Jones, William C. (William Caswell), 1848-1915

Jones, William C., b. ca. 1844

Rank : Private

Regiment : 38th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. Co. A (1862-1865)

Service : 1862 July 28-1863 July 4

William C. Jones, an 18 year old clerk from Cambridge, Mass., enlisted in Co. A. of the 38th Massachusetts Volunteers during the summer of 1862. The best of intentions, however, did not keep him in the army for long, for less than a year later, he was discharged after contracting a strength-sapping illness. His age may have played a minor role in his discharge, as his superiors apparently considered him too young to bear the full duties of an infantryman.

During Jones' brief enlistment, he saw a good deal of the war zone, if not of action. At about the end of August, 1862, the 38th Massachusetts Infantry was ordered to Baltimore, and they remained in Maryland until November, when they were assigned to join Banks' expedition to Louisiana. Boarding the S.S. Baltic, the regiment arrived at Ship Island on December 13th, and proceeded to Carrollton, La., on New Years day, and to Baton Rouge in March. At about the same time that the regiment was experiencing its first action during the Bayou Teche expedition in the first week of April, Jones fell out of the ranks, too weak to bear arms. He received his discharge on July 4.

From the guide to the William C. Jones papers, Jones, William C., 1862-1863, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)