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Jacob and Rachel Haines were Canadian immigrants living in Watertown, New York when the Civil War broke out. On January 6, 1862 Jacob enlisted in the 94th New York Volunteers for three years. That spring his regiment joined McDowell's corps in Virginia.
The 35 year-old Private Haines was sent to an Army hospital at Manassas after the 94th made a punishing, ill-advised march to rescue Washington from a perceived attack. On July 12, he died. Jacob was probably buried at Manassas, but his grave has not been identified. One record of soldiers from the Watertown area declared that Private Haines had been an "Alien upon enlistment, left widow, 4 minor children, one parent."
Later that year his widow applied for a pension. Rachel had to sign the documents with an "x." Jacob's brother David--my g-g-g-g grandfather--testified that he knew Rachel and left a shaky, childlike signature. The pension was granted.
About a year later one of Jacob and Rachel's "minor children" followed his father into the Army. Joseph (who spelled his last name "Haynes") enlisted in the 14th New York Heavy Artillery on October 4, 1863, signing his name with an "x." The young recruit stood just 5'4" and was about thirteen years old, although he gave his age as sixteen. We will never know whether he joined out of patriotism, financial necessity, a thirst for adventure, or a combination of these, but in any case Joseph was discharged two months later for being underage.
Determined to serve, Joseph went back to the recruiters in August of 1864. Although he again gave his age as 16 and was actually about fourteen, the need for manpower was so great that the boy was accepted into the 186th New York Infantry for a term of one year.
While serving in the trenches during the siege of Petersburg, Virginia, Private Haynes contracted typhoid and was sent to the 2nd Division 9th Army Corps hospital at Poplar Grove Church. He died there on November 26, three months after enlisting.
Joseph Haynes is one of 6,718 soldiers buried at Poplar Grove National Cemetery, where he occupies Grave 123. In 1866, Rachel Haines applied for an increase in her pension. By 1880 she had remarried, and at that point she drops from the record.
The 35 year-old Private Haines was sent to an Army hospital at Manassas after the 94th made a punishing, ill-advised march to rescue Washington from a perceived attack. On July 12, he died. Jacob was probably buried at Manassas, but his grave has not been identified. One record of soldiers from the Watertown area declared that Private Haines had been an "Alien upon enlistment, left widow, 4 minor children, one parent."
Later that year his widow applied for a pension. Rachel had to sign the documents with an "x." Jacob's brother David--my g-g-g-g grandfather--testified that he knew Rachel and left a shaky, childlike signature. The pension was granted.
About a year later one of Jacob and Rachel's "minor children" followed his father into the Army. Joseph (who spelled his last name "Haynes") enlisted in the 14th New York Heavy Artillery on October 4, 1863, signing his name with an "x." The young recruit stood just 5'4" and was about thirteen years old, although he gave his age as sixteen. We will never know whether he joined out of patriotism, financial necessity, a thirst for adventure, or a combination of these, but in any case Joseph was discharged two months later for being underage.
Determined to serve, Joseph went back to the recruiters in August of 1864. Although he again gave his age as 16 and was actually about fourteen, the need for manpower was so great that the boy was accepted into the 186th New York Infantry for a term of one year.
While serving in the trenches during the siege of Petersburg, Virginia, Private Haynes contracted typhoid and was sent to the 2nd Division 9th Army Corps hospital at Poplar Grove Church. He died there on November 26, three months after enlisting.
Joseph Haynes is one of 6,718 soldiers buried at Poplar Grove National Cemetery, where he occupies Grave 123. In 1866, Rachel Haines applied for an increase in her pension. By 1880 she had remarried, and at that point she drops from the record.