YUBA COUNTY CEMETERIES
Marysville City Cemetery
CIVIL WAR MYSTERY SOLDIER
IS HE.....
John Logan?
Michael Collins?
Michael Cullen?
Three aliases, two different companies/regiments and deserted them all.
The obituary in the Marysville Daily Appeal for November 14, 1908, on page 8, gave the following: "John Logan, a native of Massachusetts and aged 65 years, died at the county hospital yesterday. The deceased came to this state in 1873 and was well known in Yuba and Sutter counties, where he resided off and on for many years. - He was a member of the Twenty-eighth Infantry Volunteers of Massachusetts. The remains were taken in charge by Undertaker Bevan and the funeral announcement will be made later."
In the burial book recording interments at Marysville City Cemetery, there is a John Logan listed for that same day to be placed in grave #A332, assigned to the GAR plot of veterans, aged 65 years, native of Massachusetts, cause of death listed as epilepsy.
As I began to research this veteran, it came quickly to my attention that this was not going to be an easy man to research. I received some other help in tracking him down, and we found the following: (the information regarding the person I suspect is "our" veteran is highlighted and italicized below)
According to a database by Historical Data Systems, comp. Military Records of Individual Civil War Soldiers:
Returned to duty (Under name of Michael Collins.) Michael Cullen, residing in Waltham, Massachusetts, occupation is laborer, enlisted 6 November 1861 as a private at age 18 in Company I, 28th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 13 December 1861.
A different Michael Cullen, residing in Worcester, Massachusetts, occupation is shoemaker, enlisted on 11 June 1861 as a Corporal at the age of 28 in Company C, 9th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts. He received a disability discharge from Company C, 9th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 1 October 1862. He applied for pension as invalid on 19 May 1863, certificate #205388.
Another Michael Cullen, residing in Boston, Massachusetts, occupation is clerk, enlisted on 24 August 1861 as private at the age of 22 in Company K, 16th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts. Killed in Company K, 16th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 14 December 1862 in Fredericksburg, VA. His mother (Catherine Cullen) applied for pension on 5 May 1864, certificate #34409.
I find a John M. Logan enlisted as private on 2 April 1862 at age 18, occupation is farmer, enlisted in Company C, 25th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 7 April 1862. Wounded on 3 June 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA - Mustered out Company C, 25th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts 13 July 1865 in Readville, MA.
Michael Cullen reenlisted in Company I, 28th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 1 January 1864. Deserted Company I, 28th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 31 March 1864. Enlisted in Company C, 2nd Cavalry Regiment California on 4 May 1864. He surrendered on 15 May 1865.
John Logan enlisted as a private on 4 May 1864 in Company C, 2nd Cavalry Regiment California and was arrested Company C, 2nd Cavalry Regiment California on 15 May 1865.
Michael Cullen deserted Company C, 2nd Cavalry Regiment California on 1 May 1866.
Regimental Roster for 28th Massachusetts Infantry, Company I (http://www.28thmass.org/CompyI/CompI.htm) shows:
"Cullen, Michael. Private. Waltham, 18, laborer; enl. 11/6/1861, must. 12/13/1861; re-enlisted 1/1/1864; deserted 3/31/1864; enl. 5/3/1864 under name "John Logan" in Co. C, 2nd Calif. Cav., must. 5/4/1864; surrendered 5/15/1865 as a deserted from 28th Mass. Inf.; returned to duty under name "Michael Collins" and deserted 5/1/1866 as member of Co. C, 2nd Calif. Cav."
A search of all Michael Cullen's enlisted in the Civil War for Massachusetts were: Co C 9th INF, Co K 16th INF, Co I 28th INF, and a no company listed for 29th INF. All but the last one mentioned are given above. ALL received remarks for "Distinguished Service".
Under the same database, a search on Michael Collins reveals one who resided in Boston, Massachusetts, occupation is a seaman, enlisted 11 March 1864 as a private at the age of 21 in Co I, 28th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts. Was wounded on 5 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA. Wounded on 16 August 1864 at Charles City Cross Roads, VA. Deserted Company I, 28th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 30 Nov. 1864. He was the only "Michael Collins" listed for this company and regiment out of 12 listed as serving Massachusetts.
Now on to California...
Under same database, Michael Collins enlisted as a private on 4 May 1864 in Company C, 2nd Cavalry Regiment California on 7 May 1864 and deserted Company C 2nd Cavalry Regiment California on 1 May 1866. Notes: 28 Miss.[Mass? maybe typo?] Vols. Lee John Logan.
Regimental Roster for 2nd California Cavalry, Company C (http://www.yubaroots.com/CivilWar/2RC-C.htm) shows:
John Logan, private, enlisted in San Francisco 4 May 1864, surrendered 15 May 1865 as deserter from 28th Mass. Inf., returned to duty under name of Michael Collins.
Michael Collins, private, enlisted in San Francisco 4 May 1864, deserted 1 May 1866.
According to a database by Historical Data Systems, comp. Military Records of Individual Civil War Soldiers:
Michael Collins enlisted 4 May 1864 as a private on 4 May 1864 in Company C, 2d Cavalry Regiment California on 7 May 1864. Deserted Company C, 2d Cavalry Regiment California on 1 May 1866.
Pension records for John Logan show "alias Michael Cullen" for invalid benefits from Co. C, 2nd California Cavalry and Company I, 28th Massachusetts Infantry (application #1177358) 13 May 1896 in California. No certificate number issued.
I could not find mention of a "Michael Cullen" in Co C, 2d CA CAV. Nor could I find any service records for any Lee John Logan as mentioned in the notation above regarding Michael Collins in Co C, 2d CA CAV.
My thinking is that our Civil War veteran who called himself John Logan in Marysville, Yuba County most likely is the same person who deserted Co I 28th MASS INF, came to California prior to 4 May 1864 (not 1873 as given in his obituary), enlisted in Co C 2d CA CAV, surrendered for his desertion in Massachusetts, was put back into duty under Michael Collins, who then deserted again in 1866. There are some discrepancies in the names according to the records above - the regimental roster for California shows him returning to duty under "Michael Collins" and his pension records show he was alias "Michael Cullen".
California Census records:
In 1870 I found a Michael Cullen in Linda Twp, Yuba Co., 28 years, laborer, native of Ireland [?] on page 6.
In 1900 I found a John Logan living in Yuba Twp, Sutter Co., living with Samuel Stabler as a laborer, born Sept. 1841, 58 years old, single, native of Massachusetts, day laborer.
If you have any further information or insights about the individual I am looking for in relation to veterans buried at the Marysville City Cemetery, please contact me.
Thank you, Kathy
Kathy -
BACK TO MARYSVILLE CITY CEMETERY INDEX PAGE