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Civil War 1862 - 1865

Rhode Island Hospital Corps, Lovell Hospital, Bristol, Rhode Island

Charles William Cole

When Charles was eighteen years old, he volunteered for duty in the Rhode Island Militia. He joined on October 30, 1862. His father had to verify his age. He listed his occupation as laborer and his residence as Providence, RI. He had blue eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was 5’5” inches tall.

His first assignment was to the Hospital Guard Unit, Company A, at Portsmouth Grove, RI. His unit was set up to be a permanent garrison of the post. He was a Military Policeman. His duties were to guard the hospital and the Confederate prisoners housed there. It was a very large hospital complex. At times there were thousands of patients there, from various state regiments. Prisoners were sent to Portsmouth by orders of the General Court to serve out their sentences at hard labor, some with ball and chain attached to their legs. Soldiers were also sent there to await Court Martial. Details were often made from the Guards to take Rebel prisoners to Governor’s Island, New York harbor after their convalescence, and to take Union soldiers to the same place before being returned to their respective units. The details were so large that the commanding officer was obliged to divide his entire force into three reliefs, giving the men two hours on and four hours off, which was very hard on them and told on their health. They had very little rest. These duties seldom had diversity to break their monotony, and though not attended with danger, were very severe, particularly in the winter season. The piercing north west winds swept over the open bay. There was no shelter that first very cold winter, and the troops were quartered in tents. Temperatures that winter were recorded as being the worst in decades. Sentinels were relieved on the hour, the men often coming in with their trousers frozen stiff to the knee. Captain Blanding ran an orderly camp, and he took a great deal of pride in the discipline that characterized the Hospital Guard troops. Lt. Colonel Freedley, USA, the mustering out officer gave the men the handsome compliment of being the best behaved troops he had ever discharged from service. Charles served his first tour of duty here at Lovell General Hospital, Portsmouth, RI. He was discharged on August 26, 1865. He became a private citizen after his three year tour of duty

Reconstruction Period-Vicksburg, Mississippi

15th Regiment United States Army

1865 - 1868

Charles William Cole

On October 6, 1865 in Providence, RI, Charles was mustered into Company B, Second Battalion of the Fifteenth U S Infantry. He was twenty two. His unit was sent to Mobile Alabama, and in January, 1866, the Second Battalion under Major Dudley was transferred to Vicksburg. The unit was assigned to police the post war city.

On July 8, 1866, the entire U S Army was reorganized, and the Second Battalion of the Fifteenth Infantry was changed to the Second Battalion, Twenty Fourth Infantry. The unit was assigned to Reconstruction duty in Vicksburg. Charles was mustered out at the end of his enlistment in October of 1868, in Brookhaven, Mississippi.


	Footsteps Through Time \| Home The War With King Philip \| The French and Indian Wars \| The Revolutionary War \| The Civil War \| The Dakota Territory \| The World Wars The Civil War Civil War 1862 - 1865 Rhode Island Hospital Corps, Lovell Hospital, Bristol, Rhode Island Charles William Cole When Charles was eighteen years old, he volunteered for duty in the Rhode Island Militia. He joined on October 30, 1862. His father had to verify his age. He listed his occupation as laborer and his residence as Providence, RI. He had blue eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was 5’5” inches tall. His first assignment was to the Hospital Guard Unit, Company A, at Portsmouth Grove, RI. His unit was set up to be a permanent garrison of the post. He was a Military Policeman. His duties were to guard the hospital and the Confederate prisoners housed there. It was a very large hospital complex. At times there were thousands of patients there, from various state regiments. Prisoners were sent to Portsmouth by orders of the General Court to serve out their sentences at hard labor, some with ball and chain attached to their legs. Soldiers were also sent there to await Court Martial. Details were often made from the Guards to take Rebel prisoners to Governor’s Island, New York harbor after their convalescence, and to take Union soldiers to the same place before being returned to their respective units. The details were so large that the commanding officer was obliged to divide his entire force into three reliefs, giving the men two hours on and four hours off, which was very hard on them and told on their health. They had very little rest. These duties seldom had diversity to break their monotony, and though not attended with danger, were very severe, particularly in the winter season. The piercing north west winds swept over the open bay. There was no shelter that first very cold winter, and the troops were quartered in tents. Temperatures that winter were recorded as being the worst in decades. Sentinels were relieved on the hour, the men often coming in with their trousers frozen stiff to the knee. Captain Blanding ran an orderly camp, and he took a great deal of pride in the discipline that characterized the Hospital Guard troops. Lt. Colonel Freedley, USA, the mustering out officer gave the men the handsome compliment of being the best behaved troops he had ever discharged from service. Charles served his first tour of duty here at Lovell General Hospital, Portsmouth, RI. He was discharged on August 26, 1865. He became a private citizen after his three year tour of duty Reconstruction Period-Vicksburg, Mississippi 15th Regiment United States Army 1865 - 1868 Charles William Cole On October 6, 1865 in Providence, RI, Charles was mustered into Company B, Second Battalion of the Fifteenth U S Infantry. He was twenty two. His unit was sent to Mobile Alabama, and in January, 1866, the Second Battalion under Major Dudley was transferred to Vicksburg. The unit was assigned to police the post war city. On July 8, 1866, the entire U S Army was reorganized, and the Second Battalion of the Fifteenth Infantry was changed to the Second Battalion, Twenty Fourth Infantry. The unit was assigned to Reconstruction duty in Vicksburg. Charles was mustered out at the end of his enlistment in October of 1868, in Brookhaven, Mississippi.