Chaplain Charles W. Walker

First New Hampshire Heavy Artillery Pay Record

Stroud's Civil War News Emporium is proud to share a rare civil war document issued towards the close of the War Between the States. The document above (which may be enlarged by clicking on it) is a pay receipt for a New Hampshire officer. Issued by the "Pay Department , U.S.A.," the printed portion at the beginning of the document which says "Paymaster" is crossed out and the word "Commanding Officer" are written above. The bottom signature, above the printed signature block "Paymaster U.S.A." appears to be W.H.H. Allen. Presumably, Allen attested to the fact that regimental commander had made the notated payment to the regimental chaplain.

The document was issued on May 5, 1865, and represents payment "in full" for the period between December 31, 1864 and April 30, 1865. It names Chaplain C.W. Walker as the recipient of the princely sum of $481.58.

Chaplain Walker's service in the regiment was not terribly long, beginning on September 30, 1864 and ending when the regiment was mustered out on June 15, 1865. He was a forty-four year old resident of Stratford when he was commissioned. Born in Holden Massachusetts, he would die on July 25, 1889 in Sherman, Texas, in the heart of the former Confederacy against which he had fought. It appears that he initially enlisted as a private in Company I, only to receive his commission as a chaplain shortly after that event.

The history of the First New Hampshire Regiment of Heavy Artillery is as follows:

Company A organized as First Company New Hampshire Heavy Artillery and mustered in July 22, 1863. Stationed at Fort Constitution until May 6, 1864. Company B organized as 2nd Company New Hampshire Heavy Artillery and mustered in September 17, 1863. Stationed at Fort McClary, Kittery Point, until May 6, 1864. These 2 Companies ordered to Washington, DC, May 6, 1864. Attached to Augur's Command, Defenses of Washington, 22nd Corps, and assigned to duty in the Defenses of Washington, DC, Company A at Forts Slocum, Stevens, Totten, Sumner and Batteries Cameron, Parrott, Kendall and Vermont until November, 1864. Ordered to Portsmouth Harbor November 25, 1864. Company B at Forts Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Lincoln, Bayard, Gaines and Foote until February, 1865, when ordered to Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire. Repulse of Early's attack on Washington July 11-12, 1864. Companies C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K and L organized from September 2 to October 17, 1864. Company M formed by assignment of First New Hampshire Battery, Volunteer Light Artillery, November 5, 1864, but remained detached as a Light Battery. Each Company ordered to Washington, DC, as fast as organized, and duty in the Defenses of that city until June, 1865. Regiment mustered out June 15, 1865. Recruits consolidated to 2 Companies and mustered out September 11, 1865.