13th · 109th · 151st Indiana Volunteer Infantry · First Wallick to Enlist and be Dismissed
William F.M. Wallick
2nd Lieutenant · 1st Lieutenant · Sergeant-Major · Indiana Volunteer Infantry
Also known as William H. Wallick (alias, 151st Indiana)
1st Regiment
13th Indiana Infantry
2nd Regiment
109th Indiana Infantry
3rd Regiment
151st Indiana Infantry
Born
Jan 28, 1841, Tuscarawas Co., OH
Died
Jan 16, 1873
Buried
Reyburn Cemetery, Peru, IN
William, son of Christopher, son of "Peru" Benjamin, son of Johannes, son of Hans Michael and Esther Wallick. Height: 5′ 9″, brown hair, gray eyes. Civilian occupation: Carpenter.
Biography
By just reading the introduction to William F. M. Wallick's biography one immediately can see a story laden in mysteries, especially his jumping in rank from private to sergeant-major. There is no other Wallick soldier whose Civil War service prompts so many questions and is so confusing. Even his name is inconsistent in war records — sometimes he is William F., sometimes William F. M., and sometimes William H. Wallick. This author does admit to "reading between the lines" in constructing some parts of the William F. Wallick biography, but William F. was a complicated man and that is reflected in his service record. His story is very opaque, with many contradictory facts, and sometimes it becomes necessary to use one's imagination to help reconstruct his past. But what is undeniably clear is that he believed in this struggle for the Union. When the war began he was the first of all the Wallick soldiers to volunteer — enlisting on April 19, 1861, one week after the bombardment of Fort Sumter.
William F. Wallick was eight years junior to "Libby Prison" William Wallick of the 51st Indiana. Both men were born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, moved to Peru, Indiana, when they were boys, and grew up to become carpenters. Their grandfather was "Peru" Benjamin Wallick, who came from Tuscarawas County, Ohio, to Peru, Indiana, in the winter of 1840. Christopher Wallick, father of William F., followed the family migration to Peru sometime in the 1850s.
On April 12, 1861, the first shots were fired on Fort Sumter and within a week William F. helped organize a company of soldiers from Peru who, in turn, elected him 2nd Lieutenant. William F. was known to be a brash and daring youth. He died young, only thirty-one years old, and his obituary states: "He knew no fear, acknowledged no danger and was frequently rash in acting upon the impulse of the moment." It appears that the same character traits that made him a brave officer more than once got him into trouble with the army.
William F. (alias William H.) returned home after the war and married Elizabeth Hagee on June 28, 1868. They stayed in Peru, IN, and had two children — Maude, born the spring of 1870, and Pearle, born the summer of 1872. Unfortunately, William F. would not see his daughters grow past childhood, for he died on January 16, 1873, just 12 days shy of his thirty-second birthday. From his obituary he appears to have been a very complicated man both as a soldier and as a civilian. He may have struggled with issues of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for years. But through his tangled story we can still see a patriot to the Union's cause and be grateful to him for his sacrifice and service when our nation confronted its greatest crisis.
First Enlistment · 1861–1863
William F.M. Wallick with the 13th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
Apr 19, 1861
Only six days after the Confederates attacked Fort Sumter, William F. Wallick is the first of all Wallick soldiers to answer President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers. William F. helps organize a company of men from Peru, IN, and is elected a 2nd Lieutenant in Company B of the 13th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
May 1, 1861
The 13th Indiana is organized in Indianapolis, IN, for one year's service.
Jun 19, 1861
The 13th Indiana is reorganized for three years of Federal service.
Jul 11, 1861
Battle of Rich Mountain. William F. is under the command of future heavy-weight Generals George B. McClellan and William S. Rosecrans. The Confederate forces are atop Rich Mountain in a strong defensive position, but badly outnumbered by 2,000 Federals. A local boy named David Hart helps lead the Union forces up the mountain to outflank the Rebels. The 13th Indiana takes part in a brisk two-hour fight ending with a successful bayonet charge. This battle helps secure McClellan's reputation and is a factor in his promotion to general-in-chief of all Union armies.
Jul 13, 1861
The 13th Indiana moves to Beverly, WV, then on to Cheat Mountain.
Sep 11–17, 1861
The 13th Indiana is at the foot of Cheat Mountain. In his first major campaign since coming to West Virginia, Robert E. Lee moves against Union forces in this region. There is much maneuvering with marching and countermarching around Cheat Mountain and Elkwater. Some feeble attempts are made by the Confederates to engage the Federals, but eventually Lee and his forces retire.
Oct 3, 1861
William F. and the 13th Indiana leave Cheat Mountain and make a reconnaissance of the enemy's position at Greenbrier River, twelve miles distant. There is some minor skirmishing as they approach the Rebel camp and clear a space for Federal artillery to open fire. By sundown they have returned to Cheat Mountain.
Oct–Nov 7, 1861
Scouting Expedition through the Kanawha District of West Virginia.
Dec 13, 1861
Action at Camp Allegheny. The Confederates have established a camp on the summit of Allegheny Mountain in Pocahontas County, WV. The 13th Indiana and four other regiments are ordered to advance up the mountain and attack the enemy camp. The 1,900 Federals assault the 1,200 Confederates for seven hours but all attacks are ineffective. By sunset many Federal troops have become exhausted and straggle to the rear. The attack is called off.
Dec 18, 1861
William F. and his regiment move to Green Springs Run, WV, twenty miles south of Cumberland, MD.
Jan 1–4, 1862
Skirmishes at Bath, Hancock & Great Cacapon Bridge. The 13th Indiana is involved in skirmishing to keep the Rebels from interfering with B&O Railroad traffic on the West Virginia–Maryland border.
Mar 5–15, 1862
William F. and his regiment advance to Winchester, VA. The Shenandoah Valley will become a battleground over the next three years and will be savaged and plundered by both armies. Winchester will change hands seventy-two times before the end of the war.
Mar 22–23, 1862
Battle of 1st Kernstown. The Confederates under Stonewall Jackson advance down the Shenandoah Valley and encounter General James Shields' Division at Kernstown, just south of Winchester, VA. In Shields' division, Henry M. Wallick is in the first brigade and William F. in the second. As the battle unfolds both brigades move to a ridge east of Middle Road. By 4:00 PM Henry is on the Federal right flank and William F. anchors the Federal left. Fighting continues for about two hours and just before nightfall the center of the Confederate line folds, causing the entire Rebel line to collapse. This is the first and only defeat of Jackson's Valley Campaign.
Apr 17, 1862
Occupation of Mt. Jackson. After the Battle of 1st Kernstown the Union forces pursue the Confederates up the Shenandoah Valley. There are small skirmishes throughout the chase. William F. and the 13th Indiana move to Mt. Jackson, 45 miles south of Winchester, VA.
Apr 26, 1862
1st Arrest. William F. is placed under arrest by order of his commanding officer, Colonel Robert S. Foster. Unfortunately, this is the first of four recorded arrests for William F. Wallick.
May 12–21, 1862
March to Fredericksburg, VA. The Union high command is trying to balance the need for troops in the Shenandoah Valley and its ability to support General McClellan's Peninsula Campaign. William F. is on his way to support McClellan but suddenly must return to the Shenandoah Valley because of a threat made by Stonewall Jackson.
May 25–30, 1862
March to Front Royal. The 13th Indiana is marched back to Front Royal in response to General Jackson's continued harassment in the Shenandoah Valley. There is an engagement at Front Royal, but William F. and his regiment do not return soon enough to be involved.
Jun 9, 1862
Battle of Port Republic. The regiment helps cover the retreat of the Union forces in this last battle of Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign. They are not engaged during the battle.
Jun 29–Jul 2, 1862
The 13th Indiana is moved to the Virginia Peninsula. General McClellan is moving through the Virginia Peninsula in an effort to take the capital of the Confederacy, Richmond, VA.
Jul 3–Aug 16, 1862
Posting at Harrison's Landing, VA — Headquarters for General McClellan, on the north bank of the James River near Charles City, VA.
Aug 17–30, 1862
Moved to Fortress Monroe and then to Suffolk, VA. Fortress Monroe is the major Federal military installation on the Virginia coast, controlling all traffic from the Atlantic Ocean into the James River.
Aug 18, 1862
2nd Arrest. A special roll call is taken and William F. is found to be absent without leave (AWOL). He is placed under arrest by Lt. Colonel Dobbs and detailed to Alexandria, VA, by order of General McClellan.
Oct 3, 1862
Reconnaissance to Franklin on the Blackwater River. The Federals begin to move into the interior of Virginia and control the tributaries of the James.
Dec 12, 1862
Movement toward the Blackwater River at Zuni Ford, VA.
Jan 8–10, 1863
Expedition and skirmishing at Blackwater River.
Jan 30, 1863
Small skirmish at a deserted house north of McClenna's Station.
Feb 1863
3rd Arrest. William F. is placed under arrest by Lt. Colonel Dobbs and this time it states he is to be court-martialed. A thorough reading of William's obituary reveals that he had a drinking problem which led to illness and an early death. It is the author's opinion that perhaps William's multiple arrests could have been alcohol related.
Apr 11, 1863
Siege of Suffolk, VA, Begins. The Union Army has occupied Suffolk, VA, and established a strong defensive ring of earthworks and forts. William F. and the 13th Indiana are in the middle of an arc on the south side of Suffolk, near Fort McClellan. Confederate General Pickett's division has been the Rebel force opposing them. The siege begins April 11th and will go on for twenty-two days.
Apr 13, 1863
Advance on Edenton, Providence Church, and Somerton Roads. These are major arteries into and out of Suffolk, VA. No serious fighting occurs, but William F. is involved in some of these probing movements.
Apr 16, 1863
William F. is mentioned by name in the War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies — one of only three references to any "Wallick" in the entire 128-book, 138,579-page archive. Colonel Foster's report states: "On Thursday, April 16, a party of skirmishers, under Lieutenants Wallick and Conron, of the Thirteenth Indiana, were sent out. They exchanged a few shots with the enemy, but found them too strong to make any advance." The next day Lt. Conron goes out on patrol without William and is mortally wounded.
Apr 25, 1863
4th Arrest. William F. is placed under arrest again by Lt. Colonel Dobbs.
May 4, 1863
Siege of Suffolk Raised. Confederate General Pickett's division withdraws. The 13th Indiana makes a pursuit down the Somerton Road but there is little resistance.
Jun 15, 1863
William is Court-martialed. "Dismissed [from] the service of the United States with a forfeiture of all pay and allowances by order of general court-martial, June 15, 1863." With these words William F. Wallick is drummed out of the 13th Indiana Volunteer Infantry in disgrace. He returns home to Peru, IN.
Second Enlistment · 1863
William F. Wallick and the 109th Indiana Infantry (The Indiana Minute Men)
Jul 10–17, 1863
William F. has come home after being dismissed from the 13th Indiana and is immediately called back into his country's service because of a cavalry raid in southern Indiana by Confederate General John Hunt Morgan. Five Wallick soldiers from Peru serve in the 109th Indiana Infantry (the Indiana Minute Men). These include William F., his father Christopher, and three of his uncles — Jeremiah, Wesley, and 59-year-old Benjamin. William is a 2nd Lieutenant in this regiment. It is unknown why he is given this rank, since three weeks prior he had been dismissed from service. After only seven days in Federal service the 109th is disbanded.
Research Note
Why William H. Wallick is an Alias for William F. Wallick
William H. Wallick enlists as a private on February 5, 1864, and in ten weeks makes a meteoric jump in rank to sergeant-major in one promotion. Who is this Super Soldier from Peru, IN, who can make giant leaps of rank in a single bound? Genealogical evidence records no such person as William H. Wallick living in Peru, Indiana, before, during, or after the Civil War. The only two Wallicks named William from Peru were "Libby Prison" William (51st Indiana Regiment) and William F. Wallick of the 13th Indiana. Both were born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, moved to Peru, Indiana, when they were boys, and grew up to become carpenters.
According to the enlistment papers for William H. Wallick, he also was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, lived in Peru, Indiana, became a carpenter, and was twenty-four years old — exactly the same age as William F. The evidence seems conclusive: William H. must have been William F.M. Wallick with an alias middle initial. Perhaps he thought it best to use an alias to help keep his army records slightly different, since he had to sign a statement swearing he had never been court-martialed or dismissed from service.
Third Enlistment · 1865
William F. Wallick (alias William H. Wallick) with the 151st Indiana Infantry
Feb 2, 1865
William F. Wallick enlists as William H. Wallick at La Porte, IN. He has joined with cousin John Wesley Wallick, who is a private in Company D. William begins as a private in Company C but makes an astonishing leap in rank to sergeant-major ten weeks later. He receives 1/3 of his $100 bounty upon enlistment.
Mar 3, 1865
William H. and the 151st Indiana Infantry are mustered into Federal service.
Mar 6, 1865
The 151st Regiment leaves for Nashville, TN.
Mar 14–Jun 14, 1865
William H. has duty at Tullahoma, TN, guarding Union supplies and railroads. Tullahoma is an important railroad terminal in the mid-South.
May 15, 1865
William H. is promoted by Special Order #13, Regimental Headquarters, from private to sergeant-major — an astonishing leap from the lowest rank to the highest non-commissioned rank after serving only three months.
Jun 15–Sep 19, 1865
The regiment moves back to Nashville, TN, and has garrison duty there until they are mustered out on September 19, 1865. William H. travels to Indianapolis, then returns home to Peru.
Final Resting Place
Reyburn Cemetery, Peru, Indiana
William F.M. Wallick is buried in the Reyburn Cemetery, Peru, IN, along with many other family members who were veterans of the Civil War — including his cousin "Libby Prison" William Wallick and twin cousins John Wesley and Charles F. Wallick.
Comrades-in-Arms
Father
Christopher Wallick
109th Indiana
Uncle
Benjamin Wallick Jr.
109th Indiana
Uncle
Wesley Wallick
109th & 138th Indiana
Cousin
Jeremiah Wallick
109th Indiana Infantry
Cousin
Washington Wallick
71st Pennsylvania Infantry
Cousin
William Wallick
51st Indiana
Cousin
Charles F. Wallick
87th Indiana
Cousin
John Wesley Wallick
138th & 151st Indiana
Cousin
Benjamin Wallick
162nd Ohio