“The Squire”
– by G.W. Little (published in the Bedford Gazette, Bedford, PA; July 3, 2008)
Benjamin Franklin Jamison was born, lived, and died in Bedford County. The farmer Union soldier, schoolteacher, Justice of the Peace, husband of Caroline (Whetstone) Jamison, and father of 10, survived Antietam, The Wilderness, Potomac River, Spotsylvania, North Anna River, Cold Harbor and Andersonville Prison.
Ben volunteered twice for service in the Union Army. Born March 19, 1843, in East Providence Township, the son of David Jamison, Sr. and Sophia (Defibaugh) Jamison, young Ben was a farmer in Snake Spring Valley before volunteering. The blue-eyed, fair-complected, light-haired 5’8” lad enlisted in Huntingdon, Pa., on August 7, 1862, as a private in company I, 125th Infantry Regiment, Pa. Volunteers.
Less than two months later, on September 17th, 1862, at the Battle of Antietam Creek, near Sharpsburg, Md., Ben was shot in the left thigh. He was first removed to the hospital at Chambersburg, PA., and remained there for eight days. He was then moved to Harrisburg, PA. and lodged in a schoolhouse downtown and treated for his wounds. A few days later, he was moved to Walnut Street Hospital, then to Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, PA. He contracted typhoid fever and was so delirious he did not recognize his father who had been summoned and stayed with Ben for eight weeks while he was being treated by Dr. Hays. The first part of January 1863, he was given a leave of absence by the physicians to go home. His father accompanied him on the train. Ben was so weak he was not able to walk or help himself, nor did he regain saneness until April. He was discharged from the Army, May 18th, 1863.
So ended round one of Benjamin F. Jamison vs. the Confederacy. One would think enough is enough, but after 10 months of healing at home, the Bedford County farmer went back for more. On February 22, 1864, he once again enrolled, as a private, this time in Company B, 110th Infantry regiment, Pa. Volunteers. The first time he served he received $13 a month, which was a private’s pay in those days. This time he received a $60 bounty, plus one month’s pay of $13 in advance. He was next listed on the March 11, 1864, muster roll of the 110th Regiment Pa. Infantry, at Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, Pa.
The Spring of 1864 brought General Grant’s Overland Campaign. In May, Private Jamison was part of The Battle of the Wilderness, on May 6, Potomac River, on May 10, Spotsylvania, May 12, 14, and 19, North Anna River and Cold Harbor, where he was captured on June 2, 1864. He was confined at Richmond, Va., June 3rd and shipped by railcar with other Yankee prisoners, to Andersonville, Ga., arriving June 8, 1864. He was held prisoner in the open stockade, where thousands of men died of starvation, exposure, and disease.
After surviving nine months in Andersonville Prison, Union soldier number 153-871 was paroled at Wilmington, N.C., March 1, 1865. From there, he was taken by steamship to the US Army General Hospital, Division 2, Saint John’s College, Annapolis, Md., where he was a patient from March 27 until furloughed April 24, 1865. The depot Quarter-Master’s office furnished furlough transportation for Ben from Annapolis, Md. to Harrisburg, Pa. at a cost of $2.77. Ben drew the following articles of clothing: (1) forage cap, (1) flannel sack coat, (1) pr. trousers. (2) flannel shirts, (2) prs. drawers. (2) stockings, and (1) great coat. These items were deducted from his pay when he was mustered out at Harrisburg, Pa. May21, 1865.
On May 9, 1867, in Everett, Pa., Benjamin married Caroline Whetstone, daughter of Samuel Whetstone and Julia Ann (Cogan) Whetstone. The young couple settled in Loysburg, Pa. where Ben was a schoolteacher, Justice of the Peace, known as “Squire Jamison.” They built a home on the northern end of the village, had 10 children, and were active in the Reformed Church. He died April 16, 1920, and is buried in the cemetery beside the Saint John’s United Church of Christ, in Loysburg.
In January of 2004, Benjamin F. Jamison’s name was added to the Andersonville Prisoner Profile as a survivor. His name also was added to the “Walkway of Valor” in the National civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pa., to honor his service in both the 125th and 110th.
… notes from the author, also published with the article
Family’s quest for its past
My father, James Arthur Little, started the process by sending to the national Archives in 1976 for the records of his grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Jamison, who served in Co I, 125th Pa. Vol. We talked about his grandfather’s part in the Civil War, and he told me as a small boy he could remember him walking with a limp.
After my father passed away, I sent for the records for Co. B, 110th Pa. Vol for Benjamin Franklin Jamison. Then my nephew sent me the medical records he had received from the government that ran up to time of Mr. Jamison’s death. From them, I learned that his one leg became shorter due to the gunshot wound at Antietam, disease from Andersonville, and infection that reoccurred all through his life
I supplied Joan Stibitz at the Andersonville National Historic Site, 496 Cemetery Road, Andersonville, Ga. 31711, with copies of the war records as proof that he was there from June 8th, 1864, to March 1, 1865.
There is a book handed down through our family written by John W. Urban who was at Andersonville during the same timeframe my great-grandfather was there. Battlefield and Prison Pen has a copyright of 1882 by Hubbard Bros. It was owned and signed by B.F. Jamison then his daughter, Clara Virginia (Jamison) Little, then to her son, James Arthur Little, then from my father to me, Gaylord W. Little, and finally to my son, Benjamin James Little.
Mr. Jamison has descendants all over the USA. So far, I’ve located over 130 and have e-mail addresses for most. I have been enjoying sharing pictures and stories with many of my cousins.
Benjamin Jamison’s Great-Great Grandson and namesake is Benjamin James Little, of Bedford County.
-Submitted by G.W. Little
Squire, Blacksmith, Collier, Settler 