I receive Robert's Civil War Pension records. These records finally indicated that Robert died at the National Soldiers Home in Hampton, Va., on 20 October 1898. Besides his health problems there were two references to his drinking problems. Once by his wife Sallie Shaw who was presenting an applications for Robert's pension after he had died, and by military charges of drunkenness. Around June 1862 he develop Typhoid Fever for three months. Was promoted to Captain January 1864. Within these files was a neighbors affidavit's one was from a William E. Tuchtone (Touchstone) age 47, of 918 Jefferson Street, Wilm, De. He stated that he was Robert's Nephew. This would have been his sister Martha's Son. There was also a Affidavit by Thomas Green (Co 'C' 8th Del) and James Fletcher & George W. Wilkins (Co D 2nd Regt Del, 1st & 8th Regt). These last two were also residents of the Soldiers Home and it looks like both served with/for Robert in Delaware. Received a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Hampton National Cemetery, Cemetery Road at Marshall Ave, Hampton, Va. 23669, which confirmed that Robert J. Holt was indeed buried in section New 'D' Grave plot #7643. Date of death was listed as 21 Oct 1898. 8th Regiment - Organized at Wilmington, Del., October, 1864. Ordered to City Point, Va., reporting there October 13, 1864. Attached to Engineer Brigade, Army of the Potomac, to January 12, 1865. Provost Guard, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1865. SERVICE.--Duty in the Defenses of City Point, Va., and provost duty at General Army Headquarters until March 16, 1865. Joined 5th Army Corps March 18. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Lewis Farm, near Gravelly Run, March 29. White Oak Ridge March 31. Five Forks April 1. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Moved to Washington, D.C., May 2-12. Grand review May 23. Mustered out June 5, 1865. Regiment lost during service 3 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 10 Enlisted men by disease. Total 13. Captain Robert John Holt is my 2nd great-grandfather.

William mustered-in on the 31st of August 1864 to the 8th Regiment. This enlistment record also shows some personal details. William was the 1st Sergeant of Co A, 8th Regt Del. It was commanded by his brother Captain “Robert John Holt”. In October 1864 the 8th Regiment Infantry was re-organized in Wilmington, Del., and was ordered to City Point, Va. They reported there October 13, 1864 and were attached to an Engineer Brigade, under the Army of the Potomac, through January 12, 1865. Later the regiment performed Duty in the Defenses of City Point, Va., and was attached on March, 1865 to the Provost Guard, Army of the Potomac. They fell under the 5th Army Corps March 18, and participated in the Appomattox Campaign March 28 to April 9, 1865; then the Lewis Farm, near Gravelly Run, March 29; March 31 White Oak Ridge; followed by Five Forks April 1; Fall of Petersburg April 2; then Pursuit of Lee April 3-9; and on April 9th, the surrender of Robert E. Lee and his army at the Appomattox Court House. Redeployed to Washington, D.C., May 2-12; and participated in the Grand review May 23. William Holt’s was also listed on the muster out rolls for Arlington Heights, VA, June 5, 1865. William’s Civil War documents showed that his occupation was a Watchmaker. He was later shown as a Jeweler with his business address was listed as 521 Market Street in Wilmington, De., after the war. The Delaware History Society building is located across the street from that address. After the war, William married Mary Lyle before 1871, she was the daughter of Francis and Louisa Lyle and was born about 1849. William & Mary had two children: William L, born 7 January 1871, and Adelia Lyle Holt, born 9 Feb 1873. Both were born in Wilmington, Delaware. Later after William’s wife death in 1897, he became a resident of the Hampton Branch National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers on 18 November 1898, a month after his brother Capt. Robert J. Holt died at the same Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. William was there for about 5 years and later died on 22 August 1903. On February 7, 2000, I received a letter from Department of Veterans Affairs, Hampton National Cemetery, Cemetery Road at Marshall Ave, Hampton, Va. 23669, which confirmed that Wm M. Holt was indeed buried in section New 'C' Grave plot #8535, with his brother at plot# 7643. Wm M. Holt is my 2nd great-grand uncle.

2nd Lieutenant Aaron W. Shaw Volunteered for service on October 25, 1862 in Wilmington Delaware Company A, in the 8th regiment for a term of service of 9 months. Was promoted on February 13, 1863 from 2Lt to 1Lt by Vice William Q. Moore. His Commanding Officer was Captain Robert J. Holt, his bother-in-law. Civil War records giving a lengthy account while on duty his detail was responsible for losing two Confederate POWs at City Point, Va. 1st Lt Shaw stated he had bad luck while on guard through carelessness of my sentries where they lost two rebel scouts, these were the best scouts that Gen. Lee had, but we got the best one. He cut through the floor and crawled out under the building. He was caught again between our picket line and the rebel pickets. “A boy about 18 years old captured him and while coming in with him he [the rebel] took the gun away from the boy and says now I will take you a prisoner. He took the boy towards the rebel line but he got tired and told the boy to lay down and go to sleep. The boy laid down but did not go to sleep. The reb laid down and soon went to sleep. The boy then got up and took the gun [and] shot the reb. He tried to shoot him through the hart but the ball struck his rib and glanced off, but did not kill him. The boy brought him in our lines all right…the commander of the post has had me up before him and one of his aids was to my tent to see me today…had an investigation and got my statement”. Records show that charges were brought against Lieutenant Shaw and he later demoted to 2nd Lieutenant. Prior to War, Aaron married Mary Springer Campbell on 29 October 1858, in Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 6 daughters. Aaron died on 3 February 1910 an is buried in the Wilmington & Brandywine Cemetery. Aaron W. Shaw is my 2nd great-grand uncle.

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