First and Forgotten

To me it's not the fact that, his surname is the same as mine or the fact that, he was the first soldier buried in Arlington that interest me. It's the fact that he was a Soldier that was recognized for his military service and buried in the (soon to be) new national cemetery, Arlington National Cemetery (15 June 1864). He died in a war where America and all of her States would become known as:
The United States of America.

As far as William goes, we will never know why he went to fight. What we do know is that he died serving on the side that believed in the right of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. William was not the first nor the last to fight and/or die for that idea. America's men and women of today, are still fighting and dying for that same right for all humans. To all of us who have served I say, thank-you. To those of you who have not served I say (humbly), you are welcome.

The records from American Civil War Soldiers shows 41 soldiers named Christman from Pennsylvania. Some of the names and links to their families may be viewed at the Christman Wall Of Honor page from the menu on the left.

There were a total of some 200 Christman's serving the Union during the Civil War and approximately 10 serving the confederacy. At least that is what my research has revealed so far.

William Henry Christman
1843 - 11 May 1864

William Henry Christman was born about 1843 in Lehigh County and living in Easton, PA (I have found no mention of Pvt Christman on their site) when he enlisted. The land in the Lehigh Valley was of good quality and idea for farming. Some local history by Davis's 1877 History of Northampton Co, PA suggests, that the citizens in this part of PA were very much patriotic.

Rick Atkins wrote in a National Geographic Magazine Ariticle printed in June 2007:

"Nothing in William Henry Christman's brief life suggested that in death he would become a singular figure in American history. A laborer from Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Christman enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 25, 1864, for a $60 cash bounty and a $300 promissory note from his government. The muster rolls of the 67th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment recorded that he was five feet seven and a half inches (1.7 meters) tall, with sandy hair, gray eyes, and a florid complexion. Twenty-one years old and unmarried, he bore a scar on the left side of his neck and three prominent moles on his back.

He wrote his parents from Philadelphia on April 3, 1864. The letter was transcribed by R. David Christman on 28 March 2008 and is shown below.

Philadelphia April 3 1864 Camp Cat valenter    My dear Mother I this Morning take this opertunilty to inform you a feu lines thad I em well at this preasant time ant hope thad my fue lines vill find you the same    father I must tel you thad I like it very good we have enuph to eat ant drink ant more we dont want for this preasant time father I must tel you thad I want you to take good care of my close ant father I want you to write me wetor you have thad note from Jacob _____ I want you to take them papers all ant put them in my trunk ant keep them their til I com back   father I want you to git thad deed fort thad land ant give thad note from hiram hay ant git thad money from timothy miller ant pay it on thad land But mind if thad you git a good deed father I want you to write me how the gildren is wetor they ar well again father I haint know more for to write for this preasant time       So good by for this time      from your dear son      William Henry Christman So pleas excuse my poor riting for I hafte write on my plait So I cant write as good as I ate

Three weeks later young Christman was hospitalized for measles. He grew sicker, and on May 1 was admitted to Lincoln General Hospital, a mile east of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. There, in Ward 19, on Wednesday, May 11, he died of peritonitis, a toxic inflammation of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity. An inventory of Christman's effects listed his modest legacy, including a hat, two flannel shirts, a pair of trousers, a blanket, a haversack, a canteen."

Civil Wars Veterans Card This may be viewed at: Pennsylvania State Archives

Also noted above in Remarks is that he, "died at Washington D.C. on 11 May 1864." It further states that, "(?Burial Record 5-11-64) and Buried National Cemetery, Arlington, VA."

The previous record shows us that William enlisted into Company G, 67th Infantry Regiment on 25 March 1864. The 67th Infantry Regiment was apparently a unit from the Pennsylvania Volunteers. During the Civil War, the 67th participated in the following campaigns.

Battles Fought

14 June 1863 Winchester, VA	1 June 1864 Cold Harbor, VA	25 March 1865 Petersburg, VA
15 June 1863 Winchester, VA	17 June 1864 - 20 June 1864 White House, VA	1 April 1865 Petersburg, VA
27 November 1863 Locust Grove, VA	21 June 1864 White House, VA	2 April 1865 Petersburg, VA
6 May 1864 Wilderness, VA	22 June 1864 - 19 September 1864 Winchester, VA	6 April 1865 Sailor's Creek, VA
7 May 1864 Wilderness, VA	19 October 1864 Cedar Creek, VA	7 April 1865 Sailor's Creek, VA

According to history records in 1864, Union forces in the East attempted to maneuver past Lee and fought several battles during that phase ("Grant's Overland Campaign") of the Eastern campaign. Grant's battles of attrition at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor resulted in heavy losses, but forced Lee's Confederates to fall back again and again. The Union's loss in the battle of the Wilderness was 2,246 killed 12,037 wounded and 3,383 captured or missing. No doubt many of the wounded were burned to death or suffocated in the fire that raged through the woods.

The battle of the Wilderness Va. May 5th & 6th 1864 from the Currier & Ives Collection	Battle of the Wilderness--Desperate fight on the Orange C.H. Plank Road, near Todd's Tavern, May 6th, 1864 by Kurz & Allison.
View these and other pics at The Library of Congress

 

Wounded - Battle of the Wilderness Fredericksburg, VA, May 1864	Burying The Dead Wilderness Campaign May 1864	Hospital tents in rear of Douglas Hospital Washington, D.C.
View these and other pics at Civil War Home Page

According to the, U.S. National Archives & Records Administration, There were three basic reasons why the Federal Government paid pension payments for military service and Mary A Christman (William's Mother) did not fall into any of them. Further research by Mr. Kerchner shows us that on 6 April 1866 the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), organization was established by Civil War veterans of the Union army and navy. The organization scored a great victory in 1879 with the passage of the Arrears of Pension Act, which led many more veterans to apply for pensions. Their influence led to the creation of the Old Soldiers' Homes of the late 19th century which evolved into the current United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 Record Name: William H. Christman Relative: Mother Mary A. Christman View Original Image at Ancestry.com

The below information verifies all of the above and adds, "Distinguished Service" to his record and to our findings.

American Civil War Soldiers Record Name: William Christman Enlistment Date: 25 March 1864 Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Side Served: Union State Served: Pennsylvania Unit Numbers: 2331 2331 Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 25 March 1864 Enlisted in Company G, 67th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania on 25 March 1864. Died Company G, 67th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania on 11 May 1864 This can be viewed at Ancestry.com

William H Christman's final resting place at lot 19, Section 27, Arlington National Cemetery.