ALEXANDER INGRAHAM -- 175th INFANTRYLETTER FROM SAVANNAH HOSPITAL - On October 9, 1865, 4 months after thedeath of her husband, Louisa Ingraham applied for a Widow's Pension,submitting 34 pages of documentation. Her husband, Alexander, had died 4months before on June 16th, at the Post Hospital in Savannah, GA, andtwo months after the end of the war.Alexander has 2 Muster Roll Abstracts -- the first for the 175thInfantry showing an enlistment at 37 years old on September 23, 1862,and the second for the 169th Infantry showing he enlisted on September23, 1864, also at 37 years old. They both show the enlistments tookplace in Plattsburg, even though he was living in Thurman in WarrenCounty, NY. The 1865 Thurman Town Clerk's Records show he enlistedthere. For enlisting, he received a bounty of \$800. There may have beensome kind of clerical error in the Adjutant General's Rosters over datesdue to the consolidation of some regiments in September 1864. Did hecome home on veteran\'s leave and enlist in the 169th for the bounty andthen go back to the 175th? The 169th records show he was absent atRendezvous for Recruits and at muster-out on July 19, 1865.One positive fact is that Alexander died in Savannah after a shortillness while the 175th was with the Department of the South and isburied in a local cemetery. The following letter was written to Louisaby Private John Schryver of the 126th Infantry, who attended Alexanderin hospital and who survived him by 45 years. On the back of the letter,John wrote, "This letter your husband wrote before he died, also thedrawing he drawed". The letter from John is one of the documents in herpension application, but she didn't include the letter from her husbandor the drawing.Post Hospital, Savannah, Georgia, June 18, 1865Mrs. IngrahamDied at the Post Hospital Savanna, GA, June 16, 1865Alexander Ingraham, Private of Co. B, 175th NY VolunteersMrs. Ingraham, your husband came in this hospital June 8, 1865, and diedon the above date.His sickness was very brief and so he has left this world to try therealities of another.And I am fully convinced he died a man of God. Therefore, let us turnour weeping into rejoicing and thank God he died with his eyes turned inthat direction. Many times, I can hardly help sobbing alone as I seehusbands, sons and fathers dropping away, perhaps leaving those he lovedwithout support. But such is life. It indeed hangs on a tender chord. Itrust you are a woman that loves God that loves to pray and not onlyloves but does it daily and that you delight in the love of God and inthat doth meditate day and night. Take warning before it is too late. Imust close.Your Humble Servant and Sincere Well-wisherJohn R. SchryverCo. C, 128th Regiment, NY VolunteersThe 1890 Veteran's Schedule and Census for Warren County show thatLouisa was still living in Thurman, with one of her seven children,Alfred, and three of his children. She is listed as a farmer.
