Hosmer, Andrew J

Andrew J Hosmer

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company F, 44th Illinois Infantry

Place of Birth:

Chester, Windsor County, Vermont

Date of Birth:

September 4th, 1830

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, TN

Date of Death:

December 31st, 1865

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, TN

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

Andrew J Hosmer was born on September 4th, 1830 in Chester, Windsor County, Vermont. In his adult life, he moved to Ashly, Washington County, Illinois where he worked as a lawyer. On June 6th, 1855, he married Catherine C Butterfield in Massachusetts at the age of 25. She was 24 years old.

On July 1st, 1861, he enlisted into the Union army at the age of 32. He was mustered in on September 13th, 1861 in Chicago, Illinois. The Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls describe him as being 6 feet tall and having a light complexion with light hair and light eyes. He mustered into Company F of the 44th Illinois Infantry regiment as a Captain.

At the battle of Stones River, the men of the 44th Illinois were positioned along the Wilkinson Pike, waiting for the attacks the morning would bring. Early on December 30th the Confederate forces began to push the Union forces in the area back along Wilkinson Pike and into the woods and cedar trees in the area. The 44th ended up as the right flank of the V-shaped formation that they were pushed into. They were told to hold the line, however their lack of ammunition and continual loss of numbers told them otherwise. They were forced into a full retreat through the woods, wondering what would await on the other side. During this phase of fighing, the 44th Illinois lost over half of their men, with Captain Hosmer being one of them. Captain Hosmer lost his life on December 31st, 1862.

Andrew J Hosmer is laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot N-5424.