reporter
Blake's Prairie Ranger
Posts: 3
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Post by reporter on Aug 28, 2002 19:06:18 GMT -5
Hello -- I'm a reporter for the Rockford Register Star in Rockford, Illinois. A local man was digging in his yard and unearthed a government-issued headstone of a William H. Smith who served in the 33rd Wisconsin. We're writing a story about the find and trying to find out as much as possible about Smith or the 33rd. I have checked with the Wisconsin Veteran's Museum in Madison and am awaiting some information from them and have looked on the 33rd web site. If anyone out there has come across information about William H. Smith, (he served from 1862-65) passing it along this way would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and consideration.
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Post by Robert Braun on Aug 29, 2002 8:36:52 GMT -5
As a preliminary, William H. Smith enlisted at Randall, WI on August 14, 1862, in Company "I" (Lovell Guards) Thirty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He mustered out with his company August 9, 1865 at Vicksburg, Mississippi
A Civil War infantry regiment normally contained ten companies. The Thirty-third Regiment consisted of two companies from Kenosha County. Company "H" (Union Avengers) was generally regarded as the "county company"--being comprised of volunteers from the Kenosha County generally; while Company "I" (Lovell Guards) was generally regarded as the "city company" drawing recruits from the city of Kenosha and the surrounding area.
Company I's sobriquet "Lovell Guards" was derived from Frederick Solon Lovell. He was a long-time resident of Kenosha, popular attorney and Wisconsin Speaker of the House for several terms. Lovell was part of the committe that drafted the Revised Statues of Wisconsin when Wisconsin was moving from territory status to statehood. In recognition of Kenosha County's contributions to the war effort, Lovell was offered and accepted a commission as Lieutenant Colonel of the Thirty-third Regiment.
I have contacted a gentleman who enjoys researching Kenosha County persona, and asked if he would mind doing some digging on Smith. If he agrees, I will post any findings on this thread.
(As a side note, there was a Harvey P. Smith that enlisted four days later at Randall WI in the same company as William. They may be related.)
Regards, Bob Braun
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Post by Robert Braun on Aug 29, 2002 10:39:03 GMT -5
I have been in touch with my "friend from Kenosha," who agreed to do a look-up on Smith.
More developments as they happen....
Bob.
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reporter
Blake's Prairie Ranger
Posts: 3
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Post by reporter on Aug 29, 2002 15:18:54 GMT -5
Thank you so much, Bob. I'm crediting information I gathered from your essay on the 33rd for the story that runs Saturday in our paper. I'll also credit you as a source in the main bar. Do you like Bob or Robert and is it author, historian or something else. Let me know. I file my final draft at 5 p.m. Friday (Aug 30)
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Post by Robert Braun on Aug 29, 2002 15:54:03 GMT -5
The following information should be credited to the research efforts of Mr. Don Jensen, historian and writer, of the city of Kenosha:
William Smith is an unfortunately too-common a name and several show up in various records. But only one William H. Smith can I find.
He was William H. Smith who appeared in the 1850 census as a carpenter, age 32, living on 600 acres in the Town of Salem (next town east of Randall). He was married to Ann, 25. This William H. Smith was born in New York State.
In the 1860 census, a William H. Smith, 42, a tanner, born in New Hampshire, married to M.A. (presumably Mary Ann) Smith, 39, living in the city of Kenosha.
I don't know that these have to be the same Smith, and if it is he of Co. I and the headstone, he would have been in his mid-40s when he entered service...not impossible but not as likely.
I find no William H. Smith after 1860, and likely the Co. I solder moved to Illinois near where his gravestone was found.
About all I can say with modest certainty is that William and Harvey were not kin, or at any case, close kin.
You can see why I place so much faith and trust in Don Jensen. He is simply amazing. Without his help, the regimental history I am writing on the Thirty-third Wisconsin would have less personal, social, and certainly less detailed information about Kenosha County's contributions to the regiment.
As for me, Robert A. Braun, author and researcher. My residence is in Fort Atkinson, WI.
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Post by ThomasCBillings52 on Sept 2, 2002 13:13:44 GMT -5
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reporter
Blake's Prairie Ranger
Posts: 3
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Post by reporter on Sept 3, 2002 14:52:58 GMT -5
Thanks to all for your help on the William H. Smith story, especially Mr. Braun and Mr. Jensen. There was an argument between my editor and myself. I said "killed" and "mortally wounded" are not the same thing. She disagreed. As these things go, she won. Regardless, I hope you all enjoyed reading it. For those who haven't read it yet, Mr. Billings gives the correct web address. Also, Bill Wolverton who is in possession of the headstone has not found any takers as of yet. If anyone is interested you can call him directly at 815-987-1202. Thanks again.
Mike Wiser
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Post by Robert Braun on Sept 3, 2002 15:43:17 GMT -5
Mr. Wiser, please accept our profound thanks for finding merit in such an unusual story, and making reasonable efforts to research the situations surrounding the story. Likewise, we appraciete the opportunity to spotlight yet another forgotten Thirty-third Wisconsin veteran.
Who knows where your story might lead? Perhaps a descendant might come forward with more information, or perhaps an image or other materials of interest that reveal William H. Smith as a person and not mere a name or statitstic.
On a semantic note, I agree with you, that "killed" and "mortally wounded" are not the same thing... although dead is the result of both actions.
The classic definition of "killed" comes when death due to gunfire or other sudden cause is instantaneous, or nearly so. For example, the death of General Segwick at Spottsylvania is a good example of where death due to a sniper's bullet was instantaneous, or nearly so.
"Mortally wounded" referrs to injuries where death is or would be imminent. The classic example here is John Wilkes Booth's mortal wounding of President Lincoln. Clearly, Booth did not immediately "kill" Lincoln, although death was the inevitable result. Lincoln lingered for hours before finally passing away.
Another oft-cited example is General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. At 9:00 PM Saturday, May 2nd, 1863 Jackson was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville . Jackson died after 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 10, 1863, of complications arising from the amputation of his arm. Historical commentators often speak of Jackson's being "mortally wounded" at Chancellorsville-- yet it could be argued that Jackson died neither from his wound nor the amputation, but from pneumonia... an untreatable malady during the ACW due to the lack of antibiotics.
So we agree... while "killed" and "mortally wounded" have the same unfortunate result, one is killed when death results immediately, or very nearly so; while a mortal wound does not immediately result in death, but certainly will or would shortly thereafter.
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