Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Colony, William H. |
Genealogy ID |
77093 |
Born |
01 MAR 1840 |
Birthplace |
Wells, Bradord PA |
Deceased |
13 AUG 1925 |
Deceased where |
Salamanca, Cattaraugus NY |
Cemetery |
Oakwood Cemetery |
Titles & honors |
Civil War G.A.R. Mansfield Post # 48 |
Military |
Civil War |
Father |
Charles Colony |
Mother |
Almira Landers |
Spouse |
Clara Elizabeth Osborn |
Children |
Myra B. I. Colony George H. Colony Charles Jethro Colony Caroline "Lina" Augusta Colony Minnie M. Colony Lottie M. Colony |
Reference |
Obit GAR |
Notes |
COLONY, William H. [SRGP 77093] – Mansfield, Aug. 20 – William H. Colony of Mansfield, a veteran of the Civil War, died last Thursday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Simon Ostracker, in Salamanca, NY. It was only a short time ago that he was on the streets of Mansfield, visiting the accustomed places, though he remarked that he was not feeling very well. His remains were brought here from Salamanca and the funeral held from the family home on Extension street Sunday afternoon, the Rev. F.P. Simmons officiating. Interment was in Oakwood cemetery, The American Legion had charge of the services at the grave. Mr. Colony was a native of this section and spent most of his life since the Civil War in Mansfield. During the war he served in the Union Army with an enviable record, participating in eleven battles and skirmishes and being wounded once. He is survived by five children, George of Mansfield, Charles of Stokesdale, Mrs. Paul Bailey of Mansfield, Minnie of Elmira and Mrs. Simon Ostracker of Salamanca, NY; two brothers, Charles of Elmira and Thomas of Troy, and fourteen grandchildren. – Elmira Star-Gazette, NY, 20 August 1925, Thursday, p.10 WILLIAM H. COLONY was born the 1st of March 1840 in Wells Township, Bradford County, PA. He enlisted Oct. 5, 1861 at Columbia Cross Roads, as a Private in Co. C, 7th Regt. PA Cav. In Aug. 1864 he was detailed to Gen. Thomas’ Headquarters as driver of a supply wagon. In Dec. he was transferred to Gen. Wilson’s Headquarters as assistant forage master. In March 1865 he was detailed as Quartermaster Clerk at Gen. Wilson’s Headquarters and was in charge of camp equipment. At close of war he was wagon master of Headquarters supply train. He was first discharged in Jan. 1863 at Nashville for re-enlistment. He was finally discharged at Harrisburg Sept. 4, 1865 on account of close of the war. He was engaged in the following battles and skirmishes: - Stone River, Sparta, Shelbyville Pike, Town of Shelbyville, Noon Day Creek, Chattanooga, Rasaca, Snake Creek Gap, Kenesaw Mt. and Big Shanty. He was wounded on the head by the accidental discharge of a gun, while in Camp Rosecrans, Nashville. He was eleven weeks in hospitals in Nashville. Three times, during the third day of the battle of Stone River, Dec. 31st, he narrowly escaped being killed or captured. He went out of camp in charge of the Co.’s supple wagon as the enemy came in. A mile in rear of the Co. he passed a battery of four guns with horses hitched waiting orders. After going half a mile farther he rode back and found that the battery had been captured except one piece which was overturned and the six horses attached to it had been shot. He turned back and came up with his wagon. The wagon train ordered to Stewart’s Creek but through mistake went toward Nashville and was captured at Lavergne. When firing began he rode to the ridge and finding a line of Rebel infantry a short distance in front, rode back to warn his wagon driver to get out of the way. Just afterward the driver was stunned and his horse was killed by a cannon ball. In Feb. 1863 his Co., with others was ordered to Harper’s Shoals, on the Tennessee River with three days rations. The fourth day they rode through rain which turned to snow, and lay down at night without food, in snow six inches deep. At 2 o’clock AM they received orders to march at 4 AM, as the enemy under Gen. Wheeler was coming. They marched 30 miles through the snow to Nashville without food for man or beast. Here rations were issued with a gill of whiskey for each man. The only time whiskey was issued to the regiment. That night they camped on a side hill covered with snow and ice. While the Union forces were pursuing Hood, the latter being hard pressed fired (set on firs) his ammunition train and Colony with Wilson’s Headquarters train, passed it while it was burning and exploding. Among Colony’s intimate comrades were W.R. Sims, U.N. Verbeck, Lewis Eighmey, Henry Calkins, Dewitt Backer, J.L. Moore and Chas. Rumsey. – GAR#48, pp.15, 16 William H. Colony relates experiences as Wagon Master in Civil War William H. Colony enlisted at Columbia Cross Roads as a private in Co. C 7th Regt. Pa. Cavalry, October 5, 1861. In August of 1864 he was detailed to Gen. Thomas Headquarters as a driver of a supply wagon. In Dec. he was transferred to Gen. Wilson’s Headquarters as assistant forage master. In March 1865 he was detailed as quartermaster’s clerk at Gen. Wilson’s Headquarters and was in charge of camp equipage. At the close of the war, he was wagon master of Headquarters supply train. He was engaged in the following battles and skirmishes – Stone River, Sparta, Tenn.; Shelbyville Pike; Town of Shelbyville; Moon Day Creek; Chattanooga; Racara; Snake Creek Gap; Kinesaw Mountain and Big Shanty. Three times during the third day of the battle of Stone River, Dec. 31, Mr. Colony narrowly escaped being killed or captures. He went out of camp in charge of the Co.’s. supply wagon as the enemy came in. A mile in the rear of his Company, he passed a battery of four guns with horses hitched. After going on a half mile Colony returned to the battery, only to find it had been captured. He turned back to catch up with his wagons. His wagon train was ordered to Stewart’s Creek but took a wrong turn and went toward Nashville where they ran into rebel troops at Lavagne. When firing began he rode to a ridge only to find a line of Rebel infantry a short distance in front. He rode back, warned his wagon driver to ge6t out of the way. Shortly afterward the driver was stunned and his horses killed by a cannon ball. In February 1863 his company with others were ordered to Harpers Shoals on the Tennessee River with three days rations. The fourth day, they rode thru rain, which turned to snow. They lay down that night in six inches of snow. They were ordered out at 4 a.m. as the enemy under Gen. Wheeler was coming. They marched 30 miles through snow to Nashville without food for man or beast. Here rations were issued with a gill of whiskey for each man. The only time whiskey was issued to the Regiment. They camped that night on a side hill covered with snow and ice. While the Union force were pursuing Hood, the latter being hard pressed, fired his ammunition train and Colony, with Wilson’s Headquarters train passed while it was still burning and exploding. Charles Rumsey, already reviewed in this column, was one of William Colony’s friends and both served in Co. C until Rumsey was captured near Lebanon,Tenn. W.H. Colony served as Commander of General Mansfield Post No. 48 GAR. |
