George L. Houghton (1841-1917) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Pvt George L. Houghton

Born 28 Aug 1841 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ancestors

Son of Rufus Houghton Jr and Lucy (Abell) Houghton

Brother of Lewis Houghton [half]

[spouse(s) unknown]

[children unknown]

Died 25 Feb 1917 at age 75 in Orting, Pierce, Washington, United States

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Profile last modified 24 Oct 2023 | Created 23 May 2016

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George Houghton was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Biography

Pvt George Houghton was a Prisoner of War during the United States Civil War.

Prisoner of War/Missing in Action

Pvt George Houghton served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Aug 12 1862
Mustered out: Jun 16 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry

George Houghton was born in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia in Canada. As a boy, he moved to Michigan, and later to Illinois, where he was educated and became a schoolteacher. During the Civil War, he entered service at Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois, serving with the 104th Illinois Infantry. After the war, he moved to South Dakota and became a lawyer. Moved to Woodstock, Minnesota, where he married Mrs. Emma L. Roberts on July 20, 1898. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, a brother named M.D. Houghton of Hillyard, Washington, and two sisters, Mrs. Annie E. Bryant of Peoria, Illinois, and Mrs. Julia Dunn of Moline, Illinois. He is buried in the Washington Soldiers Home Cemetery, Orting, Washington.

Military Service

Pvt. George L. Houghton (August 28, 1841 - February 25, 1917) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War from 1862 - 1865. Pvt. George L Houghton enlisted on Aug 12 1862 on the side of the US Union Forces at Brookfield, Cook Co., Illinois and was assigned to Company D of the 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment. The 104th Illinois Infantry was organized at Ottawa, Illinois, and mustered in for three years duration of service on August 27, 1862. The 104th Regiment was then ordered to Louisville, Ky. and subsequently marched from Louisville to Frankfort, Ky., in September 1862, and duty there until October 25. It then moved to Hartsville, Tenn., on October 26 and saw action at Hartsville December 7.

The Battle of Hartsville, Tennessee

The Battle of Hartsville was fought on December 7, 1862, in northern Tennessee at the opening of the Stones River Campaign. Hartsville Battlefield is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Battle of Hartsville is described as one of the single most decisive battle of the Civil War. During the engagement, Pvt. Houghton's 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment was overwhelmed by Col. John Hunt Morgan, (a descendant of the privateer Henry Morgan) and his Confederate 2nd Kentucky Cavalry Regiment. The Regiment was paroled by Col. Morgan and sent to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., with duty there as paroled prisoners of war until April 1863, CSA president Jefferson Davis happened to be in the vicinity at Murfreesboro and promoted Col Morgan to Brig. Gen in person for his actions and success at the Hartsville battle. The total number of captured Union soldiers were estimated at over 2000 soldiers.

Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois

Pvt. Houghton and his Regiment was sent to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and performed duty there as paroled prisoners of war until April 1863, when declared exchanged. It is notable that Camp Douglas was a Union Forces Prisoner of War camp for the confinement of captured Confederate soldiers and that the US 104th Illinois Infantry along with the other units captured were all Union prisoners. They were held as paroled prisoners waiting for a Confederate exchange, which occurred during the war. In the aftermath of the war, Camp Douglas eventually came to be described as the North's "Andersonville" for its poor conditions and death rate of between 17 and 23 per cent. it is estimated that from 1862 through 1865, more than 6,000 Confederate prisoners died from disease, starvation, and the bitter cold winters, based in part on an 1880s memorial in Chicago's Oak Woods Cemetery that states 6,000 Confederate dead (4,275 known dead) are buried there in a mass grave.

On release from Camp Douglas in April of 1863, the newly released and reformed 104th Regiment was ordered to Brentwood, Tenn., then to Murfreesboro, Tenn., and duty there until June 1863.

The 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment Battle Engagements

Pvt. Houghton continued his service with The 104th Illinois Infantry Regiment fighting in the following campaigns and battles. No source documentation exist indicating that Pvt Houghton was ever wounded or injured during this long and dangerous period.

Elk River July 3.
Tullahoma Campaign June 24-July 7.
Occupation of Middle Tennessee until August 16.
Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga *Campaign August 16-September 22.
Davis Cross Roads, near Dug Gap, September 11.
Battle of Chickamauga September 19–21.
Rossville Gap September 21.
Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23.
Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23–27.
Lookout Mountain November 24. Missionary Ridge November 25.
Pea Vine Valley and Graysville November 26.
Taylor's Ridge, Ringgold Gap, November 27.
At Chattanooga until February 1864.
Moved to Nashville, Tenn., February 10, and duty there until March 15.
Moved to Chattanooga March 15–19.
Atlanta Campaign May 1-September 8.
Demonstration of Rocky Faced Ridge May 8–11.
Buzzard's Roost Gap May 8–9.
Near Resaca, Georgia May 13.
Battle of Resaca May 14–15.
Advance on Dallas May 18–25.
Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church, *and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5.
Pickett's Mills May 27.
Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2.
Pine Mountain June 11–14.
Lost Mountain June 15–17.
Assault on Kennesaw June 27.
Ruff's Station, Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4.
Chattahoochee River July 5–18,
Peachtree Creek June 19–20.
Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25.
Utoy Creek August 5–7.
Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25–30.
Near Red Oak August 29.
Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1.
Operations against Hood in northern Georgia and northern Alabama September 29 - *November 3.
March to the Sea November 15-December 10.
Siege of Savannah December 10–21.
Carolinas Campaign January to April 1865.
Near Stroud's Mills, S.C., February 26.
Cloud's House February 26.
Near Rocky Mount February 28.
Averysboro, Taylor's Hole Creek, N.C., March 16.
Battle of Bentonville March 19–21.
Occupation of Goldsboro March 24.
Advance on Raleigh April 10–14.
Occupation of Raleigh April 14.
Bennett's House April 26.
Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 19.
Grand Review of the Armies May 24.

Pvt George L. Houghton's Medal of Honor Actions at the Elk River Bridge

Pvt. Houghton received his country's highest award for bravery the "Medal of Honor" during combat actions on July 2, 1863 at Elk River, Tennessee. Pvt Houghton volunteered for a dangerous mission that no one expected them to survive. A small volunteer 10 man party was tasked to attack and secure a fortified blockhouse guarding the railroad bridge over the Elk River. The railroad and the intact bridge was critical to the movement of supplies to support The Tullahoma Campaign (or Middle Tennessee Campaign). Along with Houghton, nine other members from Company D of the 104th Illinois Infantry, known as "The La Salle County Regiment" -- received the Medal of Honor for participating in the same heroic action. The below is an account extracted from a Article by Charles Stanley, charless@mywebtimes.com. "7 from 'The La Salle County Regiment' earned Medals of Honor for same deed" [2]

On July 2, 1863, while the nation's eyes were on a battle in Gettysburg, Pa., in Tennessee rebel troops in a blockhouse guarding a railroad bridge across the Elk River were holding up the advance of Union troops. Sgt. George Marsh of Company D was told by his superiors to pick a squad of volunteers to attempt what seemed a suicide attack across the open and burning bridge. "Many offered to go, but I took the first 10 who stepped forward, and started for the fortification," Marsh later recalled. Amazingly, none of the Company D troops were injured and the blockhouse was captured. "No one who saw us go into the fight expected to see us come out alive, but we did, and without the loss of a man," said Marsh.

In 1897, the six known existing members of the unit received Medals of Honor for the deed. The names of all 10 heroes were clearly set forth in the 1895 regimental history of the 104th Illinois Infantry, but four were either dead or believed to be dead. Pvt Houghton was honored with the award on March 27, 1900.

Awarded for actions during the Civil War

Presidential Citation

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private George L. Houghton, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 2 July 1863, while serving with Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry, in action at Elk River, Tennessee. Private Houghton voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge.

General Orders: Date of Issue: March 27, 1900

Action Date: July 2, 1863

Service: Army

Rank: Private

Company: Company D

Division: 104th Illinois Infantry

Home of record: Brookfield Illinois

Notes

George Houghton, son of Ruffus Houghton, 1850 United States Federal Census ^[1]

George Houghton, 1860 United States Federal Census,^[2]

George L. Houghton, 11th United States Special Census, 1890 Veterans Schedules^[3]

George L. Houghton, 1910 United States Federal Census^[4]

Minnesota Marriages, Records of 1849–1950

Name: George L Houghton
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 20 Jul 1898
Marriage Place: Woodstock, Pipestone, Minnesota
Spouse's Name: Emma L Roberts
Spouse Gender: Female
Event Type: Marriage
FHL Film Number: 1403126

George L Houghton, U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995

Name: George L Houghton
Residence Year: 1906
Residence Place: Seattle, Washington, USA
Occupation: School Supplies
Publication Title: Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1906

Title: Washington State Death Certificate Index Repository: Internet Washington, Select Death Certificates, 1907-1960

Name: George L. Houghton
Gender: Male
Age: 75
Estimated birth year: abt 1842
Death Date: 25 Feb 1917
Death Place: Orting, Pierce, Washington
Father: Rufus Houghton
Mother: Lucy Abil
FHL Film Number: 1992503
Reference ID: cn 78

"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVVC-3HQC : 13 December 2015), George L. Houghton, 1917; Burial, Orting, Pierce, Washington, United States of America, Washington Soldiers Home Cemetery; citing record ID 8063718, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

Illinois Civil War Detail Report [3]

George L Houghton, in the U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 Sources: Illinois: Roster of Officers and Enlisted Men, Medal of Honor Recipients 1863-1994

Name: George L Houghton Residence: Brookfield, Cook Co., Illinois, Illinois Age at Enlistment: 20 Enlistment Date:12 Aug 1862 Rank at enlistment: Private Enlistment Place: Brookfield, Cook Co., Illinois State Served: Illinois Survived the War?: Yes Service Record: Enlisted in Company D, Illinois 104th Infantry Regiment on 27 Aug 1862. Mustered out on 16 Jun 1865. Birth Date: 28 Aug 1841 Death Date: 25 Feb 1917

^[5]

Report of the adjutant general of the state of Illinois ^[6].

The History of the One Hundred and Fourth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry^[7].

Father: Rufus Houghton b: 1795 in New York Mother: Lucy Abell b: 28 DEC 1809 in Aylmer, Ontario, CANADA

Title: 1850 Federal Census, United States Repository: Census Page: Michigan, ALLEGAN, Roll 346 Book 1, Page 42b, line 15, 8 years old Home in 1850: Otsego, Allegan, Michigan, USA, Household in the 1850 Census:

Ruffus Houghton 55 Lucy Houghton 42 Lewis Houghton 23 Edward Houghton 17 Anna Houghton 15 Olive Houghton 13 Daniel Houghton 11 George Houghton 8 Lydia Houghton 7 Merrit Houghton 4 Julia Houghton 0

Title: 1860 Federal Census, United States Repository: Census Page: Illinois, LASALLE, Roll 196 Book 1, Page 319, line 2 Home in 1860: Brookfield, LaSalle, Illinois

Lydia Houghton 16 George Houghton 19 Merit D Houghton 14 Julia P Houghton 12

Sources

↑ Year: 1850; Census Place: Otsego, Allegan, Michigan; Roll: M432_346; Page: 42B; Image: 89
↑ Year: 1860; Census Place: Brookfield, LaSalle, Illinois; Roll: M653_196; Page: 319; Image: 321; Family History Library Film: 803196
↑ Year: 1890; Census Place: Deadwood, Lawrence, South Dakota; Roll: 94; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 8
↑ Year: 1910; Census Place: Christopher, King, Washington; Roll: T624_1657; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0023; FHL microfilm: 1375670
↑ [1]
↑ ... by Illinois. Military and Naval Dept; Reece, Jasper N; Elliott, Isaac Hughes, 1837-1922, Volume 5, Publisher Springfield, IL, Phillips Bros., State printers, Pages 704
↑ Calkins, William Wirt. , War of the Great Rebellion, 1862-1865 (Chicago: Donahue & Henneberry, Printers), 1895

PVT. George L. Houghton, Medal of Honor Recipient

Pvt. George L. Houghton, Co D, Illinois 104th Infantry Regiment Roster [4]

Pvt George L Houghton, US 104th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Prisoner of War [5] Regiment captured and paroled. Sent to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and duty there as paroled prisoners of war until April 1863, when declared exchanged.

Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois [6]