Thomas Wall

Thomas Wall enlisted in the Army in 1861 at Clyde, Wayne County, New York. (A William Wall, who I think is his brother, enlisted a few days later and was mustered in the same artillery unit at the same time.)

The letter states the military service of Thomas Wall in the Union Army from 1861 to 1864. Thomas participated in many battles and campaigns. He served three years in the Army, and, after being discharged, Thomas returned to Clyde, New York and worked at a window glass factory. He then moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he did the same work. Then he moved to New Albany, Indiana where was a glass blower and a policeman. He continued to work as a glass blower until he was over 70 years old! I found a Perry Wall living with Thomas in 1868 the year before Thomas married. I am sure that was his half-brother, who was listed in the 1860 Federal Census for Galen, New York as Perry Wall, Junior. Thomas' mother was shown at Mary Wall in the 1860 census. Most times I find her listed as Catherine or Katherine Wall.

When Thomas Wall married at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in 1869 his name was shown as "Thomas Wall (Kalagher)," son of James Kalagher and Catherine Doran. Perry Wall married Sara McGraw (1872)-- Perry's parents were shown as Perry Wall and Catherine Doyle [I think it should have been Doran. J.T.W.]

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Thomas Wall wrote the following letter in 1901 to the Pension Bureau. The military service contained in the biographical sketch of Thomas Wall that was published in 1893 in the book Soldiers, Statesmen, and Presidents, is very consistent with that in Thomas' letter. The sketch provides more family information.

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New Albany Ind Dec 21st 1901

To the Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.

In reply to yours of Nov 12th will State that I enlisted Sept 20th 1861 at Clyde Wayne Co N.Y. and was Mustered in to Co A first N. Y. Light Artilery at Utica N.Y. a few days afterwards was Stationed on Capitol hill Washington D.C. during the fall Winter and Spring of 1861 & 2 was at the Seige of Yorktown April 62 was at the Battle of Williamsburg May 5 it rained all day at Night I lay on the wet ground without any covering cloths all wet dried on me the Next day Nothing to eat or drink from the evening of the 4th until the evening of the 6th then only a Small hoe cake I bought from a colard woman about the 15th was at the chickahominey river crossed at Boterns(?) Bridge all right a few days after I was Sent back to the Bagage Waggon on the opisit Side of the river I found the river out of its banks

and in crossing My horse Steped in to a deep hole and Me and the horse had to Swim to the opisit bank I had to Stay there all Night and lay down in them wet cloths Next Morning I was Stiff and pains all over My body about the 28 was at Fair Oaks or Seven Pines on the 31st the Battle began our guns were

out on the front line our horses were Nearly all Shot down Mine was Killed under Me So that the guns could not be hauled off the field and were captured by the enemy I laid under a tree that Night in the Morning I had a chill My only covering was a part of a horse blanket I found in the Mud. Nothing

to eat or drink from the evening of the 30th until Noon June 2nd except one hard tack a Solder gave Me and a drink of water out of a horses track afterwards camped at white oak Swamp as we lost clothing and tents we had to peel bark off the trees for shelter

[pg No 2] About the 12th of June was transferred in to the 7th N.Y. Battery on the 25th Marched towards the James River at Night we camped our guns in Battery expecting an attack about 1 A.M. the cannoniers I was one of them laid down on a canvas we had to cover the gun and gun carrige when Not in use it rained a little during the latter part of the Night the canvas held the water and I caut cold in the left Side of My face and it Swelled up at daylight we were attacked by Rebel cavalry then it was all confusion until the 2nd of July My face and head Swelled up but I had to Stay at My Post until the Battle was over I called our first Lieutenants attention to My head and he Said he thought I was Very luckey to have a Swelled head on in Sept 62 was in camp at Newport News about Sept 1st was sent to Norfolk Va in Dec was sent to deep creek about 12 Miles from Norfolk guarding the only passage through the dismal Swamp that winter My face Swelled up again Same as in June The Surgeon of the 99 N.Y. Regiment pulled three of My teeth upper left Side I could Not eat on that Side of My face for 20 years afterwards Now My lower teeth left Side are long lower teeth right Side are worn down Short then I was only 22 years of age in the Summer of 63 was ordered back to Norfolk our gun were placed So as to guard all the roads leading to the City it was a Swampy country around Norfolk I had the first Symptoms of Hay fever in the fall of 63 was treated by a Surgeon that Visited our Battery about twice a week late in the fall was ordered to the Seige of Suffolk after the Seige returned to Norfolk in winter I had the ague and about 35 others were all treated in our quarters in the fair ground buildings don’t Know the Surgeons Name he left Medicine with one of our Men Named Edwin N. Coon who acted as hospital

[pg No 3] Stewart in Feb 64 Sent to the entrenched camp out Side of Norfolk in April was transfered to the quartermasters department and about 3 or 4 weeks afterwards was transferred to General Shepleys Head quarters as Messnger the only questions asked was can you Keep Sober I had the Hay fever again befor I was discharged The Surgeon of a Regiment of Rebel Soldiers that enlisted in the Union Army treated Me and Said it was a Summer cold I was discharged Oct 4th 1864 by reason of expiration of term of Service the General thanked Me for My Services and gave Me ten Dollars the winter of 64 & 5 was at My home Clyde NY. Had the ague during the winter was treated by Dr Colvin of that place in Sept 1865 commenced in the Window Glass work Pittsburgh Pa had hay fever in the fall late in winter had the ague then Night Sweets then Nose bleed in the Spring of 66 and came Very Near bleeding to Death for even the Doctors could Not Stop it I got So weak I could Not Stand and had to give up My place and return to My home that was by the advice of Dr Denny of Pittsburgh in July 1867 I came to New Albany [Indiana] to work in the window Glass works here I had a Slight attack of hay fever Nose bled again Several times I called on Dr. Sloane of this place he gave Me Rappee Snuff for Nose bleed I have Not been bothered but Very little Since When I Visited him later on I had the ague and pains in My back and hips he said he could cure the ague and he did he Said the pains in My hip was Muscular Rheumatism I have the hay fever every year about the 20th of Aug until Freezing weather I have tried

[pg No 4]

Doctors and everything that was recomended for hay fever but No cure I breath through a wet cloth at Night to get some relief two years ago in Sept I could Not breath even out doors and thought the end had come I have Rheumatism and lame back every time the weather changes lame back comes on Sudden and wears of Slowly again I was examined Nov 20th 1901 it was fine Weather and I felt all right three days afterwards I was splitting Kindling wood for one hour when I got through I could Not Straiten My back I got two Boxes of pills from Dr Weathers and put two Paris plasters on my back Still wearing them I doctored with a German Woman in Louisville Ky named Mrs Graff She took hold of My wrist and Said you got Rheumatism Bad you got Piles Bad She helped me for a while I Doctored With Dr Sloane Dr Clap Dr Neat Dr Wilcox & Dr Weathers of this place could Mention Many More but it would take to Much of Your time

I Never disobeyed an order while in the Army I Never was arrested or punished for any crime while in or out of the Army Never was drunk in My life was on the Police force here in 1867 & 7 and when I resigned the enclosed Note was Sent to My home

Respectfully yours

Thomas Wall

Private Co A first N.Y. & 7th New York Battery

have been laid up the grip lately is the cause of the delay T. Wall

State of Indiana)

) Sct.

Floyd County)

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 14 day of February, 1902

Charles B Scott Clerk

By _____? Ruoff Deputy

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My uncle, told me that Thomas Wall got his name by a beating. His stepfather went to the farm where Thomas was working and asked for the pay of his son Thomas Wall. The farmer answered that nobody of that name worked for him. Mr. Wall, that is (Perry Wall) and then asked the farmer if he could look about the farm and was given permission. He saw his stepson working at the farm. When the boy came home, Mr. Wall beat him and told him, "from now on you are Thomas Wall." I think that my great-grand-father's step-father had been embarrassed, and took it out on the boy. He probably told him that he was living under his roof and being fed in his home, and, accordingly, ought to show his respect and gratitude and take the name of his mother's husband. (Of course, I cannot prove it!) I also expect he made Thomas promise to always use the surname Wall. When Thomas married in 1869, he said that he was Thomas Wall, but when the priest asked the names of his parents he correctly said James Kalagher and Catherine Wall. I think that the priest then wrote (Kalagher) following Thomas Wall in the church record. James T. Wall

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I have found a record of the death of Catherine Wall in Syracuse, New York; the newspaper death notice listing the names of five surviving children: Michael Wall of Chicago; Thomas Wall of New Albany, Indiana; Perry Wall of Streator, Illinois; Mary Cotter of Rochester, New York; and Mrs. D. J. [David Joseph] [Bridget] Reidy with whom Catherine had been living in Syracuse.

I have found that Catherine was buried in St. John's Cemetery, Clyde, New York; the gravestone showing “Catherine Wall 1818- 1904.

Marriage License of Thomas Wall (Kalagher) to Anna Dowd, Holy Trinity Church, 1869

Obituary of Catherine (Doran) Kalagher Wall, Syracuse, New York 8 Mar 1904

Submitted to Floyd County Indiana Gen Web by JAMESTWALL@aol.com

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