8th MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Summer/Fall, 1862
Mustered In: Beginning 8/1/62 By Companies
Mustered Out: 7/11/65 Ft. Snelling, St. Paul, MN
REGIMENTAL HISTORY:
During its tenure the 8th, a three year western theater infantry regiment actually fought in a war within a war. The war within was with Native American hostiles. The second war was with Johnny Reb.
Mustered into Federal service by companies the 8th was sent to Minnesota, the scene of Indian raids. Company "E" was assigned to Monticello, MN and was on duty at the Chippewa agency in December.
.In the spring of 1863 regiment’s headquarters were established at St. Cloud, MN. After this a majority of the unit was moved to the Sioux frontier with Company "E" being re-assigned to Paynesville. During this period there were many skirmishes with the hostiles resulting in the loss of a number of men at various locations.
As mounted infantry, in May, 1864 the regiment joined Union Gen. Sully's expedition against the Sioux. This involved bringing together a number of companies at Paynesville for the first time.
During July the regiment fought the battle of Killdeer Mountain, There, the Indians were defeated and driven into the mountains. Four companies including "E" then followed the fleeing natives.
On 8/8/64 the Federals were attacked on the edge of the plain by 5,000 Indians. The hostiles were subsequently were driven for 12 miles with a loss of nearly 1,000 killed and wounded. The troops lost about 100 men only 9 of whom were killed. This was called the battle of “Waps – Chon choka” by the hostiles.
The regiment returned to Ft. Snelling, MN in mid-October, 1864. On 10/26 it left the state bound for Murfreesboro, TN. Finally facing Johnny Reb the unit helped drive enemy forces away from a blockhouse on Overall's Creek. On a reconnaissance a few days later, its reputation as an "Indian" regiment having preceded it, the 8th was given "the front."
During a charge on Wilkinson Pike the Rebels were routed, but not without the 8th having lost 90 killed and wounded in thirty minutes. From there it followed the retreating Confederates to the Tennessee River.
In early March, 1865 the regiment reached New Berne, NC. It then participated in the battle of Kinston. Provost (military police) duty lead up to a move to Charlotte, NC then home for final muster.
REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 1; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:0 ; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 26; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 56.
SOLDIER:
Residence: Inf. Not Avail. Age: 27.0 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 8/14/62 Rank: Cprl.
Mustered In: 8/14/62
Mustered Out: 7/11/65 Ft. Snelling, St. Paul, MN
Highest Rank: Cprl.
Rank At Discharge: Cprl.
PERSONAL/FAMILY PROFILE:
NOTE: The birth - to - death biographical profile of William Lord was created in September, 2020 during the Covid-19 medical pandemic. It features less depth and detail than other biographies found within this website because military, pension and other veteran-related files housed in Washington, D.C.'s National Archives were not available. At a later time these documents may be acquired and the data therein added to the narrative which follows.
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William Henry Lord was born 7/23/35. His place of birth was Vassalboro Kennebec County, ME.
Parents of William were William Henry [Senior] (b. 6/95 Vassalboro Kennebec Co., ME - d. 1887 ME) and Eunice (nee Gardiner b. 7/22/94 Nantucket Island, ME - d. 7/6/67 Kennebec Co., ME) Lord. The Lords were a farming family.
Based on available U.S. Census data it appears our William was the youngest of four Lord children. Older than he were James G. (b. 1818 ME), Martin (b. 1820 ME) and Catherine B. (b. 1828 ME). As noted all were birthed in Maine.
In 1830 the Lords were residing in Vassalboro Kennebec Co., ME .No 1840 census entry has been found for the family.
The population tally for 1850 found the Senior William Henry - noted as a farmer - & wife Eunice Lord living in China Kennebec Co., ME with daughter Catherine. William [Junior] was not in the home, but residing in Ellsworth Hancock County, ME with relative Temple Lord and his wife Rebecca.
By 1860 our William H. (henceforth William) was married and had a family of his own. That year the census for Monticello Wright Co., MN presented a household headed by William, at that time employed as a ship carpenter. His wife was Rosila "Rose" A. Hall Lord. (b. 2/20/38 So China Kennebec Co., ME). After marrying the couple settled in So. China Kennebec Co., ME.
William and Rose produced three children before Rose's untimely death. The children were: Winslow/Winston "Winnie" (b.7/10/58 So China Kennebec Co., ME), Lisette (b/7/5/59 So. China Kennebec Co., ME) and Eunice Belle (b. 5/9/67 Monticello Carver Co., MN).
As noted by the birth states of Lisette (1859) and Eunice (1867), between the time the two children were born, William and Rose changed their state of residence. Perhaps more importantly, however, between those two birthing William went off to and returned from war.
Civil war had swept across America during the spring of 1861. In August, 1862 William enlisted in the U.S. Army infantry. Perhaps he left his wife and young children because of patriotism. On the other hand, maybe his departure was financially motivated. At a time when the country was economically strapped, enlistment bonuses (bounties) and a monthly paycheck of $13 were very alluring.
Until Corporal Lord's military service and pension files can be obtained we do not have any hint regarding his possible enlistment motivations. Further, we know nothing about his period of service beyond the fact he survived The War and returned to civilian life.
Where home was located when William returned from war is not clear. While it likely was Monticello, Wright Co., MN.
The U. S. Census for 1870 placed the Lord family in the Wright Co. community of Buffalo. In Buffalo William's occupation was noted as “sheriff."
Rose died on 5/18/77 in Monticello, MN. No details are available pertaining to her passing. Also an unknown is her final resting place.
By 1880 William had remarried. The second Mrs. Lord was Eugenie "Jennie" Rose Joanne. Born in Paris Normandy, France ca. 4/15/1860, she had come to American with her parent/parents in 1870. In '80 the couple was living in Albion Wright Co., MN. The following year they were still in Wright County, but apparently, then, residing in or near the community of French Lake.
William and Jennie produced seven children. Six are identified and were living as of 1910. The identified children were: Rose F (b. 1880 Wright Co. MN), Eugene Henry (b. 9/19/81 French Lake Wright Co., MN), Leon Willis (b. 6/19/83 Wright Co., MN), Myrtle Clemence (b. 10/28/88 Tolt King Co., WA), Roy Francis (b. 9/19/91 Tolt King Co., WA) and Violet M. (b. 9/26/93 Tolt King Co., WA).
In June, 1883 the Lord family was in Minnesota. By 5/25/1887, at least William himself was residing in Tolt’s Cherry Valley located in Washington Territory's King County. Tolt is today known as Carnation. What had drawn him to the Puget Sound region of the Pacific Northwest is not known. Also unknowns are when William arrived here and when his family may have joined him.
1900. A new century, a new decade and a new census. The population tally for that year found William, Jennie, and five of their children residing south of Tolt in the King County community of Preston. Also under William's roof was Jennie's seventy two year old father. No occupation was given for William.
The census of 1900 was William's last. He died at home - once again in the community of Tolt - on 7/4/08 only days shy of his seventy third birthday. The cause of death was listed as cancer of the rectum. Burial was the following day in the Tolt Cemetery.
On 4/22/02, in Washington, William had applied for and been granted a U.S. Government disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering. Details of the pension stipend are not known.
Following her husband's death Jennie petitioned the U.S. Government to obtain a widow's pension based on her late spouse's soldiering during the American Civil War. Again, while it appears a monthly payment was granted, pension details are presently not available.
In 1910 Jennie was residing in Tolt, WA. In her home were children Myrtle, Roy and Violet, her stepson Winslow/Winston and a grandson identified only as Keith. Jennie listed her occupation as "Laundry lady at hotel."
Eugenie Rose Joanne Lord died on 1/3/53 in Snoqualmie King Co., WA. She was/is buried in the Tolt (Carnation Cemetery) beside William.
Buried at Carnation Cemetery aka Tolt
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