Alexander Kitson

Alexander Kitson  Native American

Enlisted as Pvt 17 Wis Inf Co K on 2 Jul 1862 at Keshena

Mustered out as Pvt 17 Wis Inf Co K on 14 Jul 1865 at Louisville, KY

Pension

One of the first six Menominee's to serve in the Civil War fighting in the battle at Corinth and at Vicksburg, along with Joseph Antoine, Charles Grignon, Jackson Corn, John Kitson and John Law. He re-enlisted in 1864 into the same Company.

Service Record - SERVICE.-Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30, 1862. Duty at Corinth till November. Near Ramer's Crossing, Mobile & Ohio Railroad, October 2 (Co. "A"). Battle of Corinth October 3-4. Pursuit to Ripley October 5-12. Moved to Grand Junction November 2. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign, operations on the Mississippi Central Railroad November 2, 1862, to January 8, 1863. Moved to Moscow, Tenn., January 3, thence to Memphis January 10, and to Young's Point, La., January 18. Moved to Lake Providence, La., February 8 and duty there till April 20. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 20-30. Battle of Port Gibson , Miss., May 1 (Reserve). Battle of Champion's Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg , Miss., May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Expedition to Mechanicsburg May 26-June 4. Moved to Natchez, Miss., July 12-13 and duty there till October 9. Expedition to Harrisonburg September 1-8. Trinity September 2. Near Harrisonburg and capture of Fort Beauregard September 4. Cross Bayou September 10. Moved to Vicksburg October 9 and duty there till March, 1864. Veterans on furlough March 8-April 21. Moved to Cairo, Ill., April 21-22, thence moved to Clifton, Tenn., May 4, and march to Ackworth, Ga., via Huntsville and Decatur, Ala., and Rome, Ga., May 5-June 8. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign June 8 to September 8. Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Brush Mountain June 15. Assault on Kennesaw June 27. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Howell's Ferry July 5. Chattahoochee River July 5-17. Leggett's or Bald Hill July 20-21. Battle of Atlanta July 22. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Ezra Chapel July 28. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Pocatalico, S. C., January 14. Barker's Mills, Whippy Swamp, February 1. Salkehatchie Swamp February 2-5. South Edisto River February 9. North Edisto River February 12-13. Columbia February 16-17. Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 19-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D. C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 19. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June, and there mustered out July 14, 1865.

 

Shawano County Journal

1 Oct 1896

Is It Murder? Several Theories Advanced Concerning the Death of John Kittson

 

The body of John Kittson, son of Alec Kittson, of Keshena, a Menominee Indian was found floating in the pond on the west side of the bridge Tuesday night. Just how the Indian met his death is not known. A jury impaneled by Justice Bold, held an inquest Thursday and reserved their decision until October 12, to which date the inquest was postponed to obtain further evidence. About 9:00 Tuesday night Thomas Ainsworth heard cries for help coming from the bridge. he hurried down and after summoning help the body of the dead Indian was found. A story to the effect that the man was foully dealt with was generally circulated. It seems that Kittson was known to have had a considerable sum of money and a watch on his person when last seen in the early evening. At the time his body was discovered no articles of any value were found in his clothes. There is still another report that a man and woman were seen on the bridge at the same time Kitson's first cries for help were heard. A post mortem examination held by Drs McComb and Williams, showed that several heavy blows had been struck upon the man's head. Whether these were injures received previous to or during the fall is a part of the mystery connected with the Indian's death. Kittson is known to have been drinking during the day and this supports still a third theory that he was under the impression that the iron rails of the bridge we a part of Mr. Ainsworth's fence, and that he climbed over to lie down and sleep off the effects of the liquor with fatal results. The jury having charge of the inquest comprises of E. E. Breed, Joseph Bibelhausen, C R Klebesadel, J. Colwell, F D Schweers and John Hartman. Kittson was 22 years old and so far as is known, had no enemies who could possibly be benefitted or revenged by his death, After the inquest undertaker Bauerfiend turned the body over to his relatives.