The Civil War involved so many of our ancestors and most have left some “tracks” of their participation in the war; Many of these tracks are now available to us from the National Archives and Records Administration as well as other sources. In the case of Charles Warren Hartwell, we sent off to NARA and received two different files, one of compiled service records (13 pages) and the other of Pension Files (242 pages). And after reading these files several times over we’re still not exactly clear on the activities of Charles Hartwell during the war years so we decided to post some of the more pertinent documents and let them speak for themselves. All of these documents pertain to Charles W. Hartwell, Private, Company D, 4th MichiganCavalry.
Compiled Military Service Records for Charles:
Prisoner of War/Misc. Information Card
Discharge from Company D., 4th Regiment of Michigan Cavalry showing enrollment on 30 October, 1863, discharge on 21 July, 1865. Personal description states that he was born in Linden (Lyndon) Vermont, was 28 years old, 5 ft., 11 inches high with light complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Occupation was given as “Mechanic.”
Individual Muster-out Roll dated in Detroit, MI, July 2, 1865, clothing and money advanced and owing, $71 plus a bounty of $25 was owing. This document shows Charles was taken prisoner on April 10, 1865, paroled April 27, 1865.
Detachment Muster-out Roll dated Edgefield Tenn. August 15, 1865 with an account owing of $76.76 for clothing or money advanced and $25 Bounty paid. This order was revoked.
Descriptive List of Deserters Arrested dated June 16, 1864 in Ohio. Record 8/30 “says himself he was assigned same camp and Regiment.”
Muster and Descriptive Roll dated June 17, 1864 listing Charles W. Hartwell as a deserter.
Company Muster Roll for September and October 1864 shows Charles absent and on detached service at Provost Marshal, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Company Muster Roll for January and February 1865 shows Charles as present. March and April show him as absent.
Company Muster-out Roll dated Nashville, TN, July 1, 1865 “Recruit taken prisoner at Columbus, GA April 16, 1865, Paroled at Columbus, GA April 25, 1865, a subsequent document lists Charles in April, 1865 as absent, sick at Columbus GA. April 17, 1865.
Roll Rooms, Division A.G.O., dated January 19, 1882 is requesting information on Charles and states that Charles W. Hartwell was “Drafted in 2nd Dist and forwarded from Grand Rapids Mich, December 8, 1869, his whereabouts from that date to September or October ’64 and any record of desertion….. This man was sent from Michigan Draft December 8, 1863 to the 4th Mich Cavalry, Dept ….No officer’s report on file. He deserted at Nashville, TN, (no date given) arrested May 28, 1864 2nd Dist Michigan and sent to Detroit Mil Post 1.1 18… $30 allowed. Again arrested June 13, 1864, 10 Dist Ohio as a deserter December, 1863 Kalamazoo, Mich and sent to Columbus, Ohio, June 7, 1864 to Regiment via Cincinnati O. same day, $30 reward allowed. Delivered at Mil. Post Cincinnati O to Capt McCleery expenses of transfer $5.64.”
Discharge papers dated July 21, 1865 at Detroit, MI. for Charles describe him as 28 years of age, 5 ft 11 inches high, light complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and a mechanic* by occupation.
*Described as a laborer.
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These documents were all hand written and so, in some cases a bit difficult to read, but hopefully I’ve gotten the pertinent information correctly transcribed. In any case these records seem to paint a picture of Charles Hartwell’s military record as unsatisfactory.
The next post will contain several excerpts from Pension Record Affidavits filed after the War.
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SOURCES: NATF 86 Compiled Military Service Record for Charles W. Hartwell
Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls Washington, February 20, 2011. All Rights Reserved
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