Elisha Freeman Barnum
Personal Information
Elisha F. Barnum worked as a day laborer before he was enlisted. Barnum owned a house with his wife, Martha J. Ticknor, in 1859. Barnum was the head of the household. According to our research from the Find A Grave website, we were able to establish that Barnum wasn't employed for eight months before entering the war. Barnum enlisted on August 11th, 1862. Barnum was in the 4th Regiment, Heavy Artillery New York. The people in the 4th Regiment, Heavy Artillery served as Heavy Artillery and Infantry. Heavy Artillery included cannons and mortars. Infantry is when people would infiltrate a fort. Ninety-seven men that were in the regiment died by the hands of the enemy. Barnum fought for three years and was discharged June 10th, 1865.
After the war Barnum lived in Orleans County, New York. Sadly on the date of April 20, 1918 Barnum died at the age of eighty-two years old. According to our research, there were sixty-two people who attended his funeral. The cemetery that Barnum was buried in is called Lynhaven Cemetery, which is also located in Orleans County, New York, so it is very close to the original location of his birth and his house.
Barnum's lasted living relatives that we were able to find according to our research was Gloria Annette Ray, who is actually Barnum's great-great-granddaughter. She died in 2013 and was married to Robert H Ray. She was born on May 19, 1930, in Newfane, New York. Gloria had two daughters. Her daughters' names were Linda Bartholomew and Deborah Zarajczyk. Her husband's name was Bruce, and her sister-in-law's name was Geraldine Barnum.
The 4th Regiment, Heavy Artillery
"The yellow, silk regimental color carried by the 4th Artillery, New York Volunteers with painted Arms of the State of New York and crossed cannons generally conforms to the 1858 New York State regulations. Deposited into the New York State Battle Flag Collection in November 1865, the flag includes 3-inch long, yellow, cotton and silk, fringe and a narrow sleeve for attachment to the staff. Flag dimensions are: 74 1/2'' hoist X 79 1/2'' fly." - 4th Regiment Artillery, NY Volunteers Regimental Color | NY Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, dmna.ny.gov/historic/btlflags/artillery/4thArtyRegimentalColor2004.0094.htm.
Battles of the 4th regiment, heavy artillery
Locations:
- Lewinsville, VA
- Carlisle, PA.
- New York City riots; detachment rrth Art
- Wilderness, Va
- Spotsylvania Court House, Va
- Piney Branch Church
- Laurel Hill
- Landron's Farm
- Harris House
- North Anna, Va
- Totopotomoy, Va
- Cold Harbor, Va
- Before Petersburg, Va
- Assault of Petersburg, Va
- Weldon Railroad, Va
- Deep Bottom, Va
- Strawberry Plains, Va
- Ream's Station, Va
- Petersburg Works, Va
- Appomattox Campaign, Va
- White Oak Ridge
- Fall of Petersburg
- Amelia Springs
- Deatonsville Road
- Farmville, Va
- Appomattox Court House
Family Tree
Transcription
Front side |
Camp in the field near Culpeper in an Orchard May 3, 1864
Much Respected Sister, Again I grasp my pen to ans [answer] your welcome letter that I received last friday a week ago. If I could correspond as good a letter as the one I received I should feel proud to pen a few words to you, as much, so as I always need to to Clifeon but you must take the ill for the dead. I know better how to sympathize with you than any one as I am In a place where I know and feel the wants of a women better than I ever did. While at home especially one that has broken first and only companion in the same service that I am in. death states was in the face of all hours and soon it may be my lot to fall for I have faith to believe I shall come out all right yet no one knows weather I shall or not the grand Corps of this army is in motion somewhere of can’t say and before this reaches far I may be in the center of the rebellion upholding our country flag. they left last night about 1 I think the shouts from the boys could be heard distantly 3 miles I could see their corps burning and their shouts told me then the second Corps was soon to open the ball I thought the 5 corps would but it appears that the second one are first to move their destination is not known I think it will be fredericksburg to flank [Un readable ] can't tell though. Burnside is with the army of the Potomac I think we have 200 000 effective men with [unreadable] or more and more coming. I think we will move this week any way can’t tell no more than anybody though the army has been concentrating for about 2 weeks and led by our General we must be sure of success. I think Richmond must fall and the war brought to a speedy end I hope so any way [I] I should be spared to see any friends I should think anytime was well spent if not I shouldn’t think at all If I should fall in a good cause and this would be the last of me |
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The commander our Battalion
Backside (top to bottom) |
you wanted to know why Clifron didn’t send for me before he
got so sick. I don’t know nor have I ever been able to find out as a general thing if a man looks we'll and goes to the doctor they think he is playing off perhaps for his discharges or to get rid of duty it might be so with him they might thought so, I know of lots of our boys that has played off got their discharge and if any one is really rich they get in sympathy from, any one,. this is the care where they go to the hospital any way way. I have seen so much of it I know how it goes. One of our boys while they went to the Drs [doctor] they say he was playing off, he looked as well as anybody apparently he died in camp when in fact he was laughing 5 minutes before he died. He died before the doc could get there. Cliftons disease might of been something like this, He was a great deal richer than he thought he was I don’t think he [sent] for me I don’t know I think it was Rose or Kcryon can’t say I must go and see the boys and see some of these days I feel very thankful. I was there to see him breathe his last to watch over him in his last hours. Lee thinks of his being without father mother sister and above all wife to see him leave for a better world was worse to me than to see him die. Only I besides me see him breathe his last I could Never forget it. He didn’t know any one when I got there. As I have wrote I think this before I must change to something else. I never want to die unless some of my friends are with me I know of no advice to give you as to the future if I was there to talk to you I could do more than I could write Orville has a good place but it ain’t like being with you after all. It seems as though you had a hard row the year speak as you have lost three years. 4 of your dearest friends in a little after a year and your other sister going to leave soon so she can’t be company for you, its now almost drill time and I must close as my page is most full, give my respects to all and be assured my best respects to me and with you. As soon as you can get a favorable opportunity, have you ever received my photograph I sent it last winter to you I have never heard from it ans [answer] in your next. When I get to Richmond I shall have it taken again good By sister Lydia Ann. Elisha F. Barmun Culpeper court House |
Sideways part of backside
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Latest 4 the 2 corps has not moved unless Burnside
Occupied the ground as it is covered with tints I think
Grant is trying to scare Lee or deserve him.
Commissary is packed up ready to move so
I heard we have orders to move to night
So as there's nothing official in it I look for a
move every hours Jap and Gil are on guard. To
all well at present
Occupied the ground as it is covered with tints I think
Grant is trying to scare Lee or deserve him.
Commissary is packed up ready to move so
I heard we have orders to move to night
So as there's nothing official in it I look for a
move every hours Jap and Gil are on guard. To
all well at present