Biographical Sketch of

Oliver P Harwood

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 804 - 805 


Oliver P. Harwood, of Oasis, Wis., a member of G. A. R. Post, No. 135, at Wautoma, was born Feb. 6, 1826, in 
Bangor, Franklin Co., N. Y., where he resided with his parents until he reached manhood, and was married Sept. 
24, 1850, to Elizabeth Stienbarge.  From this marriage there were four sons, who are married and live in Iowa 
and Dakota, and the second son died soon after he was married.  In 1854 he came with his family to Wisconsin, 
locating in Waushara County, where he was a farmer until the war, and he enlisted Feb. 10, 1862, in Company I, 
5th Wisconsin Infantry, at Berlin, for three years.  He joined his command while it was a member of King's 
Brigade, and was soon after transferred to that of Gen. Hancock, and in March started for Manassas, but the 
action there being at an end, returned to Alexandria and made connection with the forces of McClellan for the 
Peninsular campaign.  He was in the attack at Lee's Mills, on Warwick River, and went to the Battle of Williamsburg, 
fought in the succeeding actions in which his regiment was involved, at Fredericksburg, Yorktown, Rappahannock 
Station, Mine Run, Antietam and Gettysburg, and on the first day's fight in the Battle of the Wilderness he was 
taken a prisoner.  He had previously veteranized and taken his furlough and on the day mentioned was one of a 
detail to guard a train.  He was stationed on the extreme left of the skirmish line, when they were attacked by 
a brigade of rebels.  He was several rods from his comrades, and when he was captured he informed the rebels that 
a strong force of troops were lying a little back from the stream.  They believed him and did not advance, and by 
this ruse he saved the wagon train, which they would have otherwise captured.  He was taken to Orange Court House, 
where the bulk of his personal possessions was taken from him, and he was removed successively to Gordonsville, 
Lynchburg and Danville to Andersonville.  He was captured May 5, and reached Andersonville May 23, where he remained 
until Sept. 12, when he was sent to Florence, S. C.  Late in the month of February, with a number of other prisoners, 
he was paroled and sent to Wilmington, and for an account of the march of that forlorn hope see sketch of J. H.. 
Jenkins, on another page.  The sufferings of Mr. Harwood were the same as those recounted in numberless other cases 
on these pages, and his health was shattered in a terrible manner.  He had the scurvy so badly that all his teeth 
fell out and he has never since seen a well day.  Mr. Harwood, the subject of this sketch, states that many men 
died from lack of ambition and energy sufficient to move about and take care of themselves.  He was the first man 
who did shoemaking at Andersonville.  For a hammer he had an iron nut or bur, which was stolen from a railroad car, 
and on which he put a stick for a handle, and he made lasts of pieces of boards.  He had previously done some cobbling, 
but had not learned the trade.  He picked up old shoes, which he repaired, or made new ones.  For thread he had the 
ravelings of a piece of English tent cloth, and he obtained needles, which he heated to make them flexible.  For pegs 
he took the heart of a pine tree, and made them one at a time with a case knife.  He made up his mind that he could 
never get out of prison and determined to make the best of it, and he went to work in order to be employed and to earn 
something to keep himself alive.  He was for some time the only shoemaker in the stockade, rising early in the morning 
and working late at night by the light of pitch pine knots.  The money he earned he used to the best advantage in 
relieving the necessities of himself and companions.  After a while others began to make shoes and it became quite 
a business.  His pegging awl and case knife, which he had brought from Wisconsin, he managed to secrete when he was 
taken prisoner, and he smuggled them into prison at Andersonville, and carried them with him to Florence, where he 
carried on his business also.  He kept his razor with him, which he carried clear through and used it in shaving his 
fellow prisoners.  At Wilmington he was paroled and went to Annapolis, where he was very nearly burned to death in 
a tent that took fire.  In 1862, while on a reconnaissance from Yorktown, with a number of comrades, he came near 
capture.  The detachment was overnight within the rebel lines and was given up for lost.  At Andersonville he gave 
ten cents a spoonful for salt, and only drew salt rations twice.  He gave a greenback dollar for a pound of salt 
that had just been taken from a pork barrel.  Some times the men who went out to gather wood would be allowed to 
bring in an extra stick for their own use and they sometimes bought beans and other food from citizens where they 
chopped, and smuggled such articles as they bought into the prison.  A common method was to split a log, make it 
hollow and place the provisions inside and fasten it together by wedges which passed through both pieces.  This was 
discovered by the authorities by reason of the hollow logs being carelessly exposed.  Every kind of provision was sold 
at fabulous prices.  At Annapolis, Md., Mr. Harwood received a furlough and returned to Wisconsin.  The war closed before 
his leave of absence expired and he did not rejoin his command.  Since the war he has lived in Waushara County.  For the 
last twenty-two years he has lived in Oasis, Wis.  He was married Aug. 25, 1867, to Lucy E. Cummings and they have had 
four children:  Mary L., eldest daughter, is married to Albert B. Straw, of Wautoma; George H. died July 10, 1879.  Lulu 
M. and Rosa B. are unmarried.






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