SEAMAN: OSCAR FITZALLEN WINTERS: Civil War & Spanish American War Veteran of Monterey County. Union Navy (USS MARION & USS SONOMA and USS RHODE ISLAND and USS JUANITA.)

Oscar Fitzallen Winters was born in Maryland in 1840. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted into the UNION NAVY on June 5, 1861 and was mustered out on August 2, 1864. But his military career did not stop there, he later joined US ARMY and served 30 years, serving in the Spanish-American War and during the Philippine Insurrection and during the Boxer war in China. This man was tough as nails! He was discharged as a Color Sergeant. O.F. Winters was a resident in Pacific Grove, California for 20 years until his death on February 29, 1923. He was a member of the Lucius Fairchild GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Post # 179, and is buried in the El Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Grove, California.

The following transcriptions are from obituary, funeral notice, and other.

WINTERS, OSCAR FITZALLEN (1840-1923) Pacific Grove El Carmelo Cemetery

Peninsula Daily Herald March 1, 1923

Military Funeral For Sgt. Winters

Atten, G.A.R. and affiliated organizations

You are hereby requested to attend at post headquarters, Work Hall, Pacific Grove, at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 2, and march from thence to Paul’s Undertaking Parlors to attend the funeral exercise of Comrade Oscar S. Winters who died at the hospital of the Presidio of Monterey, 12:50 p.m. February 29.

Interment will be in the soldier’s plot in El Carmelo cemetery, Pacific Grove.

The deceased will be given military funeral.  Firing squad and military band from the Eleventh Cavalry will participate. [Born in Maryland 1840, He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at Boston Mass June 5, 1861]  

Pacific Grove Daily Review Nov 30, 1923

Honorable Record of Comrade O.F. Winters

Few it was who knew the late Comrade Oscar Fitzallen Winters who passed in March suspected his honorable record in Uncle Sam’s Army in the days past.  It may be late now to mention it, but these facts only came to light two days ago.  Col. T.R. Weaver brought to the Review Office on Wednesday afternoon the following remarkable document, which is now published for the first time.

Headquarters Ninth U.S. Infantry

Madison Barracks, New York

October 27, 1903

General Orders No. 9

It is with regret that the Regimental Commander announces to the Regiment the retirement of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Oscar F. Winters, one of its most worth soldiers, and one who has ever been prompt, honest and courageous in the strictest performance of duty.  Every officer of the Regiment knows and respects him.  It is only necessary here to refer briefly to the Sergeant’s varied services of thirty years, and especially his excellent conduct and fortitude in our recent wars.  Conspicuous in the Battle of San Juan Hill and Siege of Santiago de Cuba, where he was wounded and in the Philippines and China.

The following record needs no comment.

U.S. Navy on Sloops of War “Marion,”  “Sonoma,”  “Juanita,”  “Rhode Island” and U.S. Ship “National Guard,” from June 5 1861, to August 2, 1864.

Companies C and G, 8th Infantry August 8, 1882 to August 7, 1887; Company F, 9th Infantry, from August 8, 1887, to March 31, 1901.  N.C. Staff, 9th Infantry, from April 1 1901 to October 26, 1903.

Seaman in Navy June 5, 1861 to August 2, 1864.

Private from August 8, 1882, to May 4, 1898

Corporal, May 5, 1898, to August 22 1898.

Sergeant, August 23, 1898 to March 31, 1901

Color Sergeant, 9th Inf., April 1, 1901 to August 27, 1903

Regimental Q.M. Sergeant, August 28, 1903 to Retirement.

Civil War and Foreign Service

U.S. Navy, June 5, 1861 to August 2, 1864

In Cuba June 20, 1898 to August 10, 1898

In the Philippine Islands, April 23, 1899 to June 26, 1900

In China October 20, 1900 to May 26, 1901.

Battles and Campaigns

Battle San Juan Hill Cuba July 1, 1898 and Siege of Santiago in Cuba, July 1, to July 17 1898.  He was wounded July 2, 1898, before Santiago de Cuba.  Certificate of Merit granted with date from July 2, 1898 per General Orders No. 15, A.G.O. February 13, 1900

Morong Expedition in Philippines.

Capture of Calulet and Santa Rita Philippine Islands, August 9 to 12.

Eleven engagements at Angeles Philippine Islands, October 10 to 20, 1899.

Capture of Bamban, Philippine Islands, November 11, 18989.

While the Regimental Commander regrets to lose such an excellent soldier as Sergeant Winters, still he is glad that the Sergeant will now have the rest and recreation his long and faithfully service so richly deserves, and he with the officers, wish him every happiness and a long life.

By order of Colonel Regan

(Signed) E.V. Bookmiller Captain and Adjutant, 9th Inf.

Compiled and Submitted: by Tim P. Reese, PCC  
Camp Abe Lincoln #10 based out of Santa Cruz, Ca  
Dept. of Calif. and Pacific  
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War  
Sep 2009

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