Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Hiram Bersie

22^nd WISCONSIN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Summer, 1862 Camp Utley Racine, WI
Mustered In: 9/2/62 Camp Utley Racine, WI
Mustered Out: 6/12/65 Washington, D.C.

3^rd WISCONSIN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Summer, 1861 Camp Hamilton Fond du Lac, WI
Mustered In: 6/29/61 Camp Hamilton Fond du Lac, WI
Mustered Out: 7/18/65 Louisville, KY

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (22^nd)
 

The 22^nd, a three year western theater, regiment left Wisconsin on 9/16/62 and moved to Cincinnati, OH to defend that city against a threatened attack by Rebel forces. It then entered Kentucky where it performed guard duty and scoured the countryside in pursuit of the enemy.
 

In January, 1863 the unit started toward Franklin, TN. From there, in April, it moved to Nashville and then Chattanooga.
 

On 5/3/64 the 22^nd joined Union Gen. William T. Sherman's campaign to capture Atlanta, GA. Although previously it had skirmished with the enemy, Resaca (5/13 - 15) was the regiment's first "real" battle. Its loss was 11 killed and 64 wounded.
 

The unit next participated in the actions about Dallas (5/26 - 6/1) and was in three smart skirmishes during the siege of Kennesaw Mtn. (6/27). It was highly praised for its unflinching bravery during the battle of Peachtree Creek (7/20).
 

Next on the regimental slate was the siege of Atlanta. That city being occupied on 9/2/64, the 22^nd was assigned to garrison/guard duty at that location.
 

1865. On January second of the New Year the regiment joined the Union movement northward through the Carolinas toward Richmond, VA. En-route it fought in the battles of Averysboro (3/16) and Bentonville (3/19/ - 3/21) North Carolina.
 

The War having ended, on 5/24/65 the 22^nd marched in the Grand Review in Washington City. Final muster followed thereafter. 
 

REGIMENTAL LOSSES: 

Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 2; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 3; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 75; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:163.

REGIMENTAL HISTORY (3^rd)

* NOTE: The War being over, to save funds, the U.S. War Department quickly began discharging or combining - "consolidating" - existing regiments. Because Private Bursie's transfer from the 22^nd to the 3^rd occurred during this shut down period, the transfer was likely only on paper.  As he was never assigned to a company in the 3^rd ("U" = Unassigned) and did not see field service with that regiment, the unit's history is not being presented herein.

SOLDIER: (22^nd)
Residence: Cato Manitowoc Co., WI   Age:
Drafted: 12/29/64   Rank: Pvt.
Transferred Out:  6/10/65
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Transfer:  Pvt.
 

SOLDIER:  (3^rd)
Residence: Cato Manitowoc Co., WI   Age:
Transferred In: 6/10/65   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered Out: 7/18/65 Madison, WI
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
 

Although one source says Pennsylvania, Hiram William Bersie was born in the state of New York during the year 1835. No specific birth month or date have been found in available documents.
 

Hiram's parents were Frederick (b. 1803 Jefferson Co., NY - d. unk.) and Eliza (no nee b. 1802 Brussels Belgium - d. unk. IA) Bersie. The Bersie family was a farming family that, in 1850, were residing in or near Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., WI.
 

As best as can be determined from available U.S. Census data Hiram was the second of six Bersie children. Older than he was Benjamin (ca. 1831). Younger than he were Marion (b. 1837), Edward (b. 1840) and William (b. 1845). Like Hiram, all his brothers were birthed in New York.
 

In 1860 (has to be wrong) Hiram married. His bride was   Sally "Sarah" Anne Makee/McKee (b. ca. 1837 NY). After marrying the young couple settled into farming in Cato Manitowoc Co., WI.
 

The union of Hiram and Sarah would produce at least four children: William Wallace (b. 10/14/55), Benjamin Byron (b. 7/19/57), Mary Olga (b. 11/20/59) and Rosa Della (b. 11/18/62). All of the Bersie children were born in Manitowoc Co, WI and all of their birthdates are subject to error. 
 

In December, 1864 Hiram was drafted into the U.S. Army. According to one database source his surname became Bursie. How prevalent this misspelling of Bersie became is impossible to say without accessing Private Bersie/Bursie's military service and pension files from the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
 

Without access to the archived files it is also impossible to be specific about our private's military experience. However, we do know that he survived the conflict and, on 1/13/91, applied for and was likely granted a U.S. Government monthly disability pension based either on physical ailments or conditions which traced back to his days of Civil War soldiering or just the fact that he did serve his country in its time of uncivil strife. Again, without access to his files it impossible to comment further on the basis for the pension request and the amount of his monthly stipend. His application filed from Washington State was #986436. His certification number was 744,724.
 

As just noted, by early 1891 Hiram was in Washington State. We will touch more on that shortly.
 

At the time of the 1860 U.S. Census the Bersies were farming in Cato Manitowoc Co., WI. A decade later, in 1870, they were still in Wisconsin, but then residing in the community of Glenmore located in Brown Co., WI. At that time Hiram listed his occupation as "shingle man." By 1880 the family remained in Brown Co., WI but the resided in Green Bay. Also, shingle man had become "lumberman."
 

Sadly, while still in Green Bay, Sarah died. Beyond that it occurred on 9/20/82, no details are available pertaining to her passing. She was/is buried in Greenbay's Woodlawn Cemetery.
 

We earlier noted that by late 1890/early 1891 Hiram was in Washington State. What had drawn him to the Pacific Northwest and, specifically, to the Puget Sound.  is not known, but perhaps one or more of his adult children lived in the area (Daughter Mary died in Tacoma, Pierce Co. in 1938).
 

Hiram William Bessie died on 3/2/06 in Seattle King Co., Washington. The cause of his death was "apoplexy" (stroke). He was/is buried in Seattle's Grand Army Of The Republic Cemetery located on the north end of Capitol Hill.

Buried at Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Seattle

Denise Ottoson
Seattle, WA