We are always looking for more information about any of the members of the Battery and their activities before, during and after the war.  Occasionally, items and information crop up that are mysteries not just a lack of information.  If you have any information on the items below or about the Battery, we'd love to hear from you!  Please direct email to Robinsonsbattery@aol.com.

Who was John Kamhout?

Thanks to John Hughes for sorting this one out.  John Kamhout was a member of the 1st Michigan Light Artillery, Battery B.  Their activities place him in the right place, at the right time:

Listed as Battery B Engaged again on the 8th. of December, at Ogeechie River, and also in front of Savannah, from the 11th. to the 20th., they entered that city in the 21st. Leaving Savannah January 19, 1865, they arrived at Pocotaligo, South Carolina on the 23rd., then under the command of Lieut. E.B. Wright, started on Sherman's campaign through North and South Carolina, on the 30th., and on February 6th. engaged the southern forces at the Salkehatchie River, then again on February the 15th. at the Congaree River, near Columbia, arriving at the latter place on the 20th. Passing through Cheraw on March the 4th., they arrived at Fayetteville on the 12th., when on the 20th., the Battery then commanded by Captain Wright, Captain Arndt having been promoted to a Major in the Regiment, became engaged with the Confederates at Cox's Bridge, on the Neuse River, then again on the 21st. at Bentonville, with a loss of one wounded. They then proceeded to Goldsboro, arriving there on the 24th., leaving that point on the 12th. of April, they reached Raleigh on the 14th., then started for Petersburg, Virginia, on the 29th., arriving there on May the 7th. On the 13th. they passed through Richmond, arriving at Alexandria on the 18th., then participated in the Grand Review of the Union army on the 24th. On the 30th. and the 31st., its guns were returned to the Ordinance Department, then on the 1st. of June the officers and men left for Michigan, arriving at Detroit on the 6th., they were mustered out of the service on the 14th., then soon after paid off and disbanded.

In the List of Michigan soldiers that were casulties in the Carolina campaign are the following:

Jeremiah Gardner, 1st Michigan Light Artillery(Battery C), KIA, Binnaker's Bridge, South Carolina, February 9, 1865

John L. Huntly, 1st Michigan Light Artillery(battery C), Died of Disease, Cheraw, South Carolina, February 28, 1865

John Kamhout, 1st Michigan Light Artillery, Battery C, Cheraw, March 6, 1865

The first two men are included in the Roster and are known to us.  Mr. Kamhout doesn't appear on the "official" roster but we are finding that the Roster was far from infallible.  There were only a couple other Michigan batteries on the Carolina campaign and no evidence that they were at Cheraw, so it could well be that he was in Robinson's Battery.

Pension index cards exist for two John M Kamhouts: one who was in Co C of the 34th MI (obviously didn't die) and also the record below.  Note that no battery is specified:  

Name: John Kamhout
Side: Union
Regiment State/Origin: Michigan
Regiment Name: 1 Michigan Light Art'y.
Regiment Name Expanded: 1st Regiment, Michigan Light Artillery
Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private Rank Out Expanded: Private
Film Number: M545 roll 22    

I also found reference to a John Kamhout, age 32, born in Holland (the country) who enlisted in the regular army on June 10, 1862 at Grand Rapids.  He was let out on disability February 13, 1863.  He certainly could have joined the battery after that.  He was in the 16th Infantry (presumably US infantry).  

I feel pretty darn sure that the Kamhout clan arrived in 1849 and settled in Grand Haven.  They were a family of bakers.  They are the only Kamhout family in Michigan by the time of the Civil War.  No one seems to have claimed a pension on John's behalf.   

Where is John Herr buried?

John Herr enlisted as a private on February 11, 1864 at the age of 18 in Company Battery C, 1st Michigan Light Artillery. He died of disease on August 31, 1864 in Marietta, GA.  There is a military issue headstone in the Marietta National Cemetery, albeit with his name misspelled.

See below.

There is also a military issue headstone located at the Newburgh Cemetery in Livonia, Michigan.  This time the name is correctly spelled.

Was there really a John Hern also from Michigan who also had the misfortune to die at Marietta and it is he buried there?  [Ed. - the Michigan Roster index does not have a John Hern from Michigan listed. John Herr is listed under Battery C.]

Did our John manage to get two headstones because a clerical error resulted in a misspelled last name?  Either way, where is our John Herr?



Photo courtesy of J.F. Witkowski

Who was this man?

Isaac Wilson of Allegan?

Second Lieutenant Third Cavalry, Sept. 7, 1861. First Lieutenant,    Feb. 27, 1863. Captain, Oct. 1, 1863. Discharged June 6, 1865.  

John Hughes received this copy of a cdv that is inscribed "I.Wilson, 3rd Michigan Battery;" it had been in an album of 3rd MI Cav. images. A number of the pictures in the album indicate on the back they were taken by G. W.  Armstead or Howard & Hall both of Corinth, MS.   This picture carries no such indication.

Merritt Woodard sent it after seeing the posting on the The Michigan in the Civil War message board.  There are two odd things about this image: first - there is no I.Wilson listed in the Battery roster and second - the coat appears to be a frock but there is no officer insignia.  Any information on this gentleman's identity and his connection (or lack thereof) to the Battery would be greatly appreciated.