at Detroit.
Josiah returned to Michigan after the war, probably back to his farm in Clinton County where he was living in 1870 with his wife Charlotte (reportedly worth some $7,000 in real estate), their two children and Susan Bassett and her son William.
In September of 1865 he applied for a pension (no. 84557; service listed as Company D, Third Michigan cavalry).
Josiah died of cancer of the stomach on November 29, 1874, in Dewitt, Clinton County, and was buried in South Riley cemetery: lot no. 43 grave 1.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Case Brown Wickham
Case Brown Wickham was born on September 25, 1833, in (probably Crawford County) Ohio, the son of James (1803-1881) and Laura (Argell, 1808-1847).
James and Laura were married in Barry, Orleans County, New York, in 1828. After they were married Case’s parents settled in Crawford County, Ohio, probably in the vicinity of Lykins, where they lived for many years. Laura died in Crawford County, Ohio, in 1847 and James eventually remarried New Hampshire native Susan Richmond (1815-1851).
James moved his family from Ohio sometime between 1843 and 1850 when they were living on a farm in Unadilla, Livingston County where Case was attending school with his siblings (Susan died in Unadilla in 1851). James settled his family in Dewitt but around 1858 he moved to Venice, Shiawassee County. It appears that Case may have remained in Clinton County. By 1860 Case was a farm laborer living with Nathaniel Wyans, a wealthy farmer in Dewitt, Clinton County.
Case was 27 years old and possibly still living in Dewitt when he enlisted as Eighth Corporal in Company G on May 10, 1861. (He was possibly related to Josiah Wickham of Company D). By the first of August of 1861 Case was sick in a hospital with fever. By early September he was still suffering from fever and in the hospital, either in Annapolis, Maryland, or, according to Frank Siverd of Company G, in Columbian College hospital in Washington, DC.
Case eventually recovered his health, returned to the Regiment. On October 26, 1861 he was with the regiment in its camp near Alexandria, Virginia, when wrote to his sister Amanda back home in Michigan. “Dear sister,” he began,
I received your letter of the 18th yesterday and was very glad to heart from you and to hear that you was well. Dyar [his brother Nathaniel D.] received a letter from [another sister] Amelia 2 or 3 days ago. She said they had been having a hard time of it. I wrote to Father and told him if he wanted some money to write and let me know and I would send him some the next pay day which will be in the course of two weeks. You wanted to know why I did not send my likeness. The reason is that I could not get a pass to Washington to get it taken, but now we have moved down the river from Washington below Alexandria 2 miles to Fort Lyon and we expect our pay in a few days and then Dyar and I will have our likenesses taken together and send them to you. You said that when you had your likeness taken that (Frankie) was going to sit with you. You must have her do so by all means for I would like to see the features of a girl that my Dear Sister thinks so much of. I am agoing to have Dyar’s and my likeness taken together to send to Phebe and then I hope that I shall her from her. . . . I stated that we had moved down the river. Alexandria is 8 miles from Washington and we are two miles from Alexandria but Washington is right in plain sight of here. The 5th regiment is encamped right across the road from our camp, and I see Dyar almost every day. He was here yesterday when I received your letter.
Afternoon
I had to quit my writing this forenoon to go on drill. We are here to work on Fort Lyon. It is a very large fort; it covers about 14 acres of ground and is to mount 120 guns. It will take about three months to finish it the engineers say.
There was a battle up the river last Monday and our forces got pretty badly whipped. The fifteenth Massachusetts took 800 men into the field with them and when they got back into camp there was only 400 men left. The enemy drove them into the river and a great many got drowned and a large number got shot while in the water.
There is a great deal of blame attached to the officers for crossing the river and attacking the enemy when they knew that there was about 12 or 15,000 men stationed there and they only took about 2500 troops to attack them.
Gen. McClellan went up there the next day and stayed until night before last. Our pickets bring [in] a secession prisoner almost every day. Our company was out the other day about 12 miles and we brought in two prisoners, a man and a woman – but I must quit writing.
Colonel McConnell of our regiment has resigned and gone home; good for him.
By early December the Third Michigan had settled into quarters in Fort Lyon, near Alexandria. Case wrote to Amanda on December 3.
I seat myself today to answer your kind Epistle, which came to hand on Sunday all safe and sound. Your likeness is just as natural as can be. Oh! How I wish I could see you. I would make those cheeks of yours look redder than when they do now. You would soon wish that tormented fellow was back in Virginia again standing guard or on picket out in the cold and see if he could learn better manners. But you must expect if you ever see me again, to set a rough harum scarum . . . of a fellow ready to go into anything or do anything that presents itself. I shan’t know how to behave myself when I go into company.
I had to stop my writing and go on battalion drill and it was colder than the devil and now the drum has beat for dress parade.
Dress parade is over and we have eaten our supper and now I seat myself by the light of the candle to finish my letter this being the third time I have seated myself today to write this letter.
When I wrote to you some time ago I wrote that there was some chance for us to to go on next fleet [?] down south but we got fooled out of it and now I guess we shall go into Winter Quarters pretty soon either on Eagle Hill or down to Alexandria. We do not know for certain which place we shall go to yet.
Congress convened yesterday in Washington but the President did not deliver his message until today at 12:00 o’clock. We shall get it in the morning paper tomorrow.
Oh! You had ought to be here and see the . . . old men and women, young men, young women, boys and girls, darkies and wenches, Dutchmen, Frenchmen, Irishmen, Jews, Yankees and every body else you can think of (yes indeed).
I wrote an answer last Sunday to that big family letter that I received from Dewitt the day that I received one from you. Banty [?] has got the cat in his arms and he is raising perfect h____ trying to bother us.
J. E. & G. W. & W. H. Davis and O. C. Ingersoll send their respects to you in return for yours. They stay in the same tent with me. They are pretty good boys and we have some tall times once in a while. I had to show your likeness to all of the boys in the company. They said they did not see how I could have so good-looking sister when I was so devilish homely. I tell them that all of our folks are good looking but me.
Tell Mr. Jennings that I thank him for his letter and will answer it when I get time. They are playing on a violin, banjo, tambourine and castanets in Co. B just about 20 feet from me where I am writing. They are plating an almighty good dancing tune and my pen keeps time to it and so I cannot tell half of the time what I am writing.
I wrote a letter to father today and sent him eight dollars in money. We did calculate to send him about 20 dollars but we had to buy us some boots and shorts and a number of other things to make ourselves comfortable this winter and we have got to get our likenesses taken just as soon as I can get to town. Dyar is going down tomorrow. I do not know when I shall go down again. They won’t let only one go a day from a company now.
My respects to all and my love to you. Be sure and write every week.
Later in December the Regiment went into its permanent winter quarters at “Camp Michigan.” On Saturday evening, December 21, Case wrote home to his father, brother and sister.
I seat myself this evening to answer your kind letter which I received this evening, and was very glad indeed to hear from you, but was sorry to hear that Lew was not getting better. And was very much disappointed in not receiving an answer from that draft which Dyar sent to you some time since. I put a draft of $8.00 in a letter and sent [it] to Father. Dyar wanted him to pay Uncle Harry $2 dollars out of it, and use the rest himself but I suppose it has slipped into somebody else’s pocket. I received a letter from Amanda this afternoon, she said that she had received a letter from me containing Dyar’s & my likenesses, which I sent at about the same time I sent that money. Amanda says our likenesses look as natural as life, she seemed very much pleased with them. I got a letter from Wesley last Wednesday; he said that they had a good deal of fun, but he does not seem to like their field officers. He says that they are the damndest set of fools that he ever saw, but he has not been through the mill yet, but he must wait until he has been in the service as long as I have and he will learn a great deal by that time, that he never knew before, at least that has been my experience. I wrote an answer to his letter yesterday. I told Wesley that he might send that letter to Phebe if he was a mind to and if she would write a letter to me and let me know whether she wanted our likenesses or not, and if she did to say so, we would have them taken and send them to her. But I do not know as she will write to me; she never has. There has been considerable excitement here for a week or two, the rebels have been crowding up on our pickets, they killed 4 of the New York 38th boys on one post about 4 1/2 miles from here night before last and they came up to one of the posts where some of the 2nd Michigan boys were a night or two before they (killed those NY boys) and fired on the boys. They shot two balls through one of the boys overcoat, blouse and shirt and never touched his hide. They returned the fire and then run; the rebels got their knapsacks and blankets and then went back. I shall go out on picket on Monday [December 23] and I hope they will have the kindness to come and pay us a visit while we are there, as I have not had the honor of seeing much of them since the Bull Run affair.
Oh I forgot Russell Braly was up to see me two weeks ago tomorrow. He was sutler in the 4th Regt. Mich. Infantry but he sold out that week before he came up to see Dyar & me, he calculated to start for Michigan last Monday he said that he should be gone about two weeks. He is coming back and going into business in Washington. He says he enlisted to go through the war some way and he says that he is going to do it some way. He sold out his mill there to Hudson on Monday and came away with the regiment Friday.
Dyar is well and hearty as a buck but I must stop writing for the drums are beating for tattoo and I must go to roll call so good bye. CB Wickham. [to] J Wickham ES Tyler
The very next day, Sunday, December 22, Case wrote to Amanda:
I seat myself on this Sabbath day to answer your long-looked-for letter which came to hand yesterday and I was very glad to find out among your many correspondents that you have not forgotten your unworthy brother. I also received a letter from Amelia. She said that they were all well except Lew. He does not appear to get along very well. He has been unwell a good while. When she wrote they had not received that money that we sent home. At least she did not say anything about it. I am afraid that it is lost. If it is we will not grumble. I received a letter from Wesley last Wednesday and answered it on Friday. He wrote that he was well but that he had not been home for two months, although he is within 20 [?] miles of home. He said that John was there to see him the week before he wrote to me. Dyar has got well again and is getting as tough as a bear and as for myself they can’t kill me with a meat ax, and the seccesh bullet is not molded yet that is to kill me. And there is not a rebel in the Southern Army that can take true enough aim to hit me. But enough of this blowing. The rebels did come up to our picket lines the other night and killed 4 of the New York 38th boys and the night before that they came up to where the 2nd Michigan boys were on picket and fired upon them and shot two balls through his [a member of the 4th] overcoat and blouse & short and never touched his skin. The 2nd boys returned the fire and then run. The rebels got their knapsacks and blankets and then sent back. I am going out tomorrow or next day and try my luck. We go out and stay three days and then are relieved by another brigade. We have some very good times out on picket. That is pretty exciting times. We have to keep a pretty good look out and not be caught napping. You will need not be surprised if you hear of a desperate battle here on the Potomac within a short time, and if you do hear of one, you will also hear of a splendid victory. Kit complains that she does not hear anything from you. She says she has not heard from you in a great while. She is teaching school in Alexander district ___. Celia Scott is teaching down south by the old Frenchman’s.
Write soon and if any of the girls are there with you just get them to help you if you cannot think of enough without [help]. If I get time sometime maybe I will write a composition.
Less than a week later, on December 28, Case wrote to his father, brother and sister back in Michigan.
I seat myself this evening to answer your kind letter which I received this evening and was very glad indeed to hear from your, but was sorry to hear that Lew [?] was not getting better and was very much disappointed in not receiving an answer from that draft which Dyar sent to you sometime since. I put a draft of $8 dollars in a letter and sent to Father. Dyar wanted him to pay Uncle Harry $2 dollars out of it and use the rest himself but I suppose that it has slipped into somebody’s pocket.
I received a letter from [his sister] Amanda this afternoon. She said that she had received a letter from me containing Dyar’s & my likenesses, which I sent about the same time that I sent that money. Amanda says that our likeness look just as natural as life. She seemed very much pleased with them. I got a letter from [his brother] Wesley last Wednesday. He said that they had a good deal of fun but he does not seem to like their field officers. He says that they are the damndest set of fools that he ever saw but he has not been through the mill yet, but he must wait until he has been in the service as long as I have and he will learn a great deal by that time that he never knew before, at least that has been my experience. I wrote an answer to his letter yesterday . . . I told Wesley that he might send that letter to Phebe if he was a mind to, and if she would write a letter to me and let me know whether she wanted our likenesses or now, and if she did to say so. We would have them taken and send them to here. But I do not know as she will write to me. She never has.
There has been considerable excitement here for a week or two; the rebels have been crowding up on our pickets. They killed 4 of the New York 38th boys on one post about 4 1/2 miles form here night before last, and they came up to one of the posts where some of the 2nd Michigan boys were a night or two before they killed those NY boys and fired on the [Michigan] boys. They shot two balls through of the boys overcoats, blouse and short and never touched his hide. They returned the fire and then run; the rebels got their knapsacks and blankets and then went back. I shall go out on picket on Monday and I hope they will have the kindness to come and pay us a visit while we are there, as I have not had the honor of seeing much of them since the Bull Run affair.
Oh: I like to forget. Russel Braly was up to see me two weeks ago tomorrow. He was sutler in the 4th Regt. Mich Infantry but he sold out that week before he came up to see Dyar and me, He calculated to start for Michigan last Monday. He said that he should be gone about two weeks. He is coming back and going into business in Washington. He says that he enlisted to go through the war some way and he says that he is going to do it someway. He sold out his mill in Hudson on Monday and come away with the regiment on Friday.
Dyar is well and healthy as a buck. But I must stop this writing for the drums are beating for tattoo and I must go to roll call. So good-bye. C. B. Wickham.
On the “Sabbath morn,” January 5, 1862, Case wrote to Amanda, from Fairfax County, Virginia.
I take my pen in hand this morning to answer your letter which I received night before last. I received one from Kit the same night. She says that she saw me up to Master Winans the other day and she thought that I was agoing to shoot her but I did not do it. She said that I looked just as natural as life. I wrote to her that I wanted her likeness and she said that if I would send her mine that I should certainly have hers. I wrote to her that you thought she had forgotten her but she says she has not, that she wrote you the last letter but she was agoing to write you another right away. {I can’t write today) My hand trembles so that I can’t follow the lines. Dyar is here reading your letter. He has not received one from you yet. He says ______ about that money that we sent home. We shall get our pay again in a few days. We had pretty good times here New year’s. We did not have to drill nor go on fatigue but could not leave camp for we expected to be called to arms. We expected the rebels to make an attack on our pickets. They shot one of the Lieutenants of the fifth [Michigan] regt – Dennison by name. He lived near Corunna. One ball hit him in the mouth and come out near his ear and went through his coat collar. One of the cavalrymen got hit in the thigh. The cavalrymen and the 5th scouts were in a deep ravine and the riders were covered with thick pines and the rebels were in ambush there in the pines. They were so close to our men that when they fired that they set one of the cavalrymen’s coats on fire. Our men jumped from their horses and charged on them. They chased them out of the woods. They did not know how many they killed but the next day the reb field officer of the day was up there and he says that there was six new graves there at Pohick Church.
Sunday evening. I will try and finish this mess of scribbling now. I was so nervous and uneasy today that I could not write. The pickets brought in nine rebel deserters today from the secession army. They tell a pretty hard story. They say that they do not get enough to eat, and they are so poorly clothed that they almost freeze. They have not got blankets enough to keep them warm and their clothes are almost worn out.
The expectations here in Camp now are that we shall make a forward movement pretty soon to cooperate with Gen. Burnside’s expedition. I think we shall attack Occoquan where they have got between 40,000 & 50,000 troops stationed. If we attack and sent them from here it will clear the Potomac from the rebel blockade and the rebels will either have to retreat back to Richmond or run the risk of being outflanked or surrounded by the federal army. At any rate I think there will be some fun pretty soon.
Those deserters say that the soldiers in the secession army quarrel about going out on picket, each one wants the other to go. But it is different here. Every man wants to go on picket and the only way to get along is to detail such a number every time to go.
But I must stop writing. I want you to be punctual about writing for I am not the only one that looks forward with pleasure to the day when we expect a letter from you. Billy Davis asks me every Thursday if I have got a letter from Amanda and if I have not he is just as much disappointed as I be. He says that he never saw you but he knows that you are a brick.
Case was killed in action on May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia.
On June 3, 1862, Homer Thayer of Company G wrote that during the action at Fair Oaks out of the company “Sergt. Chas. T. Foster, the Color Sergt. of the Regiment was the first to fall. He was bravely holding the colors, and by his coolness and courage, doing much to encourage the boys to press on. Orderly E. F. [Frank] Siverd was soon after wounded, but still did his duty and urged his comrades on. Soon after this Corporals Case B. Wickham, John Blanchard and Nathaniel T. Atkinson, and privates Samuel Dowell and Charles T. Gaskill received fatal shots. Atkinson and Dowell were brought from the field before they died. All have been buried, and their resting places marked with aboard giving the name, company and Regiment.”
Case was presumably reinterred among the unknown soldiers buried in Seven Pines National Cemetery.
In 1870 his father was the postmaster in Oneida, Eaton County. By 1872 he was living in Vernon, Shiawassee County when he applied for a dependent father’s pension (no. 199886), but the certificate was never granted.
James and Laura were married in Barry, Orleans County, New York, in 1828. After they were married Case’s parents settled in Crawford County, Ohio, probably in the vicinity of Lykins, where they lived for many years. Laura died in Crawford County, Ohio, in 1847 and James eventually remarried New Hampshire native Susan Richmond (1815-1851).
James moved his family from Ohio sometime between 1843 and 1850 when they were living on a farm in Unadilla, Livingston County where Case was attending school with his siblings (Susan died in Unadilla in 1851). James settled his family in Dewitt but around 1858 he moved to Venice, Shiawassee County. It appears that Case may have remained in Clinton County. By 1860 Case was a farm laborer living with Nathaniel Wyans, a wealthy farmer in Dewitt, Clinton County.
Case was 27 years old and possibly still living in Dewitt when he enlisted as Eighth Corporal in Company G on May 10, 1861. (He was possibly related to Josiah Wickham of Company D). By the first of August of 1861 Case was sick in a hospital with fever. By early September he was still suffering from fever and in the hospital, either in Annapolis, Maryland, or, according to Frank Siverd of Company G, in Columbian College hospital in Washington, DC.
Case eventually recovered his health, returned to the Regiment. On October 26, 1861 he was with the regiment in its camp near Alexandria, Virginia, when wrote to his sister Amanda back home in Michigan. “Dear sister,” he began,
I received your letter of the 18th yesterday and was very glad to heart from you and to hear that you was well. Dyar [his brother Nathaniel D.] received a letter from [another sister] Amelia 2 or 3 days ago. She said they had been having a hard time of it. I wrote to Father and told him if he wanted some money to write and let me know and I would send him some the next pay day which will be in the course of two weeks. You wanted to know why I did not send my likeness. The reason is that I could not get a pass to Washington to get it taken, but now we have moved down the river from Washington below Alexandria 2 miles to Fort Lyon and we expect our pay in a few days and then Dyar and I will have our likenesses taken together and send them to you. You said that when you had your likeness taken that (Frankie) was going to sit with you. You must have her do so by all means for I would like to see the features of a girl that my Dear Sister thinks so much of. I am agoing to have Dyar’s and my likeness taken together to send to Phebe and then I hope that I shall her from her. . . . I stated that we had moved down the river. Alexandria is 8 miles from Washington and we are two miles from Alexandria but Washington is right in plain sight of here. The 5th regiment is encamped right across the road from our camp, and I see Dyar almost every day. He was here yesterday when I received your letter.
Afternoon
I had to quit my writing this forenoon to go on drill. We are here to work on Fort Lyon. It is a very large fort; it covers about 14 acres of ground and is to mount 120 guns. It will take about three months to finish it the engineers say.
There was a battle up the river last Monday and our forces got pretty badly whipped. The fifteenth Massachusetts took 800 men into the field with them and when they got back into camp there was only 400 men left. The enemy drove them into the river and a great many got drowned and a large number got shot while in the water.
There is a great deal of blame attached to the officers for crossing the river and attacking the enemy when they knew that there was about 12 or 15,000 men stationed there and they only took about 2500 troops to attack them.
Gen. McClellan went up there the next day and stayed until night before last. Our pickets bring [in] a secession prisoner almost every day. Our company was out the other day about 12 miles and we brought in two prisoners, a man and a woman – but I must quit writing.
Colonel McConnell of our regiment has resigned and gone home; good for him.
By early December the Third Michigan had settled into quarters in Fort Lyon, near Alexandria. Case wrote to Amanda on December 3.
I seat myself today to answer your kind Epistle, which came to hand on Sunday all safe and sound. Your likeness is just as natural as can be. Oh! How I wish I could see you. I would make those cheeks of yours look redder than when they do now. You would soon wish that tormented fellow was back in Virginia again standing guard or on picket out in the cold and see if he could learn better manners. But you must expect if you ever see me again, to set a rough harum scarum . . . of a fellow ready to go into anything or do anything that presents itself. I shan’t know how to behave myself when I go into company.
I had to stop my writing and go on battalion drill and it was colder than the devil and now the drum has beat for dress parade.
Dress parade is over and we have eaten our supper and now I seat myself by the light of the candle to finish my letter this being the third time I have seated myself today to write this letter.
When I wrote to you some time ago I wrote that there was some chance for us to to go on next fleet [?] down south but we got fooled out of it and now I guess we shall go into Winter Quarters pretty soon either on Eagle Hill or down to Alexandria. We do not know for certain which place we shall go to yet.
Congress convened yesterday in Washington but the President did not deliver his message until today at 12:00 o’clock. We shall get it in the morning paper tomorrow.
Oh! You had ought to be here and see the . . . old men and women, young men, young women, boys and girls, darkies and wenches, Dutchmen, Frenchmen, Irishmen, Jews, Yankees and every body else you can think of (yes indeed).
I wrote an answer last Sunday to that big family letter that I received from Dewitt the day that I received one from you. Banty [?] has got the cat in his arms and he is raising perfect h____ trying to bother us.
J. E. & G. W. & W. H. Davis and O. C. Ingersoll send their respects to you in return for yours. They stay in the same tent with me. They are pretty good boys and we have some tall times once in a while. I had to show your likeness to all of the boys in the company. They said they did not see how I could have so good-looking sister when I was so devilish homely. I tell them that all of our folks are good looking but me.
Tell Mr. Jennings that I thank him for his letter and will answer it when I get time. They are playing on a violin, banjo, tambourine and castanets in Co. B just about 20 feet from me where I am writing. They are plating an almighty good dancing tune and my pen keeps time to it and so I cannot tell half of the time what I am writing.
I wrote a letter to father today and sent him eight dollars in money. We did calculate to send him about 20 dollars but we had to buy us some boots and shorts and a number of other things to make ourselves comfortable this winter and we have got to get our likenesses taken just as soon as I can get to town. Dyar is going down tomorrow. I do not know when I shall go down again. They won’t let only one go a day from a company now.
My respects to all and my love to you. Be sure and write every week.
Later in December the Regiment went into its permanent winter quarters at “Camp Michigan.” On Saturday evening, December 21, Case wrote home to his father, brother and sister.
I seat myself this evening to answer your kind letter which I received this evening, and was very glad indeed to hear from you, but was sorry to hear that Lew was not getting better. And was very much disappointed in not receiving an answer from that draft which Dyar sent to you some time since. I put a draft of $8.00 in a letter and sent [it] to Father. Dyar wanted him to pay Uncle Harry $2 dollars out of it, and use the rest himself but I suppose it has slipped into somebody else’s pocket. I received a letter from Amanda this afternoon, she said that she had received a letter from me containing Dyar’s & my likenesses, which I sent at about the same time I sent that money. Amanda says our likenesses look as natural as life, she seemed very much pleased with them. I got a letter from Wesley last Wednesday; he said that they had a good deal of fun, but he does not seem to like their field officers. He says that they are the damndest set of fools that he ever saw, but he has not been through the mill yet, but he must wait until he has been in the service as long as I have and he will learn a great deal by that time, that he never knew before, at least that has been my experience. I wrote an answer to his letter yesterday. I told Wesley that he might send that letter to Phebe if he was a mind to and if she would write a letter to me and let me know whether she wanted our likenesses or not, and if she did to say so, we would have them taken and send them to her. But I do not know as she will write to me; she never has. There has been considerable excitement here for a week or two, the rebels have been crowding up on our pickets, they killed 4 of the New York 38th boys on one post about 4 1/2 miles from here night before last and they came up to one of the posts where some of the 2nd Michigan boys were a night or two before they (killed those NY boys) and fired on the boys. They shot two balls through one of the boys overcoat, blouse and shirt and never touched his hide. They returned the fire and then run; the rebels got their knapsacks and blankets and then went back. I shall go out on picket on Monday [December 23] and I hope they will have the kindness to come and pay us a visit while we are there, as I have not had the honor of seeing much of them since the Bull Run affair.
Oh I forgot Russell Braly was up to see me two weeks ago tomorrow. He was sutler in the 4th Regt. Mich. Infantry but he sold out that week before he came up to see Dyar & me, he calculated to start for Michigan last Monday he said that he should be gone about two weeks. He is coming back and going into business in Washington. He says he enlisted to go through the war some way and he says that he is going to do it some way. He sold out his mill there to Hudson on Monday and came away with the regiment Friday.
Dyar is well and hearty as a buck but I must stop writing for the drums are beating for tattoo and I must go to roll call so good bye. CB Wickham. [to] J Wickham ES Tyler
The very next day, Sunday, December 22, Case wrote to Amanda:
I seat myself on this Sabbath day to answer your long-looked-for letter which came to hand yesterday and I was very glad to find out among your many correspondents that you have not forgotten your unworthy brother. I also received a letter from Amelia. She said that they were all well except Lew. He does not appear to get along very well. He has been unwell a good while. When she wrote they had not received that money that we sent home. At least she did not say anything about it. I am afraid that it is lost. If it is we will not grumble. I received a letter from Wesley last Wednesday and answered it on Friday. He wrote that he was well but that he had not been home for two months, although he is within 20 [?] miles of home. He said that John was there to see him the week before he wrote to me. Dyar has got well again and is getting as tough as a bear and as for myself they can’t kill me with a meat ax, and the seccesh bullet is not molded yet that is to kill me. And there is not a rebel in the Southern Army that can take true enough aim to hit me. But enough of this blowing. The rebels did come up to our picket lines the other night and killed 4 of the New York 38th boys and the night before that they came up to where the 2nd Michigan boys were on picket and fired upon them and shot two balls through his [a member of the 4th] overcoat and blouse & short and never touched his skin. The 2nd boys returned the fire and then run. The rebels got their knapsacks and blankets and then sent back. I am going out tomorrow or next day and try my luck. We go out and stay three days and then are relieved by another brigade. We have some very good times out on picket. That is pretty exciting times. We have to keep a pretty good look out and not be caught napping. You will need not be surprised if you hear of a desperate battle here on the Potomac within a short time, and if you do hear of one, you will also hear of a splendid victory. Kit complains that she does not hear anything from you. She says she has not heard from you in a great while. She is teaching school in Alexander district ___. Celia Scott is teaching down south by the old Frenchman’s.
Write soon and if any of the girls are there with you just get them to help you if you cannot think of enough without [help]. If I get time sometime maybe I will write a composition.
Less than a week later, on December 28, Case wrote to his father, brother and sister back in Michigan.
I seat myself this evening to answer your kind letter which I received this evening and was very glad indeed to hear from your, but was sorry to hear that Lew [?] was not getting better and was very much disappointed in not receiving an answer from that draft which Dyar sent to you sometime since. I put a draft of $8 dollars in a letter and sent to Father. Dyar wanted him to pay Uncle Harry $2 dollars out of it and use the rest himself but I suppose that it has slipped into somebody’s pocket.
I received a letter from [his sister] Amanda this afternoon. She said that she had received a letter from me containing Dyar’s & my likenesses, which I sent about the same time that I sent that money. Amanda says that our likeness look just as natural as life. She seemed very much pleased with them. I got a letter from [his brother] Wesley last Wednesday. He said that they had a good deal of fun but he does not seem to like their field officers. He says that they are the damndest set of fools that he ever saw but he has not been through the mill yet, but he must wait until he has been in the service as long as I have and he will learn a great deal by that time that he never knew before, at least that has been my experience. I wrote an answer to his letter yesterday . . . I told Wesley that he might send that letter to Phebe if he was a mind to, and if she would write a letter to me and let me know whether she wanted our likenesses or now, and if she did to say so. We would have them taken and send them to here. But I do not know as she will write to me. She never has.
There has been considerable excitement here for a week or two; the rebels have been crowding up on our pickets. They killed 4 of the New York 38th boys on one post about 4 1/2 miles form here night before last, and they came up to one of the posts where some of the 2nd Michigan boys were a night or two before they killed those NY boys and fired on the [Michigan] boys. They shot two balls through of the boys overcoats, blouse and short and never touched his hide. They returned the fire and then run; the rebels got their knapsacks and blankets and then went back. I shall go out on picket on Monday and I hope they will have the kindness to come and pay us a visit while we are there, as I have not had the honor of seeing much of them since the Bull Run affair.
Oh: I like to forget. Russel Braly was up to see me two weeks ago tomorrow. He was sutler in the 4th Regt. Mich Infantry but he sold out that week before he came up to see Dyar and me, He calculated to start for Michigan last Monday. He said that he should be gone about two weeks. He is coming back and going into business in Washington. He says that he enlisted to go through the war some way and he says that he is going to do it someway. He sold out his mill in Hudson on Monday and come away with the regiment on Friday.
Dyar is well and healthy as a buck. But I must stop this writing for the drums are beating for tattoo and I must go to roll call. So good-bye. C. B. Wickham.
On the “Sabbath morn,” January 5, 1862, Case wrote to Amanda, from Fairfax County, Virginia.
I take my pen in hand this morning to answer your letter which I received night before last. I received one from Kit the same night. She says that she saw me up to Master Winans the other day and she thought that I was agoing to shoot her but I did not do it. She said that I looked just as natural as life. I wrote to her that I wanted her likeness and she said that if I would send her mine that I should certainly have hers. I wrote to her that you thought she had forgotten her but she says she has not, that she wrote you the last letter but she was agoing to write you another right away. {I can’t write today) My hand trembles so that I can’t follow the lines. Dyar is here reading your letter. He has not received one from you yet. He says ______ about that money that we sent home. We shall get our pay again in a few days. We had pretty good times here New year’s. We did not have to drill nor go on fatigue but could not leave camp for we expected to be called to arms. We expected the rebels to make an attack on our pickets. They shot one of the Lieutenants of the fifth [Michigan] regt – Dennison by name. He lived near Corunna. One ball hit him in the mouth and come out near his ear and went through his coat collar. One of the cavalrymen got hit in the thigh. The cavalrymen and the 5th scouts were in a deep ravine and the riders were covered with thick pines and the rebels were in ambush there in the pines. They were so close to our men that when they fired that they set one of the cavalrymen’s coats on fire. Our men jumped from their horses and charged on them. They chased them out of the woods. They did not know how many they killed but the next day the reb field officer of the day was up there and he says that there was six new graves there at Pohick Church.
Sunday evening. I will try and finish this mess of scribbling now. I was so nervous and uneasy today that I could not write. The pickets brought in nine rebel deserters today from the secession army. They tell a pretty hard story. They say that they do not get enough to eat, and they are so poorly clothed that they almost freeze. They have not got blankets enough to keep them warm and their clothes are almost worn out.
The expectations here in Camp now are that we shall make a forward movement pretty soon to cooperate with Gen. Burnside’s expedition. I think we shall attack Occoquan where they have got between 40,000 & 50,000 troops stationed. If we attack and sent them from here it will clear the Potomac from the rebel blockade and the rebels will either have to retreat back to Richmond or run the risk of being outflanked or surrounded by the federal army. At any rate I think there will be some fun pretty soon.
Those deserters say that the soldiers in the secession army quarrel about going out on picket, each one wants the other to go. But it is different here. Every man wants to go on picket and the only way to get along is to detail such a number every time to go.
But I must stop writing. I want you to be punctual about writing for I am not the only one that looks forward with pleasure to the day when we expect a letter from you. Billy Davis asks me every Thursday if I have got a letter from Amanda and if I have not he is just as much disappointed as I be. He says that he never saw you but he knows that you are a brick.
Case was killed in action on May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia.
On June 3, 1862, Homer Thayer of Company G wrote that during the action at Fair Oaks out of the company “Sergt. Chas. T. Foster, the Color Sergt. of the Regiment was the first to fall. He was bravely holding the colors, and by his coolness and courage, doing much to encourage the boys to press on. Orderly E. F. [Frank] Siverd was soon after wounded, but still did his duty and urged his comrades on. Soon after this Corporals Case B. Wickham, John Blanchard and Nathaniel T. Atkinson, and privates Samuel Dowell and Charles T. Gaskill received fatal shots. Atkinson and Dowell were brought from the field before they died. All have been buried, and their resting places marked with aboard giving the name, company and Regiment.”
Case was presumably reinterred among the unknown soldiers buried in Seven Pines National Cemetery.
In 1870 his father was the postmaster in Oneida, Eaton County. By 1872 he was living in Vernon, Shiawassee County when he applied for a dependent father’s pension (no. 199886), but the certificate was never granted.
Friday, April 29, 2011
John Wesley Whittaker
John Wesley Whittaker, alias “Warfield,” was born on August 9, 1840, in either Cherry Valley or Picton, Ontario, Canada, the son of Buel C.
John left Canada and came to western Michigan sometime before the war broke out.
He stood 5’9” with blue eyes, auburn hair and a light complexion and was a 20-year-old mechanic, lumberman and farmer probably living in Newaygo County when he enlisted with the consent of the Justice of the Peace in Company K on May 13, 1861. John was on detached service from the end of August, 1861, and allegedly deserted on June 16 or 20, 1862, at Savage Station, Virginia, but was in fact discharged on June 20, 1862. (The charge of desertion was removed in 1899.)
He apparently never returned to Michigan but settled in Minnesota where he reentered the service as “John W. Warfield” in Company A, Tenth Minnesota infantry, on August 11, 1862, for three years, probably at Garden City, (or perhaps the Winnebago Agency, Fort Snelling or St. Paul). In any case, the Tenth Minnesota remained in Minnesota between August 12 and November 15 and participated in Sibley’s campaign to put down the Souix uprising in Minnesota between August 20 and November 14.
Due to the uprising, at organization the regiment’s companies were quickly detached to numerous locations throughout the state. Company A was stationed at Garden City upon organization. Company A, along with companies B, F, G, H and K were present at the Indian execution at mankato on December 26, 1862. The Tenth Minnesota also participated in Sibley’s expedition against the Souix in the Dakota territory from June 16 to September 12, 1863, and was at Big Mound, Dakota Territory on July 24, at Dead Buffalo Lake on July 26, Stony Lake on July 28 and along the Missouri River from July 29-30.
The regiment was transferred to St. Louis, Missouri, to garrison and provost duty at Benton Barracks, on October 7-12, 1863 and remained attached to the District of St. Louis through April of 1864. John was on leave for 20 days from December 31, 1863, and eventually returned to the regiment.
On April 22, 1864, the regiment was moved to Columbus, Kentucky where they remained until June 19 when they marched to Memphis. In June of 1864 John was at the convalescent camp, recovering apparently from some illness, in Memphis, Tennessee.
The regiment participated in Smith’s expedition to Tupelo, Mississippi on July 5-21: were at Pontotoc on July 11, near Camargo’s crossroads on July 13, and at Tupelo on July 14-15, at Old Town or Tishamingo creek on July 15. Also participated in Smith’s expedition to Oxford, Mississippi, August 1-30: Tallahatchie River August 7-9, Abbeville, on August 23. Was on Mower’s expediton to Duvall’s Bluff, Arkansas, September 2-9, marched through Arkansas and Missouri in pursuit of Price September 17 to November 15 and moved to Nashville, November 24-30. Participated in the battle of Nashville December 15-16 and helped to pursue Hood to the Tennessee River December 27-28. Moved to Clifton, Tennessee, then to Eastport, Mississippi, December 29 to January 4, 1865 and remained on duty at Eartport until February 6 when they moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, February 6-21.
The 10th Minnesota participated in the campaign against Mobile, Alabama, and its defensive works March 17 to April 12, and in the siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26 to April 8; assaulted and captu5ed Fort Blakely on April 9. occupied Mobile on April 12, when they marched to Montgomery April 13-25 and remained on duty there until may when they moved to Meridian, Mississippi.
The regiment remained in garrison in Meridian until July when they were sent home to St. Paul, Minnesota, where they were mustered out on August 18, 1865. John was treated for opthalmia on June 24 and 28, 1865, and was discharged, possibly as Corporal, on August 9, 1865, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota.
After the war John remained in Minnesota where he lived until about 1892 when he moved to Eugene, Oregon. He lived the rest of his life in Eugene working variously as a blacksmith and farmer.
John was married twice to Wisconsin native Marcelline (1848-1920), first probably in 1870 or 1871; they were divorced on June 7, 1873, and remarried on July 16, 1873, in Rochester, Minnesota. They had at least eight children: Amber (b. 1872), twins Anna & Alma (b. 1874), William (b. 1876), Wesley (b. 1878), Bertha (b. 1881), Blanche (b. 1884) and Nellie (b. 1887).
John and Marcelline were separated the final two or three years of his life, due, she claimed, to his excessive drinking. She testified in 1908 that the ‘estrangement was caused by his persistent use of liquors, thus causing his presence to be intolerable, and that I feared for my life when he was intoxicated.”
An acquaintance in Oregon, James Turner testified in 1908 that he “was well acquainted with Mr. Whittaker during his life, knowing him for some ten years” and that “He was quite successful in consuming his earnings and pension money in drink. He was a fine man and mechanic when sober, but quite the reverse when under liquor.”
John received pension no. 1,247,380, drawing $8.00 in 1907, and his widow received pension no. 672,199, drawing $25.00 in 1920.
He was “found dead after a protracted drunk” of “acute alcoholism” on November 10, 1907, at Eugene, Oregon, and was buried in the Eugene I.O.O.F. cemetery.
John left Canada and came to western Michigan sometime before the war broke out.
He stood 5’9” with blue eyes, auburn hair and a light complexion and was a 20-year-old mechanic, lumberman and farmer probably living in Newaygo County when he enlisted with the consent of the Justice of the Peace in Company K on May 13, 1861. John was on detached service from the end of August, 1861, and allegedly deserted on June 16 or 20, 1862, at Savage Station, Virginia, but was in fact discharged on June 20, 1862. (The charge of desertion was removed in 1899.)
He apparently never returned to Michigan but settled in Minnesota where he reentered the service as “John W. Warfield” in Company A, Tenth Minnesota infantry, on August 11, 1862, for three years, probably at Garden City, (or perhaps the Winnebago Agency, Fort Snelling or St. Paul). In any case, the Tenth Minnesota remained in Minnesota between August 12 and November 15 and participated in Sibley’s campaign to put down the Souix uprising in Minnesota between August 20 and November 14.
Due to the uprising, at organization the regiment’s companies were quickly detached to numerous locations throughout the state. Company A was stationed at Garden City upon organization. Company A, along with companies B, F, G, H and K were present at the Indian execution at mankato on December 26, 1862. The Tenth Minnesota also participated in Sibley’s expedition against the Souix in the Dakota territory from June 16 to September 12, 1863, and was at Big Mound, Dakota Territory on July 24, at Dead Buffalo Lake on July 26, Stony Lake on July 28 and along the Missouri River from July 29-30.
The regiment was transferred to St. Louis, Missouri, to garrison and provost duty at Benton Barracks, on October 7-12, 1863 and remained attached to the District of St. Louis through April of 1864. John was on leave for 20 days from December 31, 1863, and eventually returned to the regiment.
On April 22, 1864, the regiment was moved to Columbus, Kentucky where they remained until June 19 when they marched to Memphis. In June of 1864 John was at the convalescent camp, recovering apparently from some illness, in Memphis, Tennessee.
The regiment participated in Smith’s expedition to Tupelo, Mississippi on July 5-21: were at Pontotoc on July 11, near Camargo’s crossroads on July 13, and at Tupelo on July 14-15, at Old Town or Tishamingo creek on July 15. Also participated in Smith’s expedition to Oxford, Mississippi, August 1-30: Tallahatchie River August 7-9, Abbeville, on August 23. Was on Mower’s expediton to Duvall’s Bluff, Arkansas, September 2-9, marched through Arkansas and Missouri in pursuit of Price September 17 to November 15 and moved to Nashville, November 24-30. Participated in the battle of Nashville December 15-16 and helped to pursue Hood to the Tennessee River December 27-28. Moved to Clifton, Tennessee, then to Eastport, Mississippi, December 29 to January 4, 1865 and remained on duty at Eartport until February 6 when they moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, February 6-21.
The 10th Minnesota participated in the campaign against Mobile, Alabama, and its defensive works March 17 to April 12, and in the siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26 to April 8; assaulted and captu5ed Fort Blakely on April 9. occupied Mobile on April 12, when they marched to Montgomery April 13-25 and remained on duty there until may when they moved to Meridian, Mississippi.
The regiment remained in garrison in Meridian until July when they were sent home to St. Paul, Minnesota, where they were mustered out on August 18, 1865. John was treated for opthalmia on June 24 and 28, 1865, and was discharged, possibly as Corporal, on August 9, 1865, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota.
After the war John remained in Minnesota where he lived until about 1892 when he moved to Eugene, Oregon. He lived the rest of his life in Eugene working variously as a blacksmith and farmer.
John was married twice to Wisconsin native Marcelline (1848-1920), first probably in 1870 or 1871; they were divorced on June 7, 1873, and remarried on July 16, 1873, in Rochester, Minnesota. They had at least eight children: Amber (b. 1872), twins Anna & Alma (b. 1874), William (b. 1876), Wesley (b. 1878), Bertha (b. 1881), Blanche (b. 1884) and Nellie (b. 1887).
John and Marcelline were separated the final two or three years of his life, due, she claimed, to his excessive drinking. She testified in 1908 that the ‘estrangement was caused by his persistent use of liquors, thus causing his presence to be intolerable, and that I feared for my life when he was intoxicated.”
An acquaintance in Oregon, James Turner testified in 1908 that he “was well acquainted with Mr. Whittaker during his life, knowing him for some ten years” and that “He was quite successful in consuming his earnings and pension money in drink. He was a fine man and mechanic when sober, but quite the reverse when under liquor.”
John received pension no. 1,247,380, drawing $8.00 in 1907, and his widow received pension no. 672,199, drawing $25.00 in 1920.
He was “found dead after a protracted drunk” of “acute alcoholism” on November 10, 1907, at Eugene, Oregon, and was buried in the Eugene I.O.O.F. cemetery.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Oscar Newman Whitney - updated July 12 2015
Oscar Newman Whitney was born on June 29 1842, in Kent County, Michigan, the son of Oscar F. (born 1812 in New York, died 1849 in Michigan) and Electa A. (Bryant, born 1818 in Vermont, died 1886 in Michigan).
Oscar F., brother of Abraham J. who would also serve in the 3rd Michigan, married Electa on November 29, 1837, in Clinton County, Michigan.
After Oscar F. died in 1849, Electa married Vermonter George Warner probably sometime around 1850, probably in Michigan. (George Warner would enlist in Company B, 3rd Michigan Infantry in the spring of 1861.)
In 1850 Oscar was living with Connecticut native Dennis and New York-born Sally Hines in Cannon, Kent County. By 1860, Oscar (listed only as “Newman Whitney”) was a 18-year-old farm laborer who, along with his grandfather 76-year-old Connecticut native Zerah Whitney, was living with the Misner family in Grand Rapids Township, Kent County. “Newman” was also reported as a farm laborer living with his brother 29-year-old Michigan native George Whitney who was a teamster and they were all living with George Warner in Plainfield, Kent County.
During the winter of 1860-61, Oscar was working as a farm laborer in Big Rapids, Mecosta County, for the Green family (also living with the Green family was John Shaw who would also enlist in Company K).
Oscar stood 6’1” with black eyes and hair and a dark complexion and was a 19-year-old farm hand possibly living in Kent County when he enlisted with the consent of his guardian (possibly Dennis Hines from Plainfield, Kent County) in Company K on May 13, 1861. Oscar was reported as a company cook in October of 1862, a teamster in November and December of 1862, and serving with the Brigade wagon train from January of 1863 through July.
He was listed as absent sick in Washington, DC from September 16, 1863, until he reenlisted on March 17, 1864, at Plainfield, was mustered near Culpeper, Virginia and returned to Grand Rapids on a veteran’s furlough in April.
Although he was transferred to Company F, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, apparently he never returned from his veteran’s furlough and was reported AWOL as of June 4 and then a deserter on July 19, 1864, while on veteran’s furlough.
In fact, Whitney was still in Grand Rapids and according to one local newspaper, by mid-July had become something of a “hero” around Kent County.
We have been told the following story [a local newspaper reported]which is religiously believed to be true by many of our citizens, some of whom claim to have actually seen the papers and documents proving its truth. We withhold names for the present.
A good looking and brave young soldier of the glorious Third Michigan Infantry, well brought up, who resided in this County, was overcome with fatigue and hunger, after the first Bull Run battle, and strayed from his regiment, with a comrade, on the retreat for Washington. Nearly exhausted, footsore and sick, the two met a Virginian gentleman, some distance from Alexandria, and were invited by him to partake of his hospitality. They accepted his kind offer, and were supplied with supper, a comfortable bed, and a change of rainment. Two or three days after, having somewhat recovered they proceeded to Washington and rejoined their command. But the young man from here had been smitten, during his short sojourn at the house of his benefactor, by the charms of the youthful and only daughter of his host, and frequently after that event called upon her, being always kindly received.
The Virginian was a Union man, a widower, and every wealthy. The war had deprived him of every one of his kindred, who were either in the rebel armies, or had emigrated South. Finding our young soldier a man worthy of his friendship, brave, trusty and sufficiently educated, be allowed matters to follow their natural course, and his daughter became betrothed to our hero.
When the Third returned home on furlough, our hero returned with it, to visit his home and relatives here for the first time since he enlisted. He was himself an orphan, who had been brought up by an uncle.
On his return, he found his betrothed dead -- killed by a fever. After mutual condolence in their affliction, the Virginian told our hero that he had learned to regard him as a son; that he had no other earthly kindred or friend to sustain his old age; and that he must be considered henceforth as a father.
Subsequently, while absent again, our hero received a telegraphic dispatch saying that his benefactor was dying. He hastened to reach his bedside, but was met by another dispatch announcing his death. On arriving in Virginia, he found that he had been made sole heir and executor of his benefactor's estate, by will, which was speedily probated, and which placed him in possession of property valued at over $400,000, including a well-known hotel and other property in Washington, and estate in Virginia, a number of lots in Chicago, etc.
We are informed that Colonel Kellogg is now aiding the young soldier to procure a discharge from the service, by putting several substitutes in his place, in order that he may be able to attend to the business of settling his newly acquired property; and that the young man has offered his uncle, who educated him, the management of the hotel in Washington, rent free, for a term of years.
We tell the story as it is now circulating through the city. If it turns out to be essentially correct, we shall, of course, lay its confirmation before our readers.
But, on August 23 the story took an interesting twist. “On the 18th of July last,” wrote the Eagle,
we published a romantic story, about a Grand Rapids soldier boy being in luck. The story was religiously believed among many of our people to be true, and it went the rounds of the press. It was partially rewritten and claimed as original by the Free Press folks, at Detroit, where it also took another turn among its exchanges. It was a pretty and highly romantic story, and it is too bad that it should, at this late day, be spoiled by coarse, plain facts and figures, and the hero of it be locked up in the jail. As our readers will recollect, this beautiful tale had its foundation with the first battle of Bull Run, where our hero, then a soldier in the Old Third, in the grand panic, wandered from his regiment to the residence of a rich Virginian, widower, with an only daughter, where he was kindly cared for and beloved at sight by the fair daughter. In short, our hero, whose name is [Oscar] Newman Whitney, reciprocated the love showered upon him, recovered from his injuries and returned on a furlough to his home in this city. When next he visited the home of his enamored fair one, he found that a sudden disease had carried her off and that her rich father was in a fair way to follow her, as he did in a short time thereafter, leaving, as he had not kin or relatives, all his vast estate willed to and in the hands of this fortunate young Michigander.
Since this vast amount of property, a the story goes, came into the said young man’s hands, he has quite naturally carried a pretty high head, and ha travel;ed extensively in the spread eagle style, obtaining money to do so upon his reported wealth.-- He has traveled hither and thither, looking after his vast estates, from the time the story started until last evening, when he, together with hi cousin Chas. Whitney, was arrested at the Half Way House, between this city and Kalamazoo, by officers Covell, Parkman and Ferris [formerly of Company A], brought back to this city and lodged in jail, on charges, we believe, of having obtained money upon false pretenses.
How this gilt-edged tory originated and has been successfully maintain as true to this time, is still somewhat of a mystery; but that he obtained money upon its supposed truth, of Mr. J. C. Richardson, of Plainfield, a personal friend of his and the Whitney family, at various times, for the purpose of securing his papers, etc., amounting in all to the snug little sum of $1,900, is no fiction.
When he obtained money of Mr. Richardson -- at various times from $200 to $500 -- young Whitney would place in his hands, for safe keeping and in order to show him that all was right, large envelopes, weighty with papers, firmly sealed with wax, addressed to himself, and filed substantially as followed, upon the various document, to wit: “Deeds of my property in New York”; Deed of the National Hotel in Washington”; “My property in Chicago”; “An account of my personal property”; “Last will and testament,” etc.
Among other quite natural luxuries that young Whitney has recently been indulging in, is that of marrying one of the pretty dancing girls, of the Varieties Theatre, at Detroit, with whom he has been sojourning here, passing the honey-moon for the past week.
Whitney, with several other theatrical chums, had made arrangements for a grand wedding and pleasure tour, along the shores of lake Michigan, and in order to do this handsomely, he must have more money to purchase a vessel, etc., the call upon Mr. Richardson, for which, like the last straw broke the camel’s back. Mr. R. smelled a mice, or rather was fearful that all was not right, and accordingly he came to this city yesterday, with hi huge pack of sealed deeds and mortgages, and placed them in the hands of officer Covell, when the envelopes were opened, and found to contain nothing but blank papers. Whew! didn’t some folk’s eyes elongate lengthwise and widthwise about that time, and did they not discover a “mare’s nest” with nary an egg in it.
Upon this blank discovery, Tom Clark, the theatrical vocalist, was immediately arrested and lodged in jail, as an accessory, followed by the arrest of the hero, Newman Whitney, and his cousin Charles Whitney.
To be continued when the records of the courts reveal further interesting facts.
Two days later, on August 25 the Eagle reported that
the fortunate or unfortunate hero of the romantic story of love and untold wealth, Orson [Oscar] Newman Whitney, was taken with his chums, Charles Whitney, and Tom Clark, before Justice Sinclair yesterday, for examination upon the charge as principal and assistants of obtaining money of J. C. Richardson, upon false pretenses.
The leading offender, and substantial “agony” in the case, waived an examination and was again committed to jail, to await the sitting of the next Circuit court, for want of bail in the sum of $10,000. The examination of the case of the other two young men, Charles Whitney and Tom Clark, was put off until the 21st of September next, and they were committed for want of security for their appearance at that time, in the sum of $5,000 each.
What a wicked world this is to be sure; a world in which wealth is quite fleeting, and true love never did run smooth, and where in beautiful stories terminate so ridiculously as the one whose hero above mentioned is in a common jail.”
The following day, the Eagle wrote that “O. N. Whitney, Charles Whitney and Tom Clark, were taken before E. Smith, Jr., Circuit Court Commissioner, this forenoon, when the amount of security in each case was reduced, bail given and they were set free. O. N. Whitney charged with obtaining property upon false pretenses, was admitted to bail in the sum of $5,000, for his appearance and answer at the next term of the Circuit Court; and Charles Whitney and Tom Clark were held to bail in the sum of $2,000 each, for their appearance on examination before Justice Sinclair, on the 21st of September next, to answer to the charge of conspiracy to defraud. Chas. Whitney and Tom Clark say they have been a greatly deceived as any one in this matter and that they can and will establish that fact on their examination.”
On the morning of the 26th, according to the Eagle, Oscar, who by now was widely known as having deserted from the army, was released from prison
on $5,000 bail, under the charge of having obtained goods upon false pretenses, he immediately left for the East, but was met by an officer at Ionia, who had received a dispatch from Detroit to arrest one O. N. Whitney as a deserter, which little job the officer accomplished, upon the arrival of the train bearing the romancer toward sunrise.
Whitney, finding himself in this unpleasant condition -- weighty responsibilities rapidly accumulating upon his young shoulders, he induced the officer to accompany him to Detroit, instead of the officer inducing him to stop over, whom he assured that all would be right, and that he would pay his expenses. The officer consented to his propsoitions, and off they went upon the flying train. But young Whitney, as it appears, changed his mind ere he reached St. Johns, and when the cars were in full motion concluded to stop in the woods insytead of Detroitm abd thereupon watching an opportunity when the officer’s attention was turned from him, he leaped from the cars and made tracks into the wilds; and that is thge last that has been seen of the hero of romances.
On September 21, 1864, “the time set for the appearance of Tom Clark and Charles Whitney, held to bail for their appearance and examination upon the charge of being accessory to O. N. Whitney in the crime of fraud -- obtaining money under false pretenses -- the parties appeared before Justice Sinclair, where no one appearing against them they were discharged. This is about as everyone supposed the case would result so far as these young men were concerned; no one supposing that they were really guilty of any crime in the case. The real agony and criminal in the affair, if there is one, has fled to parts unknown.”
At this point it becomes unclear what became of “Oscar Newman Whitney,” who served in the 3rd Michigan. There is no record of his having been arrested and tried for desertion. And the story of the fraud in Grand Rapids ends abruptly as well.
Interestingly, though, in 1890 there was an Oscar N. Whitney, living on 3rd Street in Grand rapids, who claimed to have enlisted as a private in Company B, 9th Michigan Infantry on October 14, 1864, and was discharged on July 7, 1865.
Oscar was apparently married to Ohio native Ellen (b. 1853) and they had at least two children: Anna C. (b. 1873) and Frank (1875-1901). In 1880 Oscar (listed as “Newman”) was working as a farmer and living with his wife Ellen and their two children in Ensley, Newaygo County in 1880. Also living in Ensley was his older Frank Whitney and his family as well as his mother Electa Warner (who was living with Frank). There was also an “Oscar Newman Whitney” who reportedly married Mary Mussy or Muzzy on December 24, 1884, in Macomb County.
By 1886 Oscar was reportedly working as a hoop-maker and residing in Cedar Springs, Kent County. His mother Electa was probably living in Cedar springs that same year when she died in December and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery (section A-121-12). Oscar may have been living in Grand Rapids’ 7th ward by 1894. In 1899 Annie Louise Newman, widow of one “Oscar W. Newman,” who had served in”Company F, 3 5 Michigan” was living in Michigan when she applied for and received a pension (no. 488176), apparently based on Oscar’s service in Company F, 3rd and 5th Michigan Infantry. (As far as is known, however, no Oscar “Newman” served in a Michigan regiment.)
Even in death the mystery surrounding what became of Oscar Newman Whitney continues.
In Fair Plains cemetery, Grand Rapids, Michigan, block 2, lot 419 are the remains of Oscar Newman Whitney, Jr (1886-1906) as well as Oscar Newman Whitney who died in 1915, aged 72, Ellen Whitney who died in 1906 at the age of 56, and also buried in the same location is Frank C. Whitney (1875-1901). Frank Whitney, who served in the 6th Michigan Cavalry is also buried in Fairplains (section G), as is Charles Whitney (1844-1923 grave location unknown).
Oscar F., brother of Abraham J. who would also serve in the 3rd Michigan, married Electa on November 29, 1837, in Clinton County, Michigan.
After Oscar F. died in 1849, Electa married Vermonter George Warner probably sometime around 1850, probably in Michigan. (George Warner would enlist in Company B, 3rd Michigan Infantry in the spring of 1861.)
In 1850 Oscar was living with Connecticut native Dennis and New York-born Sally Hines in Cannon, Kent County. By 1860, Oscar (listed only as “Newman Whitney”) was a 18-year-old farm laborer who, along with his grandfather 76-year-old Connecticut native Zerah Whitney, was living with the Misner family in Grand Rapids Township, Kent County. “Newman” was also reported as a farm laborer living with his brother 29-year-old Michigan native George Whitney who was a teamster and they were all living with George Warner in Plainfield, Kent County.
During the winter of 1860-61, Oscar was working as a farm laborer in Big Rapids, Mecosta County, for the Green family (also living with the Green family was John Shaw who would also enlist in Company K).
Oscar stood 6’1” with black eyes and hair and a dark complexion and was a 19-year-old farm hand possibly living in Kent County when he enlisted with the consent of his guardian (possibly Dennis Hines from Plainfield, Kent County) in Company K on May 13, 1861. Oscar was reported as a company cook in October of 1862, a teamster in November and December of 1862, and serving with the Brigade wagon train from January of 1863 through July.
He was listed as absent sick in Washington, DC from September 16, 1863, until he reenlisted on March 17, 1864, at Plainfield, was mustered near Culpeper, Virginia and returned to Grand Rapids on a veteran’s furlough in April.
Although he was transferred to Company F, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, apparently he never returned from his veteran’s furlough and was reported AWOL as of June 4 and then a deserter on July 19, 1864, while on veteran’s furlough.
In fact, Whitney was still in Grand Rapids and according to one local newspaper, by mid-July had become something of a “hero” around Kent County.
We have been told the following story [a local newspaper reported]which is religiously believed to be true by many of our citizens, some of whom claim to have actually seen the papers and documents proving its truth. We withhold names for the present.
A good looking and brave young soldier of the glorious Third Michigan Infantry, well brought up, who resided in this County, was overcome with fatigue and hunger, after the first Bull Run battle, and strayed from his regiment, with a comrade, on the retreat for Washington. Nearly exhausted, footsore and sick, the two met a Virginian gentleman, some distance from Alexandria, and were invited by him to partake of his hospitality. They accepted his kind offer, and were supplied with supper, a comfortable bed, and a change of rainment. Two or three days after, having somewhat recovered they proceeded to Washington and rejoined their command. But the young man from here had been smitten, during his short sojourn at the house of his benefactor, by the charms of the youthful and only daughter of his host, and frequently after that event called upon her, being always kindly received.
The Virginian was a Union man, a widower, and every wealthy. The war had deprived him of every one of his kindred, who were either in the rebel armies, or had emigrated South. Finding our young soldier a man worthy of his friendship, brave, trusty and sufficiently educated, be allowed matters to follow their natural course, and his daughter became betrothed to our hero.
When the Third returned home on furlough, our hero returned with it, to visit his home and relatives here for the first time since he enlisted. He was himself an orphan, who had been brought up by an uncle.
On his return, he found his betrothed dead -- killed by a fever. After mutual condolence in their affliction, the Virginian told our hero that he had learned to regard him as a son; that he had no other earthly kindred or friend to sustain his old age; and that he must be considered henceforth as a father.
Subsequently, while absent again, our hero received a telegraphic dispatch saying that his benefactor was dying. He hastened to reach his bedside, but was met by another dispatch announcing his death. On arriving in Virginia, he found that he had been made sole heir and executor of his benefactor's estate, by will, which was speedily probated, and which placed him in possession of property valued at over $400,000, including a well-known hotel and other property in Washington, and estate in Virginia, a number of lots in Chicago, etc.
We are informed that Colonel Kellogg is now aiding the young soldier to procure a discharge from the service, by putting several substitutes in his place, in order that he may be able to attend to the business of settling his newly acquired property; and that the young man has offered his uncle, who educated him, the management of the hotel in Washington, rent free, for a term of years.
We tell the story as it is now circulating through the city. If it turns out to be essentially correct, we shall, of course, lay its confirmation before our readers.
But, on August 23 the story took an interesting twist. “On the 18th of July last,” wrote the Eagle,
we published a romantic story, about a Grand Rapids soldier boy being in luck. The story was religiously believed among many of our people to be true, and it went the rounds of the press. It was partially rewritten and claimed as original by the Free Press folks, at Detroit, where it also took another turn among its exchanges. It was a pretty and highly romantic story, and it is too bad that it should, at this late day, be spoiled by coarse, plain facts and figures, and the hero of it be locked up in the jail. As our readers will recollect, this beautiful tale had its foundation with the first battle of Bull Run, where our hero, then a soldier in the Old Third, in the grand panic, wandered from his regiment to the residence of a rich Virginian, widower, with an only daughter, where he was kindly cared for and beloved at sight by the fair daughter. In short, our hero, whose name is [Oscar] Newman Whitney, reciprocated the love showered upon him, recovered from his injuries and returned on a furlough to his home in this city. When next he visited the home of his enamored fair one, he found that a sudden disease had carried her off and that her rich father was in a fair way to follow her, as he did in a short time thereafter, leaving, as he had not kin or relatives, all his vast estate willed to and in the hands of this fortunate young Michigander.
Since this vast amount of property, a the story goes, came into the said young man’s hands, he has quite naturally carried a pretty high head, and ha travel;ed extensively in the spread eagle style, obtaining money to do so upon his reported wealth.-- He has traveled hither and thither, looking after his vast estates, from the time the story started until last evening, when he, together with hi cousin Chas. Whitney, was arrested at the Half Way House, between this city and Kalamazoo, by officers Covell, Parkman and Ferris [formerly of Company A], brought back to this city and lodged in jail, on charges, we believe, of having obtained money upon false pretenses.
How this gilt-edged tory originated and has been successfully maintain as true to this time, is still somewhat of a mystery; but that he obtained money upon its supposed truth, of Mr. J. C. Richardson, of Plainfield, a personal friend of his and the Whitney family, at various times, for the purpose of securing his papers, etc., amounting in all to the snug little sum of $1,900, is no fiction.
When he obtained money of Mr. Richardson -- at various times from $200 to $500 -- young Whitney would place in his hands, for safe keeping and in order to show him that all was right, large envelopes, weighty with papers, firmly sealed with wax, addressed to himself, and filed substantially as followed, upon the various document, to wit: “Deeds of my property in New York”; Deed of the National Hotel in Washington”; “My property in Chicago”; “An account of my personal property”; “Last will and testament,” etc.
Among other quite natural luxuries that young Whitney has recently been indulging in, is that of marrying one of the pretty dancing girls, of the Varieties Theatre, at Detroit, with whom he has been sojourning here, passing the honey-moon for the past week.
Whitney, with several other theatrical chums, had made arrangements for a grand wedding and pleasure tour, along the shores of lake Michigan, and in order to do this handsomely, he must have more money to purchase a vessel, etc., the call upon Mr. Richardson, for which, like the last straw broke the camel’s back. Mr. R. smelled a mice, or rather was fearful that all was not right, and accordingly he came to this city yesterday, with hi huge pack of sealed deeds and mortgages, and placed them in the hands of officer Covell, when the envelopes were opened, and found to contain nothing but blank papers. Whew! didn’t some folk’s eyes elongate lengthwise and widthwise about that time, and did they not discover a “mare’s nest” with nary an egg in it.
Upon this blank discovery, Tom Clark, the theatrical vocalist, was immediately arrested and lodged in jail, as an accessory, followed by the arrest of the hero, Newman Whitney, and his cousin Charles Whitney.
To be continued when the records of the courts reveal further interesting facts.
Two days later, on August 25 the Eagle reported that
the fortunate or unfortunate hero of the romantic story of love and untold wealth, Orson [Oscar] Newman Whitney, was taken with his chums, Charles Whitney, and Tom Clark, before Justice Sinclair yesterday, for examination upon the charge as principal and assistants of obtaining money of J. C. Richardson, upon false pretenses.
The leading offender, and substantial “agony” in the case, waived an examination and was again committed to jail, to await the sitting of the next Circuit court, for want of bail in the sum of $10,000. The examination of the case of the other two young men, Charles Whitney and Tom Clark, was put off until the 21st of September next, and they were committed for want of security for their appearance at that time, in the sum of $5,000 each.
What a wicked world this is to be sure; a world in which wealth is quite fleeting, and true love never did run smooth, and where in beautiful stories terminate so ridiculously as the one whose hero above mentioned is in a common jail.”
The following day, the Eagle wrote that “O. N. Whitney, Charles Whitney and Tom Clark, were taken before E. Smith, Jr., Circuit Court Commissioner, this forenoon, when the amount of security in each case was reduced, bail given and they were set free. O. N. Whitney charged with obtaining property upon false pretenses, was admitted to bail in the sum of $5,000, for his appearance and answer at the next term of the Circuit Court; and Charles Whitney and Tom Clark were held to bail in the sum of $2,000 each, for their appearance on examination before Justice Sinclair, on the 21st of September next, to answer to the charge of conspiracy to defraud. Chas. Whitney and Tom Clark say they have been a greatly deceived as any one in this matter and that they can and will establish that fact on their examination.”
On the morning of the 26th, according to the Eagle, Oscar, who by now was widely known as having deserted from the army, was released from prison
on $5,000 bail, under the charge of having obtained goods upon false pretenses, he immediately left for the East, but was met by an officer at Ionia, who had received a dispatch from Detroit to arrest one O. N. Whitney as a deserter, which little job the officer accomplished, upon the arrival of the train bearing the romancer toward sunrise.
Whitney, finding himself in this unpleasant condition -- weighty responsibilities rapidly accumulating upon his young shoulders, he induced the officer to accompany him to Detroit, instead of the officer inducing him to stop over, whom he assured that all would be right, and that he would pay his expenses. The officer consented to his propsoitions, and off they went upon the flying train. But young Whitney, as it appears, changed his mind ere he reached St. Johns, and when the cars were in full motion concluded to stop in the woods insytead of Detroitm abd thereupon watching an opportunity when the officer’s attention was turned from him, he leaped from the cars and made tracks into the wilds; and that is thge last that has been seen of the hero of romances.
On September 21, 1864, “the time set for the appearance of Tom Clark and Charles Whitney, held to bail for their appearance and examination upon the charge of being accessory to O. N. Whitney in the crime of fraud -- obtaining money under false pretenses -- the parties appeared before Justice Sinclair, where no one appearing against them they were discharged. This is about as everyone supposed the case would result so far as these young men were concerned; no one supposing that they were really guilty of any crime in the case. The real agony and criminal in the affair, if there is one, has fled to parts unknown.”
At this point it becomes unclear what became of “Oscar Newman Whitney,” who served in the 3rd Michigan. There is no record of his having been arrested and tried for desertion. And the story of the fraud in Grand Rapids ends abruptly as well.
Interestingly, though, in 1890 there was an Oscar N. Whitney, living on 3rd Street in Grand rapids, who claimed to have enlisted as a private in Company B, 9th Michigan Infantry on October 14, 1864, and was discharged on July 7, 1865.
Oscar was apparently married to Ohio native Ellen (b. 1853) and they had at least two children: Anna C. (b. 1873) and Frank (1875-1901). In 1880 Oscar (listed as “Newman”) was working as a farmer and living with his wife Ellen and their two children in Ensley, Newaygo County in 1880. Also living in Ensley was his older Frank Whitney and his family as well as his mother Electa Warner (who was living with Frank). There was also an “Oscar Newman Whitney” who reportedly married Mary Mussy or Muzzy on December 24, 1884, in Macomb County.
By 1886 Oscar was reportedly working as a hoop-maker and residing in Cedar Springs, Kent County. His mother Electa was probably living in Cedar springs that same year when she died in December and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery (section A-121-12). Oscar may have been living in Grand Rapids’ 7th ward by 1894. In 1899 Annie Louise Newman, widow of one “Oscar W. Newman,” who had served in”Company F, 3 5 Michigan” was living in Michigan when she applied for and received a pension (no. 488176), apparently based on Oscar’s service in Company F, 3rd and 5th Michigan Infantry. (As far as is known, however, no Oscar “Newman” served in a Michigan regiment.)
Even in death the mystery surrounding what became of Oscar Newman Whitney continues.
In Fair Plains cemetery, Grand Rapids, Michigan, block 2, lot 419 are the remains of Oscar Newman Whitney, Jr (1886-1906) as well as Oscar Newman Whitney who died in 1915, aged 72, Ellen Whitney who died in 1906 at the age of 56, and also buried in the same location is Frank C. Whitney (1875-1901). Frank Whitney, who served in the 6th Michigan Cavalry is also buried in Fairplains (section G), as is Charles Whitney (1844-1923 grave location unknown).
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