- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
Private Mias A. Wilson of Company F, 16th North Carolina, went missing during the battle and was afterwards listed as a deserter by his unit. Since there is no Federal record of his capture, a recently published reference lists him as presumed "killed" (Confederate Casualties at Gettysburg, by John W. Busey and Travis W. Busey, volume 4, p. 926).
However, Mias not only survived, he apparently thrived for nearly 58 more years. JPK Huson 1863 broke the story about a year ago in: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/ju...ettysburg-citizens.122683/page-3#post-1324627
About three miles north of the town of Gettysburg was a farm where Joseph Tate Bayly lived with his wife, Harriet Hamilton Bayly, and their two sons. Harriet’s father, Captain William Hamilton, had served in the Revolutionary War. On June 26, while Federal militia was engaging a Confederate advance body, Joseph and his oldest son of 13 years joined their neighbors to take their horses to safety in the direction of Hanover and York. Soon after they departed, Harriet heard gunfire in the distance and became anxious about her husband and boy. The next day, June 27, small groups of Confederate soldiers roamed around their area, mostly in search of food. On the morning of June 28, Harriet and the remaining members of her family attended church in Gettysburg, and in the afternoon they went to the country school house for Sunday School, but the children and adults were too excited to focus on Godly matters. On June 29, Joseph and his oldest boy returned with the horses. They had hid in the woods as Confederate cavalry passed them on the road to York, when Joseph decided to turn back to look after his family and home. That night, Confederate campfires were visible on South Mountain eight miles distant from the Bayly residence. June 30 passed uneventfully.
Early on July 1, Joseph went to a neighbor’s place on business, their oldest boy went into town with his buddies, and Harriet joined her uncle, Robert Sheakley, on a walk on the ridge road that led to the Chambersburg Pike. After a mile they came to Federal cavalry pickets standing by the roadside. They seemed worn out and their horses looked tired and dusty. They asked Harriet and Robert if they had seen any rebels about. The question was answered by a cannon shot, which raised up many Federal cavalrymen in the fields all around them, as Harriet and Uncle Robert made a hasty retreat for home. It was not long before they encountered mounted Confederates, who put Robert under arrest, but they let Harriet go. As she passed through the enemy soldiers lining the road, she was asked, “Madam, where are the Yankees?” and, “How may Yankees are there out there?” Harriet replied, “Go on, and you will soon find out; I did not stop to count them.” Upon reaching the blacksmith shop, Harriet cut through the fields toward her house, a quarter of a mile away. She noticed that a large flagpole set up at the beginning of the war had been cut down. Harriet was soon stopped again, but in a few minutes the guard let her proceed. At home she found both of her sons, who had been greatly concerned about their mother.
Later, mounted Confederates appeared, looking for horses. Harriet said they could have the unbroken colts if they could catch them in the meadow, but their attempts were futile, and the colts were driven into the barn that night. But the Confederates would return and confiscate their horses, cattle (except for a few cows) and sheep, although they did not find the 30 barrels of flour hidden under a pile of stove wood in the woodshed. Hundreds of Confederates filled the countryside during the day, and many loafers showed up around meal times. Joseph had still not returned home, probably having been detained by a Confederate provost guard.
A knock came on their door at 2 o’clock on the morning of July 2. Harriet and her oldest boy responded. They found a “woe begone little ‘reb,’ about 17 years of age, who said he had been in the fight the day before; that he belonged to a North Carolina service; that his regiment was broken up and scattered; that he had been wandering around all night keeping away from the pickets, and fearing to seek shelter as he never intended doing any more fighting for the Confederacy.” (Harriet Hamilton Bayly, Gettysburg Reminiscence, ca. 1904, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison)
This was Private Mias A. Wilson, whose regiment was shot to pieces in front of Seminary Ridge at 4 p.m. on July 1 by the remnants of Meredith’s (Iron) and Biddle’s brigades at the foot of the ridge, and eight cannon of the Union First Corps closely lined up and firing over the heads of their infantry support. The lad was taken in, given a suit of civilian clothes, and remained with the family until the last of the Confederate army had returned to Virginia. Mias eventually found work on another farm near the battlefield, evidently met and married a local girl, raised a family, and generally prospered until his death in March, 1921.
Joseph filed a claim with the State of Pennsylvania after the war for the loss of one steer, one bull, two cows, three horses (plus another stabled in town on July 1), and 11 sheep, that were taken by the Confederates on July 3, probably by a quartermaster or commissary detachment. (State Claims, Adams County Historical Society files).
However, Joseph omitted mention of having acquired one Confederate soldier.
However, Mias not only survived, he apparently thrived for nearly 58 more years. JPK Huson 1863 broke the story about a year ago in: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/ju...ettysburg-citizens.122683/page-3#post-1324627
About three miles north of the town of Gettysburg was a farm where Joseph Tate Bayly lived with his wife, Harriet Hamilton Bayly, and their two sons. Harriet’s father, Captain William Hamilton, had served in the Revolutionary War. On June 26, while Federal militia was engaging a Confederate advance body, Joseph and his oldest son of 13 years joined their neighbors to take their horses to safety in the direction of Hanover and York. Soon after they departed, Harriet heard gunfire in the distance and became anxious about her husband and boy. The next day, June 27, small groups of Confederate soldiers roamed around their area, mostly in search of food. On the morning of June 28, Harriet and the remaining members of her family attended church in Gettysburg, and in the afternoon they went to the country school house for Sunday School, but the children and adults were too excited to focus on Godly matters. On June 29, Joseph and his oldest boy returned with the horses. They had hid in the woods as Confederate cavalry passed them on the road to York, when Joseph decided to turn back to look after his family and home. That night, Confederate campfires were visible on South Mountain eight miles distant from the Bayly residence. June 30 passed uneventfully.
Early on July 1, Joseph went to a neighbor’s place on business, their oldest boy went into town with his buddies, and Harriet joined her uncle, Robert Sheakley, on a walk on the ridge road that led to the Chambersburg Pike. After a mile they came to Federal cavalry pickets standing by the roadside. They seemed worn out and their horses looked tired and dusty. They asked Harriet and Robert if they had seen any rebels about. The question was answered by a cannon shot, which raised up many Federal cavalrymen in the fields all around them, as Harriet and Uncle Robert made a hasty retreat for home. It was not long before they encountered mounted Confederates, who put Robert under arrest, but they let Harriet go. As she passed through the enemy soldiers lining the road, she was asked, “Madam, where are the Yankees?” and, “How may Yankees are there out there?” Harriet replied, “Go on, and you will soon find out; I did not stop to count them.” Upon reaching the blacksmith shop, Harriet cut through the fields toward her house, a quarter of a mile away. She noticed that a large flagpole set up at the beginning of the war had been cut down. Harriet was soon stopped again, but in a few minutes the guard let her proceed. At home she found both of her sons, who had been greatly concerned about their mother.
Later, mounted Confederates appeared, looking for horses. Harriet said they could have the unbroken colts if they could catch them in the meadow, but their attempts were futile, and the colts were driven into the barn that night. But the Confederates would return and confiscate their horses, cattle (except for a few cows) and sheep, although they did not find the 30 barrels of flour hidden under a pile of stove wood in the woodshed. Hundreds of Confederates filled the countryside during the day, and many loafers showed up around meal times. Joseph had still not returned home, probably having been detained by a Confederate provost guard.
A knock came on their door at 2 o’clock on the morning of July 2. Harriet and her oldest boy responded. They found a “woe begone little ‘reb,’ about 17 years of age, who said he had been in the fight the day before; that he belonged to a North Carolina service; that his regiment was broken up and scattered; that he had been wandering around all night keeping away from the pickets, and fearing to seek shelter as he never intended doing any more fighting for the Confederacy.” (Harriet Hamilton Bayly, Gettysburg Reminiscence, ca. 1904, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison)
This was Private Mias A. Wilson, whose regiment was shot to pieces in front of Seminary Ridge at 4 p.m. on July 1 by the remnants of Meredith’s (Iron) and Biddle’s brigades at the foot of the ridge, and eight cannon of the Union First Corps closely lined up and firing over the heads of their infantry support. The lad was taken in, given a suit of civilian clothes, and remained with the family until the last of the Confederate army had returned to Virginia. Mias eventually found work on another farm near the battlefield, evidently met and married a local girl, raised a family, and generally prospered until his death in March, 1921.
Joseph filed a claim with the State of Pennsylvania after the war for the loss of one steer, one bull, two cows, three horses (plus another stabled in town on July 1), and 11 sheep, that were taken by the Confederates on July 3, probably by a quartermaster or commissary detachment. (State Claims, Adams County Historical Society files).
However, Joseph omitted mention of having acquired one Confederate soldier.
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