The Civil War Record of William Gamble, the Older Brother of Wilson M. Gamble

The following concerns Wilson Gamble’s older brother, William Gamble III, who was lost in the Civil War: There were at least two other relatives in this same regiment–James Hagerty, who died in a military hospital in Alabama in 1864 ( a first cousin) and James H. Hathaway, who was Sara Jane Hathaway’s (our great grandmother) older brother. He survived the war, and in 1864 received a sergeant’s commission to a colored regiment. It was common at the time of the Civil War for regiments to draw from specific towns or counties, a practice that continued for some time afterward, but eventually changed because if the regiment encountered high losses it was disastrous for the community at home.

If you’re interested, Cornell University has the entire War of the Rebellion series, the comprehensive compendium of field dispatches for Union ( and a great many Confederate) regiments and units for the entire Civil War. Often it is possible to find dispatches written from field officers concerning the actions of their units on a given day, many times colorful.

William Gamble ,

William Gamble was the older brother (by two years) of Wilson M. Gamble. They enlisted in the Union army within of each other, William in December of 1861, and Wilson in March of 1862. William enlisted one day before James H. Hathaway, the sister of our great grandmother, Sarah Jane Hatheway Gamble.

Enlistment Date: 29 October 1861 Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Side Served: Union State Served: Ohio Unit Numbers: 1873

Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 29 October 1861 at the age of 18

Enlisted in Company C, 43rd Infantry Regiment Ohio (43 OVI)

on 25 December 1861 (don’t know why there’s discrepancy on dates)

Wounded between May 13 and May 15, 1864 at the Battle of Resaca.

Wounded on 01 April 1865 (Estimated day of wounding)

Died of wounds on 04 April 1865 in Pocataligo Station, SC

He is buried in Section 9, Grave 695 at Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, SC.

Regiment: 43rd Infantry Regiment, Ohio Volunteers

Date Mustered: 13 July 1865 Regiment Type: Infantry Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident: 4 Officers Died of Disease or Accident: 61 Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded: 2 Regimental Soldiers and History:

Regimental History

OHIO FORTY-THIRD INFANTRY

(Three Years)

Forty-third Infantry. - Cols., J. L. Kirby Smith,

Wager Swayne, Horace Park; Lieut.-Cols., Walter F. Herrick, John H. Rhodes; Majs., Harley H. Sage, Albert H. Howe.

This regiment was organized at Camp Andrews, Mt. Vernon, and various places

in the state from Sept. 28, 1861, to Feb. 1, 1862, to serve for

three years. It left its rendezvous for the front on Feb. 21, and 5 days later reported to Brig.-Gen. John Pope, commanding

the district of Mississippi. It was but a few days before the

regiment was introduced to active service, for in March it was

under fire at New Madrid, Mo., and in all the operations

against that post it bore a prominent part, especially in its

final bombardment and capture, the loss of the regiment in

killed and wounded being quite severe. At Iuka the regiment

took part in the battle of Sept. 19, 1862, and the subsequent

pursuit of the enemy as far as Cripple creek. In the battle of

Corinth the 43d and 63d Ohio claim to have done more to save

the day than any other organizations. In a few minutes of

fighting over one fourth of those of the 43d engaged were ei-

ther killed or wounded. From this time until Oct., 1863, the

regiment was stationed at different points on the railroads of

West Tennessee and at Memphis, assisting to keep open the com-

munications of Gen. Grant's army, then operating against Vicks-

burg. In Dec., 1863, the members almost unanimously re-

enlisted as veterans and after their furlough of 30 days re-

turned to the field in a body, after which the first engagement

was at Decatur, Ala. The regiment lay at the latter place

until the opening of Gen. Sherman's campaign against Atlanta.

The loss of the 43d was quite severe at Resaca. At Dallas it

took an important part and in the advance on the enemy's posi-

tion near Big Shanty, Co. D participated in a most brilliant

charge of skirmishers, capturing a strong barricade from the

29th Tenn. and numerous prisoners. Immediately thereafter came

the siege of Kennesaw mountain, with its deadly skirmishing,

its grand cannonading, and the disastrous repulse of the Fed-

eral forces on June 27. The 43d participated in the general

movements of its corps until the advance of the Army of the

Tennessee from Roswell upon Decatur, Ala., when it was detached

to hold the bridge across the Chattahoochee at the former place

until the army transportation then loading at Marietta should

cross the river. During the remainder of the Atlanta campaign

it shared the trials and glories of the 16th corps and won the

thanks of the division commander by splendid and steady fight-

ing. After the fall of Atlanta it enjoyed the "full month's

rest," and then joined in the great "march to the sea." In the

operations around Savannah it performed its full share of duty

and after the fall of the city, held the important post of Dil-

lon's bridge. Up into the Carolinas it then marched, and after

crossing Whippy swamp was in due time confronting the enemy

strongly posted at Rivers' bridge. Down a narrow causeway the

regiment rushed amid a storm of shot and shell compelling the

Confederates to withdraw their battery and uncover the cross-ing. The war closing, the regiment went to Washington, took

part in the grand review, and was mustered out on July 13,

1865.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

Battles Fought

Fought on 13 March 1862 at New Madrid, MO.

Fought on 03 October 1862 at Corinth, MS.

Fought on 04 October 1862 at Corinth, MS.

Fought on 16 February 1864 at Gourdsville, TN.

Fought on 13 May 1864 at Resaca, GA.

Fought on 14 May 1864 at Resaca, GA.

Fought on 15 May 1864 at Resaca, GA.

Fought on 27 May 1864 at Dallas, GA.

Fought on 30 May 1864 at Dallas, GA.

Fought on 14 June 1864 at Kenesaw Mountain, GA.

Fought on 15 June 1864 at Big Shanty, GA.

Fought on 16 June 1864 at Kenesaw Mountain, GA.

Fought on 30 June 1864 at Dallas, GA.

Fought on 04 July 1864 at Nickajack Creek, GA.

Fought on 22 July 1864 at Atlanta, GA.

Fought on 29 July 1864 at Atlanta, GA.

Fought on 03 August 1864 at Atlanta, GA.

Fought on 04 August 1864 at Atlanta, GA.

Fought on 10 August 1864 at Atlanta, GA.

Fought on 13 August 1864 at Atlanta, GA.

Fought on 17 August 1864 at Chattanooga, TN.

Fought on 03 February 1865 at River's Bridge, SC.

Fought on 03 February 1865 at Salkehatchie, SC.

Fought on 08 February 1865 at Salkehatchie, SC.

Fought on 08 March 1865 at Kinston, NC.

Fought on 21 March 1865.

Fought on 01 April 1865.

In this last battle, William Gamble, the son of William Clifford Gamble and Isabel Gamble, is wounded. He died four days later at Pocataligo Station, South Carolina, of his wounds. His death happened four days before the Confederates surrendered at Appomattox Court House.