Civil War History

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery...ight_Artillery

the above link is the info I could find from a simple, google search. I do know he settled in RI and was a german immigrant, so this rings true.

Also, his name was Gottlieb Salve. I pulled some stuff up(example is he did have a pension because I saw his wife's name: Emma Heintz), but it just seems like a lot of work and then there no gurantee what you're gonna get in return or which sites are better??
 
youngunz4life, I thought that the Ancestry.com research was pretty easy. I found a fair amount of information, especially Census data. Michigan kept pretty good records on their volunteer regiments during the Civil War and quite a bit of it was available on Ancestry. I also came across some cousins that I didn't know that I had, so I was able to share in their genealogical research.

Here is where I ordered the service record summary. The National Archives says that if they don't find any data, there's no charge.
 
thanx hardcase. it seems to maybe need start+end dates or is the system just finnicky(was acting weird). when my grandma's brother gets back to me hopefully I'll have some dates. Do you have the link to buy the pension for 75dollars too?
 
Just an update - according to the NARA website, the service record information that I asked for has been located, copied and is awaiting shipment. I placed the order on December 29th, so that's pretty prompt work!
 
If things are filed away properly, finding records should not take too long. I've had cases where NARA couldn't find the file on my soldier(s). :( The place is a treasure house and if you go, bring a good, digital camera that takes readable images of documents. You can save a fortune by not having to pay for the xerox machine. Kudos on your find. Service records can be boring. Pension records tend to have more "meat" as they give details of service not found in the service record. Share the results.
 
The big day is here! I got a manila envelope with the service record. It consisted of photocopies of my great-great grandfather's enlistment certificate, his statement that he was fit for duty, muster cards for his period of enlistment and a couple of other miscellaneous papers.

There was also a note apologizing for the quality of the photocopies - the documents were old and somewhat faded, but I thought that they did a good job, all things considered.

Here are a few choice images:

Enlistment certificate:

enlistment_small.jpg


Muster-in Roll:

muster_feb_24_63_small.jpg


Muster Roll (I picked this one because it was when the Battle of the Crater was fought):

muster_jul_aug_64_small.jpg


Muster-out Roll:

muster_out_roll_2_small.jpg


Check out the line "Due U.S. for arms, equipments, &c. retained. The $6.00 was what he paid to keep his rifle - the one that's hanging over my fireplace!

EDIT:

A quick look at the Civil War battles that the 27th Michigan was in shows that great-great grandpa was promoted to Corporal a few days after the Battle of the Crater and to Sergeant less than a month later, about a week after the Battle of Globe Tavern, both terribly costly in Union casualties (and certainly no small potatoes for Confederates, either.)
 
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My cousin sent me some scans that she made of my great great grandfather's Civil War pension application from 1879. Friends, what an eye opener! Check this out (misspellings, grammar and punctuation are verbatim):

"I am the identical George H. Dunn who was enrolled on the 8th day of Feb'y 1862 in Company F of the 27th Re't of Michigan Vol's, commanded by Captain Robert S. Baker and I was honorably discharged at Washington DC on the 26th of July 1865 and my age is now 38 years. While in the service aforesaid, and in the line of my duty I received the following disability, to wit:

On the 30th of July, 1864 in Crater, front of Petersburg Va, was wounded in knee joint by a gunshot. Went to Division Hospital & had Ball extracted. Staid there 4 days & ran away to my Reg't. Had to have my leg bandaged for three years & cannot stand on my feet without painful fatigue. Also contracted Piles & ruptured the veins below my knee joint while on a March in Miss. Was in Reg't Hospital & treated by surgeon. I claim pension on account of Wound, Ruptured veins & Piles."

In 1884, his friend Charles Mundy provided this affidavit:

"I was acting 1st Sargeant of Co G 27th Mich Inf Vols. I am personally acquainted with Geo H Dunn who was Sergt of Co F Mich Vols whom I have known since the month of December AD1862. I was on duty and present with my Company and Regiment on the 30th day of July AD1864 at the Storming and blowing up of the Fort known as the Crater in front of Petersburg Virginia. After the remnant of our Regiment fell back to our own lines I made particular inquiries as to the names of the members of the regiment who were wounded in the attack on the Fort on the 30th day of July as before stated and was informed that amoung others wounded George H Dunn Sergt of Co F was wounded in the leg. On the third day after the fight I made particular inquiry of Dr. Arnoles Ass,t Surgeon of the 27th Mich Vols Inf, and he informed me that Geo H Dunn Sergt of Co F in the same regiment was severely wounded on the left leg on the outside a little below the Knee on the day of the fight while in company with the Storming party."

In 1901, George submitted another affidavit:

"I cannot furnish the Affidavits of the Docters that who Docterd me from 1865 until 1870 for they are boath Dead. Dr Andrews died in Montreal Ont. and Dr Waters died in Gains Mich than Dr Paul Sue commenced to Doctering my famiily. You have four affidavits from him now. I also cannot furnish the affidavits of Mr Page or wife nor Mrs Miller the persons I worked for during that time for they are dead. I cant furnish any more affidavits only that one from Mrs Dunn and that took in the time I come home up to the winter of 1896 when I come to Streator Ill. I would further state I have done all in my power to furnish the required affidavits but cannot do it."

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I did not know that he was wounded at the Crater. And I sure wish that I could hear the story about running away from the hospital! I can't imagine having a lead ball removed from my knee, then hotfooting it out a few days later, knowing the amount of legwork that the IX Corps was famous for. And having hemorrhoids sure wouldn't make it any easier!

He was in the 3rd Division, 1st Brigade of the IX Corps. It's interesting that he was in the "storming party" because, as far as I know, it was composed of elements of the 1st and 4th Divisions. But, I suppose, since the whole affair was completely short-circuited by General Meade's decision to keep the 1st and 2nd Brigades of the 4th Division out of the initial attack, there was enough chaos to go around.

Knowing how the battle went for the Union forces, I'm struck by the fact that if that ball had gone a bit higher, I wouldn't be around to bore you guys with this stuff...
 
Fascinating to read the participant's viewpoint.

I just received the latest issue of Michigan History magazine. For the sesquicentennial they're doing a series of articles on Michigan in the Civil War. You might find it interesting. Each issue in 2011 will have two articles on the subject, one telling the story of an individual or group of individuals and the other on a major theme of the war. www.hsmichigan.org
 
hardcase, is there a cust serv # I can call? dii your history say what battles he fought in? I might have to hit up the gettysburg people if not. my grandma's brother got me the info but it is lacking(though I think I have enough). I don't have a birthdate and only know he was 67 at death(have orbituary with no year). my "uncle" wants me to check out gettysburg because he has heard that rumor for decades. He is counting on me so I must get this stuff and had been waiting for more info. my great-great grandpa did 3 yrs and got an honorable+almost definately had a pension. start date either '62 or '63. I guess I'll just pay the 200bucks but the sytem seemed like it had to have dates specifically which I am going to try and manuever around
 
The dates help them narrow down their search. The service record does not include information about the battles, but the pension application should because the applicant had to provide that information. But with the muster records, you'll be able to figure out where your great great grandfather served.

If you can send me a PM with a name and whatever information you have, I can look on Ancestry.com for you and see if there's some basic information there that will help you nail the dates down. I'd need name, where he lived, parents' names if you've got them, wife's name, that sort of stuff. I can plug it in and see what comes up.
 
I spoke to someone on the phone sometime after the last time this post was active. She mailed me an application, and I wrote down Everything(including a ton of info Hardcase got for me):D.

I haven't heard back. I am a little worried, but I figure they will contact me with a price. I had planned on mailing the $ ahead of time when I spoke with her, but I thought she stated I could mail it back & they would contact me when they find some info. I also didn't see any prices on the form. I hope they call - I left the email line blank and provided my name, address, and phone #
 
The 27th Michigan was part of Simon Griffin's brigade. They were to follow Ledlie and move in support of his right flank. They were caught in the open by the 23rd South Carolina and (if I'm not mistaken), forced into the crater. Along with another regiment, they made a concerted effort to retreat from that death trap.

In short, he saw h*ll.
 
hardcase, they will call right? I figured it takes a little time because I mailed it and also because I want the pension stuff for great great grandma
 
Youngunz, I don't know if they'll call - I did all of mine on the Internet. I'd give them a call to see what the status is.

Gary, you're right - things really went bad in a hurry at the crater and he did in up in a pretty intolerable position. The more that I read about that battle and the more that I think about what he had to have experienced, the more amazed I am that he got out at all. Actually, more than amazed, I'm pretty grateful...great grandpa didn't come along until 1871!
 
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