A Brief Biography of
Captain James Belger


Captain James Belger (c. 1832 - 1890)

The information contained on this page was largely provided by Linda Belger Serino. She is a direct descendant of Captain Belger.

Prior to the Civil War (1832 - 1861)

The following is quoted from correspondece from Linda Belger Serino.

"According to Captain James Belger's marriage certificate, he was born in Dublin, Ireland, about 1832 to Patrick and Ellen (Doran) Belger.

"Information provide by the National Archives, James Belger is listed on a sheet called Descriptive and Historical Register of Enlisted Soldiers of the Army for during the War with Mexico, under the Acts approved January 12th and February 11th, 1847. He is listed as 22 years of age, hazel eyes, brown hair, fair complexion, 5 10 ? in height, born Dublin, Ireland, occupation of clerk. (Note - if he was 22 at the time of his enlistment he would have enlisted in 1844 or 1845.)

"He enlisted on November 28, 1851 in New York by a Capt. Westcott, assigned to 1 Art. II.O.II (this is hard to read because it is written in cursive). He was discharged in Sept. 28, 1956 by re-enlistment in Co. I No. 381.144 , then there's a date of July 12/59. Under enlistment is the number "1" and under remarks "At Fort Clark, Texas, First Sergeant. (Note - The number "1" could be a misreading of the letter "I" which was the letter of the company to which he belonged. ie. I Company, 2nd Artillery Regiment.)

"Sergeant Belger was married to Margaret Lindsay Scott at the United Congregational Church in Newport, RI, by Reverend Thatcher Thayer on August 3rd, 1857. Margaret was born in Newport, RI, and her parents were George and Margaret (Oman) Scott.

"I know Capt. James had two sons, James W. Belger, who also died in Jersey City, New Jeresey, at the age of 30 on December 23, 1889, of "pneumonia." And Richard B. Belger (my great-grandfather) who also died in Jersey City, New Jersey, at the age of 30 on January 12, 1893 of "Phthisispulmonah." I suspect that Captain James also had a third son. In accessing the Soundex of the 1880 Census for Jersey City, listed was a George Belger, age 23, born in Rhode Island with a wife, Emma, age 23, born in England and a son, James R., age 1, born in Jersey City. (Note - George would have been born c. 1857.) I have had no luck in finding a birth certificate in Rhode Island for George Belger to confirm my suspicion."

Prior to the Civil War, Belger had served in the regular Army for 10 years, rising to the rank of First Sergeant in Company I, 2nd United States Artillery Regiment. Company I was a light artillery battery. (Small artillery units officially called companies prior to the Civil War. The term "battery" refered to the guns assigned to a company. During the Civil War, light, ie. field, units were called batteries and heavy units contiuned to be called companies.)

Belger was stationed at Fort Adams in Newport from 1857 to 1859 under to command of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel John B. Magruder. Magruder later rose to the rank of Major General in the Confederate Army.

Civil War Service (1861 - 1865)

Belger was commissioned a captain in the 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery and was assigned to command Battery F. He assumed command of the battery upon his arrival in Providence on November 22nd, 1861.

Belger commanded the battery with distinction while it was part of the Burnside Expedition in North Carolina from December 1861 to April 1863.

On April 8th, 1863 Battery F performed a reconnaissance across the Neuse River and proceded towards Little Washington as part of a force, commanded by General Spinola, attempting to relive General Foster's command which was under seige.

The next day the battery was engaged at Blount's Creek where Captain Belger was seriously wounded in the right leg, his horse having been shot from under him. He was quoted as saying, "I don't care a _____ about being wounded myself, if they hadn't killed my horse."

On April 29th, 1863 Captain Belger was granted leave on account of his wound. He returned to Newport and on July 19th was detached on recruiting service.

In his absence, command of the battery was exercised by First Lieutenant Thomas Simpson. Belger had returned to the battery as of October 19th, 1863.

On May 16th, 1864 Belger was captured during the battle of Drury's Bluff. He never returned to the battery after that date.

The following is a sworn statement by First Lieutenant Charles W. Graniger, who was a POW with Belger in 1864.

State of New York
City and County of New York

Charles W. Graniger being duly sworn says: "I reside at No. 128 Prince Street in the city of New York. That on the 22d day of June 1864, I was a First Lieutenant of B Company 88th New York___?___ Volunteers. That on that date I was captured by the Confederates in front of Petersburg, Virginia and was taken to Libby Prison where I met Captain James Belger of the 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, who was also a prisoner.

We were taken to Macon, Georgia and from there to Charleston, South Carolina, and finally transferred to Columbia, South Carolina. On the way from Macon, Georgia, to Charleston, South Carolina, said James Belger, together with ten others besides myself made our escape and were in the Swamp of South Carolina, about ten days, when we were recaptured and taken to Columbia, South Carolina where we were confined three months sleeping on the ground without any shelter of any kind exposed to the inclemency of the matters (?).

We finally escaped from Columbia, South Carolina, and came down the Santee River, hiding in the swamps during the daytime and reached the Sloop of War Nipsic at the mouth (?) of the Santee River, off the Gingelomic (?) Light House. We were about three weeks on the journey.

I have been troubled with rheumatism ever since as the result of my exposure in the swamps of South Carolina as aforesaid. I verify believe that said Captain James Belger contracted the same disease under the same circumstances as aforesaid, and he suffered the same exposure that I did.

That from the time of our capture to the time of our arrival on the sloop of War Nipsic about six months had elapsed, as near as I can remember."

Sworn to before me this 8th day of July 1885.

Belger managed to escape captivity in December of 1864 and was mustered out of service on December 30th, 1864.

Many years later, it was written of Belger - "He pocessed all the excellencies of the old time Regular including the ability to carry an indefinite amount of whisky without betraying the fact." (Historical Address, Rhode Island Light Artillery; George B. Peck, MD; Providence Publishing Company, 1917.)

After the War (1865 - 1890)

Captain James Belger died in Jersey City, NJ, on January 8th, 1890, from "Influenza Arth Chronic Brights Disease." Margaret Scott Belger died in Jersey City, NJ, at the age of 52 on January 25th, 1890, for "Apoplexy."

The "Other" James Belger

Captain James Belger of Battery F, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery should not be confused with Major James Belger who was originally commissioned in the 6th Infantry Regiment and served as a quartermaster officer during the Civil War.

The "other" Belger was born in New York circa 1814. He enlisted as a private in the 2nd Infantry Regiment on November 7th, 1832. He quickly rose through the ranks to become regimental sergeant major and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the 6th Infantry on October 15th, 1838.

He recieved a brevet to major dated May 30th, 1848 for meritorious conduct during the Mexican War. During the Civil War he served as a major in the quartermaster corps and was appointed an assisitant aide de camp with the rank of colonel on July 11th, 1862.

Belger was brought before a General Court Martial convened at Annapolis, Maryland on June 1st, 1863. Belger was court-martialed for allegedly mis-handling funds. Though the court-martial panel acquitted him of all charges, Secretary of War Stanton overturned their decision and dismissed Belger from the army on November 30th, 1863. In retaliation, Belger published the proceedings from his trial to publically demonstrate his innocence.

Belger was finally re-appointed as a major on March 3rd, 1871 and retired on June 19th, 1879. He died on December 10th, 1891.

(Source - Biographical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, 1789-1903; Francis B. Heitman; Goverment Printing Office, Washington; Volume 1, page 207.)