Private, United States Marine Corps, was born in Randolph, Massachusetts, in 1840, the son of Edmund Bannon and Bridget McGrangh.  He is described at the time of his enlistment as being 5'9", blue eyes, brown hair and a ruddy complexion.

Bannon enlisted on April 15, 1861, at Boston, Massachusetts; credit Boston; for a period of four years.  He served on U.S.S. Housatonic and was captured with James during the night assault on Fort Sumter.  He was confined to prison in Richmond, Virginia, on November 25, 1863, and went to Andersonville on February 22, 1864.  He was hospitalized on August 6, 1864, in the prison infirmary.  On October 16, 1864, he was taken to Richmond, Virginia, and paroled on the same date.  Bannon was discharged on April 15, 1865, from the Naval Barracks at Boston.

He married Augusta B. Townsend of Wakefield, Massachusetts, on October 29, 1870, and had one son, Arthur E. Bannon, born December 12, 1873.  The marriage ended in divorce on grounds of desertion and gross habits of intoxication.  Augusta Bannon was remarried to John Irons on September 8, 1883. 

Letters attesting to Bannon's disability resulting from prison conditions were written by former ship and prison companions, Joseph Connaton and Timothy Daly.  Connaton is mentioned in James's diary.

Martin Bannon died of heart disease on November 21, 1889, in South Braintree, Massachusetts.

"R. L. Tinker & myself took up our quarters with some of our old shipmates & chums.  The hut or "Chebang" as our fellows call it, in which we live is roofed with four blankets & logs for walls at the sides.  Our "Chebang mates" are Martin Bannon, Jos.Connaton, John Foley, Thos. McCarthy, N.K. Suydam, Alexander Clark, besides Tinker & myself." (June 1, 1864)

"Bannon, Clark, Tinker, Suydam, & McCarthy went out to work at the hospital as police, &c.. today." (June 16, 1864)

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 617

Sailmaker, United States Navy, born on High Street, Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1841, the son of Captain Andrew Bartlett and Mary Barnes.  Bibliographical information about Victor Bartlett and his family was taken from Plymouth Memories of an Octogenarian by William T. Davis, 1906, The Memorial Press of Plymouth, Massachusetts.  His parents were married in 1830 and had two other children besides Victor: Mary E., born in 1843, and Andrew P. born in 1848.  

Victor enlisted on August 14, 1862; credit Plymouth.  His occupation at the time of enlistment was sailmaker.  He served on the U.S.S. Housatonic and had as his ship's number 94, one below Frederic James.  His naval records describe him as 5'10^3/4", blue eyes, brown hair and fair complexion.

He was captured during the assault on Fort Sumter on September 8, 1863, and died of pneumonia on March 25, 1864, in the Confederate Military Prison Hospital in Salisbury, North Carolina.  

"Victor A. Bartlett, R.L.Tinker, & myself, who were all in the same mess on board the Housatonic, have messed together when we were taken, and by the exercise of sundry dexterous feats in the culinary art, have concocted a variety of dishes not mentioned in the books of French cooks or Confederate Commissaries, but which were nevertheless somewhat savoury and have contributed much to our health & comfort." (Written while a prisoner in the Richland District Jailyard, Columbia, S.C., prior to November 1863)

"Read my Bible & commentary, & Tinker & Bartlett sang several hymns with me." (February 28, 1864)

"Bartlett, who has been sick for several days with unaccountable symptoms, has concluded to call it measles, & to give some color  of probability to his pretentions, broke out with the genuine eruption all over his face, last night. He gets along quite comfortably with it, & so do  Dick & I as we have the greater part of his ration to eat by reason of his indisposition to eat it." (March 3, 1964)

"Bartlett continues to get along comfortably."(March 5, 1864)

"Bartlett got one [letter] from his Father dated the 4th inst. in which he mentioned that my wife was well, & confirmed a rumor which we had heard from several sources that our Ship, the Sloop of war "Housatonic" has been sunk at her station off Charleston, by a torpedo [delivered by the C.S.S. Hunley]. The particulars of the affair we have not yet learned." (March 19, 1864)

"Had Bartlett sent to the hospital today, as he seems to make slow headway at getting thoroughly over his measles.  He had a very restless night last night."  (March 23, 1864)

"Went to the hospital in the morning, & found Bartlett much worse.  He was out of his head all of last night.  He seemed to know me, but his mind still wandered & he talked now of one thing, & in the same breath, of an entirely different matter, thinking himself now on board ship; now a prisoner; and the next moment at home.  I waited until the Dr. came in & he told me that he [Bartlett] could not live longer than until tomorrow morning.  At 1 o'clock Tinker went to see him [Bartlett], & found him no better.  At two o'clock, they sent us word that he was dying and we went to the hospital immediately but he did not live more than two or three minutes after we got there: he was engaged in prayer until he ceased to breathe, and seemed to be conscious of his condition, but thought himself at or near home.  He was a young man of excellent character, and was a member of the Congregational Church at Plymouth, Mass. Wherever he went he found friends, and his departure will cast a gloom over our circle which we shall long feel.  I wrote to his father by today's mail.  It will be a heavy bereavement to his family as it is to all of us. The disease of which he died the Dr. tells me was pneumonia of which we have had several cases, all which have thus far proved fatal.  He had a cough before he came down with the measles, & after he had apparently got entirely over them, he began to complain of a violent pain in his chest & right side. This was on the night of the 15th & on the 16th.  On the 16th, I rubbed his chest & side with water & he did not complain of any pain afterwards.  He was very patient, & hopeful through the whole of his sickness.  It was a daily habit of him to read portions of the scriptures, and books of a devotional character were always his first choice.  While we lament his loss for our own sakes, we acknowledge that for him it was "far better to depart & be with Christ". "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, sayth the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them".  (March 25, 1864)

A modern oil painting by artist Robert Scully of Pine Bush, NY, depicting the burial of Victor Bartlett outside the gates of the Confederate Prison of Salisbury, North Carolina, on the afternoon of March 26, 1864.  

"Saturday March 26, 1864 - The clouds broke away this morning and we have had quite a pleasant day though the wind was a little chilly. We had a headboard suitably inscribed for Bartlett's grave this afternoon. It was done by John Keyser of Morris X Roads, Fayette Co., Pa., who kindly volunteered, & who also conducted the services at the grave. The headboard reads thus -

V.A. Bartlett
Of
U.S. Steamer
"Housatonic"
Died March 25, 1864
Aged 22 years

We also secured a zinc plate to the lid of the coffin with his initials indented in large Capitals. We buried him between the hours of one & two P.M. & the Col. allowed Mr. Keyser, R.L. Tinker, Wm. O'Conner, and myself to go to the grave. It is in an open wood lot, within sight of the cupola of our building, distance only about fifty rods.

The services at the grave consisted of the reading of portions of the burial service from the "book of common prayer" of the "Protestant Episcopal Church" commencing with a section of Scripture from 1st Cor. 15th ch. 20th verse, and including all that follows. We sang the 124th hymn (from the prayerbook section) and after filling & marking the grave, Mr. Keyser closed the service with a very appropriate prayer. It was a very solemn and impressive occasion, and our prayer to God is that our hearts may learn the lesson He deigns to teach us by this experience, so sad & peculiar. May our hearts be given & consecrated anew to Jesus, and may our lives be such that we shall be ready at whatever moment He may call for us."

Editorial note concerning prison burials at Salisbury:
The burial of a Union sailor in a Confederate prison during the Civil War seemed very unusual to me when I first read the account of Victor Bartlett's internment at Salisbury Prison. Yet I've subsequently read several articles concerning similar burials of prisoners at Salisbury. It seems that prior to October 1864 it was not uncommon for a prisoner to be buried in an individual coffin at a grave site dug for him. There are even records indicating that military burial services were conducted at the various grave sites.

JJH

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 617

Report of Lieutenant-Commander  Williams, U.S.N.
Roxbury, Mass., September 27, 1864

... The conduct of all, since our capture, has been good, with the exception of William Hill, seaman, from the Powhatan, and William Beeby, officers' steward, from the Housatonic, who were bribed by the enemy and deserted, giving all the information in their power regarding the squadron off Charleston.  They took the oath of allegiance and are now in the Southern Confederacy.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant.

E.P. Williams, 
Lieutenant-Commander, U.S. Navy

Hon. Gideon Welles, 
Secretary of Navy

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 630

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 617

Coxwain United States Navy, served aboard the U.S.S. Lodona.  Participated in the assault on Fort Sumter September 8, 1863, and eventually was imprisoned in Andersonville along with Frederic James.

"Pleasant.  Felt pretty well today but have not much strength.  Foley, Brown, & Littlefield went out to work at the hospital last evening." (August 5, 1864)

U.S.S. Lodona, 
Charleston, September 9, 1863.

Sir: I have the honor to report the following-named men of this ship, who participated in last night's attempt to storm Fort Sumter, as missing or wounded, as well as the loss of our first cutter:
Missing. - David Welch, captain hold; John Brown, coxswain; James Blake, Nathaniel Sedan, James Lawton, Henry H. Horn, seamen; William Morrison, ordinary seaman; James Wholley, Austin Littlefield, landsmen.
Wounded slightly. - Leonard McComber, seaman.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Edgar Brodhead,
Acting Lieutenant, Commanding

Admiral J.A. Dahlgren,
Comdg. South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Charleston, S. C.

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 620

Carpenter's Mate, United States Navy, served on the U.S. Schooner Dan Smith.  He was taken prisoner at Fort Sumter on September 8, 1863, and later confined to the Confederate Prison at Andersonville, Georgia.

"Bannon, Clark, Tinker, Suydam, & McCarthy went out to work at the hospital as police, &c. today." (June 16, 1864)

Off Morris Island, September 9, 1863: 

I have to report that the second cutter has not returned, and that the following-named crew are missing, namely: William Dowden, Boatswain's Mate; Alexander Clark, Carpenter's Mate; Henry B. Middleton, Master at Arms; Richard Kaine, Ordinary Seaman; Francis Swift, Landsman.

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 621

Ordinary Seaman, United States Navy, was born in Ireland about 1839.  He is described, at the time of enlistment, as being 5' 8^1/4", grey eyes, white hair, and fair complexion.

Connaton enlisted at Boston, Massachusetts, on August 19, 1862, for one year as an ordinary seaman; credit Sandwich, Massachusetts.  He served on the Receiving Ship U.S.S.Ohio, and the U.S.S. Housatonic.  His ship's number on the Housatonic was 72.  He was captured at Fort Sumter on September 8, 1863, and later sent to Andersonville.  He was discharged on November 2, 1864, at the Naval Yard, Washington, D.C. as seaman.  

"R. L. Tinker & myself took up our quarters with some of our old shipmates & chum.  The hut or "Chebang" as our fellows call it, in which we live is roofed with four blankets & logs for walls at the sides.  Our "Chebang mates" are Martin Bannon, Jos.Connaton, John Foley, Thos. McCarthy, N.K. Suydam, Alexander Clark, besides Tinker & myself." (June 1, 1864)

"Comfortable & pleasant in the morning tho a little cloudy.  For a wonder it did not  rain in the afternoon. Had boiled eggs for breakfast, & potato cake for supper.  Joe Connaton bought a sack of flour today & we made some "wheat & indian" bread for tomorrow." (June 22, 1864)

"Last night was warmer & as I kept a wet cloth on my head & took some picra.  I felt a little better. Joe Connaton went out to the hospital & reported me & Tinker sent me in four powders."(July 26, 1864)

"Cloudy in the afternoon.  Sent out a blanket to Foley.   Recd. notes from Tinker, & Connaton. Drew fresh beef today." (August 6, 1864)

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 617

Landsman, United States Navy, born in England in the year 1841. Crawford's enlistment record describes him as being 5' '7", grey eyes, brown hair, and fair complexion.  

He enlisted July 7, 1863, aboard the U.S.S. Wabash. He served on the U.S.S. Housatonic and his ship's number was 181. Crawford was aboard the Housatonic on the night of September 8, 1863, and participated in the assault on Fort Sumter. Navy records indicate that he was captured at that time, along with Frederic A. James. 

James makes no mention of Crawford in his diary.

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 617

Landsman, United States Navy, born in New Hampshire. Daly's enlistment record describes him as being 5' 9^1/2'", grey eyes, brown hair, and light complexion.  

He enlisted July 20,1863 aboard the U.S.S. Wabash. He served on the U.S.S. Housatonic and his ship's number was 176. Daly was aboard the Housatonic on the night of September 8, 1863, and participated in the assault on Fort Sumter. Navy records indicate that he was captured at that time, along with Frederic A. James. 

James makes no mention of Daly in his diary.

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 617

Ordinary seaman, United States Navy, born in Freeport, Maine  about 1844, the son of Captain John and Margaret Dillingham. (John A. Hyde, a fellow seaman, was also a resident of Freeport, Maine.) His father, a sea captain, died February 5, 1869 and his mother died November 1, 1873. He had one sister, Bertha. At the time of his enlistment, he is described as being 5'3

Dillingham enlisted on August 12, 1862, at Boston for one year as ordinary seaman; credit Boston. He served on the Receiving Ship U.S.S. Ohio and the U.S.S. Housatonic. His ship's number on the Housatonic was 65. He was taken prisoner at Fort Sumter on September 8, 1863 and confined to the Confederate Prison in Richmond from which he was transferred to Andersonville on February 22, 1864. He died in the hospital at Andersonville on March 25, 1864 of tuberculosis. His grave number in the National Cemetery at Andersonville is 164.

"We arrived [at Andersonville]  on Wednesday June 1 at 11 A.M…We found most of our shipmates here, they having been sent from Richmond on the 22nd of Feb. last. Two of them we were pained to learn have died since they were sent here. They were John M. Dillingham of Freeport, Maine, who died of fever March 25th, & John Kief [Keefe] of Lawrence Mass. who died of diarrhea & fever. The Confederate doctors did the best they could for them but without avail. They were good fellows & we miss them very much. Both belonged to the "Housatonic". Dillingham was a mainmast man & Kief a forecastle man. Kief died April 18th.  Dillingham died the same day that Bartlett did." (June 1, 1864)

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 617

Landsman, United States Navy, born in Ireland about 1835.  He is described as being 5' 2^1/2", grey eyes, light hair and fair complexion.  He was "nearly bald" at the time of enlistment and had a tattoo, "J.M.F." on his forearm.  By occupation, he was a cabinet maker.

Foley enlisted on August 20, 1862 at Boston, Massachusetts, for one year as landsman; credit Boston. He served on the Receiving Ship U.S.S. Ohio and the U.S.S.Housatonic.  His ship's number on the Housatonic was 96, one next to James whose number was 95. 

He was captured on September 8, 1863, at Fort Sumter, and was eventually confined at Andersonville.  He survived the prison and was discharged on November 2, 1864, from the Navy Yard at Washington, D.C., as landsman.

"R. L. Tinker & myself took up our quarters with some of our old shipmates & chum.  The hut or "Chebang" as our fellows call it, in which we live is roofed with four blankets & logs for walls at the sides.  Our "Chebang mates" are Martin Bannon, Jos.Connaton, John Foley, Thos. McCarthy, N.K. Suydam, Alexander Clark, besides Tinker & myself." (June 1, 1864)

"Pleasant.  Felt pretty well today but have not much strength.  Foley, Brown, & Littlefield went out to work at the hospital last evening." (August 5, 1864)

"Pleasant.  Cloudy in the afternoon.  Sent out a blanket to Foley." (August 6, 1864)

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 617

Landsman, United States Navy, born in Charlestown, Massachusetts in the year 1827.  By occupation he was a printer.  Freeman's enlistment record describes him as being 5'9^1/2", hazel eyes, dark hair, and light complexion.  The record adds the remark that he had "ink spots each hand".  

He enlisted on August 20, 1862, at Boston for one year as a landsman; credit Charlestown.  He served on the Receiving Ship U.S.S. Ohio and the U.S.S. Housatonic.  His ship's number on the Housatonic was 97.  Freeman was aboard the Housatonic on the night of September 8, 1863, but did not take part in the assault on Fort Sumter. He also served on the Recognition Ship U.S.S. Princetown from which he was discharged on September 17, 1863, as landsman.

Freeman re-enlisted on August 8, 1864, at Charleston, South Carolina, for one year.  He served on the receiving ship U.S.S. Ohio, U.S.S. Circassion and U.S.S. Rhode Island from which he was discharged September 13, 1865, as yeoman.

"While at Columbia, I received several letters from home, viz: two from my wife of Sept. 5th & 18th, the last one having been written after having been informed by a note from Chas. H. Freeman of the Housatonic of my capture." (written early in his imprisonment)

Ordinary Seaman, United States Navy, born at Freeport, Maine, about 1843. (John Dillingham,  a fellow seaman, was also a resident of Freeport, Maine.)  He is described at the time of enlistment as being 5'5", hazel eyes, brown hair and dark complexion. By occupation he was a sailor.

Hyde enlisted on August 12, 1862, at Boston, for one year as an ordinary seaman; credit Seekonk, Massachusetts. He served on the Receiving Ship U.S.S. Ohio and the U.S.S. Housatonic; his ship's number on the Housatonic was 63.

Captured at Fort Sumter, September 8, 1863, he was eventually confined to Andersonville Prison, Georgia.  He was discharged from the Navy on November 7, 1864, at the Washington, D.C. Navy Yard as ordinary seaman.  John Hyde died in Mull Valley, California, on March 6, 1920.

"Bannon, Clark, Tinker, Suydam, & McCarthy went out to work at the hospital as police, &c. today. Hyde & White also went." (June 16, 1864)

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 617

Ordinary Seaman, United States Navy, born in Boston,  Massachusetts, on February 21, 1842, the son of Daniel and Ellen Keefe.  His parents had been married on January 5, 1839, in Cork County, Ireland.  His father died on September 7, 1856, and his mother died on December 24, 1899.  He had one brother, Timothy, who was born on February 12, 1840.

His naval enlistment papers describe him as 5'6", black eyes, black hair, and a dark complexion.  At the time of this enlistment, his occupation was "laborer". 

Keefe enlisted on August 8, 1862, at Boston for one year as ordinary seaman; credit Lawrence, Massachusetts, where he resided at the time. He served on the Receiving Ship U.S.S.Ohio and the U.S.S.Housatonic.  His number on the latter ship was 69.  

He was taken prisoner at Fort Sumter on September 8, 1863, and sent to the Confederate Prison at Richmond, Virginia, from which place he was transferred to Andersonville, Georgia, on February 22, 1864. He died there on April 18, 1864, of chronic diarrhea. His grave number at Andersonville is 602.

"We arrived [at Andersonville]  on Wednesday June 1 at 11 A.M…We found most of our shipmates here, they having been sent from Richmond on the 22nd of Feb. last. Two of them we were pained to learn have died since they were sent here. They were John M. Dillingham of Freeport, Maine, who died of fever March 25th, & John Kief [Keefe] of Lawrence Mass. who died of diarrhea & fever. The Confederate doctors did the best they could for them but without avail. They were good fellows & we miss them very much. Both belonged to the "Housatonic". Dillingham was a mainmast man & Kief a forecastle man. Kief died April 18th.  Dillingham died the same day that Bartlett did." (June 1, 1864)

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 617

Landsman, United States Navy, served on the U.S.S.Lodona and from that ship took part in the assault on Fort Sumter on September 8, 1863.  He was captured and eventually confined to Andersonville as a prisoner of war.

U.S.S. Lodona, 
Charleston, September 9, 1863.

Sir: I have the honor to report the following-named men of this ship, who participated in last night's attempt to storm Fort Sumter, as missing or wounded, as well as the loss of our first cutter:
Missing. - David Welch, captain hold; John Brown, coxswain; James Blake, Nathaniel Sedan, James Lawton, Henry H. Horn, seamen; William Morrison, ordinary seaman; James Wholley, Austin Littlefield, landsmen.
Wounded slightly. - Leonard McComber, seaman.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Edgar Brodhead,
Acting Lieutenant, Commanding

Admiral J.A. Dahlgren,
Comdg. South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Charleston, S. C.

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series 1, Vol.14, p.620

Coxswain, United States Navy, was born in Ireland about 1832. His description at the time of enlistment is given as 5'3^1/2", dark hair, grey eyes and a swarthy complexion.

He enlisted on July 22, 1862, at Boston, and served on the U.S.S. Housatonic; his ship's number was 18.

McCarthy was captured on the night of September 8, 1863, at Fort Sumter.  He was confined to Confederate prisons at Charleston, South Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; and was transferred on February 22, 1864, to Andersonville, Georgia. He died at Andersonville on July 30, 1864, of chronic diarrhea.  His grave number at Andersonville is 4324.

Note: Although the headstone at Andersonville records his name as 'McCarty', official naval records confirm his surname was 'McCarthy'.

"R. L. Tinker & myself took up our quarters with some of our old shipmates & chum.  The hut or "Chebang" as our fellows call it, in which we live is roofed with four blankets & logs for walls at the sides.  Our "Chebang mates" are Martin Bannon, Jos.Connaton, John Foley, Thos. McCarthy, N.K. Suydam, Alexander Clark, besides Tinker & myself." (June 1, 1864)

"Bannon, Clark, Tinker, Suydam, & McCarthy went out to work at the hospital as police, &c.. today." (June 16, 1864)

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 617

Landsman, United States Navy, of the U.S.S. Steam Gunboat Wissahickon, was captured on September 8, 1863, at Fort Sumter, and was confined in the Confederate Military Prison at Salisbury, North Carolina. 

"We buried him [Victor Bartlett] at the hours of one & two P.M. & the Col. allowed Mr. Keyser, R. L. Tinker, Wm. O'Connor, and myself to go to the grave." (March 26, 1864)

U.S.Steam Gunboat Wissahickon,
Off Morris Island, South Carolina, September 9, 1863

Sir: I have to report the following men as missing from this vessel since the engagement of last night: 
Charles Hilliard, boatswain's mate; Charles P. Pyne, master-at-arms; Frederic Seedsman, quarter gunner; Ambrose H. Gaines, seaman; John Pasque, William Hull, Philip McDevitt, ordinary seamen; John S. White, Thomas Flynn, William O'Connor, landsmen, being the crew of the second cutter. Lieutenant-Commander E. P. Williams and Acting Ensign E. P. Dayton, executive officer, are also missing.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Walter C. Odiorme
Acting Ensign

Rear-Admiral J.A. Dahlgren, 
Commanding South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series 1, Vol.14, pp. 618-619

Landsman, United States Navy, born in Ireland in the year 1837. Simpson's enlistment record describes him as being 5' 6^1/2", blue eyes, dark hair, and fair complexion.  

He enlisted August 20, 1862, aboard the U.S.S. Ohio. He served on the U.S.S. Housatonic and his ship's number was 39. Simpson was aboard the Housatonic on the night of September 8, 1863, and participated in the assault on Fort Sumter. Navy records indicate that he was captured at that time, along with Frederic A. James. 

James makes no mention of Simpson in his diary.

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 617

Landsman, United States Navy, born in New Jersey in the year 1842. Southerd's enlistment record describes him as being 5' '4 ^1/2", hazel eyes, brown hair, and light complexion.  

He enlisted July 8, 1863, aboard the U.S.S. Wabash. He served on the U.S.S. Housatonic and his ship's number was 186. Southerd was aboard the Housatonic on the night of September 8, 1863, and participated in the assault on Fort Sumter. Navy records indicate that he was captured at that time, along with Frederic A. James. 

James makes no mention of Southerd in his diary.

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 617

Ship's Nurse, United States Navy, was born on March 31, 1841, in Marlow, New Hampshire, the son of Richard and Orpha Tinker. He is described as being 5'8", hazel eyes, brown hair and of a florid complexion at the time of his enlistment.  He was married on January 1, 1862, to Lois Eaton of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who died five months later, on May 26, 1862, age 21 years, 8 months.  They had no children.  He later married Emma Russel on November 29, 1866, in Sugar Grove, Illinois, in a ceremony conducted by the Reverend N. D. Fanning.  The couple had three children: Lee E., born October 13, 1867; Elmer C., born December 23, 1871; and Elsie, born November 21, 1880.  His second wife died on April 27, 1923.

Tinker enlisted in the Navy on August 5, 1862, with the rank of Ship's Nurse. His number on the U.S.S. Housatonic was 148. 

Tinker was taken prisoner at Fort Sumter on September 8, 1863, and was confined to the military prisons at Columbia, South Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; Salisbury, North Carolina; and Andersonville, Georgia.  He was discharged from the Washington D.C. Naval Yard on November 21, 1864. 

After the War, he was employed by the B&M Railroad and lived in Illinois, Nebraska, Colorado, and Oklahoma.  In the 1910 U.S. Census for Oklahoma, Tinker along with his wife Emma and son Elmer, lived in Crutcho Township.  In 1910, he was listed as a farmer by occupation. He died in Oklahoma City on September 29, 1912, of myocarditis.  His mailing address was R.D.10, Box 33, Oklahoma City.  The obituary found in the Oklahoma City Times dated Sunday, September 30, 1912, mentions that the Pastor from the First Methodist Church conducted the service.  Tinker was buried in the Fairlawn Cemetery in Oklahoma City, but not in the Union Soldiers section.  The Street and Dapper Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

"Victor A. Bartlett, R.L.Tinker, & myself, who were all in the same mess on board the Housatonic, have messed together when we were taken, and by the exercise of sundry dexterous feats in the culinary art, have concocted a variety of dishes not mentioned in the books of French cooks or Confederate Commissaries, but which were nevertheless somewhat savoury and have contributed much to our health & comfort." (Written while a prisoner in the Richland District Jailyard, Columbia, S.C., prior to November 1863)

"Read my Bible & commentary, & Tinker & Bartlett sang several hymns with me." (February 28, 1864)

"Took a lesson at making horsehair guard chains, of Tinker. Succeeded very well, & made several links for Tinker's chain. Sent a letter to my wife, & Tinker also sent one home." (March 11, 1864)

"At 1 o'clock Tinker went to see him [Bartlett], & found him no better.  At two o'clock, they sent us word that he was dying and we went to the hospital immediately but he did not live more than two or three minutes after we got there." (March 25, 1864)

"We buried him [Bartlett] between the hours of one & two p.m. & the Col. allowed Mr. Keyser, R.L.Tinker, Wm. O'Connor, & myself to go the grave." (March 26, 1864)

"Wednesday 1st: We began our career at Camp Sumter, Andersonville, GA. We had a thunder shower to usher us in but it cleared off before night.  R.L.Tinker & myself took up our quarters with some of our old shipmates and chums. The hut or "chebang" as our fellows call it, in which we live is roofed with four blankets & with logs for walls at the sides. Our "chebang mates" are Martin Bannon, Jos.Connaton, John Foley, Thos. McCarthy, N.K.Suydam, Alexander Clark, besides Tinker & myself.  We are located on a hillside sloping to the south." (June 1, 1864)

"Recd. a note from Tinker last night, & sent an answer out this morning. "(June 24, 1864)

"Last night was warmer & as I kept a wet cloth on my head & took some picra.  I felt a little better. Joe Connaton went out to the hospital & reported me & Tinker sent me in four powders." (July 26, 1864) [Tinker had served as Ship's Nurse on the U.S.S. Housatonic]

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, Vol. 14, p. 617

Landsman United States Navy aboard the U.S.S. Wissahickon.  Participated in the assault on Fort Sumter the night of September 8, 1863, and eventually was imprisoned in Andersonville along with Frederic James.

"Bannon, Clark, Tinker, Suydam, & McCarthy went out to work at the hospital as police, &c. today. Hyde & White also went." (June 16, 1864)

U.S.Steam Gunboat Wissahickon,
Off Morris Island, South Carolina, September 9, 1863

Sir: I have to report the following men as missing from this vessel since the engagement of last night: 
Charles Hilliard, boatswain's mate; Charles P. Pyne, master-at-arms; Frederic Seedsman, quarter gunner; Ambrose H. Gaines, seaman; John Pasque, William Hull, Philip McDevitt, ordinary seamen; John S. White, Thomas Flynn, William O'Connor, landsmen, being the crew of the second cutter. Lieutenant-Commander E. P. Williams and Acting Ensign E. P. Dayton, executive officer, are also missing.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Walter C. Odiorme
Acting Ensign

Rear-Admiral J.A. Dahlgren, 
Commanding South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

Official Records Union and Confederate Navies, Series 1, Vol.14, pp. 618-619

Yeoman United States Navy, resident of Somerville, Massachusetts. Served on the U.S.S. Housatonic; his ship's number was 147.  He was discharged from the Navy on March 19, 1864.

Although he was aboard the Housatonic on the night of September 8, 1863, Whiton did not participate in the assault on Fort Sumter.  He was responsible for seeing that the personal property of Frederic James was sent home to Mrs. James in East Boston.  

"She [Ellen James] also writes me that my clothes &c which were left on board the ship, were sent home & disposed of by Mr. Whiton, last fall, so that I lost nothing when the ship was sunk."(May 7, 1864)