Harmon Levi Councilman
Representing: Union
Unit History
- 3rd Minnesota Infantry A
Full Unit History
3rd MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Summer / Fall, 1861 Ft. Snelling Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
Mustered In: 11/15/1861 Ft. Snelling Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
Mustered Out: 9/2/1865 Devall’s Bluff, AR
Regimental History
REGIMENTAL HISTORY:
The 3rd Minnesota was a three year infantry regiment. During the American Civil War (ACW) it served in the western theater of operations.
Leaving the state on 11/17/1861 the regiment went into camp at Louisville, KY. While there, it was assigned to bridge guarding duties. The unit remained in Kentucky until 3/1862 when it marched to Murfreesboro, TN.
At Murfreesboro, during 7/1862, over the objection of most of the unit’s men, the 3rd surrendered to Confederate cavalry commanded by Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. The surrendered enlisted men were sent the Madison, GA and – from there - to prison in Richmond, VA. All of the commissioned officers who supported the surrender were, later, dismissed.
Following being paroled, the enlisted men of the 3rd were urged to break their parole agreement. Refusing to do so, the troops were moved to Benton Barracks, MO.
After being formally exchanged, the men of the 3rd returned to Minnesota to aid in quelling a bloody Sioux Indian uprising. During this period a “small” party of men sent to obtain a load of potatoes were set upon by the hostiles. While falling back, the two hundred fifty (250) bluecoats held off seven hundred (700) Native Americans. Upon the arrival of reinforcements, a bayonet charge was used to rout the attackers. What came to be known as the battle of Wood Lake Camp. (9/23/1862), ended the U.S. - Dakota War of ’62.
A late, 1862 reorganization of the 3rd helped revive unit morale and, in early 1863 saw the regiment moving through Illinois and Kentucky to Vicksburg, MS. Following the 7/4/1863 capture of that city by Union forces under the command of Gen. U.S. Grant, the 3rd moved into Arkansas and, after several actions, went into winter quarters.
In 4/1864 a detachment of the 3rd participated in a sharp conflict with the enemy at Fitzhugh’s Woods in Woodruff County, AR. There, a Rebel cavalry attack was repulsed with the bayonet. The unit then moved to Pine Bluff where, during the summer months, it suffered from malaria.
During the winter of 18674/’65 the 3rd quartered at Devall’s Bluff, AR performing picket and scout duties. The regiment remained there until final muster.
REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 0; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc. 4; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 17; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 275.
Soldier History
SOLDIER:
Residence: Inf. Not Avail. Age: 30. 5 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 9/27/1861 Hennepin County, MN Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 9/27/1861 Hennepin County, MN
Discharged for Disability: 3/29/1862
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.
Family History
PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
Harmon Levi Councilman was born 3/29/1831. His place of birth was Nantecoke Broome County, NY.
Fathering Harmon was Henry Councilman (b. ca. 1787 PA). His mother was Susan (nee Chase b. ca. 1799 MA). Although it is not documented fact, it is surmised that the Councilmans were a farming family.
Based on available data. It appears that Harmon was one of at least seven (7) children born to Henry and Susan. Older than he w William H. Councilman (b. ca. 1827) and Clark Councilman (b. ca. 1831), Younger siblings were Mary Councilman (b. ca. 1833), Harriett Councilman (b. ca. 1835), Truman Councilman (b. ca. 1840) and Pembroke Councilman (b. ca. 1843). As Harmon, all his brothers and sisters were born in New York.
In 1861 civil war spread across America. Harmon, answering the president’s call to arms enlisted in the U.S. Army. His term, with the 3rd Minnesota Infantry was to have been for three years, but after just a few days shy of nine (9) months Private Councilman was granted a medical disability discharge based, apparently, on having contracted chronic rheumatism while stationed in Kentucky during 1862.
By 1/1865 Harmon was residing in Mower County, WI. In 1870 he was in Lincoln Caldwell County, MO with a family named Williamson. Five (5) years later, however, on 1/5/1875, he was back in Minnesota living in or near the Mille Lacs County community of Greenbush. At the end of the century, in 1890. the U.S. Veterans Census found him in Binghamton Broome County, NY while a census tally for 1892 pinpointed his Broome County community of residence as Barker.
1900. The U.S. Census at the dawn of the twentieth century tallied Harmon back in Minnesota. There, on 1/10/1900 he applied for a U.S. Government disability pension based on his ACW rheumatism. Although the request was granted, without accessing his pension files housed in Washington, D. C.’s National Archives, the details of his monthly stipend remain unknown.
On 6/7/1905 Harmon was living in Glenwood County Pope County, MN. However, when on 10/18/1912 he died, he was in Bellingham Whatcom County, WA. What had drawn him to this far northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest and exactly when he arrived here are unknowns.
Civil War veteran Harmon L. Councilman had never married or produced children. His earthly remains were/are buried near the community of Ferndale in Whatcom County’s Woodlawn Cemetery.
Posted: 2/15/2024
Updated:
Cemetery
Buried at Woodlawn Cemetery AKA Paradise Ferndale Whatcom Co.
Row: A
Site: 53