Hypolite Oladowski

[cwebster4]

I am feverishly trying to research this man but not coming up with any useful leads.
Hypolite Oladowski is somewhat know known as the Chief Ordnance officer from Braxton Bragg and his confederate service but i want to know more about his previous service.
I know he served as the Ordnance Sergeant at the Baton Rouge Arsenal in 1860-61. He is listed in the 1860 US Census as being there, but I cannon find any documents of his enlistment (PERIOD). There are HINTs that he came to the US in 1835 arriving in New Orleans from Tampico, Mexico, but no leads about how he got to Tampico.
There is some evidence (nothing solid or verifiable) that he served with the Polish side during a war with Russia known as the November Uprising and was later exiled for his role in the event. There is further suggestions that he was an artillery officer during this time, but again, nothing verifiable or really solid.
He seems to be a rather interesting character and a definite rebel of sorts.
I have looked high and low for anything about him, but it is only his time with the Confederacy that is verifiable.
I'm turning to this group for any suggestions or advice to further my research.

 

[UCVRelics]

There are 844 pages of docs on him at Fold3 way to much to down load in a pdf as you can only 50 at a time. Below is a breakdown that was in his Fold3 file.

 

[cwebster4]

There are 844 pages of docs on him at Fold3 way to much to down load in a pdf as you can only 50 at a time. Below is a breakdown that was in his Fold3 file.
View attachment 448893View attachment 448894

Thank you. I checked Fold3.com too. It starts with that March 1861 information and I am looking for pre1861 information. I can't even verify his enlistment in the US Army for him to be stationed at Baton rouge, but he's there and he is in his 60s. This guy is a real headscratcher. Thank you

 

[Library Lady]

Here is his Find a Grave page from Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama. It includes his obituary notice. There is some interesting stuff in there, but I'm not sure it will help you much.

LTC Hypolite Oladowski (1798-1878) - Find a Grave...

Find a Grave memorial for LTC Hypolite Oladowski born 1798 and died 16 Aug 1878. Buried at Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, United States of America, North America

www.findagrave.com

 

[cwebster4]

Here is his Find a Grave page from Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama. It includes his obituary notice. There is some interesting stuff in there, but I'm not sure it will help you much.

LTC Hypolite Oladowski (1798-1878) - Find a Grave...

Find a Grave memorial for LTC Hypolite Oladowski born 1798 and died 16 Aug 1878. Buried at Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, United States of America, North America

www.findagrave.com

Yeah, thanks I saw that. He is frustrating me endlessly. That's why I reached out here. there seem to be so many Confederate Researchers. I just have to believe there are people researching the Ordnance Department. This guy did not want to be found

 

[lelliott19]

You may already know this, but it seems Oladowski was commanding the Baton Rouge arsenal in February 1861 when he turned over to James H Rogers, agent for the State of Texas, 1000 model 1822 muskets converted to percussion and various other items which are enumerated.
See last entry on page 9. https://tarltonapps.law.utexas.edu/imgs/constitutions/files/journals1861/1861_report_2_jnl.pdf

 

[cwebster4]

You may already know this, but it seems Oladowski was commanding the Baton Rouge arsenal in February 1861 when he turned over to James H Rogers, agent for the State of Texas, 1000 model 1822 muskets converted to percussion and various other items which are enumerated.
See last entry on page 9. https://tarltonapps.law.utexas.edu/imgs/constitutions/files/journals1861/1861_report_2_jnl.pdf

He was the Ordnance Sergeant at the time, the ranking member of the Ordnance Department in Baton Rouge. Bvt Major Joseph A Haskin was the Office in Charge (OIC). Oladowsky refused to leave when Battery D, 1st US Artillery surrendered the Arsenal and Barracks. I've found about 6 six other men who stayed back with him to later join the confederates. It's actually quite an interesting story. There were over 50,000 muskets, etc. left behind at Baton Rouge. Of course, many of them ended up with the Louisiana military, but some went to Mississippi and Texas too. By later June Oladowsky was off with Bragg (apparently a close friend) to Pensacola.

 

[lelliott19]

By later June Oladowsky was off with Bragg (apparently a close friend) to Pensacola.

Looks like he reported at Pensacola on March 20, 1861.

The Daily Exchange. (Baltimore, MD), April 02, 1861, page 1.

And by April 27, 1861 he was receiving praise for his skill and efficiency

<omitted>

<End of excerpt.> Nashville Union and American. (Nashville, TN), May 05, 1861, page 2.

Apparently, after the war, Oladowski went to live in Orazaba, Mexico (for about a year) but shortly returned to the US.

The Charleston Daily News. (Charleston, SC), March 29, 1866, page 4.

Baton Rouge Tri-Weekly Gazette & Comet. (Baton Rouge, LA), January 17, 1867, Morning, page 2.

And of course, he died in Columbus, GA on August 23, 1878. The obituary says he was 80 years old.

The Morning Sar and Catholic Messenger. (New Orleans, LA), August 25, 1878, Morning, page 1.

 

[cwebster4]

Alright!! There are two articles in there that I had not seen and I love the color of the swearing article. thank you very much. I meant March, my fingers typed June for some reason. UGH

 

[lelliott19]

Alright!! There are two articles in there that I had not seen and I love the color of the swearing article. thank you very much. I meant March, my fingers typed June for some reason. UGH

Ok, I'll keep going then. I always like to be able to find info people haven't seen before. Here's another snip you might enjoy. Although it's just a brief description, and it's later than what you are looking for, it may help you "paint a picture" of Oladowski?

The Daily Sun. (Columbus, Ga.), May 29, 1863, page 2.

 

[cwebster4]

Oh that's just awesome. I love these items that bring people to life.
Thank you

 

[lelliott19]

Alright!! There are two articles in there that I had not seen and I love the color of the swearing article. thank you very much. I meant March, my fingers typed June for some reason. UGH

Have you seen Oladowski's 1874 rebuttal letter in response to Joe Johnston's claims that no material was lost in the campaign other than four field pieces exposed and abandoned by Hood at Resaca?

 

[lelliott19]

Oh that's just awesome. I love these items that bring people to life.
Thank you

Ok then, maybe you'll like this one too.

Columbus Times. (Columbus, Ga.), June 03, 1864, page 1.

 

[cwebster4]

Oh that is the best one yet!!!
Which newspaper database are you using to access these articles? I just searched newspapers.com, newspaperacrchives.com, and GenealogyBank and did not find these. These articles are precious. Thank you

 

[cwebster4]

Have you seen Oladowski's 1874 rebuttal letter in response to Joe Johnston's claims that no material was lost in the campaign other than four field pieces exposed and abandoned by Hood at Resaca?

I have not seen the full text of the letter but have seen references to it and some pull quotes
I wold love the full letter if you have it

 

[cwebster4]

Oh that is the best one yet!!!
Which newspaper database are you using to access these articles? I just searched newspapers.com, newspaperacrchives.com, and GenealogyBank and did not find these. These articles are precious. Thank you

Okay! Scratch that. I'm sitting here stuck on spelling it with a -skY not skI. I found those articles.
You're the best

 

[lelliott19]

I have not seen the full text of the letter but have seen references to it and some pull quotes
I wold love the full letter if you have it

[Excerpt.] The Weekly Clarion. (Jackson, MS), June 25, 1874, page 1 column 2.

 

[lelliott19]

Oh that is the best one yet!!!
Which newspaper database are you using to access these articles? I just searched newspapers.com, newspaperacrchives.com, and GenealogyBank and did not find these. These articles are precious. Thank you

You know about Oladowski's US government assignment on the rivers and dams in GA after the war? There's more stuff about it in some other places. Let me know if you need to know more.

Columbus Daily Enquirer. (Columbus, Ga.), November 03, 1874, page 4

 

[cwebster4]

Thank you. You have added so much for me here. I love now knowing he was an uncommon man.
I've written to the Poland national archives, so let's see what they can tell us.
Thank you for everything

 

[UCVRelics]

Thank you. You have added so much for me here. I love now knowing he was an uncommon man.
I've written to the Poland national archives, so let's see what they can tell us.
Thank you for everything

Please let us know what you find.