Daniels, William H.
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MILITARY SERVICE Age: 24, credited to Sutton, VT Unit(s): 1st VT CAV Service: enl 9/28/61, m/i 11/19/61, Pvt, Co. I, 1st VT CAV, reen 12/28/63, pow 11/6/64, prld 2/22/65, m/o 6/21/65 See Legend for expansion of abbreviations VITALSBirth: 1837, Barton, VT Death: 07/10/1896 Burial: Irasburg Cemetery, Irasburg, VT Marker/Plot: Not recorded Gravestone photographer: Deanna French Findagrave Memorial #: 74442000 MORE INFORMATION Alias?: None noted Pension?: Yes, 6/18/1879; widow Martha F., 9/29/1896, VT Portrait?: Unknown College?: Not Found Veterans Home?: Not Found (If there are state digraphs above, this soldier spent some time in a state or national soldiers' home in that state after the war) Remarks: None DESCENDANTS (Are you a descendant, but not listed? Register today) |
BURIAL: Copyright notice   Irasburg Cemetery, Irasburg, VT Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there. |
William H. Daniels Orleans Independent Standard, March 24, 1865
"We have had a few days since the pleasure of a call from W. H. Daniels of Barton, a member of Company I, Vermont Cavalry, who was taken prisoner by Mosby's men near Newtown, Virginia on the 6th day of November last and was confined in Libby till the 22nd day of February, when he was paroled. He, with others, had been as an escort to General Custer to a certain place and had returned nearly to their camp when the General discovered that he had left something which some of his party must return and get. Daniels and four others volunteered to go back and when they were within two or three miles of their destination they ran into a squad of seventy-five rebel cavalry dressed in Federal uniform. Desperate as the case was, he put spurs to his horse and was using his best endeavors to escape, but one of the many bullets sent after hit him in the side and followed his ribs and lodged under the skin, while another went through his horse, killing him instantly and then lodged in Daniels' foot, bringing him up with a very round turn, when he was taken with the others. They were taken to Rectortown where, with other prisoners - 21 in all - they were made to draw lots seven prizes to 14 blanks and whoever drew a prize was to be hung the next morning in retaliation for an equal number of Mosby's guerillas previously executed by General Sheridan. For once in his life, Daniels was lucky and drew a prize and was to be paid in hemp! He was taken to Paris [VA] and after being there a few hours a Captain Mountjoy of the rebel cavalry with others rode up and demanded his release of the captain having him in charge, to which demand the latter strenuously objected. After some sharp words between them Mountjoy put a pistol into our prisoner's hands and told him to defend himself and that they would all die in their tracks before he should be harmed. The rebel captain then stepped aside and had a private conference, the result of which was the release of Daniels from the halter to be sent to Libby where he arrived on the 11th of November - five days after his capture. The reason for this extraordinary friendship manifested by the rebel captain was former favors, and this was the way he paid him.
"He reports a panic in Richmond; that all classes, officers, privates, citizens acknowledge that their cause is hopeless and that the confederacy has gone up".
Obituary
Orleans County Monitor; July 13, 1896:
William H. Daniels, who has been seriously ill for some weeks, passed away Friday just as the 6 o'clock whistles were sounding "stop work". The foundation of his fatal sickness was laid in the malaria camps of the South and in the rebel prisons. He enlisted at the first call for troops and was mustered out after the surrender. He was a member of Company I, 1st Vermont Cavalry and was detailed to bring home the body of Captain Henry Flint after that fatal morning at Broad Run. Quiet, genial, unassuming in manner, he won friends wherever he lived. During his illness the people had been untiring in their kind attentions and the children have manifested thier interest and affection by keeping his room constantly supplied with flowers which gave him great pleasure. He leaves a wife and two brothers, both of whom live in New Hampshire.
Orleans Independent Standard, March 24, 1865
"We have had a few days since the pleasure of a call from W. H. Daniels of Barton, a member of Company I, Vermont Cavalry, who was taken prisoner by Mosby's men near Newtown, Virginia on the 6th day of November last and was confined in Libby till the 22nd day of February, when he was paroled. He, with others, had been as an escort to General Custer to a certain place and had returned nearly to their camp when the General discovered that he had left something which some of his party must return and get. Daniels and four others volunteered to go back and when they were within two or three miles of their destination they ran into a squad of seventy-five rebel cavalry dressed in Federal uniform. Desperate as the case was, he put spurs to his horse and was using his best endeavors to escape, but one of the many bullets sent after hit him in the side and followed his ribs and lodged under the skin, while another went through his horse, killing him instantly and then lodged in Daniels' foot, bringing him up with a very round turn, when he was taken with the others. They were taken to Rectortown where, with other prisoners - 21 in all - they were made to draw lots seven prizes to 14 blanks and whoever drew a prize was to be hung the next morning in retaliation for an equal number of Mosby's guerillas previously executed by General Sheridan. For once in his life, Daniels was lucky and drew a prize and was to be paid in hemp! He was taken to Paris [VA] and after being there a few hours a Captain Mountjoy of the rebel cavalry with others rode up and demanded his release of the captain having him in charge, to which demand the latter strenuously objected. After some sharp words between them Mountjoy put a pistol into our prisoner's hands and told him to defend himself and that they would all die in their tracks before he should be harmed. The rebel captain then stepped aside and had a private conference, the result of which was the release of Daniels from the halter to be sent to Libby where he arrived on the 11th of November - five days after his capture. The reason for this extraordinary friendship manifested by the rebel captain was former favors, and this was the way he paid him.
"He reports a panic in Richmond; that all classes, officers, privates, citizens acknowledge that their cause is hopeless and that the confederacy has gone up".
Orleans County Monitor; July 13, 1896:
William H. Daniels, who has been seriously ill for some weeks, passed away Friday just as the 6 o'clock whistles were sounding "stop work". The foundation of his fatal sickness was laid in the malaria camps of the South and in the rebel prisons. He enlisted at the first call for troops and was mustered out after the surrender. He was a member of Company I, 1st Vermont Cavalry and was detailed to bring home the body of Captain Henry Flint after that fatal morning at Broad Run. Quiet, genial, unassuming in manner, he won friends wherever he lived. During his illness the people had been untiring in their kind attentions and the children have manifested thier interest and affection by keeping his room constantly supplied with flowers which gave him great pleasure. He leaves a wife and two brothers, both of whom live in New Hampshire.
Courtesy of Dan Taylor.