Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Henry Fall

Henry J. Fall

Representing: Union


G.A.R Post

  • Edward Clapp Post #151 Hudson, WI

Unit History

  • 2nd Independent Battery Minnesota Light Artillery

See full unit history

Henry Fall
Full Unit History

2nd MINNESOTA INDEPENDENT BATTERY VOLUNTEER LIGHT ARTILLERY
Organized: Winter 1861/'62
Mustered In: 3/21/62
Mustered Out: 8/16/65 Ft. Snelling, MN

Regimental History

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:                                                         

  This three year, "western theatre" battery was likely composed of 6 cannon and approximately 120 men. It left Minnesota one month following Federal muster and moved to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, MO. Another month later the 2ND joined the forces of Union Gen. U.S. Grant in the investment (siege) of Corinth, MS. Ordered to Nashville, TN in the summer of '64 it was in several campaigns including moving against Confed. Gen. Braxton Bragg in KY and TN. In the battle of Perryville, KY it received great praise, as it later did at Stone's River, GA.  In artillery duel near Murfreesboro, TN the battery silenced enemy guns. It participated in the Tullahoma, campaign at TN and was in a charge at Winchester, VA.

  During the September 18-20, 1863 battle of Chickamauga, GA, the 2ND three times kept the enemy from forming an attack. A short time later, in November, it was engaged at Missionary Ridge outside Chattanooga, TN. Afterwards it was effective in pursuing fleeing Rebel forces eastward.

  From late December, 1863 to March 2nd, 1864 the 2nd was stationed at Rossville, GA. During this period one (likely 2 gun) section was engaged at Tunnel Hill and Buzzard Roost during Union Gen. W.T. Sherman's push towards Atlanta.

  Also, March, 1864 the battery reenlisted as veterans and was given a one month furlough. Returning to the field it found itself mounted as cavalry and assigned to general duty until October when it was dispatched to Ft. Irwin in Chattanooga, TN.

  December, 1864 found the 2nd as part of brigade of light batteries which participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, TN before being sent, once again, to Chattanooga where it remained until 3/30/65. After that it was garrisoned at Ft. Philadelphia, TN until receiving final muster back home in MN.

Soldier History

SOLDIER:
Residence: Taylor Falls, MN Age: 19 or 20.4 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 9/2/64 Taylor Falls, MN Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 9/2/64 Taylor Falls, MN
Mustered Out: 8/16/65 Ft. Snelling, MN
Highest Rank: Pvt.

Family History

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

  Henry J. Fall was born on March 15th in Syracuse, NY. His middle name is not noted in available documents. Likely his birth year was 1844, but at least one source notes 1845.

  Henry's parents were Townsend (b. 1809 NY and Lucretia (nee Shoales b. 1810 NY) Fall. He was the fifth of at least seven children: Mary (b. 1833), Martha (b. 1835), Sarah A. (b. 1838), Townsend (b. 1842), Henry (b. 1844), Florence (b. 1851 PA) and Ida (b. 1856). The family remained in New York until sometime after the 1850 within the year following the 1850 U.S.  Census, as that documentation placed the family still in New York while the birth of Henry's next youngest sibling was noted as occurring in 1851 in Fox, Elk Co., PA.

  In 1860 the Falls were still in PA, but residing in Sergeant, MCKean County. While the senior Townsend was noted as a farmer, young Henry was documented as "postmaster," so he obviously had been exposed to at least a basic education.

  In September, 1864  the 5' 4 or 5", fair complected, brown eyed Henry, who was then living in Taylor Falls, MN and  employed in a sawmill, entered the U.S. Army as an artilleryman. His term of service was apparently benign because, as far as available pension documents are concerned, there are no indications of wounding or sickness. If the latter was the case, Private Falls was an unusually lucky Civil War soldier!!

  Army life behind him Henry returned to Taylor Falls where, on 8/15/l866 or ‘67 he married Margaret "Maggie" Manning (b. 1850 Ireland or Canada). Following marriage the couple apparently settled in Wisconsin. The union produced three children: Harvey Townsend (b. 6/1/68 WI), Nellie Kay (b. 8/69 WI) and Edward Everett (b. 4/8/76 WI).

  Henry continued to pursue employment with in the logging/lumber industry. The 1870 census noted the family in Balsam Lake, Polk Co., WI. On some unidentified date in 1878 they moved Clear Lake, Polk County where they were noted   in the 1880 census.  In both censuses Henry was employed in a saw mill.

  In 1881 the family was living in Hudson, St. Croix Co., WI. Sadly it was there on August 8th, Maggie died.

  1882 found Henry, and most likely his children, residing in New Richmond, MN. On 6/2 or 7 of the same year in the community of Valley City, ND he remarried to Ida Gertrude Thompson (b. 5/46 MA). By 1885 the couple had resettled in Lakeland, MN. It was there on 11/3/88 Florence Gertrude, Henry and Ida's first child was born. Their second, Hazel Marie, was born in 1891 in either Minnesota or Wisconsin, for by 1893 Henry had returned to the Wisconsin community of Hudson where he wrote of himself as a "busted"or broken down Lumberman.

  The 1900 census noted Henry - now employed as a salesman - Ida, Edward, Florence and Hazel still living in Hudson. The Falls, minus Edward, were there a decade later when Henry again characterized himself as a lumberman.  On September 21, 1910, in Hudson, Ida died.

  By the time of the 1920 census Henry was residing in Everett, Snohomish, Co. WA. Likely he had come to Everett because he had three sisters living in the city.  The census noted that he was  a divorced lodger with no income to pay for board and room other than a  U.S. government pension based on his Civil War soldiering. (The monthly stipend had apparently been granted sometime after 1912). In September, 1920 Henry noted "I haven't been able to earn anything to help me live for over two years." He had heart disease and a laundry list of other medical problems.

  Henry I. Fall, former Civil War artillerist died 5/30/21 in Everett, WA. At death his government pension amounted to a princely $72 per month. His obituary noted him survived by three sisters all of Everett, two sons, H.T. of Chicago, IL, Edward in AZ, and three daughters: Florence and Hazel of MN, and Nellie of Portland, Oregon.  Burial at Everett' Evergreen Cemetery was under the auspices the Elks, with attendance at the funeral by local Masonic representatives. 

Cemetery

Buried at Evergreen Cemetery Everett
Row: 30
Site: 432

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