Flagler, Wesley

From Helderberg Hilltowns of Albany County, NY


Birth

Wesley Flagler was born in Westerlo, NY in 1848 or 1849.[1][2] This birth years are based on 1850 and 1860 US Censuses. However his birth year based on Civil War documents indicate that he was born in about 1846.[3] It is most likely that the censuses were correct and that like many young men during the war, he lied about his age to serve. He appears to have been the eldest child of Eli Flagler (B. 1820, D.>1860) and his wife Phebe.[1][2] Wesley had several younger brothers and lived among his extended family.[2] It appears that his grandmother Gitty (B. abt 1780) and unmarried Aunt Catharine Flagler (B. 1808) lived with his family for most of his childhood.[1][2]

Marriage & Children

Wesley appears not to have married.

Occupation

Before his enlistment in the Civil War, Wesley worked as a farmer like his father Eli.[3]


Military Service

Residence: Westerlo[4]
Place of Birth: Albany County [4]
Date of Birth: 1849 [4]
Term of Enlistment: 3 years [4]
Enlistment Date: 1 Feb 1864 or 2 Jan 1864[3]
Enlistment Place: Troy, NY
Enlistment Rank: Private[3]
State Served: New York
Regiment: 7th Regiment NY Heavy Artillery[3]
Company: Company M[3]
Promotion Date: 19 May 1864[3]
Promotion Rank: Corporal[3]
Captured on: 16 June 1864[3]
Captured at: Petersburg, VA[3]
Imprisoned at: Andersonville, GA
Died of Disease on: 22 Aug 1864[3]
Place of Death: Andersonville, GA[3]
Additional Remarks: Enlisted at the age of 18.[5] He died of diarrea.[3]

Born in Westerlo in 1849, Age 18, Farmer, Blue eyes, Brown hair, Dark complexion, 5'2" tall.[6]

Sources Used: Ancestry.com, American Civil War Soldiers and Andersonville Prisoners of War; Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of NY for the year 1898; Keating, Robert, Carnival of Blood: The Civil War Ordeal of the Seventh New York Heavy Artillery, Published by Butternut and Blue, Baltimore, Md 1998; Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War

Life

Wesley Flagler was born and raised in Westerlo where his father Eli Flagler owned a farm which he worked.[1][2] Wesley enlisted in the 7th Heavy Artillery Regiment, which over 50% of the Westerlo Civil War soldiers were members.[7]


Death

Wesley Flagler died while imprisoned in the Confederate Andersonville prison on August 22, 1864 of diarrhea and was buried in grave number 6500.[3][5] He had been admitted to the hospital at Andersonville on August 17th just five days before his death.[5]

Obituary

Additional Research Notes

Additional Media

Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War


Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1850 US Census, Westerlo, Albany Co, NY
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 1860 US Census, Westerlo, Albany Co, NY
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Keating, Robert, Carnival of Blood: The Civil War Ordeal of the Seventh New York Heavy Artillery, Published by Butternut and Blue, Baltimore, Md 1998
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Town and City Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Ancestry Military Databases
  6. NY Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, Ancestry.com Military databases
  7. Bishop, Thurman Jr., "Historian Recalls Day of Sadness 122 Years Ago" Altamont Enterprise Thursday June 19, 1986 page 19.