A Compelling Story

The most frustrating thing about researching Levi Bowen had been the apparent lack of good sources, both primary and secondary that reference him. I say had because on friday I went back to the beginning and took a closer look at what primary sources I had available to me at the Cumberland county archives, and that helped to clear some of the fog. I reexamined and made copies of Bowen’s company muster roll records, and his hospital and enlistment records, and after careful perusal and comparison with a timeline of the Civil War I can now deduce some of what happened to the man. That the story is compelling is an understatement.

According to a “Declaration For Pension” signed by Bowen and dated May 23, 1912 Bowen first enlisted Dec. 17, 1861 as a Private in Company H, 7th Infantry Regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteers. He was honorably discharged on feb 12th, 1864. Then he reenlisted as a private in company H of the 180th pennsylvania Veterans Volunteers, which I learned earlier was a series of units many veterans reenlisted in once their original units were disbanded due to the men’s enlistments being up. He was honorably discharged again on feb 28th, 1865. Bowen lists himself as 5’5”, with dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. His listed occupation is as a blacksmith. Since leaving the army he lived in Cumberland and York counties. At the time of the application he was living in Lewisberry PA in York county. He would have been 73 when this was written. The information about his enlistments is borne out by other muster roles.

Other pieces give a more detailed record of his service. These include his letter granting his pension, his hospital records, and other muster records. He was first sent to Camp Curtin in Harrisburg after enlisting. Camp Curtin served as a major training center during the war. The first battle he was in was the battle of Mechanicsville on june 26, 1862. This was the beginning of the Seven Days battles during the Peninsula campaign. Seven Days was a succession of battles from june 26th to july 2nd. For Bowen however, his struggles began on June 30th when he was apparently wounded in combat and captured by the enemy. He was taken to Richmond. I have been unable to learn which prison it was, but according to Charles Sanders’ While in the Hans of The Enemy there were several, including Libby Prison, and Gratiot Street prison. Regardless, Bowen was released on july 26th, and returned to duty from the Convalescent camp sometime in september(?) 1862. The handwriting on the documents is difficult to discerne and the month of his return is given as a 3 letter abbreviation. It appears to read october on one, september on another, and could say either on a third but appears to be september. Regardless, he returned to combat in time to be “engaged at battle of Fredricksburg Dec 13, 1862. According to the National Park Service website, the men from Pennsylvania at Fredricksburg were responsible for a daring attack that broke through the heart of the Confederate lines, only to be slaughtered before being driven back.

The final chapter is the most interesting. To add to his list of accomplishments, Bowen was present at the Battle of the Wilderness, where, according to a document that I can’t identify, but does come from the adjucant general’s office, Bowen was captured. This was after his reenlistment with the Vet. Vol. unit. He is listed on a muster roll for that unit as MIA at the Wilderness, May 5th, 1864.

A word about the documents I’m using – these are all copies of copies that the cumberland county archives had. I have not seen the originals and do not know if they exist.

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