DEATH OF WM. E. ECKARD 1835-64

WILLIAM E. ECKARD

(1835-1864)

-Death of William E. Eckard-

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Resource - Civil War Medical Records

Federal Services Administration

National Archives

Service Records, dtd between 03-Apr-1862 and -30-Jun-1863:

William E. Eckard served in the Civil War as a private. He was sustained a gunshot wound during the Seige of Suffolk (VA). Following the battle, his company marched to Richmond, VA where he received medical treatment at Chimborazo Hospital, No. 3., dying there from the effects of dysentery and typhoid. His remains were not returned to his family, but were interred at the Oak Wood Cemetery in Richmond, VA, now a national Civil War cemetery.

According to John Setzer, son of Carrie Eckard Setzer who is the great-grand-daughter of William E. Eckard, the family never knew what had become of him. Based upon copies of his official records, the Army had given William E. Eckard $50.00 and granted a leave of absence from 31-May-1862 to 30-Jun-1862 so that he could return home to bring in his wheat

crop. After this furlough, he rejoined his company. William was to never again return home and no word was received when he died and was buried in Virginia. It would be many years before the family learned of his fate.

In 1965, William E. Eckard's great-great-grandson, John Setzer finally obtained copies of the documents that we have used to verify his Civil War service, injury, and death. It was then that John Setzer was finally able to solve the mystery of what had truly become of his great-grandfather and learned of his burial place.

PENSIONS GRANTED TO WIDOWS OF CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS AND TO THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS

At the conclusion of the war, the Confederate Army's soldiers were initially considered "prisoner's of war." Therefore, no death benefits or other compensation was payable to their families. The Act to Amend Chapter 198 of the Law of 1889 (ratified 02-Mar-1901) effected changes that afforded "...certain Confederate soldiers and widows..." monetary relief. In 1901, when his widow, Barbara (nee Herman), filed and was approved for her widow's pension, she indicated to the Board that William E. Eckard had died in June of 1864. We do not know the reason for the date of death discrepancy but we have chosen to use the dates shown in his official records for any noted events.

Part of the

Family of William E. Eckard (1835-63)

(L-R son, John Wesley, my great-grandfther, wife Dora Alice Hefner, Carrie Eckard, my aunt and John Lee Setzer's mother is the youngest child in front, standing next to her is Ollie, behind Ollie is Claudia next to her mother, then Ila who is next to her grandmother, Mary Barbara Herman Eckard, William's widow.)

Photographs of John Setzer and his wife and Mary Barbara Herman Eckard and her family

ere obtain from my cousin, John Lee Setzer of Shelby.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Web sites of Interest:

OAKWOOD CEMETERY, RICHMOND, VA

http://home.earthlink.net/~oakwood_cemetery/index.html

SEIGE AT SUFFOLK (VA)

http://www.americancivilwar.com/statepic/va/va030.html

BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET

(Commander at the Seige of Suffolk)

http://www.civilwarhome.com/longbio.htm

NORFLEET HOUSE

http://www.historicnorfolk.org/A04.html

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF MARKERS AT OAKWOOD CONFEDERATE CEMETERY, RICHMOND, VA

http://southern-lady.com/cs_soldiers-4.html