Civil War Blog

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on November 6, 2015

In a post on 14 October 2015, several questions were raised about William Dodd who is buried at Calvary United Methodist Church, Wiconisco, Dauphin County.  The questions mainly centered around whether he was a Civil War soldier.  As a result of information provided by Deb Rudy, a Lykens Valley area researcher and contributor to this blog, it can be definitively stated that William Dodd did serve in the U.S. Cavalry, as noted on the grave marker, but did not serve in the Civil War;  his name was included in the Civil War list in error!

Part of the basis of this conclusion can be found in two brief obituaries located and provided by Deb Rudy:

WICONISCO

Special Correspondence

Wiconisco, 30 October 1909 — William Dodd, son of John Dodd and wife, a cavalryman in the United States Army, died in the army hospital at Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.  The body arrived Friday noon and was taken to his home in Wiconisco.  The funeral was held this afternoon….

Harry Higgins and wife, Lewistown, attended the funeral of the latter’s brother, William Dodd, today.  [Harrisburg Daily Independent, 30 October 1909].

 

Deaths….

William Dodd, 34 years, Government Hospital for the Insane.  [The Washington Times, 29 October 1909].

Family information that can be used for further research includes the name of Williams’s father [John Dodd], that William was approximately 34 years old at the time of his death [born about 1875], and that William had a sister who was married to Harry Higgins [they attended the funeral and were living in Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, in 1909].

Click on document to enlarge

The above extract is from the 1910 Census of Derry Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania (found on Ancestry.com).  It shows a Harry V. Higgins, age 30, born in Pennsylvania, a clerk at a steel plant, and married 6 years to Emma Higgins, who was 29 years old, born in England (as were her parents), and emigrating to the United States in 1889.  They had one child – Vincent W. Higgins, who was 3 years old at the time of the census.  Also in the household were Joe D. Higgins, age 20, brother of Harry, and Howard Buffington, age 20, a boarder.  The two 20-year-olds were working as laborers in a steel plant.

Click on document to enlarge

Turning next to the 1910 Census of Wiconisco Township, Dauphin County (found on Ancestry.com), the above family unit was located.  John Dodd [the father of William Dodd] a 68 year old coal miner, was head of the family.  He was born in England and emigrated to the United States about 1888.  He was married to Sarah Dodd, age 65, who was also born in England and emigrated in 1888.  Sarah was married to John for 43 years and had 12 children with him, six of whom were still alive in 1910.  It can be presumed that since their son William died in 1909, that he was one of the 6 who were no longer living.  Also in the household was a younger son, Andrew J. Dodd, age 22, also born in England and emigrating to the United States about 1888.  Andrew was working as a laborer in a coal mine in 1910.

Click on document to enlarge

The final available* U.S. census is from Wiconisco Township in 1900, and is shown above.  John Dodd, age 58, a coal miner, born in England about January 1842, is head of the family.  Sarah Dodd, age 55, the wife, was born in England about June 1844, and was married to John for about 34 years.  She had 12 children, 7 of whom were still alive.  Presumably, William Dodd was one of those still alive, since he did not die until 1909.  However, William Dodd is not in their household in 1900.  The children in the household, all of whom were born in England, are:  Sarah A. Dodd, age 20, born about December 1879; Emma Dodd, age 19, born about May 1881 [in 1910 married to Harry Higgins, and living in Mifflin County]; Hiram Dodd, age 17, born about February 1883; and Andrew Dodd, age 13, born about May 1887.  [*Note:  The family entered the United States just prior to the 1890 Census, which was entirely lost by fire; censuses after 1910 have not been examined, because William died in 1909, and those censuses would only be useful in following through on other members of the family].

At this point in the research, ship lists for entry into the United States have not been consulted, but it should not be too difficult to locate what appears to at least be two separate ship entries:  John Dodd, who claimed to enter in 1887, and the rest of the family who entered in 1888.  From the U.S. Census of 1900, it can be speculated that Sarah was pregnant with Andrew at the time her husband traveled to the United States, that Andrew was the last child born to this couple, and that after Andrew was born, Sarah brought her other children with her in 1888 – to meet up with her husband John who arrived in 1887.  Presumably, William Dodd, who would have been about 13 years old, accompanied his mother and younger siblings in 1888.   And, since Sarah had 7 living children in 1900, there are still 2 missing children – who may or may not have come to the United States with the family.  A search of the English censuses, which has not been done for this blog post, may produce the names and birth information on the other children.

William Dodd does not appear with the family in Wiconisco in 1900.  So, where was he in 1900?

Click on document to enlarge

Deb Rudy also provided the above information leading to the identification of a William Dodd in a 1900 Census for Grant District, Marion County, West Virginia.  It appears to be the same person, i.e., single and living as a boarder, the age of 25 (birth date approximately February 1875), born in England (as were both his parents), emigration to the United States in 1888, occupation of coal miner – and there is an absence of any other person anywhere in the United States who closely fits the description.  Of course, the census does indicate why this William Dodd moved away from his family to West Virginia or how long he had been there when the census was taken.

Deb Rudy also located a military record for a William Dodd from England who enlisted in New York during the Spanish-American War – and then deserted.  Was this the same person researched here?

On 17 May 1899, at New York City, a William Dodd enlisted as a Private in the 2nd United States Artillery, Companies E and I.  At the time he was 24 years-4 months old (consistent with a February 1875 birth), was born in London England, was about 5 foot, 7.5 inches tall, had light brown hair, a fair complexion and blue eyes.  His occupation was painter.  He had no prior military service.  The record shows that he deserted on 24 September 1899.   The above card is a transcription made for New York records and is not the original register sheet.

Click on documents to enlarge

In checking the original records for this William Dodd, the above extracts are taken from the U.S. Army Registers of Enlistments of May 1899.  The information in the original is consistent with the New York State transcription.  What is not consistent is the fact that this William Dodd, who deserted, was in an artillery regiment, not a cavalry regiment as stated on his grave marker.  Therefore, an additional record search, post 1899, is required to see if William Dodd shows up again in a cavalry regiment.

Click on documents to enlarge

The above record extract, also from the U.S. Army Register of Enlistments (available on Ancestry.com), shows that on 2 December 1904, a William Dodd, who was 29 years, 9 months old, registered at Pottsville, Schuylkill County, in the 8th United States Cavalry, Company E, and served until his discharge on 7 December 1907 at Fort Russell, Wyoming, at the expiration of his term.   The age at enlistment in years and months is consistent with the February 1875 birth date given in the West Virginia Census of 1900 (above).

Click on documents to enlarge

Finally, the above U.S. Army Register of Enlistment extract from December 1907, shows that William Dodd re-enlisted at Fort Russell, Wyoming, in the 8th United States Cavalry, Company E, but was discharged for disability at Washington, D.C., on 27 September 1909 – approximately one month before his death – at the same place!

It is always best to get as much confirming information as is available, but it appears that the research now on William Dodd is headed in the right direction, thanks to Deb Rudy for her contribution!  There are still gaps in the story.  Additional information is sought from blog readers who might be able to provide some additional family information, pictures, and any other interesting information about this veteran who is buried in Wiconisco.  Please attach comments to this post or send by e-mail.

Category: Queries, Research, Resources | Comments Off on William Dodd Mystery Solved – Not Civil War
Tags: Wiconisco Township

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on November 4, 2015

A listing of the October 2015 posts on The Civil War Blog with direct links:

Philip Hoffman – Killed in Mines, 1878

Clifford H. Romberger (1947-2015) – Civil War Re-Enactor

September 2015 Posts

Isaac Darker – Accident at Short Mountain Colliery, 1874

Obituary of James E. Lambert

Who Were These Lykens-Wiconisco Soldiers?

Who is John Dougherty, Buried Near Elizabethville?

John Doudle – Reminiscence of the Civil War

Obituary of Benjamin F. Eby, 1934

Peter D. Eby – Killed in Mines at Lykens, 1882

Death of Major Findlay I. Thomas at Lykens, 1922

John S. Eckel of Tremont – Fact-Checking a Story of His Confederate Service

Thomas J. Elder Leaves Estate to Paxton Church

Category: Overviews | Comments Off on October 2015 Posts
Tags: Table of Contents

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on November 2, 2015

The death of Jacob Elm was reported in the Harrisburg newspapers on 28 January 1916:

WAR VETERAN DIES

Special to the Telegraph

Wiconisco, Pennsylvania, 28 January 1916 — Jacob Elm, a Civil War veteran, died at his home yesterday from pneumonia.  He was 79 years old and is survived by his wife and five sons, Charles Elm, Jacob Elm, Peter Elm, Thomas Elm, and George Elm.

Jacob is buried in the Odd Fellow’s Cemetery in Lykens Borough, Dauphin County.  On his grave marker, his military service is given as 4th New York Cavalry, Company D.

In researching the New York regimental records, it was determined that Jacob Elm served as a Bugler in the Cavalry.  He was mustered into service on 25 September 1861 and served until he was discharged on 27 June 1862 on a Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability.  The two records shown below confirm that service.  The first is a page from the compiled, printed records of the regiment and company (available from Fold3), and the second is a page from the New York Abstracts of Military Service (available from Ancestry.com). Note:  Click on documents to enlarge.

From census and other records available on Ancestry.com, it is learned that both Jacob and his wife Christina S. [Vogel] Elm were German immigrants who arrived in the United States just before the Civil War.  The family appeared in Lock Haven, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, in the 1870 Census, where Jacob was employed as a laborer.  By 1880, they re-located to the Lykens-Wiconisco area, where the couple remained to raise their family, and where Jacob died in 1916.

Three interesting court cases involving Jacob Elm have been discovered in the Harrisburg newspapers:

The first story described charges against a John Effinger of Lykens:

John Effinger, of Lykens, charged with assault and battery on Jacob Elm, of Wiconisco.  Jacob said John slapped him in the face for running against his broken arm. A verdict of not guilty was rendered and the costs divided.  [Harrisburg Daily Independent, 12 December 1894].

The second case involved a judgment brought against Jacob Elm for failing to pay 25 cents in labor costs.  Fifty years later, when the story was revisited in an historical article, it was still said to be the smallest sum ever recovered through the Dauphin County Courts.

An execution for one of the smallest sums in the history of the Dauphin County Court was filed in Prothonotary Melick’s office a few days ago.  It was against Jacob Elm, of Lykens, in favor of George Hawk for twenty-five cents, the plaintiff claiming that sum for labor in hauling malt for Elm in October, 1894.  The costs in the case were just $4.19.  [Harrisburg Patriot, 4 December 1895].

The third case included testimony given by Jacob Elm in support of a a defendant, Charles Klink:

Charles Klink was brought into court by ex-Sheriff Reiff, of Lykens.  Klink is a German with whiskers like pictured anarchists and a tongue that waggled. It was hard to keep him quiet and he shook his heads and hands violently when he found out he could not talk all he wanted to.  The old fellow was accused of threatening to kill the former sheriff.

Klink Was at Threatener

Reiff also said that Kink had also threatened the lives of the late Judge Simonton, Judge Weiss and Albert Millar.  His court record was looked up and it was found that in 1899 he had threatened Paul Shultz‘s life.  He had served sixty days for assault and battery and later was brought into court and tried again for breaking the peace.

Klink denied he had ever shot anybody.  He laughed loud and long.  “Oh, nein, nein,” he shouted.  But his friends said he had actually shot at people in addition to threatening the,  John Paul said he had seen Klink shoot through a barber shop window at a man and another man said the old German had fired at a man at a baseball game.  Jacob Elm, a particular friend of the defendant, said Klink got excited when people had teased him and he had fired at people who got into his back yard.

Judge Kunkel was not satisfied regarding the condition of the man’s mind and suspended sentence, sending Klink back to jail.  [Harrisburg Patriot, 29 January 1907].

It appears from researching the five surviving sons of Jacob Elm, that none stayed in the Lykens-Wiconsico area.   At some point in time, all moved to Philadelphia.  A sixth son, Theodore Elm, was not mentioned in the obituary because he died in 1913, but also in Philadelphia.

For his service in the Civil War, Jacob Elm was recognized on the Lykens G.A.R. Monument, but his rank is incorrectly given as “Private” instead of “Bugler.”   He apparently was a member of the Heilner Post since his name is listed with those who joined after the Post’s organization.

The above Pension Index Card (from Fold3) shows that on 11 December 1879, Jacob Elm applied for a pension, which he received and collected until his death on 26 January 1916 at Wiconisco.  Following his death, his widow, Christina Elm, applied for his benefits, which she received and collected until her death, which according to other records, occurred on 8 February 1925 in Philadelphia.

Additional information is sought about Jacob Elm, his Civil War service, his family, and about the time he was living in the Lykens-Wiconisco area.  Stories and pictures are especially welcome.  Please add comments to this post or send the information via e-mail.

—————————

The photograph of Jacob Elm was cropped and enhanced from a 50th Wedding Anniversary picture appearing on Ancestry.com.  The news clippings are from various sources including the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia and Newspapers.com.

Category: Research, Stories | Comments Off on Jacob Elm – German Immigrant Served in New York Cavalry Regiment
Tags: Wiconisco

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 30, 2015

Thomas J. Elder (1845-1923)

Previously on this blog, the question was asked:  “Who was Thomas Elder and Why Was He Visiting Elizabethville in 1908?”  The original story of his visit appeared in a Lykens Valley area newspaper in that year and stated that he was visiting family and friends on his way to Philadelphia to raise the new 46-star flag at Independence Hall – a flag that was carried to Philadelphia by G.A.R. members from the new state of Oklahoma where he then resided/ However, it was never determined what family members were visited by Thomas Elder and what his exact genealogical connection was to persons living in Elizabethville at that time.

One more interesting piece of information can now be answered as research continues on that question.

Thomas J. Elder, who served in the 46th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, as a Corporal, from 2 September 1862 through 6 June 1865, died at the National Soldiers’ Home in Sawtelle, Los Angeles, California, on 4 October 1923.  His body was returned to Harrisburg for burial at the Paxton Presbyterian Churchyard.

While searching the newspapers of 1923 for an obituary of Thomas J. Elder, the following items were found:

(1) Harrisburg Telegraph, 15 October 1923:

Letters testamentary in the estate of Thomas J. Elder, a former resident of this city, who died in California, were asked by the Harrisburg Trust Company.  The entire estate is given to the trustees of the Paxton Presbyterian Church Cemetery funds, for maintenance purposes.  Mr. Elder was a Civil War veteran, serving in Company D, 46th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

(2) Harrisburg Evening News, 15 October 1923:

Civil War Veteran Leaves Estate to Paxton Church

Thomas J. Elder, formerly of this city, a Civil War veteran who died on 4 October at the National Soldiers’ Home at Sawtelle, California, by his will, which was probated today, bequeathed his entire estate to the Paxton Presbyterian Church of Paxtang for the maintenance of its cemetery.  The estate is valued at $3000.  The Harrisburg Trust Company is named executor of the estate.

(3) Harrisburg Evening News, 16 October 1923:

Probate Elder Will

The will probated here yesterday of Thomas J. Elder, a Civil War veteran, who died on 4 October at the National Soldiers’ Home at Sawtelle, California, leaves a legacy of $3000 to the Paxton Presbyterian Church of Paxtang for the maintenance of its cemetery.  He formerly lived in this city.  The Harrisburg Trust Company is named executor of the estate.

(4) Harrisburg Telegraph, 8 November 1923:

Notice:  Letters testamentary in the estate of Thomas J. Elder, late of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, deceased, having been granted to the undersigned, all persons indebted to said estate are requested to make immediate payment, and those having claims will present them in, proper form for settlement to

HARRISBURG TRUST COMPANY, Executor

10 S. Market Square, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

In addition to the above articles, a “Legal Notice” from the Harrisburg Telegraph of May, 1873, possibly can provide information on some of the family connections of Thomas J. Elder to Elizabethville and the Lykens Valley area.  It appears from the notice that the Robert F. Elder whose estate is being settled is the father of the mentioned Thomas J. Elder, who in 1873, was living in Lenark, Illinois.

Research is ongoing into the information given in the above “Legal Notice” and as of this writing, no definite conclusions have been reached.

Category: Queries, Research, Stories | 2 Comments »
Tags: Elizabethville

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 28, 2015

On 25 June 1993, a story appeared in the Citizen Standard (Valley View, Pennsylvania), entitled “Traitors: Some Locals Served with Confederates If Unwillingly.”  The story was written by Mark T. Major.  Included was a paragraph about John S. Eckel of Tremont:

In Arkansas, John Eckel, a Tremont native, worked as a laborer until he was impressed into the service of Rebeldom and joined an Arkansas Rebel unit. Eckel too, managed to escape Confederate Service. After securing a pass, Eckel visited Memphis, Tennessee and made his move, fleeing northward into Union territory. By 1862, Eckel had reached Tremont, and shortly after his arrival, enlisted in Company A, of the 50^th Pennsylvania Infantry. By the end of the war Eckel served as the Quartermaster of the regiment.

John Eckel appears in the 1850 Census of Tremont as the 11-year old son of Henry Eckel and Mary [Weisel] Eckel.  The family is still living in Tremont in 1860, but John is no longer in the household.  Presumably, if the “Traitor” story above is accurate, he should appear somewhere in the area of Arkansas and would be working as a laborer.  A census record for 1860 has not been located for him.

In searching the military records of Arkansas Confederate regiments, J. F. Echols was located in the 20th Arkansas Infantry, Company E, as a private.  A military record card for that regiment notes that he enlisted at Washington County, Arkansas, for a term of one year on 1 March 1862.  (See card below from Fold3).

There are a total of 15 cards available on Fold3 all of which describe some of the experiences of this soldier in that regiment – and, as shown below, his surname appears in various phonetic spellings.  In addition to the card shown above, the following cards further support the belief that this person is the same person as described by Mark T. Major in his 1993 article:

#8 – John Echols – Private in Company B, 20th Arkansas Infantry – Roll of Prisoners of War captured by the Army of the Tennessee and sent to Memphis, Tennessee, 25 May 1863 – Captured near Vicksburg, 20 May 1863.

#9 – Jno Eckles – Private in Company B, 20th Arkansas Infantry – Prisoner of War at Fort Delaware, Delaware – captured Big Black, 16 May 1863 – transferred 20 September 1863 to Point Lookout, Maryland.

#10 – Jno Eccles – Private in Company B, 20th Arkansas Infantry -Prisoner of War – Captured at Big Black, 20 May 1863 – Sent from Fort Delaware, Delaware, to City Point, Virginia, for exchange.

#12 – John Eckles – Private in Company B, 20th Arkansas Infantry – Captured Big Black, 17 May 1863 – Roll of Prisoners of War Paroled Until Exchanged at Point Lookout, Maryland, 31 December 1863.

If the information on the above cards was accurately reported as in the actual military records, then the earliest that John Eckel could have left Confederate service was 20 September 1863 during his transfer to Point Lookout, Maryland, and the latest would have been 31 December 1863 when all the prisoners exchanges were said to be completed.

Turning to the Pennsylvania records, the card found at the Pennsylvania Archives gives the following information:

According to Bates, John S. Eckel enrolled on 1 April 1862 in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry at Tremont.  There are two other index cards at the Pennsylvania Archives which report his original enrollment in Company C, although at the bottom of the above card, there is a statement that he originally enlisted in Company A as a Private.  This is a confusing part of John S. Eckel‘s service in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry – i.e., the actual date on which he entered service in that regiment.  On the card above, the date of “Muster In” is given as the same as the date of enrollment – but, the muster date is in parenthesis – something not often seen on other cards in the files available on-line. Could this mean that this 1862 date is not supported by the original records which are found at the Pennsylvania Archives?

As of this writing, only some of the original muster sheets for this regiment are available on Ancestry.com.  Unfortunately, only the re-enlistment sheet is presently available when searching for John S. Eckel.  A portion of that sheet is shown below and can be enlarge by clicking on the image.

The sheet clearly shows that John S. Eckel did not enroll until 31 December 1864 and was not mustered into service until mid-January 1865.  Both the enrollment and muster were near Petersburg, Virginia.  This date is  consistent with the release date as a P.O.W. at Point Lookout, Maryland.

When additional muster rolls appear on-line from the Pennsylvania Archives (via Ancestry.com), hopefully the original muster sheets from Company A and from Company C of the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry will be available to check to see if John S. Eckel appears on either or both of those original sheets.

There is an available history of the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, written in 1884 by Lewis Crater who was the Adjutant of the Regiment.

The book is available as a free download from the Internet Archive.

In the narrative text of the book, the name of John S. Eckel does not appear before page 76.  That page describes the activities of the regiment occurring after 1 January 1864 when the re-enlistment took place.  That information is reproduced below and includes an anecdote about John S. Eckel.

Nothing could more fully exemplify the patriotism of the regiment than its re-enlistment, 1 January 1864, under the circumstances in which it was placed.  Having been on short rations since the siege of Knoxville, destitute of clothing, and many barefooted.  Over two hundred miles from his base of supplies, in the middle of winter, constantly harassed by the enemy, neither General Burnside nor the Government could be blamed for this condition of affairs, hence the great question after re-enlistment, was, how to put the men in a condition to march back to Nicholasville, Kentucky, the snow being about six inches deep and the weather extremely cold.  To protect the feet of the shoeless on the homeward march, shoes were made from raw hides, many of these, however, had to be abandoned during the first day’s march.  The heat from within and the melting snow made them stretch, so as to be almost useless, hence many threw them away, and wrapped their feet with such clothing as could be spared.  To add to our distress we were nearly perishing with hunger.  The weather, part of the time, was so cold that the thermometer registered zero.

In the next paragraph, Crater continues to the arrival in Harrisburg, 6 February 1865, where the men in the regiment who had re-enlisted, were given a thirty-day furlough:

When we arrived at Mount Vernon, Kentucky, a store was found with a good supply of shoes on hand.  Arrangements were made with the proprietor to furnish all the shoes required.  After our arrival at Camp Nelson (at Nicholasville, Kentucky), the regiment was supplied with new clothing, blankets, provisions, etc.  When it was drawn up in line preparatory to taking cars for Cincinnati, its appearance had improved wonderfully, each man having donned his new suit.  After arriving in Cincinnati, we were quartered in the Fifth Street Market House for several days, waiting for our pay, after which we proceeded to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where we arrived 6 February 1865.  Now for the first time in all our travels by railroad we were treated to first-class passenger cars (from Pittsburgh, over the Pennsylvania Railroad).  The car furnished for the officers use was a very handsome and comfortable affair.  In a few days after our arrival at Harrisburg, each man was given a thirty-day furlough and sent home.

Then Crater recounts some of the difficulties encountered by the regiment on the journey to Harrisburg – through Tennessee and Kentucky, etc., and includes the anecdote about Eckel:

After the regiment arrived at Rutledge, Tennessee, Quartermaster Sergeant John S. Eckel, (acting Quartermaster,) and Commissary Sergeant Lewis Crater were ordered by Colonel Christ to proceed to Buffalo Creek, with instructions to take charge of two mills there, and put the mills to work grinding rebel wheat, and when a wagon was ground to send it to camp.  After having taken possession, Eckel remained at one mill and Crater at the other.  When about half a ton of flour had been ground at Eckel’s mill, an officer of some Western regiment came along with a squad of men and ordered him away.  On refusing to comply, the men were ordered to take possession, and Eckel placed under guard until all the flour was loaded on their wagon and taken away.  The entire brigade received a portion of the flour secured at the other mill.

On the march from Knoxville to Rutledge, everything in the eatable line was looked upon only to be coveted.   Notwithstanding, the troops were terribly in want of food, very little stealing was done.  Most of the men had a little money, hence where provisions, etc,

On the march from Knoxville to Rutledge, everything in the eatable line was looked upon only to be coveted. Notwithstanding, the troops were terribly in want of food, very little stealing was done Most of the men had a little money, hence where provisions, &c. were offered at reasonable prices, very few of the men acted dishonestly.  As an evidence of the voracious appetites engendered by the siege, five men, connected withe the commissary department, purchased three large geese and about half a peck of corn meal.  The geese and corn meal were all cooked and eaten at one meal.  The day before Christmas, 24 December 1863, a report reached camp that a supply train had reached Corps headquarters; all were anxiously wishing for the morning, when it was expected that provisions would be issued.  Four men from Company C, however, were impatient and determined to proceed to headquarters, hoping that the sight of “hard tack” might do them good.  Though the night was dark and rain falling rapidly, they soon found that the coveted provisions had been placed in a large tent, and a guard placed in a large tent, and a guard placed inside.  The guard, however, had laid down and was sound asleep just inside the tent.  One of the men stepped over the guard and carried out four boxes of hard bread, which they carried to camp.  company C had a good Christmas dinner, the balance of the regiment, however, did not receive anything until late in the evening, hence they had nothing to eat nearly all day.  While crossing the Wild Cat Mountain, on the march from Blain’s Cross Roads to Nicholasville, one of the baggage wagons upset, and before it could be gotten up on the mad again and loaded, night had set in.  The men lay down upon the mountain top, on the frozen ground, and drawing a large tarpaulin over them for protection from the storm.  During the night about four inches of snow fell, under which the men slept comfortably.

If the event (described above) involving Eckel took place at Buffalo Creek near Rutledge, Tennessee, as Crater states it did, then it may be possible to date the event through regimental records.  According to the regimental history, from 5 to 26 December 1863, the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry was in pursuit of Longstreet’s Army to Blaine’s Cross Roads, Tennessee, the re-enlistment took place beginning on 1 January 1864, and in the period up through April 1864, the men moved to Annapolis, Maryland.  This latter period, through April 1864, included the thirty-day furlough which began and ended at Harrisburg.

Crater then continues from the end of the furlough though arrival at Annapolis and encampment at Alexandria:

The thirty days furlough having expired on 8 March 1864, we rendezvoused at Camp Curtin until the 20th, when we were sent to Annapolis, Maryland, by steamboat from Baltimore.  Our camping ground at Annapolis was that occupied by the regiment in October 1861.  The regiment having been recruited to the minimum standard and fully organized and drilled, it was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Ninth Army Corps on the 21 April 1864, with Colonel B. C. Christ in command of the brigade.  On 23 April 1864, the Ninth Corps moved from Annapolis, and on the 25 April, it was reviewed by President Lincoln, and then encamped near Alexandria.

Finally, Crater’s narrative moves into the Rapidan Campaign:

On the 27 April, the line of march was again taken up, and on the 28 April, we passed over the old Bull Run Battleground, resting at Warrington Junction on the 29 to 30 April.  About noon on 5 May 1864, we crossed the Rapidan River at Germanua Ford, passing on to the front near the Wilderness Tavern, were formed a line of battle a little before three o’clock.  We were heavily engaged on 6 May 1864, and at one time the rebels were around us in the form of a horseshoe, then we were double-quicked to a part of the field where our forces were stampeding.  Our presence had the effect of infusing new energy into the disordered and broken ranks.  The enemy were driven backward until our ammunition was nearly exhausted, when Lieutenant Colonel Overton sent Sergeant J. V. Kendall hack to the Brigade Commander, Colonel B. C. Christ, to ask for a fresh supply of ammunition, but there was none to be had.  The request was made the second time, when word was sent back “Hold your ground at the point of the bayonet.”  Colonel Overton did hold his ground, but at the cost of seventy men killed and wounded.  During the night of the 6 May 1864, the regiment lay within fifty yards of the enemy’s line.  Mr. Woodbury, in his history of the Ninth Corps, says:  “Colonel Hartranft having found himself confronted by so strong a force as to make further progress impracticable.  He did, however, succeed in maintaining his position close by the enemy’s entrenchments, where he was bravely supported by the brigade of Colonel Christ.

Thus from Crater’s description of the events of late 1863 and early 1864, it is only possible to conclude that John S. Eckel was with the regiment at some time during this period, but it is not not possible to draw any conclusion about when he first joined the regiment (i.e., 1862, late 1863, or early 1864).

No Pension Index Card has been located for John S. Eckel in Fold3. This is an indication that he never applied for a pension for his service in the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry.   If he did not sustain any injuries during the war, it would have been unlikely that he would have applied prior to 1890 when the rules for the awarding of a pension were significantly relaxed.  It is therefore possible that he died prior to 1890.

A search for John S. Eckel in the Federal censuses of 1870 and 1880 produced no good results.

However, the following brief note was found in the Reading Times (Reading, Pennsylvania), 20 January 1876:

John Eckel, formerly of Tremont, died recently in Oregon.  At his dying request, his body was brought to Tremont for burial, a distance of 4,000 miles which cost the family $1,000.

Thus, a conclusion could be drawn that John S. Eckel died in Oregon some time in late 1875 or early 1876.  Local records from at or around the place he died could give an answer as to what he was doing there, whether he was married or had any family members with him, and how he died. At death, he would have been in his mid 30’s.

The evolution of the story that he was “impressed” into the Confederate service could have come from John Eckel himself – or may have been fabricated by a member of his family – to show that he was loyal to Union and did not willingly serve with the Confederate Army.

If John Eckel was buried in Tremont, his grave site has not yet been posted on Findagrave.  There are a number of cemeteries in the Tremont area where he could have been buried.  Perhaps a reader of this blog can locate the place of burial and submit a picture of the grave marker?

All in all, the story appears to be very believable that John S. Eckel of Tremont actually served in a Confederate regiment and that regiment was likely the 20th Arkansas Infantry.  However, it was unlikely that his journey North was due to escaping, since he is found in the P.O.W. records, and his “visit” to Memphis was not on a “pass”, but the result of an official P.O.W. movement.  Finally, it is possible that he ended up at Point Lookout, Maryland, where he was exchanged and released.  From there, the story is murky, and whether he first returned to Tremont and then joined the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, or joined first and then took furlough with the regiment while at Harrisburg, is unclear.  It is also possible that he did escape while in the area of Memphis, Tennessee, that he then joined the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry, and that the P.O.W. records are for someone else who was mistaken for him.

Comments and suggestions are welcome and can be added to this post – or can be sent by e-mail.  Hopefully, a reader of this blog will be able to bring forth additional facts about this story!

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The news clipping is from Newspapers.com.

Category: Queries, Research, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags: Tremont, Valley View