Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Joseph Buckley

151st PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: 10/1/62 Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, PA
Mustered In: 10/1 - 11/3/62 Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, PA
Mustered Out: 7/27-31/63 Harrisburg, PA

161^st NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: 10/27/62 Elmira, NY
Mustered In: 10/27/62 Elmira, NY
Mustered Out: 11/12/65 Tallahassee, FL

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (151^st)

This nine month "eastern theater" regiment was composed of men from the PA counties of Susquehanna, Pike, Warren, Juniata, Berks and Schuylkill. The lieutenant-colonel had been principal of the Mc'Alisterville academy, so most of the members of Co. "D" were either teachers or pupils in that educational institution. Nearly 100 other members of the regiment had been or were school teachers.

On 11/26/62 the 151^st left PA for Washington City. A week later it moved to Union Mills VA, where it engaged in drill and picket duty.
  In February, 1863 the regiment joined the Army of the Potomac at Belle Plain, VA. During this period the command suffered severely from cold and exposure with some men dying and many being hospitalized.

The 151^st was not heavily engaged during the early May, '63 battle of Chancellorsville, VA, but still lost 16 men killed, wounded or missing.

Gettysburg, July, 1863. During their three days of combat the 151^st won praise of Union Gen. Doubleday for its gallantry. Out of 21 officers and 466 enlisted men engaged it lost 2 officers and 49 men killed, 9 officers and 202 men wounded and four officers and 71 men captured or missing; a total loss of 377 or abut 70% of those engaged. The regiment then participated in the pursuit of Confed. Gen. R.E. Lee's retreating forces until they escaped into Virginia. Final muster came shortly thereafter.

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (161^st)

The 161^st, a three year” western theater” regiment was recruited during the fall of 1862 in the New York counties of Chemung, Steuben, Schuyler, Chenango and Broom. It left the state on 12/4 for the Department of the Gulf where it saw initial combat at Clinton Plank Road, Plains Store and the long siege of Port Hudson, LA. Losses during the latter were 17 Killed, wounded or missing.

Mid 1863 saw the regiment in action at Donaldsonville, LA where it lost 7 killed, 35 wounded and 7 missing. That fall it participated in the unsuccessful Sabine Pass expedition to Texas losing an additional 30 killed, wounded or missing.

During the spring of 1864 the unit participated in Union Gen. Banks' ill-fated Red River Campaign. Therein it fought at Sabine Crossroads, Pleasant Hill, Cane river crossing and Mansura. At Sabine Crossroads it lost 13 killed wounded and missing. July, 1864 found the 161^st stationed successively at Columbus, KY, Memphis, TN and eastern Mississippi

1865 and another spring, this portion of the new-year had the 161^st taking part in Union Gen. Canby's Alabama operations against Ft. Blakely, Spanish Fort and Mobile.

Departing Alabama the regiment moved into Florida where men whose enlistments were about to expire were mustered out of service. In September, with the War over, the regiment was consolidated into a two company battalion which was mustered out 11/12/65 at Tallahassee.

Total regimental losses: l officer killed or mortally wounded; 55 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 250 enlisted men dead from disease, accidents, etc.

SOLDIER: (151^ST)
Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age: 20. 2 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 10/18/61 Dingman's Ferry, PA   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 10/8/62
Mustered Out: 7/27/63 Harrisburg, PA   
Highest Rank: Pvt.                               

SOLDIER: (161^ST)

Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age: 23.2 yrs. 
Enlisted/Enrolled: 8/29/64 Barton, NY   Rank: Pvt. 
Mustered In: 8/29/64
Mustered Out: 8/25/65 Tallahassee, FL
Highest Rank: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

  Available documents indicate Joseph A. Buckley was born  on 6/24/42 to Daniel D. (b. 1808 England) and Martha R., (nee Roebuck, b. 1813 England)  Buckley. He was the third of at least six Buckley siblings. Those older were Harriet L. (b 1836 NY) and Matilda R. (b 1939 NY). Those younger were Daniel (b 1845 PA), John M. (b 1847 NJ) and James (b 1852 NJ).

  In 1840 the Buckley’s were in Henderson, Jefferson County, NY. By the date of Joseph’s birth they were in Delaware, Pike County, Pennsylvania. They would later move to New Jersey. September, 1862. Joseph first enlisted in the U.S. Army. At that time he was still residing in Pennsylvania, the state of his birth.

  Family lore has it that Private Buckley was wounded during the bloody July 1, 2, 3, 1863, fighting in and around Gettysburg, PA. Available military service records do not reflect this, but they do indicate that he was taken prison by the Rebels. Released from a prisoner of war parole camp located at Westchester, PA, Joseph returned to his regiment on 7/18/63 and served out his term of service

  In August, 1864 the 5' 11.5", light complexioned, blue eyed farmer re-enlisted. Likely the enlistment was prompted by the $100 bounties (enlistment bonuses) then being paid.  During this term he was to serve with a New York regiment. During his second period of service, Private Buckley appears to have fared better than he had in Pennsylvania. He was reportedly always present from muster in to muster out. 

  Where Joseph resided after leaving the military is not known. However, on 9/9/68 in Port Jervis, Orange Co., NY he married Hannah Jane Van Etten (b. 9/47 Pike Co., PA) and when their second child was born they were in Pennsylvania. The union produced at least seven children: Benjamin R. (b. 1869), Clarence E. (b. 10/19/71 Delaware, PA),  James D. (b. 9/1/73 Delaware, PA), John M. (b. 10/1/1876 Delaware, PA), Frank L. (b. 8/19/80 Delaware, PA), Fred A. (b. 4/1/84 Delaware, PA) and Luella Lucille (b. 4/18/86 Delaware, PA). 

  It appears that for at least seventeen years, and likely longer, the Buckley's lived in Delaware, PA, and a community located in the N/E part of the state. The U.S. census for both 1870 and 1880 noted him as a farmer. The census for 1890 was largely destroyed by fire, so is not available, but documents pertaining to Joseph's request that same year to receive a disability pension from the U.S. Government based on his suffering from piles (hemorrhoids) which he traced back to his Civil War soldiering, place the Buckleys in the Pike County, PA community of Dingmans Ferry. 

  In January, 1900 Joseph and Hannah, still residing in Dingmans Ferry, removed westward to the Snohomish County, WA community of Lowell on the outskirts of Everett. Why the move was made is not known. In Lowell Joseph apparently owned a grocery store. The census of that same year noted that five of the Buckley "children", Ben, James, Frank, Fred and Luella, were also in the household.  Available documentation indicates that in Washington between 1903 and '04 Joseph was employed as a watchman at the W.W. Co. By 1905, however, he had returned to farming.

  The death certificate for Joseph A. Buckley, aged 64.4 years of age indicates he died 11/11/06 at his home located on the southwest corner of second and Revenna streets in Lowell, WA after a long illness. A family notation indicates the passing on 11/10. Whatever the date, cause of death was noted as Pyelonephritis – a urinary tract infection - with Mitral Regurgitation as a contributing factor. He was survived by wife, Hannah and daughter Luella and husband who were living in the home and son Frank and family who were residing next door.  The fact that son James is not mentioned indicates his death, which occurred in 1906 while working on the Great Northern Railroad's first Steven's Pass tunnel through the Cascade Mountains , occurred earlier the same year. Burial was in Everett’s Evergreen Cemetery.  

  At death Joseph was receiving a $10 per month government stipend for his Civil War-related ailments. Following his passing Hannah applied for and likely received a portion of these funds. She died 12/24/29 at Lowell and was buried beside Joseph in Evergreen Cemetery. 

Buried at Evergreen Cemetery Everett
Row: 9
Site: 19

John O'Shaughnesey
Wiltshire, United Kingdom