Albert Hosea Flanders - Civil War Veteran

 My soldier biographies became a bit shorter as I went along, but still have the highlights of their service and lives.  This is the first of four veteran ancestors of my son in law. 

The Biography of

 Albert Hosea Flanders

Civil War Veteran

By

 Ann M Sinton

Copyright, 2016, Ann M Sinton

 

                  Biography of Albert Hosea Flanders (1834 – 1907)

                                                   Civil War Veteran

 The Flanders family is an old Essex county, Massachusetts family that can trace it’s roots all the way back to a Stephen Flanders who was born in 1646 in Salisbury, Massachusetts.  Albert Hosea Flanders is his 4^th great grandson and was born on July 31, 1834 in Quincy, Massachusetts the son of Hosea Hatch Flanders and Melinda Emmaline Doak. 

 The earliest record of Albert would be the 1840 Census showing him listed as one of three male children under the age of 5 with his father Hosea Flanders age 30-40 in Quincy, Norfolk Co, Massachusetts.  This census also counts one female child age 10-15 and one female age 5-10. Albert’s mother Melinda shows up as a female age 30-40.  There is also another female age 50-60 listed.  This could be a grandmother of Albert but no name is shown because this census only names the head of the household. 

 At some time after 1840, the family moves to Boston and Albert’s father would die there in 1846. Albert is 12 years old at this time.

 Our next record of Albert should be the 1850 Census, but I have only been able to find his mother living in Boston with two children.  Albert would be about 16 years old.  There are many possibilities, such as, he is living in another location in order to find work to help support his fatherless family. 

 On Aug 23, 1856, Albert marries Charlotte Maria Holbrook in Hampshire Co, Massachusetts. At the time of his marriage he is living in Belchertown, Massachusetts and his occupation is recorded as a Plater.

 In the 1860 census, Albert and Charlotte are living in Greenwich, Hampshire Co, Massachusetts with two small sons, Frederick Albert age 3 and William H age 1 who were both born in Greenwich.   His personal estate value is shown as just $30 and no occupation is listed.  And baby William would die sometime that year.

 No other records are found for the time between 1860 and Albert’s being drafted to serve in the Civil War on Sept 20, 1864 for a one year period.  However, two more children were added to the family, a daughter, Caroline Emma in 1862 in Boston and a son Albert Myron in 1863 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Caroline would pass away at some time before 1870. At the time of his draft, his occupation is shown as a machinist, his eyes were gray, his hair brown and height was 4’11”.   It is not known why Albert and family moved to Pittsburgh or why he waited to be drafted and did not enlist any earlier.  Some general information about the time period follows.  Albert’s experience may not have followed these exact circumstances since his service did not begin until late in the war, but it does give the reader a feel for the time period.

 At the start of the Civil War in April 1861, the call for recruits went answered by men of all walks of life, patriotism being the main motivator for enlistment.  Regiments were formed by state and enlistment periods ran anywhere from 3 months to 3 years.  When attempting to form local units, public gatherings were scheduled complete with speeches, flag waving, bands, and veterans of previous wars.  Some states were able to provide some of the uniforms for the men but women’s sewing groups were counted upon to clothe their soldiers as well.  Gray was a favorite color in the early part of the war, causing much confusion during some battles as both North and South used the color.  Equipment ran the gamut from obsolete muskets to the modern Sharps rifle.  The initial encampment of the company was usually located in their home community which would allow family visits.  The first activity would be the election of officers for the company.  Captains and Leuitenants were chosen by the men.  Training while the company was still in the home area varied.  When the time came for the company to depart, the men were granted a furlough to say their goodbyes to family and friends.  The actual departure of the unit was a public affair usually marked by a parade thru town.  The men would then board a train or boat that would carry them to their final training destination. 

 At Camp Curtin, a major training location near Harrisburg,  drill and discipline were  taught to the new recruits.  The day began with reveille at about 5 or 6 a.m.  There was roll call, breakfast call, sick call, call for guard duty, then drill call and dinner call  -  all before noon.  The men had a short period of free time after their meal then came more drilling.  Companies were dismissed in late afternoon, but their work was not over.  The men had to brush their uniforms, polish shoes and brass in preparation for the nightly retreat exercises which included another roll call, inspection of the troops and a dress parade.  Supper call followed this and then yet another roll call after which the men were ordered to their quarters.  Taps was the final call of the day.  The drills for new recruits were made up of mostly handling arms and practicing maneuvers.  Often mock skirmishes were held.  The men’s main shelter was the tent.  There were several types, some held 12 men and some as little as 4 men.  The men were also issued a haversack.  This held his cartridge box, bayonet, blankets, canteen, and knapsack.  The knapsack held clothing, stationery, photos, personal hygiene items, books, and other personal items.  There were also food implements either packed on the knapsack or hooked to the soldier’s belt.  On top of everything was the winter overcoat, an extra burden, often discarded to lighten the weight of the pack which could weigh as much as 40 or 50 pounds.  Once the initial wave of emotion wore off, the day to day routines quickly became the source of complaints over everything from camp conditions to missing family.  Many desertions took place as the war continued.  Privates in the Union Army were paid $13 per month, by the end of the war it was only up to $16.  Regulations called for soldiers to be paid every two months, but they were lucky to receive their pay at four month intervals. 

  

The Harrisburg, Pa Railroad Depot during the Civil War – from Harpers Weekly

 Albert Flanders  traveled  from Pittsburgh with the other recruits by railroad to Harrisburg to report to Camp Curtin.  

The Colors of the 88^th Infantry

 Albert mustered into service on Oct 5, 1864 and is listed on the rolls of Co H of the 88^th Pa Infantry as a private.  At the time, the 88^th was under the command of the 2^nd Army Brigade, 3^rd Division, 5^th Army Corps and continued there until the end of the war.  The 88^th participated in many important battles previous to Albert’s enlistment, such as Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Gettysburg and the siege at Petersburg.  It lost most of it’s original enlistees throughout this time.  Albert probably joined his Company on Nov 11, 1864 when the 88^th received 200 conscripts to boost their fighting force.  During Albert’s enlistment the engagements he would have participated in were Weldon Railroad in Dec, Hatcher’s Run/Dabney’s Mills in Feb,   Hatchers Run again in March, and during the Appomatox Campaign he was taken prisoner near Hatcher’s Run on March 31, 1865. 

  The 88^th’s Service during Albert Flanders Enlistment: 

Warren's Expedition to Weldon Railroad December 7-12.
Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5-7, 1865.
Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
Lewis Farm near Gravelly Run March 29.
White Oak Road March 30-31.
Five Forks April 1.
Pursuit of Lee April 2-9.
Appomattox C. H. April 9.
Surrender of Lee and his army.
Moved to Washington, D.C., May 1-12.
Grand Review May 23.
Mustered out June 30, 1865.

The Battle of White Oak Rd was probably the battle where Albert Flanders was captured. 

Albert was somewhat lucky not to have been captured any earlier, as he is said to have been sent to Salisbury Prison in North Carolina.  According to a family bible in the possession of descendents, Albert is said to have been captured twice and may have escaped the first time. The winter at Salisbury that year was unbearable and the prison overcrowded as detailed below. 

 The prison consisted of a collection of buildings enclosed by a wooden fence on an almost 6 acre site meant to house only 2500 men.  When Albert arrived, there were 10,000 men housed there.  By that time all of the buildings were used solely for hospital purposes.  There was a shortage of medicine and food due to a Naval blockade.  The 10,000 men were forced to spend a cold wet winter out in the open.  The death rate was 28%.  The survivors had to fight dysentery, pneumonia, smallpox, lice, scurvy, and dengue fever in addition to the starvation.  Salisbury rivaled Andersonville in it’s living conditions and reputation.  As recorded in several diaries kept by men held prisoner at Salisbury during the time Albert was also there, the conditions were nothing short of horrific.  Meals regularly consisted of rice soup.  Meat, flour, and bread were not a daily part of the fare.  A loaf of bread would have to be shared among many men.  Meals were served once a day.  Rations were routinely cut back by this point in the war and by late Nov 1863, the prisoners were receiving ¼ rations.  The winter weather took it’s toll as well, even tho they were in the south the winters were cold and wet.  Not a day would go by that didn’t have dead men carried out and buried in mass burial trenches. 

 Albert would not have to spend much time here because thru a recently approved exchange program he was paroled and sent to Camp Parole, near Annapolis, Maryland less than a week after his capture. Salisbury Prison was eventually burned to the ground and is now the Salisbury National Cemetery.

Drawing of Salisbury Prison 

       After being exchanged at Camp Parole, Albert was paid two months back pay and given a 30 day furlough from Apr 10 – May 10, 1865 after which he returned to his unit to be mustered out of the army on May 27, 1865 somewhere near Washington DC.  During the time of his furlough, Lee would surrender.  Albert’s unit was present at Appomatox for the surrender. 

                 After his return home to Pittsburgh, several more children joined the family.  John William in 1866, Elizabeth abt 1869, and Frank in 1870. The 1870 census shows the family living in the Allentown section of Pittsburgh and Albert is working at the Spike Works.  Several of their children would die before the next census, Frank in 1871 , Nellie in 1873, and Elizabeth age 11 would die in 1880.

                 In 1880, more children were listed bringing the total to 10.  Nellie born and died in 1873, George Wesley born  in 1874 and William born in 1876, all  in Pittsburgh.  Only 4 of Albert and Charlotte’s children would survive to adulthood – Frederick , Albert, John William, and George.

                 Unfortunately, Albert’s wife, Charlotte, died on Sept 1, 1883 in Pittsburgh leaving him with several children to care for.  He would remarry about 3 years later to Mary Jane Striley, 20 years younger than Albert and whose father Anthony was also a Civil War Veteran. Mary Jane was born in the Birmingham section of Pittsburgh on June 7, 1854 and they were married in 1886.  They would have three children – Mary Jane in 1887, Charlotte in 1889 and Anthony in 1891. 

                 The 1890 census has been lost but the Veteran’s Schedule of that Census survives and Albert is shown living in West Liberty with a Fetterman Post Office at that time.

                 Albert Flanders applied for his Pension five times before it was finally approved.  His first application, on Sept 4, 1890, stated that he was a resident of Pittsburgh.  This residence was Fetterman, Allegheny Co, Pennsylvania as of 1891.  His first physical exam was performed on Aug 12, 1891. Albert claimed deafness and asthma.  He was 5’1/2” tall, 110 lbs and age 56.  No deafness was found so the pension was denied.

                 Albert’s 2^nd application is dated May 26, 1892 and claims asthma, bronchitis and deafness contracted in 1880 while employed at Dilworth Porter & Co. a spike factory in Pittsburgh. He was described as age 57, 110 lbs, 5’2 ¾” tall.  No disability was found and this application was denied.

                 Albert’s 3^rd try was dated May 1, 1894.  He claimed asthma, deafness, and chronic bronchitis.  This pension was also denied on Sept 24, 1894.

                 The 4^th application on Nov 19, 1894, stated the same claims of illness.  He had a physical exam on Apr 15, 1895.  He is described as age 60, 5’2” tall, 110 lbs.  His complaint was that upon lying down after a few hours he has shortness of breath and a coughing attack. He also claims that his right hand and arm were injured 17 years ago as well as his left eye.  He was considered “wholly disabled” for manual work but the pension was still rejected.

                                   In 1900, the family is still living in West Liberty, with only the three young children of Albert and Mary Jane remaining at home.  The children go to school and Albert and Mary Jane can read and write.  No occupation is listed for Albert. 

 Albert’s  5^th and final application was submitted on May 1, 1905.  He was described as 69 years of age, 5’2” tall, 127 lbs, with a sallow complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair.  This application was accepted and the pension was approved for senile disability(old age), defective sight, general disability and rheumatism.  He was awarded $12 a month. Later, the approval was changed to only a partial disability and the monthly amount was reduced to $10 a month.

                 Less than two years later, Albert would die on Jan 3, 1907 while living in West Liberty Boro, Allegheny Co, Pennsylvania.  He was dropped from the pension rolls, but his widow, Mary Jane (Striley) Flanders filed an application for a widow’s pension on Jan 12, 1907. Her address at the time was RFD 1, Carnegie, PA.  She was awarded $8 a month plus an additional $2 per month for each child.  There was one child listed, Anthony who was born on Jul 26, 1891. 

 Mary Jane had to submit various documents proving her marriage and child as well as death of Albert’s first wife.  Documents state that Mary Jane and Albert were married on Jan 10, 1886.  That Albert’s first wife, Charlotte, died on Sept 21, 1883 of cancer and tuberculosis.  That Albert died in West Liberty on Jan 3, 1907 of emphysema and asthma and was born in Massachusetts on Jul 31, 1834.  His father was Hoschia Flanders of Holland and his mother was Millendia E Doak of Massachusetts.  After further research, the correct spelling of his parents names are: Hosea Flanders & Melinda Emmaline Doak.  Albert and Mary Jane’s proof of marriage states that they were married Jun 10, 1886 at St Joseph’s Church in Mt Oliver.  Their parents names were listed as Henry Flanders and E.nee Doak and Anthony Striley and Jane Taylor.  Her son’s proof of birth states the Anthony was baptized on Aug 9, 1891 at St Mary of the Mount Church and he was born on Jul 26, 1891. 

Mary Jane's widow pension was increased to $12 a month on Apr 19, 1908.  Mary Jane moved from #2020 West Liberty to Eutaw place on Mar 25, 1915.  On Apr 7, 1915, Mary Janes address is listed as #3 Eutaw Place, East End, Pittsburgh, PA.  In the move to this address, her pension certificate was lost and as a result she had to apply for a replacement.  As of Oct 4, 1921, Mary Jane was receiving $30 a month.  On Dec 9, 1921, a letter was sent stating that Mary Jane had died on Oct 13, 1921 of a cerebral hemorrhage and general paralysis.  At the time of her death , Mary Jane was living at 2314 West Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh with her daughter, Mary’s , family.  Her daughter Mary Jane Kledges reported her death  and Mary Jane was dropped from the pension rolls on Dec 17, 1921. 

  

Private Albert Hosea Flanders and his wife Mary Jane Striley are  the great great grandparents of my son in law, Cullen Flanders. And interestingly, Albert  is also my 6^th cousin 5 times removed thru  common ancestors, Christopher Osgood who was born in 1571 in England and Peter Coffin who was born in 1580 in England.

 

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