At the outbreak of the war, Irishman Thomas Sinclair joined the men from Stillwater in forming Company B of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. When he went off to war, he left behind a wife and two children. He had married Elmira Butler on Aug 20, 1854, in Stillwater. Their son, Robert, was born on July 28, 1858. Their daughter, Mary, was born on May 26, 1861, one month after he enlisted and was mustered into the service. On April 29, 1861, he was mustered in as a sergeant in Company B. His record would indicate that he was a good soldier. His promotions happened in an interesting manner. On Jan 3, 1863, he was promoted to 2nd lieutenant, to date from Nov 18, 1861. At the same time he was promoted to the rank of 1st lieutenant, to date from Sept 1862. This would indicate that he had assumed the rank in the field but wasn't formally promoted until Jan 3, 1863. His last promotion occurred on May 7, 1863, when be became the captain of Company B, to replace Mark Downie, who had been promoted to the rank of major as of the same date. Thomas was wounded four times during the war. At Antietam on May 17, 1862, he was shot in the right leg below the knee. At Fredericksburg he was shot in the left shoulder, dislocating the Shoulder and breaking the bone. On July 2, 1863, at the Battle of Gettysburg, Thomas was charging through the ravine known as Plum Run, when he was hit in the breast by a minnie ball, breaking the breast bone. The ball lodged in his breast near the pit of his stomach. Pvt Joseph Tanner was just a few feet from him when Sinclair was hit. His wound at Gettysburg required that he be hospitalized for recovery. A spent bullet flattened itself on his breastbone. He and Major Mark Downie, who was also recovering from his Gettysburg wounds, returned to the regiment on Sunday, Oct 4, 1863, at which time Downie took command of unit. Though he stayed with the regiment, Thomas developed a severe cough as a result of his wound and his physical condition weakened considerably. He was wounded for a fourth and final time at Bristow Station on Oct 14, 1863, when he was shot in the left arm. He was mustered out with the regiment at Fort Snelling on May 5, 1864. After the war he returned to his home in Stillwater. He and Elmira had four more children after that, Dora (June 5, 1864), Lucy (May 8, 1867), Almira (May 23, 1870) and William (Dec 20, 1871). Thomas continued to suffer from the severe cough, the result of the injury to his right lung when he was shot at Gettysburg. By 1874, his health had completely broken down from consumption and he was confined to staying in his home. He died in Stillwater on May 7, 1875. He was buried in the Fairview Cemetery in town. His wife, Elmira, died of consumption at the age of 41, on May 18, 1881. Sources: The St Paul Pioneer, July 29, 1863. Muster Out Roll of Company B, 1st Minnesota Vols since the War, Compiled in 1919 by Adam Marty, Secretary. The St Paul Pioneer, Saturday, August 1, 1863. Winona Daily Republican, Thursday, Oct 22, 1863, p 2. Military Pension records, Thomas Sinclair, National Archives, Wash DC. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
