Pvt. Henry Merdith Alward; 40th Indiana Inf.

Grave of Pvt. Henry M. Alward, Stones River National Cemetery

Henry M. Alward was the son of Henry Arista and Eva Maria (DeCamp) Alward. Henry M. was born August 9, 1844 at Elkhart County, Indiana. The family moved to Fountain County, Indiana in the 1850’s and by 1860 the family had moved to Montgomery County, living in the town of Waveland. His father’s occupation was a plasterer and he also farmed. Henry M. was listed in the 1860 Montgomery County census as a farmer.

Henry was not old enough to enlist in 1861, he was just 17 years old. His older brother, Ira Joseph Alward had just enlisted on September 1st at Indianapolis in Company A, 54th Indiana Infantry. Henry traveled 50 miles to Lafayette, Indiana during September of 1862. He enlisted as a private in the 40th Indiana Regiment, Captain Dewitt W. Wallace (Graduate of the Waveland Academy) of Company C  was the recruiting officer. Henry Sr. vouched that his son was 18 years of age. Henry signed his enlistment papers on September 17, 1862, and received a $25.00 bounty. He is described in his enlistment papers as being 5 feet 6 inches tall, Complexion; Light, Eyes; Hazel, and Hair; Brown.

On December 6, 1862, Henry M. had caught up with his Company H, then in camp around the city of Nashville. The Army of the Cumberland was soon on the march to Murfreesboro, Gen. Rosecrans wanted to push Gen. Bragg’s Army of Tennessee out of middle Tennessee. After being in the regiment only 25 days, he was engaged in the battle of Stones River on December 31st, 1862; January 1st and 2nd, 1863. On December 31, the regiment was pounded by heavy artillery fire along the railroad as it waited for it’s place on the front line; it’s losses during the battle were 4 Killed, 68 Wounded and 13 Missing. Henry had stood the test and survived the battle unscathed. After the Union victory at Stones River, the Army of the Cumberland settled into winter quarters around Murfreesboro. In April of 1863, Henry suddenly became ill while in camp at Murfreesboro. Confined to the Regimental Hospital, Henry Merdith Alward died on April, 23, 1863, of what doctors called remittent fever.

Pvt. Henry Merdith Alward is buried in the Stones River National Cemetery. History was not kind to Henry, his headstone reads “H.M. Alwood”, instead of Alward. Unfortunately, the NPS will not replace the marker of my Great Great Grand Uncle. Sadly he will always be seen as “H.M. Alwood” to the visitor’s that walk through the cemetery.

Written by Scott Busenbark