Wallick Soldiers of the American Civil War

38th Indiana Volunteer Infantry · Company D · Sherman's Carolinas Campaign

William "Hewit" Wallick

Private · Substitute Soldier · Eight Months of Service · 1864–1865

Regiment

38th Indiana Infantry, Co. D

Rank

Private

Enlisted

Nov 11, 1864 · Evansville, IN

Mustered Out

Jul 15, 1865 · Louisville, KY

Service Time

8 months, 4 days

Born

May 10, 1845 · Tuscarawas Co., OH

Buried

Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery, Odon, IN

Father

"Daviess County" Michael Wallick, 27th Indiana

Physical Description

5′ 9″ · Black hair · Black eyes · Occupation: Farmer

Family Lineage

Son of "Daviess County" Michael · son of "Bunker Hill" Michael · son of "Bedford County" Michael · son of Hans Michael and Esther Wallick

Hewit — Substitute Soldier, Son of a Veteran

William Huette Wallick, c. 1904 — Private, 38th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
William "Hewit" Wallick, c. 1904

Hewit was the first-born son of "Daviess County" Michael Wallick and would have been about sixteen years old when he saw his father march off to war. At this young age, Hewit found himself the "man of the house" and was left to tend the family farm and help his mother, Jane, raise four siblings. One can imagine the anticipation and excitement every time the family opened a letter from their father. However, the realities of war were quickly realized when Papa Michael was wounded in the shoulder during his first engagement at Buckton Station, Virginia, and became a POW for four months.

By the end of his service Michael had been wounded twice in battle and had learned the hardships of a soldier's life. What influences he brought to bear on Hewit's decision to become a soldier we will never know. Michael certainly had no romanticized notion of soldiering, so it could have been Hewit's strong sense of patriotism that motivated him to join the ranks. Or the enticement of good money for one year's military service may have helped Hewit decide to become a soldier. It was probably a combination of both, as it is today, when young men and women join the military. Hewit enlisted in the army just two months after his father's discharge from service. Michael and Hewit are the only father-and-son duo from the Wallick clan to have served during the war.

The Substitute Soldier

In the American Civil War it was possible for a man who was drafted to escape his military obligation by hiring a "substitute" in his place. A draftee at the beginning of the war could pay a three-hundred dollar commutation fee to the United States Government and be excused from service. However, as the war dragged on, the government grew weary of trying to find men to replace those who bought their service time and the draftee had to find his own replacement and negotiate a fee with the substitute. Commutation fees skyrocketed in price as more men were required for the war and fewer men volunteered. This fusion of military obligation to free market economics meant that by the war's end the "substitute soldier" could demand double, triple, or even quadruple the original $300 fee.

The controversial policy gave rise to the slogan: "Rich man's war, poor man's fight." William Hewit Wallick was a substitute soldier and he is the only Wallick who served as such during the war. He enlisted as a substitute for draftee Taylor A. Pensinger of Daviess County, Indiana. The amount of the commutation fee is unknown. Hewit was obligated to serve one year for Mr. Pensinger.

There was a mistake by the state of Indiana when it compiled the Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana on soldiers who served in the Civil War. Hewit's name is recorded as William Hewit Walker instead of William Hewit Wallick. It was an error that caused a little difficulty when researching this biography and must have created problems at the time for Hewit, since the disability and widow's pension applications for Hewit and his wife always include the alias name "Walker." Hewit's compiled service record does use the correct given and surnames.

✦

Western Theater · 1864–1865

Hewit Wallick with the 38th Indiana Volunteer Infantry

Nov 11, 1864

Mustered into Federal service. Hewit is mustered into Federal service in Evansville, Indiana. He enlists as a substitute for draftee Taylor A. Pensinger of Daviess County, Indiana. The amount of the commutation fee is unknown. Hewit is obligated to serve one year for Mr. Pensinger.
Enlistment form for Hewit Wallick as substitute soldier for Taylor A. Pensinger
Hewit Wallick's enlistment paper as substitute for Taylor A. Pensinger of Daviess County, Indiana.

Jan 1865

Hewit was posted with the 38th Indiana in Savannah, Georgia, and prepares for General Sherman's advance into the Carolinas. Life in the army could have been difficult at first for Huette, for he joined an outfit that had been together since September of 1861 and the veterans had just reenlisted the previous fall. Replacements were not always welcomed by veteran soldiers.

Feb 5, 1865

The Carolinas Campaign begins. The 38th Indiana marches out of Savannah, Georgia, to begin the "Campaign of the Carolinas" with General William Tecumseh Sherman. Earlier, "Uncle Billy," as his troops called him, declared that his campaign through Georgia would be so harsh that he would "make Georgia howl." If he made Georgia "howl" then he must have made South Carolina "scream," for the destruction and ruin he brought upon that state exceeded the devastation of Georgia. General Sherman always considered South Carolina the cradle of the rebellion and as such, it should be punished.

The 38th Regiment participates in one of the most remarkable troop movements in history. Military historians have marveled at the ability of that army to travel twelve miles a day in the swamps of South Carolina during the middle of winter. Many of the logistic and engineering lessons learned during Civil War campaigns were utilized in the building of our transcontinental railroad.
Ruins of Columbia, South Carolina, February 1865 — photographed in the aftermath of Sherman's march through the state
Some ruins of Columbia, South Carolina. February, 1865.

Mar 16, 1865

Battle of Averysboro, NC. The 38th is held in reserve and sees no action.

Mar 19–21, 1865

Battle of Bentonville. Hewit and the 38th Indiana make a probing attack at the beginning of the battle but are repulsed by a veteran Confederate brigade. Although the attack fails it causes the Rebels to make a tactical blunder. Confederate reinforcements are diverted from their original deployment and this weakens a Rebel counterattack. It is considered the biggest mistake the Rebels make during the battle. Distant cousin Charles F. Wallick of the 87th Indiana is also at Bentonville, guarding wagon trains.

Their corps attacks but is thoroughly routed and must retreat before the enemy in what becomes mockingly known as "The Battle of Acorn Run" — ridiculing Hewit's XIV Army Corps performance, for their corps insignia is the acorn.
The field at Bentonville where the 38th Indiana was deployed — just in front of the trees at the opening of the Battle of Bentonville
The 38th Indiana is deployed on this field, just in front of the trees at the opening of the Battle of Bentonville. Their corps attacks but is thoroughly routed and must retreat before the enemy in what becomes mockingly known as "The Battle of Acorn Run."

Mar 24, 1865

The regiment occupies Goldsboro, NC.

Apr 10–14, 1865

Hewit and the 38th Indiana advance on Raleigh, NC.

Apr 26, 1865

Surrender of General Johnston's Confederate Army at Bennett House. Hewit's regiment is nearby when the Confederate terms of surrender are discussed and signed at Bennett House, near Durham, NC. Over 89,000 Confederate troops are ordered to lay down their arms in what is the largest capitulation of a Rebel force during the war. It can be argued that it is here, and not at Appomattox Courthouse, that the War of the Rebellion finally came to an end.
Bennett House, near Durham, NC — site of General Johnston's surrender to General Sherman on April 26, 1865
Bennett House, near Durham, NC, is the site of General Johnston's surrender to General Sherman on April 26, 1865. Over 89,000 Confederate troops laid down their arms here — the largest capitulation of a Rebel force during the war.

Apr 29–May 20, 1865

March to Richmond, VA, and then on to Washington, D.C.

May 24, 1865

Grand Review of General Sherman's Western Army. At the conclusion of the war both Hewit and Charles F. Wallick march past the Presidential Reviewing Stand during the Grand Review of the Western Armies in Washington, D.C. General Grant, President Johnson and his Cabinet, plus other important political and military dignitaries are present. There are 65,000 men in the parade and it takes six hours to pass by the grandstand.
The Presidential Reviewing Stand on Pennsylvania Avenue, May 24, 1865 — Grand Review of Sherman's Western Army
The Presidential Reviewing Stand on Pennsylvania Avenue, May 24, 1865. General Grant, President Johnson, and his Cabinet are present as 65,000 men march past over six hours.

Jun 1865

The 38th Indiana travels to Louisville, KY.

Jul 15, 1865

Hewit and the men of the 38th Indiana Infantry are mustered out of Federal service at Louisville. Hewit is discharged after serving only eight months of his one-year commitment — the war having ended before his term was up.

After the War

Headstone of William Hewit Wallick at Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery, Odon, Indiana
William Hewit Wallick is buried in the Mount Olive Church Cemetery, just east of Odon, Indiana.

William Hewit Wallick returned to Daviess County, Indiana, after his discharge. He is buried in the Mount Olive Baptist Church Cemetery, just east of Odon, Indiana.

Hewit and his father Michael are the only father-and-son duo from the Wallick clan to have served during the war — excluding the "One Week Warriors," who were only Federalized for seven days. Jane Wallick, Michael's wife and Hewit's mother, lost a husband for three years to the war and then loaned a son to the conflict.

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