Moses McFarland

Moses McFarland

Civil War Photograph Collection RG98S - U.S Army Military History Institute

Quick Facts

Place of Birth:

Marietta, Ohio

Date of Birth:

June 25, 1821

Unit: 8th Vermont Infantry
Rank: Captain 
Enlisted: September 1861
Mustered in: February 18, 1862 
Muster Out: June 28, 1865
Photo Donated By: Civil War Photograph Collection RG98S; U.S Army Military History Institute

Description:

“Moses McFarland was born in Marietta Ohio, June 25, 1821 and then shortly after moved to Waterville Vermont in 1824. On October 22, 1849, he married Livonia A. Leach, who was born in Waterville, May 29, 1820, and died May 22, 1889. The issue of this marriage were five children: Lewis, born March 21, 1851, died August 7, 1851; Henry Moses, born August 5, 1852; Fred Harley, born March 9, 1854; Burton, born June 23, 1856, died July 14, 1856; Cora Livonia, born May 25, 1858, died October 9, 1862.For his second wife he married Julia Howard, with whom he now resides in Waterville. From this marriage there has been no issue, but in 1905 they adopted a bright little girl, Ha Mav, born May 4, 1900. 

He enlisted in the War of the Rebellion in September, 1861, serving as a line officer in the Eighth Vermont Regiment until the close of the war, being mustered out of the service in June, 1865. His regiment was assigned to the Gulf Department, under General Benjamin F. Butler. He was at the taking of New Orleans and participated in the forty-three-days' siege of Port Hudson. On the 8th of January, 1863, Captain McFarland with 35 men drove a force of Confederates consisting of 85 men and two pieces of artillery, from their rifle-pits, taking 28 prisoners, including their commander, who surrendered to Captain McFarland his sword and pistols. After the engagement he gave the weapons to his superior officer, who looked them over with curiosity and returned them to Captain McFarland, saying, "I think your conduct today has shown that you are quite as capable of taking care of them as anyone." This action and the strategy made use of that night, in lighting long lines of fires, indicating the encampment of a large army, caused the Confederates to desert their fortifications and burn the gunboat Cotton, the last of their fleet in these waters, giving the Union forces a victory of no small significance.

In July, 1864, after the return of the regiment to New Orleans from furlough granted on re-enlistment, it was ordered to report for service under General Philip H. Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, and participated in every battle in the following campaign in the valley. At the battle of Winchester Captain McFarland was carried to the field in an ambulance, and, against the orders of General Thomas, fought all day and marched 20 miles after the battle, pursuing the enemy fleeing up the valley.

On October 19, 1864, was fought the battle of Cedar Creek, one of the most noted of the war, during a part of which battle, after the wounding of Major Mead, Captain McFarland commanded the regiment. The experience of the Eighth Vermont in this battle was one of the most sanguinary of the war. Out of a total of 164 men en gaged, in less than an hour of the early morning of that terrible day, the regiment lost 110 men killed, wounded or prisoners, and 13 out of 16 commissioned officers. This percentage of loss was but once equaled by any Vermont regiment during the war. Captain McFarland has always been a very active man. Before the war and until recent years he has been occupied with various industrial enterprises, to the accomplishment of which he has brought a strong purpose and great energy. He has always been very public spirited, contributing willingly and largely, both in time and money, to the advancement of his town and village. Moses would die March 6, 1911 and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Waterville Vermont”.

*Excerpt taken directly from Successful Vermonters, A Modern Gazetteer: Of Lamoille, Franklin And Grand Isle Counties*

Source:

Jeffrey, William Hartley. Successful Vermonters, A Modern Gazetteer: Of Lamoille, Franklin And Grand Isle Counties. East Burke, VT: The Historical Publishing Company, 1907