Samuel Wadsworth Burgess was born in Grafton, Vermont on April 13, 1840. He was the son of Sylvanus and Sarah Burgess. In 1847, his family moved to New Hampshire. In 1850, they moved again to Wisconsin and finally, in 1856, to a farm in St Charles, Minnesota. Sam enlisted at Winona on Oct 10, 1861, and was mustered into Company K of the First Minnesota Infantry on Nov 11, 1861. He spent the initial month or two of his service helping Lt. Seth Hammon recruit more men to join the regiment and replenish the ranks which lost many at Bull Run due to death, wounds or capture. He was 21 at the time. He was 5' 7" tall, with gray eyes and dark hair. He was wounded by a spent bullet in the right shoulder blade at Antietam. Because the bullet had little velocity left the wound was not deep. The bullet soon worked its way to the surface of his skin, by what they called "suppuration" and was removed. Sam had also developed a problem with diarrhea. It had lasted for six months and was unchecked by treatment. Due to this ill health he was, on Dec 17, 1862, sent to the US General Hospital also known as the Central Park Hospital in New York City. He was discharged from the hospital and received a discharge for disability from the service, on Jan 17, 1863. He returned to Minnesota to recuperate. He must have moved to Judson in Blue Earth County. From there, once he was healthy again, he helped form the Second Minnesota Cavalry, to fight the Sioux during the Indian uprising in the state that began the year before. He enlisted on Nov 28, 1863, and became a member of Company L, entering as a private. At some point he was promoted to 1st sergeant. On Oct 14, 1864, he was detached as an escort with a wagon train to the Missouri River. In December 1864, while on duty near Ft Ridgeley, his horse fell with and on him, causing a serious injury to his left leg and hip, which were a bother to him later in life. On June 30, 1865, he was detached to Fairmont, Mn. The Aug 31, 1865, muster roll showed him detached at the Chainusk station. The Oct 31 and Dec 31 rolls report him at the Spirit Lake station, both stations being in Minnesota. Sam served until mustered out on May 4, 1866, as a first sergeant. After the war he located a claim in Jackson County, Mn, and lived there from 1865 until 1872. On May 23, 1870, he married Eleanor Lauverne Wilde, probably in Mankato, Mn. For a time they lived in Jackson but moved to Mankato in 1872. He then engaged in the lumber business. They had two children, George Frederick (2/28/71) and Gertrude Sarah(11/1/76). Sam stayed in the service, as a member of the National Guard. He served as a captain of Co F, 2nd Regt Mn Natl Guard, until the spring of 1884. In 1891 he was working as a book keeper. Sam had two brothers who also served in the war. His older brother, George N Burgess served with Sam in Company K of the First Minnesota. George was a color bearer and was killed at Savage Station, Va on June 29, 1862. Sam's younger brother, 21 year old Osman Burgess, served with Sam, in the 2nd Minn Cavalry. Sam retired in 1908. He lived at 319 Warren Street in Mankato from 1893 until his death which happened at his home on May 4, 1916. He had been ill with kidney problems. He was diagnosed as having died from Uraemia and Chronic Nephritis. He had, just recently, celebrated his 76th birthday. He was buried in Mankato on May 6, 1916. The reference source "Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars" lists his middle initial as "M" under the First Minnesota entry but as "W" under the entry for 2nd Minnesota Cavalry entry. The First Minnesota entry is an error. In fact these two different listings are for the same man. The picture shown here is as a first sergeant when in the 2nd Minnesota Cavalry. Sources: Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars, 1891, pages 65 & 568. Mankato Daily Free Press, November 14, 1913. History of the Minnesota Valley, Edward Neill, 1882, p554. The St Paul Press, March 24, 1863, p 1. National Archives pension records, Samuel Burgess. Minnesota Historical Society Collections, Vol XIV, 1912, MHS, p 92. Minnesota Historical Society Scrap-Books, Vol 34, 1861-1912. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
