Conflict: Civil War
After Allen Morse died in 1864 from illness contracted while a prisoner of war at Andersonville Prison, his widow, Philinda, applied for a widow’s pension. Widow’s pensions had been around since the Revolutionary War, but it wasn’t until the Civil … Continue reading
Conflict: Civil War
During the Civil War, the soldiers’ deadliest enemy was disease, and Private Allen Morse was no exception. After three months of captivity in Andersonville Prison, Allen would join the staggering statistic of Civil War deaths caused by disease and malnutrition—60% of … Continue reading
Conflict: Civil War
Allen Morse was a Union soldier captured in Richmond, Virginia, on 20 June 1864 and sent to Andersonville Prison in Georgia two days later. It was at the infamous prison that Morse met his death, as did about 13,000 others. … Continue reading
Conflict: Civil War
On 11 June 1864, Allen Morse fought in the Battle of Trevilian Station with the 6th Michigan cavalry under Brigadier General George A. Custer. Morse had served in several battles before then, but this was the one that would lead … Continue reading
Conflict: Civil War
Allen Morse was 28 when he joined the Michigan Volunteer Cavalry as a private in August of 1862. Like the majority of soldiers and officers in his regiment, he didn’t have any prior military experience. He was initially enlisted in … Continue reading