Location help?

[lupaglupa]

@Fairfield I have yet to find a good source for CW military records in Rhode Island - do you know of one?

 

[pamc153PA]

There were a few large trees at Devil's Den. Some of them may show in early Tipton photos. The shape and stratification on the rocks says to me they have the location correct. Devil's Den was a very popular spot for photos of veterans visiting post-battle. Perhaps that is the reason for the nearby location to have been used by Mumper and later Tipton as a photographic studio. Then later by "Blind Davey" as a souvenir and ice cream stand.

There have pretty much always been trees in DD, until fairly recently. During the 1930s and 40s, it looked like a forest.

 

[Fairfield]

@Fairfield I have yet to find a good source for CW military records in Rhode Island - do you know of one?

I've gone into general genealogical records in RI but not the military ones. https://militaryrecords.ws/rhodeislandmilitaryrecordriwarrecord.html gives an overview (I think that it is an entree into a subscription site but the free summary is useful). As is so often the case, one's friend is Google. Our online genealogy guru says that a good starting point when researching in an unfamiliar place is the state library and/or the state's own site.

 

[lupaglupa]

I've gone into general genealogical records in RI but not the military ones. https://militaryrecords.ws/rhodeislandmilitaryrecordriwarrecord.html gives an overview (I think that it is an entree into a subscription site but the free summary is useful). As is so often the case, one's friend is Google. Our online genealogy guru says that a good starting point when researching in an unfamiliar place is the state library and/or the state's own site.

I did a survey of their resources when I was putting together my list of state by state sites. They have records but AFAICT little to nothing digitized.

 

[Fairfield]

I did a survey of their resources when I was putting together my list of state by state sites. They have records but AFAICT little to nothing digitized.

There is always the telephone! I've found that when researching in an unfamiliar place, it is good to establish a connection with someone local (and knowledgeable)--phoning will get one passed from person to person until one hits that one single helpful soul!

The RI state site (https://www.ri.gov/) has a searching mechanism. If one enters "Civil War" into that, one will have 1920 hits (so surely its a good idea to narrow the search); if the page wanted isn't available online, this is where the telephone works. Or email. Or regular mail. The realization that the searcher has been online and has a good idea of what s/he wants often works wonders in obtaining information. The vague line "what can you tell me about my illustrious forebear?" will yield nothing but a snicker!

 

[Fairfield]

@Bmurph29 -

Samuel W. Austin: According to Maine at Gettysburg: in the listing for 3rd Maine, Pvt. Austin was listed as being on special or detached duty at Gettysburg; looks like he wasn't with the rest of the regiment there.

I found a book entitled Pioneer Homes of Washburn, Maine by William J. Tasker online. There are 2 pages on Samuel W. Austin and the "Sam Austin House" (I couldn't find a specific URL but I had Googled <'Samuel W. Austin" "Gettysburg">; I was in Google Books. It says that Samuel W. Austin missed being at the Battle of Gettysburg but goes on to mention all the battles that he didn't miss.

There is quite a bit of genealogical information (including the fact that he married Emma Holmes of Smithfield, Maine who is possibly a relative of one of "my" soldiers). Also a picture of Samuel Austin in later years and a picture of his house. Incidentally, the other 2 Austins from New Sharon were his brothers. Not all of the book is online so I don't know if there is more but I think you'd be quite interested in what there is.

Edit to add:

This is from the Adjutant General's Report (Maine)

 

[lupaglupa]

@Bmurph29 -

Samuel W. Austin: According to Maine at Gettysburg: in the listing for 3rd Maine, Pvt. Austin was listed as being on special or detached duty at Gettysburg; looks like he wasn't with the rest of the regiment there.

I found a book entitled Pioneer Homes of Washburn, Maine by William J. Tasker online. There are 2 pages on Samuel W. Austin and the "Sam Austin House" (I couldn't find a specific URL but I had Googled <'Samuel W. Austin" "Gettysburg">; I was in Google Books. It says that Samuel W. Austin missed being at the Battle of Gettysburg but goes on to mention all the battles that he didn't miss.

There is quite a bit of genealogical information (including the fact that he married Emma Holmes of Smithfield, Maine who is possibly a relative of one of "my" soldiers). Also a picture of Samuel Austin in later years and a picture of his house. Incidentally, the other 2 Austins from New Sharon were his brothers. Not all of the book is online so I don't know if there is more but I think you'd be quite interested in what there is.

Edit to add:

This is from the Adjutant General's Report (Maine)

View attachment 432253

Great find @Fairfield !

 

[Package4]

Samuel W. Austin

Residence New Sharon ME; 24 years old. Enlisted on 6/4/1861 as a Private. On 6/4/1861 he mustered into "H" Co. ME 3rd Infantry He was transferred out on 10/21/1863 On 10/21/1863 he transferred into RI 1st Light Artillery (date and method of discharge not given) He was listed as: * POW Annapolis, MD (date not stated) (Paroled, 1862) * POW 6/15/1863 (place not stated) (Paroled, exchanged, estimated day) * Detailed 7/15/1863 (place not stated) (Estimated day) Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:​

 

[Package4]

This is fantastic! Thanks for posting this. There's a gap in his service from the 3rd Maine to Rhide Island, during which Gettysburg would've been. Yet he went to at least one reunion there. Any thoughts on where I can keep looking to fill in the gap?

He was a POW he made a habit of getting captured.....