The Civil War Years, 1861 – 1865
On October 4, 1861,
the Fourth Regiment Infantry Minnesota Volunteers, Company D, commanded by
Captain Thomas E. Inman, was mustered into the service of the United States for three years by Captiain A.D. Nelson, Mustering Officer. At this
time, approximately 100 men enlisted.
On September 5, 1864,
Henry (age 34) and Valentine (age 40) volunteered their services and were
enrolled at Fort Snelling. The commanding officer at this time was Captain S.P. Isaacs.
Henry and Valentine, along with several
hundred other recruits, were transported to Attoona, Georgia,
just north of Atlanta. On November 15, 1864, their
regiment began its "March to the Sea". Between November 15 and
December 15, they met with few hardships or skirmishes with the enemy. The
"people of Georgia made but little opposition to [the regiment's advance]...[A]s the
country had not been stripped of its supplies by the operation of hostile
forces, it yielded sufficient, so that, with the rations carried in the army
trains, and very large drove of cattle that [they] started with, there was not
much suffering." [20]. Their days were spent marching and at times
,destroying sections of railroad by burning the ties and twisting the rails. On
their approach to Savannah, Georgia, Henry and Valentine suffered "considerable privation" as
their regiment's rations became short. On December 21, their regiment took
possession of Savannah.
[20] Brown,
Captain Alonzo L., "Narrative of the Fourth Regiment", Minnesota
in the Civil War and Indian War, vol. 1, 1861-1865, Minnesota: Board of
Commissioners,
pages 216-218.
It was in Savannah that Henry
contracted “rheumatism and disease of the stomach caused by exposure and
insufficient and improper diet”. [21]
[21] Dahlheimer,
Henry, Veterans Record, United State: Archives Trust Fund Board.
Following is a copy of an affidavit from
Henry’s Veteran Record which describes his medical problems:
Following is a translation of the above
document:
Between January 1, 1865
and April 1,
1865, Henry was treated in a hospital in Savannah and then
spent the rest of his enlistment in a nearby convalescent camp.
Meanwhile, Valentine continued on with the
rest of the regiment. He departed Savannah on a steamship and traveled north along the Atlantic coast to Beaufort, North Carolina.
Between January 1 and April 30, his regiment traveled over 500 miles, heading
first south to Columbia, South Carolina, and then back north again to Raleigh, North Carolina. In
Columbia, on February 20, Valentine's regiment “aided in destroying the
ammunition and ordnance stores captured at the arsenal.” [20] Northeast of Columbia, "the
country became flat and the rain fell incessantly. The enemy hovered near, and,
in anticipation of an attack, breastworks were thrown up. [On March 3,
Valentine's regiment reached Cheraw, South Carolina] after suffering many
hardships and privations; a part of the time being very short of rations, as
most of the country through which [they] passed was thinly settled and yielded
little to [their] foragers". [20]
[20] Brown,
Captain Alonzo L., "Narrative of the Fourth Regiment", Minnesota
in the Civil War and Indian War, vol. 1, 1861-1865, Minnesota: Board of
Commissioners,
pages 216-218.
During the Battle of Bentonville on March
.19-21, Valentine's regiment "built three different lines of breastworks,
but, with the rest of the division, was held in reserve, and while the shots of
the enemy passed freely overhead [they] had only two or three men wounded
during the battle." [20] By this time many of the men were barefooted and
ragged. In late April the regiment reached Raleigh, North Carolina,
where they received word of the assassination of President Lincoln. A few days
later, on April 26, General Johnston of the Confederate Army, surrendered to
the Union's General Sherman in Raleigh. Thus the war ended.
[20] Brown,
Captain Alonzo L., "Narrative of the Fourth Regiment", Minnesota
in the Civil War and Indian War, vol. 1, 1861-1865, Minnesota: Board of Commissioners,
pages 216-218.
Valentine, along with the rest of his
regiment, traveled north into Virginia through Richmond, and onto Washington, DC. On May 24, 1865, "the regiment
marched at the head of the column of General Sherman's grand army of 65,000
veterans in the review at Washington". On May 31, the regiment proceeded, along with the rest of
the army, by rail and steamboat to Louisville, Kentucky. [20]
[20] Brown,
Captain Alonzo L., "Narrative of the Fourth Regiment", Minnesota
in the Civil War and Indian War, vol. 1, 1861-1865, Minnesota: Board of
Commissioners,
pages 216-218.
On June 12, 1865,
after nine months of duty, Henry, along with his brother, Valentine, were
discharged by order in Louisville. Returning to Minnesota, they traveled by rail to La Crosse, Wisconsin, then up
the Mississippi River by steamship to St.
Paul.
Following is a copy of the final record of
Company D:
Following is a copy of Valentine’s service
record in the Civil War:
Following is a translation of the above
document:
Following is a copy of Henry’s service
record in the Civil War:
Following is a translation of the above
document:
On June 23, 1865,
not more than ten days after Valentine and Henry were discharged, Valentine
drown in Diamond Lake near Dayton, Minnesota. Valentine's experiences
during the War left him physically and emotionally disabled; as many veterans
have been in his day and ours. His pension file contains many affidavits
testifying to his soundness of mind and body prior to his enlistment. [22]
[22] Dahlheimer,
Valentine, Veterans Record, United States National Archives Trust Fund Board.
One such affidavit, sworn by Valentine Dehn
(husband of Valentine’s sister, Elisabetha), follows.
Following is a translation of the above
document:
Following is a photo of Valentine Dehn,
husband of Elizabeth, daughter of Caspar Dahlheimer:
Valentine was buried in what is now known
as the old St. John the Baptist Parish cemetery (located at the corner of Lawndale Lane North and 149th Street
North) in Dayton, Minnesota. Following are photos of the old cemetery and
a photo of Jane Heinrich with Valentine’s grave marker (taken in 1980):
Valentine's estate was eventually settled
in l870. Following is an appraisal of his personal property at the time:
1
Yoke of oxen $ 90
1
Ox $ 50
1
3-year old steer $ 20
1
2-year old steer $ 12
1
yearling steer $ 10
2
? $ 80
------
Total $262
His real estate, consisting of 90 acres in Dayton Township, was
valued at $1,500, approximately $1.50 per acre. In 1873, in order to pay
outstanding debts, Elizabeth, Valentine's widow, was forced to sell this land,
at which time Henry purchased it for $1,500.
Click here for
photos of various members of Valentine’s family
