Amos Bird Corwin - Civil War - 19th Michigan Volunteer Infantry

We have shared the incommunicable experience of war....

In our youths, our hearts were touched by fire.

-Oliver Wendall Holmes

Amos Bird Corwin is my great great grandfather, father of Nelson Corwin, my paternal grandmother Bernice (Corwin) Hilton's father.  Born 15 December 1832, in Salem, New York. Married on 22 February 1866 in Denton, Wayne County, Michigan, to Sarah Jane Felt (b. 16 January 1848, d. 11 September 1921)  He died May 30, 1905, and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Grayling Michigan.

Civil War veteran, Grand Army of the Republic, 19th Michigan Infantry, Company A (Private). Enlisted 8 Aug 1862, age 30, mustered into service Dowagiac Michigan 5 September 1862, mustered out of service 10 June 1865. 

Amos Bird Corwin, Charcoal portrait, handed down in family

**Nineteenth Michigan Infantry. — "Col., Henry C. Gilbert; Lieut. -Cols., David Bacon, William R. Shafter, John J. Baker; Majs., William R. Shafter, George C. Barnes. This regiment was organized at Dowagiac in July and August, and was mustered in Sept. 5, 1862.  It left the state Sept. 14, reported at Cincinnati, and was stationed in Kentucky until January, in Coburn's brigade, Baird's division, Army of Kentucky. It moved to Nashville, thence to Franklin, and in March, while on a reconnaissance, was in a skirmish with a small band, and met the enemy in force at Thompson's station. After repelling several attacks it was at last overwhelmed and compelled to surrender, but not until it had captured the colors of the 4th Miss. and several prisoners. The fight lasted 5 hours, when their ammunition was exhausted, the loss being 113 killed and wounded out of 512 engaged. Those of the regiment who escaped and those who had been left in camp were sent to Brentwood, organized with the fragments of a brigade, placed in command of an officer of another regiment and surrendered to Forrest at Murfreesboro without being given an opportunity to fire a gun — a shameful affair, which was bitterly resented by the men. The enlisted men were soon paroled and sent north, the commissioned officers were exchanged at Camp Chase, Ohio, and reached Nashville June 11, 1863.

The regiment was ordered to Murfreesboro in July 1863 for garrison duty. Co. D, 50 men, stationed at Stone's river, was attacked in October by a large force and after a gallant fight surrendered, but after being plundered the men were released. The regiment was then ordered to McMinnville and attached to the 2nd brigade, 3d division, 20th corps. It built several forts, a railroad bridge, put a saw-mill in operation and got out lumber for blockhouses.
 It moved to Lookout valley in April, 1864 and then with the army for Georgia. It was engaged in the battle of Resaca, participating in a charge in which a battery was taken, and lost 14 killed and 66 wounded, Col. Gilbert being mortally wounded. In the charge at Cassville and at New Hope Church the 19th lost 6 killed and 51 wounded. It was engaged at Golgotha, Kolb's farm, aided in repelling an attack at Peachtree creek, and was in the siege of Atlanta, most of the time under fire. The greater part of the regiment advanced from Turner's ferry on Sept. 2 in a reconnaissance toward Atlanta, and finding the city evacuated took possession. The remainder entered the following day.
On Sept. 5 1864 the regiment was detached for guard duty, and in November it joined the advance on Savannah and took an active part in siege. It moved into South Carolina in Jan., 1865, destroyed the arsenal and public buildings at Fayetteville, and was in the engagement at Averasboro, its brigade assaulting and carrying the enemy's works, capturing his artillery and many prisoners.
At Bentonville it was in line of battle, but was not engaged. It then proceeded to Raleigh and after Johnston's surrender marched to Alexandria, arriving there May 18. It participated in the grand review and was mustered out June 10, 1865. The original strength was 995: gain by recruits, 243; total, 1,238. Loss by death, 237."
(**Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 3)