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PART 12b

 RHODE ISLAND 

http://www.loc.gov/rr/main/uscivilwar/E528.html 
U.S. Civil War Regimental Histories in the Library of Congress. Union Troops: Rhode Island

No. Soldier Name Side Function Regiment Name 
1
Higgins, Charles
Union 
Artillery 
5th Regiment, Rhode Island Heavy Artillery 

Source: Register of Rhode Island Volunteers 1861-1865. 2 vols. Providence: Freeman & Son, 1893.
Enlisted as a Private on December 10 1861
Mustered in Company A, 5th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery Regiment on December 27 1861.
Discharged on February 07 1863

Civil War pension records show Charles Higgins received an invalid's pension August 14th 1889? for his service in Company "A" 5th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery.

Appears on 1890 Veterans Census Schedule Togus, Kennebec County, Maine. Refers to his service as noted above. Notes his disability as being chronic diarrhea.

U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers- Togus - Maine
Files state he was born in Scotland. Nearest relative listed as Michael Higgins (address corner of Pine & Summer St, Providence, R.I.). Disability noted as Chronic Diarrhea and general debility. Admitted March 9,1885. Died September 22,1898 of dilation of heart. Funeral September 23, 1898.buried at Section J, Row # 2 #16

U.S. Veterans Gravesites
Name: Charles Higgins Service Info.: US Army
Death Date: 22 Sep 1898 Service Start Date: 16 Dec 1861
Interment Date: 22 Sep 1898 Cemetery: Togus National Cemetery
Cemetery Address: VA Medical Center VA Regional Office Center Togus , ME 04330 Buried At: Section J Site 1444

Source: Register of Rhode Island Volunteers 1861-1865. 2 vols. Providence: Freeman & Son, 1893.
Name: Christopher Higgins , 
Residence: Cumberland, Rhode Island 
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on September 29 1862. 
Mustered in Company F, 12th Rhode Island Infantry Regiment on October 13 1862. Listed as absent & sick on December 29 1862 at Hospital (Until discharge) Received a disability discharge on March 16 1863 in Portsmouth Grove, RI 

Source: History of the Twelfth Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteers, in the Civil War, 1862-1863 - By Rhode Island Infantry. 12th Regt., 1862-1863, Compiled by Pardon Elisha Tillinghast - Published by Snow & Farnham, 1904

Higgins, Christopher, Priv. Co. F; Res., Cumberland, R. I.; Sept. 29, 1862, enrolled; Oct. 13, 1862, mustered in; Dec. 29, 1862, sent to hospital and borne as absent sick until March 16, 1863, when he was discharged for disability from Lovell General Hospital, Portsmouth Grove, R. I.

Connecticut men in regiments of other states
Name & Rank-Residence-Date of Enlistment-Company-Date
of Muster this organization-Remarks

George Higgins-Private-Canterbury-Company E. Rhode Island Light Artillery-Died of wounds
-Best Fit- 
...
Source: Register of Rhode Island Volunteers 1861-1865. 2 vols. Providence: Freeman & Son, 1893.
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on May 19 1862 in Company Batty E, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery Regiment. 
Died of injuries on November 22 1862 in Bull Run, VA 

....
On 1860 Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut Census; Roll: M653_92; Page: 335; Image: 340.

A 16 year old George Higgins is listed as a farm laborer for a Harvey & Sarah Dyer.

Details on the death of this soldier

Source: The History of Battery E, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery - Published 1892

November 2Oth,(1862)

... we made no forward movement, but a sad affair occurred which resulted in the death of George Higgins. It seems that Quartermaster- Sergt. Charles A. Brown was ordered with a detail of men, of whom Higgins was one, to go after some hay that was stacked some distance from camp. During the loading the men became engaged in a rude frolic, and after it had been unduly prolonged, the quartermaster sought to bring it to an end. This effort Higgins stoutly persisted in defeating, which brought on an encounter with sabres. The sergeant warned him to desist, to which he paid no heed, but continued with his reckless thrusts ; when the sergeant, with no intention other than to prick him slightly with the point of the sabre, hit him in the abdomen, penetrating so deep that it caused his death the next day. It caused quite an excitement in the battery, and threats of revenge were freely hinted at among his friends. In the meantime Sergeant Brown reported the affair to the captain, who reported the case to General Birney, who refused to take any action in the matter. Captain Randolph then had the company formed into line and told them of Birney's decision, and added that if any more threats were made he would severely punish the offenders, or words to that effect. Higgins was not over wise and by no means as vicious as his acts would seem to indicate. Nothing suited him better than a rough and tumble frolic, and when once started he never knew when to stop, and no amount of hard usage would in the least keep him quiet. He was what might be called the clown of the battery, and was more sinned against than sinning. He belonged in Canterbury, Conn , and was from eighteen to twenty years old. On the 21st, Higgins was buried just in rear of camp.

Source: These Honored Dead- Union Casualties at Gettysburg by John W. Busey

Higgins, John , (Pvt) Battery "A" 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery-Shot in the arm July 3rd,1863 (amputated) ,died July 8th 1863, buried A-9 in Rhode Island Plot.


....

Source: Register of Rhode Island Volunteers 1861-1865.
2 vols. Providence: Freeman & Son, 1893.
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on June 06 1861
Transferred from Company K, 2nd Regiment Rhode Island Infantry on July 28 1861 into Battery A, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery.
Wounded on July 03 1863 at Gettysburg, PA (arm amputated) 
Died of wounds on July 08 1863 in Hospital 
......

SOURCE: THE HISTORY OF BATTERY A - FIRST REGIMENT RHODE ISLAND LIGHT ARTILLERY IN THE WAR TO PRESERVE THE UNION 1861-1865
By Thomas M. Aldrich Published 1904

Our battery lost in this battle four killed and twenty-eight wounded.
John Higgins. driver also mortally wounded, having his arm and shoulder torn off

......

Source: Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of Civil War Veterans,
- Extracted information -
Pension Certificate # 12264
Ann Higgins, widow of Dennis Higgins (who died April 25,1850), mother of John Higgins of 1st Regiment R.I. Light Artillery. File states John Higgins died on July 7, 1863 at 2nd Corp General Hospital, Gettysburg, Pa. Dennis and Ann were married April 12, 1831 in County Kildare Ireland by Father Murphy.
She applied for pension July 24, 1863 ,her age was 56 years. She was a  resident of Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Source: Register of Rhode Island Volunteers 1861-1865. 2 vols: Freeman & Son, 1893.
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on March 23 1865
in Battery F, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery Regiment. 
Mustered out on June 27 1865 in Richmond, VA
...
Source: Card Records of Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans, ca. 1879-ca. 1903 Microfilm Publication M1845 - Roll # 9

John Higgins, Private Battery "F" 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery is buried in St. Michaels Roman Catholic Cemetery at Poncalunk* Stowington* Connecticut. 
No date of death given.
  *Transcribed as written on original