First Sergeant John H

First Sergeant John H.W.N. Collins
54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment

Collins, John H.W.N. 1^st Sergeant, Company H, 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Born about 1842, in either North or South Carolina, as records vary. Enlisted as private on 4-21-1863, at age 22, promoted to Full Sergeant, 1^st Class. (Orderly Sgt.) He was wounded at least twice. Official records list him as wounded at Fort Wagner on July 18^th, 1863. He reported a “long illness” while stationed in Florida, but was not injured at Olustee. While on the Camden campaign in April, 1865 he was “stung lightly in the left hand.” by buckshot. He served as chief mess officer of Mess No. 1 while on Morris Island. He mustered out on August 20, 1865 at Mount Pleasant, SC. He applied for disability pension in June, 1873, dying probably in 1893, as his wife made a widow’s application for pension in July of that year. John was married, and a painter living in Illinois. He and his wife had several children during a long marriage. He lost at least one child, a small daughter while he was in South Carolina in August, 1864. According to census records, John’s wife Louisa was born in Missouri, and her father was born in Virginia, mother in Kentucky. Both of John’s parents are recorded as born in North Carolina on the census which also lists his nativity at North Carolina. John continued working as a painter at least into the 1880’s. Known children include the unnamed daughter above: Georgia C, born about 1862, in Illinois, another daughter Eda E, born spring or summer of 1869, a son, Lloyd B, born approximately 1873, and a son, Othello who was born about 1875. They lived in Batavia, Illinois at the time of the 1870 census, and were resident on University Avenue in Champaign during the 1880 census, where Louisa was also listed as working as a hairdresser. John was a frequent contributor to the Christian Recorder, writing long, detailed letters about field conditions, thoughts and dreams. The letters show a high level of skill and intelligence, and are very well-written.