CUMMINGS, William G.

CUMMINGS, MORSE, PETTINGILL, PINNEY, NELSON, HASKELL

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/20/2003 at 12:07:12

COLONEL WILLIAM G. CUMMINGS

Among the brave men who devoted the opening years of their manhood to the defense of our country from the internal foes who sought her dismemberment was Colonel William G. Cummings, who was a distinguished officer in the Army of the Potomac, and is now one of the honored citizens of Clinton, Iowa. He was born in Danville, Vermont, March 2, 1839, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Morse) Cummings, the former a native of Plymouth, New Hampshire, the latter of Danville, Vermont, and a representative of an old new England family. His paternal ancestors were of Scotch-Irish descent, the progenitor of the family in America having come from Londonderry, Ireland, in 1719. The Colonel’s father spent his life in the Green Mountain state after attaining the age of twelve years. He was born in 1803, and died in 1891, while his wife was born in 1808 and died in 1896. They were the parents of five children, namely: George, deceased; Martha, wife of George Pettingill, of Danville, Vermont; William G., our subject; Maria, deceased; and L. J., who lives with our subject in Clinton, Iowa.

Colonel Cummings spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native town, and was educated at Phillips Academy, of that place, and Dartmouth College, where he was a student when the Civil war broke out. He enlisted as a private in Company D, First Vermont Cavalry, September 16,1861, but on the 15th of the following October was commissioned second lieutenant, and was later promoted in the following manner: to fist lieutenant, October 20, 1862; captain, June 1, 1863; major, October 22, 1864; lieutenant-colonel, March 23, 1865; brevet colonel of United States volunteers, march 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious service; and commissioned colonel, June 25, 1865, but never mustered.

With his regiment the colonel left his native state for Washington, D. C., December 12, 1861, and on Christmas Day was transferred to Annapolis, where they were on duty until March, 186, when they were attached to Hatches Cavalry Brigade, Banks Fifth Corps, Department of the Shenandoah, but the following June they were transferred to the Second Army Corps of Virginia, and in September became a part of Price’s Cavalry Brigade, Second Division Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, with which they were connected until June, 1865.

Colonel Cummings went with his command to Washington, March 9, and later participated in the following engagements: Mount Jackson, April 16, 1862; McGaheysville, April 27; Middletown, May 4; Winchester, May 25; Long Court House, June 30; Culpeper Court House, July 10; Kelly’s Ford, August 22; Waterloo Bridge, August 20; Bull Run, August 20; Ashby’s Gap, September 22; Anandale, December 25; Aldie, March 2, 1862; Broad Run, April 1; Greenwich, May 20; Warrenton, June 18, the above all being in Virginia; Hanover, Pennsylvania, June 30; Huntertown, July 2; Gettysburg, July 3; Monterey, July 4; and Leitersville, July 5; Hagerstown, Maryland, July 6; Boonsboro, July 8; Hagerstown, July 13; Falling Water, Virginia, July 14; Summerville Ford, September 14; Raccoon Ford, September 15; James City, October 10; Brandy Station, October 11; Gainesville, October 18 and 19; Bucklands Mills, October 19; Falmouth, November 4; Morton’s Ford, November 28; Mechanicsville, March 1, 1864; Piping Tree, march 8; Craig’s Meeting House, May 5; Spottsylvania, may 8; Yellow Tavern, May 11; Meadow Bridge, may 12; Hanover Court House, May 31; Ashland, june1; Hans’ Shop, June 3; Bottoms Bridge, June 10; White Oak Swamp, June 13; Riddle’s shop, June 13; Malvern Hill, June 15; Ream’s Station, June 22; Nottoway Court House, June 23; Roanoke Station, June 25; Stony Creek, June 28; Fishers Hill, September 24; Waynesboro, October 1; Columbia Furnace, October 7; Tom’s Brook, October 9; Cedar Creek, October 13; Cedar Creek, October 19; Middle Road, November 11 and 12; Lacey Springs, December 21; Five Forks, April 1; Scott’s Corner, April 2; Namozine Creek, April 2; Namozine Church, April 3; Sailor’s Creek, April 6; Appomattox Station, April 8; and Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865, all of Virginia.

Colonel Cummings was wounded at Ream’s Station, June 28, 1864, by a minie ball, which disabled him about two months, the ball entering just below the left temple at the articulation of the jaw, and coming out on the right cheek. He returned to his command before the wound had entirely healed, so anxious was he to be at the front. He had four horses shot from under him, the first at Town’s Hill, another at Cedar Creek, the third at Namozine Church, and one at Appomatox the night before Lee’s surrender. At Five Forks he was knocked from the horse by the concussion of a ball which just escaped him, passing through his open lips cutting each so they bled. He was taken prisoner at Ananadale, Virginia, December 25, 1862, and was confined in Libby prison, Richmond, until exchanged May 5, 1863, just in time to start on the Gettysburg campaign. The flowing is a letter written by General Custer after the expiration of his first term of enlistment, showing how highly he was appreciated by his fellow officers:

HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION

November 16, 1864
Captain Cummings, Commanding First Vermont Cavalry:

Having learned that it was your intention to retire from the service in which you have so long and honorably engaged I desire to express to you my high appreciation of the able and faithful manner in which you have invariably discharged your duties as a gallant officer and as an obedient soldier.

Having been connected with my command for a period dating back to the Gettysburg campaign, and having participated in most, if not all, of the important engagements in which our cavalry won such high and emperishable fame, I am well prepared to assert that few, if any, officers can boast of a more extended experience in cavalry service than has fallen to your lot. I regret that you should deem it necessary to leave the service, and I also regret the circumstances which deprive my command of your efficient service.

Your gallantry and ability as shown upon scores of battlefields have clearly proven you worthy and deserving of promotion. I would be please to see you promoted to a field office, and I trust your retirement from service will be but temporary. In the meanwhile let me assure you that wherever you may go you carry with you my earnest and heartfelt wishes for your success and advancement. I am, Captain,

Truly yours,

G. A. Custer,

Brevt. Maj. Gen. U. S. Vols.

Colonel Cummings was mustered out of service August 9, 1865, and returned to his old home in Danville, Vermont, but later went south and engaged in the lumber business in north Carolina for one year, after which he returned to new England, and held a position in the United States custom house at Island Pond, Vermont, until 1870. He then came west, and the following ten years were passed in Burlington, Iowa, where he was extensively engaged in the coal business. After that he made his home in Cedar Rapids until 1893, where he was engaged in the same business when he removed to Clinton, and has since engaged in the coal and ice business at this place.

In 1870 colonel Cummings was united in marriage with Miss Cora Pinney, a daughter of Henry and Corrilla (Nelson) Pinney, both natives of Vermont. By this union was born one child, Isabella E., now Mrs. Henry C. Haskell, of Kansa City, Missouri. The Colonel is an honored member of the Loyal Legion, the Grand Army of the Republic and the National Veterans’ Union, and also belongs to Emulation Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Politically he has always been identified with the Republican party since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. In years of peace, no less than those of war, he has always faithfully performed his duties of citizenship, and is justly entitled to a place on the nation’s roll of honor.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.