General Notes

William G. Coen was listed as 21 years old when he joined the Union forces.  He
enlisted as a private on 4/29/61 and was mustered into "G" Company, Minnesota
1st Infantry.  This was soon after the Civil War started.  Clay Feeter provided
a 3 year regimental history of Minnesota 1st Infantry, including casualty
analysis for 20 encounters through 10/14/63.  They fought at Bull Run (7/21/62),
the Virginia Peninsular Campaign (5/8/62 to 6/30/62), Antietam MD on 9/17/62
when Wm was wounded, Fredericksburg VA (12/13/62), and Gettysburg PA on 7/2/63
(when Wm was again wounded) and on 7/3/63.  Clay Feeter was excited to find
someone who had a direct ancestor who was wounded at Gettysburg.  He explained
that the Minnesota Infantry was ordered to make an almost suicidal charge
against Confederate forces on "the second day" (7/2/63).  The casualty list
shows 40 1st MN Infantry killed and 176 wounded on that day.

The 1st MN Infantry was ordered to Fort Snelling for mustering out on 4/29/64.
William G. Coen mustered out on 5/5/64.  (He and Lydia Ressler were married on
9/17/64

Pension file:


On March 20, 1915, William G. Coen of Sargent, NE, filled out a declaration
which confirms his Ohio birth on March 15, 1839, his September 17, 1864 marriage
to Lydia Ressler at "Fairbolt" (misspelled), MN and lists their 11 named
children with birthdates as we have them and notes that Marry Ellen, William
Steven, and Abiden Evert are dead.

A declaration filed September 1, 1925 reveals his declining health:  from
September 1, 1922 he required "regular personal aid and attendence of another
person...for the following disabilities:"

Almost blind in right eye.  Can see very faintly with the left eye. Hearing
much impaired.  Knees effected with a numbness making it impossible for him to
walk at times, and at times when walking about will stagger and fall. General
physical condition broken down.  His left foot where he received gun-shot wound
during the Civil War is causing him a great deal of pain.  When effected with
dizzy spells
he becomes almost unconscious.

This form was prepared by a notary public and signed by William's "X" mark.  It
identifies him as 5 feet 7 1/4 inches tall with light complexion, hazel eyes,
and brown hair.  He was a farmer with residence after military service at Rice
county, MN and Boyd, Brown, and Custer counties, NE.  (He probably worked on
farms owned by others in Nebraska, since he moved his family around.). His
military service from April 29, 1861 until May 5, 1864 is verified. Despite his
poor health, this form reveals that in 1925 he and Lydia were "raising
grand-daughter 12 years old now, who was given in the care of her father by the
court and father has now passed away (said father being the son of claimant)."
Checking my database, I believe that this child was Mildred Coen, daughter of
Jesse Calvin Coen (d. Feb 1922) and his cousin Mina B. Coen.  Our cousin Lydia
Andrews McNichols had told me that Mildred was "cared for by the family after
her dad's death."

The file also contains a brief pension declaration form dated June 11, 1898 and
an Adjutant General's Office verification of service dated August 28, 1876 which
verifies that he was "...wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, PA July2/63 and
sent to Hospital Co, was in action at above time and place."  When he died on
February 7, 1933, his son J. E. Coen (that would be Jacob Eldon) applied for and
received a burial flag at Gates, NE where William G. Coen is buried.