James Woodard WICKHAM ²

  General Notes:

BIRTHDATE: Handwriting in the family Bible is difficult to read, but it appears that the date is Dec "14" but it could be a "1".

1860 IA CENSUS, Cedar Co, Pioneer Twp, Mechanicsville P. O.: James Wickham, 26, farm laborer, b. OH. He was living with the William Elliott family.

U.S. CIVIL WAR DRAFT REGISTRATION RECORDS, 1863-1865 - Pioneer Twp, Cedar Co. (July 1963):
"Biirmal" Wickham, 31, farmer, sinlge, b. OH, 13th IA Inf. Co. A
James Wickham, 29, farmer, single, b. OH
Robert Wickham, 23, farmer, single, b. OH
William Wickham, 35, farmer, single, b. OH, 24th IA Inf. Co C
(Note: Is this a different William Wickham?)

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS:
Name: James Wickham ,
Residence: Mount Vernon, Iowa
Enlistment Date: 18 Sep 1861
Side Served: Union
State Served: Iowa
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 18 September 1861 at the age of 25.
Enlisted in Company A, 13th Infantry Regiment Iowa on 18 Oct 1861.
Mustered Out Company A, 13th Infantry Regiment Iowa on 21 Jul 1865 at Louisville, KY.

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR REGIMENTS:
REGIMENT: 13th Infantry Regiment Iowa
Date of Organization: 18 Oct 1861
Muster Date: 21 Jul 1865
Regiment State: Iowa
Regiment Type: Infantry
Regiment Number: 13th
Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident: 5
Officers Died of Disease or Accident: 4
Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded: 114
Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident: 205
Regimental Soldiers and History: List of Soldiers

Regimental History
Thirteenth Infantry IOWA (3 years)

Thirteenth Infantry. Cols., Marcellus M. Crocker, John Shane, James C. Wilson, Lieut.-Cols., Milton M. Price, John Shane, James C. Wilson, Justin C. Kennedy; Majs., John Shane, George M. Van Hosen, James C. Wilson, William A. Walker, Thomas P. Marshall, A. J. Pope.

This regiment was organized in the summer and fall of 1861 and was mustered in between Oct. 18 and Nov. 2, by companies. About Nov. 1, the regiment left for Benton barracks where it remained until Dec. 20, then went to Jefferson City, Mo. where it spent the winter. On March 8 it left for Pittsburg landing, where it was assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st division, Gen. McClernand commanding. At the battle of Shiloh it was under fire for 10 hours the first day, losing 24 killed, 139 wounded and 9 missing. After the battle it was placed in the 1st ("Iowa") brigade, Col. Crocker commanding, of the 6th division.

Lieut.-Col. Price resigning Maj. Shane was promoted to that position, Capt. Van Hosen succeeding as major. It was in the siege of Corinth and became part of the garrison when the place was evacuated. At the end of July it marched to Bolivar in search of the enemy, but failed to come up with him and returned to Corinth, where it took part in the battle in October. The principal losses there were sustained by Cos. A and G. which were deployed as skirmishers in the first day's engagement.

It returned to Memphis, Tenn., on the surrender of Holly Springs, the base of supplies for the contemplated move on Vicksburg. About this time Maj. Van Hosen resigned and was succeeded by Adjt. Wilson. The regiment assisted in digging Lake Providence canal. On the reorganization of the army Col. Crocker was made brigadier-general, being succeeded by Lieut.-Col. Shane as colonel, Maj. Wilson was promoted to the latter position and Capt. Walker was appointed major.

The regiment repaired the roads for the use of the army about Vicksburg, proceeded to Grand Gulf, thence to Haynes' Bluff, but soon returned and took place on the left of the line of investment. In the latter part of May it was part of a force to make a reconnaissance toward Mechanicsburg, its brigade earning the sobriquet of "Crocker's Greyhounds."

On June 24 it moved out to take part in the work of holding Johnston's forces from attacking the army's rear and was engaged in a skirmish on the day of the surrender of Vicksburg. It escorted a supply train to Clinton, but returned on July 28 and assisted in clearing Yazoo river of the torpedoes and wrecked gun-boats.

It participated in the expedition to Monroe, La., after which it went into quarters at Vicksburg until Feb. 4, 1864, when it joined the movement towards Meridian. The veterans were given a furlough in March and reached Cairo on April 16, with many recruits. It proceeded via Clifton and Pulaski, Tenn., to Huntsville, Ala., and on May 20, joined Sherman's army at Acworth, Ga. It was engaged at Kennesaw mountain, was in a skirmish at Nickajack creek, and at Atlanta its brigade made a charge to within 50 paces of the fort, being compelled to lie down and fire. It retired in good order having lost 113 in killed and wounded in less than 30 minutes.

On July 22 most of Co. A, part of G. and all of D and K, were captured while reinforcing the 11th and 16th Ia. The regiment's loss in this battle was 149, Maj. Walker commanding, being killed. In the battle of the 28th the regiment fought with great bravery and joined with the remnant of the 3rd Ia., in reinforcing a part of the line which was being hard pressed. The 13th was engaged at Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station and joined in the pursuit of Hood in October, going as far as Gaylesville, Ala. Its losses from the first day at Kennesaw until the close of the Atlanta campaign were 331 in killed wounded and captured.

At Marietta, on the return to Atlanta, Coil Shane and several line officers were mustered out, their time expiring. It was in the march to and siege of Savannah, took up the line of march through the Carolinas, was engaged at Pocotaligo; at Columbia a portion of the regiment crossed the river opposite the city ahead of the army, and without orders hoisted the stars and stripes on the capitol while the remainder of the command engaged in laying pontoon bridges some 3 miles below the town. Previous to this the regiment on the skirmish line had crossed a burning bridge at the North Edisto River and driven the enemy out of Orangeburg. The regiment closed its fighting career at Bentonville. At Goldsboro it was joined by a large number of recruits and here Capt. Pope was made major in place of Maj. Marshall resigned.

The regiment proceeded to Washington after Johnston's surrender, took part in the grand review, went into camp at Rock Creek and later moved to Louisville, Ky., where it was mustered out in July 1865

Source: The Union Army, vol. 4

Shiloh after battle report:
Report of Col. Marcellus M. Crocker, Thirteenth Iowa Infantry.

HDQRS. THIRTEENTH REGT. IOWA INFANTRY VOLS.,
Camp near Pittsburg, Tenn., April 8, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to report the part taken by the Thirteenth Regt. Iowa Volunteer Infantry in the engagement with the enemy on the 6th and 7th instant.

Early in the morning of the 6th the alarm was given, and heavy firing in the distance indicated that our camp was attacked. The regiment was formed in front of its color line, its full force consisting of 717 men, rank and file. It was at once ordered to form on the left of the Second Brigade, and proceeded to that position at a doublequick, and was then formed in line of battle in a skirt of woods bordering on an open field to the left of battery. Here it remained for some, time inactive, while the enemy's guns were playing on our battery.

In the mean time a large force of the enemy's infantry were filing around the open field in front or our line, protected by the woods and in the direction of our battery, opening a heavy fire of musketry on the infantry stationed on our right and charging upon the battery. The infantry and battery to the right having given way, and the enemy advancing at double-quick, we gave them one round of musketry and also gave way.

At this time we - as, indeed, all our troops in the immediate vicinity of the battery - were thrown into great confusion, and retired in disorder. Having retired to the distance of 100 or 200 yards we succeeded in rallying and forming a good line, the Eight and Eighteenth Illinois Volunteers on our left, and having fronted to the enemy, held our position there under a continual fire of cannon and musketry until after 12 o'clock, when we were ordered to retire and take up a new position. This we did in good order and without confusion.

Here, having formed a new line, we maintained it under incessant fire until 4.30 o'clock p. m., the men conducting themselves with great gallantry and coolness, and doing great execution on the enemy, repulsing charge after charge, and driving them back with great loss.

At 4.30 o'clock p. m. we were again ordered to fall back. In obeying this order we became mixed up with a great number of regiments falling back in confusion, so that our line was broken and the regiment separated, rendering it very difficult to collect it; but finally, having succeeded in forming, and being separated from the brigade, we attached ourselves to the division commanded by Col. Tuttle, of the Second Iowa Volunteers, and formed with his division in front of the encampment of the Fourteenth, Second, and Seventh Iowa Volunteers, where it sustained a heavy fire from the enemy's battery until dark, and there remained during the night on our arms. During the day we were under fire of the enemy for ten hours, and sustained a loss of 23 killed and 130 wounded.

On the morning of the 7th we were ordered to continue with Col. Tuttle's division and to follow up and support our forces that were attacking and driving back the enemy. We followed them up closely, moving to support the batteries until the enemy was rounded, after which we were ordered to return to the encampment that we had left on Sunday morning, here we arrived at o'clock p. m. Our total loss in the action of the 6th and 7th is: Killed, 24;wounded, 139; missing, 9; total, 172.*

The men for the most part behaved with great gallantry, and the officers exhibited the greatest bravery and coolness; and I call especial attention to the gallant conduct of my field officers, Lieut.-Col. Price and Maj. Shane, who were both wounded in the action of the 6th, and acknowledge my great obligations to my adjutant, Lieut. Wilson, who during the entire action exhibited the highest qualities of a soldier.

Respectfully, &c.,
M. M. CROCKER, Col. Thirteenth Iowa Infantry.
C. CADLE, Jr., A. A. A. G., First Brigade, First Division.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 10. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 10

Battles Fought by 13th Iowa:
Fought on 6 Apr 1862 at Shiloh, TN.
Fought on 3 Oct 1862 at Corinth, MS.
Fought on 4 Oct 1862 at Corinth, MS.
Fought on 6 Oct 1862 at Corinth, MS.
Fought on 16 May 1863 at Raymond, MS.
Fought on 16 Jun 1863 at Vicksburg, MS.
Fought on 9 Feb 1864.
Fought on 10 Feb 1864 at Hillsboro, MS.
Fought on 28 Feb 1864 at Canton, MS.
Fought on 29 Feb 1864 at Canton, MS.
Fought on 21 Mar 1864.
Fought on 26 Jun 1864.
Fought on 27 Jun 1864.
Fought on 2 Jul 1864 at Kennesaw Mountain, GA.
Fought on 3 Jul 1864 at Kennesaw Mountain, GA.
Fought on 4 Jul 1864 at Kennesaw Mountain, GA.
Fought on 4 Jul 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 5 Jul 1864 at Kennesaw Mountain, GA.
Fought on 6 Jul 1864 at Kennesaw Mountain, GA.
Fought on 8 Jul 1864 at Kennesaw Mountain, GA.
Fought on 8 Jul 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 9 Jul 1864.
Fought on 11 Jul 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 20 Jul 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 21 Jul 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 22 Jul 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 28 Jul 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 2 Aug 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 9 Aug 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 11 Aug 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 14 Aug 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 19 Aug 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 20 Aug 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 25 Aug 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
Fought on 1 Sep 1864 at Jonesboro, GA.
Fought on 5 Sep 1864 at Jonesboro, GA.
Fought on 15 Dec 1864 at Savannah, GA.
Fought on 1 Feb 1865.
Fought on 19 Feb 1865 at Columbia, SC.
Fought on 1 Mar 1865 at Falling Creek, NC.

CIVIL WAR: James W. Wickham, Pvt. Comp. A, 13th IA Inf. Vol. "Crocker's IA Brigade", 1861-1865; wounded Oct 14, 1862 at Corinth, Mississippi; prisoner of war at Andersonville Prison in 1864.

ANDERSONVILLE PRISONERS OF WAR:
Surname: James W. Wickham
RANK: PRIVATE
COMPANY: A
REGIMENT: 13
State: IA
Arm of Service: INFANTRY
Reference: p 703 [428]
Location of Capture: ATLANTA, GA
Date of Capture: 22 Jul 1864
Page: 0
More Information: YES

ANDERSONVILLE PRISONER RECORD: Private James W. Wickham, a member of: Co. A. 13th Infantry was a prisoner at Andersonville Prison, Sumter County, Georgia. He was captured on Friday, July 22, 1864 at Atlanta, Georgia. On the day of his capture the Battle of Atlanta, Georgia began. James was paroled March 17, 1865 at Annapolis, Maryland. Mustered out July 21, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.

LETTER WRITTEN BY JAMES W. WICKHAM, July 17, 1889: "Commissioner of pensions
Dear Sir in relation to the claim of Vincent F. Steavens. I have testified to all the facts in my knowledge. he was taken prisnor before I was and when I came he was complaining of bowel complaints and piles and to my personal knowledge he was very bad at times. I was taken prisnor the twenty-second of July and reached Andersonville Georga some time the last of July or first August.
James W. Wickham" (transcribed as written)

HARDIN CO., IA MARRIAGE RECORD: James W. WIckham, & Vianna Weeks were married May 3, 1865. (Note: Date may have been May 30, 1865.)

1870 KS CENSUS, Wyandotte Co, Deleware Twp: James Wickham, b. ~1834 in OH; "Viana", b.~1848 in IN; William b.~1867 in IA.

1880 IA CENSUS, Hardin Co, Eldora: James Wickham, 44, laborer, b. OH, father b. NY, mother b. ME; wife Jane,19, b. IA, father b. (not listed), mother b. IN; son William M., 13, b. IA, father b. OH, mother b. IN; dau. Sarah E., 3, b. IA, father b. OH, mother b. IA.

1885 IA STATE CENSUS, Hardin Co, Eldora: James Wickham, 57, laborer, b. OH; Lucinda, 25, b. Hardin Co, IA; William M, 17, laborer; Sarah E., 7; Clarence E., 4; Rosa P., 0. All children were b. Hardin Co, IA.

CIVIL WAR PENSION INDEX: GENERAL INDEX TO PENSION FILES, 1861-1934: James W. Wickham A 13 Iowa Inf - James filed for a invalid pension on June 13, 1888 from Iowa - Lucinda J. McMillan filed for a widow's pension on Sep 27, 1922(?) from Wisconsin

LETTER FROM JAMES W. WICKHAM - July 17, 1889
"Commissioner of pensions
Dear Sir - in relation to the claim of Vincent F. Steavens, I have testified to all the facts in my knowledge. he was taken prisnor before I was and when I came he was complaining of bowel complaints and piles and to my personal knowlege was very bad at times. I was taken prisonor the twenty-second of July and reached Andersonville Georga some time the last of July or first August.
James W. Wickham"

INFO FROM GERALD WICKHAM: James and Lucinda divorced April 1,1899 at Marshaltown, IA.

1900 IA CENSUS, Cedar Co, Cass Twp: James W. Wickham, (no birth date listed), 66, divorced, b. OH, parents b. OH; living with his nephew James A. Wickham (son of his brother Anson)

1910 IA CENSUS, Johnson Co, Cedar Twp: James Wickham, 76, wd, b. OH, father b. NY, mother b. Ireland, own income, own house; dau Sarah E., 34, single, b. IA.

After 1918, James resided IA Soldiers Home, Marshalltown, IA and died there.

1920 IA CENSUS, Marshall Co: James Wickham, 86, was a resident of the 'Iowa Soldiers Home'

OBIT, Mt. Vernon Hawkeye, May 13, 1922: James W. Wickham, former resident of Lisbon, died Soldier's Home in Marshalltown last week, where he has been since 1918. He was a widower, had 5 children and served with Co. A. 13th IA Inf. (Lisbon item)

1985 LETTER TO GERALD WICKHAM FROM JAMES PATTERSON, Huntsville, AL: Regarding James W. Wickham's Civil War records - "In one statement he said he had his 75th birthday on 1 Dec 1908 rather than the 14 Dec date you gave. There seemed to be much controversy however about when he was born. His son William also gave several different dates of birth at different times of his life. I'm not positive when he was born either."

LETTER TO ARTHUR WICKHAM FROM LEON V. WICKHAM, Allens Grove, WI, 1940: "My father has 3 brothers and 1 sister that I know of: Asal Wickham, Bim Wickham and Timothy Wickham and perhaps Carrie. My father had been married twice. He had 1 son by his first wife, William Wickham. I couldn't gell you his first wife's maiden name. I was quite young when he and my mother seperated."

LETTER TO ARTHUR WICKHAM FROM LEON V. WICKHAM, Allens Grove, WI, July 10, 1940: "I am sorry to state that I cannot tell you my grandmother's maiden name, as my father and mother were divorced when I was 5 or 6 years old. But if I am not mistaken, my father came to Iowa from Marion, Ohio his name was James Woodward Wickham he was born in Dec or Nov. about 1830 he was about 92 when he died in 1922, and as said he came to Iowa from Marion Ohio, he was married twice my mother being his second wife, he was around 45 when he married my mother and she was 14, her maiden name was Lucinda Jane Leary and was born Dec 25 about 1860." (transcribed as written)

LETTER TO ARTHUR WICKHAM FROM LEON VERNE WICKHAM, Allens Grove, WI, 1941: "My brother (not named) was b. Oct 20, 1890 at Eldora, IA. Served 14 mo. in army and died after being accidently electrocuted in 1926. There was a half-brother (from father's first wife), almost as old as my mother. I haven't seen him since I was a child."

LETTER TO ARTHUR WICKHAM FROM LEON V. WICKHAM, written by Mrs. Wickham, Cedar Rapids, IA, Apr. 12, 1941: "I don't know the name of James Woodwards first wife. My brother's name is D. D., Lincoln is a "nickname". My sisters names are Clarice, Lorainne and Leona. The Albert you mentions is Leona's husband. Loren is Clarice's husband and John is Lorainne's husband.
My full names is Leon Verne Wickham, I will be 23 years old Oct. 26, 1941. My wife's name is DeLoris Irene Trapp Wickham, she will be 20 Nov. 16, 1941." "We were married Aug. 16, 1940. We have no children." Would you be interested in the names of my sisters children? There are 5 altogether.

LETTER FROM SADIE ELLEN "ELLA" WICKHAM, Marion, IA, Apr. 7, 1941: "Clarence son D. D. lives some place in Cedar Rapids." " I had a half brother Will W. and he had a son Paul. But I don't know where they are. I have no bible in my trunk. I have forgotten all of Uncle Bim's boys names only Frank and Will. And I do not remember the names of Uncle Acel's boy's. He had a daughter named Ella same as my name."
"Clarence children are all married now and live in C. R." " Clarence had only 2 boys D. D. or Lincoln and Leon is the youngest boy. The other 3 were girls Leona, Clarice and Lorraine." (transcribed as written.) (C. R= Cedar Rapids, IA)

LETTER FROM IOWA SOLDIERS HOME, May 13, 1941: regarding the relatives of James Woodward Wickham:
The children of James W. Wickham of Lisbon, IA are:
Clarence Wickham, Marion, IA
Sarah E. Wickham, Linn Co. Home, IA
Lionel V. Wickham, Greenwood, WI
Rose P. Wickham, Central City, IA (the record indicates she was married but does not give her name after marriage)
Vern L. Wickham, Greenwood, WI.
The application of James W. Wickham was filed Nov. 26, 1918. At that time the sons, Lionel and Vern, were with the US Army in France but a later notation gives their address as Greenwood, WI. James W. Wickham died May 7, 1922.

1985 LETTER TO GERALD WICKHAM FROM JAMES M. PATTERSON, Huntsville, AL: "John Wickham is my g. g. grandfather. My g. grandfather is James Woodward Wickham, b. 1833, grandfather William born 1867, mother Jewell Wickham b. 1906.

James married Vianna WEEKS on 30 May 1865 in Point Pleasant, Hardin Co, IA.¹ (Vianna WEEKS was born about 1849 in IN,⁴ died in 1870 in Joplin, Jasper Co, MO ⁵ and was buried in 1870.)

James next married Lucinda Jane LEARY on 7 Sep 1875 in Eldora, Hardin Co, IA.¹ (Lucinda Jane LEARY was born on 25 Dec 1860 in Point Pleasant, Hardin Co, IA,⁶ died in possibly Eldora, Hardin Co, IA and was buried in Eldora Cem, Hardin Co, IA ⁷.)