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I wanted to post Uncle Frank’s letter as I think it explains a lot and answers some questions.

SERGEANT MAJOR MOSES WHITBECK

From Ulster County, New York, 102d N.Y. Volunteers

WAR BETWEEN THE STATES – USA

On November 13, 1861, Moses Whitbeck, a farmer in Ulster County, New York, was enrolled in Co. F, 1^st Regiment, Von Beck Rifles, which unit was organized in the City of Kingston at the beginning of The American Civil War.  This organization became Company “G” of the 102d N.Y. Volunteers in January or February, 1862.  He remained with this group until his discharge from active duty on July 21, 1865, at a camp of the The Army of the United States near Alexandria, Virginia. 

Whitbeck was born in Ulster County, N.Y., on June 11, 1842.  He was the first-born child of Jacob and Margaret Pattison Whitbeck, who were married in the Dutch Reformed Church in Hurley, N.Y., the previous year.   Thus Moses Whitbeck was 19 years, 5 months and two days old when he enlisted.  He was discharged after serving the Federal Army a total of 3 years, 8 months,  and 8 days.  During this period he served successively as private, corporal, sergeant, and sergeant major in campaigns in Virginia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Georgia until he was severely wounded near Dallas, Georgia, on May 29, 1864.  He overcame a serious head wound (right side), and was hospitalized at Chattanooga, Tennessee, before being transferred to Alexandria, Virginia. 

The foregoing information is confirmed by family biblical records and letters, as well as by certified copies of Moses Whitbeck’s original enlistment, his reenlistment after three years, Company “G” morning reports, casualty lists, hospital records, honorable discharge from the Army, application for pension, certification by his second wife, Frona Carley Whitbeck, and their sons (Frank, Roy, and Neal), death certificates, and finally Frona Whitbeck’s widow’s pension file.

However, there is still a discrepancy or omission I have not been able to clear up.  After personal visits to Chickamauga, Kennesaw Mountain, Pickett’s Mill, New Hope Church, and Dallas battlefields and monuments in Georgia, I have not uncovered any positive record the Co. “G” of the 102d N.Y. Volunteers as a separate unit of infantry was present during these most extensive and frightening engagements.  In one report, Sergeant Major Moses Whitbeck was shown to be attached to the “2^nd Division, 20^th Corps Infantry.”  The Atlanta Constitution, one of the South’s leading newspapers, on Sunday, July 17, 1994, published full information on the relentless Union drive toward their strategic goal – Atlanta.  The paper reported that on May 28, 1864, there were 380 Union and 600 Confederate casualties at Dallas (about 40 miles west/northwest of Atlanta).  Moses Whitbeck suffered “a severe gunshot wound to the right side of his head while bearing a rifle” the very next day.  I plan to continue searching the known records of Co. “G”, 102d NY Volunteers, through libraries and other means.  I suspect that I shall find that Co. “G” was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland under the command of General Thomas, which Army was credited with the successful breakthrough at Dallas in its drive toward Atlanta.

Incidentally, Moses Whitbeck was paid a small bounty on completion of this three years’ service.  He was also paid a small bounty when he was finally honorably discharged.  Moses Whitbeck died at Shawnee, Oklahoma, on March 31, 1906, from pneumonia; he was buried in the southwest section of Fairview Cemetery.  A daughter of his first marriage, Minnie Rose Whitbeck (who never married), is also buried in this same plot.  Both Frona Whitbeck and Mary Elthea Vanwagenen Whitbeck, are buried in Fredonia Cemetery (Wilson County), Kansas.*

*Subsequent to his return to Ulster County, NY, Moses Whitbeck married Mary Elthea Vanwagenen.  They had three children, all presumably born in Ulster County:  Harry b. August 18, 1869; Minnie Rose b. October 5, 1870; and Laura b. March 7, 1876.  For some reason the opening West lured Moses and family to Wilson County, Kansas (Fredonia).  Mary Elthea died unfortunately on August 31, 1877, leaving Moses with a family to raise alone.  On December 12, 1882, he married Frona Carley at Altoona, Kansas, Wilson County, she was then age 29, he 40.  Frona took care of the children as her very own and won lifetime support and admiration from them until her death.  She had four children of her own: Mignonette b. March 22, 1884, d. March 26, 1884; Frank b. December 6, 1885; Roy b. September 22, 1887; and Neal b. March 21, 1890.  Frona’s pension as a civil war widow began at $8.00 per month.  Before she died the pension had been increased to $24.00 per month.  Leaving Kansas this family pioneered the opening of Oklahoma Territory. 

Frank L. Whitbeck (grandson of Moses)

Littlerock, Arkansas