Bucklin logo items to show your interest in American history.

Bucklins gave whole-hearted service in the Civil War. 

The American Civil War was a brutal war, with chances of death or dismemberment extremely high. Yet many Bucklins volunteered because of their belief in either the Union or in the abolishment of slavery.

In the Civil War cores of regiments on both sides registered losses in single engagements of above 50 per cent.  In fact, the number dead was nearly 2% of the entire population of the United States!  If that percentage were adjusted to our population in the year 2000 for the war in Irag, it would mean a total of 6 million dead in the Iraq!   In the Revolutionary War,  about 1% of the population died. For more  statistical comparisons, see  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_casualties_of_war and also    http://www.civilwarhome.com/casualties.htm

We have elsewhere a list of some of the Bucklins who served in the Civil War.

What follows are a few notes about just two of distinguished heroes, among the many Bucklin heroes of the Civil War.

John Bucklyn won the Medal of Honor.  But his father had changed the Bucklin name to Bucklyn.  Read about his valor and the medal.

Charles M. Bucklin was Regimental First Sergeant of a Colored Troop Infantry Regiment.  The army did not allow blacks to be officers and non-commissioned officers.  The enlisted men in the units were made up entirely of blacks, many of them slaves who either volunteered or were taking the place of a white owner who had been drafted. (Hence, the Bucklins in the following listing that are enlisted men are presumably blacks owned by Bucklins and given that last name by the owners.) In forming the Colored Troop Infantry Units, there was a need for white officers and non-commissioned officers.  It was thought, correctly, that persons who volunteered for those leadership positions would be unable to secure promotions easily.  Hence, it took moral courage and determination to volunteer to be one of those white leaders of the Colored Troops.  We are proud that Charles M. Bucklin, served as the Regimental First Sergeant of the 81st Regiment Infantry and George Bucklin as a Captain of the 11th Heavy Artilery.)

(Note: 81st Regiment Infantry was organized April 4, 1864, from 9th Corps de Afrique Infantry. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Corps de Afrique, Dept. of the Gulf, to July, 1864. Consolidated with 88th and 89th United States Colored Troops July 6, 1864, to form new 77th United States Colored Troops. Reorganized July, 1864, by consolidation of 87th and 95th United States Colored Troops. Attached to Engineer Brigade, Dept. of the Gulf, to September, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, United States Colored Troops, Dept. of the Gulf, to February, 1865. Garrison of Port Hudson, La., Dept. of the Gulf, to July, 1865. Dept. of the Gulf to January, 1866.  It's service was post and garrison duty at Port Hudson, La., and in the Dept. of the Gulf entire term. Mustered out January 30, 1866.)

(Note:  The 11th United States Colored Heavy Artillery had originally been raised and organized as the Fourteenth Regiment Rhode Island Heavy Artillery. On 28 August 1863 the first company was mustered into Federal Service. As customary for all black units raised during the Civil War, the officers of this regiment were white, all of whom had seen previous service. They were commissioned by the President of the United States, after having passed a rigid examination before a military board convened at Washington of which Major General Silas Casey of the U.S.Army, presided over. On 19 December 1863 the first battalion left Providence and sailed from Newport for New Orleans, Louisiana, to join General Banks, commanding the Department of the Gulf. On 8 January 1864 the second battalion left Providence to join the first battalion in New Orleans. In March 1864, while units of the 14th Rhode Island United States Colored Heavy Artillery were stationed at Fort Esperanza, Matagorda Island Texas, Companies A, C, and D were placed under arrest for refusing to accept their pay, which was 3 dollars a month less than what regular white troops were receiving. The ringleaders of the protest were tried by general court-martial, and sent to Fort Jefferson, Florida. On 15 April the third battalion joined the Regiment at New Orleans. The whole Regiment was subsequently transferred to the Department of the Gulf, and its designation was changed by general order, first on 4 April to the 8th United States Heavy Artillery (Colored), and then in May, to the Eleventh United States Heavy Artillery (Colored). On 5 July Colonel Jacob Hale Sypher of the United States Army was appointed by the President to command the Regiment. The bulk of the service of this Regiment consisted of garrison and picket duty in several posts in the Department of the Gulf. At the close of the War, the Regiment returned to Rhode Island. On landing from the ships, a salute was fired by the Marine Artillery and the column was formed on South Main Street where they marched to City Hall. After a meal at the City Hall the Regiment marched to Exchange Place, where a dress parade took place in the presence of Governor Smith, his staff, and an large number of spectators. Sources: Barker, Harold R. History of the Rhode Island Combat Units in the Civil War (1861-1865). [n.p., c1964] and Chenery, William H. The Fourteenth Regiment Rhode Island Heavy Artillery (Colored,) in the war to preserve the union, 1861-1865. Providence: Snow & Farnham, 1898.)