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“A hero is someone who has given his life to something bigger than himself.”
~ Joseph Campbell ~
A photo of Private Daniel H. Otis after I had it professionally restored and colorized. Look at the clarity!
Before-and-after photos of Daniel's image can be seen HERE.
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A Quick Introduction to the Website
15 year-old Daniel H. Otis was living on his family’s farm in the Maromas section of Middletown, Connecticut, when on Monday, August 4, 1862, he left his home for good and “ran away to war.” Lying about his age, he enlisted as a volunteer soldier at Elijah Gibbons’ recruiting office at 100 Main Street in downtown Middletown. Daniel Otis was the youngest Middletown man to serve in the Civil War and the youngest soldier in his Company.
About four months later, on Saturday, December 13, 1862, while crossing over a millrace bridge during the first wave of attacks on Marye’s Heights at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Private Daniel H. Otis was mortally wounded by Confederate artillery fire. There he fell with a “fatal wound.” A few days later, Daniel died at the Regimental Hospital across the river in Falmouth, Virginia.
Grief-stricken, his father Erastus S. Otis, brought his body back home to Connecticut and buried him in Maromas Cemetery near his beloved mother, Elizabeth M. Young, who died six-years previously on her birth-day. The fact that Daniel Otis' mother died on her birth day, was info that we re-discovered after locating a portion of her gravestone beneath nine-inches of sod and soil! The restoration and cleaning of the Erastus Otis and Elizabeth Young Otis gravestones has since been completed by my husband and I.
About four months later, on Saturday, December 13, 1862, while crossing over a millrace bridge during the first wave of attacks on Marye’s Heights at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Private Daniel H. Otis was mortally wounded by Confederate artillery fire. There he fell with a “fatal wound.” A few days later, Daniel died at the Regimental Hospital across the river in Falmouth, Virginia.
Grief-stricken, his father Erastus S. Otis, brought his body back home to Connecticut and buried him in Maromas Cemetery near his beloved mother, Elizabeth M. Young, who died six-years previously on her birth-day. The fact that Daniel Otis' mother died on her birth day, was info that we re-discovered after locating a portion of her gravestone beneath nine-inches of sod and soil! The restoration and cleaning of the Erastus Otis and Elizabeth Young Otis gravestones has since been completed by my husband and I.
Within the various pages of this site, you can read more details about Daniel’s story, his mother’s death, his running away to war, the demise of his broken-hearted father, Erastus, who was a stonecutter, farmer, and Justice of the Peace (1847). Erastus Otis came from a family of Methodist Ministers. In fact, his great-uncle (also named Erastus Otis), was one of the pioneers of Methodism in New England! I take a closer look at Daniel's father, Erastus S. Otis, and his untimely and uncanny death, HERE. I also examine how everything eventually affected his youngest brother George C. Otis, who was left orphaned at a young age. Daniel actually had two other (older) brothers besides George. Info on them (Robert S. Otis and William Y. Otis) can be found on the "Otis Family Genealogy" page.
There is also Daniel’s photograph, his personal signature, a military time-line that I created for him, copies of his military service records—where I carefully examine the discrepancies of his date of death. There are excerpts from his maternal grandfather’s interesting little account book, family wills, plus photographs and locations of Otis and Young family gravesites. I also created a page for all the "Maromas Men in the Civil War," plus pictures, signatures, and notes (when available) for the men of Company B on the page: "Official Muster Roll of Capt. Elijah W. Gibbons." All of this, plus a good amount of other information, can be found in the pages on the right side-bar of this site. (Note: Maromas is a district in the southeast section of Middletown).
I also brought in information from a number of outside sources to bring the experience of both Daniel and his family to life. What has also been extremely helpful to me is reading anything (and everything) that might give me insight into how Daniel Otis may have lived or what he may have experienced, whether at home on his farm, or as a soldier. Doing this helped me to “get into his head” and “walk in his shoes,” so to speak. This also helped me to write from a place of investigation—but more importantly, it helped me to write from a place of emotion—a human experience—instead of dry and boring prose. All of this results in an intensely thought-provoking read.
Throughout this site, I dig-deep and investigate a number of possible scenarios related to Daniel Otis and his family. I also take a closer look at Daniel’s immediate family, with the stories and genealogy of other Otis-Young family members being given a “voice” here as well. I guess, in a way, Daniel, the young man who ran away from his home and family, and off to war, has ironically become the “figurehead” for his family.
If what I have written, moves you, or makes you care (even for just a few moments) about Daniel Otis and what he went through, then I have accomplished my purpose.
There is also Daniel’s photograph, his personal signature, a military time-line that I created for him, copies of his military service records—where I carefully examine the discrepancies of his date of death. There are excerpts from his maternal grandfather’s interesting little account book, family wills, plus photographs and locations of Otis and Young family gravesites. I also created a page for all the "Maromas Men in the Civil War," plus pictures, signatures, and notes (when available) for the men of Company B on the page: "Official Muster Roll of Capt. Elijah W. Gibbons." All of this, plus a good amount of other information, can be found in the pages on the right side-bar of this site. (Note: Maromas is a district in the southeast section of Middletown).
Also, there are hefty pages of well-researched genealogical information on the Otis and Young families of Maromas, Middletown, Connecticut. During my genealogical research on the families, I discovered some fascinating ancestral connections, such as the connection to accused Salem witch, Martha Carrier—who is Daniel Otis' maternal, 4x great-grandmother, via the Young side of the family. I also discovered that Daniel H. Otis is the (5x) great-grandson of both John Bailey I and Daniel Brainerd, two of the founding fathers of Haddam, CT. Then there is the connection to Union Brevet Brigadier General John Lord Otis, who was Daniel Otis' first cousin (half). Both of Daniel's paternal and maternal great-grandparents were Patriots in the American Revolution, as well as several great-uncles. A few of his family members also fought in the Civil War.
I also brought in information from a number of outside sources to bring the experience of both Daniel and his family to life. What has also been extremely helpful to me is reading anything (and everything) that might give me insight into how Daniel Otis may have lived or what he may have experienced, whether at home on his farm, or as a soldier. Doing this helped me to “get into his head” and “walk in his shoes,” so to speak. This also helped me to write from a place of investigation—but more importantly, it helped me to write from a place of emotion—a human experience—instead of dry and boring prose. All of this results in an intensely thought-provoking read.
Throughout this site, I dig-deep and investigate a number of possible scenarios related to Daniel Otis and his family. I also take a closer look at Daniel’s immediate family, with the stories and genealogy of other Otis-Young family members being given a “voice” here as well. I guess, in a way, Daniel, the young man who ran away from his home and family, and off to war, has ironically become the “figurehead” for his family.
If what I have written, moves you, or makes you care (even for just a few moments) about Daniel Otis and what he went through, then I have accomplished my purpose.
Though I’ve been a “Civil War Nerd” since a young girl, (my passion being the personal stories and accounts of the "common soldier."), I've never taken on a task quite like this. I began my research on Daniel Otis and his family in 2018, and from that moment, this site has truly been a “labor of love” for me. I am continually updating this site, adding new bits of useful information here and there. There is always something new to be discovered, some new connection made, or insightful detail to be added that makes for a fuller, richer, more meaningful narrative here on this site.
Enjoy the site.
Kimberly A. Hayden
Not sure where to start reading? May I suggest starting with these pertinent pages (the links for these pages can also be found in the right side-bar of this site):
Erastus S. Otis
(great page for insight into how Daniel Otis lived)
(great page for insight into how Daniel Otis lived)
Maromas Men in the Civil War
(with before-and-after cleaning photos of Veteran gravestones)
(with before-and-after cleaning photos of Veteran gravestones)
Want more genealogy? Try these pages:
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For the curious, a bit can be read about who the relentless researcher is behind this site, HERE.
Contact info can be found, HERE.
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COPYRIGHT INFO
Quotes, excerpts, and facts are not copyright. What IS copyright are my notes, my input, my words, my thoughts, and my narrative. If you want to use any of my copyright text, or photos, you must contact me first, and then give credit.
Quotes, excerpts, and facts are not copyright. What IS copyright are my notes, my input, my words, my thoughts, and my narrative. If you want to use any of my copyright text, or photos, you must contact me first, and then give credit.
This site is the result of myriads of hours, and years, of research! Please respect that. Copyright 2018-2024, Kimberly A. Hayden.
Thank you.
This website is dedicated to Daniel H. Otis, and his fascinating and wonderful family—both his immediate and extended family.
