Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Matthew Bickford

8^th MISSOURI VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: 6 & 7/1861 St. Louis, MO
Mustered In: 6/1/1861 St. Louis, MO
Mustered Out: 8/14/1865 Little Rock, AR

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

The 8^th was a three year infantry regiment. Its period of service was within the western theater of the American Civil War (ACW).

Before organization of the unit was completed, the 8^th was called upon to suppress Rebel guerillas engaged in depredations along the line of the Missouri Railroad.  The irregulars were defeated in the vicinity of St. Charles and Mexico, MO.

In late 7/1861 the regiment left St. Louis and moved via Cape Girardeau to Paducah, KY. It remained there until 2/1862.

From Kentucky, in early 1862 the 8^th was called to join the forces of Union Gen. U.S. Grant in their movements against forts Henry and Donelson in Tennessee. After the capture of those places it travelled to Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing, TN where, on 4/7/1862, it was in some of the heaviest fighting of that two-day ordeal.

Next came confrontations with the enemy at Chickasaw Bluffs (12/26 – 29/1862), MS and Arkansas Post, AR (1/9 – 11/1863) after which, attentions were turned to Grant’s movements to capture the Mississippi citadel of Vicksburg. The battle of Champion’s Hill, MS (5/16/1863) preceded  the assault upon and siege of the city which fell to Federal forces on 7/4/1863..After that, Confederate forces were driven from Jackson, MS.

Late in ’63 the 8^th marched with Union Gen. W.T. Sherman to Chattanooga. There, it was in the advance in the first assault on Missionary Ridge (11/23 - 25).

The spring of 1864 found the 8^th in Georgia with Sherman as his armies advanced upon Atlanta. The unit took part in all the principal engagements of that campaign until July when the main body of the regiment was ordered back to St. Louis for final muster.

Two veteranized companies of the regiment veteranized, joined the “March To The Sea,” then, in early 1865, trekked northward through the Carolinas. Those companies were mustered out in mid- August at Little Rock, AR.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 1; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 1; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded:  78; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 124

SOLDIER:
Residence: Trivoli Township Peoria County, IL   Age: 22.1 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 6/1/1861 (est.) Elmwood, IL   Rank:  Pvt. **
Mustered In: 6/126/1861 St. Louis, MO
Mustered Out: 7/7/1864 St. Louis, MO
Highest Rank: Cprl.
Rank At Discharge: Cprl.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

Matthew Bickford was born 4/10/1839. His place of birth was within Peoria County, IL.

Father of Matthew was Millard Bickford. His mother was Pearl (nee Baker) Bickford.

Available documents note Matthew had at least three siblings. Names are not provided.

The 1860 U.S. Census for Tivoli Peoria County, IL noted Matthew, 21, a farmhand.

In 1861 Matthew enlisted in the U.S. Army. His unit was the 8^th Missouri Infantry. On 5/22/1863 at Vicksburg, MS, Private Bickford was one of the “Forlorn Hope” volunteers involved in the first Union assault upon that city’s earthworks. On 8/31/1894 Matthew was awarded the MEDAL OF HONOR for his actions that day.

1870. That year’s census for Doylesport Barton County, MO listed 30 year old Matthew’s occupation as “farmer.” His wife, Annie (no nee), aged 27, had been born in Ohio. In the home were two children: Lizzie 3, and Nellie 1. Both had been born in Missouri.

Ten years later, in 1880, the Bickfords were still in Doylesport.  By that time, however, there were three more children under their roof: Frank A., 8; Maurice A., 5 and Fannie, 8 mos. All were Missouri-born.

By 1910 the Bickfords had relocated to Bellingham Whatcom County, WA. In the home at that time were Matthew, Annie and adult son, Frank.

Matthew died on 4/18/1918. He was/is buried in Bellingham’s Bayview Cemetery.

Civil War Veteran Passes Away

Matthew Bickford of 2603 Woburn Street, a Civil war veteran with a record for bravery, died at a local hospital last night at the age of 79 years. Leaving two sons, Maurice A. Bickford of Kansas City and Frank A Bickford, Bellingham and three daughters, Mrs. John M. Warnick Weddeburn, Ore; Mrs.J.F. Elzea, Marysville, Wash. and Miss Lizzie Bickford, Bellingham.

Mr. Bickford served in the Civil war three and one-half years as a member of Company G, eighth Missouri infantry. He was one of the volunteers on the first attack on Vicksburg and he won there an honor medal for carrying a wounded comrade to a place of safety. He had lived in Bellingham ten years and was a member of the J.B. Steedman post No. 24 G.A.R. The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at Harry O. Bingham’s parlors.

Additional survivors were one sister, two brothers, twenty-one grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

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* According to the American Civil War Research Database, two Matthew Bickfords served in the 8^th Missouri Infantry’s Company “G”. Our Matthew spelled his first name with two Ts, the other, only one.

** Missouri State Archives records denote that Matthew enlisted as a corporal.
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NOTE:  The preceding courtesy Whatcom Genealogical Society. See our Links page for information on obtaining the down load Civil War Veterans of Whatcom County (with June 2014 update) from which much of the above-information was adapted. 

Posted: 3/26/2024
Updated: 

Buried at BayView Cemetery Whatcom Co.