Historic Pelham

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

There seems never to have been any meaningful effort to document the history of Pelham's involvement with the Civil War. During the last decade, I have tried to research this topic and to assemble the names of Pelham residents who fought for the Union during the U.S. Civil War. For a few examples of my postings regarding Pelham's involvement in the Civil War, see:

Thu., Jun. 12, 2014: Eyewitness Account of Prisoner of War Concentration Camp That Once Stood in Pelham.

Fri., May 21, 2010: The Announcement of President Abraham Lincoln's Assassination in Pelham, NY on April 15, 1865.

Tue., Mar. 30, 2010: Obituary of William McAllister Who Built Civil War Gunboats in Pelham.

Mon., Mar. 29, 2010: Nathaniel H. Bouldin, a Poor Confederate Prisoner of War Who Died in Pelham in 1865.

Tue., Nov. 03, 2009: Pelham Students Help Civil War Soldiers on Davids' Island in 1864.

Fri., Nov. 18, 2005: A List of Pelham Residents Who Served the Union During the Civil War.

Mon., Jul. 11, 2005: Pelham Cemetery on City Island.

Fri., Jun. 3, 2005: Davids' Island Off the Coast of Pelham Manor During the Civil War.

Tue., Apr. 12, 2005: Pelham and the Civil War Ironclad USS Monitor.

Today's Blog posting takes the list of Pelham residents who fought for the Union during the Civil War that I created in 2005 and provides more information about each of the men who fought. Not all residents listed below lived in Pelham at the time they served. A number of them moved to Pelham after the War of the Rebellion.

These materials are simply my research notes as I start the process of trying to document the lives of these men.

William Dorrance Beach - [No material yet located.]

Samuel D. Bertine - Company C, 8th Regiment New York State Militia New York National Guard ("Washington Greys"). Bertine was born August 17, 1839 and died June 10, 1917. He is buried at St. Paul's Church, National Historic Site in Mount Vernon, NY. His grave was decorated as the grave of a Civil War veteran as part of the Town of Pelham Memorial Day celebrations in 1931 and 1936. Source: Patriotic and Civic Units to March in Parade, The Pelham Sun, May 15, 1931, p. 5, col. 1; Town To Honor Memory Of Heroes, The Pelham Sun, May 28, 1936, p. 1, cols. 1-8 & p. 5, col. 2. The following is an obituary that appeared shortly after Bertine's death:

"Samuel D. Bertine.

Samuel D. Bertine, well known in this city, a veteran of the Civil War, and an uncle of Walton Bertine of this city, a veteran of the Spanish War, died at his home in Brooklyn last Sunday, aged seventy-eight years. He was a member of Farnsworth Post, G.A.R., of Mount Vernon. Funeral services were held at the First Universalist church, Mount Vernon Wednesday afternoon, the burial being made in the family plot in the old historic East Chester Cemetery, adjoining St. Paul Church. Deceased was also the uncle of Mrs. John Guoin of Mount Vernon."

Source: The Mortuary Record . . . Samuel D. Bertine, New Rochelle Pioneer, Jun. 16, 1917, p. 8, col. 6.

William Dally - Company D, 133rd Infantry Regiment New York. His grave was decorated as the grave of a Civil War veteran as part of the Town of Pelham Memorial Day celebrations in 1931 and 1936. Source: Patriotic and Civic Units to March in Parade, The Pelham Sun, May 15, 1931, p. 5, col. 1; Town To Honor Memory Of Heroes, The Pelham Sun, May 28, 1936, p. 1, cols. 1-8 & p. 5, col. 2.

Patrick J. Gleason - His grave was decorated as the grave of a Civil War veteran as part of the Town of Pelham Memorial Day celebrations in 1931 and 1936. Source: Patriotic and Civic Units to March in Parade, The Pelham Sun, May 15, 1931, p. 5, col. 1; Town To Honor Memory Of Heroes, The Pelham Sun, May 28, 1936, p. 1, cols. 1-8 & p. 5, col. 2.

James C. Hazen - [No material yet located]

William P. Hibler - (See also the reference to Hibler in the obituary of Major Charles A. Walker, below.) The following is an obituary for William P. Hibler, followed by a citation to its source.

"Pelham's Last Civil War Veteran Dies
-----
FLASH!!! William P. Hibler died at 1:30 p.m. today.

William P. Hibler, 92-year-old Civil War Veteran, the last in Pelham, died at 1:30 p.m. today at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frederick P. Schall of No. 41 Second avenue. He had been under constant medical attention for the last week.

Mr. Hibler was one of few veterans of the war who served both in the Army and the Navy during the conflict. At the outbreak of hostilities when he was still in his teens, he enlisted as a powder boy on a Yankee frigate. It was his duty to carry powder across the shell-swept deck to the gunners.

Due to his immature age he was discharged from the Navy by order of President Abraham Lincoln, but his love for combat attracted him back into the service. He enlisted in the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry and saw service in many engagements.

Mr. Hibler lived in Philadelphia until March, 1928, when he came to live with his daughter and son-in-law."

Source: Pelham's Last Civil War Veteran Dies, The Pelham Sun, Jun. 19, 1936, p. 1, col. 3.

William P. Hibler, Late in Life.

Source: Pelham's Last Civil War Veteran Dies,

The Pelham Sun, Jun. 19, 1936, p. 1, col. 3.

The following is an article about William P. Hibler that appeared in the August 23, 1929 issued of The Pelham Sun.

"Veteran Of Land And Sea Combats Passes 86th Year
-----
William P. Hibler Saw Service With Union Army and Naval Forces
-----

William P. Hibler, one of the few veterans of the Civil War who can boast of service both on land and on sea, celebrated his 86th birthday Saturday at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. F. P. Schall, of No. 411 Second avenue. A large birthday cake, on which the flames of 86 candles flickered was the surprise gift of a group of his relatives and friends.

To the guest of honor, who is remarkably fit for his age each of the candles represented a milestone in a life of adventure, the memory of which still remains a vivid picture. Four candles represented the period of the Civil War, in which Mr. Hibler distinguished himself both in the Army and the Navy.

At the outbreak of the war, when he was still in his teens he enlisted as a powder boy on a Yankee frigate. It was his duty to carry powder from the magazines across the shell-swept decks, to the gunners.

Due to his immature age he was discharged from the Navy by order of President Abraham Lincoln, but his love of combat attracted him back into service. He enlisted in the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and saw service in many engagements. He was honorably discharged at the conclusion of the war.

Mr. Hibler made his home in Philadelphia where he was engaged in business until last March when he took up his residence with his daughter and son in law."

Source: Veteran Of Land And Sea Combats Passes 86th Year, The Pelham Sun, Aug. 23, 1929, p. 1, col. 3.

John T. Logan - His grave was decorated as the grave of a Civil War veteran as part of the Town of Pelham Memorial Day celebrations in 1931 and 1936. Source: Patriotic and Civic Units to March in Parade, The Pelham Sun, May 15, 1931, p. 5, col. 1; Town To Honor Memory Of Heroes, The Pelham Sun, May 28, 1936, p. 1, cols. 1-8 & p. 5, col. 2. The following is a brief article about John T. Logan that appeared in the November 10, 1922 issue of The Pelham Sun.

"John T. Logan Celebrates Seventy-Eighth Birthday
-----

John T. Logan, of Fourth Avenue, Pelham's only remaining G. A. R. Veteran celebrated his seventy-eighth birthday Tuesday. Mr. Logan also celebrated on that day the fifty-third anniversary of his becoming a Mason. Arcana Lodge No. 246, of New York city, of which he has been master for six years, a rare occurrence, presented him with a basket of American Beauty roses. Telegrams of congratulation were received from all over the country. Mr. Logan is an honorary member of Winyah Lodge, of Pelham, Hiawatha Lodge of Mt. Vernon, John Steward and Mount Maseda."

Source: John T. Logan Celebrates Seventy-Eighth Birthday, The Pelham Sun, Nov. 10, 1922, p. 3, col. 5.

David Lyon, Sr. - His grave was decorated as the grave of a Civil War veteran as part of the Town of Pelham Memorial Day celebrations in 1931 and 1936. Source: Patriotic and Civic Units to March in Parade, The Pelham Sun, May 15, 1931, p. 5, col. 1; Town To Honor Memory Of Heroes, The Pelham Sun, May 28, 1936, p. 1, cols. 1-8 & p. 5, col. 2.

Samuel E. Lyon - (Lived in Pelham at the time of the Civil War.) His grave was decorated as the grave of a Civil War veteran as part of the Town of Pelham Memorial Day celebrations in 1931 and 1936. Source: Patriotic and Civic Units to March in Parade, The Pelham Sun, May 15, 1931, p. 5, col. 1; Town To Honor Memory Of Heroes, The Pelham Sun, May 28, 1936, p. 1, cols. 1-8 & p. 5, col. 2.

Peter McLaughlin - His grave was decorated as the grave of a Civil War veteran as part of the Town of Pelham Memorial Day celebrations in 1931 and 1936. Source: Patriotic and Civic Units to March in Parade, The Pelham Sun, May 15, 1931, p. 5, col. 1; Town To Honor Memory Of Heroes, The Pelham Sun, May 28, 1936, p. 1, cols. 1-8 & p. 5, col. 2.

William Mercer - His grave was decorated as the grave of a Civil War veteran as part of the Town of Pelham Memorial Day celebrations in 1931 and 1936. Source: Patriotic and Civic Units to March in Parade, The Pelham Sun, May 15, 1931, p. 5, col. 1; Town To Honor Memory Of Heroes, The Pelham Sun, May 28, 1936, p. 1, cols. 1-8 & p. 5, col. 2.

William H. Valentine - Company D, 5th Veteran Infantry Regiment New York. This may be the only Pelham resident who served during the Civil War who died in service to the Union. There is evidence that William H. Valentine of Company D (5th New York) died of wounds suffered in battle and is buried at Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Petersburg, Dinwiddie County, Virginia. This William H. Valentine died of his wounds on April 18, 1865. See, e.g., William H. Valentine, FindAGrave.com > (visited Jun. 29, 2014). This is not confirmed and should not be relied upon as such until it can be determined.

Charles A. Walker - 5th New York Regiment, the famous Duryea's Zouaves. The following is an obituary for Charles A. Walker, followed by a citation to its source and a copy of the image of Walker published with the obituary.

"Maj. Charles A. Walker, 92 Year Old Civil War Veteran Died Yesterday
-----

Was To Have Been Honored By Memorial Day Committee; His Death Leaves Only One Civil War Veteran in Pelham.
-----

Major Charles Ashbel Walker, 92, almost the last of Pelham's Civil War veterans, died early yesterday morning at his home at No. 168 Jackson avenue, Pelham Manor, after a lingering illness. Until a few years ago he was a picturesque figure of Pelham's Memorial Day observance programs. He was to have been honored by the Memorial Day Committee in the program on Saturday.

Tribute to his memory will be paid by Pelham's veterans' organization at the funeral service tomorrow.

Until a few years ago, Major Walker delighted in being able to participate in local patriotic celebrations. He assisted at the laying of the cornerstone of Pelham Memorial High School in 1919. He unveiled the Memorial Monument adjacent to the Town Hall in 1924, and he was a guest of honor at succeeding Memorial Day programs until illness prevented him from participating four years ago. Since that time members of the Memorial Day Committee have paid him an annual visit and left a bouquet of flowers.

Major Walker has been a resi-

(Continued on Page Five.)

Maj. Chas. W. Walker Died Yesterday
-----
(Continued From Page 1)

dent of Pelham Manor for the last 29 years. He was active in local affairs when he first came here and was at one time treasurer of a taxpayers association in Pelham Manor.

The Rev. Lewis Gaston Leary, former pastor of the Huguenot Memorial Church, will officiate at the funeral service, which will be held at the late residence of the deceased at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.

Major Walker's death leaves only one Civil War veteran surviving in the Pelhams. That is William F. Hibler, of Second avenue, father of Mrs. Fred P. Schall. Mr. Hibler, who will be 93 years old in August, served in both the Army and the Navy during the Civil War. Infirmities prevent him from participating in the Memorial Day program on Saturday. The committee will present him with a bouquet of flowers.

Maj. Walker was born at Albany, on June 23, 1843, the son of Alfonso and Jeanette Judd Walker. His mother was a direct descendant of Deacon Thomas Judd, who settled in Massachusetts in 1633.

Maj. Walker stood at Abraham Lincoln's side on February 18, 1861 when the president spoke at Albany on his way to Washington for inauguration. He answered Lincoln's first call for volunteers and soon afterward, at the age of 19, joined the 5th New York Regiment, the famous Duryea's Zouaves and fought many engagements. He was wounded in action and promoted to the rank of Captain, and was later brevetted Major for faithful and meritorious service and in later years wore the button of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

Soon after the close of the war he started on his long railroad career, beginning as a clerk in the freight department of the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad Company. He worked his way to the office of Treasurer of the railroad which is now known as the Delaware & Hudson. He retired several years ago after 52 years service.

He was formerly a member of the Board of Trustees of the Franklin Savings Bank of New York.

He is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Edward Penfield, of Jackson Avenue, widow of the [remainder is illegible]."

Source: Maj. Charles A. Walker, 92 Year Old Civil War Veteran Died Yesterday, The Pelham Sun, May 28, 1936, p. 1, cols. 5-6 & p. 5, col. 1.