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Emigrants arrival

Belgians in America

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C.W. Soldiers

Belgian Civil War soldiers in Indiana

Biography :

Present till 24 April 1863 when he was sent sick in Small Pox Hospital, the same in May through August 1863

The first appearance of his disability was ushered in during a forced march from Holly Spring to Lagrange, Tennessee when he contracted a severe cold and had hemorrhage of the lungs for many days and before recovering, he was taken prisoner of war by the enemy at the Battle of Gun Town in the state of Mississippi on the 10th day of June 1864.

Was first taken to Rebel prison at Mobile Alabama, and finally sent to Andersonville in the State of Georgia, where he remained for about six months. From exposure and bad treatment in prison he became afflicted with scurvy and bronchitis, about the first of August in the year 1864.

Lieut. Narcissus Meunier was captured at the same time, and taken to Andersonville prison, but the officers were separated from the privates so that they had no correspondence with each other.

Late in September, he was removed in very poor health to rebel prison at Florence, South Carolina, where his disease become worse. Eugène Devillez remained with him until they were exchanged and sent to Baltimore, Md, about the middle of February 1865. He assisted Meunier to get along and lifted him out of a ditch he fell n account to being so weak caused by disease and hard treatment in prison.

But Henry Devillez remained at Andersonville prison for some time after Meunier was sent to Florence, and they met again when both reported to camp Chase in June 1865.

Admitted to Hospital Div. Annapolis, Md 27 Feb. 65 sent to Baltimore, Md 7 March 1865

Eugène Devillez took worse sick himself soon after arriving at Hospital in Baltimore, and does not remember anything more of Fred. Meunier after they had been a few days at Hospital.

Fred Meunier was the first to come home to Leopold on furlough and Eugène Devillez followed him latter. They both reported to camp Chase, Ohio, where they were discharged in June 1865.

Came home in March 1865 with a furlough of thirty days from U.S. Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He was then reduced to a mere skeleton, was afflicted with bronchitis and scurvy, his ( lath luth bith teeth) was all nearly eat out with scurvy and he was so reduced in flesh that he was barely able to walk. He had been a prisonner in Andersonville, Georgia and other Rebel prisons for near nine months, that his diseases was caused by starvation, exposure foul air and cold.

He was not able at the expiration of the furlough to return to the hospital at Baltimore, and Doctor Keller of Leopold reported him to the Hospital asked an extension of his furlough and he recovered so as to be able to report to Camp Chase where he was discharged.

That he was unable to travel to return to Baltimore and corresponded with the authorities at the Hospital to get his furlough extended, and received instruction for him to return as soon as he was able to travel, but shortly after he and … comrade, were ordered to report to camp Chase in the State of Ohio, which they did, and were discharged at Camp Chase in the month of June 1865.

reported at Camp Chase Ohio 3 May 1865

in June 1865, returning from the army, he was in very poor health. He has a troublesome cough and was very much reduced in flesh and since had continued to have cough and sometime splitting blood.

Unable to work at first, he improved some and did settle himself as a farm and did labor some, but had to have the most of his work done by hired labor and unable to manage his farm he saled it and quit trying to farm.

His disease of scurvy has partially left him, but for several years his heart disease had got worse and he suffer of asthmatic bronchitis, heart disease and piles.

Resided in Perry County till 1881. Lived in Louisville one year before Crystal City, Missouri for four years. Settled at Kokona Ind. as a plate glass worker.

Frederick Meunier deserted and left his wife Catherine and his home, in the city of Kokomo, some time during the month of March 1906. Catherine says to her knowledge, Frederick has, for a number of years, last past, been addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors, and while under its influence was morose and of a melancholy disposition. She had no knowledge or intimation from him that he intended to leave her at that time. That since his abandonment she has had no word, letter or communication of any kind from him. She knows he entered the National Soldiers Home at the city of Danville, in Illinois, where he remained for some time. He left said soldiers Home and went to the National Soldiers home in Tennessee, where she believe he now is (in 1907).

** In 1915, Frederick Meunier sent papers for his pension file, concerning his wife and children. He says "we are living together & always had since marriage".

Sources :

There were two pensions filed :
Invalid: application # 252179 certificate # 180352
Widows : application #1657820 certificate #A21030 other "2626339"

Jerome Goffinet, Narcissus Belva, Henry Devillez, Isadore Naviaux and Eugène Devillez provided affidavits.