A few weeks ago a lady sent me a five page previously unpublished reminiscence of the Battle of the Crater by her ancestor, Reuben Morris, which she found in a box of materials she had been given. After transcribing what is a FANTASTIC letter, and I'll share it here once it goes live on my Petersburg site next week, I realized Reuben Morris had a heckuva story!
His birth name was Reuben Jones, and he was born in Rome, NY in 1848. He and his sister were given up at a young age by his father after their mother died shortly after having Reuben. They were adopted by George Morris and his wife, and the new family set out for East Saginaw, MI sometime prior to the Civil War. In March 1864, at only 16 years old, he lied about his age and used hid birth name of Reuben Jones to enlist in Co. F, 2nd Michigan Infantry. He was in the Ninth Corps through the Overland Campaign and the early portion of the Siege of Petersburg. He was in Ledlie's Division at the Crater and had some VERY close calls that day. He was captured in August 1864, date not specified. I suspect he was captured on August 19, 1864, when his brigade was involved just east of the Weldon Railroad at the Battle of Globe Tavern.
Somehow, by October 1864, he was at Wabash College in Indiana, where he penned and dated the five page reminiscence of the Crater. He was STILL only 16-17 years old through all of this. The weird part is that his service record ALSO shows he was discharged at Camp Chase, OH on June 12, 1865: Jones, Reuben, alias Morris, Reuben. Enlisted in company F, Second Infantry, March 28, 1864, at St. Johns, for 3 years, age 18. Mustered April 14, 1864. Taken prisoner in Aug., 1864. Discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, June 12, 1865. Died April 19, 1886. Buried at Brady Hill Cemetery, Saginaw, Mich.
Sadly, he died at the age of 38 in East Saginaw, MI. He seems to have lived there most of his life, although he married his wife in Indiana in 1873.
Whew. Sorry for the novel, and here are my questions I am unable to answer. I'd love for any help or tips any of you seasoned veterans can give:
His birth name was Reuben Jones, and he was born in Rome, NY in 1848. He and his sister were given up at a young age by his father after their mother died shortly after having Reuben. They were adopted by George Morris and his wife, and the new family set out for East Saginaw, MI sometime prior to the Civil War. In March 1864, at only 16 years old, he lied about his age and used hid birth name of Reuben Jones to enlist in Co. F, 2nd Michigan Infantry. He was in the Ninth Corps through the Overland Campaign and the early portion of the Siege of Petersburg. He was in Ledlie's Division at the Crater and had some VERY close calls that day. He was captured in August 1864, date not specified. I suspect he was captured on August 19, 1864, when his brigade was involved just east of the Weldon Railroad at the Battle of Globe Tavern.
Somehow, by October 1864, he was at Wabash College in Indiana, where he penned and dated the five page reminiscence of the Crater. He was STILL only 16-17 years old through all of this. The weird part is that his service record ALSO shows he was discharged at Camp Chase, OH on June 12, 1865: Jones, Reuben, alias Morris, Reuben. Enlisted in company F, Second Infantry, March 28, 1864, at St. Johns, for 3 years, age 18. Mustered April 14, 1864. Taken prisoner in Aug., 1864. Discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, June 12, 1865. Died April 19, 1886. Buried at Brady Hill Cemetery, Saginaw, Mich.
Sadly, he died at the age of 38 in East Saginaw, MI. He seems to have lived there most of his life, although he married his wife in Indiana in 1873.
Whew. Sorry for the novel, and here are my questions I am unable to answer. I'd love for any help or tips any of you seasoned veterans can give:
- When/where/how did Reuben get exchanged after becoming a POW?
- How/why was he at Wabash College in October 1864 when he wasn't discharged from the army until 1865 in Ohio?
- Did he attend Wabash College? I suspect he might have given at least one namesake descendant seems to have gone there.
- Are there records of people who attended a specific college online, something like lists of attendees or graduates?
- Does anyone know of a regimental history of the Second Michigan or a history of East Saginaw, MI?
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