Non-Commissioned Officers of the 13th Maine Infantry Regiment

The men of the 13th Maine included about 49 who enlisted as sergeants and 69 who enlisted as corporals. Also, the wagoners were paid at the Corporal level even though they were not line non-coms. As time passed many of these men left due to disabilities, casualties and promotions. Their positions were filled through the promotion of privates or subordinates.

Many of the enlisted men were promoted to higher non-commissioned or commissioned officers, including: 136 of the privates, 2 musicians, 32 corporals, and 27 sergeants.

Over 90% of the men have been identified on one of more census reports. Many people have sent me genealogical data, pictures, letter transcripts, etc. Information on the type and amount of information I have is found in the page about biographical and genealogical information which indicates the number of relatives identified, sources, pensions, demographics, etc. A sampling of the non-coms for whom we have considerable biographical information, photos and copies of documents include:

Albert Loring - A private who was promoted to Captain

Corp. Samuel Cole Hooper (Photo) What really happened to him?

2nd Sgt. Samuel O. Waterhouse (Photo) Died on the way home

Sgt. Alden B. Willey (Photos of him and wife) Lived to be an old man in California

Corp. Leonard Bosworth Jr. (Photo) A bit rebellious

The Goodale brothers (Photo) Three brother went to war and two came home

Sgt. Major Levi L. Hawes (Photo) Another private who was promoted to Captain

1st Sgt. Eri W. Wyman (Photo)

Corp. Albert Loring

He enlisted as a private into Co. B at Norridgewock, Maine, on 10/29/1861, and mustered in at Augusta, Maine, on 11/28/1861. He was promoted to Corporal on 2/15/1862. In 1863 he was promoted into the Corps d'Afrique as the 1st Lt. Of Co. A, 1st Louisiana Artillery for a year and then as the Captain of Co. C, 10th US Colored Artillery for over two years until 2/22/1867.

He was described at enlistment as a 20 year old single student, 5' 7" tall, with dark hair, dark eyes and a dark complexion.

He was born 3/21/1841 at Norridgewock, Maine, one of at least ten children of Ira Loring and Betsey Eaton. Their ancestors were among the first settlers of Norridgewock. He was a brother of Captain Edward Payson Loring of the 13th Maine. He married Caroline Wing on 12/22/1865. They had at least seven children. He died prior to 2/8/1924 in Massachusetts.

Corporal Samuel Cole Hooper

Samuel Cole Hooper enlisted as a private into Co. K on 11/15/1861 at Biddeford, Maine, and mustered in at Augusta, Maine, on 1/23/1862. He was promoted to Corporal in 1863. He transferred into the 13th Maine Battalion on 12/26/1864.

His is an example of misleading or confusing records. There is no record of his mustering out or discharge but he must have transferred into Co. H of the 30th Maine. There is a death record for a soldier named S. C. Hooper, private, Co. K, 13th Maine, 6/18/1862, but his widow filed a pension application in 1914. On the 1890 Veteran & Widow census it states he served in Co. H, 13th Michigan Infantry. All of this is confusing but clarified by Mrs. Carl Ross…

"Samuel died 3/14/1870 in Jackson, Michigan where he was a prison guard. After his death, his wife Almira L, married Samuel's brother, Arthur. They were separated in 1894, divorced in 1916."

Samuel was described at enlistment as an 18 year old single machinist, 5' 8 ¾" tall, with brown hair, blue eyes, and light complexion. He was born 8/7/1843 at Biddeford, Maine, one of at least eleven children of Samuel Hooper and Dorcas Staples. His brothers, Pvts. Orlando and Caleb Staples, also served in the 13th Maine with him.

2nd Sgt. Samuel O. Waterhouse

Samuel O. Waterhouse enlisted as a Sargent in Co. F of the 13th Maine after serving a three month enlistment as a private in the 1st Maine infantry. He was discharged for disability from the 13th Maine at Ship Island, Mississippi, on 4/10/1862. According to his military burial record he died of diabetes in Portland, Maine, on 5/4/1862 and is buried there in the Evergreen Cemetery. The notation on the accompanying picture would suggest that he died in transit home.

He was born about 1838 to Samuel and Sarah Waterhouse. He was listed as a merchant, a clothing dealer and a clerk in various records. He never married or had children.

Sgt. Alden B. Willey

Alden B. Willey enlisted as a Private into Co. E, 13th Maine, and was promoted to Corporal and then to Sergeant on 6/1/1862. He transferred into Co. B, 30th Maine Infantry, and mustered out with that regiment at Savannah, Georgia, on 8/20/1865.

He was born in 1841 at Cherryfield, Maine, one of at least seven children of Andrew Willey and Sarah Wilder Bridgham.

He was living in Minnesota in 1880 with 52 year old, "Mrs. L. S. Willey", perhaps his mother, Sarah. His occupation listed as "Bridge Builder". In 1900 he is a lodger in Vallejo, California. He is listed as married for 28 years but his wife is not with him. His occupation is Shipright. In 1910 he is still in Vallejo with his wife, Adelia. They had no children. His occupation is Real Estate Agent. In 1920 he is still in Vallejo, now a 79 year old widower and a Real Estate Broker. In 1930 he is still in Vallejo, living alone and listed as an 89 year old Civil War veteran.