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Descendants of James Quinn

Generation No. 1

1. JAMES² QUINN (PATRICK¹) was born September 15, 1839 in Omagh, County Tyrone, IRELAND, and died April 8, 1922 in North Canaan, CT. He married WINIFRED NOLAN February 20, 1870 in Lee, MA, daughter of PETER NOLAN and MARY LOGAN. She was born September 15, 1846 in Balygar, Galway, IRELAND, and died May 4, 1924 in North Canaan, CT.

Notes for JAMES QUINN:
from Connecticut Western News, Thursday, July 3, 1913

CANAAN'S INTEREST IN GETTYSBURG.

      Gettysburg is generally conceded to have been the greatest battle of
modern history. To the three days fighting that began July 1, 1863, fifty
years ago this week, the Union casualties were 23,049 men lost, in killed,
wounded and captured; the Confederate casualties, 28,063. The battle
resulted in a victory for the Union arms, but at fearful cost. Dead men
and dead horses strewed the ground in heaps when the fighting was done and
the scene was one of carnage and destruction such as the world had seldom
witnessed.

      The story of Gettysburg is a thrilling story, and well calculated to
kindle the imagination and fire the blood of the youth of this generation.
It must inspire them with a wholesome veneration for the patriots who went
into that awful fight and endured the frightful experiences that were their
portion. But, though it was a half-century ago, that great event is not
yet far enough in the perspective to give it the tinge of historic romance
that fascinated the mind in the stories of Bunker Hill and Valley Forge.
So many of the men who participated at Gettysburg are still alive to tell
the story in person--and a tale of war that is told by a living actor in
the stirring drama is less impressive than the same tale related by
historians and poets after all the actors are dead. The portrait of
somebody's Revolutionary ancestor who has long been dead, inspires more
profound emotions than the person hand-clasp of a Civil War veteran who may
have passed through experiences infinitely more hazardous and thrilling.
Appreciation may be none the less keen, but the glamour of romance which
time and history impart is lacking.

      Right here in Canaan there walks about our streets--modest, unassuming,
quiet, and with less of self-sufficiency than the man whose chief pride is
that he once shook hands with the Governor--a veteran who passed through
that awful experience at Gettysburg and played his part in that three days
tragedy.

      James Quinn, who is enjoying the great reunion of veterans at Gettysburg,
this week, could tell of personal experiences in that stupendous battle,
and others, that would sound like the thrilling tales of romance. A mere
boy of 19, in the 12th United States regular Infantry, he went through the
three days fight without a scratch, though bullets whistled about his head
and comrades fell dead and wounded, all around him. He witnessed the full
horror of the closing scenes, when the thousands of decaying dead bodies
strewn all over the blood-soaked ground, sent forth a stench that was
sickening. A year after Gettysburg, in the charge upon Spotsylvania
Courthouse, he was wounded three times, had his leg shot away, and was left
for dead, among the dead, upon the field.

      It is the living presence of such survivors and "Jim" Quinn, that should
give to a community a sense of peculiar, personal interest in the history
of the great war, in the great reunion now in session at Gettysburg.
___________________________________________________________________

from Connecticut Western News, July (date unsure), 1913

QUINN WAS THERE

Canaan Veteran Went Through the Gettysburg Fight Without a Scratch.

      James Quinn, who is at Gettysburg this week, is the only veteran in this
section who was in the great Gettysburg battles. He stated, before
starting for the big reunion, that he would be particularly interested in
revisiting a certain big rock in Little Round-Top which sheltered him for a
time on the night of July 4, 1863, when he, with his army chum, utterly
exhausted from the awful wear and tear of the three days' fighting, sought
a refuge from the terrific rainstorm that came up that night. They were
encamped in the open, and in constant readiness to start the next morning
in pursuit of Lee's retreating army. When the storm came upon them Quinn
and his comrade crawled to the big rock referred to--an arched formation
which offered shelter from the storm--and there they lay down, utterly worn
out. But soon the water coming down the mountain side in torrents, formed
a pool where they lay. They were too tired and exhausted to move, however,
and resolved to stay where they were, regardless of the water. But the pool
kept growing deeper, and finally became so deep that they would have
drowned if they had not moved away, and they were forced out into the
falling rain again.

      While preparing to pursue the rebels, Mr. Quinn said they were nearly
stifled by the sickening smell from the thousands of decaying bodies, of
soldiers and horses, that had been lying dead, some of them since the first
day's fight, in the broiling sun of those days of fighting. The dead men
had turned "black as your hat," and it was impossible to tell the white
from the colored soldiers as they lay around in heaps and drifts.

      Mr. Quinn fought during those three days without receiving a wound, while
his comrades were dropping, dead, wounded and dying, all around him. There
were times, he says, when he expected that every next moment would be his
last, as the balls were buzzing around his head like bees on the wing.

      He was only 19 years of age at the time of Gettysburg battles, and
belonged to the regular army, being a member of the Twelfth United States
Infantry, of New York. He lost his leg in the battle of Spotsylvania
Courthouse, where he was wounded three times in quick succession, one ball
penetrating his shoulder, and for hours he lay on the field, helpless and
suffering, having been for the time, abandoned as dead.

      He anticipated rare pleasure in meeting with surviving members of his old
command, at the reunion, and will doubtless have an interesting story to
tell when he returns.

________________________________________________________________
from Canaan, Conn., Thursday, July 17, 1913 (Connecticut Western News)

      "JIM" QUINN PLEASED

Says Soldiers Fared Well at the Big Gettysburg Reunion

      James Quinn, Canaan's Gettysburg veteran, who returned last week from the
great reunion on the historic battle-field, is enthusiastic over the
experience and has nothing but words of praise for the excellent manner in
which the fifty-odd thousand old soldiers were entertained and cared for.
He met none of the comrades of his old command--the Twelfth United States
Infantry--but encountered a number of acquaintances among the old comrades
of other regiments. It was his intention to climb Round Top mountain and
visit again the big shelving rock that furnished shelter to himself and
his army chum during the tremendous Fourth of July rainstorm that followed
the three-days battle, until the torrents that poured down the mountain
side nearly drowned them and drove them out; but on arriving at the foot of
the hill, after fifty years and the loss of one leg had somewhat dampened
his ardor for hill-climbing, he was content to look up to the spot, far up
toward the summit, where he had undergone his drenching experience, and let
it go at that. The hill appeared far more formidable than it did fifty
years before.

      The battle-field itself, he says, has nothing in its appearance to suggest
the bloody locality that it was when he saw it last, strewn with dead men,
dead horses, and wrecked and abandoned implements of war. It is now a vast
and beautiful park, clothed with beautiful monuments, carpeted with
well-kept lawn and adorned with flowers and trained shrubbery--one of the
peaceful beauty-spots of the earth.

      One of the most enjoyable features of the Gettysburg reunion experience,
according to Mr. Quinn, was the meeting with the rebel veterans, especially
those who were in the Gettysburg battle. It was like meeting long-lost
brothers--these grizzled old warriors who fifty years ago were shooting one
another with intense desire to kill, came together at the reunion with
affectionate hand-clasp and cordial greeting, and the exchange of
reminiscence and personal experience was a mutual pleasure.

      The worst discomfort of the entire reunion week was the intense heat,
which discouraged many of the veterans so they returned home after the
first day in camp. Mr. Quinn stood the strain without serious results, and
remained in camp until July 5. Among his tent mates were Charles Thompson,
of Canaan Valley, and "Joe" Simpson, of Torrington, a former resident of
Canaan, who will be remembered by the older Canaanites. Mr. Quinn and his
traveling companions, who left Canaan Monday morning, reached Gettysburg
late the same night, but it was 2 o'clock the next morning before they
found their quarters in the camp.

      Reference has been made in this columns to Mr. Quinn's experience and to
his injuries in the Spotsylvania battle, where he was wounded three times
and received the injury that cost him his right leg. He was left on the
battlefield, for dead, and remained there, on the open field, among the
dead and dying, for 24 hours, suffering untold agony from his wounds.
Finally he managed to crawl off the field and out of rebel territory, to
the Union lines, where he was taken to an old barn used as an improvised
hospital, where his wounds were treated and his leg amputated, and in this
barn he remained six days before he was able to be removed, and as soon as
he could stand the strain of the journey he was sent home.

      Mr. Quinn is modest and loath to talk about his war experiences, except to
comrades who know by reason of their own experience, and never voluntarily
refers to the part he acted in the war.

      A friend, in conversation with him a few days ago, referred to his
apparent modesty with regard to his own experience.

      "Well," said Mr. Quinn, "I have run across so many who are willing to
admit that they individually fought the whole war to a finish and put down
the rebellion, that the little part I had in it doesn't seem worth
mentioning."

      That's modest Jim Quinn.
_________________________________________________________________

from Connecticut Western News, Thursday, April 13, 1922

      JAMES QUINN WAS A VETERAN OF THE CIVIL WAR

Wounded Three Times in Battle of the Wilderness


      The death of James Quinn on Saturday marks the passing of one more of the
few remaining veterans of the Civil war and a highly respected citizen of
this town. It is said that he is the last veteran of the Catholic faith in
the town.

      Mr. Quinn was born 82 years ago in Omagh, County Tyrone, Province of
Ulster, Ireland. He came to this country at the age of eighteen, locating
with an uncle in Bridgeport. He enlisted on April 11, 1862, in Co. B, 12th
Regiment U.S. Infantry, in New York, and was later called back to that city
to quell the draft riots which ensued.

      While Mr. Quinn was in the service but two years he saw considerable
action and was wounded three times, resulting in his discharge just before
the war closed. He came through the battle of Gettysburg without a
scratch, but during the Battles of the Wilderness he lost a foot and was
hit in two other places. His discharge states that he was in the battles
of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Mine Run, The Wilderness and
Spotsylvania, all important engagements.

      After his discharge Mr. Quinn returned to Bridgeport and came to this town
in 1868. He worked for a short time for Luman Foote as harness maker and
then went to Lee, Mass. While there he married Winifred Nolan and shortly
afterward moved to Great Barrington where he opened a harness shop, which
he conducted for about ten years. He then returned to Canaan and again
entered the employ of Mr. Foote, whose business he purchased and conducted
until 1905, when he retired. He was independent in politics, though he
was elected to the office of First Selectman on the Democratic ticket. He
voted for both Roosevelt and Harding for president.

      Mr. Quinn possessed a quiet, genial disposition and his harness shop was
general headquarters for the men of his age who congregated there to
discuss questions of the day. Some who are still living can well remember
many amusing and interesting incidents which happened there.

      Besides his wife, Mr. Quinn is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Charles
D. Mackie of Pittsfield, Miss Katherine Quinn of Boston and Miss Mabel of
this place; also two sons, Joseph W., of Danbury and James of Springfield,
Mass., and nine grandchildren.

      Funeral services were held from St. Joseph's church on Monday morning with
a requiem high mass by Father Ranney. Musical selections were rendered by
Miss Gertrude Huggins of Hartford and J.A. Bianchi. Burial took place in
the family plot in St. Joseph's cemetery. Members of David S. Cowles Post,
G.A.R. and the American Legion attended in a body. Taps were sounded as
the casket was lowered in the grave.
_________________________________________________________

...and a postscript from 1997:

Email received:

Robert Rowen,
      My name is Major Bob Leach, and I am the U.S. Army historian for
Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia. One of the units that is here is
the 3d Battalion, 12th Infantry, which traces its lineage to Company C,
12th Infantry.
      It would help immeasurably if you can give me any information at all
about the Civil War exploits of this unit (company or regiment). As the
historian here, one of my most important responsibilities is to make the
young soldiers who are manning checkpoints feel a connection with the
soldiers who have gone before them.
      The fact that this unit fought in the American Civil War and is now
involved in quelling another civil war on the other side of the world is
clearly significant.
      Looking forward to hearing from you, as soon as possible. A rapid
response is more important to us than the quality or quantity of
material.

MAJ LeachDear Major Leach:

      .....For the moment, here�s some additional background on the Gettysburg March you integrate so well into your story:

From The Twelfth Regiment of Infantry, Lt. Charles Abbot
recounts the march to Gettysburg.

      The march to Gettysburg was made via Manassas, Aldie Gap, Monocacy, Frederick and Union Mills, which was reached on the 30th. July 1st, left Union Mills and passed through Hanover, Pa., to the vicinity of Gettysburg. About five P.M., 2d, the division went into action, and remained under fire for nearly three hours. The battalions were engaged a good part of the time in changing positions, all of which was done in perfect order, although suffering heavy loss. General Ayres commends the gallantry of the division on that occasion, stating that although the casualties were terrible (fifty per cent.) no one thought of retiring until the order was given. The position taken on the evening of the 2d, was held until the morning of the 4th, when the brigade made a reconnaissance. Company B, Captain Winthrop, was sent skirmishing, and performed this duty in such a manner as to win the praise of the brigade commander. The entire loss in these operations was 92, one officer, Lieut. Silas A. Miller, being killed, and four wounded. Captain Thomas S. Dunn was in command. Major Smith having resigned, May 30th, Major Dickinson Woodruff succeeded him in the 2nd Battalion, but did not join until October 5th, when he assumed the charge of the regimental recruiting. Lieut.-Col. Butterfield was promoted colonel 5th Infantry on July 1st, and was succeeded by Lieut.-Col. Christopher C. Augur. Col. Augur had been appointed brigadier-general of volunteers in 1861, and major-general the next year, and his service during the entire war was with the volunteers.

Background #2 - events preceding march to Gettysburg - 1 May to 15 Jun 1863
      On May 1st there was an encounter on the Fredericksburg Pike. The regiment was in the line of battle on one side of the road. Skirmishers from the 2d Brigade were in advance. The enemy, when met, was driven about a mile. On the 3d some good work was done in covering the 11th Corps. On the evening preceding the retreat a division picket was formed of officers and men, specially selected, without regard to roster, for the purpose of covering the retiring troops. A captain of the regiment was placed in command. An eye witness wrote as follows: �The woods were on fire throughout the length of the picket line, and when night fell, soon after the sentinels were posted, the burning branches and falling limbs made the scene almost appalling; at intervals the enemy would approach out line and fire at random; nobody was hurt, but a more agreeable way of passing the night can easily be imagined. Before dawn the picket was quietly withdrawn, and followed the remainder of the army across the river.� The regiment lost 23 men during these operations. Camp near Falmouth was resumed, and retained about a month, when the regiment moved to Banks� Ford, and did picket duty until June 14th.

Both paragraphs above from
      Abbot, Charles Wheaton, (1832-1918), The twelfth regiment of infantry, Journal of the Military Institution of the U.S., no. xiv (1893), pgs 1125-44.

__________________________________________________________

>dear Robert. thanks alot for all the info you sent on the 12th U.S. In one
>e-mail i learned more then i've been able to find in all my civil war books.
Our reenactor unit is based in Syracuse,N.Y. We are Co. A. there is also a
Co.B. ,but i've only just met a private Pat Mooney over the net, so I'm not
sure where they are out of. As far as numbers of guys in ours ,we are now up
to thirteen(hopefully)with some new recruits as of last week.I'm also
relativly new to them and so i haven't thought to ask how long they(the
originals) have been the 12th. We are going to the 135th aniver. of Antietam
on Sept,12 13 14 th.It is been said this will be the biggest of the year,
with around 16 or 17,000 reenactors attending and 60,000 spectators. Some of
the guys are going this weekend to a tiny one in Dryden N.Y. which is south
of Syracuse off of 81 south. we go around to these tiny ones to support other
unitswho are the host of the event,They inturn come to ours , which was just
in Liverpool N.Y. two weeks ago. It got bigger and better this year (so I'm
told). we had a full size 12 pounder napolean brought there by artillery
unit. all the little kids were crying from the noise, and i got to take a
"hit" or die right in front of my mother and sister, they were thrilled!! My
pard Neil and i also spent timefilling out "enlistment papers "for little
kids and paying them the 13 dollers a month in advance, so it was fun.I would
definatly would like to recive more from you on the 12th. The memoirs of the
officers sounds great . just what i have been looking for!!! One of my close
friends is named Jim Quinn (not of the unit) and i can really relate to
your Jims experiance at gettsburg ,because on july 4th I was at Gettysburg
participating in my first big event, I got heat exhaustion, bad, but my
friends took care of me,. I sat out saterdays and watched and then did
sundays. There were about 2,000 on each side for those. You could see Big
round top from where they held it. On the ground where the movie was filmed.
this is just west of the Esinhower farm on pumping station rd. The big
hospital barn from the movie was where registration was held. Anyway thank
you so much again ,please yes! send more!!!!
Yours Pvt , Bill O'Dea

Notes for WINIFRED NOLAN:
Sender: Robert_Rowen@compuserve.com Received: from po1.namesecure.com (po1.namesecure.com [205.229.232.3])       by arl-img-2.compuserve.com (8.8.6/8.8.6/2.12) with SMTP id LAA09741       for <71044.706@compuserve.com>; Sat, 29 Aug 1998 11:29:19 -0400 (EDT) Received: (qmail 25194 invoked by alias); 29 Aug 1998 15:29:18 -0000 Delivered-To: redirect-rr@libraryautomation.com Received: (qmail 25174 invoked from network); 29 Aug 1998 15:29:18 -0000 Received: from arl-img-7.compuserve.com (149.174.217.137) by po1.namesecure.com with SMTP; 29 Aug 1998 15:29:18 -0000 Received: (from root@localhost)       by arl-img-7.compuserve.com (8.8.6/8.8.6/2.12) id LAA29672;       Sat, 29 Aug 1998 11:26:50 -0400 (EDT) Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1998 11:26:33 -0400 From: Robert Rowen <Robert_Rowen@compuserve.com> Subject: re: Your ancestors - from Susan Mackie Bond Sender: Robert Rowen <Robert_Rowen@compuserve.com> To: "INTERNET:smackie@bangate.fda.gov" <smackie@bangate.fda.gov> Cc: bainbridge <bainbrdg@pop.erols.com>, Margot Curran <bigmig@webtv.com>, Carole Enright <enright@nbsc.org>, Amy Elizabeth Enright <aenrigh@emory.edu>, Andrew Enright <aenright@darkwing.uoregon.edu>, Logan Enright <logan@enrightcompany.com>, Paul Logan Enright <EnrightCo@aol.com>, Christine Snyder & famil <the.snyders@juno.com>, Gail Harris <gail_harris@nbsc.org>, Jim McPartlin <bigprtyjim@aol.com>, Mcpartlins <Mcpartlins@aol.com>, Cate Rowen <crowen@crocker.com>, "William R. Rowen" <BillKeys@aol.com>, WILLIAM P ROWEN <74343.1300@compuserve.com>, Robert Rowen <rr@libraryautomation.com>, Michael Rowen <anthony@bitstorm.net>, "Prof. Martha Rowen" <Martha.Rowen@nyu.edu>, John Snyder <John.Snyder@fmr.com>, Rick Stafford <mes@world.std.com> Message-ID: <199808291126_MC2-57C2-331A@compuserve.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Disposition: inline

Message text written by INTERNET:smackie@bangate.fda.gov 7/7/98 to Bob Rowen at 71044.706@compuserve.com >Bob,

I will have to organize my information and send to you to add to info about
our ancestors. For my honeymoon, I went to Ireland and went to Ballygar to
the village of Killroran where Winifred Nolan (James Quinn's wife) came from when she was 12 -15 years of age to America. Her whole family is from there as well I assumed. I found the only cemetery, of which I'm sure our relatives are there. Unfortunately, you could not decipher any names or information from any tombstones that date before the late 1800s. I received all sorts of information about the town and village but was unable to verify any living relatives there. There were indeed a bit of Nolans and Lohans but they weren't positive if they were related. I need to do a bit more research before returning to see if they are!

They told me there though that our family name of Logan (Winnifred' mother)
is actually Lohan and the "g" was added when the Irish came to America.

I will get my things organized and get back to you with more info. Ireland
was wonderful though. I didn't get a chance to get to Omagh where Quinn came from, it was further north.

Sorry we missed you at the wedding! I will send pictures!

Susan Bond (!) formerly Susan Mackie. <

Dear Susan Bond:

A big but very tardy thank you for your great message and your wonderful curiosity in Ireland.

With your permission I will add your message to Winifred Nolan's note field which is on the web at http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/r/o/w/Robert--Rowen/index.html

Congratulations again on your marriage. Our new business kept us from attending but you and family have a standing invitation to visit us on your next trip to or near NYC.

Love,

Bob

Robert Rowen Library Automation Management, Inc. 101 Clark Street, 27C Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201 (718) 834-1414 Our Web Site is: http:// LibraryAutomation.com Our E-Mail Address is Mail@LibraryAutomation.com


Children of JAMES QUINN and WINIFRED NOLAN are:

	i.	(BABY) JAMES P.³ QUINN, b. May 31, 1871.
2.	ii.	MARY ELLEN QUINN, b. October 10, 1872, Great Barrington, MA; d. December 25, 1944, Pittsfield, MA.
	iii.	KATHERINE QUINN, b. July 2, 1876; d. 1963.
	iv.	JOSEPH QUINN, b. October 30, 1878.
3.	v.	JAMES FRANCIS QUINN, b. April 13, 1882, Canaan, CT; d. October 8, 1954, Simsbury, CT.
	vi.	MABEL WINIFRED QUINN, b. October 8, 1884, Canaan, CT; d. July 5, 1975, Winchester, MA; m. THOMAS JAMES MCENROE, October 10, 1922, Canaan, CT; b. 1888; d. 1958, Winchester, MA..

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