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New Book Pays Tribute to Branford’s Civil War Soldiers

Sally E. Bahner Photo

They’re like my children.”

For 30 years, town historian Jane Peterson Bouley (pictured) collected information on the Branford area men who served in the Civil War. Then it took her six years to write The Civil War Soldiers of Branford, Connecticut, North Branford and Northford, the 557-page book that documents the histories of nearly 450 men who served.

Indeed they became her children.

Bouley, who has been town historian since 1985, will discuss her new book at the Blackstone Library on Wednesday at 7 p.m., preceded by a book signing from 6 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by the Branford Historic Society, the talk will focus on the 15th and 27th Connecticut Volunteer Regiments. A DVD of the talk will also be available.

Bouley will also talk on the Civil War Soldier of Stony Creek on Friday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m. at the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library in Stony Creek. She will sign copies of her book starting at 6 p.m.

Using federal records and personal correspondence she paints a picture of their lives and their families’ lives during the Civil War and beyond. Her sources include the Library of Congress, which has digital images that are no longer copyrighted. She also used a 10-volume documented history of the Civil War printed in 1905.

The Civil War was fought between 1861 and 1865.

Bouley’s intent was to document all Civil War soldiers beyond just a list. She wanted to tell their stories and make it interesting to the layperson as well as genealogists and historians. She also worked with the late Marion Bradley of North Branford, who had many North Branford and Northford files.

Pension Files Tell The Stories

Most importantly, she discovered that the most crucial information about the soldiers and their families was found in their pensions, which she obtained from the National Archive and Records Administration (NARA) in Washington, D.C. It set the tone… tells what they were doing,” she said, adding that the biggest year for applications was 1890, when most were in their 70s. They had to prove that the war caused their disabilities and ailments in order to obtain the funds.

Bouley made many trips there, looked at 250 pensions from the Branford area, but could only access a few at a time. Family letters are hit or miss,” but the pension information provided physical descriptions and details such as marriages, birth dates, children and their birth dates, family history. This was the first social welfare type of program that was a precursor of Social Security,” she said. The last Civil War veteran died in 1936. The last Civil War widow from the Union died in 2003, while the last widow from the Confederacy died in 2008.

Among those cited in the book were Branford natives who moved and fought elsewhere, men who came to Branford after the war and stayed (they married Branford women). They are also substitutes,” soldiers who were hired and paid in place of those who should have served, and those who enlisted from other towns because their regiments were full. Eight or 10 enlisted in the Navy because they had boating knowledge.

Although women were known to fight in disguise, Bouley never found mention of any women in battle, although a North Branford woman was a journalist and translator.

The threat of draft spurred men to enlist but few were actually drafted. Bouley said that 98 percent enlisted more than a year after the war started

A big surprise is that one of soldiers mentioned fought for the Confederacy. Albert Rogers was in Virginia on business, had a farm, married a woman there, and got drafted. However, care was taken to assign him as an ambulance driver so he wouldn’t have to fight against the North.

Intrigue Emerges

In fact, Bouley’s research was full of surprises … and intrigue… and humor.

She discovered 10 or 12 original letters, one in which a son had died and his mother sent a letter to the NARA documenting his illness. She was intrigued via a sad letter to the pension board to learn that a widow discovered that her husband was never divorced before he married her. And rather dark humor, in that some soldiers were found in houses of ill repute where one shot off his finger.

A display of letters, photos and mementos at the Blackstone Library this month highlights some of the soldiers in her book.

• Dr. Calvin Ely, Branford’s only dentist, captain of Co. B of the 27th CT Volunteer Infantry; First Commander of Branford’s Grand Army if Republic, Post No. 7.

• Rodolphus Bartholomew, age 43, enlisted in Co. B of the 27th, drove an ambulance.

• Mason Rodgers (age 20), young man of much promise,” was first to die of Yellow Fever while the 15th was stationed at New Bern, North Carolina, 1865.

• Dr. Hubert VC Holcomb, surgeon, 15th Regiment, highest ranking soldier.

• John Edwin Towner was 1st Sargent, 15th Regiment. He wrote 99 letters to his sister Emily Holcomb that are in possession of the Branford Historical Society.

Bouley explained that a few who served were in their 40s. They didn’t do that well, she said. In general, the conditions were horrible. Bouley said that more deaths resulted from gastro-intestinal and illnesses and fevers than from battle, and there was no medicine. The 27th Regiment based in Virginia was especially hard hit – a very hot summer was followed by an abnormally cold winter, which made for miserable conditions.

She said 86 soldiers are buried in Center Cemetery in the center of town; two at St. Mary’s Cemetery on Monroe Street, three or four at St. Agnes and Damascus, and six or so at Stony Creek. Photos are included of many of their gravestones.

Bouley admits to having her favorites, in particular Samuel Beach, whose house still stands on East Main Street. I was impressed with his level of maturity in helping his wife to run the farm,” she said, And the confidence in her abilities.” She added that the letters from John Edwin Towner to his sister also revealed a lot.

About the Book

Branford’s Civil War Soldiers starts with an introduction to Branford – for those unfamiliar with the town,” said Bouley. It includes dates, events, battles, diaries and letters.

It includes a description of the 10th, 15th, and 27th Connecticut Volunteer Regiments with summaries of others involved. About 215 actual residents are profiled and a total of 450 are mentioned along with a list of their cause of death. There’s a timeline relating to Branford and information about the various veterans’ societies and monuments, as well as an appendix with draft records, glossary, and bibliography.

The book also includes the various veterans societies and monuments along with more than 400 photos and illustrations. It’s self-published with editing, layout and design by Jen Payne of Words by Jen, a local graphic designer.

Copies, which cost $49, will be available at Bouley’s talk on Wednesday and at the Blackstone Library Reference Desk.

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