Need help with poem!!!!!

[jpro]

@lelliott19
@1stMN

Received information on William A Bird. So far this what I can gather about him.

Born-in Lincoln, North Carolina 1839
At time of war was 5' 7" with light complexion and light hair
with black/grey eyes.

Occupation was listed as farmer and a shoe maker

Enlisted- Hillsboro, Oh. Jan 1864 at age 25
Mustered out- Petersburg, Va Aug 1865
Enlisted as private out as corporal.

Was on muster roll of Co. B (sometimes C?). 13th cav Ohio as of May/June 1865

Dropped from pension rolls June 1891 , last paid $8
Applied multiple times 1907 and 1915
Saw he was back on pension roll 1923 and paid $72

Married a Sarah A Troth in Dec 21-1865
Had first child die in 1866
Had 3 more children. Eugene in 1870, leora 1874 and Corra 1876

Willian Bird died June 25, 1923 in Lynchburg, Ohio where he is buried.
Lived to age 84
His widow applied for widows pension that year.

 

[lelliott19]

So he was 23 in that picture? No way! He looks soooo young!

Your info says he enlisted - Hillsboro, Ohio. Jan 1864 at age 25 but he doesn't look more than 16 years old in the picture. The image says taken 1 day of Sept 1862 at Camp Chase? If he is actually 16 yo he would have been born in 1846. On a stretch if he was "18" he would have been born in 1844. If the image was taken in 1862, I just can't imagine the young man in the picture was born in 1839.

But let's say he was....Hillsboro, Ohio is 78 miles from Camp Chase. Maybe he served previously in another regiment? He was born in North Carolina? Could he have been a "galvanized Yankee?" Being held at Camp Chase, swore the oath and enlisted in the Union Army? Get of jail free card?

Wikipedia says this about the 13th Ohio Cavalry:
"The 13th Ohio Cavalry was organized by consolidation of the 4th Ohio Independent Battalion Cavalry and 5th Ohio Independent Battalion Cavalry at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio, on May 5, 1864, under the command of Colonel Stephen R. Clark. The regiment was used as infantry until December 12, 1864."

The 4th Ohio Independent Battalion was a six month unit, mustered in August 3 to September 21, 1863 at Cincinnati, Ohio; mustered out February 15 to March 14, 1864. The 5th Ohio Independent Battalion was also a six month unit mustered in July 9-September 2, 1863 at Columbus. Ohio; mustered out February 15, 1864. So neither of them would have been at Camp Chase on 1 Sept 1862.

 

[jpro]

So he was 23 in that picture? No way! He looks soooo young!

Your info says he enlisted - Hillsboro, Ohio. Jan 1864 at age 25 but he doesn't look more than 16 years old in the picture. The image says taken 1 day of Sept 1862 at Camp Chase? If he is actually 16 yo he would have been born in 1846. On a stretch if he was "18" he would have been born in 1844. If the image was taken in 1862, I just can't imagine the young man in the picture was born in 1839.

But let's say he was....Hillsboro, Ohio is 78 miles from Camp Chase. Maybe he served previously in another regiment? He was born in North Carolina? Could he have been a "galvanized Yankee?" Being held at Camp Chase, swore the oath and enlisted in the Union Army? Get of jail free card?

Wikipedia says this about the 13th Ohio Cavalry:
"The 13th Ohio Cavalry was organized by consolidation of the 4th Ohio Independent Battalion Cavalry and 5th Ohio Independent Battalion Cavalry at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio, on May 5, 1864, under the command of Colonel Stephen R. Clark. The regiment was used as infantry until December 12, 1864."

The 4th Ohio Independent Battalion was a six month unit, mustered in August 3 to September 21, 1863 at Cincinnati, Ohio; mustered out February 15 to March 14, 1864. The 5th Ohio Independent Battalion was also a six month unit mustered in July 9-Sept

e

mber 2, 1863 at Columbus. Ohio; mustered out February 15, 1864. So neither of them would have been at Camp Chase on 1 Sept 1862.

@lelliott19
Here are some of his documents showing birth and original unit

 

[1stMN]

WOW! Like @lelliott19 said, he looks so young! It is amazing what we can find on some of these soldiers via places like Ancestry, Fold3, etc. Very cool!

 

[jpro]

 

[lelliott19]

@jpro I'm just wondering if maybe there is another W A Bird (or "Birds" or "Bards" or "Bonds") who served who would be closer to the apparent age of this lad? Anyone want to take a crack at the name on the inscription and try to match to a soldier in the 85th Ohio Infantry? When was the 85th organized? Were they mustered at Camp Chase?

Our subject really does look too young to be born in 1839 if this image was taken in 1862 - which is I think what it says? Im betting this young man was born 1843-1846. I'm just wondering if perhaps the info you were provided was attached to the image in error? Perhaps there are other candidates we are overlooking because the info was provided?

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

William A Bird
85th Ohio Infantry
Note: a fairly rough image but something drew me too it. I like the his eagle breast plate and cartridge box showing.
Him leaning on his long arm with bayonet holstered. Also like his shirt!!
Hope you enjoy as much as me!!!


View attachment 90002

I'm guessing the same man ?

Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio:

William A. Bird

Residence was not listed; 21 years old.

Enlisted on 6/9/1862 as a Private.

On 6/10/1862 he mustered into "F" Co. OH 85th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 9/23/1862 at Camp Chase, OH

OHIO
EIGHTY-FIFTH INFANTRY
(Three Months)
Eighty-fifth Infantry. - Col., C. W. B. Allison; Lieut.-
Col., Percy S. Sowers; Maj., Peter Zinn. This regiment was or-
ganized in the state at large in May and June, 1862, to serve
for three months and was retained at Camp Chase to aid in
guarding the large number of Confederate prisoners there in
confinement. It was mustered out, Sept. 23 and 27, 1862, by
reason of expiration of term of service.


Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

...............................................................................................

William A. Bird

Residence was not listed; 24 years old.

Enlisted on 1/23/1864 as a Corporal.

On 5/6/1864 he mustered into "C" Co. OH 13th Cavalry
He was Mustered Out on 8/10/1865 at Petersburg, VA


Promotions:
* Sergt 7/5/1865

OHIO
THIRTEENTH CAVALRY (FOURTH and FIFTH BATTALION CAVALRIES)

Thirteenth Cavalry. - Lieut.-Cols., Noah H. Hixon, Stephen
R. Clark; Majs., John N. Cherry, Francis C. Russell, William
Jarvis, Richard H. Wheeler. This regiment was organized from
May 5, 1864, to March 23, 1865, at Camp Chase. It was formed
by the reenlistment of members of the 4th and 5th independent
cavalry battalions (six months organizations) and recruits from
different parts of the state. From its organization until Dec.
18, 1864, the regiment acted as infantry, but on that day the
men were armed and equipped as cavalry and served as such until
mustered out. The following is a list of battles, in which
this regiment bore an honorable part, in the compilation of
which reference has been made to the Official Army Register,
Part V, page 20, and other sources: Weldon railroad, Assault
on Petersburg, Reams' station, Peebles' farm, Poplar Spring
Church, Hatcher's run, South Side railroad, Hatcher's run,
Dinwiddie Court House, Amelia springs, Jetersville, Appomattox
C. H. (Lee's Surrender). The regiment was mustered out of
service on Aug. 10, 1865, at Petersburg, Va., in accordance
with orders from the war department.


Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

 

[jpro]

@east tennessee roots
I agree with you. Same guy.
He was guarding prisoners at Canp Chase with some local unit then moved on with the 85th
Then went into the 13th cavalry