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Pvt. William A. Lowe
Submitted by
Melody,
Photo courtesy of the Wayman family, data provided by the Lowe family
Pvt. William A. Lowe of Co. E. 155th PA.
Volunteers. Photo taken in 1864.
William Alexander Lowe, son of
Alexander B. Lowe and Maria Catherine Reppert, was
born Aug 25, 1844 in Fayette City, Fayette Co., PA.. He died Aug 27, 1925 in
Danville, Illinois.
William served in the 155th PA. Volunteers Co. E during the Civil War as a
Private. He was mustered in on Mar 28, 1864 Pittsburg, PA. Wounded at
Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA. at Laurel Hill at the age of 19 yrs old on May 10,
1864 under the command of Capt. Saskett. He was 5 ft 8 inches tall, fair
complected, with brown hair and gray eyes.
William showed up on the wounded list in the 1st Div. 5th AC, Army of the
Potomac. He entered Gen. Hospital Fairfax Seminary, near Alexandria, VA on May
12, 1864 as Wm A. Lowe with gunshot wound to right lung received at the
Wilderness May 10, 1864. He was then furloughed Jul 20, 1864, returned Aug 18,
1864 again furloughed Nov 1, 1864, infirmed Nov 20, 1864 and discharged from
service Jun 10, 1865.(mustered out on Individual Muster Out Roll Jun 6, 1865 at
Washington, DC.) He did not fight in the battle at Gettysburg. Discharged by
General Orders on Jun 10, 1865.
According to 1880 Federal Pa. census, William was head of household and was
employed as a glass flattener. He was born in Pa. This census was taken in 3rd
Ward, New Castle, Lawrence Co., Pa.
The following is William's obituary believed to be written by his son
Alexander B. Lowe, however the dates in parentheses
were taken from history records:
William A. Lowe, Veteran of Civil War, Is Dead at Danville
Soldiers' Home
William A. Lowe, aged 81, a veteran of the Civil
War, died Thursday in the national soldiers' home at Danville, Ill. He had been
a glass blower in Pittsburgh, living here most of his life. He is survived by
five sons and a daughter, twenty-two grandchildren, and ten great-grand
children, most of whom live in the Pittsburgh district.
When twenty years old Lowe enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth regiment
of Pennsylvania Volunteers, Co. E at Pittsburgh. He was immediately sent to join
his regiment in winter quarters at Warrenton, Va.
Order to break camp was given a month later, and all haste was made to get to
the battle of the Wilderness, (battle went from May 5 -7, 1864) in which he soon
ordered by Gen. Grant to flank the Wilderness and to proceed at top speed to
Spotsylvania, Va., where a battle was already in progress. (battle went from May
8-19, 1864)
This battle lasted eight days with great loss to both sides (and victory to
neither side). On the twelfth of May, Lowe's company was ordered to charge with
fixed bayonets. It was in his charge that he received the wound which put him
out of further service. A bullet penetrated his right breast and lung, and he
was left until after the battle when his mess mates carried him to the rear to
be examined by the field doctor.
The doctor stated he would not live long enough to be taken to the hospital, but
his mates dressed the wound anyhow and placed him in a hospital wagon which was
drawn by mules. Just then the Confederates made a return charge which caused so
much noise and excitement that the team of mules ran away and never stopped
until they reached Fredericksburg, Va., where the dead and wounded were laid out
in a field called Belle Plains.
While the rough ride in the wagon put an end to the lives of some of the
occupants, it revived Lowe enough to enable him to know where he was and to see
what was going on. He is known to have said that as far as he could see, the
dead and arms and legs were in piles like haycocks in a meadow.
After being cared for at Belle Plains, he was taken to the Fairfax hospital
where he remained one year and two months, when he was released and discharged,
as the war was over. He then returned home and raised a family.
He was quite well except for a cough which lingered and which contributed to his
death.
Battle of the Wilderness including Spotsylvania:
Army of the Potomac- Maj.Gen. George Meade, Commanding
Fifth Army Corps- Maj.Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren
First Division- Brig.Gen. Charles Griffin
First Brigade- Brig.Gen. Romeyn Ayres
155th PA- Lieut.Col. Alfred L. Pearson
Company E- Pvt. William A. Lowe
William was placed on the Indiana Civil War Roll of Honor and buried in Danville
National Cemetery.
John Lyons and William Lowe worked at the glass
factories in Belle Vernon before the Civil War.
William Alexander married
Alwilda Edetha Sisley on Jul 30, 1865 in Fayette City, Fayette Co., PA.
Alwilda Edetha, daughter of
Amberson Evans Sisley and Mary Ann Lowstutter, was born Mar 27, 1844 in
Fayette City, (Sisleytown) Washington Twp., Fayette Co. Pa. She died 1919.
William Alexander Lowe and Alwilda Edetha Sisley
became the parents of the following children:
- Austin Sisley Lowe was born Mar 20, 1881 in
New Castle, Pa. He died Mar 19, 1957 in Jeannette, Pa.
- William A. Jr. Lowe was born Feb 5, 1871 in
IL.
- Barton Lincoln Lowe was born May 19, 1879 in
MI. He died Feb 6, 1937 in York, PA.
- Fred Lowe was born Oct 1, 1883 in Pittsburgh,
Allegheny Co., PA.
- Mary "Mollie" Ellen Lowe was born Jul 6, 1866
in PA. She died Mar 27, 1920 in Pittsburgh, PA.
- Alexander Buchanan Lowe was born Jan 14, 1874
in Ottawa, Illinois. He died Jan 30, 1930 in Miami, FL.
- Alwilda M. Lowe was born Mar 15, 1876 in
Illinois.
- Maggie U. Lowe was born Mar 11, 1869.
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