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Honoring those who fought in the Civil War

Soldier Cannon This page is dedicated to our Outman ancestors
and their relatives who fought in the Civil War
(1861-1865)

Outmans in the Civil War
Name Age at
enlistment		 Regiment/Company Family branch and relationship
William P. Outman 24 7th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Co. I Jonah's son
David J. Outman 22 7th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Co. I Jonah's son
George Washington Outman 19 7th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Co. I Jonah's son
George W. Chrysler 16 or 17 ? 3rd Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Co. I Rachael's grandson
George Willis Outman 33 73rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Co. I Jacob's son
George Washington Mellen 23 6th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Co. A Jonah's son-in-law
Hugh L. P. Outman 17 yrs
10 mths		 6th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Co. A Jonah's son
Nathaniel S. Outman 17 yrs
1 mth		 4th Regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry, Co. D Jonah's grandson
George Gary Outman 35 53rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry, Co. D Stephen's son
Henry Outman 38 189th Regiment, New York Infantry, Co. I Stephen's son
Albert Outman 43 12th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Co. I Jonah's son
(Listed in order of date of enlistment)
(Those who died while in service are shown with a tinted background)

The National Park Service's "Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System" is a computerized database containing basic facts about servicemen who served during the Civil War and the regiments they served in. Search for soldiers by surname:

Following is a brief description of the action which was seen by these men and the regiments they served in. They are listed in chronological order according to the dates they enlisted (at least those whose enlistment dates I know).

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William P. Outman (1837-1862)

David J. Outman (1839-1898)

George W. Outman George Washington Outman (1842-1914)

Among the first of the Outmans to enlist were these 3 brothers, sons of Jonah Outman. The brothers enlisted together in the 7th Michigan Infantry Regiment, Company I in Athens, Michigan on August 21, 1861 for 3 years. William was 24 years old, David was 22 and George was 19. The regiment was mustered into service on August 22, 1861.

Some of the engagements their regiment saw action in were: While in camp near Poolsville, Maryland in December 1861, George was attacked with measles for which he was hospitalized about 3 weeks. On the 1st day of February, 1862, the day after returning to duty, he had typhoid fever and was again hospitalized, this time for 6 weeks. "Thereafter the disease seemed to settle in his right leg, the said leg becoming very much discolored, turning black and was much swollen. So much so that amputation was suggested by the Surgeon of Columbia Hospital." He returned to duty, but on August 4, 1862 was again hospitalized where he "remained an invalid" until February 1863.

William died in a Convalescent Camp in Alexandria, VA on December 10, 1862.

In August of 1863, the 7th Michigan Infantry sailed to New York and stayed for 2 months during draft riots which were taking place there. The regiment was on active duty, fighting, marching and building earth works until December when 162 members of the regiment re-enlisted, including David and George. David re-enlisted on December 18, 1863 at Stevensburg, VA and was mustered into service on Dec. 19, 1863. George re-enlisted on Dec. 26, 1863 at Stevensburg, VA. was mustered into service again on January 7, 1864.

Some additional battles in which the 7th Michigan Infantry Regiment engaged:

David was wounded in action at the Battle of the Wilderness, VA, on May 6, 1864. He was transferred to Company C, 2nd Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps (also known as Invalid Corps), on January 23, 1865 by reason of Chronic Rheumatism. He was mustered out at Jackson, Michigan, on July 17, 1865.

Affidavits filed with his pension claim indicate that several years after the war, David "could scarcely move about" and was "troubled with difficulty of breathing". Also that he was "for a long time totally unable to do any work even of the lightest kind owing we believe to rheumatism and chronic diarrhea."

George was promoted to Corporal on May 1, 1865 and mustered out at Jeffersonville, Indiana, on July 5, 1865. Affidavits filed with his pension claim indicate that George suffered from "granulated eyelids" and swelling and lameness of the right leg. Also that he "was unable to perform any manual labor".

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George W. Chrysler (1845-1862)

George W. Chrysler (grandson of Rachael) enlisted in the 3rd Michigan Infantry Regiment, Company I on 13 May 1861 in Olive Twp., Kent County, MI. The regiment's Muster Roll says that George was 18 years old, but he was actually only 16 or 17. The 3rd was organized in Grand Rapids and was mustered into service June 10, 1861. Some of battles the 3rd Michigan Infantry took part in while George was alive were: C. Don Chrysler notes in his "Michigan Chrysler Family History and Tree, The Millennial Edition, 1600-2000" that according to Aunt Stella (Stella Chrysler Timmerman) and Uncle Elmer (Elmer Christler), "George had just come back from duty at the front and was eligible for a rest. However, George was anxious to win the battle and when the next group went to the front he joined in with them. He was killed soon after he arrived back at the front lines."

George W. Chrysler died on August 29, 1862, 1 of over 22,000 casualties in the 2nd Battle of Bull Run.

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George Willis Outman (1829-1862)

George Willis Outman (son of Jacob) enlisted as a Corporal in the 73rd Illinois Infantry Regiment, Company K on August 1, 1862 for a term of 3 years. Charles Wesley Purdy, who later married George's younger sister Rachael, also joined the regiment as a musician. This regiment was also known as "The Preacher's Regiment" as it was organized by Methodist minister Colonel James Jaquess and many "men of the cloth" served in the ranks. The unit was so successful, that the 116th Illinois was formed from the excess men. The 73rd was mustered into service at Camp Butler (Springfield, Illinois), on August 21, 1862. Almost immediately, the Regiment left for the front, arriving in Louisville, Kentucky on August 25. The Adjutant General's Report gives a good summary of the activities of this regiment. In early October they participated in the Battle of Perryville. During October and November of 1862, the 73rd Illinois Infantry Regiment lost many men to disability and disease; a number of men died at Bowling Green, where George was in the hospital, and many more in Nashville. Charles Purdy was discharged from service at Bowling Green on December 11 due to a disability.

On December 26 the Regiment broke camp to move to Stones River, Tennessee.

The 73rd Illinois did not take part in the initial fighting at Stones River, but they got their chance on December 31, 1862 when the Confederates attacked at dawn. On this day, George Willis Outman and a few others were sent up on the railroad track to reconnoiter. There George was shot down by a Southern sharpshooter. The Battle of Stones River resulted in 23,000 casualties. 25 members of the 73rd Illinois Infantry Regiment were killed or wounded in this battle.

George Willis Outman is buried in the Stones River National Cemetery, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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George Washington Mellen (1837-1916)

Hugh L. P. Outman Hugh Long Parrish Outman (1847-1927)

Jonah Outman's youngest son Hugh L. P. Outman, and his son-in-law George Washington Mellen (husband of Jonah's daughter Phebe) joined the 6th Michigan Infantry, Company A together in Athens, Michigan. They enlisted on January 5, 1864 and were mustered into service on January 9, 1864. Hugh was only 17 yrs, 10 months old at the time.

The regiment was recruited for the Infantry arm of the service, but in July 1863 was converted to a Regiment of Heavy Artillery (however it retained its Infantry designation). Most of the regiment's service took place in the southwest, on the Mississippi, and the Gulf of Mexico. During the time that Hugh and George served with the 6th Michigan Infantry, the regiment served as engineers, then later as heavy artillery and were engaged at: In August 1865 the 6th Regiment Michigan received orders to return to Michigan. Hugh and George were mustered out on August 20, 1865 in New Orleans, LA.

On 5 June 1886, Hugh Outman filed for an Invalid Pension. In his pension documents, it states that "on or about the last day of March, 1864, he was attacked with chronic diarrhea and bloody piles" while in rendezvous camp in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and they became much worse while in Coldwater, Michigan before going south. He was "badly off with the same" at Port Hudson, LA in May 1864. About the 24th of June 1864 in Vicksburg, Miss. he had a "severe run of typhoid pneumonia upon his recovery from which the veins of his lower left leg became badly swollen resulting in varicose veins. Diabetes also set in at about the same time."

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Nathaniel S. Outman

Nathaniel S. Outman (1847-1931)

Nathaniel (Jonah's grandson), served with the 4th Regiment Wisconsin Calvary, Company D. He enlisted under the name Nathaniel Curtiss as that was the family name of his mother's 2nd husband, who his mother married when Nathaniel was just 6 years old.

The 4th Wisconsin Cavalry was originally organized as the 4th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment at Camp Utley, Racine, Wisconsin and mustered into service on 2 July 1861. In early 1862 they shipped to New Orleans to join the "Army of the Gulf". They took part in expeditions against Vicksburg, the occupation of Baton Rouge and many successful expeditions during the winter. In May-July 1863 the 4th Wisconsin Infantry participated in the siege of Port Hudson. On 1 September 1863, the regiment was converted to a Cavalry regiment, to be known as the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry.

On 30 March 1864, soon after Nathaniel's 17th birthday, he enlisted with the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry, Company D. Thereafter the 4th regiment was actively and almost constantly engaged in scouting, picketing and accompanying expeditions of various points in Louisiana and Mississippi. In April of 1865, they participated in the capture of Mobile, Alabama. From April to July 1865 they continued their scouting, marching through Alabama, to Georgia, then Mississippi, and Louisiana. In July, the 4th was transferred, along with other troops, to Texas near the Rio Grande. Starting on July 8th, they marched from Shrevepost, LA to San Antonio, TX arriving on August 3rd. Companies of the regiment were detached to guard different points along the line of that river, and the whole command remained in this service until May 28, 1866, when the regiment was mustered out of service at Brownsville, Texas. In June they were transferred to Madison, WI, and were disharged on 19 June 1866. After his discharge, Nathaniel returned to Lodi, Columbia County, Wisconsin.

In Nathaniel's claim for an Invalid Pension, he states that he injured his back and right foot in an accident near Baton Rouge around January, 1865. He had been sent from the main body of his regiment to carry an order to the advance guard. When firing commenced, he hastened to get his order delivered. While running, his horse slipped and fell and Nathaniel's foot caught in the stirrup. When the horse arose he stepped on Nathaniel's back, thus injuring the back and foot.

Other affidavits indicate that he "suffered much from rheumatism, chronic diarrhea, and the effects of scurvy and in our best judgement he was fully one half disqualified for the performance of manual labor".

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George Gary Outman (1828-1922)

George Gary Outman (son of Stephen) was in the 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D. He enlisted from Harrison, Potter County, PA on 21 March 1864 in Company D, 53rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

In April 1864, George was in camp at Shepard's Grove, VA. During the middle of April, he was sick and unable to carry out any duties in camp. On the 3rd of May, his Company broke camp and went into the Wilderness Campaign. On 12 May 1864, while fighting in a battle at Spottsylvania Court House, VA, George was wounded by a gunshot to the "middle 3rd right thigh". He was admitted to Finley General Hospital, Washington D.C., on May 21 1864 and remained there until he was discharged from the Army on 2 June 1865.

After the war, affidavits filed to support George's pension claim, state that George was lame, "going with a cane", due to his war-time wound.

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Henry Outman (1826-1871)

Henry Outman, (son of Stephen) enlisted in Company I of the 189th Regiment New York Volunteers on 21 September 1864 from Corning, New York. Company I was made up primarily of volunteers from Allegany County.

The 189th was organized on 1 September 1864 and fought in these battles:

On 30 May 1865 the regiment was mustered out in Washington, DC. Henry was honorably discharged on the 10th of June 1865.

After the war, Henry applied for his pension. Affidavits filed in support of his pension application state "he was taken sick with the Jaundice the last of February or the first of March 1865, at Hatches River, Virginia, and was treated by Regimental Doctor, and started with his regiment on a march through rain and storm and took cold ... and that on or about the 1st of May 1865, was taken to the Division Hospital at Arlington Heights, Va..." Another affidavit filed by Henry's family doctor stated that he "found him laboring under the following disease to wit: Gastritis, Jaundice and swelling and pain in his feet which terminated in Rheumatism leaving him crippled and unable to labor or dress himself. He is still afflicted with Gastritis and Hepatitis in a chronic form..."

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Albert Outman (1821-1904)

Albert Outman (Jonah's 2nd oldest), at the age of 43, became the 5th of Jonah's sons to join the Union Army when he joined the 12th Regiment Michigan Infantry, Company I. The 12th Regiment was originally organized in Niles, Michigan and mustered into service on March 5, 1862. Albert Outman enlisted with them at Jackson, Michigan on March 28,1865. In January, 1864 the regiment was veteranized and 334 men re-enlisted. They moved to Arkansas and in October arrived at De Vall's Bluff, AR. The regiment continued to occupy posts in the area wherever their services were needed until they were ordered to re-assemble at Camden, AR, where they were mustered out of Federal service on February 15, 1866. From there, the 12th Regiment Mighigan Infantry started at once for Michigan, arriving at Jackson, March 27 1866, when it was paid off and disbanded March 6, 1866.

On 2 December 1879, Albert Outman filed a claim for an Invalid Pension. In his Declaration, he states that "on or about March 28th 1865, at Jackson, Mich., I took cold which settled in my head and caused deafness in both ears. And afterwards, about May 25th, 1865, near Ball's Bluff, Arkansas, I contracted chronic diarrhea from (which) I have never fully recovered."

The "Certificate of Disability" from the Regimental Surgeon indicates that Albert "was disabled in the line of duty by reason of scurvy contracted.....I thought the disease was caused by the long continual use of salt pork and insufficiency or want of fresh vegetables..."

Note: All Civil War records for Albert Outman have him listed as "Oatman".

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