Additional Details

Detailed information and images provided by Mike Dooley, husband of William St. Clair's great great grandaughter.

William St. Clair

This is a drawing of the remains of a covered bridge over the Pearl River, near Jackson, Ms., which the Confederates converted into a prison. Pvt. St. Clair was held here after being captured at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, on December 29, 1862.  Internet research can provide no other image of this interesting "prison" other than that provided by the donor, Michele Krause. See more details on the bridge prison.

Update 5/31/2012: Thanks to information provided by Mike Dooley, it is now known that several, if not many 16th Ohio soldiers captured at Chickasaw Bayou were held in this prison.

Description of Capture and Imprisonment of Pvt. William St. Clair

The following was transcribed from a General Affidavit taken from Capt. Milton Mills in support of a claim for federal soldier's pension made by William St. Clair:

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT

State of Ohio, County of Muskingum.

I was the Captain of Company "D" 16th Regt. O.V.I. in the war of 1861 and was well acquainted with Wm. St. Clair who was a Pri. in said company. Was slightly acquainted prior to his enlistment and at the time of his enlistment he was a stout heart boy or young man. To the best of my recolection and belief he remained in good health until after we fell into the hands and tender mercies of the enemy at Chicasaw bluffs Miss. in the latter part of Dec. 1862. We were first taken to Vicksburg where we were a short time and from there removed to Jackson Miss. where we were put in a bridge across the Pearl river for a prison; said WIlliam St. Clair while on or in said bridge prison caught a cold from which he complained a great deal and was still afflicted with when I was separated from the boys and taken up into the City. Since his discharge I have personally known him though I only meet him occasionally, perhaps not more than two or three times a year and only know of his disabilities as he tells me them when in conversation with him. I have no doubt but that he is afflicted as alleged and from the effects of said exporsure in rebell prison. I know these facts from being Captain of the company at the time further declare that I have no interest in said case and am not concerned in its prosecution. I am no relation to St. Clair.

Milton Mills
Capt Co "D" 16th O.V.I.

Report from War Department to Pension Commissioner detailing William St. Clair's military service during the war.

Gravesite of Pvt. William St. Clair, wife Nancy and son, Sheldon, at Dresden Cemetery, Dresden, Ohio.
Image courtesy of and with permission from Tom Hale, FindAGrave.com

Daniel and John St. Clair - The St. Clair Family Tragedy

As happened so often in the Civil War, William's younger brother, Daniel St. Clair, enlisted in Company D of the 16th OVI along side William on September 13, 1861. Just five months before the regiment's fateful battle at Chickasaw Bayou, while the regiment was occupying Cumberland Gap, Kentucky, as did so many soldiers, Daniel contracted "camp fever" and died on July 27, 1862. Probably before the news of Daniel's death reached home, another brother, John, enlisted in the 97th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on August 7, 1862. John became ill and died of disease, just six months later, on February 6, 1863, at Nashville, Tennessee, and while brother William was a prisoner of the Confederates and listed as missing in action. Also, during 1862, a six year old brother of William, Daniel and John died at home. William, the son who experienced the most dangerous of times, fighting and being captured at Chickasaw Bayou and being imprisoned in deplorable conditions for months, went on to survive the war and return home. One can only speculate at the great joy and deep sadness the St. Clair family experienced when William returned home on parole in May or June, 1863, finding three of his brothers had died. In less than a year, the family of nine was reduced to just six.