Delaware in the Civil War
Some bits and pieces of Delaware's Civil War History

Milford's Union Cemetery Restored & Re-dedicated
At least 12 Civil War & 1 Spanish-American War Veterans buried here

Click HERE to read about it!

Delaware's Civil War Regiments
Click HERE for a list of Delaware Regiments and their history.

Fort Delaware State Park Delaware River Defender - Civil War Prison A "time machine" where History lives!	Night-firing the fort's 8-inch Columbiad gun!
Links Fort Delaware State Park Fort Delaware State Park Fort Delaware Society

 

Delaware Department
Grand Army of the Republic
 

        "Comrades, let me admonish you to watch well in guarding the principles of our noble order; let no personal disappointment interfere with your determination to do your duty to your Comrades, and to practice the duties of fraternity and charity towards each other.
        Remember that time is fast passing away, that but a few more years remain for us to accomplish the work set before us.  It is our duty to look after our Comrades in want, and the widows and orphans of those who died in defense of our country.  To see that these orphans do not suffer for lack of the necessaries of life, and that they receive education that will enable them to fill positions in society equal to the best of the land.
        It is also our duty to assist deserving Comrades who were disabled during the war, in proving their claims for pensions, there being thousands of Comrades who are entitled to pensions and unable to obtain them for want of competent evidence to establish their claims.
        Lastly may we always observe that solemn and serious custom of planting our national emblem and strewing flowers on our dead Comrades' graves, thus keeping alive the memories of those who died that their country might live."

                                                                                   Daniel Ross, departing Delaware Dept. Commander, 1884

 

History of the National Organization & Delaware Department

        "THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.— This is an association of the soldiers and sailors of the Civil War, organized into State Departments, which, in turn, are composed of local posts. The order was founded in the winter of 1865–66, at Springfield, Ill., by Dr. B.F. Stephenson, who had been the surgeon of the Fourteenth Illinois Infantry Regiment, and it is in its practical operation much the same as any other secret society. Its objects are comprehended in the motto of the army: 'Brotherhood, Charity and Patriotism.'

        It aims to preserve and strengthen the fraternal feelings which bind together those who were united to suppress the Rebellion, and to perpetuate the memory of the dead patriots of the Union; to protect and aid the needy soldier, and the widows and orphans of those who have fallen; to maintain true allegiance to the United States of America, its Constitution, and to discountenance whatever would weaken or impair the efficiency or permanency of the free institutions of our country; and to encourage the spread of justice, equal rights and universal liberty. The consequent terms of admission to membership are service, loyalty and the possession of those attributes which can awaken the feelings of brotherhood among the members of the order. Having such commendable purposes and such a large field to cultivate, it is not surprising that the order has flourished even beyond the anticipations of those who were instrumental in giving it life and character."

The Delaware Department as of 1888

Delaware Department Commanders
Name	Year Served as Commander	Regiment & Service Information	Name	Year Served as Commander	Regiment & Service Information
Robert C. Fraim	1880- Del. Dept. Provisional Commander	1st Sergeant, Co. D, 5th Delaware Infantry	William A. Truitt	1921	Pvt., Co. I, 7th Delaware Infantry
William S. McNair	1881	1st Sgt, Batt. D, 1st PA Light Artillery	Charles Zerby	1922	Sgt., Co. L, 12th New York Cavalry
John Wainwright	1882	Col., 97th PA Infantry Medal of Honor for "Gallant and meritorious conduct, where, as 1st lieutenant, he commanded the regiment" 1/15/1865 at Fort Fisher, NC.	Nathaniel Henderson	1923
Daniel Ross	1883		Charles R. Lewis	1924
Charles May Carey	1884		William H. Middleton	1925
Joshua S. Litzenburg	1885		Richard G. Buckingham	1926
John M. Dunn	1886		William Buckius	1927
John E. Mowbray	1887		Charles S. Waters	1928
Richard G. Buckingham	1888	Sergeant Major, Co. E, 4th DE Infantry	James D. Twigg	1929	Capt., 3d, 7th & 9th Delaware Infantry
Peter B. Ayers	1889		James Lynn	1930
Samuel Lewis	1890		Moses Weil	1931
A. J. Woodman	1891		James D. Twigg	1932	See Twigg above
George W. Stradley	1892	Saddler, Co. A, 1st Battalion, DE Cavalry	George W. Weldin	1933
Benjamin D. Bogia	1893	Co. B, 1st Delaware Infantry	W. Harry Patterson	1934
J. E. Vantine	1894		Lewis Morse	1935
Edwin F. Wood	1895	Corp., 4th Delaware Infantry	Thomas Hammonds	1936
William B. Norton	1896		Jacob Steele	1937
J. S. Bradley	1897		Jacob Steele	1938
Robert Liddell	1898		Augustus A. Owens	1939**
William H. Moystin	1899		Henry Banzett	1939	Pvt., 57th & 61st New York Infantry, POW, 10/14/63, Auburn, VA
William A. Reilly	1900		George W. Baker, Sr.	1940**
J. W. Worrall	1901		Henry Banzett	1940**	See Banzett above
John G. Garner	1902		Joseph T. Berry	1940	Pvt, Co. A, 39th US Colored Infantry Died 12/12/1941, age 96
William G. Baugh	1903		Joseph T. Berry	1941**
William Kelly	1904		Joseph M. Showalter	1941**	QM Sgt; 124th PA Infantry & 2d PA Cavalry; died 2/27/1942, age 97
William Tharp	1905	Corp., Co. A, 1st Battalion, DE Cavalry	Joseph Hynson	1941
Ira Lunt	1906		Joseph Hynson	1942**
Jesse Hellings	1907	QM Sgt, Co. C, 6th US Cavalry	Benjamin F. Scott	1943**
H. W. Perkins	1908		Isaiah Fassett	1943	Corp., Co. D, 9th US Colored Infantry Click here for more information about Commander Fassett!
William H. Blake	1909		Isaiah Fassett	1944
George C. Morton	1910		Isaiah Fassett	1945
Jesse K. Baylis	1911	Pvt., Co. G, 7th Delaware Infantry	Isaiah Fassett	1946**
J. R. Armstrong	1912		Commemorative badge of the Delaware GAR State Encampment Smyrna, 1902 ** = died in office
William Mendenhall	1913
John T. Reihms	1914	Pvt., Co. G, 4th Delaware Infantry
John P. Riley	1915
S. Sherwood Johnson	1916
James T. Alexander	1917
Orrin J. Cook	1918	Artificer, 1st New York Engineers
R. Harry Williams	1919
C. A. W. Frishmuth	1920

 

Dept. Commander John Wainwright (1882) Medal of Honor	Dept. Commander A. J. Woodman  (1891)	Dept. Commander George W. Baker (1940)	Delaware's last Dept. Commander Isaiah Fassett (1943 - 46) Click for more information about Commander Fassett!

More Delaware Civil War & GAR history to come...

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