Civil War Soldier

Edward Barrett

(Information & photo provided by Flora L Barrett VerStraten)
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Obituary takenfrom the Steubenville Herald, March 16, 1891.

 
Another Dread Harvest of the Grim Reaper -

Edward BARRETT, whose serious condition was reported last week, died at his home in the Sixth ward Sunday morning at 7:15 o’clock.  Mr. Barrett was born in this city 61 year ago, and was married to Maria Thompson in 1853.  August 16, 1862, he enlisted in Co. F., 25th O.V.I. Capt. John F. Oliver’s company, and took part in all engagements of that regiment up to the great battle of Gettysburg.  In this engagement on July 1st, 1863, he was shot with a ball that entered the brain at the base of the nose and took an upward course.  This ball was never recovered and he was considered as good as dead.  But he recovered his health afterwards sufficiently to rejoin his company and was made Corporal Nov. 5, 1864 and was mustered out July 15, 1865.

His living with a ball in his brain was one of the most remarkable recoveries that took place with wounded men in the Rebellion.  He served two years as policeman under Mayor Oliver and since has been employed at various things. Three years ago he began to suffer from his wound, and surgeons are of the opinion that the ball became dislodged and fell down, deranging his power of speech and subsequently the spinal column.

Two brothers, John and Wilson, and two sisters, Sarah and Mary, survive him of his father’s family; also his wife, and eight children, James of Bellaire, and Joseph, Sarah, George, William, Carrie, Miller and Kate all of this city. In politics, Mr. Barrett was a Republican; in religion, a devout Methodist; a good citizen, a kind husband and an indulgent father, whose death will be generally deplored, and to his family the sincere sympathy of all will be extended.  He was a member of Stanton Post, G.A.R. which organization will have charge of his funeral and give him a soldier’s burial. 

Twenty-fifth Regiment OVI
THREE YEARS’ SERVICE
Edward Barrett

   “This regiment was organized at Columbus, Ohio in June and July 1861, to serve three years.  Company D was permanently detached as the Twelfth Battery, Ohio Light Artillery, March 17, 1862.  A new company was organized in October 1864, to serve one year, and assigned to this Regiment as Company D.  The original members (except veterans) were mustered out July 16, 1864, and Company D October 16, 1865, by reason of expiration of term of service.  The organization, composed of veterans and recruits, was retained in service until June 18, 1866, when it was mustered out in accordance with orders from the War Department.”

   “The following official list of battles in which the Twenty-fifth Regiment bore an honorable part, is published by the War Department.”  Official Army Register, Part V, page 87.

• CHEAT MOUNTAIN, WV.        Sept 12-13, 1861
• GREENBRIER, WV.                    Oct 3, 1861
• CAMP ALLEGHANY, WV.     Dec 12-13, 1861
• HUNTERSVILLE, VA.                Jan 4, 1862
• MONTEREY, VA                          Apr 12, 1862
• McDOWELL, VA.                         May 8, 1862
• CROSS KEYS, VA.                       Jun 8, 1862
• FREEMAN’S FORD, VA.            Aug 23-25, 1862
• BULL RUN, VA. (2nd Battle)   Aug 29-31, 1862
• CHANCELLORSVILLE, VA.  May 1-4, 1863
• GETTYSBURG, PA.     Jul 1-3, 1863
• HAGERSTOWN, MD.                  Jul 6, 1863
• FORT WAGNER, SC.                   Sept 7, 1863
• HONEY HILL, SC.                       Nov 30, 1864
• DEVEAUX NECK SC.                 Dec 6-9, 1864
• GREGORY’S LANDING, SC.  Dec 6-9, 1864
• CHARLESTON, SC. (occupation of)  Feb 18, 1865
• SWIFT CREEK, SC.    Apr 19, 1865

Newspaper report on the 25th Regiment OVI

(Abstracted from the Herald, Jun 15, 1863) According to promise, I drop you a line or two merely for the purpose of letting folks know that the Steubenville Boys are about the section of the country are all right yet.  I found a whole nest of ’em.  They belong to the 25th Ohio Reg. Co. F, Capt. J.F. Oliver in command of Lieut. Joe Hollis, formerly one of your office boys.  He is a first rate officer and don’t appear to fail a bit.  Among the members are Commissary Sergeant Joseph Coulter, Henry Greer, John Sanders, (Edward)Barrett, John Brownlee, and William commonly known as “Cutly” Irvin who was wounded through the knee at the battle of Chancellorsville.  Irvin is of the opinion that the “Rebs” have not got a bullet cast yet, which can kill him. 

We want some RECRUITS. The Ohio regiments in this army are dedicated to the Twenty-fifth Ohio only numbers above five hundred.  Capt. Oliver’s Co. might accept two of three – who’ll volunteer? Don’t be conscripts, don’t wait, this war ain’t going to be stopped by talking. You suppose that the very best blood of the Buckeye State was spilled for nothing? Peace must be conquered……