Full Unit History
33rd ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: 9/1861 Camp Butler Springfield, IL
Mustered In: Camp Butler Springfield, IL
Mustered Out: 11/24/1865 Vicksburg, MS
Regimental History
REGIMENTAL HISTORY:
The 33rd. a three year infantry regiment was organized in Springfield, IL. During the American Civil War (ACW) it served in the western combat theater.
Mustered in during 9/1861, the regiment left Illinois that same month and moved into Missouri. During the winter of 1861/’62 it participated in several scouting expeditions within that state.
March of 1862 found the 33rd in Arkansas. That July, at Cache Creek elements of the unit clashed with Confederate Texas Rangers killing and wounding a number of them. The unit arrived in Pilot Knob, AR in October of that year. During the ensuing winter another campaign was undertaken back into Missouri.
In 1863 the 33rd was active in the movements of Union General U.S. Grant as his forces closed in on Vicksburg, MS. That citadel fell to Federal forces on July 4th. Actions in Louisiana and Arkansas filled the remainder of the year.
In 1/1864 re-enlistments within the 33rd gained the regiment veteran status. Thirty day home furloughs followed. Returning to the field, the unit again marched into Louisiana.
A train wreck in 3/1865 killed, wounded, maimed and disabled a number of 33rd men. The siege and capture of Rebel defenses around Mobile, AL preceded the unit returning to Vicksburg, MS for final muster and discharge.
REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers killed or mortally wounded: 2; Officers died of disease, accidents, etc.:1; Enlisted men killed or mortally wounded: 56; Enlisted men died of disease, accidents, etc.250.
Soldier History
SOLDIER:
Residence: Beardstown, IL Age: 19.4 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 3/26/1864 Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 4/28/1864
Mustered Out: 11/11/1865
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.
Family History
PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
Edwin Halsey Carman was born 11/6/1844. His place of birth was Mason County, IL.
Father of Edwin was Israel Carman (b. 11/4/1800 New Baltimore Greene County, NY). Edwin’s mother was Charity Lockwood (nee Curry b. 2/10/1806 Tompkins County, NY) Carman.
For whatever the reason, documentally, early on it appears Edwin’s father disappeared from the family. The 1850 U.S. Census for Mason County, IL noted Charity, only, and her children: Emma Carman, 19 (b. ca. 1831 PA), Lockwood Carman, 16 (b. ca. 1854 IL), Edwin Carman, 6, and Israel (Benona) Carman* (b. ca. 1848 IL). A decade later, in 1864 the family unit was basically the same as in 1850, but by then Emma was absent from the home.
On 3/26/1864 Edwin followed in the footsteps of his younger brother, Israel, and enlisted in the 33rd Illinois Infantry, Co. “K”. At the time of his enlistment Edwin was noted as being a farmer, who stood six (6) feet tall, having brown hair and grey eyes. In 4/1865 our Private Carman was listed as being away with-out leave (a.w.o.l.). More on this, later.
Having survived the trials and tribulations of war, Edwin returned to civilian life. Where that originally may have been is not known, but after he married, Edwin and his wife’s first child was born in Nebraska.Edwin’s marriage took place circa 1869. His bride was Nancy Ann Van Winkle. Nancy had been born 2/1/1851 in Illinois.
In all, during their time together, Edwin and Nancy produced a total of three children before she passed from his life. The children were: Simon Carman (b. 3/1870 NB), Charity L. Carman (b. 1873 NB) and Jams W. Carman (b. 3/1876 MO).
In 1880 the U.S. census found Edwin, Nancy and their children in Graham Nodaway County, MO. At that time and in that place Edwin was employed as a stone mason.
Sometime after 1880 Nancy disappeared from the Carman household. What happened to her is not known. Likely, however, she had died.
At some point in time and space, Edwin married a second time. Exactly when and where, however, are unknowns.
The second Mrs. Edwin Carman was Emma K. Rogers. Emma had been born 4/24/1854 in Wisconsin. How, when and where the two had met are more unanswered questions.
As far as can be determined, Edwin and Emma produced three children. They were: Ethel M. Carman (b. 1888 OR), Faye/Fay M. Carman (b. ca. 1892 – ’95 Nooksack Whatcom County, WA) and Lilian H. Carman (b. ca. 1895 Nooksack Whatcom County, WA).
Edwin H. Carman died 12/24/1920. He was/is buried in Whatcom County’s Nooksack Cemetery.
Following Edwin’s passing a local newspaper article appeared – in part - as follows.
“Elder E.H. Carman, venerable pastor of the Advent Christian Church, died at his home in Nooksack Friday night at the age of 76 years. He suffered a stroke of paralysis about two months ago and spent some time at the Sumas hospital. He had lived in Nooksack for thirty years. He was a veteran of the Civil war.”
Dropping back some decades, in 1892, after moving to Washington State, Edwin applied for a U.S. Government disability pension based on his days of Civil War soldiering. Initially there was apparently some concern the stipend would not be granted as Private Carman was allegedly absent without leave (a.w.o.l.) somewhere between 4/1865 and 11/1865. As has often proven to be the case, however, some soldiers fell through the bureaucratic cracks as the U.S. Government scrambled to rid itself of millions of expensive soldiers. That the a.w.o.l. was apparently a mistake is witnessed by the fact that former Private Carman was granted a pension. Without accessing pension files, however, details of the old soldier’s payment schedule remain unknowns.
What is known, however, is that in 2/1921, then residing in Wisconsin Emma applied for – and was likely granted – at least a portion of the monthly stipend as a widow’s benefit. Again, without accessing her files the details of her financial allowance remain unknown.
And Emma herself? Her final resting place is not known.
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* Edwin’s brother, Israel, also served in the 33rd Illinois’ Co. “K.” He enlisted on 2/28/1862 and was mustered out on 11/24/1865 at Vicksburg, MS.
Posted: 4/8/2024
Updated:
Cemetery
Buried at Nooksack Cemetery