Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Robert Reed

4^th CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized:  Summer/Fall, 1861
Mustered In:  9/21/1861 - 2/1/1862
Mustered Out: 4/18/1866 The Presidio San Francisco, CA

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: 
 

The 4^th was a three year, truly "western" infantry regiment. It was recruited from the California communities of Placerville, Shasta, Auburn, Sacramento and San Diego.
 

The regimental headquarters for five companies of the 4^th was first located in Auburn Placer County, CA. While there, five additional companies were sent northward to Oregon to relieve regular army soldiers stationed in that state.
 

From February to May, 1862 regimental headquarters and five companies were at Camp Union near Sacramento. In the latter month headquarters were moved, again, to Camp Latham near Los Angeles. That location held sway until September, 1862 when headquarters were transferred to nearby Drum Barracks. The 4^th remained at the latter place throughout the remainder of its existence.  
 

Primary service area of the 4^th was principally Oregon, Washington Territory and southern California. Small detachments, however, were stationed for a time in Arizona.
 

At the expiration of their enlistments, original members (except reenlisted veterans) were discharged. The   regiment, then composed of veterans and new recruits, continued to serve until mustered out by detachments from 11/30/1865 to 4/18/1866.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
No Loss Numbers Available

SOLDIER:
Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age: ca. 25.0 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 7/28/1864 Nevada City, CA   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 8/16/1864
Mustered Out: 2/19/1866 Drum Barracks Los Angeles, CA
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

NOTE: The birth - to - death biographical profile of Robert Reed was created in September, 2021 during the Covid-19 medical pandemic. It contains less depth of detail than many other biographies within this website because military service, pension and other veteran-related files housed in Washington, D.C.'s National Archives were not available. At a later time those documents may be obtained and the data contained therein added to the narrative which follows.
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Pre-American Civil War (ACW) information pertaining to Robert Henderson Reed is - for the most part - nonexistent. All we know about him is that he was likely born in July, 1839. His place of birth was somewhere in Pennsylvania.
 

As for Roberts family, his father's name was William. His mother's name in not known. Both were born in Pennsylvania. Another unknown is whether or not he had siblings.
 

Finally, there were a number of "Robert Reeds" in California. That being the case, pre- ACW it is impossible to determine which one is "our" Robert Reed.
 

Robert enlisted in the U.S. during the summer of 1864. He exited the service in February, 1866. Without accessing his military records all that can be said is that he survived the enlistment and returned to civilian life.
 

Post - ACW the first we learn about Robert comes from the U.S. Census of 1880. By that year he was farming in Pioneer Rush County, KS. Further, he was married and a father.
 

A few details are known about Robert's bride. Her first name was Martha. Her middle initial was E. Her surname was Thomas and she had been born around the year 1861 in Ohio.
 

When, where and how the two had met are unknowns. Other unknowns are when and where they married.
 

At the time of the 1880 census Robert and Martha had one child, a three month old son named Robert L. Reed, Jr. During their years together the couple would produce four additional children: Alexander H. Reed (b. 1882 KS), Florence A. Reed (b. 1883 or '84 KS), Martha Elner "Mattie" Reed (b. 1885 KS) and George T. Thomas Reed (b. 11/1894 WA).
 

On 3/1/1885 the Reed family was still residing in Pioneer Rush County, KS. By 1892, however, they had removed westward to the Puget Sound region of Washington State. What had drawn them here and, exactly when they had arrived, are not known. The family's Washington community of residence was Fall City located east of Seattle in eastern King County. There, Robert was tilling the soil.
 

8/22/1892 saw Robert begin the paper chase to receive a U.S. Government disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering. Although a pension was granted, without access to his pension papers details of the monthly stipened remain unknown.
 

Martha Thomas Reed died in Seattle King County, WA on 8/25/1897. The cause of her death was a stomach tumor. She was/is buried, not in Fall City, but in Seattle's Lakeview Cemetery located on the north end of Capitol Hill.
 

After Martha's death Robert continued farming in Fall City. As of 1900 he still had his own home which also contained children Florence, Mattie and George. Although, in 1910 Robert was still in Fall City, by then married son Alexander and his family were heading up the farm.
 

Robert died in Fall City King County, WA on 7/12/1910. Cause of his death was valvular heart disease. He was/is buried in the Fall City Cemetery.
 

Private Robert Reed's gravesite remained unmarked until 1/13/1928. At that time a U.S. Government military headstone was obtained and added to the old soldier's final resting place.

Buried at Fall City Cemetery