William Colvin (on left) was born in Lafayette County, Pennsylvania on May 11, 1840, while his brother John was probably born in 1841.

William enlisted as a private in Company G, 59th Ohio Infantry, on October 2, 1861. He was captured at the Battle of Stones River, Tennessee, and interned in Richmond, Virginia. Paroled in January 1863, William rejoined his unit, but was captured again at the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia that September. He returned to Richmond as a prisoner, then was sent to Danville, Virginia, and finally to Andersonville, Georgia. According to family lore, the starving Cole was able to catch a dog belonging to Captain Henry Wirz, the prison’s commander. Cole “knocked the dog in the head and ate it.” Not having any utensils, he fashioned a fork from one of the dog’s ribs (the fork is currently in the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield collection). William was paroled at Savannah, Georgia and discharged on January 21, 1865, at Columbus, Ohio. He eventually moved to Ambrose, Missouri, where he died in 1931.

John Colvin enlisted as a sergeant in Company H, 2nd Ohio Heavy Artillery on August 12, 1863; he performed garrison duty in Kentucky and Tennessee, and was discharged on August 28, 1865. He died on September 18, 1906.

Both brothers drew disability pensions because of diseases contracted while in the army.

Tintype by Unknown Photographer

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 32262