William Finley Notestine (1841 - 1865)

Ancestors

Biography

Find A Grave: Memorial #35549102 retrieved William Finley Notestine

William was born in Wayne County Ohio on 31 May 1841 to Levi Notestine and Phoebe (Thrapp) Notestine. ^[1]

By 1860 William was working as a carpenter's apprentice and his father Levi was working as a carpenter. ^[2]

William musters in Aug 1861

After the American civil war broke out between the states, William enlisted in the U.S. Army on 20 July 1861 (see attached photo to this profile) in Olney, Illinois. According to Dennis Belcher, the author of, "The 11th Missouri Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War, A History and Roster", the 11th Missouri infantry regiment was comprised mostly of men from Illinois. William enlisted as a sergeant in Company E. (same photo from above, Company E, Missouri Rifles). ^[3]

Also in Dennis Belcher's book are a few biographical sketches of William's time while he was in the infantry. In one sketch, also seen in the attached enlistment document, he listed his pre-war occupation as a railroader. In January of 1864 William's enlistment contract ends and he reenlists.

William's Second Enlistment

Promoted from sergeant to Captain In 1864, after several battles behind him, he was promoted to Captain when Company E found itself without a leader. The Belcher's book also documented his last battle, where he ultimately was wounded, and the heroic charge he led against the enemy. He led his men across open ground and up a steep hill to attack a fort ^[4] The fort was captured but he took a bullet to his left thigh. This was the battle for Nashville fought on December 15th, 16th and 17th of 1864.

Capt Notestine Casualty sheet-page 1

Capt Notestine casualty sheet-page 2

He was wounded on the first day of the battle for Nashville, on the 15th, and his leg was amputated above the knee. He ultimately died of his wound in a Nashville hospital on 12 Feb 1865 of "exhaustion following amputation of left thigh...". ^[5]

While many men are listed in civil war muster rolls as privates when enlisting and privates when their enlistment term has ended, not William. William rose through the seargeant ranks, distinguished himself, and ultimately was promoted to Captain to lead Company E when it needed leadership. He enlisted in 1861, and again in 1864. He survived most of the war and died just about 2 months before General Lee surrendered on April 9th, 1865. ^[6] He was 23.

Capt Notestine's Death and Interment

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Sources

1. ↑ 1850 United States Federal Census: MyHeritage.com [online database]. Lehi, UT, USA: MyHeritage (USA) Inc. https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10126/1850-united-states-federal-census Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication M432, 1,009 rolls. Record: https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10126-4095864/wm-f-notestine-in-1850-united-states-federal-census Wm F Notestine in household of Levi Notestine Year: 1850; State: Illinois; County: Richland; Township: Richland county; NARA Publication: M432; Page: 616 Citation: Wm F Notestine Birth: Circa 1842 - Ohio, United States Residence: 1850 - Richland county, Richland, Illinois, USA Schedule: Population Parents (implied): Levi Notestine, Phoebe A Notestine Brother (implied): James R Notestine
2. ↑ 1860 United States Federal Census MyHeritage.com [online database]. Lehi, UT, USA: MyHeritage (USA) Inc. https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10127/1860-united-states-federal-census Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Eighth Census of the United States, 1860, Population Schedule. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Record: https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10127-3812443/wm-f-natestme-in-1860-united-states-federal-census Wm F Natestme in household of L Natestme Year: 1860; State: Illinois; County: Richland; Township: Olney; NARA Publication: M653; Sheet: 29; Page: 33 Citation: Wm F Natestme Birth: Circa 1842 - O Residence: 1860 - Olney, Richland, Illinois, USA
3. ↑ U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861 - 1865 MyHeritage.com [online database]. Lehi, UT, USA: MyHeritage (USA) Inc. https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10331/us-civil-war-soldiers-1861-1865 Record: https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10331-2818226/wm-f-notestine-in-us-civil-war-soldiers Wm. F. Notestine Citation: Wm. F. Notestine Military Service: Between 1861 and 1865 - Missouri, USA Rank: Captain Side: Union Unit: 11th Regiment, Missouri Infantry
4. ↑ "The 11th Missouri Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War, A History and Roster", Dennis W Belcher, McFarland Company, Inc., 2011.
5. ↑ Compilation of Published Sources: MyHeritage.com [online database]. Lehi, UT, USA: MyHeritage (USA) Inc. https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-90100/compilation-of-published-sources Record: https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-90100-444129137/the-union-and-confederate-armies-a-compilation-of-the-official Unknown Country: USA; State: Washington Citation: The Union and Confederate Armies, a Compilation of the Official Records, The War of the Rebellion, Ser. 1, vol. 45(1), 1894 Text: "...th Cavalry. | Lieut, S. Edward Day, 33d Infantry. Capt. William F. Notestine, llth In fun- | Lieut. Thomas Rutledge, 33d Infantry, try. Lieut. Thomas N. Hanson, 15th Infantry, i Lieut, Everah C. Le..." Date: 1894-00-00 Publication place: Washington, USA
6. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 22 July 2018), memorial page for William F. Notestine (31 May 1841–12 Feb 1865), Find A Grave Memorial no. 35549102, citing Haven Hill Cemetery, Olney, Richland County, Illinois, USA ; Maintained by Kathy (Kuenstler) Hursta ღ (contributor 46990380) .