ELIJAH MILFRED BOWEN

After an absence of 37 years Elijah returned to his home and family who thought he had died in the War Between the States. 

The intervening years had not been particularly good to Elijah. He was penniless, and although there were many relatives, no one knew him after all those years away. No one wanted him to live with them. If he did not die in the war, where was he all that time, and why did he not tell his wife and children in South Carolina?

The marriage certificate records that Elijah was single, although he had a wife and family in South Carolina. It also records that his occupation was as a laborer. He probably worked in the textile mills in northern New Jersey. He said he was 30, but since he was born in September 1835, he would not be 30 for another nine months. His new wife was 25. When she died February 26, 1878 Rachel was 38 years of age. Elijah was 43. 

Four sons were born to Elijah and Rachel in New Jersey. William Jeremiah, the oldest, was born in Dover, New Jersey on April 19, 1867 and died in 1943 after having moved to Hartford, Connecticut in the 1920s. William was married to Grace Maynard and had one son named Bernard. They divorced in a few years allegedly because he drank too much. There is no record of William's vocation. He worked for the Standard Oil Co. in Bayonne, New Jersey for a while. 

Charles Ephraim, the second son, was born May 30, 1870 and died July 13, 1954. He lived in Wortendyke and Midland Park, New Jersey. His wife was Ada and they had two daughters Cora (married Harry Longson) 1898-1960 and Myrtle (married Jack Verbeke) 1903-April 13, 1979 

John Henry, the third son, was born January 17, 1874. He was living with his stepmother in Passaic, New Jersey in 1900, according the Census of that year. On March 4, 1909, he died in Detroit, Michigan, of pneumonia, and was buried at Midland Park, New Jersey. His wife was Alice and they had one son, Ellsworth (`"Buster") born in 1905. John was in the restaurant (diner) business. 

Edward, the fourth son was born at Lincoln Park, New Jersey on May 23, 1877. Although it has been reported that he left home to work at a very early age, it is recorded in the 1900 U.S. Census that he was living with his stepmother, Louisa, in Passaic, New Jersey. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio and, in 1905, married Elizabeth Frey, who was born in Mainz, Germany. Edward died in Carson City, Michigan February 22, 1944, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Lansing, Michigan. 

The 1880 census lists Elijah "Bone," age 44, who lived in Booneton, Morris County, New Jersey. The Census records that he was born in Georgia, when his birthplace actually was South Carolina. His wife's name at this time was Louisa. She was 25 years old. Five children were reported: the four children of Elijah and Rachel, William, age 13; Charles, age 10; (John) Henry, age six; Edward, age two. In addition, now there was Martha, age two months, who was Elijah and Louisa's daughter. 

The 1890 Census does not exist. Fire destroyed it, so no information is available from that source. 

The 1900 Census records that Elijah as living with his nephew, Pinckney, in Georgia. Louisa Bowen now lived in the City of Passaic, Passaic County, New Jersey. She is listed as divorced and head of household. Living with her is her daughter, Florence, born November 1886, age 13; (Martha, listed in the 1880 Census, would be 20 years old, but this census does not include her name), a daughter, Isabella, born June 1892, age seven, a son, Walter, born June 1896, age three, a stepson Edward, born May 1877, age 22. (The census report says he was born in 1878, but his birth certificate reports it as 1877.) John (Henry) Bowen, born January 1874, age 26, is listed as a boarder, but he is also a stepson, the brother of Edward. Two other boarders lived with them at that time. 

But Elijah had another life, before his marriage to Rachel, which the New Jersey family knew nothing about then. It included a family in South Carolina and a Civil War record.

While it appears that Elijah always used his own name in New Jersey, he was usually known as "Liege" in South Carolina. 

Elijah's parents were Samuel and Mary (known as "Polly"). Polly's father, Rev. James Hembree gave them their farm of 230 acres. It was good land that sloped gradually down to Hembree Creek. They raised cotton, corn, other grains and the standard dairy products. 

According to the 1850 U.S. Census the value of Samuel's real estate was $800. Court records show that in 1850 his assets included "100 improved acres and 130 unimproved acres, $800 of farm machinery, 3 horses, 9 milk cows, 11 cattle, 15 sheep, 25 hogs, 85 bu. wheat, 200 bu. corn, 300 bu. oats, 50 lbs. wool, 10 lbs. peas, 10 lbs. potatoes, 200 lbs. sweet potatoes, 300 lbs. butter, 40 lbs. honey, 3 tons hay." 

The court records for 1860 report that his assets include "50 improved acres, 185 unimproved acres, $2500 in value, $75 farm machine, 1 horse, 1 milk cow, 3 cattle, 3 sheep, 11 hogs, $15 value in stock, 15 bu. wheat, 400 bu. corn, 4 bu. Irish potatoes, 50 bu. sweet potatoes, 4 tons of hay, 100 lbs. butter, $75 in homemade products, $140 in slaughter, 3 (?) in market garden." Samuel was 67 years old. His advanced age may explain the differences from 1850 to 1860. 

Elijah's grandparents on his father's side were Benjamin and Mary (Findley) Bowen. Both of them were born and grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. While still in their teens, their families migrated to Guilford County, North Carolina about 1775. Benjamin was born in 1756, and Mary on March 12, 1765. In his 20th year Benjamin joined the North Carolina Volunteers and served in the Revolutionary War. 

The 1790 U.S. Census was the first U.S. Census. In Guilford County, North Carolina the census records a Bowen family. The head of the family in this census was Edward. Edward could well be, and probably was the father, or brother, of Benjamin. 

Benjamin entered military service in July 1776, as a volunteer under Capt. John Nelson with Col. Paisley, Col. John Locke, and Gen. Rutherford in Guilford County, North Carolina. This was the same month as the signing of The Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. He also served during an expedition against the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina for about three months. 

In 1777, Benjamin volunteered again under the same Captain and served five months in South Carolina under the same officers. When he returned home, he was a substitute, employed for three months by a Continental Officer, Patrick McGibiney. He would supply in the place of someone who could not or did not want to go into the service. After his service in the Battle of Guilford he volunteered to help subdue the British in various parts of North Carolina. He was liable to do duty whenever called on for six years, and served much more than two years. He served during the entire time as a Private. 

After his tour of duty Benjamin married Mary in 1783, at the home of Squire McCama 12 miles from Guilford Court House. A year or two later they moved to Anderson County, South Carolina. Benjamin died there in 1836, about a year after Elijah was born. Benjamin was buried in a cemetery at Mountain Creek Church. Mary died in 1850. Modern markers remembering them are at Salem Baptist Church cemetery, near Anderson. 

Samuel (Elijah's father) was the fourth in a line of seven children of Benjamin and Mary. He was born February 7, 1793. He married Mary (Polly) Hembree about 1815. Samuel died on May 8, 1864. Polly was born September 27, 1797, and died in 1869. Samuel and Polly were buried in a cemetery at the corner of Chateau and Centerville Roads near Anderson. That cemetery is now a wooded part of a cow pasture. The remains of the original gravestones are still visible. Modern markers remembering them are at Salem Baptist Church cemetery, Anderson. Both died believing their son, Elijah had died, unaccounted for, in the war. 

Elijah's years growing up were probably spent hunting, fishing, and working on his father's farm. After he was married, he moved to live near his in-laws and worked at a saw mill near where he lived. Wherever he went, it seems he walked. 

He married Elizabeth Amanda Macmillan in Anderson County, South Carolina, in the middle 1850s. Her father's name was Wyatt A. Macmillan. They made their home in the area of Sandy Springs, South Carolina. 

When Elijah went into the army he had three children, Lawrence Whitner, born in 1858 and died in 1920; Mary, born September 30, 1860, married John Crocker and moved to Texas; and Eugene Milford (known by his middle name) born December 8, 1861 and died March 13, 1922, in Sandy Spring, South Carolina. Amanda died in 1872, leaving three young children, ages 14, 12, and nine. 

An interesting sidelight has to do with the name of his son, Eugene Milford. Elijah's middle name was Milfred, spelled "...FRED," not "...FORD." In a letter written by Elijah to his son, Edward in Cleveland, when his son was born, he seemed upset because Edward had named his son MilFORD. He said, "i am verry much oblige to you for the name of the baby but Edward you Spell the name wrong the way i Spell my name is this Milfred i hope it and mother and father will do well." 

Did Edward know that he had a half-brother named Milford? Where did the names Milford and Milfred originate in the family? Where did Edward come up with the "...FORD" spelling?

Why did Elijah go to war when he did? Was it a sense of duty, of honor? His grandfather had fought in the Revolutionary War. He had two older brothers, a brother-in-law, and his younger brother who also were in the war. Was it for defense of his home state, the first to secede, and to fire the first shot in the war? Or was it just an exciting adventure? 

His family may not have taught him a sense of responsibility. Being next to the youngest of ten children, he may not have become involved in the responsibilities of the home and the farm. Possibly there was not that much for him to do and the family may have excused him from normal responsibilities. He was the baby of a large family for four years, until his younger brother was born. 

The typical Confederate soldier probably had little idea of why he was fighting. Defense of the homeland was incentive enough for many Southerners to volunteer. Many of these volunteers went off to war as an exciting adventure thinking it would soon be over. They believed that one Southerner could whip seven Yankees whom they thought were all soft and acclimated to an easy way of life. Some of them enlisted for the honor of the family whose ancestors served in the Revolutionary War. 

Many soon realized what they had gotten themselves into. They realized that the war was not going to be over in a few weeks. Soldiers anxiously wished the war would close soon so they could go back to their families. On April 16, 1862 the Confederate Congress passed a conscription law, the first in American history (one year before the North passed a similar law). Most Southerners regarded being drafted into the army a disgrace. The draft law granted the right to take 30 days to enlist first. It also gave them the right to avoid military service by paying a substitute. This favored the rich and caused discontent among the poor. 

Pay for the common soldier in 1863 was $11 and in 1864 it was $18. Low pay and tremendous inflation caused large scale desertion. 

The previous year of 1861 had been one of many traumatic events statewide and nationally. South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860. The Confederate Constitution went into effect on February 4, 1861. On February 18, Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as president of the Confederate States of America. On March 4, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as president of the United States of America. The firing of the first shots of the war took place in South Carolina on Fort Sumter on April 12. Richmond became the Capitol of the CSA. And Elijah's son Eugene Milford was born on December 8. 

He went to Columbia, South Carolina, undoubtedly by train, and on January 17, 1862, he enlisted in the 22nd Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, Company G (Infantry). Records show that he enlisted as E.M. Bowen, and for the duration of the war. 

South Carolina's 22nd Infantry was organized late in 1861 and mustered into Confederate Service in December 1861. The 22nd Infantry was assigned duty in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. It served in that command until August 14, 1862.

Dear Companion I Seat my Self to answer your kind letter wich I recieved the 13 instant and was glad to hear that you and the children was well and doing well but was sorrow to hear that you had your own wood and pine to cut and toat and I was sorrow to hear that you had to Stay by your Self of knight I think among so many neighbors they mite Some one Stay with you every knight and more than that if I was at home and any of my brothers or brotherinlaws or Son or Soninlaws was gone away from home I think that I would cut and hall wood or pine for their wives and not let their wives have their minde three little babys and cut and toat their own wood and pine to boote well amanda their is no use in talking about it I think it is a scandal to the connections for you to have to cut and toat your own wood and pine but it wonte allowing be so they need not to think that they will live and die and have no harde trials for it will come home to them they will be made to recolect how they Served you before they die Amanda you wrote to me that you wanted to know whether I found all my things when I got back to camp well my black Ians pants was gone and my bed quilt was gone and my pen and ink but the ink Stand was Saved I am in the Same mess I was before I came home I will tell you that I have had the Rosola and I am not wel of it yet but I have not ben past doing duty I feel very bad this morning I got up thismorning with the head ache and pains in boath rists and in boath of my ankles and in both of my knees and they pain me very bad and my ham Strings appears to be drawn up They appear to be two Shorte and they hurt me very much tourn over

(some lines are missing) 

Well Amanda you wrote to me that you did not want me to revolenteer well my Dear wife you neede not to uneasy your Self about me revolenteering for I never intende to go in to the war for any longer time that I have til my time is out and comes home and See you and the children I wante to See you and the children I want to See you all the worst I ever did any persons in my life and when I am unwell the thoughts of your kindness to me when I was at home and now cant get any attention it nearly brakes my heart I never Shall forget you kindness to me nor I never can recompence you for your tenderness towards me may God bless you guide and protect you is prairs of your unworthy husband their is a heap of talk about us leaving hear some days that we will go to Summervill about 20 miles above hear and some days that we will go to James Island and some days that we will go to Sullivans island and some says that we will go to hamburg and some says that we will go to missippi So you know that we cant go to them all their has been afite at Savanna and the yankees gained the day they taken forte polaskee and a good many prisoners if the report be true and they have had a battle in mississippi and our side gained the victory our side killed 20 thousand and taken 7 thousand prisners if the report be true when this you see remember me though many miles aparte we be I wante you to write to me as often as you can get your boddy to write for you have got So (I dont) object to any boddy writing for you. anything to hear from you we drawed our (pay) this evening and I drawed 47.50 cents I would send it to you but I think I will have a bettert chance to Send it I want to sende it. By hand; I remain your affectionate husband until Death E.M. Bowen.

Charleston South Carolina April 22, 1862 

Dear Companion I Seat my Self with pleasure to inform you that I am not well for my head ache and I am ful of colds as I can be well amanda I got a letter from pinkney (Elijah's younger brother) yesterday and he wrote to me that he had volenteerd in eleas (?) brown company and was going to moores bettalion he wrote to me that he wanted me to come to his company but I dont know what to do about it I would like for you to give me your advise on this Subject as Soon as posable he said that I would get fifty dollars bounty and twenty five dollars for my uniform and our captain Said that our regement is presst in for thewar now I don t know what to do I amtrobled very much about this affair So write to me as soon as you get this and tell me your minde about this affair their will be another letter in with this that I want you to farward it on to holbert walkers wife as soon as you get it

Privates earning $11-$18 a month found this bounty very tempting. The Federal Army had a similar provision for bounties, although it was usually for more money, up to $1500. 

Bounty jumpers would enlist, collect Bounties, desert, and then repeat the cycle until apprehended. One northern soldier confessed to deserting 32 times and was sentenced to four years in prison. 

Elijah's unit was ordered to the Army of Northern Virginia to serve with General Evans Brigade in General Longstreet's Corps. Longstreet's wing of the army faced off against the Union Army under General Pope on August 30, 1862 in the second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run). Pope was pushed back across the Potomac. McClellan's forces were already withdrawn from Virginia. This left Virginia virtually free from invading Federal forces. Evans Brigade was also active at South Mountain and Sharpsburg. Then they were ordered to North Carolina and later to Mississippi. 

Elijah was admitted to General HospitalNumber 12 in Richmond, Virginia as sick or wounded on September 17. He was furloughed on October 24 after about five weeks. Was he sick or wounded? He would have had to be seriously ill to be there for five weeks. He spoke often of his ailments, in his letters and also in his later years. Dysentery was common and severe. On the other hand, the Second Battle of Manassas was August 30, and the assignment with Longstreet's Corps was not until September 20. He was admitted on September 17. 

He probably was in the Chimborazo Hospital at Richmond. In reality it was several hospitals in one. It was to become the world's largest military hospital. By the end of the war there were as many as 25,000 patients. One could see tents as far as the horizon. As the battles continued, wave after wave of wagons loaded with sick and wounded soldiers poured into the hospital. While many had been wounded by shot or shrapnel, many suffered the ravages of diseases, including dysentery. 

Doctors had to be improvisers because of the severe shortages of needed equipment and supplies. Doctors did not know much about medicine at this time. They did very little in the way of cleanliness and sterilization, because they knew very little about germs. In spite of this, no hospital on either side matched the death rate of only 5%. 

The hospital furloughed Elijah on October 24, just days before their unit left to be attached to the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia on December 1. 

He deserted from Evans Brigade, South Carolina Volunteers in January 1863. They were still attached to the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia. 

Punishment was severe for desertion. Two day's absence could result in being forced to do some humiliating act such as carrying a rail around camp for a day or two. Three day's absence could mean flogging. Four day's absence or more meant the individual would be better off to not come back. The deserter could be shot, or sentenced to a month of humiliation, such as a shaved head, branding the letter "D" with indelible ink, or red-hot iron, on the hip, hand, forehead or cheek. 

Less than one month later, on February 7, 1863 Elijah enlisted as a Private in Company H, 1st Regiment, South Carolina Artillery. He enlisted for "three years or during the war." 

The War Between the States was called the infantryman's war. Confederate artillery was not used much and its use was scattered early in the war. The army organized the artillery into batteries consisting of four or five guns pulled by horses and manned by 45 to 75 artillerymen. The artillery carried ammunition in specially constructed wagons called caissons. 

Why did Elijah enlist again? He had just deserted the army. He had promised Amanda he would not reenlist. Confederate soldiers often were absent without leave to take care of matters at home, such as the need to harvest crops. But Elijah was not a farmer, besides that it was less than a month between the time of his desertion and reenlistment. And it was in January. It is just possible he wanted to see Amanda and his children again. Perhaps he considered the possibilities that could happen to him if the army discovered his desertion. They did not record his desertion until eight months later in August. 

It is very likely that the same reasons for enlisting in the first place were the same reasons he reenlisted, and that the desertion was to enable him to join this unit. It seems, from the contents of his April 22 letter to Amanda, that he was interested in getting the bonus and uniform money provided enlistees in that unit.

The Union Headquarters in the South was at Hilton Head, South Carolina, near Savannah, Georgia. The Confederates held Fort Sumter. It protected shipping into Charleston. It would be important to the Union forces to control Fort Sumter, and thus the harbor. The artillery could bombard Fort Sumter from Morris Island. 

The Union forces, under General Gillmore, decided to capture Morris Island, which the Confederates controlled, from Folly Island only three eighths of a mile away. Under cover and unawares, they built up their forces to three thousand infantry and 47 guns in batteries, and the guns of four monitors. 

By reconnaissance the Confederates learned of some action taking place on July 9. General Beauregard had sent two companies of 1st SC Artillery (Elijah's unit). Captain John C. Mitchell commanded nine 1-gun batteries with 200 artillerymen and 450 infantrymen in rifle pits to defend the south end of Morris Island. 
 

At daylight on July 10, the Federal Army opened fire, and the South Carolinians returned fire. It was a devastating and overwhelming surprise, not so much that it was going to happen, but that it was so powerful and intense. After a battle lasting two hours, the Confederates lost the battle with killed, wounded or missing set at 100 artillerymen and 195 infantrymen. 

The southern end of Morris Island was lost to the Federal Army, and bombardment of Fort Sumter continued from there until the end of the war. One of the prisoners taken that day, July 10, 1863, was Elijah.