Elihu Sherman's Military Time

He mustered the same day at Flint Michigan as a recruit into the 23rd MI Infantry Regiment, 6th District MI. Records show he had drawn $34.28 on his clothing account. He was described as having hazel colored eyes, dark hair, dark complexion and 5' 11". He appeared 24 October 1864 on the roll of the 23rd MI Inf at Jackson Michigan. He was assigned to Co E 23rd on 1 January 1865, and on the roll for January through April, he was shown absent because of sickness. The 23rd MI Regiment was ordered on the same day he was assigned to it, from Columbia TN to Washington DC. They marched 250 miles from Columbia TN to Clifton TN, which is on the Tennessee River. They embarked a steamer to Cincinnati Ohio, and then by rail to Washington DC, arriving 29 January 1865. They then marched to the near by Camp Stoneman. Then they marched to Alexandria VA where they departed by sea transport 11 February 1865 for Smithville NC, at the mouth of Cape Fear River, arriving 17 February 1865. The 23rd MI Inf engaged the enemy several places during the next few months. It marched to Wilmington NC, and then to Kingston NC, and then to Goldsboro where they arrived 22 Mar 1865. The 23rd MI Inf then marched to Raleigh NC and then to Greensboro NC by the 3rd of May 1865. On 28 June 1865 the 23rd MI Inf was at Salisbury NC where it was mustered out of service and returned to Detroit where it was paid off and disbanded 20 July 1865. He was admitted on the 10th of June 1865 to DeCamp General Military Hospital on David's Island New York. Company E's muster out roll at Salisbury, the muster out date was "X" out and a note made that he was in the hospital at Smithville NC with "Discriptive Roll." They were unaware he had been transferred to New York. On 28 June 1865 Private Elihu Sherman, company E 23rd Michigan Infantry Regiment, died of chronic diarrhea at DeCamp Military Hospital on David's Island New York. The Hospital records show company C. Private Elihu Sherman was buried the same cay in the Cypress Hills National Cemetery, Kings County, Brooklyn New York. Location within the cemetery is Grave Number 3068, Section 1B, Row %, in the Union Plot, in the Cypress Hills Private Cemetery on top of the hill. Elihu's grave is actually in the part of the cemetery that is in Queen's County. The marker reads "3068 / Elihu Sherman / Mich." Conflicting grave number: The Roll of Honor Vol XIII, GPO, 1867, indicates grave number 2369. An Honorable Discharge was issued 28 June 1865 due by reason of death. Pay was due him from date of enlistment to present, as well as traveling subsistence to place of enrollment. He owed the State of Michigan no money for clothing, traveling, etc. The US owed him no Bounty money. He owed nothing to the "Sutler" or "laundress" (Sutler is a person who follows the army and sells personal supplies to the soldiers). Personal Effects listed: 1 knapsack, 1 blanket, 1 hat, 1 blouse, 1 jacket, 1 pair trousers, 1 pair of drawers, 1 pair of boots, 1 pair of socks, and sundries. These were sold 7 Mar 1866 for 60 cents. Apparently he saw no combat since he was on the sick list from the time he was assigned to the 23rd Inf Regiment on 1 January 1865 until his death.

Note of Interest: David's Island was named for Thaddeus David the owner. Also called Hewletts Island. It is a 100 acre island in the Western end of Long Island Sound, and was under the jurisdiction of the town of New Rochelle in 1860. It was fitted for picnics and pleasure parties, and there were steamboat excursions from the cities to the island. In 1862 it was leased by the government from the current owner Simeon Leland. It was used for military purposes, and was the location of the DeCamp General Hospital during the Civil War. 18 February 1867 a joint resolution of Congress directed the War Department to purchase it for $38,500. New York state agreed and released it from tax assessment, under the condition it should not be used for a general hospital. In 1952 it was the location of US Fort Slocum.