Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Charles Ulmer

8^th MAINE VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: September, 1861 Augusta, ME
Mustered In: Inf. Not Avail.
Mustered Out: 1/18/66 Fortress Monroe, VA

8^th UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: 9/22 - 12/4/63 Camp William Penn Philadelphia, PA
Mustered In: 11/1/63 Camp William Penn Philadelphia, PA
Mustered Out: 11/10/65 Philadelphia, PA
Discharged: 12/12/65 Philadelphia, PA

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (8^th ME)
 

The 8^th Maine was a three year infantry regiment. It fought in both the western and eastern theaters of the American Civil War.
 

Assembled during the summer of 1862, the 8^th was made up of companies from different parts of Maine. It departed the state prior to Federal muster and travelled to Fortress Monroe, VA.
 

At Fortress Monroe the 8^th joined Union Gen. W.T. Sherman's expedition to Port Royal, SC. Arriving at Hilton Head in early November the regiment spent several months throwing up breastworks and constructing fortifications.
 

On 5/1/62 the unit moved to Tybee Island in the Savannah River. While there the 8^th took a prominent part in the attack on and capture of Fort Pulaski, GA (4/10 - 11/62). From this time until the spring of 1864 the regiment was employed for the most part performing guard duties at Hilton Head, SC, Beaufort, SC and Jacksonville, FL. During this period it suffered much from sickness to exposure and diseases spawned by the southern climate.
 

In April, 1864 the 8^th was transferred northward to Virginia. In Virginia the regiment moved onto the Bermuda Hundred peninsula outside Richmond. Until the surrender of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on 4/9/65 the unit engaged in numerous skirmishes as well as arduous picket and guard duties.
 

In addition to skirmishing the 8^th also participated in major battles such as: Cold Harbor (5/31 - 6/12/64), the operations before Petersburg such as Chaffin's Farm (9/29 - 30/64) Fair Oaks (10/27 - 28/64), Spring Hill (11/29/64), the capture of forts Gregg (4/2/65)and Baldwin (4/2-9/65), Rice's Station(4/6/65 and Appomattox Court House (4/9/85).
 

After Lee's Surrender (4/9/65) the 8^th was stationed in Richmond and at Manchester, VA until November, 1866. The regiment then moved back to Fortress Monroe where it remained until final muster.
 

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 6; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:  4; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 128; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 243.

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (8^th USCT)

The 8^th USCT Infantry saw service in both the western and eastern theaters of the American Civil War. It was stationed in North Carolina and Florida to April, 1864 then moved northward into Virginia as part of the Army Of The James. The War having ended the unit moved to Texas before returning back to Philadelphia for final muster.
 

One of the operations the 8^th participated in was an expedition from South Carolina into Florida 2/64 to 5/6/64). It then moved to St. John's Bluff (4/17/64). It remained there until August then took part in a raid upon Baldwin during July. In August the regiment moved into Virginia where it saw action at Deep Bottom (8/12/64).
 

The 8^th’s next move was into the trenches before Petersburg. During this period it took part in the battle of Chaffin's Farm (9/29- 30/64) then fought at Fair Oaks (10/27 - 28/64).
 

Marching into the Richmond trenches the regiment remained there until that city fell into Union hands (4/2/65). Then began the pursuit of Confed. Gen. Robert E. Lee's troops which ended at Appomattox Ct. House on 4/9/65.
 

From Virginia the 8^th travelled by sea to Texas. It remained there until moving back to Philadelphia for final muster.
 

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 4; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc. 0; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 115; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 132. 

SOLDIER: (8^th ME)
Residence: Appleton, ME   Age: 17.11 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 10/3/62   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 10/3/62
Discharged For Promotion: 3/10/65
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.
 

SOLDIER: (8^th USCT)
Residence: Appleton, ME   Age: 20.5 yrs.
Commissioned:  3/10/65   Rank: 2^nd Lieut.
Mustered Out: 11/10/65 Philadelphia, PA
Highest Rank: 2^nd Lieut.
Rank At Discharge: 2^nd Lieut.  

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
 

NOTE: The birth - to - death biographical profile of Charles Ulmer was created in May, 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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 Charles D. Ulmer was born October 7, 1844. The location of his birth was somewhere in the state of Maine.
 

Parents of Charles were Philip Ulmer (b. 1818 ME) and Lucy M. (nee Runnels/Runnells b. 3/10/1820 Prospect, ME) Ulmer. The two had wed on April 21, 1842 in Boston MA. In the 1850 U.S. Census for Appleton Waldo County, ME Philip listed his occupation as "farmer."
 

Philip and Lucy produced at least four children. Charles was the eldest. Younger than he were George T. Ulmer (b. ca. 1848 *), Frank Merriam Ulmer (b. 1/31/1849 ME) and Fredrick P. Ulmer (b. 1853).
 

In 1850 the Ulmers were residing in Mane. A decade later, in 1860, they were living in Charlestown Middlesex County, MA. Why the move? Available documents do not give us the answer to that question. 
 

Lucy died in Boston, MA on 6/27/1861. After her death Philip apparently moved his sons back to Maine settling in Appleton.
 

On 10/26/61 Appleton resident Charles Ulmer enlisted in the U.S. Army. His unit of service was Company "H" of the 8^th Maine Infantry. His younger brother, George, would join him in Company "H" of the 8^th in April, 1864.
 

Without accessing his military service records there is little that can be said about Private Ulmer's period of enlistment. However, he adapted well to military life as, at some point during 1864, he was detailed to brigade headquarters. Although he received some kind of wounding on 12/20/64 he continued in the service and, on 3/10/65 was discharged from the 8^th to accept a 2^nd Lieutenant's commission with a regiment of U.S. Colored Troops. He returned to civilian life in November of 1865.
 

Where Charles settled after leaving the military is an unknown. Likely, however, he had returned to Maine.
 

 The next we hear of Charles is in 1868. Sometime that year he married Laura A. Dodge (b. 1845 ME). After marrying Charles and Laura settled in Maine. Their first child was born there during that same year.
 

During their years together Charles and Laura produced seven children: Philip W. (1868 ME), Charles D., Jr.  (1871 IL), Ralph E. (b. 1874 CO), Lucy A. (b. 1876 CO), William T. (b. 8/6/78 Rice County, KS), Fred (b. 3/81 KS) and Laura A. (b. 9/84 KS). All seven were living at the dawn of the twentieth century.
 

As noted by the birth states of the Ulmer children and other data, Charles and Laura moved about during their child bearing/raising years.  As previously noted, it appears that after marrying they resided, for a time, in Maine (Philip). By 1870, however, they had removed to Chicago Cook County, IL (Charles, Jr.). By 1874 Illinois had been quitted in favor of Colorado (Ralph & Lucy). By 1878 the couple was in Sterling Rice County, KS. They would remain there for a significant period of time (William, Fred & Laura).
 

With the above described moves came occupational changes for Charles. In 1870 Illinois he was a "hardware agent." In 1880 Kansas he was a "publisher," while by 1885 he characterized himself as a "printer."
 

By 1900 "printer" Charles and family were living in Port Angeles Clallam County Washington. What had drawn the Ulmers to the Pacific Northwest and when, exactly, they arrived here are unknowns.
 

A decade later, in 1910, the Ulmer family was still in Washington, but by then had moved to Seattle located in King County. After the passage of another ten years, 1920 found Charles, then-retired from printing, “gentleman farming" in the south King County unincorporated region of Spring Glen/Brook near present-day Renton.
 

Former Civil War soldier Charles Ulmer died in Spring Glen/Brook King County, WA on 3/29/22. Cause of death was listed as chronic myocarditis (heart disease) with Urethra (inflamed urinary track) contributing. Burial was/is in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery located in Renton King County, WA.
 

On 12/31/06 Charles began the paperwork process to receive a U.S. Government disability pension based on his years of Civil War soldiering. The request was granted, but without his pension files details of the monthly stipend remain unknown.
 

Upon the death of Charles Laura petitioned the Government to continue receiving at least portion of her late husband's financial benefits. That petition was granted, but again, without access to her pension files details of her monthly payments are unknown.
 

After being widowed Laura remained in Spring Glen /Brook King County. In 1930 she was sharing her home with sons Philip and Ralph, both of whom had followed in their father's footsteps and become printers.
 

Laura died on 12/8/36 in Seattle King County, WA. The ninety/ninety-one year old’s final resting place is not known. If she was/in buried in Mt. Olivet with Charles, neither he nor she has a headstone marking their graves.
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* During the American Civil War George served as a drummer boy in Company "H" of the 8^th Maine Infantry.  He survived The War

Buried at Mt Olivet Cemetery