Casualties for the 6th USCI at the Battle of New Market Heights

Sgt. Maj. Thomas Hawkins, 6th USCI

On March 2, 1870, Sgt. Maj. Christian A. Fleetwood (4^th United States Colored Infantry), wrote in support of 6^th USCI Sgt. Maj. Thomas R. Hawkins’ widow’s request for a pension. After providing a brief history of Hawkins’ life, which Fleetwood learned through their close friendship, he shared some of their army trials while under fire. “After engaging in various raids and foragings, the first severe engagement in which we were engaged was the heavy fighting in front of Petersburg on the 15^th June 1864, and here fighting with all the cool courage of a veteran, he [Hawkins] was shot through the arm, and was sent back to hospital,” Fleetwood wrote.

Then Fleetwood shared their experience at New Market Heights: “He rejoined his regiment in September following, at the famous Dutch Gap Canal, and a short time afterwards we were ordered to Deep Bottom, Va., and in the terrible fighting to carry the works at New Market Heights, he fell shot through shoulder, hip and foot, and lay upon the field for three hours before he was found and taken to the rear.”

Unfortunately, Sgt. Maj. Hawkins was in common company with many of his comrades on September 29, 1864. So much promise was cut short or delayed that day because unselfish commitment to duty proved stronger than fear. Fleetwood paid tribute to his dear friend Hawkins’ character. “He was a young man of remarkable natural ability and talent . . . . Brave to a fault, generous as a prince, a gallant soldier, an affectionate and true husband and father, a faithful friend, his death leaves a void in the hearts of his associates that will never be filled by another.” It is likely that many of the men who fell killed, wounded or captured at New Market Heights could have had similar sentiments expressed about them.

A thorough search through the Compiled Military Service Records (CMSR) for all of the regiment’s soldiers helped total the heavy price the 6^th USCI paid at New Market Heights. The numbers discovered are: 46 men killed in action, 20 fatally wounded, five missing in action, and 112 wounded but who survived. Of course, as the list below starkly shows, many of the wounded who lived had their lives forever changed by their New Market Heights injuries. Sgt. Thomas R. Hawkins was only one of many.

Killed in Action

Pvt. Richard Addison, Co. E, 24, Leesburg, VA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. John Becket, Co. G, 40, Northampton, VA; Philadelphia, PA; drafted

Corp. Charles W. Berry, Co. G, 19, Washington Co, PA; Pittsburgh, PA

Pvt. Henry Blackston, Co. I, 23, Newcastle Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; substitute

Pvt. Peter Brice, Co. H, 21, Armstrong Co., PA; Pittsburg, PA

Pvt. William Brisco, Co. I, 23, Newcastle, PA; Philadelphia, PA

Corp. Richard Bryant, Co. D, 23, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. David Criswell, Co. H, 20, Lewiston, PA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Moses Derry, Co. G, 30, Bucks Co., PA; Smyrna, DE; substitute

1^st Sgt. George H. Ellet, Co. C, 31, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Charles H. Gibson, Co. D, 20, Adams Co., PA; Philadelphia, PA; drafted

Pvt. George W. Green, Co. F, 20, VA; Greensburg, PA; drafted

Corp. John Green, Co. B, 35, Bushtown, NJ; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Thomas W. Hamilton, Co. F, 23, Bucks Co., PA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Charles Harris, Co. D, 27, unknown; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Charles Holland, Co. E, 34, Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Charles Hubbard, Co. D, 20, Harrisburg, PA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. John James, Co. F, 20, Mathews Co., VA; Smyrna, VA; substitute

Pvt. Charles Johnson, Co. D, 22, Carroll Co., MD; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. George F. Johnson, Co. F, 21, Smyrna, DE; Smyrna, DE

Pvt. Peter Johnson, Co. B, 26, Loudon Co., VA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Noah Jones, Co. D, 35, Fairfax Co., VA; Philadelphia, PA; drafted

Pvt. Neil Kempt, Co. B, 25, Georgetown, VA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. William Kenny, Co. D, 22, unknown; Philadelphia, PA, substitute

Pvt. Thomas Kyser, Co. D, 20, New York, NY; West Chester, PA; substitute

Pvt. William H. Lewis, Co. K, 19, Washington Co., PA; Pittsburg, PA

Corp. William Lucus, Co. D, 23, Washington D.C.; Philadelphia, PA

 2^nd Lt. Frederick Meyer, Co. B, 37, unknown; Washington D.C.

Pvt. John A. Norris, Co. G, 40, unknown; Pittsburgh, PA

Pvt. Emanuel Patterson, Co. D, 23, Greene Co., PA; West Chester, PA; drafted

Pvt. William Pence, Co. C, 25, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia, PA; drafted

Pvt. James Robinson, Co. I, 24, Philadelphia, PA; Smyrna, DE; substitute

Pvt. Alexander Rogers, Co. I, 21, Dover, DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted

Sgt. Thomas Scott, Co. E, 26, Pittsburgh, PA; Pittsburg, PA; drafted; “Always present with company and was prompt and faithful in the execution of all duty and brave in battle . . . .”

Pvt. William Scott, Co. F, 28, Chambersburg, PA; Smyrna, PA; substitute

Capt. George Wright Sheldon, Co. H, 26, Mount Morris, NY; Washington D.C.; previously served in 126^th New York Infantry

Pvt. Amos M. Shinn, Co. B, Allen, PA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. William Simpiss, Co. B; 22, DE; Philadelphia, PA

Corp. Henry Skeere (Skeen), Co. C, 27, Cecil Co., MD; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Henry Swartz, Co. B, 24, Lancaster, PA; Lancaster, PA

Corp. Jeremiah Walker, Co. D, 22, Hampton, VA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Albert Waters, Co. K, 22, Kent Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; substitute

Corp. Robert Webster, Co. H, 20, Armstrong Co., PA; Pittsburgh, PA

Corp. John West, Co. C, 33, Washington Co., PA; New Brighton, PA

Corp. Archibald Wright, Co. G, 38, Loudon Co., VA; Harrisburg, PA; substitute

Capt. Charles V. York, Co. B, 25, NY; Washington D.C.; previously served with 10^th New York Heavy Artillery

Fatally Wounded

Pvt. Thomas Anderson, Co. E, 20, Bucks Co., PA; Philadelphia, PA; head wound; “wounded in action September 29, 1864, and jumped overboard while being conveyed from Point of Rocks Hospital, Va to U.S. Gen. Hospital at Hampton, Va by steamer Thomas Powell Oct. 3, 1864. His wound produced insanity which caused the act.”

Corp. Thomas Augustus, Co. E, 20, Newark, DE; Philadelphia, PA; died at Fort Monroe on 10-14-64, from gunshot wound to right lung received at New Market Heights

Pvt. Enoch Boyer, Co. B, 27, Smyrna, DE; Philadelphia, PA; died aboard steamer George Leary on 10-29-64

Pvt. James Clark, 23, Indiana, PA; Greensburg, PA; substitute; died on 11-26-64 at Balfour Hospital in Portsmouth, VA from wounds

Corp. Robert Davis, Co. G, 34, New Castle Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; died on 10-11-64 from gunshot wound of left lung

Pvt. William Empson, Jr., Co. I, 28, New Castle Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted; died on 10-2-64 from gunshot wound to abdomen

Pvt. Absalom Gibbs, Co. F, 21, Dover, DE; West Chester, PA; died on 3-12-65 from pneumonia and amputation of left thigh

Pvt. Perry Hamilton, Co. K, 21, New Castle Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted; died on 10-10-64 from wound in back injuring spine

1^st Sgt. William Hazzard, Co. K, 25, New Castle Co, DE; Smyrna, DE, died on 12-30-64 from wound to left leg

Pvt. Jonathan Henson, Co. G, 34, Chester Co., PA; Lancaster Co., PA; drafted; died on 10-1-64 from wounds

Pvt. Ellis Hughes, Co. E, 28, Rochester, NY; Schenectady, NY; died 10-12-64 from shell wounds

Pvt. James A. Kane, Co. C, 30, Allegheny Co., PA; Allegheny City, PA, drafted, died 10-13-64 from gunshot wound in leg

1^st Lt. Lafayette Landon, Co H, 20; Jefferson County, NY; Washington D.C.; died on 10-28-64 from gunshot wound to left thigh

2^nd Lt. William H. McEvoy, Co. I, 21, NY; Yorktown, VA; died on 11-9-64 from blood poisoning from exsection of left elbow due to gunshot wound

Pvt. Joseph Money, Co. C, 32, Salem, NJ; Frankford, PA; substitute; died on 10-24-64 from gunshot wound of left shoulder

Sgt. Richard Servant, Co. D, 24, Fort Monroe, VA; Philadelphia, PA; died on 11-6-64 from gunshot wounds

Pvt. Jacob Slyder, Co. C, 17, Franklin Co., PA; Philadelphia, PA; died on 10-14-64 from gunshot wounds

Pvt. John Smith, Co. F, 27, Delaware Co., PA; West Chester, PA; died on 10-12-64 from gunshot wound to left knee joint resulting in amputation, death resulting from second hemorrhage

Pvt. John A. Steele, Co. H, 19, Clarion Co., DE; Pittsburgh, PA; died on 10-27-64 from gunshot wound to left leg

Pvt. Edward Williams, Co. C, 27, Montgomery Co., PA; Philadelphia, PA; died on 10-6-64 from gunshot wound to abdomen

Missing in Action

Pvt. Henry Braxton, Co. B, 21, New Kent Co., VA; Yorktown, VA

Pvt. Nathaniel Danks, 25, Co. D, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia, PA; wounded and taken prisoner

Pvt. Benjamin Davis, Co. E, 24, Hertford Co., MD; Philadelphia, PA; missing in action since 9-29-64; supposed to have died in the enemy’s hands

Pvt. William W. Robinson, Co. B, 20, Delaware, PA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Charles H. Steward, Co. B, 26, Concord, DE; West Chester, PA; drafted

Wounded Survived

Maj. Harvey H. Covell, 27, Ashtabula County, OH; originally served with 23^rd Ohio Inf.; disability discharge on 4-25-65 due to gunshot wound to right forearm with fracture of radius

Sgt. Maj. Thomas R. Hawkins, 23, Cincinnati, OH; Philadelphia, PA; substitute; disability discharge on 5-9-65 from wounds in three places including thigh and great toe; Medal of Honor recipient

Wounded Survived

Company A

Capt. Robert B. Beath, 24, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia, PA; formerly of 88^th Pennsylvania Inf.; amputation of wounded right leg; disability discharge 9-20-65

Pvt. James H. Cooper, 35, Hampshire County, VA [WV}; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. David H. Irons, 24, Chester Co., PA; Philadelphia, PA; disability discharge 5-16-65 from amputation of right leg

Pvt. John A. Wright, 30, Chester Co., PA; Philadelphia, PA

Company B

Pvt. John Crawford, 21, Harris, AL; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Joseph Gibson, 17, Bushtown, NJ; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. John Harvey, 26, Indiana, PA; Greensburg, PA; substitute

1^st Lt. Nathaniel N. Hubbard, 21, Trumbull Co., OH; disability discharge on 3-3-65 from wound to left leg and scrotum

Pvt. John Marshall, 24, Delaware Co., PA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. John McCroby, 22, Fayette, PA; New Brighton, PA; drafted

Pvt. Joseph Moore, 16, Chester, PA; Philadelphia, PA

Corp. Anthony Ridley, 22, Lewisburg, PA; Lancaster, PA; substitute

Pvt. Charles Ridley, 22, unknown; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Isaac Thompson, 26, Lancaster, PA; Lancaster, PA; drafted

Company C

Pvt. James Banks, 22, Washington Co., PA; New Brighton, PA

Pvt. Alfred Becket, 21, Wilmington, DE; Philadelphia, PA

Sgt. William H. Butler, 23, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia, PA; amputation of right thigh; disability discharge 5-29-65

Pvt. William Carson, 35, Delaware; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. William Gover (Grover), 17, Chester Co., PA; Philadelphia, PA

1^st Lt. Enoch Jackman, 25, unknown, Washington D.C.; gunshot wound of left hand (slight)

Corp. Abraham Lewis, 29, Washington Co., PA; New Brighton, PA; drafted

Pvt. Charles Lewis, 31, Caroline Co., MD; Philadelphia, PA; disability discharge on 6-12-65 from gunshot wound to right shoulder and loss of use of arm

Pvt. James Miller, 24, Washington Co., PA; New Brighton, PA; drafted

Pvt. Josiah Nelson, 17, Ithaca, NY; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. John Wallace, 25, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia; disability discharge on 6-16-65

Company D

Sgt. Robert Biles, 20, Monmouth Co., NJ; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Joseph Brown, 21, Washington Co., PA; New Brighton, PA; drafted

Pvt. Phillip Cole, 23, Chester, PA; Chester, PA; substitute

Pvt. James Ferrill, 23, Greene Co., PA; New Brighton, PA; drafted; disability discharge on 8-14-65 from gunshot wound to left hand

Pvt. Jacob Hammond, 22, Chester, PA; Philadelphia, PA

Corp. Lawrence Jackson, 20, Northampton NC; Philadelphia, PA; substitute

2^nd Lt. John B. Johnson, 17, unstated, Washington, D.C.; wounded in left arm

Sgt. Ephraim Maloney, 25, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia, PA; drafted; disability discharge on 1-3-65 from gunshot wound to right leg

Pvt. Andrew Mitchell, 23, Carroll Co., MD; West Chester, PA; gunshot wound of left thigh and right hip

1^st Sgt. Miles Parker, 26, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. William H. Redmon, 20, VA; Chester Co., PA; substitute

Pvt. James Richmond, 26, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia, PA; drafted

Pvt. Henry Scott, 18, Culpeper, VA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Robert Williams, 22, Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA

Company E

Pvt. Joseph Fullum, 20, Washington Co., PA; New Brighton, PA; drafted; served out the war in hospital, no disability discharge provided

Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, 28, Unstated; Philadelphia, PA

1^st Sgt. Thomas C. Johnson, 27, Unstated; Philadelphia, PA

Corp. Benjamin Richards, 34, Pittsburgh, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; drafted

Sgt. William Strange, unknown, Frederick Co., VA; Allegheny Co., PA; drafted

Company F

Pvt. Richard Chew, 36, New York, NY; West Chester, PA

Pvt. James H. Clinton, 20, Wilmington, DE; Smyrna, DE

Corp. John Davis, 23, Monmouth, NJ; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Lewis Dickson, 25, Kent Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; disability discharge 4-28-65 from exsection of right elbow joint

Pvt. Francis J. Griffith, 20, PA; Philadelphia, PA; substitute; disability discharge on 7-26-65 from amputation of right arm

Pvt. George S. Johnson, 27, Smyrna, DE; Philadelphia, PA; drafted

Pvt. Louis Mills, 35, Mifflin Co., PA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Benjamin F. Phillips, 27, Allegheny Co., PA; Pittsburgh, PA

Pvt. John D. Rias, 30, Kent Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; substitute

Pvt. Charles Rider, 22, Wilmington, DE; Smyrna, DE; substitute

Pvt. Joseph Rider, 25, New Castle, DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted

Pvt. John Spence, 35, Talbot Co., MD; Smyrna, DE; drafted

Pvt. William E. Wilson, 20, Newville, PA; Philadelphia, PA; substitute

Company G

Pvt. Samuel Anderson, 23, New Castle, DE; Smyrna, DE; substitute

Pvt. James Black, 30, Fayette Co., PA; Greensburg, PA; drafted

Pvt. John H. Graham, 23, VA; Greensburg, PA; drafted

Pvt. Richard M. Johnson, 21, MD; Greensburg, PA; drafted

Corp. Charles Miller, 22, Lancaster, PA; Smyrna, DE; drafted

Pvt. Richard Riley, 18, Berkley Co., VA, Pittsburgh, PA

Pvt. James Smith, 26, Warren Co., NC; Smyrna, DE; substitute

Sgt. William Waters, 20, Cape Island, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; drafted

Company H

Sgt. Solomon Darrah, 27, Bucks County, PA; West Chester, PA; disability discharge 6-12-64 from gunshot wound in right elbow joint

1^st Lt. Nathan Edgerton, 27, Belmont Co., OH; Washington, D.C.; wounded in right hand while carrying the colors; Medal of Honor recipient

Sgt. Wilson Grant, 24, Loudon, VA; Lancaster, PA; died 10-21-64 from wounds received in action

Pvt. Charles H. Johnson, 21, PA; Philadelphia, PA; disability discharge on 5-22-65 from gunshot wound of left knee

Pvt. Peter A. Johnson, 20, DE; Norristown, PA; substitute

Pvt. Henry Morgan, 33, PA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. George Perkins, 18, Fayette Co., PA; Pittsburgh, PA

Pvt. Jacob Roberts, 18, Blairsville, PA; Pittsburgh, PA

Pvt. Charles Roland, 22, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia, PA; disability discharge on 5-17-65 from gunshot wound causing loss of 1/3 of lower jaw

Pvt. Franklin Viney, 25, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Spencer Wesley, 18, Lancaster, PA; West Chester, PA; substitute

Company I

Pvt. William Badger, 42, New Castle, DE; Smyrna, DE; amputation of left arm; surgeon’s certificate of disability, discharged 4-14-64

Pvt. Robert Butler, 21, King George Co., VA; Reading, PA; drafted

Pvt. James Dayton, 24, Kent County, DE; Smyrna, DE; disability discharge 4-19-65 from amputation of right leg

Pvt. John Duckery, 36, New Castle Co., DE; Philadelphia, PA; disability discharge 5-27-65 from gunshot wound to right side

Pvt. Alexander Goldsburg, 25, MD; Smyrna, DE

Corp. William Hall, 20, Kent Co., MD; Smyrna, DE

Pvt. George Harris, 21, Mercer Co., NJ; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Adolphus Johnson, 20, Sussex Co. DE; Smyrna, DE; substitute; deserted from hospital on 12-25-64

Pvt. Paterson Hartshorn, 32, Centre Co., PA; Philadelphia, PA; disability discharge 5-27-65 from gunshot wound to right foot

Corp. Charles Peter, 20, New Castle Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted

Pvt. Charles Samson, 22, Kent Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted; disability discharge 6-28-65 from gunshot wound to right arm

Pvt. William Thomas Simmons, 19, New Castle Co., DE; Philadelphia, PA

Pvt. Joseph Singer, 20, Caroline Co., MD; Smyrna, DE; substitute

Sgt. (Color Bearer) Daniel W. Smith, 22, Centre Co., PA; West Lock Haven, PA; disability discharge 6-28-65 from gunshot wound to right shoulder

Pvt. James Smith, 20, Kent Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; substitute

Pvt. Wilson Spencer, 35, New Castle Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted

Pvt. Lewis Taylor, 27, Cecil Co., MD; Smyrna, DE; drafted

Pvt. George Wilson, 18, Bedford Co., PA; Philadelphia, PA

Corp. Hezekiah Wilson, 33, Philadelphia, PA, Philadelphia, PA; drafted

Company K

Pvt. Charles Berry, 21, Kent County, DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted

Pvt. David Coston, 20, Kent County, DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted; disability discharge 6-17-65 from White Hall Gen. Hospital due to amputation of right thigh

Pvt. Isaac Gales, 24, Kent Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted; gunshot wound of left leg

Pvt. Joseph Gales, 28, Kent Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted

Sgt. Charles Garner, 19, Clinton Co., PA; Williamsport, PA; substitute; gunshot wound left leg

Corp. Alexander Henry, 30, New Castle Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted; gunshot wound to right shoulder

Pvt. Isaac Hubbardson, 24, Kent Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted

Pvt. Isaac Lee, 30, New Castle, DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted; disability discharge on 6-16-65 from gunshot wound of left leg

Pvt. James Manlon, 25, Kent Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; drafted

Pvt. Edward Mills, 35, Centre Co., PA; Williamsport, PA; drafted

Pvt. Isaac Purnell, 22, Sussex Co., DE; Smyrna, DE; substitute

Corp. Edward Raner, 18, Weldon, SC; Harrisburg, PA; substitute

Pvt. Isaac Robinson, 26, Philadelphia, PA; Smyrna, DE; disability discharge on 7-25-65 from gunshot wound to left shoulder fracturing humerus

Pvt. John Short, 29, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia, PA; substitute

Pvt. William E. Snowden, 22, Georgetown, MD; Harrisburg, PA; substitute

Corp. William Williams, 26, New Castle Co., DE, Smyrna, DE, drafted

This list was not produced in attempt to sensationalize the pain these men suffered, but rather to acknowledge the sacrifices they were willing to endure to ensure the death of slavery, show themselves men and worthy of citizenship and thus the guarantees of the Constitution, and maintain the Union of the states. In addition, hopefully this enumeration helps descendants make connections with their soldier ancestors. Courageously done, men of the 6^th!