Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Elijah Caulkins

1^st WISCONSIN VOLUNTEER LIGHT ARTILLERY BATTERY
Organized: 9/1861 La Crosse, WI
Mustered In: 10/6/1861 La Crosse, WI
Mustered Out:  7/18/1863 Camp Washburn, Milwaukee, WI

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

The 1^st was a three year military organization. Its period of service was within the western theater of combat during the American Civil War (ACW).

Departing the state on 1/23/1862 the 1^st travelled to St. Louis, MO. It remained there until 4/1863. It then joined an expedition to Cumberland Gap, K.Y. This necessitated hauling their heavy cannons over steep passes by hand. Next, in September,  it moved into Virginia.

By late 1862 the battery joined the forces of Union Gen. U.S. Grant as they began movements towards Vicksburg, MS. During this period the 1^st provided effective service at Chickasaw Bluffs (12/26 – 29/1862) and at Arkansas Post, AR (1/9 – 11/1863).

Also, in 1863 the battery clashed with the enemy at Port Gibson, MS (5/1) It then participated in the battle of Champion’s Hill, MS (5/16), was engaged at Black River (5/17) and bore a prominent role in the first assault upon Vicksburg itself. Further, during the siege of the latter place the 1^st fired over twelve thousand (12,000) rounds which essentially wore out their twenty (20) pound guns.  After the fall of Vicksburg (7/4/1863) it aided in the reduction of Jackson, MS.

The battery ended 1863 at New Orleans, LA.  There, it was re-equipped as horse artillery.

4/1864 found the 1^st assisting in the Union retreat during Union Gen. Banks’ Red River Expedition. The following month it was active at Alexandria, LA.

Early 1865 saw the 1^st at New Orleans, LA and Baton Rouge, AL. It then returned home to Wisconsin for final muster.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers killed or mortally wounded: 0; Officers died of disease, accidents, etc.: 1; Enlisted men killed or mortally wounded: 5; Enlisted men died of disease, accidents, etc.  22 ‘

SOLDIER:
Residence: Bad Axe County, WI   Age: 26.1 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 9/3/1861   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 9/3/1861
Mustered Out: 10/11/1864
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

Elijah Caulkins was born 7/23/1835. The location of his birth was Lempster Sullivan County, NH.

Father of Elijah was Thomas S. Caulkins (b. ca. 1792 CT). His mother was Lucy nee Youngman b. 1797 NC). Caulkins. *

Based on available information, Elijah had at least three siblings.  They were: Arvilla Caulkins (b. ca. 1832), Nathan Caulkins (b. ca. 1834) and Ellen Caulkins (b. ca. 1849).

At some point in time during the 1850s Elijah married. His bride was Fannie/Fanny Hoxsie.  She had been born ca. 1839 in Warren County, PA. It appears that after marrying the couple settled in Warren County, PA. Then, sometime between 1859 and 1861 they removed to Wisconsin.

Throughout their years together Elijah and Fannie/Fanny produced six children. Their first-born was Ella May Caulkins.  Ella May was born 5/15/1859 in Russell Warren County, PA. Next came Carlton “Carl” E. Caulkins (b. ca. 1861 WI).

With the onset of the ACW in 4/1861, in late summer of that year, Elijah left his wife and young children to enlist in the U.S. Army. His unit was the 1^st Wisconsin Light Artillery Battery. Without accessing Private Caulkins military service records, all we can say about his three year period of enlistment is that he survived The War and returned to his family.

The next we hear from Elijah and family comes from the 1880 U.S. Census. That tally found the Caulkins farming in Portland Kossuth County, IA. Within the home at that time were Elijah and Fannie/Fanny plus children Ella M. Caulkins,  Carlton E. Caulkins, Ordel Hoxsie Caulkins (b. ca. 1866 NH). Herman L. Caulkins (b. ca. 1871 IA), Estela Caulkins (b. ca. 1872 IA) and Glenn W. Caulkins (b. ca. 1879 IA). Five years later, in 1885 the family was still in Iowa.

1910. By that year the Caulkins family was residing and farming in Maple Falls Whatcom County, WA. Based on available documentation, it appears that eldest son, Carl Caulkins, came to the Pacific Northwest’s Whatcom County, WA in 1888 in search of homestead farm land. Elijah, Fannie/Fanny and children joined Carl on his homestead tract in 1890.

Following a “short illness” Elijah Caulkins died at his home in Maple Falls on 7/17/1912: He was/is buried in Bellingham Whatcom County, WA’s Bayview Cemetery.

Dropping back some years, on 5/29/1897 Elijah applied for a U.S. Government disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering. The request was granted, but without accessing pension files housed in the National Archives located in Washington, D.C. we are not privy to details pertaining to his monthly financial stipend.

After Elijah’s death his widow petitioned the Government to continue receiving at least a portion of her late husband’s pension stipend. That petition, too, was granted but, again, without accessing widow pension files the nature of Fannie/Fanny’s stipend remains in the dark.

Ninety-four year old Fannie/Fanny Hoxsie Caulkins died in Maple Falls Whatcom County, WA on 1/6/1931. She was/is buried beside Elijah in Bayview Cemetery.
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* According to Elijah’s death certificate his mother was Lizzie (nee Youngman) Caulkins.

Posted: 9/17/2024
Updated: 

Buried at Bay View Cemetery in Bellingham
Row: SECTION O, Lot 1069
Site: Grave 4-A