Al Murray
Sergeant
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2015
- Location
- West Virginia
Hi all
Last night I ran across an old e-mail from a cousin that mentioned our uncle, Elliott Gardner Walter (Walter/Walters) being in the Civil War in the 39th PA Regiment. I had not remembered this, and started looking for his record. He enlisted in the “Clarion river Guards” in 1861, designated as part of both the 10th PA and the 39th PA. He was taken to Pittsburgh, then Cumberland, etc on to the Peninsula Campaign. I found out that he was wounded and captured at the Battle of Gaines Mill. A. J. Davis’ 1887 “History of Clarion County” has this:
“About half past three o'clock P.M., June 27,the company (E Co 10th / 39th PA) became engaged in the bloody battle of Gaines's Mill….. the …. following were wounded: …. Elliott G. Walter, … - fourteen in all. … and Private Elliott G. Walter were taken prisoners The regiment made a valiant and effective charge about five o'clock, and when the battle ceased, it closed its broken ranks and retired across the Chickahominy.“
I also found him in “History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5" by Samuel P. Bates and it says that Elliott Walter enlisted in 1861, was wounded and captured at Gaines Mill, and mustered out in 1864.
I found his PA state record on line “RG-19 Records of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs REGISTERS OF PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS, 1861-1865. Volume 2: 11th Regiment, 23rd 3-year, 26-39th Regiments” and it shows him as a member of the “Co. E 39th PA Regiment 10th Reserves.” This records adds nothing to Bates as it just shows his enlistment in 1861 and that he was mustered out in 1864.
Ancestry.com has a picture of the cover of his pension record, but no details. I don’t know where he was taken after capture, or why he did not muster out for two years after his capture
Then I got totally confused! Elliott G. Walter was taken prisoner at Gaines Mill, yet on line there is a picture of the “39th infantry 10th Reserve” monument at Gettysburg, and his name is on it. I thought at first that they just put all of the names of the company enlistees on there, but I don’t see Reynard and Kieser above who were dead when Gettysburg happened. Is this monument a record of men who were there?! If so how did Walter get there if he was in prison?
So would anyone know why his name might be on the Gettysburg monument, or how long the captives after Gaines Mill were held by the Confederacy? I had always thought that if one was paroled it was on oath not to take up arms anymore, so why is he included on the Gettysburg monument? I had originally thought that his service must have ended with the capture, but now I am not so sure. Does anyone have ancestors in this unit and could anyone tell me what the Confederacy did with the Gaines Mill captives? Any Walter family cousins out there?
Thanks so much from Al
Last night I ran across an old e-mail from a cousin that mentioned our uncle, Elliott Gardner Walter (Walter/Walters) being in the Civil War in the 39th PA Regiment. I had not remembered this, and started looking for his record. He enlisted in the “Clarion river Guards” in 1861, designated as part of both the 10th PA and the 39th PA. He was taken to Pittsburgh, then Cumberland, etc on to the Peninsula Campaign. I found out that he was wounded and captured at the Battle of Gaines Mill. A. J. Davis’ 1887 “History of Clarion County” has this:
“About half past three o'clock P.M., June 27,the company (E Co 10th / 39th PA) became engaged in the bloody battle of Gaines's Mill….. the …. following were wounded: …. Elliott G. Walter, … - fourteen in all. … and Private Elliott G. Walter were taken prisoners The regiment made a valiant and effective charge about five o'clock, and when the battle ceased, it closed its broken ranks and retired across the Chickahominy.“
I also found him in “History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5" by Samuel P. Bates and it says that Elliott Walter enlisted in 1861, was wounded and captured at Gaines Mill, and mustered out in 1864.
I found his PA state record on line “RG-19 Records of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs REGISTERS OF PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS, 1861-1865. Volume 2: 11th Regiment, 23rd 3-year, 26-39th Regiments” and it shows him as a member of the “Co. E 39th PA Regiment 10th Reserves.” This records adds nothing to Bates as it just shows his enlistment in 1861 and that he was mustered out in 1864.
Ancestry.com has a picture of the cover of his pension record, but no details. I don’t know where he was taken after capture, or why he did not muster out for two years after his capture
Then I got totally confused! Elliott G. Walter was taken prisoner at Gaines Mill, yet on line there is a picture of the “39th infantry 10th Reserve” monument at Gettysburg, and his name is on it. I thought at first that they just put all of the names of the company enlistees on there, but I don’t see Reynard and Kieser above who were dead when Gettysburg happened. Is this monument a record of men who were there?! If so how did Walter get there if he was in prison?
So would anyone know why his name might be on the Gettysburg monument, or how long the captives after Gaines Mill were held by the Confederacy? I had always thought that if one was paroled it was on oath not to take up arms anymore, so why is he included on the Gettysburg monument? I had originally thought that his service must have ended with the capture, but now I am not so sure. Does anyone have ancestors in this unit and could anyone tell me what the Confederacy did with the Gaines Mill captives? Any Walter family cousins out there?
Thanks so much from Al