William Henry Pohlman was born January 10, 1842 on the island of Borneo, the son of missionary parents (William J. and Theodosia R. Scudder Pohlman). Upon the death of his mother, Pohlman was sent to America in November 1845, arriving in this country in May 1846. Pohlman was raised by his aunt, Elizabeth Pohlman McClure, who resided at 196 State Street, Albany, NY. Pohlman received his early education at Albany Academy. Under his aunt’s religious influences, Pohlman united with the North Dutch Church, now known as the First Church in Albany (Reformed) and devoted himself to foreign missionary work. In the fall of 1859 Pohlman entered Rutger's College, New Brunswick, New Jersey. At the outbreak of the Civil War, however, Pohlman left Rutgers and enlisted as a private in the 1st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company G, on May 28, 1861, to serve three years.

Pohlman's letters home furnish the best account of his military life. While with the 1st New Jersey Pohlman wrote home of the first battle of Bull Run, where the 1st New Jersey Regiment was too late for the fight, but had plenty to do in guarding the retreat of the Federal Army. Pohlman also wrote about participating in a Grand Review of 75-80,000 troops, which was observed by General McClellan and President Lincoln. In another letter Pohlman described witnessing a military execution of a Union deserter.

In January 1862 Pohlman was placed on detached service with the newly formed US Signal Corps. Communicating "at a distance of miles, by means of flags during the day, and torches at night" was considered the cutting edge of technology of the day. Pohlman was sent to Fort Monroe in Chesapeake Bay, where he saw the Monitor just two weeks after the historic naval battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack (CSS Virginia). While with the Signal Corps, Pohlman was also involved in the battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg.

Promoted to Lieutenant in January 1863 with the 59th New York Infantry Regiment, Pohlman became the Regimental Adjutant, and participated in the battle of Chancellorsville. In a letter home, on May 13, 1863, Pohlman wrote:

"There is no honorable way for us to obtain peace, so let us fight. I don’t care how much I am engaged in conflict. This last battle makes the 13th one of the war in which I have been engaged, and somehow or other I begin to think I have a charmed life. In all these squabbles I have never received so much as a scratch, and the closest shave was at Yorktown, where a piece of shrapnel shell cut a lock of my hair off, just as nicely as though done with a pair of scissors."

In a post script to that letter, Pohlman adds:

"Have just heard through a deserter that Gen. Stonewall Jackson is dead. He was a brave man, and I almost regret his death, although a traitor."

The 59th NY Infantry Regiment arrived at Gettysburg a 6 a.m. on the morning of July 2, 1863, the second of the three day battle. The 59th NY, part of Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock's 2nd Corps, was positioned in the center of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge, in front of the famous Copse of Trees. Later on the afternoon of July 2nd the 59th NY assisted in the repulse of a brigade of Confederates from Georgia under the command of Gen. Ambrose Wright. It was Lt. Pohlman's 14th engagement of the war.

The monument of the 59th NY Infantry Regiment at Gettysburg where approximately 12,000 Confederate infantry converged on the afternoon of July 3, 1863 in what is now known as "Pickett's Charge". 

Then, during the tremendous cannonade of July 3rd, Lt. Pohlman was wounded in the left shoulder by shrapnel, rendering his arm powerless. His men urged him to leave the field, but he said, "Not while I have my sword arm left." An hour later, during the Confederate infantry assault known as "Pickett's Charge", a minie ball shattered Pohlman’s sword hilt, penetrated his right wrist and passed up his arm. One of Pohlman’s men wound his handkerchief around the arm and pushed his ramrod in the wound to keep it from bleeding.

Staying on the field of battle until the attack was repulsed, Pohlman then walked under his own power three miles to the 2nd Corps Field Hospital, located on the Jacob Schwarz farm near Rock Creek, fainting once along the way.

After being treated for his wounds at the Field Hospital, on July 11th Pohlman was moved into the town of Gettysburg to the home of John Swope, located on the northwest corner of York and Stratton streets. The improved conditions Pohlman was now placed in, and his naturally good constitution, were thought to be sufficient to carry him through. However, on July 20th, secondary hemorrhage set in and Pohlman sank rapidly. He fell into a stupor toward the last and was not conscious. Pohlman was called by name several times, but he took no notice. A hospital steward stooped down and shouted in his ear, "Adjutant." Pohlman opened his eyes for a moment and then closed them again. A short time later he raised his head and gave the order "CEASE FIRING!" These were Lt. Pohlman’s last words. At 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 1863, Pohlman died of his wounds at the Swope house.

The John Swope House where Lt. Pohlman died July 21, 1863.

The Swope house was owned by George Swope; one of Gettysburgs wealthiest citizens in 1863.

It now is the Swope Mansion Bed & Breakfast.

His body was embalmed at Gettysburg and sent home to Albany. The funeral was held on Monday, July 27, 1863.

Lt. Pohlman's gravestone in the Albany Rural Cemetery stands almost six feet tall. The base consists of two layers of rocks, symbolizing the breastworks erected for battle. Inscribed on the rocks are the names of several battles in which Pohlman was engaged; Fairfax Court House, Turkey Bend, White Oak Swamp, Gaines Mills, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Chantilly, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. Shown creeping up the rocks at the base of the gravestone are vines of ivy, which symbolizes constancy and loyalty.

Atop the rocks is a dead tree stump; an oak. According to German folklore the oak tree represented power against evil. The oak also symbolized temporal human strength and the male family head. When depicted with trunk and branches severed, as on Lt. Pohlman's gravestone, the oak stands for the end of a family line. This is indeed appropriate in Pohlman’s case, for his father had been murdered by pirates in China.

Lt. Pohlman's gravestone in Albany Rural Cemetery, click image to enlarge. 

Surrounding the oak are a soldier's accouterments; kepi, sword and flag. On the back side, laying horizontally across the base of the tree stump is a cannon barrel. Engraved on the barrel are Lt. Pohlman's last words, "CEASE FIRING".

Today, Lt. Pohlman's name appears on the square bronze tablet on the New York State Monument in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. In addition, Lt. Pohlman’s photograph is currently on display in the "Wall of Faces Exhibit" at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum.

Lt. William H. Pohlman....just might be the only Civil War soldier born on the island of Borneo!

The author, Mark Bodnar at the "Soldier's Monument" to the Civil War soldiers.  The tablets on the sides were made from melted down cannons used in the Civil War.   Lt. Pohlman's name is visible in the far left column in the photo, 23rd from the bottom.  Click on photo to enlarge.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

PUBLISHED SOURCES

Clark, Rufus Wheelwright, D.D.. The Heroes of Albany: A Memorial of the Patriot-Martyrs of the City and County of Albany. Albany, NY: S.R. Gray, 1867.

Busey, John W. These Honored Dead: The Union Casualties at Gettysburg. Highstown, NJ: Longstreet House, 1988.

Phelps, Henry P. The Albany Rural Cemetery: Its Beauties, Its Memories. Albany, NY: Phelps & Kellogg, 1893.

Linden-Ward, Blanche. Silent City On A Hill: Landscapes of Memory & Boston’s Mt. Auburn Cemetery. Ohio State University Press, 1989.

Phisterer, Frederick. New York in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1865. Vol. 1. Albany, NY: J.B. Lyon Company, 1912.

MANUSCRIPT SOURCES

Pohlman, William H. Service and Medical Records, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Bachelder, John B. Papers. New Hampshire Historical Society. Concord, New Hampshire.

Alumni Register of Rutgers College, 1863. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

New York State Regimental Histories, 59th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

Pohlman, Henry N. Papers. New York State Library, Manuscripts and Special Collections Unit, Albany, New York.

Pohlman, Mary S. Letter to ? ("My Dear Friend"), January 7, 1864. Original in the private collection of Mark T. Bodnar, Loudonville, New York.

NEWSPAPER SOURCE

Atlas & Argus, Monday, July 27, 1863. Albany, New York.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SOURCE

CDV. Courtesy of the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, Albany, New York.