Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Claudius Pritchard

Claudius B. Pritchard

Representing: Union


G.A.R Post

  • Oliver Morton Post #10 Snohomish, Snohomish Co. WA

Unit History

  • 2nd Minnesota Infantry I

See full unit history

Claudius Pritchard
Full Unit History

2nd MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: June, July, August, 1861 Ft. Snelling, MN
Mustered In: June, July, August, 1861 Ft. Snelling, MN
Mustered Out: 7/11/65 Louisville, KY

Regimental History

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

 

  This three-year “western theater” regiment first performed in-state garrison duty before departing for Louisville, KY in Oct., ’61.  On 1/1/62 at Mill Springs, KY the 2nd was engaged in near hand-to-hand fighting with the enemy during which they captured sorely needed tents and camp equipment.  The unit next moved to Shiloh, TN, but arrived several days after the great battle.  Encampment in Mississippi followed.

  After a number of small engagements, interspersed with guard duty, the 2nd was under fire at Chickamauga, GA where they assisted in the repulse of Breckenridge’s Confederate division and stood with Union Gen. Thomas (The Rock of Chickamauga) in the defense of Horseshoe Ridge.  During this engagement the 2nd lost 162 killed and wounded.  The regiment was next in the trenches around Chattanooga, TN for two months before capturing the first breastworks at Missionary Ridge and participating in the assault which carried the crest.  This action cost the unit 21% in losses while other regiments in their brigade suffered only 8% casualties.

  1863 ended with almost four fifths of the regiment re-enlisting.  1864 found the 2nd in Union Gen. Sherman’s Atlanta campaign.  With the fall of that city the regiment marched to the sea then northward through the Carolinas, skirmishing as it went.  Participation in the Grand Review at Washington preceded final muster.  

Soldier History

SOLDIER:
Residence: Mondovi, WI   Age: 18. 0 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 7/30/61 Lake City, MN   Rank: Pvt.
Discharged: 7/11/65 Louisville, KY
Highest Rank: Pvt.

Family History

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

ED. NOTE:
 The original birth-to-death biographical profile on Claudius Pritchard was written during the early years of the Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State project. As such, it suffered not only from size limitations based on its being displayed on a cardboard placard, but also on limited research sources. The profile below was written in May, 2018 and while it is more detailed than the original, still lacks the depth and detail of documental records currently being acquired from the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

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  Claudius Buchanan Pritchard was born 7/23/43 in Racine, WI. His father was Mark James Pritchard (b. 1819 Ontario, NY). His mother was Adelia (nee Rice b. 1822 NY) Pritchard.

Siblings of Claudius were Emery (b. 1812 NY – He also served in American Civil War.), Levi (b. 1815 NY), Adelia M. (b. 1845 WI,) Regina M. (b. 1853 WI). As noted by the birth states of the Pritchard children, sometime between 1815 and 1845 the family quitted New York in favor of Wisconsin.

 

  In 1861 Claudius, then a 5’5 ½” teenaged farm boy was one of the first to heed his country’s call to arms.  However, why the Wisconsin native joined a Minnesota regiment is not known.  While he was to serve two enlistments in a unit that was exceedingly combat-active, there are no records indicating Private Pritchard was ever wounded or taken seriously ill.

 

  Leaving the military Claudius returned to Wisconsin where he lived in Buffalo and Dunn counties.  On 3/23/83 in Cedar Falls, WI he married Milissa/Melissa Goodale (b. 2/61 WI).  The couple would produce four children:  Millie /Mellie N. (b. 3/24/84 WI), Almeda/Alemeda E.  (b. 11/16/86 WI), Emily (b.5/16/89 WI), and Nettie Edna (b. 5/11/92 WI).

 

  In 1900 the Pritchards were residing in Red Cedar, Dunn County, Wisconsin. This is the only instance when we catch a glimpse of his occupation which, at the time, was listed as “day laborer.”

 

 By 1907 Claudius and family had moved from Middle America to the Puget Sound region of the Pacific Northwest and were living in Everett, Snohomish County, WA.  Records are silent as to why they moved westward.  Perhaps it was to be near the families of their adult children living in the Puget Sound area.

 Melissa Prichard died 7/25/11 in Everett. She was/is buried in that city’s Evergreen Cemetery.

 

  On 2/16/13 Claudius remarried to the twice-wed Mary McKenzie.  The two remained together in Everett until Claudius’ death on 4/2/15.  Cause of his passing was noted as: “acute gastritis caused (by) eating large quantity of green onions.  Contributing: senility and a weak heart.”  Burial was in the Grand Army Of The Republic (G.A.R.) Cemetery located in Snohomish, Snohomish County, Washington.

At death, the 71.8-year-old former Union soldier was receiving a government disability pension of $25 per month.  Mary continued to receive the same stipend until her death. Mary died 9/15/19 in Retsil, Kitsap County, Washington. Whether she was/is buried in the cemetery at Retsil, at the G.A.R. cemetery in Snohomish where Claudius was laid to rest, or some other location is not known. 

Cemetery

Buried at Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Snohomish
Row: 22
Site: 7

Adopt-a-Vet Sponsor

John Harder
Kenmore, WA


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