Rees - Goman family ancestry sit

Thomas Edward Goman

American Civil War Veteran

Thoman E. Goman (about 1906) Data

Born in 1843* (? 1861 enrollment - 19 of age at enrollment) in Duchess County, New York (*possibly born in July 1845 and lied about his age which was common at that time)
Father: Javis W. Goman (buried in same plot, died December 1885)
Enrolled in 57th NY on September 4, 1861
Description (as enlisted): 5' 4" tall, light complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, occupation: painter
Discharged from 57th NY on September 3, 1864 at camp near Petersburg, VA
Wife: Sarah F. Goman, married July 16, 1871 (buried in same plot, died 1893)
Child 1: William J. Goman, born July 3, 1872
Child 2: Frederick Goman, born August 25,1877
Child 3: Ada Goman, born September 23, 1886
Sister-in-law? Jane N. (died September 1884)
Possible nephew (buried in same plot, died November 1883 at age 3)
Thomas' death: March 27, 1907 (internment: April 1907)
Burial Plot: Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery (New York) No.768, lot 5, section 3
United States Bureau of Pensions, Thomas E. Goman is entitled to $8 per month starting October 17, 1903 (dated April 1, 1904)

Not much is known about Thomas's daily life. Prior to the Civil War he was employed as a painter in Duchess County, New York.

He enlisted in the newly forming 57th New York Volunteer Infantry on September 4, 1861. About two months later, the regiment left for Washington and eventually became part of the Army of the Potomac. The regiment fought in many battles during the three years that Thomas was enlisted. It was at the Battle of the Wilderness (May 5-7, 1864) when Thomas was shot in his right leg on the first day of the battle. Thomas was hospitalized in Washington until September. He was re-inducted but at that time the army was down-sizing and the 57th N.Y. Infantry was disbanding. We was mustered out after three years of service on September 3, 1864.

After the war he married and had three children. The National Archives pension file on Thomas indicates that his ability to work as a painter was severely impacted by his war injury. Sarah died in 1993 and Thomas lived with his son William and his family until his death in 1907.

About Goman's Regiment

     This regiment received its numerical designation October 19, 1861. Organized at New York City August 12 to November 19, 1861. The companies were recruited principally: A, D, E, F and G in New York city; B in Utica; C in Kings county; and H, I and K (Goman's) in Duchess county. Left New York State for Washington, D.C., November 19, 1861. Attached to French's 3rd Brigade, Sumner's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1864. Consolidated Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, to November, 1864.

     During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action: 5 officers and 60 enlisted men. Of wounds received in action: 3 officers and 35 enlisted men. Of disease and other causes: 29 officers and 298 enlisted men. Captured: 1 officer and 74 enlisted men. This loss totals 505 men. (Losses below are for this regiment only.)

    The only time indicated in the records Thomas was absent from duty was when he was recovering from his gunshot wound. To get an idea of what action Thomas probably saw, the following list shows the campaigns in chronological order those that his regiment was involved in:

1861

Thomas Goman enlists on September 4, 1861

Regiment is moved to Washington, D.C. November, 1861

1862

Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., until March, 1862.

Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10. Reconnaissance to Cedar Run March 14-16.

Ordered to the Peninsula, Va. Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 5-May 4.

Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks May 31-June 1 (3 killed, 15 wounded).

Seven days before Richmond, The Peninsula Campaign, June 25-July 1 (9 wounded, 35 captured or missing).

Battles of Gaines Mill June 27

Peach Orchard and Savage Station June 29

White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30

Malvern Hill July 1

Harrison's Landing until August 16

Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria and Centreville August 16-30

Cover General Pope's retreat to Washington August 31-September 1

Maryland Campaign September 6-22

Sharpsburg, Md. September 15

Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16-17 (19 killed, 79 wounded, 3 captured or missing).

Duty at Harper's Ferry, W. Va., September 22-October 29

Reconnaissance to Charlestown October 16-17

Advance up Loudoun Valley and movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 17

Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15 (8 killed, 78 wounded, 1 captured or missing)

1863

"Mud March" January 20-24, 1863

At Falmouth until April 27

Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6

Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5 (2 killed, 1 captured or missing)

Gettysburg Campaign June 11-July 24

Battle of Gettysburg July 1-4

Duty on line of the Rappahannock until October.

Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17

Bristoe Campaign October 9-22

Auburn and Bristoe October 14 (5 wounded, 15 captured or missing)

Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8

Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2.

1864

Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864

At and near Stevensburg, Va., until May

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15

Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7 (7 killed, 50 wounded, 1 captured or missing)

Goman was shot at the above battle and remained in the hospital until September

Spotsylvania May 8-12

Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21

Assault on the Salient or "Bloody Angle" May 12

North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28

Totopotomoy May 28-31. (Grant in command.)

Cold Harbor June 1-12 (7 killed, 45 wounded, 1 captured or missing)

Before Petersburg June 16-18

Siege of Petersburg June 16 to (Goman muster out during this time) December 6, 1864.

Photos and Records

Top photo: Photo (center) taken pobably in 1905 or 1906, Thomas E. Goman (left), his daughter Ada (behind him), his son William (far right), William's Mamie (back) with daughter Sadie in front of her, daughters Nellie and Florence (don't know which is which), and son William (next to Ada). Documents: Thomas E. Goman's original service discharge (left). Goman's U.S. Bureau of pensions certificate (right). The Goman family plot in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery (bottom).