- Joined
- Feb 20, 2005
- Location
- South of the North 40
Every year on memorial day my Legion posts salutes the fallen within the prevue of our post. The man below is buried in one onf the cemetaries and I would like to be able to put some information together on him so it can be recorded in the post records. Any help would be greatly appreciated from those of you who are geneology junkies.
http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-...oldierId=DE1153A7-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A
Helms , Robert W.
Battle Unit Name:
1st Regiment, US Sharpshooters (Regular Army)
Side:
Union
Company:
H
Soldier's Rank In:
Private
Soldier's Rank Out:
Private
Alternate name:
Robert W./Helmes
Film Number:
M1290 ROLL 1
http://bbcwr.us/Co H US_Sharpshooters.html
Co. H 1st US Sharpshooters
Company H was raised primarily from Long Island by George C Hastings. Recruits gathered in Brooklyn for the shooting test on September 16th and 17th (Friday and Saturday). After the shooting tests and the filling of the company's ranks, Company H was moved from New York City to Weehawken and finally to Washington D.C. November 1st.
With the winter thaw complete, the company moved with the regiment to Fortress Monroe, March 22nd aboard the transport ship Emperor. They arrived in Hamilton on the 25th. The regiment moved out for Yorktown April 1st. On April 4th they began reconnaissance missions. As the fighting began, Company H would move to the front of the line, and during the course of the fighting was moved to the rear and held in reserve. On May 18th they were relieved of duty and sent by steamer North. The Regiment arrived at the new camp May 21st. They were alerted for movement on the 27th, heading towards Hanover Court House Company H would distinguish themselves for using advanced tactics to find an enemy sharpshooter. They rigged a dummy soldier up and moved the dummy around until the Confederate fired a shot. Once they saw the puff of smoke from the Rebs rifle, they crawled forward and fired at the tree, killing the Confederate. Company H would be used for this purpose many times in the future. The regiment was moved back to camp and remained there until late June when the Seven Days Battle found the regiment moved towards the James River.
Company H was not heavily involved in Mechanicsville or Gaines Mill, but was involved in battle at Glendale on the 30th. Then marched overland starting in August, and the regiment was destined for Antietam. The 1stRegiment was held in reserve for the battle of Antietam, but did participate in the actions following. The Regiment went into camp as of October 3rd. The Regiment was scheduled to move, however the supply lines were disrupted by JEB Stuart and forced a delay in movement. On October 30th the troops broke camp and headed south toward Harpers Ferry. They stayed at Warrenton from the 9th to 16thof November.
For much of the battle of Fredericksburg, the 1st Regiment was held in reserve. They did participate in skirmish detail for much of the second day, however never were fully engaged. The following spring the army was camped in Chancellorsville while the army was changing commands. The regiment limped into Gettysburg but was able to assist in slowing the rebel advances on the second day.
After Gettysburg, Company H would take part in several battles. At Mine Run, Lt. Col. Casper Trepp, who was in charge of the 1st Regiment was killed. This left Captain Marble in charge of the regiment. Marble moved the 1stRegiment to Botts Farm in Brandy to establish winter quarters. After Grant had taken charge of the Armies, the First Regiment was assigned to Major Mattocks of the 17th Maine. Captain Marble remained as a field officer for the 1stRegiment.
The next major engagement was the Wilderness in May of 1864. The Regiment was used as skirmishers for the first two days. On the third day they were instructed to take a battery on the Orange Road. After the Wilderness, the Regiment was on the move toward Cold Harbor, when they encountered a heavy force at the Totopotomoy. The siege at Petersburg was to be one of the last campaigns for much of the Company. By this time the First Regiment was down to 175 men. Almost all of the field grade officers were no longer with the regiment. Company H was in reserve for the first battle at Harrisons Creek on June 16th, but fought at Hares Farm on the 18th. On the 24th Companies H and G were sent to try and disrupt Confederate Artillery. They were able to occupy abandoned rifle pits and kept the artillery silent for much of the day.
The First Regiments last fight was at Deep Run August 15-16th. Companies A, B, C were all mustered out. On September 16thof 1864, those in Company H that were able to be discharged were, and what was left of Company H was folded into Company D. Many of these soldiers would be discharged on November 22nd along with Company D. The remaining would be folded into Company C of the 2nd USSS. Those who were not discharged with the 2nd USSS, were transferred to Company H of the 124th NY. They were mustered out on June 3 1865. Still others were transferred from 124th to the 93rdNY they were mustered out June 29 1865.
According to statistics provided by a study done after the war, Company H had;
1 Officer Killed
6 Enlisted Killed
8 Died of Disease
10 Wounded
2 Missing
2 captured.
By far, company H had the lowest percentage of members who were casualties out of the First Regiment (Company D had one more casualty). The regiments total loss was 10% or 153 killed. The regiment suffered 546 total killed and wounded.
http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-...oldierId=DE1153A7-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A
Helms , Robert W.
Battle Unit Name:
1st Regiment, US Sharpshooters (Regular Army)
Side:
Union
Company:
H
Soldier's Rank In:
Private
Soldier's Rank Out:
Private
Alternate name:
Robert W./Helmes
Film Number:
M1290 ROLL 1
http://bbcwr.us/Co H US_Sharpshooters.html
Co. H 1st US Sharpshooters
Company H was raised primarily from Long Island by George C Hastings. Recruits gathered in Brooklyn for the shooting test on September 16th and 17th (Friday and Saturday). After the shooting tests and the filling of the company's ranks, Company H was moved from New York City to Weehawken and finally to Washington D.C. November 1st.
With the winter thaw complete, the company moved with the regiment to Fortress Monroe, March 22nd aboard the transport ship Emperor. They arrived in Hamilton on the 25th. The regiment moved out for Yorktown April 1st. On April 4th they began reconnaissance missions. As the fighting began, Company H would move to the front of the line, and during the course of the fighting was moved to the rear and held in reserve. On May 18th they were relieved of duty and sent by steamer North. The Regiment arrived at the new camp May 21st. They were alerted for movement on the 27th, heading towards Hanover Court House Company H would distinguish themselves for using advanced tactics to find an enemy sharpshooter. They rigged a dummy soldier up and moved the dummy around until the Confederate fired a shot. Once they saw the puff of smoke from the Rebs rifle, they crawled forward and fired at the tree, killing the Confederate. Company H would be used for this purpose many times in the future. The regiment was moved back to camp and remained there until late June when the Seven Days Battle found the regiment moved towards the James River.
Company H was not heavily involved in Mechanicsville or Gaines Mill, but was involved in battle at Glendale on the 30th. Then marched overland starting in August, and the regiment was destined for Antietam. The 1stRegiment was held in reserve for the battle of Antietam, but did participate in the actions following. The Regiment went into camp as of October 3rd. The Regiment was scheduled to move, however the supply lines were disrupted by JEB Stuart and forced a delay in movement. On October 30th the troops broke camp and headed south toward Harpers Ferry. They stayed at Warrenton from the 9th to 16thof November.
For much of the battle of Fredericksburg, the 1st Regiment was held in reserve. They did participate in skirmish detail for much of the second day, however never were fully engaged. The following spring the army was camped in Chancellorsville while the army was changing commands. The regiment limped into Gettysburg but was able to assist in slowing the rebel advances on the second day.
After Gettysburg, Company H would take part in several battles. At Mine Run, Lt. Col. Casper Trepp, who was in charge of the 1st Regiment was killed. This left Captain Marble in charge of the regiment. Marble moved the 1stRegiment to Botts Farm in Brandy to establish winter quarters. After Grant had taken charge of the Armies, the First Regiment was assigned to Major Mattocks of the 17th Maine. Captain Marble remained as a field officer for the 1stRegiment.
The next major engagement was the Wilderness in May of 1864. The Regiment was used as skirmishers for the first two days. On the third day they were instructed to take a battery on the Orange Road. After the Wilderness, the Regiment was on the move toward Cold Harbor, when they encountered a heavy force at the Totopotomoy. The siege at Petersburg was to be one of the last campaigns for much of the Company. By this time the First Regiment was down to 175 men. Almost all of the field grade officers were no longer with the regiment. Company H was in reserve for the first battle at Harrisons Creek on June 16th, but fought at Hares Farm on the 18th. On the 24th Companies H and G were sent to try and disrupt Confederate Artillery. They were able to occupy abandoned rifle pits and kept the artillery silent for much of the day.
The First Regiments last fight was at Deep Run August 15-16th. Companies A, B, C were all mustered out. On September 16thof 1864, those in Company H that were able to be discharged were, and what was left of Company H was folded into Company D. Many of these soldiers would be discharged on November 22nd along with Company D. The remaining would be folded into Company C of the 2nd USSS. Those who were not discharged with the 2nd USSS, were transferred to Company H of the 124th NY. They were mustered out on June 3 1865. Still others were transferred from 124th to the 93rdNY they were mustered out June 29 1865.
According to statistics provided by a study done after the war, Company H had;
1 Officer Killed
6 Enlisted Killed
8 Died of Disease
10 Wounded
2 Missing
2 captured.
By far, company H had the lowest percentage of members who were casualties out of the First Regiment (Company D had one more casualty). The regiments total loss was 10% or 153 killed. The regiment suffered 546 total killed and wounded.