Post war years

After mustering out of the war, I next found Charles getting married on April 8, 1871 in Rochester. He married Sarah McClasky and the service was performed by Justice of the Peace Henry N. Allen. The 1880 U.S. census reports Charles at 41 years and Sarah at 38 have no children and are living in a rented house in Rochester. Charles is employed as a Blacksmith while Sarah keeps house. I also found out that Charles father came from Vermont, his mother from Maine and that Charles was born in New York. Sarah and her parents immigrated from Holland.

In 1882, Brockport, Sweden and surrounding communities enacted a commission to establish a cemetery for loyal soldiers of the Civil War and to erect a monument dedicated to their service. I'm sure this effort at recognition was a big thing for Charles. Unfortunately he did not live long enough to see the dedication of the monument or cemetery. Dedication of the Soldiers Memorial Tower and Cemetery took place in 1893. The Monument lists by name soldiers who served from the surrounding communities. Charles Nelson's name appears as serving with Co. K, 13th New York Infantry.

Charles passed away on July 7, 1887 in a house he and Sarah were renting on Kirk Street in Rochester. The death certificate signed by Dr. Oliver Groves states that he died from "acute Phthisis" (wasting away, usually due to Tuberculosis or Consumption) and places burial at Mount Hope Cemetery on July 9, 1887.

Rochester, Monroe County, N.Y. Union and Advertiser Newspaper July 9, 1887
DEATHS AND FUNERALS

Charles NELSON died yesterday at his residence, on Kirk street, aged 45 years. The funeral was held at 10 o'clock this morning.

THE BIVOUAC OF THE DEAD
by Theodore O'Hara (1820-1867)

The muffled drum's sad roll has beat
The soldier's last tattoo;
No more on Life's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.
On Fame's eternal camping-ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And Glory guards, with solemn round,
The bivouac of the dead.

No rumor of the foe's advance
Now swells upon the wind;
No troubled thought at midnight haunts
Of loved ones left behind;
No vision of the morrow's strife
The warrior's dream alarms;
No braying horn nor screaming fife
At dawn shall call to arms.

Their shivered swords are red with rust;
Their plumed heads are bowed
Their haughty banner, trailed with dust,
Is now their martial shroud.
And plenteous funeral tears have washed
The red stains from each brow,
And the proud forms, by battle gashed,
Are free from anguish now.

The neighing troop, the flashing blade,
The bugle's stirring blast,
The charge, the dreadful cannonade,
The din and shout are past;
Nor war's wild note, nor glory's peal,
Shall thrill with fierce delight
Those breasts that nevermore may feel
The rapture of the fight....

By an Act of Congress in 1864, disabled soldiers and sailors of the union forces were able to receive a pension for their disabilities. By 1890, Congress being made up largely of veterans and recognizing the voting power of veterans, began passing favorable legislation for veterans and their families. One such piece of legislation was the "Act of June 27, 1890" granting widows of union soldiers the right to file for pensions (1).

January 10, 1891 Sarah Nelson applied for a Widows Pension. Attorney H. E. Harmmon who was a "boyhood chum of Charles" and "served with him at the front" assisted Sarah in her request. She had to supply a marriage certificate, death certificate, affidavits from witnesses stating she was dependent on others, had not re-married and had no children. It was quite an involved process which required the services of lawyers or Pension Agents. The Federal government paid each agent or lawyer who filed the widow's claims $10 for their efforts.

Out of the 63 pages I received from the National Archives on Charles pension files, forty were devoted to Atty. Harmmon and a pension agent's office arguing with the Commisioners of Pensions on who should collect the $10 government payment. Atty. Harmmon collected the $10 fee after three years of effort.

Sarah Nelson was awarded a Widow's Pension on July 21, 1892 retroactive to her original filing date of January 10, 1891 in the amount of $8 a month. Sarah never filed to amend her pension for an increase and collected her $8 a month until she died in Rochester August 15, 1905 at the age of 63. To visit Sarah's memorial click here.

Rochester, Monroe County, N.Y.
Democrat and Chronicle Newspaper
Aug. 16, 1905

WOMAN DIES SUDDENLY

Mrs. Sarah NELSON, a widow, who lived on the second floor at No. 222 Atate street, died suddenly last night at 6 o'clock. The woman had been ill for some time, but had no medical attendance. Coroner KLEINDIENST was summoned. As the woman had lived alone, the body was removed to the morgue, where an autopsy will be held to- day.

References

Backgrounds, enlistment & service in the 13th New York Infantry

The verse seen in red italics are the lines to the song "May God Save the Union" found in the book "Singing Soldiers, A History of the Civil War in Song" by Paul Glass and Louis C. Singer. "May God Save the Union" was written by Rev. G. Douglass Brewerton and set to music by Carl Wolfsohn.

(1)Bull Run: The North tended to name the battles fought during the Civil War by taking names from nearby geographical features such as streams, rivers, mountains etc. The South as a rule named the same action or battle after the nearest village, town or city. Bull Run was thus named Manassas by Confederates. Confederate Lieutenant-General Daniel Harvey Hill addresses this in "Battles and Leaders" Volume II, page 559.

(2)"saw the elephant": This was a popular saying amongst soldiers and sailors on both sides upon seeing action for the first time. One explanation for the origin of the phrase can be found at "I have seen the elephant".

(3)Major Schoeffel: Major Schoeffel was the Commanding Officer in Charge of the Thirteenth New York at the time of this battle. All Civil War commanding officers were required after a military action to write reports of their units activities and submit them. They then become "Official Reports". In his official report of this action, Major Schoeffel identifies the flag as belonging to the First Tenn. infantry regiment.

22nd New York cavalry

The verse seen in red italics are lines from the song "Uncle Sam, What Ails You?" words by Charles C. Sawyer, music by John M. Loretz found in "Singing Soldiers".

(1)Lieutenants: All of the information in this paragraph and much of what follows in this section comes from a reprint of a 64 page booklet titled "Historical Addresses, Reminiscences and Roster of Survivors of the 22^nd New York Volunteer Cavalry, 2^nd Brig. 3^rd Div. Cavalry Corps, Civil War" compiled by DeWitt Crumb, M.D., late corp'l. Co. G, 22^nd N.Y.V.Cav. Printed in 1894, it lists the then surviving members of the "Two-Twos" which did not include Charles having passed away in 1887.

(2)Mennonites: "Valley Mennonites in the Civil War" by Ann L. B. Brown, Virginia Country's Civil War Vol. 1, 1983

(3)Hospital: "Sheridan's Medical Service in the Shenandoah" by Dr. Gordon W. Jones, Civil War Times Illustrated, August 1964 issue.

(4)Payment due: "How the Union Army was Disbanded" by Ida M. Tarbell, Civil War Times Illustrated, December 1967 issue.

(5)Fox's: "Regimental Losses in the American Civil War (1861-1865) by William F. Fox

Nelson Post war, references and aspects of search

(1)Act of Congress: "Paying the Debt" by Byron Stinson, Civil War Times Illustrated, July 1970 issue.

Aspects of search

I have used many tools to tell this story most of which I've either provided links to or list in the above reference section. There are a lot of good web sites devoted to the Civil War and many of them pushed me in directions where I could glean information from the above stated resources. Those web sites can be found on the Links page.

The narrative of Robert Pierce added much color and insight to both camp life and experiences of fighting a battle. I am indebted to Mr. Lacombe who graciously posted this narrative.

There are several good web sites about New York's participation and one that proved to be helpful although not so much on Civil War content but on life in Monroe County during Charles life was the web page Newspaper abstracts of Monroe County, NY.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints web site provided me with information on how to access their wealth of genealogy files and census records. I was able to order microfiche films of the 1855 and 1875 New York state censuses and access the 1880 US Federal census. New York filed their census by June 1, every ten years but on years ending in five. I did not access the 1865 records because Charles was still serving in the cavalry in Virginia not mustering out and reaching home until August of that year.

Several discoveries occurred in this endeavor that has changed my way of thought. One that struck me rather peculiar was that no matter what record I came up with that listed Charles age, it always varied. I, at first, thought that maybe I was on the track of more than one Charles Nelson but upon discovering no birth date anywhere, not even his tombstone, Charles did not know when he was born. For instance, the 1880 US census states his age as 41 years. He died in 1887 and his tombstone reads 49 years and the newspaper obituary states his age at 45.

In Charles' life he has had the following occupations that I know of Farmer, Baker, Soldier and Blacksmith.

His wife, Sarah, could not write and signed her applications for Widow's Pension by making her mark which had to be witnessed by two others. I have not researched when Sarah and her family immigrated to America but I had this misconception that by the late 19th century most all could read and write.

Sarah and Charles Nelson did not have any children, at least none are listed on census records nor are any listed on her application for Widow's pension. After reading newspaper accounts of the times, it is very possible children may have been born but died before census records were compiled. Not until you read daily newspapers are you made aware of such infant mortality. It was staggering.

I could not understand the neglect that Charles' tombstone and carbine had seen over the years until I made the discovery of no children. It then became clear that no one knew the story of this average individual that answered his country's call to arms not once but twice and received a wound for it. He participated in twelve battles, five engagements, nineteen actions and twenty-one skirmishes in his three years and ten months of volunteer service to his Country. I am in awe of Charles Nelson.

Charles quietly went about living life before, during and after the war. He is not mentioned in any newspaper articles of the day that I have found which goes to show he did not seek glory or trouble. He is neither cited for bravery or cowardice in his military records. Just the normal passes and orders for details are encountered. A person doing his job or duty without much fuss.

Charles not only participated in the severe trials of combat and the tedium of camp life, he witnessed several of the Civil Wars most prominent figures.  His first brigade commander Colonel William Tecumseh Sherman, who later in the war became a Major General, stood next to President Lincoln while the president gave a speech to Nelson's regiment several days after Bull Run in 1861.  Charles was fortunate enough to have had Major General James Harrison Wilson as his first cavalry division commander.  I can not document at this time that Charles actually laid eyes on General Wilson but I cannot imagine him not doing so.  Cavalry division commanders such as General Wilson were often seen at the front amongst their soldiers.  Late winter of 1864, Charles's regiment served as Major General Phillip Henry Sheridan's cavalry escort for almost a week while scouting the lower Shenandoah valley for winter quarters.  Major General George Armstrong Custer elevated to command of the Third Cavalry Division upon General Wilson's transfer to the Western Theater.  During the Battle of Waynesboro March of 1865, Nelson's regiment along with several other regiments from the Second Brigade, Third Division, were maneuvering into position in a column of fours.  This column passed directly in front of General Custer and his staff.  The General praised them for their bearing and exhorted them to do their duty.  The troopers responded with cheers and prepared to charge into the conflict that would see four members of Charles's regiment earn Medal of Honors.

I joke about being his only surviving "kin" by owning his carbine. I'm not of course. But there may be a connection between Charles and myself after all. If the reader recalls, Charles's cavalry regiment was detailed to guard the trains of wounded back to Fredericksburg, Va. after the Wilderness battles of May 1864. My mother's Great Grandfather was Pvt. John Cleaver of the 138^th Pa. Vol. infantry of the Sixth Corps and he was wounded in the May 6th fight. Seriously enough not to return to duty until October 18, 1864 at Winchester, Va. where he was again wounded the next day at the Battle of Cedar Creek. It is possible, well okay a stretch at best, that Pvt. Nelson rode along side of the wagon transporting Pvt. Cleaver back to the hospitals in and around Fredericksburg after the Wilderness fighting.

Recent research has shown that I had direct descendants living in and around present day Elkton, Va. at Bear Lithia Spring since the 1750's. Elkton, renamed in 1881 from the village known as and for Conrad's Store (built about 1785 by George Conrad), is located sixteen miles east of Harrisonburg on the Swift Run Gap Road through the Blue Ridge Mountains, the eastern border of the Shenandoah Valley. I cannot determine yet whether my father's Great Grandfather served in the Confederate service but I have confirmed that his brother served with the Tenth Virginia Infantry until discharged due to illness, and his father served as Colonel in the local Virginia Militia. When Pvt. Nelson traveled up the Luray Valley to Harrisonburg in late September of '64 for several days with his regiment, he would have marched by Bear Lithia Spring as the main road is less than 300 yards away. It is possible that he stopped for a drink of water there but in all probability he gazed upon my ancestorial home.

Long after the search for "all things Nelson" began, TJ who was with me essentially when the search began, informed me that if Charles Nelson was alive today, I would be arrested for stalking. Dutchman, who also was there at the beginning of this quest and whose encouragement and support in creating this web site has made it possible for you to read this, also saw that I was consumed with this project and was fond of telling people to "Adopt a Civil War soldier, Theo has."

I hope that passion has come across on these too few pages with too little information and you are the wiser for it as I am.

Theo X Rojo

Rest on, embalmed and sainted dead!
Dear as the blood ye gave,
No impious footstep here shall tread
The herbage of your grave;
Nor shall your story be forgot,
While Fame her record keeps,
Or Honor points the hallowed spot
Where Valor proudly sleeps.