Tombstone Tuesday: Boy? Is That You? You, 149th PA Bucktail You

Part 4 in the series You, 149th PA Bucktail You

Boy MAY?  Was there a translation error of old?  Or was Robert John MAY called "Boy" by his comrades in arms in Company D of the PA 149th Bucktails?

Robert John MAY was also part of the frenzy that joined the Civil War when James GLENN gave recruitment speeches in August, 1862, in Allegheny Co.  I guess cousin James was a pretty good speaker, along with the others who spoke, as many boys made the transition to fighting men shortly thereafter.

MAY was born in 1830.  To date, finding his parents' names has not been successful in my limited search for them.  Nesbit's history of the unit provides a great sketch of his life.  With his sketch, I was able to flush out some more details.

From Nesbit's History of the PA Bucktails, Co. D

Wife:  Sara HUDDLESTON, b. 1830-1835 in St Louis, Missouri.  Suspect they were married there as well.

Children:
Ida or Ada-  found in 1860 census in St Louis with her parents.  Dies before 1870.  Buried Uniondale Cemetery.
Edgar- b. Feb 28, 1861 d. April 28, 1913.  Unmarried.  Buried at Uniondale Cemetery.
Arthur- b. July 4, 1866 d. June 8, 1943  Buried at Versailles, McKeesport, Allegheny, PA.
Mary- b. May 28, 1870 d. June 7, 1958 wife of Frank BEAM, Buried at Versailles, McKeesport, Allegheny, PA.

Why am I looking at Robert John MAY?  The 1863 letter of cousin Frank DORRINGTON states he had a picture made with him and four others.  Frank's words:  "No 1 Ustic ROTHROCK, our bugler, No 2 Dave PHILLIPS, No 3 Boy MAY, 4 I B MOMYER, 5 Sam PHILLIPS, No 6 your humble servant."

Is this the picture?  Look at the man in the middle sitting.  I imagine he felt somewhat relaxed and cocky that day.  Look at the eyes and compare them to the older picture of MAY.  Yeah, I think that's him.

I tried to find his tombstone and his obit with no success.

Ahh, genealogy.  Sometimes, we just need a stone.  Rest peacefully Boy MAY.




Part 1 of the series:  Frank?  Is That You?  You 149th Bucktail You
Part 2 of the series:  Ustick?  Is That You?  You, PA 149th You
Part 3 of the series:  Dave?  Is That You?  You, PA 149th You




Sources:
http://whispersofgenealogypast.blogspot.com
Year: 1880; Census Place: Mckeesport, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1088; Family History Film: 1255088; Page: 372D; Enumeration District: 041; Image: 0749
Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.                     
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pitttext;cc=pitttext;idno=00hc08553m;q1=philips;frm=frameset;view=image;seq=138;page=root;size=s
Nesbit, John W.  General History of Company D, 149th Pennsylvania Volunteers: and Personal Sketches of the Members
http://civilwartalk.com

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Military Monday: Dave? Is That You? You, PA 149th You

Part 3 in the series You, PA 149th You

Can you imagine the scene after a soldier is left for dead on the battlefield during the Civil War?  It couldn't have been a pleasant experience for either side.  In this case, the soldier was found alive later and sent to the hospital.

David PHILIPS, born May 6, 1835, in Scott Twp, Allegheny, PA, was the son of Henry Hultz PHILIPS and Adeline LONG.  In the Federal Census for 1860, he is living next to Henry and Adeline, and next to Thomas PHILIPS.  The census tells us his wife is Elizabeth and they were married in 1860.

David enlists during the frenzy of local boys joining Captain James GLENN on August 22, 1862.  These boys become the men of Co. D, PA 149th who walked to hell and back during the course of their three year enlistment.  David received a gunshot wound to the head at Laurel Hill, VA.  Left for dead!  For three days!

He did recover and returned to fight with his unit.

From Nesbit's book on the History of the Regiment

After the war, he returned to Allegheny Co, PA, and settled in Wilkinsburg as a machinist.  His wife passed.  Around 1892, he married Anna. He lived his life and passed away Feb. 9, 1913, and was buried at Southside Cemetery.

Why am I looking at him?  The 1863 letter of cousin Frank states he had a picture made with him and four others. Frank's words:     " No 1 Ustic ROTHROCK, our bugler, No 2 Dave PHILLIPS, No 3 Boy MAY, 4 I.B. MOMYER, 5 Sam PHILLIPS, No 6 your humble servant."

Is this the picture?  Look at the man standing behind who I have identified as Ustick ROTHROCK in the first bugle position.  Dave?  I think so.

I located his obit in the Pittsburgh Press dated February 10, 1913.  I thought his survival and success after the war needs a shout out.

Pittsburgh Press February 10, 1913

 Ahh, genealogy.  How many men have survived? How many men have we lost?  Take a moment and remember them all.   Thank you for your service American veterans.

Part 1 of the series:  Frank?  Is That You? You 149th Bucktail You
Part 2 of the series:  Ustick?  Is That You?  You, PA 149th You




Sources:
http://genitalesga.blogspot.com/2011/04/1863-civil-war-letter-from-member-of-pa.html
http://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/infantry/149th/149thcod.html
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/149th-pa-at-gettysburg.90596/
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?type=simple;c=pitttext;cc=pitttext;idno=00hc08553m;q1=philips;submit=Go;didno=00hc08553m;rgn=full%20text;view=image;seq=0165
http://interactive.ancestry.com/5164/41381_620305176_0822-02254/356353?backurl=http://person.ancestry.com/tree/6687227/person/6980841523/facts/citation/107690121404/edit/record
Historical Data Systems, comp.. American Civil War Soldiers [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.     
1860 Federal Census, Chartier, Allegheny, PA   

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Tombstone Tuesday: Ustick? Is That You? You, PA 149th You

Part 2 in the series You, PA 149th You

Ustick ROTHROCK, Lewistown, Mifflin, PA

Ustick ROTHROCK.  Now, that's a name not to forget.  Ustick caught my attention when it was first seen in the February 1863 letter written by Frank C DORRINGTON of Co. D of the PA 149th.  In the letter, cousin Frank encloses a picture taken with some buds in Washington, DC, as the regiment was on duty in defense of Washington, DC.

ROTHROCK b. 1836 was son of Joseph and Mary ROTHROCK.  His father, Joseph, was a stage driver and is found in the 1850 in Lewistown, Mifflin, PA.  Life carried on and then war broke out in America.  Ustick, a blacksmith at the time of his enlistment in August 1862, according to his wife's pension application in his name, volunteered.

ROTHROCK was the bugler for Co. D of the PA 149th Bucktails.  In addition, he was a sharpshooter who performed his duty well.  In the history of the regiment by John Nesbit, ROTHROCK escaped the war without wounds or sickness.

From Nesbit's book on the History of the Regiment

After he mustered out with the regiment in 1865, he settle into normal life.  He married Margaret SMITH and had three children; Cora b. 1875, Florence b. 1879 and Grace b. 1884.

Somehow, I am convinced the injuries he suffered were unseen by the general public.  As we of today know, the atrocities of war can lead to lasting issues such as depression, nightmares and end in suicide.  ROTHROCK was at Gettyburg for that fateful battle as well as all the other battles the regiment saw action.  He witnessed many of his friends fall and perish on the battlefield.  Some estimates say up to around 75% of the regiment fell in battle.  Did he have survivor's guilt?  Could he just not shake the images of the past when Americans fought and killed Americans?  He had a good job.  He had a home.  He had his demons of the past.

Did his demons lead to the label of lunatic for the last 26 years of his life?  After a two month complaint of acting insane, he was declared insane and confined to the Hospital for the Insane at his inquisition.  Even in the inquisition papers, it refers to ROTHROCK as "the lunatic."  It saddens me that we won't know the truth, although I suspect he had PTSD.

Corporal Ustick ROTHROCK passed away November 29, 1916.  While he appears to have had a sudden stroke, he also had the official diagnosis of manic depressive psychosis.

Why am I looking at him?  The 1863 letter of cousin Frank states he had a picture made with him and four others.  Looking at the picture, I see the bugle in the hands of PA 149th soldier number one.  It corresponds with Frank's words  " No 1 Ustic ROTHROCK, our bugler, No 2 Dave PHILLIPS, No 3 Boy MAY, 4 I.B. MOMYER, 5 Sam PHILLIPS, No 6 your humble servant."

Is this the picture of these men?  Look at the features of man number one and the later picture of Ustick.  The eyebrows, cheeks and nose are similar.  Could it be?

Ahh, genealogy.  The sands of time pass after war, but the memories are forever.  Would he have been able to live with his demons if he had stayed in Pittsburgh after the war and been able to talk with his comrades?  Rest in peace, Ustick.
And thanks to all veterans of America.





Part 1 of the series:  Military Monday: Frank?  Is That You? You 149th Bucktail You 

 Sources:
http://genitalesga.blogspot.com/search/label/dorrington
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/149th-pa-at-gettysburg.90596/
Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
http://mv.ancestry.com/viewer/e834e51f-974c-4d4f-87a1-1435be2fadf4/28945733/12351776261
Nesbit, John W. General history of Company D, 149th Pennsylvania volunteers: and personal sketches of the members University of Pittsburgh, University Library System., Digital Research Library.
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?type=simple;c=pitttext;cc=pitttext;idno=00hc08553m;q1=rothrock;submit=Go;didno=00hc08553m;rgn=full%20text;view=image;seq=0001;node=00hc08553m%3A1
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=rothrock&GSfn=ustick&GSby=1836&GSbyrel=in&GSdy=1916&GSdyrel=in&GSst=40&GScnty=2284&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=52104503&df=all&

©2016 ASEldredge

Military Monday: Frank? Is That You? You 149th Bucktail You

Reading the history of our great nation and of the men who fought for our freedom is fascinating.  Take, for instance, one of my cousins, Frank C DORRINGTON, of the famous PA 149th Bucktails.

I have mentioned Frank before and have even posted a letter he wrote in February 1863 to his brother, Joe. The letter in itself is fascinating as it details the life in Washington, DC, as the unit awaited its orders, which were received at the end of the letter.

In looking at the letter again for more clues from the past, I was struck by the mention of a picture he included in the letter.  There are six men in the picture:  " No 1 Ustic ROTHROCK, our bugler, No 2 Dave PHILLIPS, No 3 Boy MAY, 4 I.B. MOMYER, 5 Sam PHILLIPS, No 6 your humble servant."

Just this weekend, I stumbled across a photo of six men of the PA 149th.  Was this taken at Gettysburg?  It seems unlikely as the men were up to their buck tails in fighting. Is this picture the one mentioned in Frank's letter?

Captain James GLENN (l) and his cousin, Frank C DORRINGTON

Frank's appearance changed over the time he was in the Bucktails.  He had been severely injured in 1864 with a gunshot which entered the breast on the left side and exited through the left arm. He did return to duty while the company was near Petersburg and fought until the end of the war.

Ahh, genealogy.  Is it in the eyes? Or is it the bugle seen in number one mention in Frank's letter?  You tell me.

2 Aug 2016 Update:  The men mentioned in Frank Dorrington's letter have inspired a mini-series.  This is now Part 1 of You 149th Bucktail You.

Sources:
http://genitalesga.blogspot.com/search/label/dorrington
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/149th-pa-at-gettysburg.90596/
https://books.google.com/books?id=mnw3AQAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA206&lpg=RA1-PA206&dq=frank+c+dorrington&source=bl&ots=zSwroAHs-1&sig=J99UjmdGJa1Yd6Vow6lX6PN8yLE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjkgumBy6DOAhWCOyYKHR8XB6cQ6AEIITAB#v=onepage&q=frank%20c%20dorrington&f=false
http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/military/149th_1.txt

©2016 ASEldredge