Civil War Soldier
Corp'l - Co. I, 75th OH Infantry
Entered service Dec. 12, 1861 for 3 year commitment; appointed Corporal Oct. 6, 1862; killed July 1, 1863, in the battle of Gettysburg, PA.
“Corporal Button was a native of Vinton county, and the only child of Daniel Button. - He joined Co. I, 75th O.V.I. as a private, in October, 1861, at the age of about thirty-six years, and was shortly after promoted to the position of “Color Corporal.” He was a tall man, about six feet three inches high, and was called throughout the regiment the “Big Corporal.” He was a plain, blunt man in his manner, but with a good warm heart. - While in the service he was temperate, strictly refraining from the use of any intoxicating liquors whatever. At home his education had been neglected, so much so that he was unable to write his own name, but on entering the army he applied his leisure time to overcome his early neglect, and soon became a good reader and a fair writer. He was chiefly noted among his comrades for his large size, and as the “crack shot” of the regiment, invariably carrying off the prize at target practice. He had been a hunter of great repute at home, and had learned to shoot with his gun at the left shoulder, which practice he was allowed to carry out in the army, tactics to the contrary notwithstanding.
He was on active duty with his regiment all the time he was in the army, and notwithstanding his exposed position as one of the Color Guard, he passed through fourteen battles and numerous skirmishes previous to the battle of Gettysburg, without receiving a single scratch. At Gettysburg, on the 1st of July, 1863, while charging the enemy with his regiment, near the poor house graveyard, he was killed instantly by a shot from the enemy, the ball striking him in the centre of the forehead. He was a man universally loved and respected by his comrades, and left a wife and a large family of children, who are now residing in our county.” - "War Sketches." The Vinton Record [McArthur, OH] 10 Mar. 1870: 2. Print.
Corp'l - Co. I, 75th OH Infantry
Entered service Dec. 12, 1861 for 3 year commitment; appointed Corporal Oct. 6, 1862; killed July 1, 1863, in the battle of Gettysburg, PA.
“Corporal Button was a native of Vinton county, and the only child of Daniel Button. - He joined Co. I, 75th O.V.I. as a private, in October, 1861, at the age of about thirty-six years, and was shortly after promoted to the position of “Color Corporal.” He was a tall man, about six feet three inches high, and was called throughout the regiment the “Big Corporal.” He was a plain, blunt man in his manner, but with a good warm heart. - While in the service he was temperate, strictly refraining from the use of any intoxicating liquors whatever. At home his education had been neglected, so much so that he was unable to write his own name, but on entering the army he applied his leisure time to overcome his early neglect, and soon became a good reader and a fair writer. He was chiefly noted among his comrades for his large size, and as the “crack shot” of the regiment, invariably carrying off the prize at target practice. He had been a hunter of great repute at home, and had learned to shoot with his gun at the left shoulder, which practice he was allowed to carry out in the army, tactics to the contrary notwithstanding.
He was on active duty with his regiment all the time he was in the army, and notwithstanding his exposed position as one of the Color Guard, he passed through fourteen battles and numerous skirmishes previous to the battle of Gettysburg, without receiving a single scratch. At Gettysburg, on the 1st of July, 1863, while charging the enemy with his regiment, near the poor house graveyard, he was killed instantly by a shot from the enemy, the ball striking him in the centre of the forehead. He was a man universally loved and respected by his comrades, and left a wife and a large family of children, who are now residing in our county.” - "War Sketches." The Vinton Record [McArthur, OH] 10 Mar. 1870: 2. Print.
Civil War Soldier
Corp'l - Co. I, 75th OH Infantry
Entered service Dec. 12, 1861 for 3 year commitment; appointed Corporal Oct. 6, 1862; killed July 1, 1863, in the battle of Gettysburg, PA.
“Corporal Button was a native of Vinton county, and the only child of Daniel Button. - He joined Co. I, 75th O.V.I. as a private, in October, 1861, at the age of about thirty-six years, and was shortly after promoted to the position of “Color Corporal.” He was a tall man, about six feet three inches high, and was called throughout the regiment the “Big Corporal.” He was a plain, blunt man in his manner, but with a good warm heart. - While in the service he was temperate, strictly refraining from the use of any intoxicating liquors whatever. At home his education had been neglected, so much so that he was unable to write his own name, but on entering the army he applied his leisure time to overcome his early neglect, and soon became a good reader and a fair writer. He was chiefly noted among his comrades for his large size, and as the “crack shot” of the regiment, invariably carrying off the prize at target practice. He had been a hunter of great repute at home, and had learned to shoot with his gun at the left shoulder, which practice he was allowed to carry out in the army, tactics to the contrary notwithstanding.
He was on active duty with his regiment all the time he was in the army, and notwithstanding his exposed position as one of the Color Guard, he passed through fourteen battles and numerous skirmishes previous to the battle of Gettysburg, without receiving a single scratch. At Gettysburg, on the 1st of July, 1863, while charging the enemy with his regiment, near the poor house graveyard, he was killed instantly by a shot from the enemy, the ball striking him in the centre of the forehead. He was a man universally loved and respected by his comrades, and left a wife and a large family of children, who are now residing in our county.” - "War Sketches." The Vinton Record [McArthur, OH] 10 Mar. 1870: 2. Print.
Corp'l - Co. I, 75th OH Infantry
Entered service Dec. 12, 1861 for 3 year commitment; appointed Corporal Oct. 6, 1862; killed July 1, 1863, in the battle of Gettysburg, PA.
“Corporal Button was a native of Vinton county, and the only child of Daniel Button. - He joined Co. I, 75th O.V.I. as a private, in October, 1861, at the age of about thirty-six years, and was shortly after promoted to the position of “Color Corporal.” He was a tall man, about six feet three inches high, and was called throughout the regiment the “Big Corporal.” He was a plain, blunt man in his manner, but with a good warm heart. - While in the service he was temperate, strictly refraining from the use of any intoxicating liquors whatever. At home his education had been neglected, so much so that he was unable to write his own name, but on entering the army he applied his leisure time to overcome his early neglect, and soon became a good reader and a fair writer. He was chiefly noted among his comrades for his large size, and as the “crack shot” of the regiment, invariably carrying off the prize at target practice. He had been a hunter of great repute at home, and had learned to shoot with his gun at the left shoulder, which practice he was allowed to carry out in the army, tactics to the contrary notwithstanding.
He was on active duty with his regiment all the time he was in the army, and notwithstanding his exposed position as one of the Color Guard, he passed through fourteen battles and numerous skirmishes previous to the battle of Gettysburg, without receiving a single scratch. At Gettysburg, on the 1st of July, 1863, while charging the enemy with his regiment, near the poor house graveyard, he was killed instantly by a shot from the enemy, the ball striking him in the centre of the forehead. He was a man universally loved and respected by his comrades, and left a wife and a large family of children, who are now residing in our county.” - "War Sketches." The Vinton Record [McArthur, OH] 10 Mar. 1870: 2. Print.
Gravesite Details
"... the said Alem Blain was present at the burial of the said Philemon Button ... on the fourth of July A.D., 1863, three days after he was shot." - sworn statement by Pvt. Blain, 8 Feb. 1865 - Pension File #43.844
