Born on the island of Borneo to missionary parents (William John & Theodosia Rachel Scudder Pohlman,) young "Willie" was the 3rd of five children. Two of his siblings died in infancy (both named Julia Ann) and a brother, Edward, died at about the age of 2. Willie's mother died after giving birth to the youngest child, so Mr. Pohlman decided to send his two surviving children, Willie and his sister, Mary Scudder Pohlman (later married to Charles E. Pool) to America in 1845 to be raised by an aunt (Elizabeth Pohlman McClure)in Albany, NY. She resided at 196 State Street. Willie was educated at the Albany Classical Institute and completed one year at Rutgers College in NJ when he enlisted in the 1st NJ Infantry Regt in March 1861. In Jan 1862 he was placed on detached service with the newly formed Signal Corps, and in Jan 1863 he was promoted to Lt. and Adjutant of the 59th NY Infantry Regt. On July 2 & 3, 1863 he was engaged in combat at the Battle of Gettysburg, his 14th engagement of the Civil War. On July 3rd Pohlman was wounded twice: first being hit by shrapnel in the left shoulder from an exploding cannon shell; and the second time during Pickett's Charge when he was struck in the right arm by a Minie ball. Originally treated at the 2nd Corps Field Hospital, Willie was transferred to the Swope Mansion in downtown Gettysburg where he died of his wounds on July 21. His body was embalmed in Gettysburg and returned to Albany for burial in the Albany Rural Cemetery. He is buried in his uncle's plot, the Rev. Dr. Henry Newman Pohlman, the first divinity student at Hartwick College, Oneonta, and former pastor of the 1st Lutheran Church of Albany.
Born on the island of Borneo to missionary parents (William John & Theodosia Rachel Scudder Pohlman,) young "Willie" was the 3rd of five children. Two of his siblings died in infancy (both named Julia Ann) and a brother, Edward, died at about the age of 2. Willie's mother died after giving birth to the youngest child, so Mr. Pohlman decided to send his two surviving children, Willie and his sister, Mary Scudder Pohlman (later married to Charles E. Pool) to America in 1845 to be raised by an aunt (Elizabeth Pohlman McClure)in Albany, NY. She resided at 196 State Street. Willie was educated at the Albany Classical Institute and completed one year at Rutgers College in NJ when he enlisted in the 1st NJ Infantry Regt in March 1861. In Jan 1862 he was placed on detached service with the newly formed Signal Corps, and in Jan 1863 he was promoted to Lt. and Adjutant of the 59th NY Infantry Regt. On July 2 & 3, 1863 he was engaged in combat at the Battle of Gettysburg, his 14th engagement of the Civil War. On July 3rd Pohlman was wounded twice: first being hit by shrapnel in the left shoulder from an exploding cannon shell; and the second time during Pickett's Charge when he was struck in the right arm by a Minie ball. Originally treated at the 2nd Corps Field Hospital, Willie was transferred to the Swope Mansion in downtown Gettysburg where he died of his wounds on July 21. His body was embalmed in Gettysburg and returned to Albany for burial in the Albany Rural Cemetery. He is buried in his uncle's plot, the Rev. Dr. Henry Newman Pohlman, the first divinity student at Hartwick College, Oneonta, and former pastor of the 1st Lutheran Church of Albany.
Inscription
DIED JULY 21, 1863 AT GETTYSBURG FROM WOUNDS RECEIVED IN BATTLE IN THE 22D YEAR OF HIS AGE
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