 Carte de Visite from the Richard Ferry Collection. Used with permission. |
 Image provided by Lance Ingmire Used with permission. |
Captain Garrett Van Deveer, Company A
On 24 February, 1864, died of wounds received at Olustee.
Carte de Visite from the Richard Ferry Collection. Used with permission. |
Image provided by Lance Ingmire Used with permission. |
"Captain Garret Van Deveer resided in the village of Fultonville, Montgomery Co., was a coal merchant by occupation, and like many others, left a young wife, a large circle of warm friends and the many endearments of home to take up the sword in defense of our country. He entered the service as Capt. of Co. A, which rank he held to the day of his death. At Olustee, Fla., while gallantly cheering on his men he was badly wounded through the thigh, and although weak and pale from the loss of blood, refused to leave the field; and steadying himself with his sword continued to fight. When the conflict was raging the most furiously, and when the red tide of blood drenched the soil like rain he was shot through the right lung and fell to the ground under a mortal wound. His faithful comrades bore him through the swamps a distance of nineteen miles, when he rode all day and the most of the next night in an open car, never as much as sighing, though suffering extreme pain. At Jacksonville he was placed on a hospital boat and conveyed to Beaufort, S.C. When he breathed, the blood filled his mouth, and as he lay it soaked the sheets and bedding; still the brave man never complained. Upon reaching Beaufort, Chaplain Harris came up to the captain and said; "Are you wounded badly?" He replied, "some think I'm not, but I think I am." He had barely reached Beaufort when death came to his relief, and he died on the 24th day of February, 1864, and was buried beneath the soil where treason first breathed hostility to the Union. The funeral was largely attended, and the military and the order of Free Masons, of which he was a member, accompanied his honored remains to the grave. Col. Sammons desired to take the remains of the captain home; so the corpse was taken up and sent to Hilton Head, and inclosed in a metallic coffin. It was not permitted to go on the steamer at that time, and several sick and wounded soldiers from the regiment buried him in the soldiers' grave-yard at Hilton Head, S.C. General Seymour caused a redoubt in the fortifications at Jacksonville to be named Van Deveer, in honor of his memory, and noticed the captain's gallantry in general orders. Had he lived, a Lieut. Col's commission would have been his. A brother served as an officer in the Union army."
- from The Iron Hearted Regiment: Being An Account of the Battles, Marches and Gallant Deeds Performed by the 115th Regiment N.Y. Vols. - written by 1st Lt. James H. Clark, Company H, in 1865.
In February 1865, Mrs. Van Deveer received a letter from Major E. Walrath, then commanding the regiment. The letter, and its envelope, is shown below. The letter states:
Headquarters 115th N.Y.V.
Fort Fisher, N.C.
Feb. 10th 1865
Mrs. Capt. G. Vandeveer,
Madam,
I herewith enclose a piece of the Old flag that was with the regiment at Olustee. It being badly torn I thought best to send a piece to all the friends of the regiment. With the best wishes of the regt. to the wife of our late friend and comrade.
I subscribe
myself very respectful
Your obedient servant
E. Walrath
Major commanding the regiment
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