Alias ID Disc

[VaFredneck]

I share this today to memorialize another one of our fallen hero's, young William, lost in battle Oct 27-28,1864

I recovered this pewter Washington variant ID Disc years ago at a Union winter camp in Stafford, Va.
W. Wallace
Co. "F" 115th Reg Pa Vol War of 1861 Phila Pa
My basic research revealed, long story short, William left the camp I found the disc at, and headed to Chancellorsville for his first real action in Battle where he was wounded and spent the next 8 months in D.C and his home town in Phila Pa. hospitals recovering from a hip wound. After a year of recovery he mustered into 110th Pa Vols, and participated in many battles around central southern Va., Mine Run, Petersburg, etc. and turns up "Missing in Action" at the battle of Boydton Plank Rd. Surgeon Generals reports turned up nothing through hospitals or Prison camps to explain his missing.

William Wallace enlisted under an alias so to conceal from his mother that he had joined the cause by leaving his last name, Quigg, off in the enlistment process, and using his middle name Wallace in place, because she was strongly against William going off to fight .Appears he never informed her about the alias enlistment , so she was at a loss when he didn't retrurn home at the Wars end and there were no answers or reports of why he hadn't.

National Archives researched William's story and sent me a packet of documents containing copies of letters to the Pension Office and lawyers, by the mother, relatives, neighbors, concerning the Mother's pursuit of Pension, trying to prove indeed William was her son.
William was "Killed in Action" at the Battle of Boydton Plank Road on Oct 27-28,1864, so stated the document from his Adjutant General's report. Sad news knowing the Wars end was not too far off. He served from March 8, 1862 to October 27, 1864, so stated the Adjutant Generals report.

More research still continues.

 

[Cato3rd]

Very cool piece. It's in great shape after coming out of the ground. My ancestor's family had the same issue after the war. He was captured at the battle of North Anna and sent to Andersonville prison. They only found out about him dying because of Clara Barton's efforts working with Dorence Atwater keeping a ledger of those who died there.

 

[FrankN]

Amazing piece of history in nice condition! Great research and an interesting but unfortunate story.

 

[Joe Whitworth]

Very cool piece. It's in great shape after coming out of the ground. My ancestor's family had the same issue after the war. He was captured at the battle of North Anna and sent to Andersonville prison. They only found out about him dying because of Clara Barton's efforts working with Dorence Atwater keeping a ledger of those who died there.

Thanks for this post. I just read Dorence Atwater's incredible story.