Great-grandfather of Patricia Galloway

Private     Co. E      21st MI Infantry

Dates of Service:  11 Aug 1862 - 11 Jun 1865

Horace Silas Newson was born to William and Emily M. Newson on May 1, 1846, in Canada. Emily M. Newson's maiden name was Harrison. She was a niece of William Henry Harrison [ninth president of the United States]. The family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1851, and later resided in Alaska, Michigan.

At the age of 16, Horace, along with his father William A. (aged 40), and his brother James W. Newson (aged 19) enlisted in Co. E, Twenty-first Infantry on August 11, 1862. They mustered in on September 3, 1862, at Brownville, Michigan, which is located 16 miles from Grand Rapids, Michigan. The town is now known as Alaska.

My great-grandfather, Horace Newson, fought for the Union cause, taking part in the following battles:

• The Battle of Perryville was known as one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, and it was the largest battle in the state of Kentucky
• The battle of Stone River (also known as the second battle of Murfreesboro) had the largest percentage of casualties on both sides
• The Battle of Chickamauga, fought on September 18- 20,1863. It was the most significant Union defeat in the Western Theater and involved the second highest casualties after the Battle of Gettysburg
• And many other battles

With his regiment reduced to 300, he marched to the sea with Sherman. After the Battle of Bentonville, he went on to Washington D.C..

Somewhere along his journey, Horace acquired a silk shawl, and stuffed it into his shirt. He was shot and the shawl saved his life. I have the shawl, and it still has his blood on it.

Horace mustered out on June 11, 1865, and married Hannah R. Robbins of Caledonia on March 10, 1866. They had 4 children: James, George, Edwin, and Maude Hannah Newson. Hannah passed away on February 13, 1873 during the birth of Maude, my grandmother.

On August 9, 1873, Horace married Helen A. Whitman from Alaska, Michigan. They had 3 children: Rachel Elva, Catherine J., and Shadrach Theodore Newson.

The family moved to Burgess near Charlovoix. Horace lived in the same house and general store at Burgess for 56 years, coming there as the 17th white man on the register and in time to take part in the second election ever held there.

Horace Silas Newson passed away on May 2,1835, following the 89th anniversary of his birthday.

GRAVESITE: Brookside Cemetery, Charlevoix, Charlevoix, MI

Written by Patricia Galloway, 2019