Oconto County WIGenWeb Project
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OCONTO COUNTY
Wisconsin
FAMILIES and BIOGRAPHIES

PIGEON

Generation No. 1 1. Patrick2 Pigeon (Patrick1) was born March 17, 1842 in County Cork, Ireland, Europe, and died October 11, 1919 in Marathon Co Home, Wausau, Marathon Co, WI; bu Pine Grove Cemetery. He married Julia May Bressett May 11, 1864 in Wausau, Marathon Co, WI, daughter of Francis Bressett and Wealthy Sylvester. She was born February 17, 1845 in Weston, Marathon Co, WI, and died December 19, 1917 in 610 Jackson St, Wausau, Marathon Co, WI; bu Pine Grove Cemetery. 1860 Census; Village of Oconto, Oconto Co. 19 July 1860, Vol. 1, page 302: House 358, Family 304; George Haggerson, 32, shoe worker, England. Sarah, 27, Ireland. William J. ,9, NY. George, 5, NY. Margaret J., 3, WI. Elizabeth 3/12, WI. Mary Pigeon, 50, Servant girl, Ireland. Patrick Pigeon, 16, Laborer, Ireland. 1880 Census: PIGEON, PATRICK, W M AGE 35, Marathon Co., Weston Town. Julia W 34 WI. George P, S 12 WI. Francis J., S 11 WI. William S 9 WI. Charles M, S 7 WI. Lucy A., D 5 WI. Homer L., S 4 WI. Joseph S 2 WI. Welthy D 7/12 WI. Patrick works in a saw mill and has worked 2 months during the Census year. He can not read or write. Both of his parent's birthplaces are listed as Ireland. Wisconsin Census, 1890 

Year - 1890
Surname - PIGEON
Given Name(s) - PATRICK
County - Marathon County
State - WI
Page - 001
Township or Other Info -E.D. 126 Weston
Record Type - I
Database - 1890 Veterans Schedule
ID# - WI09627069

Wausau Daily Record-Herald, Monday, October 13, 1919 

"PATRICK PIGEON: Resident of Wausau for Sixth-five Years Passes Away Saturday at County Hospital: Patrick Pigeon, a resident of Wausau about sixty-five years, died Saturday at the Marathon County Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 O'clock Tuesday afternoon at the Barden Undertaking Parlors on Sixth Street by the Rev. D. J. Williams. Interment will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery. The deceased was seventy-seven years of age. Patrick Pigeon was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1842. He came to United States during the 1850's and settled in Oconto, Oconto County, WI. Nothing is known of his parents, but it is remembered that he had two sisters who once came to America to visit him and then returned to Ireland. (Is Mary one of them? See 1860 Census above.) Civil War Record On 2 July 1861, Patrick enlists at Camp Utley, near Racine, in Company A of the 4th Regiment of Wisconsin Cavalry Volunteers for a three-year term. He is 19 years old. On 5 July 1861, the 3rd and 4th Regiments were to report to Williamsport, MD via Chambersburg, PA to be part of Maj. Gen. Patterson's command at Martinsburg, VA (now WV). On 27 July 1861, the 4th Regiment is in Baltimore, MD as part of Maj. Gen. John A. Dix's Army of the Potomac. On 7 August 1861, the 4th Regiment's home base is Fort McHenry, Patrick is currently serving at the Relay House, 9 miles from Baltimore at the junction of the B & O Railroad and the Washington branch. It is also recorded that he deserted on this date in Baltimore, MD and that on 20 November 1861 he was absent from his post and sent to Fort McHenry under arrest. On 8 November 1861, the 4th Regiment is sent to Worcester Co., MD, adjoin Accomoc, VA. (Accomoc is about 15 miles south of the MD border on the Delmar Peninsula.) On 23 February 1862, Patrick's Troup is at Fort Monroe (near Baltimore?); he is assigned to Maj. Gen. Ben F. Butler's U.S. Volunteers and sent south on either the ship Great Republic or the steamer Mississippi, arriving at Ship Island, MS in March or April 1862. Each troop carried either their camp kettles, mess pans, cups, plates, knives & forks and each solider his knapsack, overcoat, blanket, one extra shirt, pair of drawers, pair of shoes, canteen and in his haversack four days cooked rations and 40 rounds of ammo in his cartridge box. (Apparently Patrick's record made him a prime candidate to be volunteered.) On 21 April 1862, Patrick is court marshaled on board the steamer Laurel Hill. On 29 April 1862, they are participating in the bombardment and capture of Fort Jackson and Fort Saint Philip at the entrance way to the main channel of the Mississippi River. On 8 May 1862 they land in New Orleans and by 9 June 1862 are near Baton Rouge where they fight the 5 - 9 August 1862 engagement. On 7 September 1862 they are at the Saint Charles Court House and Camp Carrelleton where Patrick is reported in trouble and confined again. The Co. A 4the Reg't WI Inf. company muster rolls show Patrick absent without leave Sept & Oct 1862. The rolls for Nov 1862 through April 1863 shows Patrick confined at Carrallton, LA under the Sentence of General Court Martial. The roll for May & June 1863 shows "Sentenced to two years imprisonment in Fort Jackson by G.C.M. Nov. 27/63". An undated roll shows Patrick deserted May 25, 1863 at Morganza, La. The last roll for Patrick, Sept & Oct 1863 says "absent in arrest under sentence of G.C.M. Nov 27/62. General Order No. 25: The following (4th Wisconsin Cavalry) regiments and batteries participated in these campaigns: 5 August 1862, Baton Rouge; 27 October 1862, Georgia Landing; 14 January 1863, Colton; 12 April 1863, Bisland; 14 April 1863, Irish Bend; 21 May 1863, Plains Store; 3 June 1863, Clinton; 21 June 1863, La Fourche. On 24 May 1863 Port Hudson is invested, assaulted on 27 May and 14 June, and surrendered on 7 July 1863. On 13 July 1863 they are at Cox's Plantation. The 4th Wisconsin Calvary spent the rest of 1863 in this area and by the first half of 1864 moved into Morganza and participated in the expedition to Clinton, Greensburgh, Osyka and Camp Moore in October 1864. In 1865 they went into
Blakely, AL the to West Point MS, Columbus, MS and Vicksburg, MS in June.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum
Fourth Wisconsin Infantry Cavalry

The Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry was organized as the 4th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment at Camp Utley, Racine, WI, and mustered into the service of the United States on the July 2nd, 1861. It left the state on the 15th of July, proceeding to Baltimore, MD, and into camp at the Relay House, MD, and August 5, 1861, remaining on duty there until early in November when the regiment was transferred to Baltimore. It remained there until the latter part of February 1862, when it proceeded to Newport News, VA, from which point the Fourth embarked on the 6th of March to join the "Army of the Gulf." It arrived at Ship Island below New Orleans March 12, 1862, and landed in New Orleans on May 1st. It was at once assigned to active service and took part with an expedition
up the Mississippi River against Vicksburg in May, and another in June, and with this force occupied Baton Rouge, LA, a little later in the year. The forces there were employed in successful expeditions during that winter, and in May were collected with a view of capturing Port Hudson, LA, in which siege and sanguinary contest the Fourth participated May 21 to July 8,1863. This was the last service of the Fourth as a regiment of Infantry.

On the 1st of September 1863, the regiment was by order of the War Department equipped as a cavalry regiment. Thereafter the Fourth regiment was actively and almost constantly engaged in scouting, picketing and accompanying expeditions of various points in Louisiana and Mississippi until July, 1865, when with other troops it was transferred to Texas near the Rio Grande. Companies of the regiment were detached to guard different points along the line of that river, and the whole command remained in this service until the latter part of May, 1866, when the regiment was transferred to Madison, WI, which place was reached
June 14th and the regiment was soon thereafter mustered out of service of the United States and disbanded.

The history above was adopted from Charles E. Estabrook, ed., Records and Sketches of Military Organizations, (Madison, 1914).

Apparently Patrick went home (deserted) shortly after the Port Hudson campaign.
It was reported that he was mustered out, deserted, on 16 June 1863 at Baton Rouge, LA.

From the OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES
IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, Series 1, Volume 26, pages 57 - 66,
General Orders No. 49,
Hdqs, Dept. of the Gulf, 19th A.C., Before Port Hudson, June 15, 1863.
The commanding general congratulates the troops before Port Hudson upon the steady advance made upon the enemy's works, and is confident of an immediate and triumphant issue of the contest. We are at all points upon the threshold of his fortifications. One more advance and they are ours! Dealing with the Officers who lead the column of victory in this last assault may be assured ofthe just recognition of their services by promotion, and every officer and solider who its perils and its glory shall receive a medal fit to commemorate the first grand success of the campaign of 1863 for the Freedom of the Mississippi. His name will be place in the general orders upon the Roll of Honor. 

"Division commanders will at once report the names of the officers and men who may volunteer for this service, in order that the organization of the column
may be completed without delay.
"By the command of Major-General Banks:
"RICH'D B. IRWIN, Assistant Adjutant General"

The list of "Officers and men who volunteered for the storming party of PortHudson, La., under General Orders, No. 49, Headquarters Department of the Gulf,
June 15, 1863." follows, it contained 154 names, under Fourth Wisconsin is listed only Private Patrick Pigeon, Co. A.

In 1976 I wrote the National Archives and the Department of the Army, no onehad any record of how this special medal looked. The only officially authorized medal during the Civil War was the Medal of Honor. I have not contacted a Civil War Round Table group; they may be able to lead one to a description/picture of this medal.

Subj: RE: Civil War Veterans
Date: 98-11-24 17:54:18 EST
From: REFDESK@mail.state.wi.us
To: P1474@aol.com (EMX -P1474 (052))

Dear Mr. Robert Pigeon,

Thank you for your recent query to the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. I have found the following information in our Civil War database concerning your request.
PIGEON, Patrick
4th Wisconsin Cavalry, Co. A
Residence - Racine, WI
Enlisted July 2, 1861
Deserted June 16, 1863
Between 1861 and 1863, the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry, Co. A served in Louisiana and Mississippi, including the first and the second battle of Vicksburg. I
find this veteran in the 1885 Wisconsin veterans census living at Schofield, serving with Co. A, no regiment shown.

From the Red and Blue Book record books, State Historical Society of WI,
Patrick Pigeon was (at enlistment) age 19, single, a laborer, 5'3" with brown hair  and a ruddy complexion.

Information from the article "Ontonagon County in the Civil War" by Charles
Willman'', reprinted spring of 1999.

In 1862 as a further inducement, President Lincoln set the enlistment bounty at $50.
In 1863 the War Department allowed $15 to the agents for each recruit secured and a bounty for $302 for enlistment and $402 for re-enlistment. Meanwhile the State Legislature, Michigan, authorized a $40 bounty and in 1864 it was raised to $100 for a one-year enrollment for $200 for two years and $300 for three years. Ontonagon County paid a $40 then a $146 and finally a $400 bounty.
I suspect that Wisconsin had a similar program that Patrick participated in.

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