COL Wheelock, Charles

Charles Wheelock​

Born: December 14, 1812

Birthplace: Claremont, New Hampshire

Father: Daniel Wheelock 1768 – 1842

Mother: Lucinda Stewart 1770 – 1849

Wife: Lucy Jones – 1905

(Buried: Boonville Cemetery, Boonville, New York)​

Children:

Morton D. Wheelock 1841 – 1913​

(Buried: Boonville Cemetery, Boonville, New York)​

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Helen M. Wheelock​

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Herbert H. Wheelock 1845 – 1908​

(Buried: Boonville Cemetery, Boonville, New York)​

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Forrest J. Wheelock 1856 – 1935​

(Buried: Boonville Cemetery, Boonville, New York)​

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Allie Wheelock – 1863​

Occupation before War:

Farmer and Produce Businessman in Boonville, New York​

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Served in New York State Militia rising to the rank of Captain​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1865: Colonel of 97th​ New York Infantry Regiment​

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1862: Served in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.​

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1862: Served in the Expedition to Front Royal, Virginia​

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1862: Regimental Commander at the Battle of Cedar Mountain​

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1862: Regimental Commander at Second Battle of Bull Run​

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1862: Regimental Commander at Battle of Fredericksburg​

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1862: Regimental Commander in the Mud March​

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1863: Led 255 Men into the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania​

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1863: Wounded and Captured on the 1st​ day of Battle of Gettysburg​

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1863: Dismissed from the Union Army on August 20th​​

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1863: Dismissal was revoked, and he returned to duty on Sept. 12th​​

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1864: Regimental Commander at Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia​

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1864: Regimental Commander at Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia​

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1864: Regimental Commander at Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia​

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1864: Regimental Commander during the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia​

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1865: Brevetted Brig. General for Gallantry at Battle of Weldon, Railroad​

Died: January 21, 1865

Place of Death: Washington, D.C.

Cause of Death: Disease

Age at time of Death: 52 years old

Burial Place: Boonville Cemetery, Boonville, New York

 

[Pollaco]

I found an interesting story about Wheelock at Gettysburg. Part of His regiment, the 97th New York, took refuge in the Shead House .This was on July 1st. I think the Shead house was a girls school on Chambersburg Pike. The rebels were in hot pursuit. A Confederate officer demanded Wheelock's sword. He refused to surrender the sword and attempted to break it in two.He reportedly said " This sword was given to me by my friends for meritorious conduct and I promised to guard it sacredly and never surrender or disgrace it; and I never will while I live" . He handed it off to Carrie Shead while the Confederate officer was distracted. She then hid it in the folds of her dress. Wheelock told the officer that he had given it to another rebel. It's said Wheellock escaped from rebel confinement and retrieved the sword later.