Researcher: Nick Pucel

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           Marcus Gilmore was an infantryman of the 35th Massachusetts Infantry Company A. There is no information on his birth, life or death. The only personal information gathered was that his father’s name was Marcus Gilmore also, and that he was at one time married. Marcus served as a private in the 35th, and it is verified that he served in the Battle of Antietam. Marcus had a long tour with the 35th regiment, and married after he returned home alive after his three years were up, here is the story of Marcus Gilmore and the 35th Company of Massachusetts.

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            The Company first recruited in August 9 to 19, 1862. The company was led by Colonel Edward A. Wild. The 35th joined General McClellan’s Army of the Potomac, on Sept 8th it was assigned to Ferrero’s (2d) Brigade, Sturgis’ (2d) Division, Reno’s (9th) Corps. The first battle fought was the Battle of South Mountain, September 14, 1862. After that was the Battle of Antietam, in which Marcus Gilmore was verified to have fought in, on September 17, 1862. The last battle of 1862 was the Battle of Fredericksburg, where heavy losses set in.

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            On February 9, 1863, they were transferred to Newport News, Virginia and then were sent with the rest of the 9th Corps. Into Kentucky. They where then sent to reinforce Ulysses S. Grant at Vicksburg, Mississippi for about four weeks. The company then pursued General Johnston’s Confederate Army to Jackson, Mississippi and was there at the capture of the city. After the capture, the members of the 35th went by boat and train to Cincinnati, arriving on the 14 of August.

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            After leaving Cincinnati, the 35th went to Knoxville, Tennessee to defend it against General Longstreet. After the siege, they went to Blain’s Cross Roads and remained until January 1864. The next time the 35th saw action was on May 5th to 6th, in the Battle of Wilderness and the 8th through 12th in the Battle of Spotsylvania when they guarded a supply train and were not engaged. On May 17 and 25 the 35th was engaged and suffered light losses. Losses continued to happen, by July 30 there were only 2 officers and 100 men left serving.

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            The 9th was again reorganized early in September 1864, it was assigned to Curtin’s (1st) Brigade, Potter’s (2nd) Division. At Poplar Spring Church on September 30th under Major Hudson they lost 163 prisoners and severely engaged. After this battle, they were posted for two months near Forts Fisher and Welsh. During winter they were near Fort Sedgwick. Finally from March 7, 1865 until the fall of Petersburg on April 2nd, they were in the garrison of this fort but then joined the pursuit of Robert E. Lee’s Army. After the war was over they arrived at Alexandria, Virginia on April 28, 1864 and garrisoned Washington D.C. until their three year contracts ran out in which the remaining men of the 35th were returned to Reedville, Massachusetts on June 27, 1865, paid and sent home.

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            Marcus Gilmore was a private throughout the war; no information was gathered of him rising through the ranks. Marcus did however survive the bloody Civil War and went on to get married. He was a soldier of fortune, having survived the worst war in the entire history of the United States at the time. Although his memories must have been disturbing, the fought for the preservation of the Union, and helped form the strong country of today, the most powerful in the world. Without people like Marcus Gilmore and the rest of the war veterans, our world would be a different place.