Captain Joseph Albert Sudborough, U.S.V.

Captain Joseph Albert Sudborough, eldest son of Samuel Sudborough, an Englishman, was born in Hillsdale, Michigan, September 9, 1843, raised and educated in Adrian, Lenawee County, and was learning a trade at the breaking out of the Rebellion.

During the summer of 1860, Captain Ellsworth, with his famous " Chicago Zouaves," gave one of his exhibition drills in Adrian, which so aroused the " military spirit" of the young men that they organized a militia company called the " Hardee Cadets," and in the following autumn adopted resolutions tendering their services in the event of war; forwarded official copies to President Buchanan and the governor of Michigan; the latter responded, promising his acceptance, and this company was among the first ordered out in response to President Lincoln's call for three-months' troops.

The subject of our sketch was one of the "original' members of the " Hardee Cadets," and as first corporal of the company was with his regiment, the First Michigan Infantry, early en route to Washington, where it was brigaded with Colonel Ellsworth's " Fire Zouaves," and was among the first troops to enter Alexandria, participating in the following campaign and battle of Bull Run, after which returning to Michigan, its term of service having expired.

In the following spring, 1862, he again entered the service as first sergeant Company A, Seventeenth Michigan Infantry, which, upon arrival at Washington, was assigned to the Ninth Corps, with which it remained until the close of the war; in its first and many subsequent engagements distinguished itself, and was officially known as the " Stonewall Regiment."

The service of Captain Sudborough is identical with that of the regiments to which he belonged, participating in all their campaigns and battles except during a portion of the Maryland campaign of 1862.

His corps then returned to the Army of the Potomac, and he participated in the battles of the Wilderness; NY River, May 9, when his regiment drove a rebel brigade off the field; in the battle of Spottsylvania, May 12, the "Stonewall Regiment" was surrounded and badly cut to pieces; only forty-five men and four officers escaped, Captain Sudborough among the latter. He was in the battles of North Anna, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, battles and siege of Petersburg, including, the Crater, Weldon Railroad, Reams' Station, Poplar Spring Church, Pegram Farm, Boydtown Road, Hatcher's Run, and Fort Steadman, where he was slightly and the only time wounded; the capture of Petersburg, April 3, 1865, when his brigade was among the first troops to enter the city; his corps then occupied the line of General Grant's communications until General Lee's surrender; with his regiment participated in the final " grand review" at Washington, and was honorably mustered out soon thereafter.

He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1863, and captain while before Petersburg; served as adjutant of his regiment, was briefly in command of same, and performed staff duties for his division commander.

After the war, removed to Missouri and engaged in the mercantile business; married, in 1866, Miss Sarah Olive Blymyer, by whom two children were born,- Mrs. Cornelia B. Andrews (deceased), and Charles Blymyer (living).

He is a companion in the Missouri Commandery of the Loyal Legion, U.S.A.; comrade of Ransom Post, No. 131, Department of Missouri, Grand Army of the Republic; was aide-de-camp on the staff of the commander-in-chief in 1889-90; participated in the " grand parade" at Washington, D.C., September 20, 1892; and resides in St. Louis, Missouri.

Source: Officers of the Volunteer Army and Navy who served in the Civil War, published by L.R. Hamersly & Co., 1893, 419 pgs.

Related Links:

• Civil War Records
• Civil War Microfilm at the National Archives
• Sudborough Surname