Served as a Private in Battery "H" (DeGoylers Black Horse Battery), 1st Michigan Light Artillery during the Civil War.

All the brothers were Valiant

The extended Bowman-Chaffee-Justin Clan, settled on farms in what is now the intersection of Bowman Road and Yankee Roads, St. Clair Township, Michigan in 1844. Polly (Chaffee) Justin-Bowman, from New York's Mohawk Valley, was the Clan's matriarch. A total of 11 grandson's served in the Civil War; 1 Bowman, 4 Chaffee brothers and 6 Justin brothers served, mostly in Battery "H", 1st Michigan Light Artillery which Brevet Captain (Sr. 1st. LT.) William Justin commanded near the end of the war. An additional 12 young men that had married into the Clan also served in the war. All of Polly's grandsons were wounded at least once with Alonzo & William Justin being wounded twice. Two Wolven brothers and Ed Rowley were Killed in Action.

GRANDSONS IN THE CIVIL WAR

Bowman, George H. 4th Mi Infantry, Company I Private
Chaffee, Amasa M. 1st Mi Artillery, Battery H Private
Chaffee, Edward A. Michigan Engineers & Construction Corps Private
Chaffee, Phillip A. 1st Mi Artillery, Battery H Private
Chaffee, Theron 1st Mi Artillery, Battery H Private
Justin, Alonzo 1st Mi Artillery, Battery H & 8th Calvary Private
Justin, Clark O. 4th Mi Infantry Company I Private
Justin, George 1st Mi Artillery, Battery H Drummer Boy
Justin, Isaac 1st Mi Artillery, Battery H Corporal
Justin, John 22nd Mi Infantry, Company I Private
Justin, William 1st Mi Artillery, Battery H (Brevet) Captain
Promoted to 1st Sergeant on 21 November 1861
Commission 2nd Lieutenant on 24 Dec 1862
Promoted to Full 2nd Lieutenant on 8 Aug 1863
Promoted to Full Senior 1st LT. 25 Apr 1864
Awarded Brevet Promotion to Captain 10 Sept 1864

IN-LAW'S THAT ALSO SERVED
Bellow, Robert 2nd Mi Infantry, Company E Private
Cox, Henry 1st Mi Artillery, Battery H Private
Harvey, Nelson 1st Mi Artillery, Battery H Artificer
Misselbeck, Fred 15th Mi Infantry, Company C Private
Rowley, Edward D. 1st Mi Artillery, Battery H Private
Snay , John 22nd Mi Infantry, Company C Private
Tebo , Gilbert 22nd Mi Infantry, Company C Private
Watson, Charles 22nd Mi Infantry, Company I Private
Wolven, James 8th Mi Calvary, Company H Private
Wolven, Joseph 1st Mi Artillery, Battery H Private
Wolven, Peter 1st Mi Artillery, Battery H Private
Wolven, William 8th Mi Calvary, Company H Corporal

I had the honor of placing new bronze Civil War Veteran Grave Markers on the graves of 18 of these brave men in 2005.

Don Justin
CWO USN (Retired)
100% Disabled Veteran