Andrew S. Hunter, Civil War Soldier
Title
Andrew S. Hunter, Civil War Soldier
Subject
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Description
Andrew S. Hunter
Born in Princeton, Me._Son of John Hunter,_by occupation a Teamster,_Unmarried,_at the age of 31 enlisted as a recruit in the 1st Regiment of Cavalry, Mass. Vols.
Mustered into service August 6, 1862._In camp at Cambridge, Mass. until September 3, 1862. Thence to Washington; remained there in camp till November 5th following, then proceeded to join the regiment at Hagerstown, Md. And was assigned to Company E.
Appointed Corporal April 14, 1863._He participated in all the duties and movements of the company from the time of entering it until December 28, 1863._At that date he reenlisted for three years as a veteran volunteer in the same regiment. He received the prescribed furlough of 35 days, dated February 5, 1864, and visited his friends in Chicopee._Rejoined the regiment at Warrenton, Va.
Continued with his company till the 11jth of May following. On that day, two squadrons, Cos. E and F included, were sent forward about one mile and a half in advance of the brigade, to destroy the railroad station and property, telegraph, {???} at Ashland Station, on the Va. Central R.R._about 14 miles from Richmond. When retiring from the town, after finishing this undertaking, they heard shouting and a few stray shots in the rear. A halt was ordered, and they charged back through the town. But they were fired upon and surrounded by two regiments of cavalry, who had dismounted and secreted themselves behind fences, walls and buildings. Several were killed and wounded.
Hunter’s horse was shot, and he therefore, with others, was made prisoner. They were taken towards Richmond, but on account of fears of their recapture by the Union forces, they were taken around in different directions and did not arrive in Richmond till the night of the 13th of May. Hunter was confined in Pemberton Building, opposite {Libly} Prison. He was robbed of all his money and other valuables. On the 8th of June he was started for Andersonville, Ga._where he arrived the night of the 15th_Endured the dreadful privations and cruelties of that prison –pen until September 12th, when he was transferred to Florence, S.C._December 13th, left Charleston, S.C. a paroled prisoner, and arrived at Annapolis, Md. on the 16th. He had been sick before leaving Florence, and on reaching Annapolis he was attacked with typhoid fever._Furloughed 30 days, arrived at his home in Chicopee, December 29, 1864. After the expiration of his furlough, he reported at Camp Parole, Annapolis, and was detailed for duty as clerk in the office of Col. S.E. Chamberlin, command of Post. ON the 25 March, 1865, he was {deplaced} exchanged. From that date to date of discharge, he remained at Camp Parole on duty as clerk.
On 7 {June}, 1865, he was mustered out of the service and afterwards returned to Chicopee.
Died in Chicopee March 20, 1884
Born in Princeton, Me._Son of John Hunter,_by occupation a Teamster,_Unmarried,_at the age of 31 enlisted as a recruit in the 1st Regiment of Cavalry, Mass. Vols.
Mustered into service August 6, 1862._In camp at Cambridge, Mass. until September 3, 1862. Thence to Washington; remained there in camp till November 5th following, then proceeded to join the regiment at Hagerstown, Md. And was assigned to Company E.
Appointed Corporal April 14, 1863._He participated in all the duties and movements of the company from the time of entering it until December 28, 1863._At that date he reenlisted for three years as a veteran volunteer in the same regiment. He received the prescribed furlough of 35 days, dated February 5, 1864, and visited his friends in Chicopee._Rejoined the regiment at Warrenton, Va.
Continued with his company till the 11jth of May following. On that day, two squadrons, Cos. E and F included, were sent forward about one mile and a half in advance of the brigade, to destroy the railroad station and property, telegraph, {???} at Ashland Station, on the Va. Central R.R._about 14 miles from Richmond. When retiring from the town, after finishing this undertaking, they heard shouting and a few stray shots in the rear. A halt was ordered, and they charged back through the town. But they were fired upon and surrounded by two regiments of cavalry, who had dismounted and secreted themselves behind fences, walls and buildings. Several were killed and wounded.
Hunter’s horse was shot, and he therefore, with others, was made prisoner. They were taken towards Richmond, but on account of fears of their recapture by the Union forces, they were taken around in different directions and did not arrive in Richmond till the night of the 13th of May. Hunter was confined in Pemberton Building, opposite {Libly} Prison. He was robbed of all his money and other valuables. On the 8th of June he was started for Andersonville, Ga._where he arrived the night of the 15th_Endured the dreadful privations and cruelties of that prison –pen until September 12th, when he was transferred to Florence, S.C._December 13th, left Charleston, S.C. a paroled prisoner, and arrived at Annapolis, Md. on the 16th. He had been sick before leaving Florence, and on reaching Annapolis he was attacked with typhoid fever._Furloughed 30 days, arrived at his home in Chicopee, December 29, 1864. After the expiration of his furlough, he reported at Camp Parole, Annapolis, and was detailed for duty as clerk in the office of Col. S.E. Chamberlin, command of Post. ON the 25 March, 1865, he was {deplaced} exchanged. From that date to date of discharge, he remained at Camp Parole on duty as clerk.
On 7 {June}, 1865, he was mustered out of the service and afterwards returned to Chicopee.
Died in Chicopee March 20, 1884
Source
Soldier's Record, Town of Chicopee
Date
ca. 1861-1865
Rights
Public Domain
Type
Text
Coverage
Chicopee (Mass.)
Identifier
SR-250.0
Files
Collection
Citation
“Andrew S. Hunter, Civil War Soldier,” Chicopee Archives Online, accessed November 21, 2024, https://chicopeepubliclibrary.org/archives/items/show/2637.