This September will mark the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga. September 19, 20, 21 and 22, 2013. There will be many events taking place. Click the image to go to their website.
John Wesley Norton ••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This page will focus on his service in the Civil War. John’s life is covered in Sarah Jane Norton’s page. LINK
1862 Enlists Union ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
John, age 25 enlists in Company F, Ohio 101st Infantry Regiment on 30 Aug 1862 in Sandusky, Ohio.
He was a private throughout his service, which lasted just over one year until he was wounded. His regiment fought many battles, which are listed in the link below.
“Story of the One Hundred and First Ohio Infantry : a memorial volume (1894)” LINK
He is listed on page 418. LINK
1863 Chickamauga •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
John’s regiment is under the command of Brig. Gen. William P. Carlin and is involved in some of the most intense fighting of the war.
The medical records from his pension files tell us that on 19 September, 1863 John is wounded by a cannonball burst that throws him into a fence injuring his left foot and left side. It’s very hard to nail down an exact time and place. The battle moved back and forth across the field. I’ll put excerpts from sources below.
19 September, 1863 • 2:30 P.M.
Viniard Field •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
THIS TERRIBLE SOUND: THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA
(Civil War Trilogy); Peter Cozzens (Author); Publisher: University of Illinois Press (November 1, 1996)
Chapter 11 • A Bellyfull of Fighting • Page 202
Out in the field, the One Hundred First Ohio was trying to keep abreast of Gilmer's Illinoisians by guiding on the volleys emanating from the woods. "The roar of musketry seemed to be almost constant, sometimes rolling off further to the left, then surging back toward us until it seemed to be at our very elbows, while frequently the crash of cannon by single piece, section, or entire battery, hammered and pounded and shook the very earth, filling the air with shot and shrapnel and bursting shell," remembered Sergeant Day. Gradually its commander made sense of the uproar, and the One Hundred First began a half-wheel to the left. It crossed the fence at the east end of the field and glided into the forest beyond, brushing aside the handful of skirmishers to it's front.
His wounds are described in an 1890 Pension report.
"Wound in Left Foot & Left Side & Loss of Left Eye." Here’s the document. He is number 44. His wounds are described on the bottom half of the page.
His pension files contain more information. Loss of left eye meant he was loosing sight in his left eye. He was hoping to get an increase in his pension, so his doctor listed everything that might be attributed to his battlefield injuries.
An interesting side note from their Golden Wedding Anniversary article. John spent several years practicing medicine before he became a tinsmith. He also worked for the “Ottumwa Ruffner Co.” for a period of 9 years. That must have been when they lived on Main Street. It was the only time they lived across the river. I’m speculating it must have been easier for him to walk to work with his injuries.
1896 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
7 January, 1896 John files a "Declaration For The Increase Of An Invalid Pension". His current pension is Eight dollars per month by reason of disability from "Injury to left foot & side". It goes on to say that his whole left side has become invalid "to the extent that he needs the regular aid and attendance of another person nearly all the time since May 1895, and he believes said disabilities are permanent and that he is entitled to a rate of $50 per month."
1897 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
2 Sept., 1897, the Department of the Interior; Bureau of Pensions; Medical Division. Summary of the Acting Medical Referee. It appears that John's first filing for pension on 13 Feb., 1879 incorrectly listed his wounds as "Injury to Left foot and Side". Current medical examinations of him show the wound to be in his back in the Lumbar region. An abscess there fills with pus and drains through his bowels, but they do not feel it was a direct result of his injury in battle. His claim for increase in pension is rejected.
