| 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.
Jane S. Taplin was the wife of Lowell G. Taplin. They were born in Vermont and married there circa 1840. The couple had two children: Osman B., born circa 1841 and Carrie L., born circa 1843. In 1860 the family was living in Oshkosh in the 1st Ward. Lowell was working as a carpenter. Her son Osman died from wounds received during the Civil War. She died September 4, 1892 in Oshkosh.
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| Category |
8: Communication Artifact |
| Classification |
Archives |
| Collection |
Civil War Small Collections |
| Dates of Accumulation |
July 23, 1861 |
| Abstract |
Letter and envelope addressed to Jane S. Taplin from Osman B. Taplin, Company E, 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
Ft. Corcoran
July 23, 1861
Dear Mother,
We arrived here yesterday morning having been forced to retreat from near Manasas where I had two days of pretty hot work. Although I got out of it all right . We had a hard fight, but we came out about even with them. Although we were obliged to fall back, our loss is not very great. We had but one man killed, John Barton. There are quite a number wounded. Some 8 or 11. Joe Roberts is slightly wounded in the shoulder. He will be all right in a day or two. We have none in fact badly wounded. Charley Graves, Rube Ash and 4 or 5 others are slightly. None of the boys beside those I have named are injured. They will all be ready for duty in a short time. The Rebels had a very strong position and if we had had more artillery we should have cleaned them out. When we leave here again we shall be better provided for. We shall not probably leave here for some time. I will write you before I have. But about our battle. We left here 4 days before the battle and by easy marches proceeded as far as Centerville, about 4 miles from Manasas where we encamped for 2 days. And Sunday morning about 2 o'clock we started for Manasas. We proceeded about 2 miles and halted in a position about 1 mile from the enemy and directly in rear of our battery which we were securely laying down in the woods. We remained there about 3 hours while another division engaged them on another side. Then we marched round to reenforce them. We charged on their battery 3 times, but their force was too much for us and we fell back. You will be likely to find a correct account of it in the N.Y. Herald. It appears to give very reliable news. I have just received a letter from sis this morning. It was the first I have received for some time. I was glad to hear from you and that you are all well. You must write often and I will try to do the same. Billy Bryant is all right and sends his respects.
Yours
O.B. 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.
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| Object ID |
SC411.5.17.2 |
| Object Name |
Letter |
| People |
Taplin, Osman B.
Taplin, Jane S. |
| Subjects |
Civil War
2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry
Iron Brigade
Battlefields
Death
Casualties
Military hospitals
Wisconsin Soldiers' Aid Society
Religion |
| Title |
Letters from Osman Taplin to his mother. |
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