Tuesday, January 12, 2010

William H. Newton

William H. Newton was born in 1842 in Genesee County, Michigan.

William stood 5’11” with blue eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was a 20-year-old farmer possibly living in Grand Rapids when he enlisted in Company A on January 23, 1862, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, crediting Grand Rapids, and was mustered the same day. He reenlisted on February 4, 1864, at Camp Bullock, Virginia, near Culpeper, Virginia, was absent on veteran’s furlough in late February and/or early March. William returned to Michigan where married Lydia Jane Church on March 13, 1864, in Kent County.

He presumably returned to the Regiment in by the end of March or early April. He was transferred to Company A, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864.

William was a Corporal when he was killed in action on October 27, 1864, at Boydton Plank road (or Hatcher’s Run), near Petersburg, Virginia. William was presumably buried on the battlefield, and may be among the unknown soldiers interred at Petersburg, Virginia.

In 1865 his widow applied for and received a pension (no. 44777).

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