Gettysburg Magazine Issue 1

[anson64]

Hi there,

I was curious if anyone had a copy of Gettysburg Magazine Issue 1 (1989). There is an article in there titled 'Berdan's Sharpshooters at Gettysburg' by Roy Marcot. I believe my ancestor is mentioned in this issue, and was hoping to view the article to see if this was the case. I reached out to the publisher (U Nebraska Press) with no luck.

My ancestor's name is Anson Jillson (2nd U.S. Sharpshooters, Company F, New Hampshire). I found a couple used copies online for around $50, but didn't want to spend the money if this was just a wild goose chase.

If anyone can offer any help, I'd really appreciate it!

 

[dahenry]

I have that issue and will look through it to see if your ancestor is mentioned.

Dave

I looked through the article - no mention of your relative. According to Mr. Marcot, the 2nd U.S.S.S. were covering "the ravine at Plum Run Gorge, near Little Round Top" with six companies in line and two in reserve ( B & F) while the 1st U.S.S.S. were conducting their reconnaissance-in-force west of the Emmitsburg road.

 

[anson64]

Thanks so much for checking! When I did a Google book search for his name, it gave me Gettysburg Magazine as a result, but listed a compendium of Issues 1-18. I assumed it was Issue 1 given the Sharpshooters article inside. Maybe his name is in another one of those issues? I wish their was an index online or something. I was so hoping to find some type of personal account from the battle, even a sentence or two.

I did know their overall company movements at the battle. I read part of Wyman White's diary, as well as Mark Allen's 'Like A Perfect Hornet's Nest,' which detailed their actions on July 2nd. We actually just visited Gettysburg the other day and retraced Company F's steps across Slyder Farm and Plum Run, across 'D field,' and up to Big Round Top. We even found the exact angle in the stone wall Pvt. White mentioned in his diary. It was incredibly moving and humbling. Also, since no one is there in January, we had basically the whole battlefield to ourselves... such a special experience.

I appreciate your help!

Edit: I did find an index of each issue's articles online, so perhaps I'll skim those and see if one jumps out.

 

[anson64]

This is what I got for a search result:

Gettysburg

www.google.com

With the limited preview, all I can see is 'page 25,' but I have no idea what page that translates to in this 'book.' It looks like his name might be mentioned in an index (?), which I assumed meant he was mentioned in an article. I wish Google had an option to pay a small fee for a better preview.

 

[dahenry]

Sorry, I have that index, it's from issue 1, July 1989 through issue 17, July 1997 (didn't think to look), Morningside was good that way.
On page 25 he is listed as "Jillson, Anson R., Pvt., 1st USSS" then the two issues mentioning him - #9 and #11. Oddly enough, both articles are about Company B of the 4th U.S. Artillery. Apparently Anson was detached from Company F, 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters at some point, to Company A, 1st New Hampshire Light Artillery, and from there to Company B 4th U.S. until his death on May 8, 1864. According to a footnote this information is from the Company B, 4th U.S. muster roll (National Archives) May-June, 1863. So very likely he was in Company B for Gettysburg.
I'll probably have more for you either later today or tomorrow.

Dave

 

[Tom Elmore]

@anson64 you are in tremendous luck!

An article titled "The Old Man" Talks appeared in: The National Tribune, May 12, 1892. It was written by James Stewart, who as a First Lieutenant commanded Company B, 4th U.S. Artillery at Gettysburg, which belonged to the Union First Corps' artillery brigade. In this article, Stewart wrote: "The following are names I remember as deserving special mention," and one of those names he lists is Anson Jillson.

Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery had an illustrious record at Gettysburg, being posted July 1 on Seminary Ridge near the railroad cut, and then on East Cemetery Hill near the Baltimore Pike for the remainder of the battle (some lunettes of this battery have been preserved, so you can visit at or near where your ancestor stood). Lieutenant Stewart had an enviable reputation, and for him to single out Anson Jillson as worthy of "special mention" is certainly something for which a descendant can be justifiably proud.

Image 4 of The National tribune (Washington, D.C.), May 12, 1892

Washington, D.C.

www.loc.gov

 

[anson64]

Dave and Tom,

This is absolutely incredible! Thank you so much. This periodical is a true gem! I have spent the last year trying to learn as much as possible about Anson and three of his brothers that also served in the war. It has been a journey for sure!

The James Stewart editorial is especially interesting. Last spring, I had found Anson ('Anse') mentioned several times in Augustus Buell's 'The Cannoneer.' However, soon after, I found a historian who had labeled Buell as a literary fraud in regards to a presidential biography he authored. Many historical references cited the accuracy of 'The Cannoneer,' yet I never knew if I would be able to trust the stories inside. Buell did write a foreword to James Stewart in his book, and I always wondered how one could call out an officer if everything he wrote was fictitious. Lt. Stewart mentions Buell in this article, so I wonder now if that lends further credibility to the information in 'The Cannoneer,' as Stewart seems to praise Buell here.

The enrollment history I had found for Anson last year was that he first enlisted with the 2nd NH Light Infantry (Co. A) in 1861. Government records suggest he was discharged disabled from the 1st Bull Run on July 28/29, 1861. Unfortunately, I was never able to find any detail as to his injury. I suppose it was quite minor if he went on to be selected as a sharpshooter. Anson was then mustered in with the 2nd U.S.S.S. (Co. F) on Nov. 26, 1861 by Lt. Col. Seth Eastman. He was then 'reenlisted and mustered in' Jan 5, 1864.

The last part had confused me at first; but then a sharpshooters aficionado on this forum (Brian) informed me last year that Anson had served in this 'detached capacity with Gibbon's Company B' that Dave mentioned above. Anson was killed at Laurel Hill (Spotsylvania) on May 8, 1864 while serving with the 1st N.H.L Battery. After learning about his 'detached volunteer' role, I assumed he was maybe volunteering away from the sharpshooters when he was killed. His death was also mentioned in the Cannoneer:

"This "first night of Spottsylvania" was a gloomy one. Every man knew that the Fifth Corps had suffered a sanguinary repulse of a desperate assault, or series of assaults, by Robinson's, Griffin's and Crawford's Divisions in succession, and that the Artillery Brigade – particularly Stewart's, Walcott's, Mink's and Phillips's Batteries – had lost severely. Our own loss included three of our best and brightest boys, all killed in their tracks – Billy Irving, Anse Jillson and Ike Vandicar – and Lieut. Goodman mortally wounded. All these boys were particular favorites with the Captain, and Vandicar had been his personal Orderly for a long time. Stewart attempted to make a little speech to the Battery that night at roll call, which was his invariable custom after a battle, complimenting his boys on their conduct and expressing his appreciation of the way they had stood by him. His voice was husky with emotion, and when he came to speak of the soldierly virtues of those who had fallen he choked up entirely and had to quit. It was a very sad occasion."

Funny enough, Billy Irving - who Stewart mentioned in his Tribune editorial - was also mentioned in 'The Cannoneer,' with both men being called out by Buell as favorites w/ Stewart.

Sorry for all the extra background; I have just found all of this wildly fascinating, and feel I have done Anson some justice in giving new life to his hidden legacy. The information you've offered me is so helpful to solving some of these missing pieces. Of course, now that I know he served in these different capacities, I feel it'll be even more challenging to piece together his entire tour of duty. I've reached out to the National Archives for a second time, but they never got back to me a year ago. We shall see.

I can't thank you guys enough. Your help means so much to me.

Jenn

 

[dahenry]

Jenn,
Here is a link to the history of the 2nd New Hampshire Infantry, there is some information in the roster, at the end of the book, that may be of interest (unless you already have it). I have to do some more research on another couple of leads that also might help out.

p.s. Internet archive is free to download as the book is out of copyright.

A history of the Second regiment, New Hampshire volunteer infantry, in the war of the rebellion : Haynes, Martin A. (Martin Alonzo), 1845-1919 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

From the library of Philip Mason Marston

archive.org

Dave

 

[anson64]

Thanks, Dave. I do have a digital copy of that.

 

[dahenry]

Jenn,

From what I have been able to find, Anson was never formally attached to Company B, 4th U.S. Artillery or to the First New Hampshire Light Battery. His first service was briefly with the 2nd New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry (Company A), from a muster in of May 22nd, 1861 to a discharge for disability on July 29th, 1861; he then joined Company F, of the New Hampshire Sharp Shooters on November 26th (1861) which company was promptly absorbed into the 2nd United States Sharp Shooters on November 28th.
As Anson's original enlistment expired in 1864, he re-enlisted as a Veteran Volunteer in the 2nd USSS for another three years on January 5th, 1864 and collected his month's furlough. According to several sources he was then killed in battle at Laurel Hill, Virginia on May 8th, 1864 as a member of the First New Hampshire Light Battery, if so the rosters for Company F in the Adjutant General's Report for New Hampshire do not confirm it. I have a feeling that it was fairly common to "borrow" infantrymen for use as artillerymen during the war for extended periods of time, I think such an arrangement was called "detached service".
I found Anson's re-enlistment record on the "Family Search" website, so I'm sure Ancestry/Fold3 would also have it. If you do happen to have a Fold3 account it might be helpful to see if his Compiled Service Record is available.

Dave

 

[anson64]

Thanks for your help, Dave. I really appreciate it. I'm hoping I'll hear back from the National Archives regarding his (and his brothers') detailed military records. Seems as though he bounced around a lot as a detached volunteer. My ultimate goal would be a photograph, but I'm guessing there's around a 0% chance of ever finding one.

 

[dahenry]

You're most welcome, but I doubt very much that my comments are the last word on Anson's service. It has been several years since I ordered similar information from the NA, but I think it took either two or three months to arrive, good luck!

Dave

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

I don't know if you are aware of it but I used the services of "Gopher Records" with excellent and much faster results (a couple days). It was well worth the price to me which I thought was very reasonable. A link is below if you want to check them out.

Better Soldiers & Sailors - brought to you by Gopher Records

bettersoldiersandsailors.com

 

[anson64]

I don't know if you are aware of it but I used the services of "Gopher Records" with excellent and much faster results (a couple days). It was well worth the price to me which I thought was very reasonable. A link is below if you want to check them out.

Better Soldiers & Sailors - brought to you by Gopher Records

bettersoldiersandsailors.com

Thanks for the tip! I reached out to the National Archives last year, and never received a response. I sent another inquiry a week ago, so we'll see if I hear at all this time, let alone within "seven business days."

 

[anson64]

@anson64 you are in tremendous luck!

An article titled "The Old Man" Talks appeared in: The National Tribune, May 12, 1892. It was written by James Stewart, who as a First Lieutenant commanded Company B, 4th U.S. Artillery at Gettysburg, which belonged to the Union First Corps' artillery brigade. In this article, Stewart wrote: "The following are names I remember as deserving special mention," and one of those names he lists is Anson Jillson.

Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery had an illustrious record at Gettysburg, being posted July 1 on Seminary Ridge near the railroad cut, and then on East Cemetery Hill near the Baltimore Pike for the remainder of the battle (some lunettes of this battery have been preserved, so you can visit at or near where your ancestor stood). Lieutenant Stewart had an enviable reputation, and for him to single out Anson Jillson as worthy of "special mention" is certainly something for which a descendant can be justifiably proud.

Image 4 of The National tribune (Washington, D.C.), May 12, 1892

Washington, D.C.

www.loc.gov

Tom, I just wanted to say thanks again for the tips! We made it back to Gettysburg just before the snow hit last weekend for a visit to the lunettes and railroad cut that you suggested. My parents even met us down there to explore the family history and stay in the historic Bushman Farmhouse. It was awesome, and all extend their gratitude for your knowledge!