Genealogy of Patty Rose
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| Notes for Samuel Dewees HUTCHINSON | ||||||||||
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CENSUS: 1850 Milton OH, age 8 1860 not found - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 May 1842 enlisted, Private in Union army, died in Battle of Averasboro, Civil War - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [Letter to Sarah and Christian Balmerr, followed by their letter to James and Amy Hutchinson and a letter from the company Captain] Goldsboro, North Carolina March 25, 1865 Dear and Respected Friends, It is with a heart full of Sadness and Sorrow that it becomes my painful duty to reveal to you the sad tidings of the death of your brother Samuel Hutchinson who fell in battle on the 16th of March while Nobly doing his duty in defense of his country. This I have no doubt will come very unexpected to you both and I can sympathize with you in your sorrow for I know they will be very grate, as they are with the whole company of us. But it will be with you as you have lost one Brother but a short time ago. It seems very hard that you lost another. But it is a debt that we all haft to pay and he who gave us life hath the power to take it away when he sees Proper. On the 16th our brigade Charged the Rebel works at 10 O'clock. We flanked them completely and charged in at the end of their works and drove them back, capturing a battery of 3 guns and 100 Prisoners. We drove them 1/2 mile where they had a second line of works. There they made a stand and we were advancing in line of battle and had just halted when a Musket ball struck Samuel on the back part of the head and lodged above the left eye. He had just turned his head when the ball struck him and died in a few minutes. He was among the foremost in the ranks when he fell and his loss is deeply lamented by all the Company. And those that knew him I, and 3 others, carried him off the field and buried as well as we could under the circumstances, We buried him under a large white oak tree, near a 2 story house. We made a box out of boards and put him - I cut his name on his head board with Co and Regt on it. His pocket book and all his effects the Capt took care of and will send them to you or his father or mother. If there is anything further that you wish to know write and I will tell you. Our Captain was wounded slightly on the head. Harvey y. Fisher had his thigh broken and amputated. He is doing well. And a young man by the name of Eagy was Slightly wounded. These were of our Company. There was 1 other man killed in the regt and several wounded, but none that you know. But on the 15, our foragers, 10 of them fought 30 rebels who charged them twice. But our boys repelled them. But they wounded William Hampton of our Co. so bad that he died 3 days ago, and Daniel McCowan and Nelson Taylor were captured yesterday while out foraging. Nelson Taylor got away and came in, but they have Daniel yet. He will give them a slip if they give him half a chance. They are all good boys and we feel their loss a great deal. I would write more but the Mail is going out and I wish to send this. I will write again as soon as I can get a chance. With this I will close hoping it may find you all in good health, as it leaves me well and hearty. Please remember me. To all my friends nothing more But remains your respected friend. DW McKee To Mr and Mrs Balmer Dirct to Co. K, 102nd, Ills 20 Army Corp Via New York - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - April 9, [1865] Dear Father and Mother, I thought would write you a few lines in this letter soas I could send you this letter but I write this with a sorrowful heart to think that this is the second brother that I have lost in this awlful war but I hope that the poor fellow is at rest where we will all mete to part no more. Mother it makes us feel bad to think that we halft to send you such a sorrowfull letter it is hard to think of it. Wouldin of bin but afew months till his time would of bin out. We received this letter last night. Webster Mc Kee one of our neighbor boy send this to us. Write soon soas to let us know when any of you are acoming or if you haint one or the other of us will come back their to see you. We are all well at present and hoping that these Sorrowfull lines will find you all enjoying good health. Nomore at preasant from Christian Sarah Balmer - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mr Christian Palmer,[sic] Dear sir, It becomes my painful duty to inform you of the death of your brother-in-law Samuel D. Hutchinson of my company who fell while bravely fighting the enemy on the 16th March near to Averysbo N. C. When we met with and had a severe fight. Samuel was unhurt to the time of our having driven by assault the enemy entirely away from their works: Two of their pieces of artillery. And (I) was just complementing our Brig(ade) for the good work it had done when a ball struck him near the temple and he expired almost instantly. I saw him fall was myself wounded and the wound bleeding freely the blood bleeding so much that I did not at once recognize who had fallen. But when I returned to the Co a few minutes after having had my own wound dressed was told it was Samuel. The boys conveyed his body to the place where all those from our Brig(ade) were buried, and interred him by their side. We deeply lament his loss and his place in the Co is vacant forever. He was respected by all his companions, obedient at all times, trustworthy, brave and generous. It is indeed a sad hour when we are called to stand by the side of one who only a few moments before was full of life, hope, and bid as fair to live as we. And see the halid cheek, the closed eye, and so often the mangled and torn limbs or body of those with whom we have spent so many months and formed many attachments. But the knowledge we have of their having done their duty and for their country fallen, is indeed a great comfort. Many of our little band have left us and each month shows the aggregate to food-up a few less. When will the time come that there may be no more fall in battle? I fear not yet. I will forward to all necessary papers for the proper adjustment of his matters with the government. He was buried in his blankets and the clothing he had on- which I presume was all he had. There are some accounts due him perhaps in the Co. I have a gold pen and a holder, a . . . and a bunch of his old letters which I will forward to anyone authorized to receive them. He was paid to August 31st, 1864. I am very respectfully yours, CPT James Merritt - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Goldsboro N.C. April 1st, 1865 Libbie I have been anxiously trying for many days to ascertain who to address or where to forward the parents or friends of Samuel D. Hutchinson of my Co whos death it became my painful duty to record. And this evening found the address I shall use in this case among Samuels old letters. He fell in battle March 16, 64(5) near Averysbo, North Carolina. Was a good soldier a kind and respected companion, and a brave boy. I deeply deplore his loss. His companions miss him and all feel the sad bereavement his death has caused. He was buried with many others of our brave boys who fell on that day. I understand he has a Mother. For her I feel the shock must indeed be a severe one, and hope that the news may be gently borne to her. None but a mother can feel the loss of a dear good boy. But she will have the satisfaction of knowing that her son died true to his Country, true to his comrades, and himself. And at the very moment when our victory that day was complete, I saw him fall, was myself wounded my wound bleeding very much so that I was compelled to leave the Field until it was dressed. When I again returned to the Co. and found the boys preparing him for burial. Poor boy. Little did we think it would be him who was first to fall, little do we know who may be the next. One man of the Co. lost a leg, one shot in the side, both will recover. Again on the 19th (?) one of the Co. was wounded died 23rd. Thus one by one we find our soldiers leaving us and our Company is getting quite small. I have forwarded all the papers necessary for the adjustment of his business with the Gov- He has 6 months and 16 days due him $75.00 bounty and $4.17 due him on acct of clothing. I would address this to his mother but do not know how to do so. I wrote to Christian Palmer, Alido Mercer Co., Ills. concerning his death. Any information or inquires any one wishes to make of me will be attended to by addressing me. I have one package of old letters, one locker without any pictures or likeness of any kind in it. One gold pen holder and case. All of which I desire to send to his mother if I can get her address correctly. Yours Respectfully, J. Y. Merritt Capt. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | ||||||||||
| Last Modified 19 Dec 2004 | Created 4 Jan 2005 |