Guide to the Papers of William N. Haymaker, 1861-1886 (bulk 1861-1864)
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Papers of William N. Haymaker
- Creator
- Haymaker, William N.
- Collection Number
- MFF#74
- Extent
- .15 cubic feet (3 folders)
- Date
- 1861-1886
- Date
- 1861-1864
- Abstract
- William N. Haymaker was a Monroeville (Allegheny County), Pennsylvania farmer who served with the 63rd Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers during the Civil War. These papers include correspondence and other sundry items, primarily documenting William Haymaker's service with the 63rd regiment during the Civil War.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
Biographical Sketch of William N. Haymaker
William N. Haymaker was a Monroeville (Allegheny County), Pennsylvania farmer who served with the 63rd Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers during the Civil War. Born in Franklin Township (Westmoreland County), Pennsylvania, Haymaker moved to Monroeville (Patton Township, Allegheny County), Pennsylvania where he was a farmer for forty years. He later moved to nearby Turtle Creek (Allegheny County), Pennsylvania, where he resided until his death. William served two terms as justice of the peace for Patton Township and one term as burgess for Turtle Creek. He was a respected and active member of the Presbyterian Church. William married Mary Simpson of Patton Township and they had eight children: Joseph, Anna, Virginia, Seward, John Carothers (1853-?), Ida, William, and Laura.
On August 1, 1861, William Haymaker and his brothers, Michael and John, joined Company A of the 63rd Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers. Haymaker was mustered as a private, but was promoted to second lieutenant before the 63rd became engaged in any major battles. On March 5, 1862, he was promoted to quartermaster of the entire regiment and remained in that capacity until he was mustered out on August 5, 1864. Haymaker was wounded at the Battle of Fair Oaks and Seven Pines, Virginia on May 31, 1862. As an officer, Haymaker took a furlough to go see his family in December 1863 and spent a small portion of the war in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in an official capacity. Also serving in Company A, John Haymaker was promoted to corporal after the Battle of Gettysburg and was wounded at the Battle of White Oak Swamp (Nelson's Farm), Virginia, on June 30, 1862. Michael Haymaker was neither promoted nor wounded during his service with Company A of the 63rd Regiment. Little is known of their activities after the Civil War. At some point William's son, Joseph, enlisted in the Union Army and served with the Fifth Army Corps as a Calvary escort.
Colonel Alexander Hays organized the 63rd Regiment from Allegheny County and other Western Pennsylvania counties. Hays would later be promoted to brigadier general before his death at the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia, May 1864. On August 26, the bulk of the 63rd Regiment started for Washington, D. C. and settled down at their winter quarters near Alexandria, Virginia. Like many other regiments, the 63rd established a school for officers and began daily drills to insure that its soldiers were well versed in military discipline. During this period of relative inactivity, William Haymaker was promoted to Second Lieutenant of Company A. In the spring of 1862, the 63rd moved with the Army of the Potomac to Yorktown, Virginia. After a number of small skirmishes with the Confederate Army, the regiment was called to their first major battle. The 63rd defended the Williamsburg Road at the Battle of Fair Oaks and Seven Pines, May 31-June 1, 1862. While William Haymaker was wounded in this engagement, the battle cost the lives of many in the regiment including Monroeville neighbors James Maxwell and Robert John Linton. Right on the heels of the Battle of White Oak Swamp, the 63rd Regiment fought at the Battle of Malvern Hill, the last of the Seven Days' Battles. On July 1, 1862 at Malvern Hill, the 63rd was stationed at the rear of the line in a support position, thus allowing them to rest behind the artillery. Before long, the 63rd found themselves at the Second Battle of Bull Run (August 29-30, 1862). At the battle, the regiment participated in a hazardous charge with fixed bayonets and during the battle. Both Colonel Hays and Major Kirkwood were injured. Captain James F. Ryan assumed command and ordered the troops to retreat. For the rest of the battle, the 63rd remained at the rear of the front, primarily in support roles. The 63rd suffered great losses at the battle and were sent to Washington, D. C. in defense of that city.
The 63rd Regiment fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg (December 13, 1862) and suffered heavy casualties. The Regiment was relieved and eventually allowed to retire to their former camp. Their next campaign, Chancellorsville, began in April of 1863 under the leadership of General Hooker. Of the Regiment's 330 soldiers that started the battle, 120 men were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. After the battle, the Regiment remained in camp until the battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863), where the 63rd suffered relatively light casualties. Their duties alternated between heavy fighting at the front and picket duty. After following the Confederate Army out of Pennsylvania, the 63rd set up camp at Culpepper, Virginia. They remained at the camp until the fall and were reinforced by 300 drafted men. The 63rd fought at the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia and in three days of fighting (May 5-7, 1864), 186 soldiers were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. Among the dead at Wilderness were Brigadier General Alexander Hays. The 63rd entered into battle again at the North Anna River (May 23-27, 1864). The 63rd's final battles were centered on the city of Petersburg, Virginia. The 63rd suffered great casualties during the assaults and siege at the Virginia City in June 1864 and lost 276 of 475 men. Included among the dead at Petersburg was Sam McNeal, a neighbor and friend of Haymaker. They remained engaged at Petersburg until the expiration of the term of enlistment (August 1, 1864) for the original members of the regiment. Those still under military obligation were transferred to the 99th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers. William Haymaker and his brothers John and Michael returned to their homes in Pennsylvania.
Scope and Content Notes
These papers include correspondence and other sundry items, primarily documenting William Haymaker's service with the 63rd regiment during the Civil War. The bulk of these papers are letters written by Haymaker to his wife, Mary, during the War. These letters describe William's experiences, thoughts, opinions, and provide news concerning William's brothers and neighbors. These letters reveal clearly William's desire to return to the family farm in Monroeville, and his staunch support of the military leaders to see a final end to the war. Relating to his desire to return to Pennsylvania, Haymaker was continually concerned with Mary's operation of the farm and how she was managing in his absence. In a letter written on May 23, 1863, Haymaker conveys his hopes that the 63rd Regiment would be combined with another, allowing the excess officers to be mustered out, but cautioned her not to pin her hopes up to his possible release from military duty. Even his return to Pennsylvania in June 1863 to fight the Confederate Army at what would be the Battle of Gettysburg, is described with his pleasure to return to native soil, not a concern for the safety of his family and others in Pennsylvania. As his mustering-out date approached, Haymaker wrote primarily of his enthusiasm to return home even with the casualties facing the Regiment at the Battle of Petersburg. Concerning the leadership of the Union Army, Haymaker often assesses the capabilities of various military leaders and provides his perception of the troops' faith in their leaders. In letters written after Gettysburg, Haymaker exudes with confidence of an immediate victory over the Confederate Army. Haymaker had great distaste for the Copperheads (Confederate sympathizers in the North) and writes repeatedly against their cause and that of General McClellan, who was seen as a leader off the Copperhead cause. His distaste for Copperheads clearly intensifies in his letters written just prior to and after the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1863). Other issues discussed by Haymaker include brief comments on the military draft, England's potential role in the war, general camp life, including his disgust at the prostitutes who followed their regiment in a May 23, 1863 letter to Mary, and passing references to his African-American servant boy. However, he offers little information on his feelings about the issue of slavery. Haymaker rarely describes the battles that he participated in, but describes the aftermath of many of those battles including the burial of the slain soldiers.
Among other letters in these papers are a few written by Haymaker to his children, a friend, and a letter written by Joseph Haymaker to his sister. The miscellaneous materials include two receipts from the Adams Express Company for sending William's army wages home, William's discharge papers, a newspaper clipping describing a rebel spy caught masquerading as a woman, and a certificate of Haymaker's membership in the Turtle Creek post of the Grand Army of the Republic (H. B. Hanes, Post Number 199). Also included with the miscellaneous materials are two poems, one written possibly by Joseph Haymaker eulogizing a comrade from the 63rd Regiment who died at the Battle of Petersburg in 1864.
Arrangement
The William N. Haymaker Papers are housed in three folders and are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These items came in one accession in 1978.
Acc# 1978.31 Gift of Mrs. James Proctor, (Papers. These papers were transferred from the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York City for Mrs. Proctor).
Preferred Citation
Papers of William N. Haymaker, 1861-1886, 1861-1864, MFF# 74, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Fiona Seels on September 26, 1994.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Doug MacGregor on June 2, 2001.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
- United States -- Army -- Pennsylvania Infantry -- 63rd Regiment
- Haymaker, William N.
- Haymaker, Joseph
- Allegheny County (Pa.) -- Social Life and Customs
- Monroeville (Pa.) -- Agriculture
- Monroeville (Pa.) -- Social Life and Customs
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Women
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Propaganda
- Fair Oaks (Henrico County, Va.), Battle of, 1862
- Petersburg Crater, Battle of, 1864