Daniel Wallick

The Draft

One of the many seismic changes brought about by the American Civil War was that the United States government, in order to prosecute that war, began to exert more power and influence into the lives of its citizenry than ever before. At some point during the conflict both sides suspended the writ of habeas corpus, the first ever United States income tax was levied (3% to 10% of all income over $800), and both Union and Confederate governments used forced conscription — the draft — to fill their military ranks.

Daniel Wallick was a thirty-nine year old farmer living in Van Wert County, Ohio, when he was drafted by the State of Ohio and required to serve nine months of military service. He was born and raised in Tuscarawas County and in 1852, shortly after he married his wife, Sarah, moved with his father, Jacob, and three of his brothers to Van Wert County in western Ohio. There, as a middle-aged man, he was drafted and reported for duty at the Van Wert Enlistment Office on October 8, 1862. He was then assigned to the 20th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and joined that regiment on January 11, 1863, at Lafayette, Tennessee.

Ohio was one of the first states during the war to institute a draft in order to fill its quota of soldiers for the Union Army. The state drafted over 12,200 men in the fall of 1862 — pre-dating by six months the first ever draft held by the Federal Government (Congress passed its first conscription act in March 1863). The draft was used as leverage and a threat to entice men to volunteer their services. Those who joined voluntarily received a cash bounty from the state, federal, and in some instances local governments. But for a middle-aged man like Daniel, it probably was less of an inducement. Those who did not volunteer and waited to be drafted received nothing — no signing bonus. Daniel is the only Wallick to be drafted into the armed forces during the American Civil War.

The draft, as one can imagine, was not popular and produced some of the worst anti-government riots in American history. The anti-war riots of the Vietnam era cannot begin to compare with the anti-draft riots in the north during the Civil War and in particular, New York City. Martial law was eventually declared and the United States Army had to send several regiments of soldiers — some having just fought at Gettysburg — in order to quell the disturbances. Michael Wallick of the 27th Indiana and Elias Wallick of the 126th Ohio were both posted in New York City during that summer in response to the rioting. It is estimated that 120 civilians were killed and over 2,000 injured as the city spiralled into chaos. It is still considered the largest single civil insurrection in our nation's history.

When Daniel joined the 20th Ohio Infantry in January 1863, he became part of a regiment of soldiers who had been together since the early fall of 1861. These were well-seasoned veterans and one can imagine the challenge it must have been to "fit in" with his new comrades. The 20th Ohio was in some of the biggest battles and victories in the western theatre of the war — the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson, the Battle of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, and other minor engagements. Daniel was attached to the 20th Ohio just as it became part of General Grant's Vicksburg Campaign.

Oregon — The Last Chapter

Daniel returns to Van Wert, Ohio, after the war. The United States census of 1870 shows that Daniel is a single, divorced laborer living with his 84-year-old father, Jacob, in the home of Samuel Dibert. Jacob dies in 1874, and by 1880 Daniel has moved in with his niece Elizabeth and her husband, Peter Prophet, from Germany. At some point in the 1880s he moves west to Oregon and is a sheepherder in beautiful Wallowa County, located in the northeast corner of Oregon, bordering Washington and Idaho.

Below are the last two pages of a four-page letter that Daniel penned at the turn of the twentieth century while living in Joseph, Oregon. The letter is undated and addressed to his son, Edwin, who was living at the time in Monroeville, Ohio. The incomplete missive and following transcript have been graciously provided by Jennifer Rice, the great-great-granddaughter of Daniel Wallick.

Primary Source

Letter from Daniel Wallick to His Son Edwin

Transcribed below with original spelling; some punctuation added by Jennifer Rice for clarity.

Page 3 (pages 1 and 2 missing):

Well now, we will commence something elce. On thanksgivings day one of my neighbours sent his girl to me to come and eat dinner with them, but I could not go. I was not very well at that time. Well then came Christmas Eve. You spoke about your nice tree. Had you been here then you would of seen a tree. They had 2 trees in a large church building. They was from 12 to 15 feet high and they was just hung full of presents from botam to top and could not get all on the trees. They had to leave a good many down in boxes, and the house was just crouted full. They could not all get seets.

So on next morning Christmas day there was a rap at my door and I opend. There was 2 women, they say, Come over to dinne today.

Page 4:

Well I went and I tell you it was a dinner. You could not call for anything that was eatable but what it was there and we all eat hearty. There was 10 or 12 of us.

Well then next morning after Christmas I got my fall and I will correct you in your mistake. It was not my colerbone, it was my shoulder blade that was broke.

Now something elce, you asked me what I thought of your building a shop. [Jennifer's note: likely a blacksmith shop] Edwin, you are a doing for yourseve. Do as you see that you can get out on it. I have no advice to give on it.

Well, I must close. You can tell by my writing that I am woried. Edwin, I can't write so often. Anseer when you can.

[Signed] Daniel Wallick to Edwin Wallick

Prairie Creek Cemetery, Joseph, Oregon

In the late winter of 1906, Daniel had a heart attack while preparing a bath and fell against a hot stove that created horrible burns to his arms and face. He was living with his nephew, Urias Silas Wallick, at the time of his accident. Urias had moved out to Oregon to live with his uncle sometime after 1900. Daniel died of his injuries on March 13, 1906, and was buried in Prairie Creek Cemetery, southeast of Joseph, Oregon.

Comrades-in-Arms · Cousins