Person:Walter Thompson (25)

BIOGRAPHY: Note: Disappeared Off Steamboat Presumed Dead Event: Occupation Note: Farmer, Soldier DSCR: Note: Personality - Adventurous Residence: Lindina, Juneau, WI Event: Military Service 12 Feb 1864 Note: Enlisted H County. 35Th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin Volunt eers Event: Cemetery Note: Likely Buried In Mississippi River, No Record Found Event: Death Cause Note: On Steamer, Mississippi River, Between Vicksberg Mississipp i, And Cairo Illinois.

BIOGRAPHY: Burial: Likely buried in Mississippi River, no record found Note: Cause of Death: dissentary ? COMM: has marker in Thompson Cemetery, Lindina COMM: Mother received $8.00 month pension,start,1886 REFN: 88 Walter came as an infant to Wisconsin in 1848 from Illinois to the Columbus area then in 1853-4 to Lindina Township Mauston Wisconsin. Was an identical twin brother of Wallace. Family lore states that he disliked working the farm and worked for his brother Ozro cutting cord wood and making rails. That when he was 20 years old he ran off to join the Army. Some of his letters are on file from the Civil War. He is listed as Private Company H, 35 Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers. He enlisted in February 1864 at Camp Washburn. He wrote before he died, that he liked soldiering better than farming. He was dead by September of that year. No record of burial, but records state he died on a steamer between Vicksburg and Cairo. Most likely he was put in the river. He was on way home on sick leave. Had been on a hospital steamer first.

1. ↑ AAThompson, in Rootsweb
   [1].
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Body lost or destroyed, in Find A Grave
   Pvt Walter Thompson .

   Birth: Oct. 27, 1846
   McHenry
   McHenry County
   Illinois, USA
   Death: Sep., 1864, USA
   
   
   Burial:
   Body lost or destroyed
   Specifically: Died on steamer, Mississippi River, between Vicksburg Mississippi, and Cairo Illinois, no record of burial.

3. ↑ Walter and Wallace were identical twins. Neighbors reported later that they could not tell them apart. Records show that Walter enlisted in the Civil War at Milwaukee in February 1864 as a Private. Several letters he wrote home indicated that he liked being a soldier, "better than farming", but like most soldiers, complained bitterly about the food. He got as far south as New Orleans, but by September of the same year, he was dead, most likely from disease. He had written a few weeks earlier from Vicksburg, saying that he probably would be home to help with fall plowing. Indications from his pension records are, that he most likely died on a steamship coming back up the Mississippi River. Army records say he was furloughed with chronic diarrhea, and trying to make it home. Most likely his body was put in the river between Vicksburg and Cairo, IL. In his letters, which still exist in The National Archives he expressed wonder at the huge plantations he saw in the south, and asked that his brothers Ozro and Alfred write to him. This is confusing, as according to the above information from Almira, and the 1860 Census, Alfred is not listed as living with the family. He may have been with relatives if he was still alive. Walter's twin brother, Wallace lived until 1915. According to his obituary, he died, of shock, following surgery on his kitchen table. He had just had his leg amputated, at home, in Mauston.