Here’s a Civil War Era Document Signed by Union General

FRANCIS EDWIN PIERCE

(1833 - 1896)

·       CIVIL WAR UNION BVT BRIGADIER GENERAL  USV, “FOR GALLANT and MERITORIOUS SERVICE DURING THE WAR,”

·       4x WIA GETTYSBURG LT. COLONEL  OF THE 108^th NEW YORK INFANTRY, and

·       COLONEL  IN THE 8^th U. S. VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

Pierce was wounded many times in battles during the Civil War including at Fredericksburg, the Wilderness and the infamous bloody battle of Gettysburg!

During the Battle of Gettysburg, Col. Thomas A. Smyth was injured and Francis Pierce was temporarily put in command, for which he was highly praised; In Smyth’s report, the colonel wrote, “I desire to call the attention of the general commanding to the bravery, self possession, and energy of Lieutenant-Colonel Francis E. Pierce, commanding the One Hundred and Eighth New York Volunteers who throughout the heaviest of the fire showed the greatest unconcern, passing along his line and encouraging his men.”

 HERE'S A CIVIL WAR ERA DOCUMENT SIGNED BY PIERCE WHILE SERVING AS COLONEL IN COMMAND OF THE 8^th USVV – A US ARMY MILITARY FORM No. 40, SPECIAL REQUISITION FOR CLOTHING CAMP and GARRISON EQUIPAGE FOR “I” Co., 8^th USVV, LISTING QUANTITIES OF VARIOUS SOLDIER’S CLOTHING TO EQUIP THE COMPANY FOR THE FIELD. DATED AT [WISEWELL BARRACKS], WASHINGTON, D.C., JAN. 31^st 1866.

The document is also Signed by Civil War and Indian Wars Hero Officer

MAJOR JOHN BAPTISTE VANDE WIELE JR.

(1837 - 1889)

·        BVT MAJOR, USV ON MARCH 2, 1867 “FOR GALLANT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN THE BATTLE OF REAMS STATION, VIRGINIA,”

·        BVT MAJOR, USV ON MARCH 13, 1865 “FOR GALLANT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE DURING THE WAR,”

·        CAPTAIN AND COMMANDER OF BATTERY B, 4^th NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY, 2^nd CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC 1861-1865,

·        CAPTAIN OF “I” Co., 8^th US VETERAN VOLUNTEERS INFANTRY, and

·        INDIAN WARS CAPTAIN IN THE 10^th US CAVALRY 1866-1879, A “BUFFALO SOLDIERS” REGIMENT.

According to author Shirley Ann Leckie in "The Colonel's Lady on the Western Frontier - The Correspondence of Alice Kirk Grierson," Van de Wiele was "...an able officer, he was accused of brutality towards his enlisted men. He failed to achieve promotion and retired as a captain in 1879."

Vande Wiele is buried in Brooklyn’s historic Green-Wood Cemetery.

BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL F. E. PIERCE

Francis Edwin Pierce was born to Abijah and Miranda Pierce on July 6, 1833. He spent his formative years in Fowlerville, Livingston County, New York, until he moved with his parents to Wisconsin in 1845. Pierce lived there for just a few years before returning to New York to live with his grandparents.

Sent to Rochester, New York, for a better education, Francis Pierce excelled academically and graduated from Rochester University with high honors in 1859. During that time, he also taught. After graduation, he was made the principal of Mt. Morris Academy in Mount Morris, Livingston County, New York. In 1860 Pierce established the Rochester Military Training School with his cousin, Col. Samuel C. Pierce.

Francis Pierce was at the new school until July 1862, when he began to raise Company F of the 108th New York Volunteers. By November, he became the major of the regiment. In March 1863, he rose to lieutenant colonel. During the Battle of Morton’s Ford, fought on February 6 and 7, 1864, in Virginia, he was wounded in the left eye, and the injury cost him, his sight in that eye. He was further injured during the May 5-7, 1864 Battle of the Wilderness, in Virginia, where he was shot through one of his hands, but continued in the field. While in command of his regiment, he and his men captured 3,000 Confederate men and officers, including Gen. Joe Johnston. Francis Pierce was mustered out of service in 1865.

Records show that during the Battle of Gettysburg, Col. Thomas A. Smyth (cat. #3955W) was injured and Francis Pierce was temporarily put in command, for which he was highly praised: In Smyth’s report, the colonel wrote, “I desire to call the attention of the general commanding to the bravery, self possession, and energy of Lieutenant-Colonel Francis E. Pierce, commanding the One Hundred and Eighth New York Volunteers who throughout the heaviest of the fire showed the greatest unconcern, passing along his line and encouraging his men.”

Following the war Francis Pierce was appointed colonel of the 1st United States Volunteers, a regiment of discharged veterans. After accepting the position of second lieutenant, it was evident that the military would become his career. During the winter months of 1865, Colonel Pierce received from Congress the honorary title of brevet brigadier general of volunteers. Throughout the remaining years of Pierce’s life, he held many positions in various military organizations.

Gen. Pierce died on Nov. 4, 1896 at San Francisco, CA, and is buried in San Francisco National Cemetery (Section OS, Plot 34, Grave 5)

CIVIL WAR SERVICE RECORD OF FRANKLIN EDWIN PIERCE

Civil War Service: Lt. Col., 108th NY Infantry Col., 8th U. S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry

Brevets: Bvt. Brig. Gen.., USV, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services during the war.

Born: July 6, 1833 Fowlersville, Livingston Co., NY

Died: Nov. 4, 1896 San Francisco, CA

Education: University of Rochester (NY), 1859.

Occupation: School teacher before war. Regular army (Captain, died 1896) after war.

Buried: San Francisco National Cemetery, (Section OS, plot 34, Grave 5).

Reference: Georgia H. Washburn. A Complete Military History and Record of the 108th Regiment N. Y. Vols. Rochester, NY 1894.

Pierce enlisted on 8/9/1862 at Rochester, NY as a Captain, at the age of 29. On 8/18/1862 he was commissioned into "F" Co. NY 108th Infantry. He was Mustered Out on 5/28/1865 at Bailey's Cross Roads, VA (Subsequent service in US Army until his death). On 6/15/1865 he was commissioned into Field & Staff of the 8th Infantry. He was Mustered Out on 3/22/1866.

He was listed as:

* Wounded 12/13/1862 Fredericksburg, VA;

* Wounded 7/3/1863 Gettysburg, PA (Estimated day);

* Wounded 2/6/1864 Morton's Ford, VA;

* Wounded 5/6/1864 Wilderness, VA;

Promotions:

* Major 9/17/1862;

* Lt Col 3/2/1863;

* Brig-Gen 3/13/1865 by Brevet;

* Colonel 6/15/1865 (As of 8th US Veteran Volunteers)

THE INSCRIPTION ON THE 108TH'S MONUMENT AT GETTYSBURG READS:

"108TH N. Y. INFTY, 2ND BRIG. 3RD DIV. 2ND CORPS OCCUPIED THIS POSITION JULY 2 & 3, 1863, SUPPORTING BATTERY I, 1ST U. S. ART. DURING THE ARTILLERY DUEL ON THE AFTERNOON OF JULY 3, IT SUSTAINED A TERRIFIC FIRE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO RETURN A SHOT. NUMBER ENGAGED, 200. CASUALTIES: KILLED 16, WOUNDED 86; TOTAL, 102, DURING THE CHARGE THE LEFT OF THE CONFEDERATE LINE LAPPED ITS FRONT AND CAME WITHIN 5O YARDS OF IT BEFORE BREAKING. THE I08TH N. Y. INFTY. WAS RECRUITED AND MUSTERED INTO THE SERVICE AT ROCHESTER N. Y., AUG. 16, 1862. IT PARTICIPATED IN ALL THE BATTLES OF THE 2D CORPS FROM ANTIETAM, SEPT. 17, 1862, TO THE SURRENDER AT APPOMATTOX, APRIL 9, 1865, HAVING BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGED 28 TIMES

BIOGRAPHY OF MAJOR JOHN B. VAN DE WIELE JR. 

Birth: 26 Oct 1837, New York, USA

Death: 9 Nov 1889 (aged 52), New York, USA

Burial: Green-Wood Cemetery, Greenwood Heights, Kings County, New York, USA

Plot: Lot 13587, Section 180

Son of Dutch immigrant John B. Van De Wiele, Sr., and Henrietta Bishop
Husband of Susie P. West, who he married on 4/23/1867 in Manhatten, New York. She was the daughter of Jesse West and Elizabeth Callender.

Van De Wiele enlisted at the outbreak of the Civil War and rose in rank to brevet major with the 4th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment. His early enlistment records show his name as "John B. Vande Wile" and that he fought at the Battle of Petersburg.

Joined the 10th Cavalry "Buffalo Soldiers" as a Captain & company commander of Company "B", in August of 1867.

During the Indian Wars on the Western Plains, he was stationed at Camp Hoffman, KS, Ft. Wallace, KS, Camp Wichita and Ft. Sill, Indian Territory (Oklahoma), Ft. Griffin, TX, and Ft. Duncan, TX. According to author Shirley Ann Leckie in "The Colonel's Lady on the Western Frontier - The Correspondence of Alice Kirk Grierson", Van de Wiele was "...an able officer, he was accused of brutality towards his enlisted men. He failed to achieve promotion and retired as a captain in 1879". Van de Wiele is briefly mentioned by Grierson in one of her letters to her son Charley wherein she writes from Ft. Sill, Indian Territory that "Maj Van De Wiele will take men prisoners, and the wagons (of contraband whiskey) to Van Buren, Arkansas and turn them over to the U.S. Authorities there..."

OBITUARY from the New Your Times

"Capt. John B. Van De Wiele, who died last night at his residence, 21 East One Hundred and Thirty-third-street, was a native of New York, and was well known in army circles. He began his services in the war of the rebellion as a Corporal in the Eighth New-York Militia, Nov. 1, 1861, he was appointed a First Lieutenant in the 4th New York Heavy Artillery. He was made a Captain August 29, 1862, and March 13th 1863 for gallant and meritorious service he was brevetted Major of Volunteers. In the same year he reached First Lieutenant in the First Veterans Volunteers, being soon promoted to the rank of Captain. He was mustered out in 1866. A year later he was made a Captain in the 10th Cavalry, and a little later he was brevetted Major for gallant service at the Battle of Ream's Station, VA. He retired March 20th, 1879."

CIVIL WAR SERVICE SUMMARY - JOHN BABTISTE VANDER WIELE, JR

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For informational purposes only, here’s a transcript of a letter written by Capt. John B. Vander Wiele during the war to his wife:

3 pages, original Civil War soldier's letter written in period ink and war dated.

Brandy Station
March 31st 1864

Dearest Love,
Well here I am in the mud and slush but still dear in the best of spirits and health. I presume you have received my letter of the 27th ere this. This place is about a half of a mile from General Meade’s headquarters and about two from Brandy Station. We have had a terrible rainstorm yesterday and day before but still with the aid of a piece of stove pipe and sod, I managed to make myself warm and comfortable. It is very severe on the men who have their shelter tents, which are about 5 feet square and about 3 high in which two men have to occupy. We are ordered to report to the 2nd Army Corps tomorrow at Raccoon Ford on the Rapidan River. General Hancock in command. The place where we are now is about the center of our Army. It is the ground on which the battle occurred between Kilpatrick and Stuart’s Cavalry last summer. The country round here has a most desolate look which is not improved by the Blue Ridge and Cedar Mountains in the background covered with snow. The general perception is that the Army will move in a few weeks. I have read your last letter over dearest and desire to know how my hand is. It is entirely over the effects of that burn. I cannot help think dearest of poor Freddy and her misfortunes. Poor thing. How lovely and desolate must appear this world to her now. Is her brother in New York state? The weather here is changed and a good drying breeze is a blowing and I hope the mud will soon dry up. I have not been out of my tent over a couple of hours during the past forty-eight hours, which is very tedious and disagreeable. Oh what a please dream I had of you last night. I dreamt you and I were out somewhere in Broadway and we went in some saloon, which was gorgeously furnished and we sat down and was talking and enjoying ourselves. Oh Sophie, it was such a pleasant dream and I felt so happy when I awoke, as I did wile we were a talking. I cannot recollect what we were a talking about, but it was some pleasant subject or I would not have felt so happy. I have your picture Love with me and I shall keep it with me that and a little testament Henrietta gave me and which I carried through the Battle of Bull Run. I have sent my trunk containing your letters to my brothers in New York. The order came very sudden for us to move from Glen Allen and it was very unexpected. I have been a looking for a letter from you but then you did not know where to address it. One of our Captains was married to a lady in Georgetown last night. He was to be married in April but the time was hastened owing to the regiment leaving. She is a very fine young lady and very handsome. I suppose the parting will be very affecting as they are very much attached to each other. Oh Sophie dear, how I long to hear from you. You must not let your mind be uneasy on my account. For dear, the Lord will extend the same protecting care over me here as he ever has. Dearest, I will have to bring this letter to a close. Hope it will soon reach you. I bid you an affectionate farewell.

Forever yours,
Baptiste

Address:
Captain John B. Vander Wiele
Battery F, 4th New York Artillery
2nd Corps
Army of the Potomac

The document measures 8” x 10” and is in very fine condition, with some pinkish toning along the folds.

A FINE ADDITION TO YOUR CIVIL WAR “GENERALS IN BLUE” AUTOGRAPH, MANUSCRIPT & EPHEMERA COLLECTION.

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