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(Saturday - May 19, 2001)
Patriotic Duty or Labor of Love ?
For me, engaging in the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUCVW)
Graves Registration Project is both - a "Patriotic Duty" and a "Labor of Love!"
For one Civil War Veteran buried in Forest Cemetery in Stevens Point, Wisconsin - my "Patriotic Duty"
began in early 1999. That is when I received a list of veterans buried in Portage County, Wisconsin from the
Veteran's Service Officer. This particular man was "one of many" Civil War veterans buried there. As with many of
these men, we often start with "just a name." If lucky, we may get dates of birth and death. If we are truely
fortunate, we may get the unit in which he served. For this particular veteran, all I had was just his name:
Charles W. Dolloff
My next task - off to the cemetery to physically view the grave in an attempt to glean additional information. Fortune smiled, I found dates of birth and death. At home, I "hit" the Internet where I subscribe to a super Civil War genealogical data base (Historical Data Systems). Here, I searched for his unit and personal service record. I was not ready for what I found. Charles W. Dolloff served with Co. K of the 1st Vermont (VT) Heavy Artillery, later designated as the 11th VT Infantry. While with that unit, on April 2, 1865, at Petersburg, VA, Charles W. Dolloff captured "a stand of rebel flags" of the 42nd Mississippi (MS) Infantry for which he was awarded the
MEDAL OF HONOR.
Charles W. Dolloff is the only Union soldier to be mentioned
"by name"in the history of the 42nd MSfor his actions!
I didn't know it yet, but my "Labor of Love" begun. Dolloff needed a proper grave marker noting his service AND
his Medal of Honor. Because he had a personal stone, an my uphill battle began to get his "proper" military marker!
After almost a year and a half - with unfavorable responses from our Wisconsin State Senators (actually only one
unfavorable response, the other simply refused to respond) and several other "brick walls," I went straight
to the White House. On September 14, 2000 I received a letter stating my request "to the President of the United States
has been forwarded to our offices" (National Archives and Records Administration). On December, 18, 2000 I received a proper 12" X 24" bronze military marker for Charles W. Dolloff with the words:
MEDAL OF HONOR
On additional "Labor of Love" remained - a proper dedication ceremony. May 19, 2001 at 11:00 A/M was selected. To honor a fellow Medal of Honor holder, Mr. Einar H. Ingman, CMOH was present. Speaking for him was his son, Jimmy Ingman. Two great-great-grandnephews will also be there: brothers,
David Hooper of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania and Brad Hooper of Chicago, Illinois.
The dedication ceremony was conducted by Old Abe Camp #8, Department of Wisconsin, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Randy Novak, Commander. Also speaking for the Department was Fred Murphy, Department Commander.
Old marker on right.
Forest Cemetery - Stevens Point, WI
1844-1884
