Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - James Darling

57^th PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Autumn 1861 Camp Curtin Harrisburg, PA
Mustered In: 9, 10 & 11/1861 Camp Curtin Harrisburg, PA
Mustered Out:  6/29/1865 Alexandria, VA

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

The 57^th was a three year infantry regiment. During the American Civil War (ACW) it served in the Eastern Theater of operations.

Organized during the fall of 1861, recruits for the 57^th came primarily from the counties of Mercer, Crawford and Venango. Some, however, came from Tioga, Bradford, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties.

Departing the state on 12/14/1861 the unit moved to Washington City. It remained there in camp until 2/1862 when it marched into Virginia and camped south of Alexandria.

Joining the Army of The Potomac, in 4/1862 the 57^th moved further southward and took part in Union Gen. George McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign. Beset by illness almost since its inception, by the time that campaign ended, at Harrison’s Landing, VA, the regiment was without a field officer, had only a few line officers and could find – fit for duty - only fifty six (56) men out of upwards of one thousand (1,000) that had taken to the field three months earlier. Ranks, however, soon swelled by returning convalescents and new recruits.

The regiment suffered a small loss at 2^nd Bull Run/Manassas, VA (8/28 -30/1862). It was present, but not active at Chantilly (9/1/1862). The 57^th closed the combat year at Fredericksburg, VA (12/11 – 15/1862) where it lost twenty one (21) killed, seventy six (76) wounded and seventy eight (78) missing out of the three hundred sixteen (316) men fielded. 

1863. At Chancellorsville, VA (4/30 – 5/6   ) the 57^th suffered another thirteen (13), forty eight (48) wounded and twenty three missing. During the Gettysburg, PA campaign (6/11 – 7/4) it was heavily engaged with a loss of twelve (12) killed, forty five (45) wounded and forty seven (47) captured. It then stayed active until going into winter quarters near Culpepper, VA. 

In early 1864 nearly two-thirds (2/3) of the 57^th re-enlisted and went home on furlough.  Returning to the field they brought along a large number of new recruits who, again, swelled the ranks of the regiment as it entered the Overland Campaign into Virginia that May.

The unit started clashing with the enemy in The Wilderness (5/5 – 7/1864) and continued to do so losing heavily there as well as Spotsylvania (5/8 – 21/1864), the North Anna River (5/23 – 5/26/1864) and Cold Harbor (5/31 – 6/12/1864)6/15 – 18/1864). It then participated in the first Union assault upon Petersburg (6/15 - 18) and most all of the Federal movements that followed.

By 1/1865 the 57^th had lost so many men that it was consolidated into a six (6) company battalion. That organization shared in subsequent operations around Petersburg, the evacuation of that city and the surrender of Confed. Gen. Lee’s forces at Appomattox, VA (4/9/1865).

The War ended, the unit again returned to the area of Alexandria, VA where it was mustered out of the service and into the history books. The 57^th had been a fighting regiment.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 12; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:  0; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 149; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:216   .

SOLDIER:
Residence: Bradford County, PA Age: 23.8 yrs.
Enlisted:  9/15/1861 Towanda Bradford County, PA
Rank: Sgt.
Mustered In: 10/25/1861Camp Curtin Harrisburg, PA
Commissioned: 5/20/1862
Rank: 1^st Lieut.
Mustered Out: 6/29/1865 Alexandria, VA
Highest Rank: Capt.
Rank At Discharge: Capt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY: 

James M. Darling was born 1/12/1838. The location of his birth was within Sullivan County, NY.  

Fathering James was Adolphus Darling (b. VT) His mother was Rachel (nee Masten b. NY) Darling.  The names of possible siblings are not found in available documentation.

In 9/1861 James enlisted in the U.S. Army. Around that time James Darling, the physical man, was described as follows: Five feet ten and one half inches (5’101/2”) tall with brown hair and blue eyes. 

James’ regiment was the 57^th Pennsylvania Infantry.  His entry rank was that of sergeant, but in 5/1862 he was commissioned as a 1^st Lieutenant.

On 10/7/1862 Lieutenant Darling was transferred from Company “G” to Company “H”.* Further, on 1/24/1863 Lieutenant Darling was promoted to Captain. He was in command of this company during 7/1863 at Gettysburg, PA and, on, 8/12/1863 was appointed Acting Assistant Inspector General (A. A. I. G.) of his brigade, division and corps..

In 6/1864 while in front of Petersburg, VA Captain Darling was court marshalled for “disobedience of orders” and “misbehaviors before the enemy.” Evidently, a higher ranking officer who Captain despised, ordered him to accompany^ him in  a charge. This was contrary to Darling’s job description, so he refused. He did accompany the charge, but not as the officer’s orderly. Busted back to the ranks, Darling was found guilty of the charges, and cashiered from the military that same month. However, on 12/15/1904, by an act of congress Captain Darling was exonerated and held to be honorably discharged from the service. 

Back in Pennsylvania, on 8/1/1865 in Towanda, PA James married. His bride was Miss. Clara Caswell Kellum. The new Mrs. Darling had been born in 9/1835 in Connecticut.

During their years together James and Clara produced two (2) children, both of them sons. They were: Dwight K. Darling (b ca. 1868 PA.) and Charles A. Darling (b. ca. 1869 WI).

After marrying James and Clara remained in Pennsylvania for three or so (3+) years before removing to Portage Columbia County, WI. There, the 1870 U.S. Census tallied James, Clara and their two boys. That year James listed his occupation as “grocer.”

The Darlings remained in Wisconsin for five (5) years before quitting Wisconsin in favor of Salt Lake City, UT. The family remained there for fifteen (15) years before moving northwestward to Whatcom County, Washington Territory (WT) in 1888.  In this far corner of the Pacific Northwest, James and family settled in Fairhaven (later, Bellingham) where he took over operations of the Fairhaven Land Company’s store.

In 1890 James was elected to be Fairhaven councilman.  Three years later, in 1893, he became the community treasurer.

James M. Darling died 7/6/1914 at his Fairhaven/Bellingham home located at 925 Twelfth St. Burial was/is in that community’s Bayview Cemetery. He was survived by his widow and two (2) adult sons.

Dropping back a few years, on 3/30/1907 James had applied for and been granted a U.S. Government disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering. Details of his monthly stipend are not available at the time of this writing.

Following her husband’s death, Clara, petitioned to continue receiving at least a portion of that financial allotment. Again, the petition was granted, but dollar details are not currently known.

Clara lived out her years in she and James’ 925 Twelfth St., Fairhaven/Bellingham home. She died on 7/20/1920^ after a brief stay in Whatcom County’s St. Joseph Hospital. She was/is buried with James at Bayview Cemetery.

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*A newspaper obituary published after Mr. Darling’s death erroneously noted that the transfer was from Company “G” to Company “K”

Posted: 11/19/2024
Updated:

Buried at Bay View Cemetery in Bellingham
Row: SECTION O, Lot 1160
Site: Grave 4-A