Comrade William J. Warner, a member of Thatford Post, No. 3, G. A. R., New York, who died recently at the Hampton Soldiers’ Home, had a most eventful life, having taken an active part in three wars in the service of the United States. He was born at Athens, Greene County, N.Y. in 1812, and in 1837 enlisted for three years in Troop A of the Second United States Regular Dragoons. At the end of his term he re-enlisted for five years, and when that was served he again enlisted to serve during the Mexican War.
During the Florida war he saw much hard service. At the battle of Caloosahatchee he had his nose broken by a blow from an Indian tomahawk, and was shot through the right thigh. He was one of Colonel William B. Harney’s company of thirty men who were ambushed by the Indians at Sanibel Inlet and all killed but three. The survivors, Colonel Harney and Privates Eastman and Warner, escaped in a canoe. They were five days and nights without food and scarcely any clothing, until they reached camp.
In the Mexican War Comrade Warner was at the battles of Vera Cruz, Monterey, Palo Alto, Cerro Gordo, Buena Vista, Matamoras and the capture of the City of Mexico. He received a severe wound in the wrist at the battle of Buena Vista, and was discharged in 1848.
In the civil war he enlisted in 1862 as a private in Company G, 159th New York Volunteers, and with that command took part in the battles of Irish Bend, Vermillion Bayou, New Iberia, Port Hudson, and Clinton, all in Louisiana. In April 1863, he was captured by Moshy’s guerrillas, but was retaken in a short time by Grierson’s cavalry. He was discharged for disability in November 1862. The last years of his life were spent among old comrades at the Hampton Soldiers’ Home.
New York Press, 1898
During the Florida war he saw much hard service. At the battle of Caloosahatchee he had his nose broken by a blow from an Indian tomahawk, and was shot through the right thigh. He was one of Colonel William B. Harney’s company of thirty men who were ambushed by the Indians at Sanibel Inlet and all killed but three. The survivors, Colonel Harney and Privates Eastman and Warner, escaped in a canoe. They were five days and nights without food and scarcely any clothing, until they reached camp.
In the Mexican War Comrade Warner was at the battles of Vera Cruz, Monterey, Palo Alto, Cerro Gordo, Buena Vista, Matamoras and the capture of the City of Mexico. He received a severe wound in the wrist at the battle of Buena Vista, and was discharged in 1848.
In the civil war he enlisted in 1862 as a private in Company G, 159th New York Volunteers, and with that command took part in the battles of Irish Bend, Vermillion Bayou, New Iberia, Port Hudson, and Clinton, all in Louisiana. In April 1863, he was captured by Moshy’s guerrillas, but was retaken in a short time by Grierson’s cavalry. He was discharged for disability in November 1862. The last years of his life were spent among old comrades at the Hampton Soldiers’ Home.
New York Press, 1898
Comrade William J. Warner, a member of Thatford Post, No. 3, G. A. R., New York, who died recently at the Hampton Soldiers’ Home, had a most eventful life, having taken an active part in three wars in the service of the United States. He was born at Athens, Greene County, N.Y. in 1812, and in 1837 enlisted for three years in Troop A of the Second United States Regular Dragoons. At the end of his term he re-enlisted for five years, and when that was served he again enlisted to serve during the Mexican War.
During the Florida war he saw much hard service. At the battle of Caloosahatchee he had his nose broken by a blow from an Indian tomahawk, and was shot through the right thigh. He was one of Colonel William B. Harney’s company of thirty men who were ambushed by the Indians at Sanibel Inlet and all killed but three. The survivors, Colonel Harney and Privates Eastman and Warner, escaped in a canoe. They were five days and nights without food and scarcely any clothing, until they reached camp.
In the Mexican War Comrade Warner was at the battles of Vera Cruz, Monterey, Palo Alto, Cerro Gordo, Buena Vista, Matamoras and the capture of the City of Mexico. He received a severe wound in the wrist at the battle of Buena Vista, and was discharged in 1848.
In the civil war he enlisted in 1862 as a private in Company G, 159th New York Volunteers, and with that command took part in the battles of Irish Bend, Vermillion Bayou, New Iberia, Port Hudson, and Clinton, all in Louisiana. In April 1863, he was captured by Moshy’s guerrillas, but was retaken in a short time by Grierson’s cavalry. He was discharged for disability in November 1862. The last years of his life were spent among old comrades at the Hampton Soldiers’ Home.
New York Press, 1898
During the Florida war he saw much hard service. At the battle of Caloosahatchee he had his nose broken by a blow from an Indian tomahawk, and was shot through the right thigh. He was one of Colonel William B. Harney’s company of thirty men who were ambushed by the Indians at Sanibel Inlet and all killed but three. The survivors, Colonel Harney and Privates Eastman and Warner, escaped in a canoe. They were five days and nights without food and scarcely any clothing, until they reached camp.
In the Mexican War Comrade Warner was at the battles of Vera Cruz, Monterey, Palo Alto, Cerro Gordo, Buena Vista, Matamoras and the capture of the City of Mexico. He received a severe wound in the wrist at the battle of Buena Vista, and was discharged in 1848.
In the civil war he enlisted in 1862 as a private in Company G, 159th New York Volunteers, and with that command took part in the battles of Irish Bend, Vermillion Bayou, New Iberia, Port Hudson, and Clinton, all in Louisiana. In April 1863, he was captured by Moshy’s guerrillas, but was retaken in a short time by Grierson’s cavalry. He was discharged for disability in November 1862. The last years of his life were spent among old comrades at the Hampton Soldiers’ Home.
New York Press, 1898
