Henry Alonzo (Alfonzo) ⁸ BIGELOW

Children of Henry A. and Mary (Wilson) Bigelow:

15133.2551     Jennie, b 1860 W. Boylston, MA; d _ ; m 06 April 1879 Edward F. Decatur of Worcester, MA.

15133.2552     Oscar E., b 12 Aug 1861 Boylston; d ____ ; m 20 Nov 1886 Mary J. Powers; res. Worcester. (see below)

15133.2553     William Alonzo, b 13 Nov 1862 Boylston.

15133.2554     Cora May, b 23 Feb 1873 Boylston.

15133.2555     Archie Raymond, b 16 June 1875 Worcester.

15133.2556     Lilla Belle, b 07 March 1879 Worcester.

Sources:
Bigelow Society,The Bigelow Family Genealogy, Vol II, pg 300;
Howe, Bigelow Family of America.; pg 402;

Note 02/20/06:
I was happy to stumble across the Bigelow Society Web page. I'm not sure it's still being kept up to date or not but I have more history to
add if you'd like more to add to the descendants of Oscar E. Bigelow, son of Henry Alfonzo 8 (Solomon 7 , Andrew 6, Charles 5 ,
Joseph 4, John 3, Samuel 2, John 1). Let me know if you're interested. Thanks for all the other information! Sincerely,
Patricia M. St.Marie   < pstmarie@charter.net >
(descendant of Oscar E. Bigelow)
More 04/25/08:
Subject: Oscar E.
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:03:04 -0400
From: "Patricia M. St.Marie" <pstmarie@charter.net>
Hi Rod,
I know it's been a very long time. I am not sure the best way to share my information with you. Do you have a preference?

I thought I'd start with what I learned today. Henry Alonzo Bigelow, son of
Solomon and Rebekah Parker Bigelow, was a civil war soldier. After finding
his family grave today in Hope Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts I looked
up the information online. Henry was listed as Alonzo Bigelow as a soldier.
I have also attached some photos of my ancestor's headstones. The smallest
grave marker is that of Henry and Mary's daughter Lila. (below)

Name: Alonzo Bigelow
RESIDENCE: Boylston, Massachusetts
Occupation: Shoemaker
Enlistment Date: 29 Jul 1862
Side Served: Union
State Served: Massachusetts
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 29 July 1862 at the age of 28.
Enlisted in Company C, 34th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 31 Jul 1862.
Mustered Out Company C, 34th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 23 May 1865.

Regimental History
THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
THREE YEARS

The 34th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was organized at Camp John
E. Wool, Worcester, in the midsummer of 1862, and was composed
of companies recruited in the five western counties of
Massachusetts. The men were mustered in on various dates but
largely on July 31. George D. Wells of Boston, lieutenant
colonel of the 1st Mass. Regt., was made colonel. On Aug. 15
the regiment left Camp Wool for the seat of war, reaching
Hunter's Chapel near Arlington, Va. on the 18th. Aug. 22 it
proceeded to Alexandria and thence to Cloud's Mills. At Fort
Ellsworth, Fort Lyon, and Upton's Hill the fall and winter and
spring following were spent, the regiment having been twice
temporarily brigaded with other regiments. Not until July 9,
1863, was it ordered away from the defenses of Washington.

On the above date it was sent to Harper's Ferry, where it
occupied a position near Fort Duncan as a part of Gen. Negley's
Brigade. On July 15 it crossed the Potomac, took possession of
Harper's Ferry, and established itself on Camp Hill . Here
Genl.Lockwood took command of the brigade. He was succeeded by
Col. Wells October 15. This was then known as the 1st Brigade,
1st Division, Army of Observation.

October 18 the 34th met the enemy at Ripon with slight
loss. In mid-December, 1863, it led an expedition up the
Shenandoah as far as Harrisonburg, returning to Harper's
Ferry the 24th. On Feb. 1 it was sent by train to Cumberland,
Md., returning a week later. It now remained at Harper's Ferry
and vicinity until March 8, when it was ordered to Martinsburg
where it remained about four weeks.

Attached to Sigel's command, as a part of Thoburn's
Brigade, Sullivan's Division, Department of the Shenandoah, it
proceeded to New Market, where it was engaged May 15, 1864,
losing 221 officers and men, of whom 39 were killed or mortally
wounded. In June, Genl. Hunter having succeeded Gen. Sigel in
command of the department, the regiment participated in the
Lynchburg expedition, being engaged at Piedmont, June 5, with a
loss of 110, of whom 22 were killed or mortally wounded.
Reaching the outskirts of Lynchburg the 17th, on the following
day it lost 5 killed and 40 wounded. Then followed the retreat
across the mountains of West Virginia to Gauley River, thence
on to Point Pleasant on the Ohio River, from which point it
proceeded back to Martinsburg and thence to its old camping
ground at Harper's Ferry. Again crossing the Potomac it
proceeded to Knoxville, thence to Berlin, where it recrossed,
then marched to Snicker's Gap, where it was engaged July 18,
with a loss of 4 killed and 11 wounded.

The succeeding seven weeks were spent in marching and
countermarching from Williamsport to Frederick, Md., and as far
up the Shenandoah as Middletown near Cedar Creek.

On Aug. 7, 1864, Genl. Sheridan took command in the
Valley. The 34th was now a part of Wells' (1st) Brigade,
Thoburn's (1st) Division, Crook's (8th) Corps, Army of the
Shenandoah, and as such participated in Sheridan's Valley
campaign.

At Opequan (Winchester), Sept. 19, it lost 7 killed and
97 wounded, several mortally. At Fisher's Hill, Sept. 22, it was
engaged with slight loss. At Stickley's Farm, near Cedar Creek,
Oct. 13, it lost its colonel, Wells, now commanding the brigade,
and 9 men killed, 48 wounded, and 40 missing. At Cedar Creek,
Oct. 19, it lost 9 wounded (two mortally) and 32 missing.

Gen. Thoburn having been killed at Cedar Creek, his
division, now commanded by Gen. Turner, was sent to the Army of
the James and attached to the 24th Corps, commended by Gen.
John Gibbon. Lieut. Col. Andrew Potter of the 34th now
commanded the brigade. After a winter spent in front of
Petersburg, the regiment was engaged at Hatcher's Run, March
31, at Fort Gregg near Petersburg, with heavy loss, April 2,
then joined in the pursuit and capture of the Army of Northern
Virginia. After a short stay in Lynchburg it returned to
Richmond, where June 15 it was mustered out and sent home.
Assembling for the last time at Readville, Mass., July 6, the
members of the regiment were paid off and discharged.

Source: Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors & Marines in the Civil War
http://www.massachusettscivilwar.com

rodbigelow@netzero.net