Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Alexander Sessions

Alexander B. Sessions

Representing: Union


G.A.R Post

  • John Buford Post #89 Everett, Snohomish Co. WA

Unit History

  • 2nd Ohio Cavalry B

See full unit history

Alexander Sessions
Full Unit History

2nd OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY
Organized:
Summer/Fall, l86l Camp Wade, Cleveland, OH
Mustered Out: 9/11/65 St. Louis, MO

Regimental History

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

  The 2nd, a three year regiment, primarily served in the War's "western theater", but also had major assignments in the east. It left Ohio in January, 1862 and proceeded to Platte City, MO. The following month, in the streets of Independence, a detachment of the 2nd confronted and bested a rebel force under the "infamous" William Quantrill.

  In January, 1863 a portion of the 2nd was transformed into the 25th Ohio Light Artillery, a unit which subsequently served with the 2nd. In the fall of that year the regimen moved from Missouri into Arkansas in a campaign under Union Gen. Blunt which culminated in a Union victory 12/7/1862 at Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Actions during this period included Carthage and Newton, MO as well as Cow Hill, Wolf Creek, White River and Prairie Grove.  September found the 2nd in action at Blountsville and Bristol, TN. The siege of Knoxville preceded the December confrontation with Confed. Gen. Longstreet's cavalry at Morristown. 40 men were lost during the following action at Russellville. The battle of Bean's Station concluded the year's hostilities.

  On 1/1/64 420 out of the regiment's 450 men re-enlisted giving the 2nd "veteran volunteer" status. 30 day furloughs followed.

  Returning to active service the 2nd moved east. On 6/9/63 it saw action at Brandy Station, VA.  From that time on during the Wilderness Campaign (Also known as the Overland Campaign begun in 5/65) the regiment was employed almost constantly covering the infantry of the Army of the Potomac's right flank. Midyear combat included Hanover Ct. House, Ashland, Nottaway Ct. House, Stony Creek and Reams' Station. During the last three engagements the 2nd lost 105 killed, wounded and missing.

  August, 1864 found the 2nd at Winchester, Charlestown and Berryville in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. At the 9/19/1864 battle of Opequan Creek (2nd Kernstown, VA 7/24/64) the regiment was the last to give up pursuit of Rebel forces fleeing southward along the Valley Pike.

  Engagements at Front Royal, within the Luray Valley and at Waynesboro came ahead of the crushing defeat of Confed. Gen. Jubal A. Early's forces at Cedar Creek which, for all practical purposes, cleared the Shenandoah of Rebel troops. A final confrontation with Rebel units came at Lacy's Springs on 12/21/64.

Soldier History

SOLDIER:
Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age: 26.7 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 8/12/61   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 8/12/61
Discharged: 7/19/62 Ft. Leavenworth, KS  
Highest Rank: 2nd Lieut.

Family History

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

  Alexander Batcheller/Batchelder Sessions was born in or near the community of Warren, Worcester County, Massachusetts in May of 1834. One source placed his birth date on the 16th, but a 1909 Notary Public placed the date on the 15th as listed in the  the family Bible. His father was William H. Sessions (b. 1806 MA or CN). The1850 U.S. Census noted Mr. Sessions to be a "merchant". His mother was Elmyra/Elmira/Almira, (nee Batcheller/Batchelder (b. 1809 MA or CN). He was the second of at least five Sessions children: William (b. 1832 MA), Alexander (b. 1834 MA), Mary (b. 1841 MA), Daniel (b. 1844 MA) and Frank (b.1848 MA).

  On 4/28/57 Alexander married Susan B. Waterman (b.1840 NY) in Ohio. One source indicates the wedding was held in Troy, while Susan later indicated the ceremony was in Parkman. The Sessions/Waterman union produced nine  children, the names of only seven which are documented: Alex (b. 1858 OH), Mary (b. 1861) Fred (b. 1865 IA), John Noble (b. 1867 IA), Fritz (b. 1872 IA), Susie (b. 1876, MN) and Mary E. (b. 1880 MN).

  Following marriage Alexander and Mary apparently lived with her parents and siblings in Chagrin Falls, Cuyahoga Co., OH. It was there the 1860 U.S. Census found them with their eldest child, Alex. The census noted that Mr. Waterman was a butcher and that Alexander was also employed in that trade.

  In 1861, only days shy of his 27th birthday, 5’ 5 ½ ", light complexioned, brown eyed, brown haired butcher, Alexander Sessions joined the U.S. Cavalry. At enlistment he almost perfectly fit the 27.6 years average age of an American Civil War combatant.

  Alexander functioned well in the military. Although his military service records have not been requested as of this writing, he was apparently promoted to 1st sergeant within months of Federal muster. Further, on 6/30/62 he was granted a 20 day home furlough as reward for his being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant effective 12/10/61. The commission was short-lived, however, as on 7/19/62, almost immediately after returning to active duty lieutenant Sessions resigned from the service in order to return home and deal with a family illness.  So ended Alexander Sessions period of Civil War soldiering.

  At some point between leaving the military and the birth of son Fred in 1865, the Sessions removed from Ohio and settled in Iowa. The 1870 census placed the then family of five in Nashua, Chickasaw County w here Alexander was employed as a bookkeeper.

  A decade later, in 1880 the Sessions were in Hennepin County, MN. In Minnesota Alexander was employed as a "lumberman." In the household besides Alexander, Mary and four children, was married daughter, Mary, her husband and their newborn daughter.

  During this period Alexander first applied for a U.S. Government disability pension based on recurring illnesses allegedly contracted during the War. In 1898 those ailments were specified as rheumatism, piles (hemorrhoids) and catarrh (most likely an upper respiratory infection).The request was granted as, at death, former trooper Sessions was receiving a $20 per month stipend.

  In 1900 the Sessions were still in Hennepin Co., MN. Also in the household was son Fitz, his wife and their two children.

  As of 3/18/2 Alexander and Susan were in Minneapolis, MN, but in 1910 when Alexander died on May 22nd, he and Susan were living in Everett, WA in the 1201 Rucker Avenue home of granddaughter Mrs. Eugene J. Kennedy and family. The local obituary referred to the old soldier as "Colonel" A. B. Sessions and said he was late of Minneapolis and had been in Everett only a few weeks. The westward move was likely prompted by failing health and the necessity of living with younger family members. Cause of death was noted as pneumonia with senile dementia a contributing factor. At his passing the retired Alexander was 75.2 years of age. He was buried in Everett's Evergreen Cemetery.

  The census for 1920 found Susan living in Seattle, King County, WA with grandson Earle Session and his wife Ivy. Earle was Fitz's son. Also in the home was Fitz's older sister, Mary and her daughter, Elmira.  However, at the time of her death on 7/2/25 Susan was living in Oakland, CA. At her passing she was receiving $30 per month from the U.S. Government based on her late husband's Civil War service. Her remains were transported to Everett and buried beside those of Alexander.  

Cemetery

Buried at Evergreen Cemetery Everett
Row: 22
Site: 76


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