Edward Francis Cashel,
Emigrated to America:
He went to America in 1860 or earlier.
He went to stay with his uncle
William Kickham
and family in
Georgetown,
Washington, D.C.
(William Kickham
had been in America since at least 1849.)
Edward is
listed
in [US Census, 1 June 1860]
as living with his uncle William Kickham in Georgetown.
He is a "miller".
See Civil War battles of Edward Francis Cashel, July 1861 to Nov 1863.
The North's campaign did not start up again after winter 1863-64 until May 1864.
Edward's 3 years were up that month.
He was honorably discharged at
"the Wilderness",
VA on May 8, 1864, for
reason of Expiration of Term of Service.
This was the day after the
Battle of the Wilderness
(May 5 to May 7, 1864).
His military records say
he was in the hospital at the time of his discharge.
Though in 1864 letter he says he was never wounded.
He wrote a
letter on 20 May 1864 to his father George Cashel
in Ireland.
The war is still on,
but his 3 years are up:
"I have just returned to Georgetown from the Army in which I served 3 years. I was sworn in for 5 years, but Congress passed an Act that all persons who enlisted in 61 were to serve only 3 years".
In 1864 he is
staying again in Georgetown, DC,
with
"Uncle William and Aunt Jane".
He said:
"I have been in a great many battles,
and thank God I never received a scratch or wound in the whole campaign".
He was in 5 of the
10 biggest battles of the war
(Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, The Wilderness, Antietam, Fredericksburg).
Some of them the N lost.
He was lucky to have no injuries.
He
asks "what William and Blen are doing".
"Hoping you, brothers and sister enjoy good health"
(mother obviously dead,
and since this is apparently the first contact since he signed up in 1861,
she probably died before 1861).
While Edward was away, Battery G was dismounted in June 1864 and
sent to Washington.
It had no more active service in the Civil War
[Simpson, 1896].
Edward did not stay a civilian for long.
He rapidly
re-enrolled again, July 27, 1864,
at Fort Cass, Arlington, VA,
signing up for another 3 year period,
again
with Battery G, 2nd Regiment, US Artillery.
American Civil War ended May 1865.
Stayed in army after war, 1865-1870:
Edward deserted for one day, July 31, 1865, and was
apprehended August 1, 1865.
He was restored to duty without trial.
The 2nd Regiment, US Artillery, was assembled at
Fort McHenry,
Baltimore, Maryland,
in August, 1865,
and sailed from there for California via the
Isthmus of Panama.
(The Panama Canal
did not exist at this time,
but travel from E coast to W coast through the Isthmus
was still easier than travelling overland.)
The 2nd Regiment arrived
San Francisco
Sept 1865.
Set up headquarters at the
Presidio,
San Francisco
[Simpson, 1896].
Battery G were based
at Alcatraz Island, San Francisco.
Edward was
promoted to Corporal
(just above Private), 1 Jan 1867.
He was honorably
discharged from his 3 years service on July 27, 1867
at Alcatraz Island, San Francisco.
He immediately signed up for another 3 years service,
July 27, 1867,
at Alcatraz Island,
again with Battery G.
He was
promoted to Sergeant
1 Sept 1867.
Goes to Alaska, 1868:
He was sent with Company "G", 2nd Regiment, US Artillery, in 1868
to the new US territory of
Alaska.
He had rank of quarter master
sergeant.
Would need some education (maths) to hold that post.
[Foreman, 1935]
says that
after U.S. purchase of Alaska 1867,
Eli Lundy Huggins
(joined 2nd Artillery Feb 1866)
received orders to conduct "Battery G" from their post at
Alcatraz Island, California,
to Kodiak, Alaska.
The first U.S. troops arrived at Kodiak in spring 1868.
Huggins joined them on 6 June 1868.
[US Census, 1900]
says Edward arrived in Alaska in June 1868.
Edward served at Kodiak under Eli Lundy Huggins.
Battery G built the new
Fort Kodiak
at the
pre-existing Russian fort and Kodiak village.
[Huggins, 1874]
says the aim was:
"to prevent, in the absence of any organized civil government,
any abuse by the settlers, traders and fishermen upon the natives of the Island,
and second, to keep in check and overawe, by an exhibition of military force,
the more barbarous natives
of Kenay
and Alaska Peninsula,
who visit Kadiac" [Kodiak] "for purposes of trade."
William Kickham
wrote a letter to George Cashel, Feb 1869.
He says:
"I had a letter from Edward .. he is at Fort Kodiak, Alaska Territory".
Edward's letter to William was posted in Alaska in Dec 1868, sent by steamer to
"San Francisco, California"
(note he names the state - George mightn't have heard of
San Francisco, then just a small town)
and then E across the continent to Georgetown, DC.
"the letter was over 50 days coming here".
Huggins stayed with Battery G at Fort Kodiak until June 22, 1870
when he was assigned to
St. Paul Island, Alaska.
Edward did not stay in contact with home.
His brother Blen went to the great expense of actually
going to the US to look for him in 1870.
Blen received a
dispatch from
US War Department,
addressed to him in New York City, 9 July 1870:
"In reply to your communication of 29 June 1870, I have the honor to inform you that
Edward F. Cashel, Qr.M.Sgt, of Co.G, 2nd Regt US Artillery .. [is with his Co. at]
.. Fort Kodiak, Alaska Territory".
Leaves army 1870. Stays in Alaska:
Edward was honorably discharged as
Sergeant at
Fort Kodiak, July 27, 1870 for Expiration of Term of Service.
He left the Army.
Battery G left Fort Kodiak Sept 1870.
Fort was abandoned by army, but village continued and became
Kodiak city.
Troops were sent to
a number of other places in Alaska,
but by end 1870 all these bases (including Fort Kodiak) were closed
except for Sitka.
Huggins rejoined Battery G
at the Presidio,
San Francisco, November 19, 1870
[Foreman, 1935].
Edward stayed in Alaska.
He lived Kodiak, 27 July 1870 - 15 May 1871 [pension records].
Edward and
Marre-a
lived on
Unga Island
(the largest of the
Shumagin Islands),
Alaska,
20 May 1871 - Apr 1874 [pension records].
They lived Kodiak, Apr 1874 - 1878 [pension records].
They lived Unga, 1878 to her death 1884 [pension records].
Edward worked as an agent for the
Western Fur and Trading Company
(established 1877).
He is
listed as a "Storekeeper" in Unga for them
[Reeve].
He injured his left arm in an accident at his house in fall of 1883.
He worked as an agent for the Alaska Commercial Company
(which purchased the
Western Fur and Trading Company in
1883).
He was their agent as at 1884.
Gold was discovered on Unga Island in 1884
and there was a boom for many years.
Marre-a dies, 1884:
Marre-a died on 12 April 1884 at
Unga Island
[pension records],
age 36 yrs.
[Russian Orthodox church records]
say "Mariia Keshal"
died
1 Apr Julian
(which is 13 Apr new style).
They say she died
in Belkofski
parish.
Belkofski is just W of Unga
(see
map).
Belkofski parish might include Unga.
After his wife died in 1884,
Edward continued to live on Unga until at least 1907 [pension records].
After his wife died,
it looks like he failed to give the children a proper education.
He was able to read and write himself,
but his children Sarah and Edward are both listed as illiterate
in the 1900 census.
[Reeve]
lists Edward as "well educated" and "hard drinker".
He injured his left hip in the accidental discharge of his gun on 22 Oct 1884.
He applied for U.S. Army pension, 31 July 1893.
He applied
for U.S. Army pension, May 24, 1895.
From
here.
He applied for U.S. Army pension, April 8, 1898.
See US army pension record.
From
here.
Filed 24 May 1898,
[NA.US] T289.
There is a War Department document of 11 June 1898 about his pension.
See him
listed
in 1900 census
at Unga.
He is a "trader",
former occupation "miller".
It
incorrectly states he was born in D.C.
There is a sworn document of 18 Oct 1901
where he explains his injuries of 1883 and 1884, both to his left side.
It says the injuries
"have been such as to prevent him from earning a future living".
A friend signs a statement of 23 Oct 1901 and says Cashel's left arm and hip are both weak, and he
was unable to do any manual labor for the last ten years.
Says he has always been
"a sober, peaceable man of good habits".
Applied for invalid pension 17 Sept 1906. Living Unga.
Filed for pension again 16 Aug 1907.
He is living Unga.
Further document dated 18 Oct 1907.
He was a pensioner on the U.S. Army pension roll, #1037181.
Edward dies, 1909:
He died Dec 1909, age 69 yrs,
on Simeonof Island, Shumagin Islands, Alaska
[Reeve],
[Nancy von Konsky],
think NOT Unga.
Edward and Marre-a
had issue:
Edward in 1860 U.S. census, living with his uncle
William Kickham
in Georgetown, D.C.
See full size.
Extract from Edward's U.S. Army
enlistment of 8 May 1861.
See full size.
Eli Lundy Huggins, Cashel's commander at Kodiak 1868-70.
From here.
Map of Unga Island from
2006 plan.
Note locations of Apollo mining camp and Unga village.
See modern
satellite view
of the abandoned
Unga village in the SE.
 "Edouard Cashel" (born 1881). |
 Left to Right: "Maria Cashel" (born 1871), "Agnia Cashel" (born 1873), "Sarah Cashel" (born 1876). |
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