Photo: “Bayou Plaquemines” by Joseph Rusling Meeker, as seen in 1863. The 38th Massachusetts and Capt. Charles Doten (along with our 2nd great grandfather William Knowles) marched through and camped in this region in March, 1863.
William W. Knowles is our 2nd great grandfather by this path:
[endif]--RWA → Fred Pemberton Abbott → Mary Emma Knowles Abbott → William W. Knowles ![endif]--
Although William is not our only ancestor to serve in the Civil War, he is the first I have located who died during the war. William was born in 1833 in Maine to Daniel Knowles and Emeline Foss. On September 27, 1856, he married Mary West (1837-1912) (daughter of James West and Hannah Ballard MacIntire) in South Bridgewater. A few years later, William’s sister, Flavilla Knowles, married John West, Mary’s brother. A third Knowles sibling, Emeline, also made the move to Massachusetts. William and Mary resided in Abington, Massachusetts and had three children: Luella (Noonan) born in 1857, Willieta born in 1858, and Mary Emma (Abbott) born in 1861. Willietta died in childhood. William was a shoemaker (we have a very large number of shoemakers in our family).
William enlisted April 30, 1861 in the 4th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry. He was discharged from that unit July 22, 1861. He again enlisted July 24, 1862 in the 38th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry. This regiment lost a total of 151 men, 20 killed and 131 died of disease. William was a private. The 38th regiment was mustered In September, 1862 at Camp Joe Hooker in Lakeville, Massachusetts. The regiment moved to New York in December,1862 and then to New Orleans in January, 1863 under the command of Captain Charles Doten.
Initially, the situation in the camp in New Orleans went well, but soon after there were torrential rains and conditions in the camp deteriorated rapidly with numerous health issues with the troops. On March 5, 1863, the regiment moved north to Baton Rouge and was heavily engaged in the Battle of Fort Bisland (April 12-13, 1863). Captain Doten had fallen ill and had deteriorating health, but apparently had political influence as he was discharged on May 30, 1863; he returned to his home in Plymouth where he lived until 1918. William Knowles, being a private, was not so lucky. William died of disease (specific illness unknown) on June 3, 1863 in New Orleans. He was buried in what is described as “Hospital Cemetery” in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana.
William’s widow Mary later married Elijah G. Stevens (1828-1897). Mary and Elijah are buried at the Melrose Cemetery in Brockton, Massachusetts. The gravestone also commemorates William Knowles. (http://forums.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=122337849)
Click here to see family information: http://sites.rootsmagic.com/Genealogy_Abbott_Feld_Family/individual.php?p=49