Alexandre FASHANT
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C.W. Soldiers

Belgian Civil War soldiers in wisconsin

 


U.S./C.S.

Alexandre FASHANT 

Biography

US Navy
Wisconsin

US Navy
Comp. B, 3rd Wisconsin Volunteers Infantry

Sources

Enlisted

Nov 1863
January 13, 1865

Discharged

July 6, 1865

Height

5 feet 2 inches

Complexion

 

Hairs

light

Eyes

blue

Born

August 5, 1844, Grez Doiceau (Grand Leez et Melin)

Parents

 see Minnesota settlements

Married

Catherine MAURICE, june 25, 1867 

Death

June 8th, 1925 in Annendale, Wright County Minnesota.

Children

Emma 1869; Flora 1871; Jule 1872; Henry 1874; Albert 1875; Mabel 1879; Augusta 1882; Eduard 1885; Johnny 1888

Occupation

 

 

Biography :

Alexander Fashant  joined the Navy on November 26, 1863 and was stationed aboard the "Clara Dolsen" from Nov. 26, 1863 until Dec. 1, 1863. He was aboard the "Mound City" from Dec. 2, 1863 until Dec. 25, 1864.
The Mound City was not a very lucky ship. On May 10, 1862 it was sunk by a Confederate Ram. (A ship with a heavy iron prow specifically designed to ram & sink enemy ships) It was later refloated & repaired. On June 17, 1862, while on the Arkansas River, near St. Charles Arkansas, it was hit in the stern boiler by a cannonball that came through a gun port. The boiler exploded killing 125 of the 175 men aboard. This was referred to as one of the most destructive shots fired during the Civil War. There was no damage to the hull & it was refitted & finished the War.

Alexander had the following Tattoos- a "U.S. coat-of-arms" on his left forearm & a crucifix on his right forearm.

Among the other residents of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin who served on the Mound City were John B. Rahier and Ferdinand Phillips.

On Dec. 25, 1864 he was discharged from the Navy and on Jan. 13, 1865 he joined Company B., 3rd Wisconsin Volunteers Infantry & served under General Sherman in the Carolina Campaign. He was discharged from the Army on July 6, 1865.

On June 25, 1867 he married Catherine (Kate) Maurice, sister to Mary Maurice, the wife of his shipmate John B. Rahier. All three of these families (Fashant, Rahier & Maurice) lived in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin before moving to Wright County Minnesota when that area opened for homesteading in 1865. They all settled in the adjoining counties of French Lake & Albion.

Le sercive de santé de l'armée déclara, à sa demande de pension : "Alexander Fashant, né en Belgique contracta la rubéole noire. Quand il fut guéri, il gagna au cours d'une longue marche avec le 3eme Wisconsin une forte fièvre pulmonaire et une diarrhée chronique. Quand il quitta l'hôpital de Wilmington des séquelles des maladies précédentes se déclarèrent : atteintes du foie, surdité quasi totale de l'oreille gauche. Il fut alors soigné au Lincoln General Hospital de Washington D.C.

Depuis sa démobilisation, il souffre continuellement de faiblesse générale, de maux de tête, de tournoiements, de chutes et est souvent incapable de rester seul.

Depuis sa sortie de l'armée, il est fixé comme fermier dans le comté de Wright, MN. Avant son service militaire, c'était un homme sain, de bonne condition physique. Maintenant il est incapable de gagner sa subsistance par des travaux manuels. Les maladies ci-dessus décrites furent contractées au service des Etats-Unis".

Thanks :
to Len Knotts for providing  the photograph and biography of this soldier

Sources :
J. H. Mertens : "The Second Battle"
Jean Ducat : Petit-Leez au Minnesota ou French Lake, in "Emigration de Belgique méridionale" D.B. 32 4/1994 pp. : 9-12
Lenl Knotts web site : http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/k/n/o/Leonard-O-Knotts/index.html
Pension file #536 270