Chenango in the Civil War: The Hole in the Bible – Part II
Editor’s Note: In conjunction with the Chenango County Civil War Commemoration Project Team, The Evening Sun will present a monthly series chronicling items of local interest during the war between the states, compiled and written by a number of local history enthusiasts.
By Rose Wellman
Sherburne Historian
This is the story of a Civil War soldier from Sherburne, who was killed at the battle of Cedar Creek, October 19th, 1864. It is similar to others who were killed in the war, but the circumstances which occurred after his death make it a one-of-a-kind story. The soldier was Sergeant William Wesley Wakeley, son of Samuel and Phidelia Wakeley, born in Hamilton on November 15, 1837. He was a mechanic before he enlisted on August 2, 1862 in Co F, 114th NYV. He was called by either of his given names William or Wesley
Years later his great, great- nephew, Kip Yerton, became interested in the story of his Civil War relative and began research for a book. Sadly, Kip passed away before he finished the story. I found out who had Kip’s papers and I asked for a copy. I have edited it in length and context for this article; otherwise these are Kip’s own words.
THE HOLE IN THE BIBLE – PART II
It was thought by members of the Grand Army that the bullet that passed through the bible caused William’s death. I will not know what happened until I find Pickney Brown’s name on the Confederate list of soldiers and know if, indeed, he was at the Battle of Cedar Creek as many of the North Carolina troops were; or was he on the burial detail?
NOW FOR SOME SPECULATION
It is believed that the bible was either given or sent to William by a woman living in his hometown of Sherburne, New York. Her name was Elisa R. Hatch, daughter of Joel Hatch, Jr., who wrote the History of Sherburne and they were neighbors to the Bassett’s. Could this have been his girlfriend? He was not married at the age of 26. The bible states his name and regiment, the 114th Company F, N.Y.V.
Lieut. Col. Rexford and Homer G. Newton, both of Sherburne, were stationed nearby with the 131st NYV and they occasionally rode over to visit the boys in the 114th. Newton was an Assistant Surgeon during the Civil War. Newton often visited with Wesley in particular.
More facts come again from the October 15 and 22, 1914 issue of the Sherburne News with items written by Homer G. Newton, which give some clarification to Eliza.
In the Oct. 15, 1914 SHERBURNE NEWS a letter was published from H.G. Newton, which reads: “I was greatly interested in the article in your issue of last week, for reasons which will appear as I write; as the battle of Cedar Creek occurred just fifty years ago next Monday, October 19th; this is one of the strange coincidences, which we look upon with wonder.
“I wish the News might find its way to William’s old friend, Miss Eliza Hatch, who with her brother, Bethuel, went to the State of Washington, many years ago. Many Sherburne people remember Eliza, who was the daughter of that Joel Hatch, Jr. who wrote the “History of Sherburn” (and the ‘e’ was left off the cover of the original copy!) Eliza was the granddaughter of the first Joel Hatch who was a picturesque and shrewd member of the Sherburne Colony and was one of the committee sent to select the location in the southwest quarter of the now town of Sherburne.
“As a young man William was a capable caretaker at W.F. Blanchard’s home and considered a member of his family. He was a neighbor of the Hatches. My own acquaintance with him was from 1859 to 1862, when he enlisted in the 114thRegiment, Company F. I did not meet him again till early in July 1864 when the regiment I was in—the 181st N.Y. Volunteers—was sent back to a camp on the Mississippi River, where I met the Sherburne boys.
“Occasionally Col. Rexford and I rode over to where the 114th boys were camped and on one visits Wesley asked me to go to his tent as he had received something from Sherburne that was a great delight to him. From his knapsack he drew out the bible mentioned in the News. I think this was the last time I saw Wesley alive.
“On the 19th of October came the Cedar Creek engagement in which Wesley was shot. On the following day in crossing the battlefield, I came upon a burial party and in the shallow trench before me were lying side by side, wrapped in their blankets, fifteen of our county regiment, the fifth in the row being Wesley. One of the burial party recognized me and said, “Here lie Sergeant Wakeley (and Capt. Tighe of New Berlin) two better soldiers never lived.”
Years later this story about the bible was printed in the newspapers throughout the country. C.D. Brown of Sherburne and a relative of Sgt. Wakeley, satisfied the lawyer holding the bible that he was the rightful owner.
A letter, dated November 7, 1914, arrived at the home of Charles Brown of Sherburne, NY from an A. W. Clone, Editor of the Courier in Ashboro, NC. It reads:
“To Charles Brown,
I am sending you an old bible that was turned over to me by S. E. Lowdermilk from our town. I am sure the bible will be appreciated by you and your aged mother. I sincerely hope your mother lives many years to enjoy this relic you now have in your possession—this sacred treasure of the Civil War”. The letter states “I would appreciate it very much if you would write me a short article about the bible and tell of your uncle, Sergeant Wakeley. This is all I ask for sending you this bible. Trust you will receive it safe. Yours truly, W. Clone.”
In the Nov. 12, 1914 SHERBURNE NEWS:
The bullet pierced bible which mention has been made in these columns as having been carried by (the late Sgt.) Wakeley, has been received by the Brown family here and was shown in the news office. The bullet entered the book at the lower corner of the back part and only passed through a small portion of the volume, passing out and leaving the imprint of the bullet by tearing several of the leaves, but not removing them from the cover, which is of leather. As is evident the force of the bullet was not expended by hitting the book, and it is presumed that the bullet caused the wound which resulted in Wesley’s death.”
Another letter dated December 8, 1914, arrived at the home of Charles Brown from S. E. Lowdermilk, Ashboro, NC. This letter explains how the bible was found and how it took almost a year to find the correct owner. It reads:
“About Christmas of 1913 an old man came to settle in this place. His name was P.S. Brown, born 1829 and all he had to pay for my troubles was an old bible. This data is on the 2nd page of the bible. Although a stranger to me, I gave him what assistance I could and I got him admitted to the old soldiers’ home in Raleigh, NC. I took the bible, determined to find the owner. Through the local historical society and the State museum a woman named Elisa R. H. Whitman from Walla Walla, WA. was believed to be the giver of the bible. I thought you and your mother were legal representatives of the dead Sergeant and might be the owners of this relic. I have not received acknowledgement and would like to know if it was received.
Very truly yours,
S. E. Lowdermilk”
A reply was sent to Mr. Lowdermilk from Mr. Brown;:
“I wrote 2 letters about the bible but did not receive a reply. So I wrote to the Editor of the Courier and received the bible from him. At his request I wrote a brief history of the late Sergeant Wakeley, my late uncle. I thanked him and you for sending the bible to us. The writing on the flyleaf is that of my late uncle as I have compared this to letters sent home from the war. The bible has been shown to many people in the county and the state of New York. It is considered a great treasure”.
So the story has been told about how the bible got from Cedar Creek, VA back to the Town of Sherburne, New York those 50 years after the Civil War. Probably no one will ever know for sure. The truth is in the ground in Winchester, VA.
By Rose Wellman
Sherburne Historian
This is the story of a Civil War soldier from Sherburne, who was killed at the battle of Cedar Creek, October 19th, 1864. It is similar to others who were killed in the war, but the circumstances which occurred after his death make it a one-of-a-kind story. The soldier was Sergeant William Wesley Wakeley, son of Samuel and Phidelia Wakeley, born in Hamilton on November 15, 1837. He was a mechanic before he enlisted on August 2, 1862 in Co F, 114th NYV. He was called by either of his given names William or Wesley
Years later his great, great- nephew, Kip Yerton, became interested in the story of his Civil War relative and began research for a book. Sadly, Kip passed away before he finished the story. I found out who had Kip’s papers and I asked for a copy. I have edited it in length and context for this article; otherwise these are Kip’s own words.
THE HOLE IN THE BIBLE – PART II
It was thought by members of the Grand Army that the bullet that passed through the bible caused William’s death. I will not know what happened until I find Pickney Brown’s name on the Confederate list of soldiers and know if, indeed, he was at the Battle of Cedar Creek as many of the North Carolina troops were; or was he on the burial detail?
NOW FOR SOME SPECULATION
It is believed that the bible was either given or sent to William by a woman living in his hometown of Sherburne, New York. Her name was Elisa R. Hatch, daughter of Joel Hatch, Jr., who wrote the History of Sherburne and they were neighbors to the Bassett’s. Could this have been his girlfriend? He was not married at the age of 26. The bible states his name and regiment, the 114th Company F, N.Y.V.
Lieut. Col. Rexford and Homer G. Newton, both of Sherburne, were stationed nearby with the 131st NYV and they occasionally rode over to visit the boys in the 114th. Newton was an Assistant Surgeon during the Civil War. Newton often visited with Wesley in particular.
More facts come again from the October 15 and 22, 1914 issue of the Sherburne News with items written by Homer G. Newton, which give some clarification to Eliza.
In the Oct. 15, 1914 SHERBURNE NEWS a letter was published from H.G. Newton, which reads: “I was greatly interested in the article in your issue of last week, for reasons which will appear as I write; as the battle of Cedar Creek occurred just fifty years ago next Monday, October 19th; this is one of the strange coincidences, which we look upon with wonder.
“I wish the News might find its way to William’s old friend, Miss Eliza Hatch, who with her brother, Bethuel, went to the State of Washington, many years ago. Many Sherburne people remember Eliza, who was the daughter of that Joel Hatch, Jr. who wrote the “History of Sherburn” (and the ‘e’ was left off the cover of the original copy!) Eliza was the granddaughter of the first Joel Hatch who was a picturesque and shrewd member of the Sherburne Colony and was one of the committee sent to select the location in the southwest quarter of the now town of Sherburne.
“As a young man William was a capable caretaker at W.F. Blanchard’s home and considered a member of his family. He was a neighbor of the Hatches. My own acquaintance with him was from 1859 to 1862, when he enlisted in the 114thRegiment, Company F. I did not meet him again till early in July 1864 when the regiment I was in—the 181st N.Y. Volunteers—was sent back to a camp on the Mississippi River, where I met the Sherburne boys.
“Occasionally Col. Rexford and I rode over to where the 114th boys were camped and on one visits Wesley asked me to go to his tent as he had received something from Sherburne that was a great delight to him. From his knapsack he drew out the bible mentioned in the News. I think this was the last time I saw Wesley alive.
“On the 19th of October came the Cedar Creek engagement in which Wesley was shot. On the following day in crossing the battlefield, I came upon a burial party and in the shallow trench before me were lying side by side, wrapped in their blankets, fifteen of our county regiment, the fifth in the row being Wesley. One of the burial party recognized me and said, “Here lie Sergeant Wakeley (and Capt. Tighe of New Berlin) two better soldiers never lived.”
Years later this story about the bible was printed in the newspapers throughout the country. C.D. Brown of Sherburne and a relative of Sgt. Wakeley, satisfied the lawyer holding the bible that he was the rightful owner.
A letter, dated November 7, 1914, arrived at the home of Charles Brown of Sherburne, NY from an A. W. Clone, Editor of the Courier in Ashboro, NC. It reads:
“To Charles Brown,
I am sending you an old bible that was turned over to me by S. E. Lowdermilk from our town. I am sure the bible will be appreciated by you and your aged mother. I sincerely hope your mother lives many years to enjoy this relic you now have in your possession—this sacred treasure of the Civil War”. The letter states “I would appreciate it very much if you would write me a short article about the bible and tell of your uncle, Sergeant Wakeley. This is all I ask for sending you this bible. Trust you will receive it safe. Yours truly, W. Clone.”
In the Nov. 12, 1914 SHERBURNE NEWS:
The bullet pierced bible which mention has been made in these columns as having been carried by (the late Sgt.) Wakeley, has been received by the Brown family here and was shown in the news office. The bullet entered the book at the lower corner of the back part and only passed through a small portion of the volume, passing out and leaving the imprint of the bullet by tearing several of the leaves, but not removing them from the cover, which is of leather. As is evident the force of the bullet was not expended by hitting the book, and it is presumed that the bullet caused the wound which resulted in Wesley’s death.”
Another letter dated December 8, 1914, arrived at the home of Charles Brown from S. E. Lowdermilk, Ashboro, NC. This letter explains how the bible was found and how it took almost a year to find the correct owner. It reads:
“About Christmas of 1913 an old man came to settle in this place. His name was P.S. Brown, born 1829 and all he had to pay for my troubles was an old bible. This data is on the 2nd page of the bible. Although a stranger to me, I gave him what assistance I could and I got him admitted to the old soldiers’ home in Raleigh, NC. I took the bible, determined to find the owner. Through the local historical society and the State museum a woman named Elisa R. H. Whitman from Walla Walla, WA. was believed to be the giver of the bible. I thought you and your mother were legal representatives of the dead Sergeant and might be the owners of this relic. I have not received acknowledgement and would like to know if it was received.
Very truly yours,
S. E. Lowdermilk”
A reply was sent to Mr. Lowdermilk from Mr. Brown;:
“I wrote 2 letters about the bible but did not receive a reply. So I wrote to the Editor of the Courier and received the bible from him. At his request I wrote a brief history of the late Sergeant Wakeley, my late uncle. I thanked him and you for sending the bible to us. The writing on the flyleaf is that of my late uncle as I have compared this to letters sent home from the war. The bible has been shown to many people in the county and the state of New York. It is considered a great treasure”.
So the story has been told about how the bible got from Cedar Creek, VA back to the Town of Sherburne, New York those 50 years after the Civil War. Probably no one will ever know for sure. The truth is in the ground in Winchester, VA.
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