Source: "They Died to Make Men Free" A History of the 19th Michigan Infantry in the Civil War -
by William M. Anderson - pages 372 - 373
"August 14, 1864. William Nichols died June 6, 1864, of wounds received during action at New Hope Chruch. Dr. Trowbridge's grim prediction of low survival rates were accurate: death claimed Ezra Nichols on September 4, 1864 ..."
Anderson's quote from a letter written by Dr. George Trowbridge, of the 19th Michihan Infantry, on August 8, 1864:
(Trowbridge, George, Letters, William L. Clement's Library. The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.)
"just been to care for a wounded Soldier boy. Shot through the right thigh removed the ball & sent to Hosp. he will more than probably lose his leg. Amputated through the upper third 75 percent of which cases prove fatal. So you see the chances of recovery are not many. Nichols, of Co. A, his brother was wounded through the side in former engagement & died. Such is military life. One by one we are passing to the rear."
Civil War Pension File of William Nichols, Co., A, 19th Michigan Infantry
Military - Civil War Soldier
Side served: Union
Enlistment: 01 Jun 1863, Co. A, 19th Infantry Regiment, Michigan
Wounded: 25 May 1864 at New Hope Church, near Dallas Georgia
Died: 06 Jun 1864 at General Hospital in Chattanooga, TN
Burial: Chattanooga Nat'l Cemetery - Section D, site 12368
Pension Application
Applicant: Elizabeth Nichols, Mother
Case: William H Nichols, Deceased Soldier
Adjutant General's Office
Washington, D.C.
August 18, 1866
Sir:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your Office of application for Pension No. 131-138, and to return it herewith, with such information as is furnished by the files of this Office.
It appears from the Rolls on file in this office, that William H Nichols was enrolled on the 1st day of June, 1863, at Marcellus in Co A, 19th Regiment of Michigan Volunteers, to serve 3 years, or during the war, and mustered into service as a recruit on the 1st day of June 1863, at Detroit, in Co. A, 19th Regiment of Michigan Volunteers, to serve 3 years, or during the war. On the Muster Rolls of Co. A of that Regiment for the months of May and June 1864, he is reported Died in Hospital at Chattanooga on June 6th, 1864 of wounds received in battle near Dallas, Ga.
I am yours very respectfully,
Your obedient servant, ____________,
The commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Supporting Affidavit:
State of Michigan
County of Cass SS:
Morris J Newell of the county and State aforesaid, personally appeared before me a Notary Public in and for the said county and State and duly authorized to administer oaths, who after being duly sworn according to law said upon his oath aforesaid, that he was well acquainted with William H. Nichols in his life time, and with his mother, Elizabeth Nichols, that the said William H. Nichols worked for him in the month of May in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty three by the month. And that he, this deponent, knows that the said William Henry Nichols procured Pork with some part of his wages and carried the same home to his mother the said Elizabeth Nichols for her own use and sustenance and support. And that the said William H. Nichols afterward enlisted in Company A. 19th Reg't of Infantry Volunteers in the service of the United States as he has been creditably informed. And, he further says that he is in no way related to the said Elizabeth Nichols or her family and that he is not interested in any claim she may have upon the United States.
Signed, Morris J. Newell
in the presence of Anna E. Newell
I do certify that the within was subscribed and sworn to before me this 2nd day of September A.D. 1867 and I further certify that the witness is respectable and entitled to full faith and credit, and that I have no interest in any claim presented by the said Elizabeth Nichols.
signed, John Thompson, Notary Public
