Phineas Dunham was the son of Albert and Sylvia Dunham. Phineas was born in Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut on Jan 2, 1841. The family settled on a farm in Currituck County, North Carolina and had at least one hired man to help them run it. Albert Dunham died there on Oct 21, 1848. Sylvia and her seven year old son may have tried to make a living in North Carolina for a few years but in 1855, they moved to a farm near Faribault, MN. Here, the 15 year old Phineas ran the farm and supported his mother. When the rebellion in he east was announced and volunteers were requested, he felt compelled to answer the call to serve his country, not out of preference, but out of duty.

He enlisted at nearby Faribault. On April 29, 1861, he and several other men from the Faribault area were mustered into the service and placed in Company G. Dunham was now 20 years old. He had a light complexion, hazel colored eyes and light brown hair. Though he stood only 5' 5 1/2" tall, his life experiences had made him grow up faster than many others his age. During his service he regularly sent money home to support his mother while he was away.He was promoted to corporal on July 29, 1861, just after the battle at Bull Run.

Beginning in January 1862, he was returned to Minnesota on recruiting service, in the Faribault area, helping to find men to fill the holes left by those killed in battle or discharged for disability. He believed that he knew of eight or ten men who were willing and anxious to join the regiment. William Joy was enlisted at that time. Dunham returned to duty out east on Oct 8, 1862.

On July 2, 1863, at the battle of Gettysburg he was shot in the thigh. After the battle, he and most of the other wounded Minnesotans were taken to the 2nd Corps Hospital at Rock Creek, located about a mile from the battlefield. Dunham's was a severe wound which required the amputation of his leg. His condition worsened and infection set in. He died there on July 17th. Dunham never made it home to his mother and the farm. He rests today in the Minnesota Section of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, Section D, Grave #6. Sgt Buckman in his field report from the 2nd Corps Hospital stated that Dunham had died on July 14th, but official records carry it as the 17th.

On April 26, 1865, Sylvia Dunham began receiving a pension of $8 a month for the loss of her son. retroactive to July 17, 1863. She lived alone for another 30 years, dying on Dec. 3, 1893.

Sources:

The Central Republican, Faribault, MN, August 5, 1863.

Descriptive List of the Men of Company G, First Minnesota association papers, Minnesota Historical Society, box 2.

Family Tree Maker CD351, Roll of Honor: Union Soldiers, Volume XVI, National Cemetery, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Mother's Pension file 34.356, Certificate 45.875, Phineas Dunham, National Archives, Washington, DC.

George Buckman's list of casualties and deaths at 2nd Corps Hospital at Gettysburg, PA, July 28, 1863.

Phinchas L Dunham