The Willimantic Journal – Mansfield Historical Society

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The Willimantic Journal

Charles B. Baldwin

Posted on November 4, 2022November 9, 2022 by Amanda Rutha

Charles B. Baldwin was a resident of Mansfield on July 30, 1862 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. F of the 18th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He was killed in action on June 15, 1863 in Winchester, Virginia.

“Two companies, one of which was company F, charged on a body of rebels on the Berryville Road, and captured twelve guns, and took four prisoners. They were ordered to fall back, but Charles Baldwin of Mansfield staid behind, probably not hearing the order. A rebel Lieutenant and two privates came out of the woods, and one ordered him to surrender. He refused, and raised his gun to shoot the rebel, but the gun only snapped the cap, and the rebel Lieutenant shot him through the bowels with his carbine. He was buried where he fell, by a citizen who owned the property.”
The Willimantic Journal reported the above account that was communicated by Corporal Chas. D. Burdick, Co. F 18^th C.V.I. July 24, 1863

He was born July 4, 1845 to Seth P. and Celinda (Farnham) Baldwin. In the 1860 U.S. census in Mansfield, he is a 15 year old living in the household of Seth P. Baldwin.

Seth P. Baldwin applied for a dependent father’s pension. According to the Pension List of 1883, he was receiving a pension of $8 per month that commenced in October, 1872.

Charles Baldwin shares a headstone with his father at the New Storrs Cemetery in Mansfield.

George H. Crosby

Posted on November 4, 2022November 9, 2022 by Amanda Rutha

George Herbert Crosby was a resident of Mansfield on August 11, 1862 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. D of the 21st Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He died January 3, 1863 at the U.S. General Hospital in Washington, D.C.

“George Crosby, a member of Co. D, 21st Connecticut Regiment from Mansfield, died of fever in the hospital at Washington, recently.”
The Willimantic Journal, Friday, Jan 9, 1863

The descriptive muster roll of the 21st Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry lists his age as 18 and his occupation as farmer. He is described as 5’ 7” tall with a fair complexion and brown hair and brown eyes.

He was born about August, 1845 in Pomfret, Connecticut to Josiah M. and Mary A. ______ Crosby. In the 1860 U.S. census in Mansfield, he is a 14 year old in the household of Sarah C. Crosby.

George H. Crosby is buried in the New Storrs Cemetery in Mansfield; the inscription states that he was 17 years and 4 months old.

James M. Perkins

Posted on October 25, 2022November 9, 2022 by Amanda Rutha

James M. Perkins was a resident of Mansfield on August 19, 1861 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. H of the 7th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry; he was wounded June 16, 1862 at James Island, South Carolina and discharged for disability September 22, 1862. The July 4, 1862 issue of The Willimantic Journal reported that James N. Perkins of Mansfield, a member of Co. H., 7th Connecticut Volunteers Regiment was seriously wounded in the back by a rifle shot. The 7^th C.V.I. loss in the disastrous battle on James Island resulted in 11 killed, 4 prisoners and 67 wounded. In the July 11, 1862 issue of The Willimantic Journal , it was reported that James M. Perkins of Mansfield and Benj. E. Sanford of Willimantic, both wounded soldiers of the Conn. 7^th, have arrived at a hospital in New York.

“Benj. E. Sanford, of Willimantic, and James M. Perkins, of Mansfield, wounded soldiers of the Conn. 7th, have arrived in New York. By a recent regulation soldiers arriving in New York are not forwarded to their homes, but sent to the hospitals in that vicinity.”
The Willimantic Journal, Friday, July 11, 1862

He was born about 1835 in Connecticut and married ______. His 1865 death record stated that he left one child, Ella, who was one year old, giving her a birth year of about 1864.

On April 4, 1863, he applied for an invalid pension, No. 16,882 that was granted under certificate No. 15,150. Pension applications were later filed by his widow and for his minor child.

James M. Perkins died September 29, 1865, 30 years, 4 months and 7 days old. The cause of death was tuberculosis and phthisis, induced by the wound received in battle. He is buried at the Old Mansfield Center Cemetery in Mansfield.

Charles Simons

Posted on October 25, 2022November 9, 2022 by Amanda Rutha

Simons/Simonds

Charles Simons was a resident of Willington on August 13, 1862 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. I of the 14th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry; he was wounded at Fredericksburg, Maryland on December 13, 1862 and died on February 19, 1862. The March 6, 1863 issue of The Willimantic Journal reported his death at the Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia on February 20, 1863 (Military records have February 19, 1863).

“Charles Simons, of Mansfield, a member of Co. I, 14th C.V., died in Hospital at Alexandria, Feb. 20, from the effects of a wound received at the battle of Fredericksburg, which shattered his hip. His age was about 37.”
The Willimantic Journal, Friday, March 6, 1863

He was born on August 28, 1825 in Mansfield to Asa and Keziah (Conant) Simonds. Elijah Simons/Simonds, one of his brothers, served in a Massachusetts regiment in the Civil War.

On January 11, 1871, his mother applied for a dependent mother’s pension, No. 110,132 that was granted under Certificate No. 141,814.

Charles Simons is buried at the Alexandria National Cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia, Plot A – 743.

Whiting S. Wyllys

Posted on October 19, 2022December 2, 2022 by Amanda Rutha

Whiting Wyllys was a resident of Mansfield on August 18, 1862 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. D of the 21st Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry; he died January 18, 1863 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The March 6, 1863 issue of The Willimantic Journal reported that “E. C. Wyllys, son of Mr. Bennett Wyllys of Mansfield, a member of the 21^st Reg’t recently died of fever in the hospital at Falmouth. His remains reached home on Friday last and his funeral was attended on Tuesday afternoon.”

The descriptive muster roll of the 21st Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry lists his age as 18 and his occupation as farmer. He is described as 5’ 8” tall with a light complexion and blue eyes and light hair. His marital status is single.

He was born about 1844 in Windham, Connecticut to Bennett and Frances L. _____ Wyllys. In the 1860 U.S. census in Mansfield, he is a 16 year old farm laborer in the household of Bennett Wyllys.

Frances L. Wyllys applied for a dependent mother’s pension in 1869, No. 171,249 that was granted under certificate No. 133,363. According to the list of pensioners on the roll in 1883, Frances L. Wyllys was receiving a pension of $8 per month as a dependent mother that commenced in August 1869.

Whiting S. Wyllys was about 19 when he died; he is buried at the Chewink Cemetery in Chaplin, Connecticut.