| Admin/Biog History |
TAPLIN, Osman B. - Pvt., Company E, 2nd Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry
Osman was born circa 1840 at Vermont. He resided at Oshkosh, Winnebago County when he enlisted there on Apr. 21, 1861. An unmarried lumberman, he stood over 5'8" tall with blue eyes, brown hair and a florid complexion. He was assigned as above and was wounded severely in the side at Antietam, Maryland on Sept. 17, 1862. Osman died of his wounds on Sept. 24, 1862.
|
| Category |
8: Communication Artifact |
| Classification |
Archives |
| Collection |
Civil War Small Collections |
| Dates of Accumulation |
July 16, 1861 |
| Abstract |
Letter and envelope addressed to Carrie Taplin, sister; from her brother Osman B. Taplin, Company E, 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
In Camp Arlington Heights
July 16, 1861
Dear Sister,
I don't recollect the date of the last letter that I received from you for I don't keep the run of them very well. I write just when I can get a chance, we have now been in this camp about 2 weeks, but we leave this afternoon at 1 o'clock for Fairfax and thence to Richmond probably. I don't anticipate much of any fighting as our force is too overwhelming for the rebels to make any show against at all. The boys are all well and in first rate spirits at the prospect of advancing, there will be over 40,000 men in our division which is commanded by Gen. McDowell. Your mother writes that she hears nothing of our movements. The N.Y. herald and Times generally have pretty correct accounts of the movements of the troops. Rumors of battles and skirmishes you must not pay much attention to unless confirmed in some subsequent paper. I heard today that we were all cut to pieces at Fairfax. The news came by the way of Oshkosh. Such a report is entirely without foundation for the boys have not seen but 4 or 5 seseches and they were prisoners. I have not been able to see any of the Mass. Troops yet although they are close by here, for it is very difficult to get passes to go around among the various encampments. I should like to have you send that picture of Bill Phillips. I think it would go safe. You can direct to Washington as heretofore and be particular to put on the company and Regt. If you don't I shall not be very apt to get it. I will write as soon as we come to a halt and camp for any length of time. You must not wait for letters from me, but keep writing and send a few papers occasionally. Give my love to all the And my best regards to all the boys. Tell mother I will write to her soon. I wrote to father this week, but I will close by bidding you
Good Bye
Yours Truly
O.B. Taplin
Miss Carrie L Taplin |
| Event |
Civil War |
| Legal Status |
Oshkosh Public Museum |
| Notes |
TAPLIN, Osman B. - Pvt., Company E, 2nd Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry
Osman was born circa 1840 at Vermont. He resided at Oshkosh, Winnebago County when he enlisted there on Apr. 21, 1861. An unmarried lumberman, he stood over 5'8" tall with blue eyes, brown hair and a florid complexion. He was assigned as above and was wounded severely in the side at Antietam, Maryland on Sept. 17, 1862. Osman died of his wounds on Sept. 24, 1862.
DAVIDS, John B. - Sgt., Company E, 2nd Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry
John was born circa 1841 at Illinois. He was a son of Alexander from a previous sketch and a brother of William from a following sketch. John was a single farmer residing at Oshkosh, Winnebago County when he enlisted there on Apr. 21, 1861. Standing just over 6' tall, he had gray eyes, brown hair and a dark complexion. He was assigned as above and was promoted to Corporal and then Sergeant in that company on Dec. 16, 1862. John was taken prisoner at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on July 1, 1863. He was mustered out on Feb. 2, 1865 at Madison, Dane County, Wis-consin. John was listed in the 1899 article by Col. Harshaw as residing at Portland, Oregon.
TAYLOR, William P. - Pvt., Company E, 2nd Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry
William was born in 1831 at Fredrickton, New Brunswick, Canada. He resided at Oshkosh, Winnebago County when he enlisted at Madison, Dane County on May 18, 1861. An unmarried joiner, William stood just over 5'6" tall with gray eyes, brown hair and a florid complexion. He was assigned as a fifer in the above company and was taken prisoner in the first battle at Bull Run, Virginia. He served in the office of the Wisconsin Soldier's Aid Society in Washington for the rest of his enlistment. William was mustered out on June 28, 1864 at the end of his term of enlistment. During the great Oshkosh fire on July 14, 1874, while helping a widow remove a heavy chest from a second floor apartment before the flames reached there, he suddenly dropped the chest and sat down in great pain. He was eventually taken back to his room at the Adams House by a doctor, where he died that same evening. Although single, William left a great legacy in this area. He was generous to a fault and helped anyone who truly needed it whenever he could. As a large testament to his friendship, mourners numbering in the thousands attended the solemn procession. The citizens of Oshkosh provided a monument for his grave in Oshkosh at Riverside Cemetery, Block 11. His grave was decorated by the local GAR post in May 1882.
|
| Object ID |
SC411.5.17.1 |
| Object Name |
Letter |
| People |
Taplin, Osman B.
Taplin, Carrie L. |
| Subjects |
Civil War
2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry
Iron Brigade
Battlefields
Death
Casualties
Military hospitals
Wisconsin Soldiers' Aid Society
Religion |
| Title |
Letters to Carrie Taplin from Osman Taplin |
|
