Did you know: Senator Abraham Lincoln turned down the Governorship of Oregon Territory?* That Oregon had 6 companies of Cavalry in 1861?* In 1864-1865 there was also a Oregon (USA) Infantry* And did you know that the following USA Generals and future President of the United States were posted in Oregon & Washington territory!

Gen. U.S. Grant.

Gen. Philip Sheridan

Gen. George McClellan

Gen. Joseph Hooker

Gen. Isaac Stevens

Generals "Going South"

Gen. George E. Pickett

Gen. J. J. Archer

Gen. John Bell Hood

Gen. C. S. Winder

Gen. W. W. Loring

Gen. Philip Sheridan refused to leave Fort Yamhill Block house in Yamhill Co. until Gen. J. J. Archer and Capt. Charles Sydney Winder left the Pacific North west. He had heard that they planned to go "South". He did not want to leave the guns and ammunition in case this was true. The Oregon Volunteers, were stationed, where there were chances of Indian uprisings, to protect the many settlers arriving to escape the war torn East. They also kept an eye on the secessionist group "The Knights of the Golden Circle."

Did you know that Gen. Joseph Hookers daughter is buried in the Columbia Gorge.

Did you know that on 23 Sept. 1865 that a skirmish between the Soldiers and the Indians took place at Harney Lake Valley, Oregon this action started at 12:00 A. M. and ended at 7:00 Pm . Thus Oregon had the last reported hostility that occurred during the Civil War era according to the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion. The problem was, the Soldiers were routed but luckily there was only one injury.
On 11 Dec. 1865 Oregon became the 27th state to ratify the 13th. Amendment. After the war many of the soldiers left the East and South to come to Oregon to build new lives. There are many of these gallant lads buried in Oregon.

Elbridge S. Barnes; joined at age 16 with the permission of his parents in Henn. CO. Minn. 21, Dec 1861: Col. Hiram Berdan's United States Sharpshooters. This unit was known as 2nd. Minn. Sharpshooters.It changed toCapt. Russell's CO. of Minn. and was attached to U.S.S.S. According to the Minn. Bios he served in 13 battles under McClellan abd Burnside. The unit also known as CO. L. 1st. Minn. Vol. Inf. Elbridge was wounded at Fredericksburg on 13 Dec 1862 and sent to Carver Hospital in Washington D. C. He was present on the roll 18 Dec 1862-23 June 1863 . Family tradition sates he was a guard for President Lincoln but this has not been proven. He remained in DC thru Sept 1864 and was discharged 24 Dec 1864 as a member CO. A. 1st. Reg. N.R.C. He returned to Henn. CO. Minn. and became quite a buisness man. He had a wife and two children. They and 23 members of Barnes family came to Oregon they all settled in Bayview, Lincoln CO. Oregon. He and many of these family members are buried at Union Cemetery, Cedar Mill, OR.

"Elbridge S. Barnes 1845-1905." 1st Minn.

Pvt. Mellen Shepard Barnes the brother of Elbridge volunteered for the 6th Minn. Infantry signing up on 2 March 1864. born 14 Apr. 1847 in Springfield, Penobscot CO. Maine. He and his family moved to Beaverton, OR. in 1883. He was a framer and the state Rep. for Washington County 1905-1906. He and his 2 widows are buried at the Union Cemetery, Cedar Mill. Mellen Barnes descendents were Light house keepers and Tillamook Superintendent of Schools and one was nationally recognized muralist Lucia Wiley. She painted the murals in the Tilamook County Court House, the old Post Office and in the Library of the University of Oregon. So if you happen to visit Oregon, do stop and view her work and think of the Barnes family pioneers.

Pvt. James Wilson Barnes born 1 Apr. 1849 in Callon Place, Penobscot CO. Maine. Served in CO. L. 6th Minn Inf. He was a farmer,poet, public speaker and dealt in Real estate. Married 6 times, all but two of his wives are buried with him at the Union Cemetery, Cedar Mill. The parents of these three brave Union soldiers were Shepard Blanchard Barnes and Olive Hill Small. The small family are related to the Stephen Hopkins family of the Mayflower! Stephen and Olive Barnes are also buried with the many of the 28 families coming to Oregon in 1880. Elbridge and Martha Kirk Barnes had two children Willie and Atlanta. This information submitted proudly by Eugene Barnes in Honor of his father Jasper W. Barnes son of Willie and Sarah Alice Wasson Barnes.

Thanks to Shirley Combs for submitting this article on her website

OREGON IN THE CIVIL WAR