PVT Patrick Fowler

"  'Come Paddy,' one of the fugitives called him, 'you'll be gobbled.'  'I'll stay wid the ma-jor,' he replied, and allowed himself to be taken in with his commander."  Both were captured a few moments later.  Springsteed was to die before the day ended, and his brave guardian, Patrick Fowler..." "

In Memory of
PVT Patrick Fowler, Prisoner of War
1819 - 1864

Patrick Fowler was born in Ireland in 1819, the son of Patrick and Catherine Fowler. Nothing is known of his childhood, but at the age of 26 he emigrated from Ireland to New York in search of destiny. After a couple of years his dreams of a new life in America were being fulfilled, but he found himself somewhat lonely and perhaps a bit homesick. A certain passenger on the ship VICTORIA from Limerick to New York, on August 23, 1850, would cheer him up. She was Bridget Fury, a blue-eyed, red-haired, freckle-faced, beauty who Patrick had known as a young lad, and whom he had vowed to later marry.

On July 20, 1851, in Kingston, New York, the two fulfilled their childhood dreams and were united in holy matrimony. They settled, like many other Irish immigrants, in the New Scotland area of Albany, New York, and on April 19, 1854, their first daughter, Catherine, was born. In the next seven years, three additional daughters were born. Jane, known as "Jennie", was born on February 10, 1855; Annie was born on May 20, 1857; and Sarah was born on February 22, 1861.

At 4:30 in the morning of April 12, 1861, Confederate General Beauregard's shore batteries, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, opened fire on Fort Sumter- the first shots of the Civil War. As Washington prepared for the worst, the New Yorkers regiments arrived on April 25th. They were greeted with jubilation and the days of danger, of a Confederate assault, were gone. The Capitol was safe. As the war progressed, however, the Union experienced heavy losses at Bull Run, the Penisular, Antietam, Fredericksburgh and Chancellorsville.

In 1862, President Lincoln instituted a draft for Union soldiers. Patrick Fowler was working for a neighbor farmer in New Scotland. The farmer, a Mr. VanAtten was unable to join the Union Army during the draft, thus asked Patrick Fowler to stand in for him. So, Patrick Fowler entered Company A, 7th New York Heavy Artillery, originally the 113th Infantry, on August 11, 1862, in Albany, NY, and mustered on August 18, 1862. He was described as age 43, blue eyes, sandy hair, sandy complexion, 5' 11 3/4 ", farmer, from Ireland.  Patrick Fowler and his comrades "with uplifted right hands" took an oath of "true allegiance to the United States of America," swearing that they would "obey orders of the President of the United States" and of their officers. 

The Regiment was ordered to move out on August 19th.  During a ceremony on State Street hill, Albany, New York, the Regiment was presented with a simple, plain flag, the flag of the 113th Infantry.  Patrick was charged $7.41 for transportation from Albany, NY, to Washington, D.C., where the Regiment was initially sent. The Regiment boarded the steam side-wheeler "Hendrick Hudson" and landed off the Jersey City landing the next day.  Each man departed the ship and was given a shiny new Springfield rifled musket, 5 rounds of ammunition, with strict warnings not to load the weapons.  In Jersey City the Regiment boarded a train, arriving in Camden, N.J., on August 21st.  After a march to the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore train depot, they departed for Baltimore, Maryland.  From Baltimore the Regiment again boarded a train to Washington, arriving there about midnight.  Two days later the regiment discovered that they would become part of the Defenses of Washington, an enormous, expensive project, which included sixty-nine forts and sixty-three smaller batteries.  During the fall of 1862, the Regiment continued artillery training until mid-December when they alone remained to man the forts.

Patrick Fowler was doing well, so well in fact, that he was appointed artificer on March 1, 1863.  Throughout the summer and fall of 1863, the Regiment continued to improve fortifications.  The 7th Heavy was to sit in Washington, D.C., for two years before seeing any action, or wishing to "see the Elephant."   By March 1864, the first indication appeared that the service of the 7th Heavy might not be permanent and orders were given requiring the regiment to obtain sufficient small arms ammunition, a minimum of 140 rounds per soldier.   On Saturday, May 14th, 1864, the Regiment received orders to prepare for advancement to take the field.   By May 15th, all the companies had assembled at Fort Reno, Washington, D.C., "armed, packed and ready."  After a five mile march, the Regiment reached two small steamships, the "Winona" and the "Planter."   They traveled the Potomac River and arrived at Belle Plain, Virginia, the next morning joining the First Brigade, "Army of the Potomac."  The First Brigade of the newly formed Fourth Division, would be led by Colonel Morris, who would have under him the 1st Maine Heavy and the 7th New York Heavy.  Major Edward Springsteed would command the First Battalion of the Regiment.

The 7th NY Heavy Artillery Regiment had experienced eight battles prior to August 24, 1864, when the Union II Corps moved south along the Weldon Railroad, tearing up track, preceded by Gregg's cavalry division.  On August 25, Maj. Gen. Henry Heth attacked and overran the faulty Union position at Ream's Station, capturing 9 guns, 12 colors, and many prisoners. The old II Corps was shattered.  Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock withdrew to the main Union line near the Jerusalem Plank Road, bemoaning the declining combat effectiveness of his troops.

Result(s): Confederate victory
Location: Dinwiddie County
Campaign: Richmond-Petersburg Campaign (June 1864-March 1865)
Date(s): August 25, 1864
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock [US]; Maj. Gen. Henry Heth [CS]
Forces Engaged: Corps
Estimated Casualties: 3,492 total

The men of the 7th Heavy were stunned and disorganized by the suddenness and fury of the Confederate attack at Ream's Station.  For most of the soldiers, with no further thought of resistance, each man faced a crucial choice: whether to stay or be taken captive.  They were surrounded and would surely die if they did neither.

" "For most men, the choice was quick and clear.  "A hasty stampede was made for the rear," wrote (Sergeant-Major Frederick) Lockley.   "We passed Major Springsteed in our flight, lying on the ground, Co. A's cook holding the dying officer's head on his knee.   'Come Paddy,' one of the fugitives called him, 'you'll be gobbled.'  'I'll stay wid the ma-jor,' he replied, and allowed himself to be taken in with his commander."  Both were captured a few moments later.  Springsteed was to die before the day ended..." "
-- "Carnival of Blood", by Robert Keating, 1998, Butternut & Blue.

Patrick was reported "Missing in action" at Reams Station, August 25, 1864.  He had apparently suffered battle injury, was captured while guarding his mortally wounded Battalion Commander, and taken to the Confederate Prison at Salisbury, N.C.  Corporal Erastus Garvey, who was also captued at Ream's Station on August 25, was one of nearly seventy other prisoners from the Seventh Heavy to be taken to Salisbury.  He kept a personal journal in 1864 in which he described his trip:   He was "sent by train through Petersburg to Richmond," where "they spent nearly six weeks."  They were then "transferred by rail to Salisbury, arriving there on the tenth of October." 

In Salisbury, N. C., "is a large military prison, accommodating nearly two thousand prisoners ; here the quarters--since the men have the liberty of the yard--are more endurable than at any other point in Rebeldom : but Nature has adhered to her system of "compensation," and here the diet was the most unhealthy and repulsive it was our fortune to undergo in any of the prisons, and such is the testimony of those whose experience extended to the prisons in Columbia and Tuscaloosa, giving us a range of experience throughout the South. Indeed the privileges of the yard were extended only after the most urgent representations from the physician in charge, that more room was absolutely required for the existence of the men,-- that they must get out of doors. We had intended to speak of the hospital arrangements, the scarcity of medicines, and lack of attention, but space forbids. It is generally granted that the evils of this department are such as their own men are subject to, and not from lack of disposition on their part to alleviate the sufferings of the sick and wooded. The rebels always claimed to be treating us honorably as prisoners of war ; and looking back on those darkest months we have ever known, we are inclined to believe our greatest privations were necessitated by the condition of our captors rather than caused by their disposition, but none the more easy to bear on that account. We trust our fellow-citizens need not, to induce them to enlist--we know our brave soldiers need not--be told that the rebels are less than human ; there is excitement enough in the thought of our great country endangered, our noble government assailed, to call to arms every citizen, to sustain every soldier. ---W. C. BATES, Boston, 1862.

Life at Salisbury Prison was complete with disease and pestilence. If one didn't die from consumption, black fever, or diarrhea, then starvation killed. The prison was originally built to hold up to 1500 confederate deserters, but with the increase in demand for disposition of captured Union prisoners, the prison housed over 15,000 Union prisoners of war. In all, about 11,700 Union soldiers perished and were buried in 18 trenches inside the stockade of the Confederate Prison at Salisbury, NC, between 1864-1865.

Diary (Partial) of Henry H. Ladd, Prisoner at Salisbury

Wednesday, November 30, 1864
· Saw a man drop dead from starvation.
Monday, December 5, 1864
· No hope of parole. Half a loaf and a potato for to-day's ration.
Thursday, December 8, 1864
· Chapman, of Company K, Twenty-fourth Michigan died this morning,
Saturday, December 10, 1864
· Seventy-five men have died since yesterday.
Sunday, December 11, 1864
· Men still dying over fifty a day. Hear that Sherman is twenty-five miles of Savannah.
Hope something will turn up.
Tuesday, December 13, 1864
· Slept none last night it was so cold.
Thursday, December 15, 1864
· On quarter rations. Hear that we are to go to South Carolina. Hope that we will get out of this accursed place. Shall I ever see home again?
Saturday, December 17, 1864
· Bought an onion for a dollar.
Sunday, December 18, 1864
· Had a cup of good soup made from a bone.

Tuesday, December 20, 1864
· In bed all day. Rain at night run in on our bed.

Wednesday, December 21, 1864
· Cold and muddy. Still stick to our beds to keep from freezing. Got only half a loaf of bread to-day. Disease and death doing their work as usual.
Thursday, December 22, 1864
· Drew bread and molasses.
Friday, December 23, 1864
· Nearly frozen. No fire. Only a piece of raw corn bread to eat.
How long must we suffer so?
Sunday, December 25, 1864
· Had a loaf of bread and rice soup for Christmas dinner.
Monday, December 26, 1864
· The Catholic prisoners about 200 left for a new camp.
Wednesday, December 28, 1864
· Clark W. Butler of Company H, Twenty-fourth Michigan died to-day.
Friday, December 30, 1864
· Half a loaf only. Getting discouraged. Men still dying like sheep. No relief.
Our government has forsaken us! God forgive but we never can.
Sunday, January 1, 1865
· Sergeant Nardin of Company I, Twenty-fourth Michigan, died last night.

Private Patrick Fowler died at Salisbury Prison on December 20, 1864.    His body was never recovered. He died of disease and/or starvation, and is buried in one of the 18 trenches inside the stockade at Salisbury Prison.  Bridget Fury Fowler applied for a pension after the death of her husband, commencing on December 20, 1864, for $8 per month, plus $2 each month for each child commencing July 25, 1866.  

The Bureau of pensions later "Submitted for rejection on the ground of claimant's neglect and apparent inability to furnish proof showing relationship, celibacy, date of husband's death, dependence and widowhood.  Abandoned for over four years."  Bridget Fury Fowler died September 10, 1889, in Albany, NY, from complications of alcoholism.  Her children, two of who were reared by sons of Mr. VanAtten, grew to adulthood.  Jane Fowler was taken in by Teunis VanAtten and married Lewis Edinger on September 26, 1881 in Unionville , Albany, NY.  Patrick Fowler was the great-grandfather of Beatrice Coughtry Tryon of Cobleskill, N.Y., and the 2great-grandfather of Susan Jane Tryon Lape, of Syracuse, N.Y.  Jane Fowler was the grandmother of Beatrice Coughtry Tryon.

In memory of those that served in the 7th New York Heavy Artillery regiment between July 18, 1862 and April 7, 1865, and who were confined in the stockade of the Confederate Prison, Salisbury, NC.  Thirthy-two of the following men died* there.

Generation No. 1

1. PATRICK² FOWLER, PVT (PATRICK¹) was born 1819 in Ireland, and died December 20, 1864 during the Civil War, in Salisbury Confederate Prison, North Carolina, after battle injury, capture and internment after the battle at Ream's Station, Virginia, August 25, 1864. He married BRIDGET FURY July 20, 1851 in Kingston, NY.

Notes for PATRICK FOWLER, PVT:

• Was a member of the Union Army, A Co., 7th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery, killed during the Civil War. May have died as a POW in the Confederate Prison, Salisbury, NC, after being captured in Virginia, or died on a battlefield. His body was never recovered.
• Patrick Fowler. He entered the A Company, 7th New York Heavy Artillery, originally the 113rd Infantry, on August 11, 1862, in Albany, NY, mustered on August 18, 1862. He was described as "age 43, blue eyes, sandy hair, sandy complexion, 5' 11 3/4", farmer, from Ireland."
• Left the organization: "Died, December 20, 1864, artificer, at Salisbury, NC."
• Remarks: "Missing in action at Reams Station, August 15, 1864." Was in "eleven battles" and "killed at Reams Station, May 16, 1864." "Buried on Battlefield. Married. Parents names: Patrick, and Catherine- unknown. Bounty paid by Town."

More About BRIDGET FURY:

Burial: St. Mary's Cemetery

Children of PATRICK FOWLER and BRIDGET FURY are:

Generation No. 2

2. JANE³ FOWLER (PATRICK², PATRICK¹) was born February 10, 1855 in New Scotland, Albany, NY, and died in New Scotland, Albany, NY. She married LEWIS EDINGER September 26, 1881 in Unionville , Albany, NY.

Notes for JANE FOWLER:

Was taken in by Teunis VanAtten, New Scotland, NY, after the death of Patrick Fowler.

Children of JANE FOWLER and LEWIS EDINGER are:

3. ANNIE³ FOWLER (PATRICK², PATRICK¹) was born May 20, 1857 in New Scotland, Albany, NY, and died in Albany, Albany, NY. She married WILLIAM CROSS.

Children of ANNIE FOWLER and WILLIAM CROSS are:

4. CATHERINE³ FOWLER (PATRICK², PATRICK¹) was born April 19, 1854 in New Scotland, Albany, NY, and died June 13, 1943 in New Scotland, Albany, NY. She married JOHN GLASSER.

Notes for CATHERINE FOWLER:

Was taken in by James VanAtten, New Scotland, NY, after the death of Patrick Fowler.

Child of CATHERINE FOWLER and JOHN GLASSER is:

Generation No. 3

5. ALICE MAE⁴ EDINGER (JANE³ FOWLER, PATRICK², PATRICK¹) was born September 12, 1891 in New Scotland, Albany, NY, and died February 24, 1954 in Cobleskill, Schoharie, NY. She married EDMUND C. COUGHTRY September 19, 1919 in New Scotland, NY, son of JOHN COUGHTRY and CAROLINE KIMMEY.

Notes for ALICE MAE EDINGER:

Died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

More About ALICE MAE EDINGER:

Burial: New Scotland Cemetery

Notes for EDMUND C. COUGHTRY:

Died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

More About EDMUND C. COUGHTRY:

Burial: New Scotland, Albany, NY

Child of ALICE EDINGER and EDMUND COUGHTRY is:

6. CARRIE⁴ CROSS (ANNIE³ FOWLER, PATRICK², PATRICK¹) was born 1873 in Albany, Albany, NY. She married ELIJAH BOOTH December 24, 1889.

Children of CARRIE CROSS and ELIJAH BOOTH are:

Generation No. 4

7. BEATRICE JANE⁵ COUGHTRY (ALICE MAE⁴ EDINGER, JANE³ FOWLER, PATRICK², PATRICK¹) was born July 14, 1922 in New Scotland, Albany, NY.. She married JERRY FRANK TRYON August 01, 1943 in Cobleskill, New York, son of GORDON TRYON and ETHEL RICKARD.

Notes for JERRY FRANK TRYON:

Served in WWII, 4/4/1944 to 8/30/1945, HHC, Mortar Platoon, 48th Armored Infantry, 7th Armored Division. PFC. Battles & Campaigns: Rhineland and Central Europe. Captured & escaped 2/1945 after unit was overrun. Wounded 4/4/1945 in Germany during the Battle of the Bulge, Ruhr Valley. CIB, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, Purple Heart, NYS Conspicuous Service Medal, and Certificate of Disability. Retired, 1983, from General Electric, Schenectady, NY, Manufacturing Engineer. Mason, York Rite and Scottish Rite. Member, United Methodist Church, Cobleskill, NY.

The Tryon family: http://www.tryon-union.com/Trees/person_frame.html

Children of BEATRICE COUGHTRY and JERRY TRYON are:

8. ELIJAH⁵ BOOTH (CARRIE⁴ CROSS, ANNIE³ FOWLER, PATRICK², PATRICK¹) was born April 25, 1891 in Albany, Albany, NY, and died June 06, 1952 in Los Angeles, California. He married ALICE MARION MORRISON July 01, 1930.

Children of ELIJAH BOOTH and ALICE MORRISON are:

Generation No. 5

9. SUSAN JANE⁶ TRYON (BEATRICE JANE⁵ COUGHTRY, ALICE MAE⁴ EDINGER, JANE³ FOWLER, PATRICK², PATRICK¹) was born June 12, 1951 in St. Clair's Hospital, Schenectady, Schenectady, NY. She married JEFFREY JOSEPH LAPE September 25, 1976 in United Methodist Church, Cobleskill, Schoharie, NY, USA, son of SAMUEL LAPE and MARGARET KEARNEY.

Notes for SUSAN JANE TRYON:

Teacher Assistant, Cicero Elementary School, Cicero, NY.

Notes for JEFFREY JOSEPH LAPE:

Physician Assistant. Member, US Army Reserves, 10 years, Served in the US Army, WO2, February 1, 1991 - May 31, 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, stationed at Fort Sam Houston, TX; Ft. Benning, GA; Camp Rudder, FL (6th Ranger Training Battalion). Captain, 6 years, 2-108th IN, NYARNG, Utica, NY.

Descendant of General Artemus Ward, first Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary forces, (1st cousin, seven times removed) of Shrewsbury, MA.

Children of SUSAN TRYON and JEFFREY LAPE are:

10. CRAIG LEWIS⁶ TRYON (BEATRICE JANE⁵ COUGHTRY, ALICE MAE⁴ EDINGER, JANE³ FOWLER, PATRICK², PATRICK¹) was born December 16, 1948 in Elm Home, Cobleskill,Schoharie, NY. He married MARY ANN BROWN July 19, 1969 in Cobleskill, NY, daughter of ROY BROWN and EVELYN DECKER.

Notes for CRAIG LEWIS TRYON:

NYS Parks & Recreations. Served in US Army, Vietnam, SPC4, 198th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, Wounded in Chu Lai, July 1970.

Children of CRAIG TRYON and MARY BROWN are:

11. DONALD ALLAN⁶ TRYON (BEATRICE JANE⁵ COUGHTRY, ALICE MAE⁴ EDINGER, JANE³ FOWLER, PATRICK², PATRICK¹) was born June 01, 1950 in Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, Schenectady, NY, and died December 10, 1995 in Maryland, Otsego, NY. He married (1) JUDITH ANNE ALGER May 25, 1975 in JOP, Maryland, Otsego, NY. He married (2) JAN WEST November 25, 1994 in JOP, Cobleskill, Schoharie, NY.

Notes for DONALD ALLAN TRYON:

Buried in Tryon Plot, Hillview Section, Cobleskill Rural Cemetery.

Notes for JUDITH ANNE ALGER:

Buried in Tryon Plot, Hillview Section, Cobleskill Rural Cemetery.

Child of DONALD TRYON and JUDITH ALGER is:

12. BRUCE LEE⁶ TRYON (BEATRICE JANE⁵ COUGHTRY, ALICE MAE⁴ EDINGER, JANE³ FOWLER, PATRICK², PATRICK¹) was born April 07, 1960 in Community Hospital, Cobleskill, Schoharie, NY. He married CAROLE REED.

Children of BRUCE TRYON and CAROLE REED are:

Generation No. 6

13. LAURA S. JANE⁷ TRYON (CRAIG LEWIS⁶, BEATRICE JANE⁵ COUGHTRY, ALICE MAE⁴ EDINGER, JANE³ FOWLER, PATRICK², PATRICK¹) was born May 14, 1975 in Oneida, NY. She married CLELAND BRIAN RIGGLEMAN July 12, 1994 in Camillus, NY.

Child of LAURA TRYON and CLELAND RIGGLEMAN is:

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