Henry Martin Pool

Henry Martin Pool was born in 1843 in Michigan, probably the son of Abiah (b. 1797) and Lucy (b. 1800).

Both New York natives Abiah and Lucy were married sometime before 1832, probably in New York where they lived for some years. Between 1835 and 1837 they moved to Ohio and from Ohio to Michigan sometime after 1843. By 1850 Henry and his family were living in Bowne, Kent County. In 1860 Henry was still living with his family on a farm in Bowne.

Heny was 18 years old and residing in “Grand Haven, Kent County” or Crockery, Ottawa County when he enlisted in Company A on May 13, 1861. (Company A was made up largely of men from Grand Rapids, and many of whom had served in various local militia units before the war, specifically the Valley City Guards, or VCG, under the command of Captain Samuel Judd, who would also command Company A.) In 1862 Henry listed Bowne, Kent County, as his place of residence in 1862.

Henry was a good friend and comrade of George Miller, also of Company A and also from Bowne. On May 31, 1862, following the battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia, Miller was reported missing in action. On June 5, 1862, Pool wrote to Miller’s mother that

Being a particular friend of your son George I took the liberty to open [a letter to George dated May 28, 1862] and answer it, as George is undoubtedly taken prisoner. We had a terrible battle Saturday 20,000 of us against about 60,000 of the rebels. After a terrible conflict we drove them back although our losses were heavy. Our Captain [Samuel Judd] was killed, First Lieutenant [George Judd] badly wounded through the shoulder. First, Second, third and Fifth Sergeants wounded. We have made a thorough search for George but as his body could not be found, he is undoubtedly taken prisoner. He was a good boy, a faithful soldier, we all deeply regret his loss, yet pray that it may be but for a short time.

By mid-June Henry was sick in Berry’s Third Brigade hospital at Mrs. Allen’s farm (possibly near White’s Tavern, Virginia, along the Charles City road), suffering from fever and diarrhea.

Henry was reported missing in action on July 1, 1862, and in fact he died of erysipolas (a skin infection) on July 1, 1862, at Savage Station, Virginia. He was presumably among the unknown soldiers buried near Savage Station.

Many years after the war, the editor of the History of Troy, Ohio, wrote that a “Martin Pool joined his fortunes with the Third Michigan infantry, in the earlier stages of the conflict. On the first day of June 1862, the battle of Fair Oaks was fought, while, near by, in a hospital, among others, Martin was lying helpless. The hospital was captured, and there is every reason to believe that the inmates were bayoneted in their cots, comrade Poole with the rest.”

No pension seems to be available.

In 1870 there was a 22-year-old named Henry Pool living in Bowne, Kent County.