MY CIVIL WAR ANCESTORS

Simeon Mortimer is my second  great grandfather on my mother's side of the family.

Simeon served four months of the last year of the Civil War with the Union Army.

Drafted; absent without leave at M. O. of Regt. Civil War.

Name: Simeon Mortimer ,

Residence: Woodland, Wisconsin

Enlistment Date: 20 March 1865

Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

Side Served: Union

State Served: Wisconsin

Unit Numbers: 3110

Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 20 March 1865
Drafted in Company D, 6th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 20 March 1865.
Discharged Company D, 6th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 14 July 1865

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U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865

Name: Simeon Mortimer      

Regiment Name:         6 Wisconsin Infantry.              

Regiment Name Expanded:  6th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry  

Side:     Union

Company:         D           

Rank In 1:         Private              

Rank Out 1:      Private              

Alternate Name:          Simeon/Martimer     

Film Number:               M559 roll 21  

Rank In 2:         Private              

Rank Out 2:      Private              

State/Origin:  Wisconsin       

Solomon Scott Thomas is my husband's 2nd great grandfather.

From “A TRACE OF THOMAS, by Mabel Dodele, 1998”  -

"LISA KREMER, Iona, Minnesota wrote a short history of her THOMAS family from which I have this excerpt:

"Solomon Scott joined the Army on Oct. 26, 1864.  He was mustered in on that date in Stark Township, Vernon County, WI.  Information obtained in military record books indicate he was drafted.  He joined the 32nd Wisconsin Infantry, (Company D) and joined his unit on November 10, 1864.  At this time his unit was probably in or near Atlanta, because this was during the time that Sherman's army had sieged the city, and Atlanta was burned.  His military records coincide with family stories.  I had always been told that Solomon was a medic.  His descriptive roll gives us an indication of what Solomon was like physically.  He was 5’7” tall, with blue eyes, brown hair, and a dark complexion.  He was a farmer.  His military service was not without incident.  According to pension records filed later in his life, he suffered from sunstroke in May of 1865.  The following description of that condition was given in an affidavit by Otis B. Depee, a bunkmate of Solomon:

“Solomon ‘was sick and dizzy and not able to march with the command and complained at the time of having been sun struck, and I know he was sent down the James River on a transport while the rest of the company marched on foot, because he was not able to march.  He was hardly able to get around and was excused from duty and complained of a pin in his head and nervous prostration which continued to afflict him as long as I knew him in the service, and I remember that he was dizzy frequently afterwards and fell away in flesh about one-third, and he complained that his trouble was due to sun stroke.

I was intimately acquainted with the claimant from the date of his discharge from service, July, 1865, up to the year AD 1871.  I saw him frequently during this time, as often as once and sometimes twice a month, and had good opportunity to know and observe his health and condition and know that he came out of service home suffering with pain in his head, headache, nervous prostration, and pain in his left side.  That during the time I knew the claimant after his discharge as above stated, he was, in my opinion, over three fourths disabled for manual labor by reason of the disease as above described; resulting from sun stroke received in service.  My knowledge of the foregoing statement is guessed form hearing the man complain, and from seeing him suffer.

I was personally acquainted with Comrade Solomon THOMAS before he went into the Army, and believe he was a man of sound health.  I saw Comrade Solomon THOMAS last in May 1888, and found there had been a great change for the worse since I had last seen him before in the spring of 1871.”

He was mustered out on 12 June 1865 in Washington, D.C. 

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Robert Milligan is the my husband's 3rd great grandfather on his mother's side.

Copy of Military Discharge: TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Know ye that Robert Milligan, a private of Captain Elam Bailey's Company (F) 41st Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers who was enrolled on the Seventeenth day of May one thousand eight hundred and sixty four to serve 100 days is hereby Discharged from the service of the United States this 23rd day of September, 1864, at Camp Washburne, Wisconsin by reason of expiration of time of service.

Said Robert Milligan was born in Belmont in the State of Ohio, is forty four years of age, six feet one inches high, fair complexion, blue eyes, gray hair, and by occupation, when enrolled, a farmer.

Given at Camp Washburn, Wis this 23rd day of September 1964.

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Source: Private Documents Copied from those of JUNE THOMAS CHRISTOPHERSON.  The following Letters are from Robert Milligan to wife Mary Milligan, West Lima, Richland Co. Wisconsin from Camp Washburn near Milwaukee June 1864.

Dear wife and children,

I am in good health with the exception ov little cold.  I in listed in the party first Rig. Capt. Bayley's Co. and have bin examined and will soon be mustered into the service then our hundred days will commence.  It is expected that we will be consined to Shearmans division but not certain.  I send you the receipt of the money I left in Madison.  It is not taxable.  I have no money taxable only the thirty seven dollars that I left in the drawer.   You can hire the putting up of the house or let it lay, as you think best.  Sell the stock when you have oportunity iff I am not there.  Yours as ever, Robert Milligan                          ______

Dear Wife,  I take this opportunity to write few lines to you, to inform of my health & whereabouts.  We are two miles east of Memphis.  the intence heat and soft water has given me the disentary so that I am excused from duty for the last week past.  I have not bin confined have bin able to go about all the time and wate on myself.  None of our ridgment has died yet tho the measles & mumps has bin in camp more than a month & a great many like myself with diarea.  I visited the hospitle yesterday.  There was nine there, mostly on the mend, none dangerous.  Our Rig is doing double picket duty at this time and never more than half are in camp at any time.

I received the N.W. advocate of the 22nd June that you sent me last evening & was glad as I had not had one since I left home.  We are gitting news purty freely, now the Christian commission is given us some.  I will send you a paper.  I am writing with borrowed instuments.  The pen don't suit my hand no more.  The grace of God be with you.  Amen.  Robt Milligan Write when you can.

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June the 21th 64  Near Memphas Tenn

Dear wife and children, I am in good health in campt in Beauragards orchard. The weather is very warm, not many sick.  There is about thirty thousand troops here.  I am in Capt Bailey's Co. Forty first Rigment ___ volenteer.  Corn is in silk, aples and peaches are about half grown, very plent.  We git but little news here.  Know less about the war than when we were at home.  Have no papers since we left Milwaukee.  Yours in haste, Robt Milligan

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June the 29th 64 Near Memphas Ten

Dear wife and children, I am in common health.  We are in campt two miles east of Memphas on the conviscated property which was Buregard Munphards.  there is near thirty thousand soldiers in this vicinity.  Our camp is in Mumpherd's garden.  The weather is intencely warm.  The themametry ranging from one hundrd to one hundred twelve this ten days.

I received your letter on the 15th last evening.  Do nat grieve about me.  I have given myself to my God and my Country.  If I never come all will be right with me.

In respect to my business hire Hugh and Calaway to have the lumber.  The note is in my drawer.  Git them to settle with Smalley & Mrs. Booker.  You may git J. L. Dehar to imploy Cossaw or some other purson to do the house as you pleas.

If you can't hire some one to work the road or gourden can wate till after my hundred days expir which will on the 14th of Sept as we was notmustered in till the 8th ov June.  You are entitled to five Dollars per month from the State of Wis begining with the seventeenth of May.  The excesive heat makes me nurvis so I make but a poor hand of writing.  I keep no pen ink or paper only as git from others, tho I am not at a loss for anything that is in the rigement.  Both officers and men are very kind to me.

I have sent something home every week tho you only speak of the little book I sent to mathias.  I am sorrow to learne of your afliction but hope you will before this comes to hand.  Write when ever you feel likt it direct to care of Captain Bailey, forty first rigment, Wis Volinteers Memphas Tenasee.

Yours as ever    Robert Milligan

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August the 12th 1864

Chikawaw Blufs near Memphis Tenn

Dear wife and children,  I take this opportunity to inform you that I am in comfortablehealth.  I received your letter of the 28th July with the medasine in it and have found some benifeit from the use of it.  We was inlisted to do garison duty for one hundred days.  Our time is two third out and we never have bin in a garrison.  We have bin eight weeks in this State and I have not bin in a house or even a soldiers barrick but out all the time.  The wether has bin dry and was until this week is wet and raining every day.  We expect to be ordered from this place in a few days.  There is some raids out now.  When they return to take charge ov this post we expect to be removed.  Whether we will be sent north to quell the Buswhackers and Copperheads and in force the draft or some place else I do not know.

Prices of produce is high here.  We are compelled to buy some things as many ov us is in poor health.  Five have died in our Rigment, none since the twenty fourth of July.

Butter fifty cents, cheese forty, meat thirty.  Potatoes four dollars per bushels, green apple two cents a piece, watermelion from one dollar to one fifty and other things in preportion.

I remain yours as ever,  Robert Milligan

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Saterday August the 21th 1864

Dear wife,  I take this opportunity to inform you that I am in good health.  I received your letters ov the 15th July and 17th August last evening.  One was more than six weeks on the way.  Our time will be out two weeks from next Thursday.  We may leave here before that time if other troops come to take our place as well.  There is not many here now and a large portion ov what is here is sick.  You ask what I am doing.  I have not bin doing mutch for six weeks or more.  I have bin excused from duty mostly on account ov poor health.  I have come to this week our business to keep guard.  Memphis is a City of about thirty five thousand.  They are pend in with rebels and our picket line around is ten to fifteen miles long.  Takes fifteen hundred men all the time to watch. They cant go out to get aload of wood with out two or three hundred armed men to guard there waggons.

This week has bin a time of excitement.  Sunday morning about two oclock Forrist broke through our pickets with about twenty five hundred cavelry into our camps of sick, killing and piliging all before him.  About six hundred dashed into the center of town as the will give a better account I will for bear.  Discribing the raids I was on camp guard near the officers tents.  I heard the whole of the mater for some till yells became more plain.  On Tuesday I was on picket on the River bluff about three miles south of the City when three gun boats was sheling the rebs.  One shell went over us a half mile with the fuse roring.  I have heard heavy firing two or three times since but don't know what the trouble was.

As to our eatables let it sufise to say we have enough to do at present and will tell you more about it if I should be spared to git home.

There is seven of our Rigment dead and half the balance sick.  The other two Rigments that came down at the time have lost many more.  One fifteen that I know.

My rupture is a little worse and I am more polsyed but they do not put me on duty unless I am willing to go.

Yours as ever, Robert Milligan

                  THE END OF LETTERS FROM ROBERT MILLIGAN

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Molby W. Colvin is my  great grand uncle on my mother's side. 

(NOTE:  I have a copy of his Civil War Discharge paper)

OBITUARY #2: Molby Colvin

Obituary #2: Reedsburg Free Press  May 12, 1910                      Died  COLVIN

   Molby Colvin died at his home in Loganville, April 24, 1910 after an illness of about four years. He was born in Auburn, Ohio June 15, 1839. When a lad of 13 years his parents moved to Woodstock, Ill., and three years later the family came to Sauk county, settling in the town of Westfield. Here he was married to Elisabeth Fosnot, Sept. 24, 1867. Six children were born to them, George, Mrs. W.H. Ware, John, Alva, Mrs. W. Fenster, and Mrs. E. Smith. During the civil war he enlisted in Co. F. 23rd Reg. Wis. Vol. Inf. and was discharged at Mobile, Ala. July 4, 1865.

The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Clifford and a male quartet from Reedsburg furnished the singing.  Those from abroad who came to attend the funeral were: Samuel Fosnot of Waupaca, Geo. Fosnot of Sparta, and Mrs. U. Thompkins of Poynette.

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Molby Colvin info from Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com

Residence Westfield WI;  Enlisted on 8/15/1862 as a Private. 

On 8/15/1862 he mustered into "F" Co. WI 23rd Infantry 

He was Mustered Out on 7/4/1865 at Mobile, AL  

Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:   Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers:  War of the Rebellion (c)

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Name: Molby Colvin , Residence: Westfield, Wisconsin

Enlistment Date: 15 August 1862

Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

Side Served: Union

State Served: Wisconsin

Unit Numbers: 3075 3075

Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 15 August 1862
Enlisted in Company F, 23rd Infantry Regiment Wisconsin </cgi-bin/sse.dll?&ti=0&db=hdsregiment&f0=3075&f11=Union> on 15 August 1862.
Mustered out Company F, 23rd Infantry Regiment Wisconsin </cgi-bin/sse.dll?&ti=0&db=hdsregiment&f0=3075&f11=Union> on 04 July 1865 in Mobile, AL

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Service Record:

 Enlisted as a Private on 15 August 1862

Enlisted in Company F, 23rd Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 15 August 1862

Mustered out on 04 July 1865 in Mobile, AL

  Sources:   Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers: War of the Rebellion. (WIRoster)Published in 1886

Battles Fought:

Fought on 11 January 1863 at Arkansas Post, AR.

Fought on 14 January 1863.

Fought on 01 May 1863 at Port Gibson, MS.

Fought on 12 May 1863 at Raymond, MS.

Fought on 16 May 1863 at Champion Hills, MS.

Fought on 17 May 1863.

Fought on 19 May 1863 at Vicksburg, MS.

Fought on 20 May 1863 at Vicksburg, MS.

Fought on 22 May 1863 at Vicksburg, MS.

Fought on 26 May 1863 at Vicksburg, MS.

Fought on 23 June 1863 at Vicksburg, MS.

Fought on 25 June 1863 at Vicksburg, MS.

Fought on 10 July 1863 at Jackson, MS.

Fought on 16 July 1863.

Fought on 03 November 1863 at Carrion Crow Bayou, LA.

Fought on 05 November 1863.

Fought on 08 April 1864 at Sabine Cross Roads, LA.

Fought on 05 October 1864 at Jackson, LA.

Fought on 07 April 1865 at Fort Blakely, AL.

Fought on 08 April 1865 at Spanish Fort, AL.

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Edward Alfred Stevens is my husband's great grand uncle.  Their common ancestors are John Hucks Stevens and Harriet Oldaker, again on his mother's side.

SOURCE: 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment  <http://1stminnesota.net/SearchResults.php3?ID=0218>

Edward A Stevens      

Company          B           

Enlisted            04/29/61        

Discharged      01/03/63        

Rank                   Private              

Wounds            unwounded    

Nativity             USA,NY             

Born                    03/03/38        

Died                    06/18/20        

Died Where     MN, Minneapolis        

Hometown      Stillwater, MN              

Vocation           printer              

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Edward Alfred Stevens was born on March 3, 1838, in New York City. He got his education in the public schools and in print shops. In the 1856, he made his way from New York City to Chicago, where he stayed for a short time. He moved to Dodgeville, Wisconsin, where he started the town's first paper. In about May, 1858 he moved to Stillwater, where he went to work as a printer for the Stillwater Messenger. He voted in Stillwater in 1859. He was a member of the "Wide-awakes" and voted for Lincoln and Hamlin in 1860.

He and his brother, John, enlisted along with others from the Stillwater area, in Company B. John was 25. Ed was 23 years old. He stood 5' 6" tall. He had a light complexion, gray blue eyes and dark brown hair.

Ed acted as a correspondent during the war, reporting back to the Stillwater Messenger on activities within the regiment. The only battle in which he participated was Bull Run. After the battle he reported on the death of Capt. Lewis McKune as follows:

Capt. McKune of Company G, was killed just after the first volley, while rallying his men for a charge. His last words, which were addressed to his men while bullets were fast flying around him, were "Rally men rally!".

There was a feeling of depression amongst some in the First Minnesota after Bull Run. The battle had ended in confusion, but the men had other reasons for discontent. They had received no pay since they were mustered into service. Many were critical of the colonel's conduct in the battle. Ed Stevens challenged the legality of the muster at Fort Snelling by which the three-month men were enlisted for three years. On the ground that new enlistments had violated prescribed regulations he secured a writ of habeas corpus and a trial was held under a justice of the Supreme Court (James Wayne). If Ed's contention had been upheld, it would have meant that the original six hundred men of the First, who mustered in on April 29, 1861, were being illegally retained in the regiment. Moreover, there might have been departures from regulations in other states, and a precedent might have opened the floodgates and caused disruption in the Army at a very critical time when the North needed to build greater military strength. Edwin Stanton, soon to be secretary of war, was counsel for the government. Secretary Seward is recorded to have said in a conversation with Stanton that if a wrong decision were rendered, it would not be carried into execution. "The nation," he said, "is greater than the dignity of the nation's court." But the decision, from his point of view, proved right. Stevens did not win the release and in fact was lodged for a time in a Washington guardhouse for "mutinous conduct." Once the issue was settled, regimental discontent subsided.

Ed was eventually returned to the regiment. He was a printer by trade and put this skill to good use during an interesting incident occurred on March 11, 1862. The regiment was on the move in Virginia. They approached the town of Berryville and after meeting limited resistance occupied it and made camp on the its outer edge. 1st Sgt James Wright, of Company F, wrote about it after the war.

"There was a paper published at this place called the 'Berryville Conservator', and a portion of the paper had been set up before arrival, but the editor and his help had 'skedaddled' along with the soldiers. The printers in the regiment-among them Company F's contingent was prominent-managed to get into the office of the 'secesh sheet,' changed the name of the paper to that of 'The First Minnesota' and its policy to one of radical support of the Union cause. A paper was set up, struck off, and ready for distribution before morning, when it found ready sale around the camps."

Seven men, who had been printers back in Minnesota, proudly placed their names on the paper. They were Ed A Stevens (Co B), Ole Nelson (Co A), Frank Mead (Co H), Thomas H Pressnell (Co C), Charles S Drake (Co A), Julian Kendall (Co H) and Henry W Lindergreen (Co H). Interestingly enough none of these seven were from Company F, as mentioned by Wright.

The December, 1862, Report for Company B, records that Ed and Frank Mead were detailed at Gen Burnside's headquarters. Another report indicates that Ed was doing duty as a printer during this time. This was undoubtedly true of Mead as well.

His service record says that he was discharged at Falmouth, Virginia, per order on Jan 3, 1863. The order was to enable him to enlist as a Hospital Steward in the U. S. Army. Perhaps the following story from The Stillwater Messenger on Jan. 27, 1863, explains part but not all of the story.

"Our Correspondent Shingles"

Our readers will regret with us the loss of our old and faithful correspondent, Shingles, of the Minnesota First. He has been mustered out by the Secretary of War, but again re-enlisted in a different branch of the service. We congratulate him upon being called to a more responsible and more lucrative position.

As there has been much mystery surrounding the identity of this correspondent during the past year we now feel at liberty to announce to our readers that our former correspondents, "Raisins," "Shingles" and "Ed. A. Stevens" are identical--that they are "three in one and one in three."

In league with him as an army correspondent, we cannot do less than to bear testimony not only to the marked ability and faithfulness with which he handles a pen, but to the truthfulness and fearlessness with which he has treated all subjects with which he has had to deal. No hope of reward or fear of punishment have ever deterred Ed Stevens from exposing wrongs or abuses connected with the army, or from criticizing the conduct of superiors in rank, when the public good seemed to demand such exposures or criticisms. As a consequence, he has been compelled to endure the displeasure and vindictiveness of many officers; but among the men of the regiment, and in the households of hundreds of citizens of Minnesota, his name will be revered long after this war is closed and many of the actors therein are forgotten.

End of story.

He served as a Hospital Steward in the US Army, at the Surgeon Generals office in Washington D C from Jan 9, 1863, until June 5, 1865. His title of hospital steward is misleading, however. During this time he was actually assigned to special duty as the printer in charge of the private printing office of the War Department under Secretary (Edwin) Stanton.

Ed later claimed that he was at Lincoln's Theatre the night Lincoln was shot. He said that he printed the first $100 Reward poster that same night. Another former member of the First Minnesota, was at the theater that night. Henry Bevans had transferred to the Secret Service and was station in another part of the theater when the president was shot.

On April 5, 1864, Ed married Mary Ellen Hoffman, who was formerly a teacher in Minneapolis. They were married at Tidioute, in Forest County, Pennsylvania. After his discharge, in June 1865, Ed and Mary settled in Tidioute. He became the publisher of the town newspaper known as the Chronicle. Their daughter, Mary Wenonah, was born on August 20, 1865. Ed's wife, Mary, died of the flu on Jan 28, 1866. Her body was buried at the Tidioute Cemetery

On August 20, 1866, he married Charlotte Sophia Sanborn Chapman at New Market, New Hampshire. She was a writer and lecturer. They returned to live in Tidioute. Their son, Arthur Edward Stevens, was born there on Nov 29, 1868. In October, 1869, they moved to Minneapolis. Their son, Harold Chapman Stevens, born on Jan 27, 1873.

At various times, Ed served as the clerk of municipal court, secretary of the park board and the mayor's secretary. He was a member of several lodges, the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pithias, Moose and the Druids. He joined the George N. Morgan GAR Post #4 in Minneapolis, on Nov. 9, 1883. However, he was dropped from the membership rolls in January, 1892.

After the war the men of Company B stayed in touch with each other. Most had originally come from the Stillwater area and many knew each other from before the war. After the war, besides attending the annual reunions of the regiment, they also formed a "Last Man's Club". Each year they got together to remember their experience together and to pay tribute to those who had passed on "to the other side". On July 22, 1911, the St Paul Pioneer Press reported that the club had met in Stillwater the day before. There were only 11 members left. One of them was Ed Stevens of Minneapolis.

Ed's wife, Charlotte, died in June 1907. The 1917 roster of the veterans of the First lists his address at the time as 2728 Stevens Ave in Minneapolis. Ed probably found it to be humorous, that he was living on a street that bore his name. His comrade, Myron Shepard, was living only six blocks away at 3417 Stevens Ave.

On May 20, 1920, he suffered an apoplectic stroke. He lived for another month, but never regained consciousness. On June 18, 1920, Ed "Raisins" Stevens died at the home of his daughter, Wenonah Stevens Abbott, located at 413 W 26th St, in Minneapolis. His body was cremated at the Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Publication Number: T289

Publication Title: Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900.

Publisher: NARA

State: Minnesota

Arm Of Service: Infantry

Regiment: 1

Company: B

Name: Stevens, Edward A.

Rank: [BLANK]

Date: 26-FEB-1907

State/arm Of Service: Minn. Inf.

Company/regiment: B,1

Roll Number: 251

Collection Title: Civil War Pensions