Here is the only known photo of Michael Bazzle: |
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Michael Bazzle served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and his granddaughter Alia Bazzle Oddenino told me that she remembered how much she used to love sitting on her grandfather's porch listening to him tell her about his Civil War experiences. Michael Bazzle was in Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and was at Appomattox Court House when Lee surrendered to Grant. Below is an excerpt from Civil War records I copied at the extensive Civil War records department at Virginia Tech which boasts an impressive collection at the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies:
"Pvt. Michael Bazzle of Captain Brander’s Company of Virginia Light Artillery. Enlisted April 21, 1862 at Richmond, Virginia. Wagon driver.
Michael Bazzle appears on a report of officers and men detailed in the Quartermasters Department of the Ordnance Train, Artillery, 3rd Corps, Prisoners of War, belonging to the Army of Northern Virginia, who have been this day surrendered by General Robert E. Lee, C.S.A., commanding said army, to Lieutenant General U.S. Grant, commanding Armies of the United States. Paroled at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, April 9, 1865."
More Civil War records (also copied from records at Virginia Tech -- the links are added by me and obviously not part of the original report) of Michael Bazzle's activities during the Civil War are detailed below :
"Bazzle, Michael, (Letcher Artillery) Capt. Brander's Company Virginia Light Artillery formerly served as Capt. Greenlee Davidson's Battery Virginia LIght Artillery. Served also as Co. D in Walker's afterwards Pegram's Battery of the Artillery Corp., Army of Northern Virginia ."
Michael Bazzle’s unit participated in many of the major engagements of the Civil War:
“Capt. Brander’s Co. Virginia Light Artillery. Camped at Manassas.
The battery has been present at and engaged in the following battles, Mechanicsville, engaged with Rifle Pieces, Cold Harbor present but not engaged. Frazier’s Farm under fire but not engaged. Malvern Hill engaged and suffered severely, Cedar Run under fire but not engaged, Warrenton Springs engaged, Manassas Aug. 30 engaged."The Company was ordered from the Camp of Instruction at Richmond to a point near Fredericksburg on the 24th of April 1862 and remained on that line with the division under General Joseph R. Anderson until the 26th of May when the division was ordered to Richmond and placed under the command of Major General A.P. Hill.
"The battery moved from Richmond with General Hill’s division and has remained with it up to this time – Greenlee Davidson, Captain Letcher Artillery, August 31, 1862. Camp near Bowling Green, Caroline County, Virginia.
Since the last muster the battery has been present at and engaged in the following battles, Chantilly under fire but not engaged, Harper’s Ferry engaged on two days – a section of the Battery participating in the final and successful assault on the enemy’s works. Shepardstown under fire but not engaged."After the battle of Groveton the battery moved with General A.P. Hill’s Division into Maryland and has remained with it since recrossing the Potomac – Greenlee Davidson Capt. Letcher Battery, 31 December, 1862.”
"Camp near Milford Station Caroline Co., Virginia.
The battery was actively engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg December 13, 1862 and suffered severely in men and horses. (This statement was accidentally omitted in making the last muster roll) Since the battle of Fredericksburg the battery has been stationed in camp on the Rappahannock in Winter Quarters at this point. — Greenlee Davidson Capt. Letcher Artillery""New Salem in Pennsylvania.
The battery was in action on 3, 4 May at Chancellorsville (See report to Col. R.L. Walker dated May 12, 1863) After the battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia the battery was camped at Bethel Church Caroline Co. Va. until 4 June when ordered to Hamilton’s crossing where it remained in position in front of the enemy until 14 June - 16 June. Left camp near Fredericksburg and marched via Culpeper C.H., Chester Gap, Shepardstown Va. and Hagerstown, Md. to New Salem, Pa. where it arrived on June 30.""Madison Run.
Since the last muster the company has marched from Gettysburg, Pa to this camp and has been in the following engagements - July 1, 2, 3 – had eleven horses killed and fourteen men killed and wounded, three killed and eleven wounded. One Napoleon gun disabled and afterwards captured by the enemy while it was with the wagon train.""Sept. Oct. 1863 – Brandy Station
Nov. Dec. 1863 – Camp Taylor
Jan. Feb. 1864 – Camp Taylor
March April 1864 – Field of Battle, Petersburg, Va.
May - June 1864 – Turkey Ridge
Nov. Dec. 1864 – Free Negro Battery
Jan. Feb. 1865 – In the field"
Michael Bazzle was in the hospital for 15 days during the war but was released in time to be with Lee’s Army when it surrendered at Appomattox Court House.
“M. Bazzle appears on a register of Receiving and Wayside Hospital for General Hospital No. 9 Richmond, Virginia. Admitted February 16, 1865. 15 days."
| Here is a Civil War record showing that Michael Bazzle was at Appomattox when Robert E. Lee surrendered: |
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| Here are some old notes taken from a Bazzle family record: |
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Here is the death certificate of Michael Bazzle: |
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Here is Shelton Lee Bazzle's death certificate: |
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