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Showing posts with label Walkinshaw Family - John Henry Walkinshaw. Show all posts

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Walkinshaw Family - John Henry Walkinshaw - Eduard Casillas American Civil War Studies Soldier Project - Page 15

equal difficulty recalling the birthdates of his children, giving conflicting days for three of them (re: table 1). There was even a lack of consistency on the name of his fourth child, (Jennie May vs. Mary F.) from documents in his own hand. On the 1910 census he wrote that his father was from Scotland, though his other documents claimed an Irish origin. [53] Further, at his enlistment before he entered the army, John Walkinshaw's height was listed as 5 feet 7 inches. He was described as being of light complexion with dark hair. [9] His later surgeon certificates listed his height as 5 feet 10 inches [54] with auburn hair and a dark complexion. (Of course, it is not unreasonable to assume that a 19 year old could grow three more inches.) Taken together it is more likely that John Walkinshaw was not an imposter, but rather an unhappy older man with a poor memory or a contempt for details. On the other hand, caution on the part of the biographer is always wise.

Bibliography

1. 1850 Census of Free Inhabitants in Londonderry, Township, County of Guernsey, State of Ohio. Oct. 16, 1850, p.      494.
2. 1880 Federal Census: Inhabitant in Dist. 1 Lincoln Twp. East 1/2 in the county of Atchison, State of Missouri.       June 4, 1880, p.343.
3.  1860 Federal Census: Free Inhabitants in Yellow Spring Township in the County of Des Moines,                           State of Iowa. p.50
4. Huss, W.. Personal Communication, July, 2010.
5. Scott,J.W., General Affidavit in the Matter of Pension Claim of John H. Walkinshaw. August 20th, 1880.
6. Paisely, F.F., General Affidavit State of Iowa, County of Louisa in the Matter of Invalid Pension of John H.        Walkinshaw. August 19th, 1881.
7. Walkinshaw,J., War of 1861, Declaration for Invalid Army Pension. August 23, 1880.
8. McCaughan, D., Medical Testimony. March 22, 1883.
9. Company Descriptive Book/Muster-in-Roll, Muster Rolls, Muster-out Roll, and Returns. July 1863 - August         1865.
10. Walkinshaw, J.H., History of Disability Form. Feb 22, 1900.
11. Iowa State Census Collection, 1915.

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office felt that he was not deserving. [47] His pension was at $50/month this time. [46]

John Walkinshaw died on July 2, 1925 of an intestinal obstruction at the old age of 82. (The same death certificates also states June, 1925, the July date is more reasonable considering his burial was on July 5th). He was buried in Blanchard, Colfax Township, Page County Iowa by the undertaker Scott Tucker. [48] He was survived by his wife Margaret, who continued to collect a widow's pension [49] until she herself passed away on July 4th, 1930. [44]

Real Deal or Imposter?

Such is the description of the life of John Henry Walkinshaw. But was this the real John Henry Walkinshaw? With the information available, it would seem that it was a painful, pitiable existence with little cause for joy.

However, there is some room to doubt that the individual described was the real John Henry Walkinshaw. In 1913, Commissioner G.M. Saltzgaber, sent a letter of inquiry [50] to John Walkinshaw, seeking to reconcile why he provided paperwork with conflicting birthdates (May 9th, 1843 on one pension form[51] and June 8th, 1843 on another. [42] Was the insinuation that John was an imposter collecting a government pension? John's response was that he did not accurately remember his birthdate! [52] In his response, he claimed to have checked the family Bible and confirmed that May 8, 1843 (a combination of the two above) was his true birthdate. He also stated "I further declare that I am pensioner under ctf #353,698," [52] If one scrutinizes John's other paperwork, it is noted that he had [continued on page 15]

Walkinshaw Family - John Henry Walkinshaw - Eduard Casillas American Civil War Studies Soldier Project -

Walkinshaw Family - John Henry Walkinshaw - Eduard Casillas American Civil War Studies Soldier Project - Page 12

on his days that he was not capable of working at a fraction of the capability of a normal farming had. He wrote that he was"... totally disabled for manual labor for many years. Suffers intensely most of the time." [35] He stated that he had piles that were a result of his time in the army. [36] In 1890, owing to his increasingly debilitating back condition, his pension was increased to $4/month. [25]

One senses that he was a bitter man in a great deal of discomfort. A request for a pension increase stated "[his current pension] being unjustly and unreasonably low and disproportionate to rate drawn by other pensioners." [35] On another occasion he would state "If you want any more evidence in regard to my condition before the war and since I can send you plenty of it. I never expect to get pay for the one hundredth part of the misery I have suffered in the consequence of this injury. [15]

On March 6, 1890, John's wife Sarah would pass away. [32] She would be buried in Blanchard, Iowa cemetery. Two years later, on June 23rd, 18982 John was remarried to Margaret (Maggie) Watson in the parlor of her family home by the Reverend Sharp, minister of the Gospel. [37, 32] Margaret originally from Ohio [29] was marrying for the first time at the age of 40 to John's 47. They moved back to Colfax Township, in Page County, Iowa by the turn of the century. [29]

Declining Health

John's health continued to worsen. By 1895, (he was 52 now), John also suffered from a disease of the heart and lungs which he believed to be a result of the sunstroke incident in Macon. [25] An affidavit by W.J. McMillin stated that these [continued page 13]

Walkinshaw Family - John Henry Walkinshaw - Eduard Casillas American Civil War Studies Soldier Project - Page 11

John for over twenty years. [28] Only in 1915, does a census show that he actually possessed a farm valued at $2500. [ 11] He also claimed to be a grain seller, which would be more conducive to his physical limitations. [29]

He married 19-year-old Sarah E. (Sadie) McClelland of Iowa City, Iowa on June 17th, 1869.[30,31] Whatever injuries to his back John may have suffered in the service, they were not severe enough to prevent his giving attention to Sarah. I in twenty-one years of marriage, she bore him 12 children: five boys and seven girls, though four of them did not survive their first few months (or days) of infancy. His children are listed in Table 1.

William A.                                   born March 30, 1870, [30, 32,2]
John Adam.                                  born June 19, 1871 [20,32,2]
Bessie M.                                      born Nov. 9, 1872 [30,32]
Jennie May (Mary F.) [32]          born Jan 6, 1874 [30,2]
Hanna Margaret                           born Sept 23, 1876 [30] or, 1875 [32,3,29]
Henry Calvin                               born Sept 22, 1877 [30] died Dec 6, 1877 [30,2]

Lois Etta born Dec 25, 1878 [30] or Jan. 25 1878 [32.2]

James Love born May 9 1882 [30] or 1883 [32,2]

Sadie born May 14, 1884 [30] died Sept 19, 1884 [30]

Aimie born Aug 4, 1886 [30] died Sept 10, 1884 [30]

Flosie born Jan 1, 1888 [30] died Jan 4, 1888 [30]

Frank Hutchman born Feb 6 1890 [30,32,29]

Table 1. Children of John Henry Walkinshaw and Sarah (McClelland) Walkinshaw

The effects of John's mule skinning accident continued to plague him for the rest of his life. In 1880 he pursued a pension claim for compensation owing to his military-related injury. At 36, he still had tenderness around his spine, and felt paroxysms of pain in his lower extremities. He suffered from nephritis, and had difficulty sleeping. [33] He was granted $2/month. [34] He would claim for the rest

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distant from the battlefield. From his own personal testimony, John would describe the trip from Waterloo, Alabama to Macon in 1865, in which he was detailed to pull men and horses out of streams that were being forded. There is no evidence regarding whether John ever engaged in combat. All that is known is that he caught a cold. [10] After Appomattox, while his unit was in Macon, Georgia, he was a victim of sunstroke while doing exercise drills there. [25] He was treated by the regimental physician for a week. [26] The statement regarding drills is the only evidence that he took part in any soldierly activity.

Family Man

John Henry Walkinshaw would muster out with the rest of his unit on August 13th, 1865 from Macon, Georgia. Afterwards, John returned to his life as a farmer in Iowa. He would live in Clarinda and/or Blanchard, Iowa both of which were in Page County, Iowa, in the far southwestern corner of the state along the Missouri border. Based on the birthdates of his children, it can be surmised that he moved just across the border to Atchison County, Missouri somewhere between 1874 and 1876, [2] though he would maintain an Iowa post office box with which to continue his correspondence. It is unclear in what capacity John Walkinshaw was a farmer. He himself made it very clear that his injuries would have made him a poor farm hand. [27] However there is no data that suggests he had the financial resources to buy land and employ others, so one wonders how he was able to survive. His pension would not have been sufficient to feed himself and his large family (see below). There is an affidavit in 1900 from a Mr. McKee who states that he had worked for

Friday, January 1, 2021

Walkinshaw Family - John Henry Walkinshaw - Eduard Casillas American Civil War Studies Soldier Project - Page 9

surgeon was dead.) [15] Walkinshaw and his fellow soldiers painted a picture of a badly injured man. Testimony from a messmate stated “he was pretty badly used up. Was unable to get out of his tent without help for a long time. How do I know it, he was on his back.” [20] His “comrades used to help him on his horse a long time after we was ordered away from Waverly.” [21] The condition did not ease quickly as “he was off duty for a long time and was unable for duty frequently from that on until he was discharged.” [22]

It is unclear if John ever participated in the battles of the Atlanta campaign. The company muster roll of May and June of 1865 does not have him listed as “present,” though his other muster rolls did. A notation mentions that he was on detached duty as a teamster. His muster roll for July and August declares him to be “present,” but again a notation says that he was given “extra daily duty driving team” and “Aug-absent driving brigade team.” [9] Is the implication that he did not participate in those battles, or that he did more than his share by soldiering and driving? The former is more likely as he was not listed as captured or exchanged during the luckless McCook’s raid. Further, testimony from comrades stated “”he was excused from duty at different times untill the close of the war.” [23] and “he was unable for duty frequently until he was discharged.” [24] His muster roll cards have him listed as absent during September and October, but “on detailed duty since 8/25 by order of Major Price.” Similarly, during the Franklin-Nashville campaign as well as the 1865 raids, his cards list him as present, but with similar notations regarding “extra or daily duty with lead stock” and “extra or daily duty leading pack mules.” [9] It would seem that John would spend the bulk of his military service far

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official end of the war as an occupation force. They were mustered out on August 13^th, 1865. Overall the regiment suffered 15 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 3 officers. Another 176 men died of disease for a total of 194 casualties in a unit that was composed of 1442 men over its three-year existence. [12]

The Teamster
Little is known about John Henry Walkinshaw as a combat soldier. Due to an unfortunate accident his ability to serve was drastically diminished early in his military service. During their first winter the 8^th Iowa Cavalry was stationed in Waverly, Tennessee as part of the defensive arrangements around the railroad. John was assigned to be a teamster. On or about January 1st, 1864 John was one of three teams that had been dispatched on a foraging expedition, along with a small detail as an escort. [15] With a wagon full of appropriated corn, John’s train was coming down a hill that was covered with sleet and ice. The teams became tangled. His saddle mule slipped on the ice, and threw John over a steep bluff where he fell 20 ft.[16]This fall resulted in serious injuries to his back.[7] John was helped back to camp, where an orderly [16]took him to the Regimental Surgeon. That surgeon (Mr. Gutherie) [15] lanced and cupped the wounds to draw blood from the bruised area.[17] John would state that he spent six weeks in the regimental hospital. [5] This claim was supported by other soldiers who remember him there, [5, 16] though the army would later assert that there were no official records that confirmed his hospital stay despite the private testimony of his comrades. [18] (The [continued on page 9]

©All rights reserved by Pathways in Genealogy. 2020. No part of this website/blog may be reproduced without the express written permission from the owner.

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launched an ill-fated attack on a well-defended position in Franklin, Tennessee where the Union army was attempting to retreat across the Harpeth river, on the road to Nashville. Choosing to fight an army that had been entrenched for an hour rather than let them escape, Hood sent his men in a disastrous frontal assault over two miles of open ground without artillery support. This maneuver has been compared to Pickett’s charge at Gettysburg for its recklessness. Hood’s army of the Tennessee was decimated, losing approximately 6200 casualties (including 14 general officers) to the 2300 reported by the Union. The 8^th Iowa’s role was to repel an impressive effort by Confederate Cavalry General N.B. Forrest. “[The 8^th Iowa] was engaged near Franklin, but quietly fell back with the main army to take an important part in the battle and victory of Nashville.” [12]

The 8^th also participated in the Battle of Nashville (December 15/16, 1864), a last attempt by Gen. Hood to possess Tennessee. [13] With an already depleted force from the battle of Franklin, Hood could not attack the fortress-like defenses of Nashville. Instead, he camped around the city and waited for Gen. Thomas to attack. After waiting several weeks, Thomas attacked with three Corps. The Confederates were again decimated, with a total of 6000 men killed, wounded, or captured. “[The 8^th Iowa] participated in a charge on the first day of the battle and in the rapid pursuit of Hood … the 8^th cavalry did its full share of hard riding.”[12] Hood would return towards Atlanta with half of his original fighting force intact. This battle effectively removed the fighting strength of the Army of Tennessee.

After Nashville, the 8th gradually became a raiding force, moving throughout Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. They remained in Macon, Georgia after the

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It was during this turning movement that the 8^th suffered its greatest setback as part of McCook’s raid on July 27-30 (sometimes called the Battle of Brian’s Mill). Sherman sent Gen. Edward McCook and his cavalry to the southwest of Atlanta with the objective of severing supply lines. En route, they burned wagons, destroyed roads, as well as captured a large number of prisoners consisting mostly of officers (though they would be liberated).[14] After burning a section of the Atlanta & West Point Railroad, McCook’s cavalry endeavored to also destroy the Macon and Westward rail line at Lovejoy’s Station on July 29^th.[14] During this raid, they were engaged by Ross’s Texan brigade. After hand-to-hand fighting with revolvers and repulsing two confederate charges, the 8^th Iowa left the field and rode through the night until the reached Newnan, GA. Here they again engaged, were surrounded, and though they fought bravely for several more hours they were defeated. A few of the regiment escaped, but five were killed, twenty more wounded, and 268 were captured. Many of the officers were killed during the raid, a few managed to escape, and a few others (including their commander, Col. Dorr) were captured and later exchanged. What was left of the 8^th Cavalry remained at Kingston, Georgia until Sept 17^th when Colonel Dorr could return to the unit. [12]

In the interim the 8^th Iowa was attached to the Army of the Mississippi, then transported back to Tennessee, where they became a part of the Franklin-Nashville campaign. [13] The Franklin-Nashville battles came about when Sherman’s supply lines were disrupted which prompted his decision to abandon Atlanta via his famed “march to the sea.” Gen. John Bell Hood was thus faced with the choice of engaging Sherman on his march or attacking his rear lines. Choosing the latter, he ultimately

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South."[13] The 8th Iowa Cavalry had a significant role in that operation. "In all that arduous campaign the regiment [8th Iowas Cavalry] was constantly at the front, and when the Confederates, after weeks of constant skirmishing and battles, at last fell back behind the Chattahoochee, the 8th Iowa Cavalry was the first troop across the river after them"[12] One of these battles was the Battle of Resaca on May 13-15^th, near Rome, Georgia in which the Confederates under General Joseph Johnston attempted to halt the Union advance towards Dalton to the south. [13] Sherman’s intent was to capture the railroad and telegraph lines in that area. The battle was inconclusive as the Union suffered more casualties, but the Confederates withdrew from the field.

The battle on Kennesaw Mountain was perhaps more dramatic. Facing a heavily fortified stretch to Atlanta, 15 miles away, Sherman decided to abandon his usual flanking strategy. [13] Instead, he attempted an unsuccessful large-scale frontal assault on June 27th that resulted in 3000 casualties to the 1000 lost to the Confederates. Sherman justified the change of strategy as being necessary to avoid predictability. The Union army faced each other for five days before Sherman sent the Army of the Tennessee to turn Johnston’s left flank, thus forcing Johnston to withdraw. (As an aside, Jefferson Davis was tiring of strategic withdrawals, and after Kennesaw Mountain he would replace Gen. Joseph E. Johnston with the more aggressive Gen. John Bell Hood. The change in command structure did not have the desired results. Gen. Hood and his aggressive tactics were largely wasteful of men and resources. After a month-long siege, on September 2, the Union would enter the city of Atlanta.) [continued on page 8]

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where their principal duty was the defense of the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad. They safeguarded the area, resisted Tennessee guerillas, and foraged for supplies.[12]

Figure 2. Map of Significant Places in Life of John Henry Walkinshaw and/or the 8^th Iowa Cavalry. 1) Londonderry, Ohio. 2) Yellow Spring, Iowa. 3) Waverly, Tennessee. 4) Cleveland, Tennessee. 5) Reseca, Georgia. 6) Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia. 7) Atlanta, Georgia. 8) Lovejoy Station, Georgia. 9) Franklin, Tennessee. 10) Nashville, Tennessee. 11) Iuka, Mississippi. 12) Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 13) Sipsey Creek, Alabama. 14) Macon, Georgia. 15) Clarinda, Iowa. 16) Blanchard, Iowa. 17) Atchison, Missouri

In March of 1864, the 8^th Iowa Cavalry was attached to the 1^st Brigade, 1^st Division Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Ohio and Cumberland under General Edward McCook. The unit ultimately became part of General Sherman’s Atlanta campaign, which was charged with cutting all railroad lines into the “Gate City of the [continued on page 6]

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(later to be darkened after years in the sun). He had dark, auburn hair and blue eyes. [9] He considered himself to be a good swimmer. [10]

John was a literate man who had taken two years of common education. [11] Though nothing is known of his early religious affiliations, he later stated that he belonged to Reformed Presbyterian Church^. [11]Though John was Irish, his Protestantism would be consistent with his father’s upbringing in what is now modern day Northern Ireland. At the time of his enlistment, John Henry had listed his occupation as a farmer. [7]

Military Service

On July 29th, 1863, when he was 19, John Henry Walkinshaw enlisted in the army in Northfield County Iowa. As no personal letters are available, it is unclear whether he enlisted out of patriotism, adventure, or for the bounty he collected for his enlistment. He would receive $25 bounty and an advance of one month's pay of $13. [9] (This was not necessarily a substantial sum in those days as a farm hand could expect to be paid between $2 and $3 per day in season. [9] He joined the 8th Cavalry (Iowa), Company D as a private soldier under Captain Christy. [7] He would never rise above that rank.

The Unit

The 8th Iowa Calvary was organized in Davenport, Iowa on September 30th, 1863. The unit was originally attached to the Military Division of the Mississippi from November of 1863 to March of 1864. The unit was first moved to Tennessee [continued on page 5]

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within a few miles of both the Illinois and Missouri borders.) John Jrs. farm in Iowa would be valued at $2200.[3]

Figure 1. Photo of John Henry Walkinshaw [4] John Henry Walkinshaw was considered by his acquaintances to be a stout, hearty man. [5,6,7] His family physician, Dr. McCaughan, said that he knew him since 1858 and "that he was in all respects a sound and healthy man in body and mind." [8] In 1863, John was roughly 5 feet 7 inches tall with a light complexion [continued on page 4]

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Early years
Of the many American men who would come of age in the mid-19^th century, John Henry Walkinshaw life’s experiences might be considered to be somewhat commonplace. He was a first generation American who spent the greater portion of his life as a farmer. He was married twice, was a widower once, and a father to 12 children, most of whom who survived to maturity. Most dramatically, his life and person were unequivocally disabled by a single event caused by the Civil War.

John Henry's father and grandfather were also named John Walkinshaw. John Sr. was born around 1778 in Ireland [1] Though the specific birthplace and birthdate are not known. John Jr. was born in 1810 in Antrim, Ireland. [1] Like many Irish families of the early 19th century, John Sr. and his family emigrated to the United States in 1819, eventually settling in a farming community in Ohio. By 1850, John Jr. would own a farm worth roughly $2000 [1,2] Less is known of John Henry's mother, Margaret (Glasgow) Walkinshaw except that she was born in 1812 and was also an Irish immigrant. [2,3]

John Henry Walkinshaw was born in the early summer of 1843, in Londonderry Township, Guernsey County, Ohio, situated about 30 miles west of the Pennsylvania border between Pittsburgh and Columbus. He was the ultimate middle child, being the fifth of ten children (the third son). His siblings were James, Jane, Maria, Hugh, {John}, Margaret, Adam, Samuel, Mary and Glasgo. [1,3]. The family was known to be living in Londonderry in 1852, but by 1860 they had moved west more than 700 miles to Yellow Springs in Des Moines County, Iowa.[3] (Des Moines County was not near the city of Des Moines but in the southeast corner [continued on page 3].

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This is a picture I retrieved from a Master's Thesis that was done on line. I contacted the originator of the thesis and he said that I could copy it. He was very pleasant and had no problem with me using his paper as it is online without restrictions. I am posting page by page here:

John Henry Walkinshaw

American Civil War

Soldier Project

American Civil War Studies

History 8026

Eduard Casillas

August 23^rd, 2010