Samuel Hodgman was First Lieutenant of Company I of the 7th Michigan Infantry at Antietam on 17 September 1862. He was wounded in both legs there and spent more than two months in hospitals recovering.

He wrote his father Moses (1804-1881), back in Michigan, from the US Army General Hospital in West Philadelphia, PA on 17 November 1862 with the latest news, including the recent history and whereabouts of many of the men of his Company.

This is fabulous material. See a list of his men …

Linked names are members of the Company who are in the AotW database.

Capt [Bexaleel W.] Lovell Dismissed [or resigned, 30 Aug 1862]
Lieut [William R.] Shafter Major 19th Mich V. [22 Aug 1862]
[Elhanan] Phetteplace At home wounded Sept 17th
Saml C. Hodgman Hospital W. Phila
[Hulett] P. McFarlin last heard from at Stuarts mansion Hosp. Balt [wounded Glendale]
[Marshal] J. Seymour Died on passage from White House to Washington June 1862
Benjamin P Hutson Dischd for disability last July
George W. Travis Died Sept 29th of wounds received in battle of 17th
Cyrus W. Whitney Here. wounded in foot Sept 17th
Stephen Patterson In hosp. Wash’n Typhoid fever
James A McDonald " " " wounded 17th
Elias Foote Hosp 12th & Buttonwood. Phil. Debility
Frederick H. Gould Died last April near Yorktown, the best man in the company
[Emory] Pitt Blackman Taken prisoner at Glendale since exchanged. Dont know his present whereabouts but think he is in Alexandria [disch disability 6 Dec 1862]
[page 22]
Orlando Porter Wounded at Antietam; Now Sergt of guard at hospital 12th & Buttonwood St. Phil.
David R. Huson Drum Major have not seen or heard of him since the battle
Phendlon B. Homan Wounded in thigh. one of the two I have mentioned previously.* Dont know where he is
Darius Wilkinson Wagoner with Regt
Orman Armstrong The last I knew of him he was on duty in Regt Hospital & unwell
Ashley John B Wounded at Glendale and was here a short time before I came. dont know whether dischd or sent to Regt
Agan Hiram Wounded 17th. Is at Washn, has lost one leg
Benson, Charles E. Left the Co. sick when we crossed the Chickahominy. He is in Hospital somewhere I cant tell where
[page 23]
Brown, Winslow Deserted Sept 10th
Boorom, Joshua Went to hospital at White House last spring. Dont know where he is now, but think at Washington
Brimmer, Albert E. Wounded 17th At Harrisburg. A good soldier
Beckwith, Leroy Here wounded in the arm 17th gets along poorly
Crump, Henry I think is with the Regt
Collins, George A. Wounded & taken prisoner at Glendale  & afterwards exchanged. Dont know where he is now
Cole, Chauncey G. I think was wounded 17th. With Regt. Dont know where he is
Cady, Lucius M. Killed at Glendale June 30th
Cole, Stephan [Killed at] Antietam  one of the best of soldiers. Always ready for duty & never complaining
Clemence, Nathaniel F. Wounded at Glendale. In hospital at Baltimore
Clemence, Edward Division Teamster
Carter, Phineas with regt
[page 24]
Deming, William Sent away from H. Landing sick. In hospital somewhere
Evans, Wallace Discharged for disability at Harrison's Landing
Farnsworth, David Died of Cholera at H. Landg
Flynn, John Wounded at Antietam . Dont know where he is
Fouts, Alonzo With Division teams the last I knew of him
Forbes, Andrew J. Was in the fight at Antietam. Have not heard what became of him [Killed]
Glass, Alonzo The last I knew of him was in Alexandria sick
Gifford, [William] R. With regt
Hatch, Thomas Wounded & taken prisoner at Glendale  Since
exchanged Dont know where he is
Howe, John A. Killed at Antietam
Hawks, James B. Here. Complaining of pain in his breast. Been sick some time
[page 25]
Harder, Peter Discharged last spring
Kelly, Caleb In hospital at Washington when last heard from. I presume he is now discharged
Knappen, Leonard P. C. In Hospital, I think at Alexandria Washington
Lewis, Solomon E. I think was in the fight at Antietam,  if so he was wounded. Dont know where he is now
Lewis, Daniel S. Wounded, I think, at Antietam. Dont know where he is [died 2 Dec 1862]
Matteson, Albert V. Died, I think at Washington Last summer
Hiram, Mead With Regt
McClellan John H. Discharged last summer
McCoy, James H. Brigade Teamster
McLeod, Thomas H. Dischd last summer
 Mason, Russel B. Wounded at Glendale. Now in hospital Washington
Moyer, Mahlon Died last Summer at Portsmouth Grove R.I.
[page 26]
Norton, James Killed at Antietam
Outman, George [Washington] In Hosp. at Chester, Del. Sick [served to 1865, survived the war]
Outman, William P. Wounded slightly at Antietam. Dont know where he is but think he is with regt [died 10 Dec 62, Alexandria, VA]
Outman, David J. In hospital at Washington since last spring [served to 1865, survived the war]
Philips, James H. I think was discharged last Summer but never had official notice of it
Palmer, Charles H. Died last spring at Hampton
Pangburn, [Nathaniel] S. Slightly wounded at Antietam.  Now in a hospital in Philad.a
Riley, David D. In Convalescent camp at Alexandria
Seltzer [Sulcer/Ernst], Philip Slightly wounded in the head at Antietam. Was taken prisoner & escaped by feigning to be dying. Returned in a few days to the regiment for duty [discharged 5 Nov 1862]
[page 27]
Selbee, James E. Deserted
Smith, William Sent to Gen. Hosp from Harrison's Landing.  Dont know his whereabouts [kia Gettysburg]
Smith, Charles A. Discharged last spring
Scoby, Charles Brigade Teamster
Sweet, [Cayler] Sent from H. Landing sick. Have not heard from him since
Spaulding, Samuel P. Wounded at Antietam. I suppose returned to Regt
Tripp, William A. Wounded at Antietam. With Regt [kia Gettysburg]
Travis, James M. I think was wounded at Antietam. Dont know where he is [died of wounds 20 Nov 1862]
Taylor, Henry M. Discharged last summer
Tyler, Cyril H. I think he is in hospital at Washington
Trumbull, Charles H. The last I knew of him was in hospital at Alexandria
Tyler, John S. Wounded at Antietam. Dont Know where he is
Valentine, Henry L. Discharged last spring
Warn, Ephraim With Regt
Whiting, Zeno Wounded & prisoner at Glendale . Last heard from in Bellevue Hospital N.Y.
[page 28]
Wade, Charles O. Supposed to be a deserter
White, Philo T. Wounded at Antietam. In hospital in this city.
Whitaker, Issac F. with Regt
Wilcox, Robert I think is with the regt
Wilcox, Daniel With the regt
Wise, Edward I think was wounded at Antietam.  Dont know where he is
Bell, William Severely wounded at Antietam. I think he is at Washington
Mead, Stephen Cook in Regtal Hospital
Chapman, John Discharged last winter
Munsell, John W. " " "
Gerrue, Anthony " " "
Kendall, Andrew M. " " "
Kilmer, David H. " " "
Rose, Irving " " "
Wilcox, Eleazar " " "
Warner, Amos W. " " "
Stilwell, James H. " " "
Bradley, Robert F. " " "
Fouts, Augustus M. " " "
Kidder, Joseph A. Died last winter
[page 29]
Sackett, Martin Wounded at Antietam . Dont know where he is
Booth, William Deserted at the time of the seven days fight
Connell, William H. Brigade Blacksmith
Acton, Frederick Accidentally shot at Fair Oaks and sent away with Seymour Not heard from since but supposed to be dead

* See that story on Homan’s page on AotW.


Notes

Hodgman’s picture from the [now gone] Seeking Michigan web portal, the original photograph probably at the University of Michigan.

This and at least 29 other of his wartime letters are in the Western Michigan University Libraries United States Civil War Collection, online from the University of Michigan; each with page images and text transcription.

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