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Records indicated that he was born in Michigan in 1841. On December 26, 1863 he was enrolled at Vienna Michigan by Captain Bradley as a private in Company F. Second Michigan Infantry. On January 6, 1864 he was mustered in and sent to a recruit depot at Annapolis Maryland where he remained until April 1864.

In July 1864 he was listed as missing in action at Petersburg Virginia. He was in fact taken prisoner on July 30, 1864 and was held until February 23, 1865 when he was paroled. On March 28th he was admitted to Harper Hospital, and on August 7, 1865 was discharged in Detroit.

Santa Cruz County Death Certificate

Robert Hutchinson, a native of Michigan, died in Felton on May 7, 1894. According to C.H. Anderson the attending MD the cause of death was strychnine poisoning.

Records of Members of The Grand Army of The Republic, William Ward

ROBERT HUTCHINSON Was born May 24 1839, at sea off the Banks of New Foundland; has been a farmer; is at present a carpenter. Enlisted in the fall of 1863 in the 2d Michigan Infantry, and served as a private; was attached to the 1st Brigade, 2 Division, 9th Army Corps; took part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold harbor, Shady Grove, Petersburg (both times), and skirmish at North Anna; was wounded in his left leg above the ankle; was captured July 30, 1864, and sent to Danville Prison; remained there about seven months; was then taken to Libby Prison, and after about two weeks was paroled; was for about a month in the hospital at Annapolis, thence home on furlough for thirty days, after which was in Harper Hospital until honorably discharged in August 1865. Comrade Hutchison is a member of W.H.L. Wallace Post, GAR of Santa Cruz Cal where he resides.

Santa Cruz Sentinel (February 27, 1894)

Robert Hutchison of Felton has been put on the pension roll.

Santa Cruz Surf (May 8, 1894)

Died- Hutchinson At Felton, May 7 1894. Robert Hutchinson, late of Company F Second Michigan Infantry Aged 53.

Editor's note: A similar article appears in the Santa Cruz Sentinel on the same date.

G.A.R FUNERAL NOTICE:

Members of the G.A.R., all old Soldiers and Sons of Veterans are requested to meet at the Undertaking parlors of Scott & Ely at 1 PM Today (Tuesday) May 8th to attend the funeral of our late comrade Robert Hutchison.

Editorial Notes from Robert L. Nelson

NARA Pension/Military Research (October 10, 2003)

Robert Hutchinson, of Felton, originally applied for a pension while in Santa Cruz on July 20, 1892. He reapplied on May 29, 1893 and the pension was granted on February 6, 1894. Hutchinson indicated that he had enlisted as a private in Co. F of the 2 MI Vol Inf. on Dec 20, 1863, and was wounded at Petersburg VA July 30 1864 [Battle of the Crater] by a piece of shell entering his left leg. He was taken prisoner and sent to Danville prison where he contracted kidney disease. He was held as a prisoner of war until February 22, 1865 when he was freed and sent to Harper Hospital where he remained until he was discharged August 7, 1865. At the time of his application he was also suffering from bronchitis and was unable to perform manual labor.

Date of Birth: 1839-05-24 (1841?)

Date of Death: 1894-05-07

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Evergreen Cemetery

Plot: G12

Mortuary: S&E

Cause of Death: Sui/Poison

Occupation: Carpenter

Height: 5'7

Complexion: Dk

Eye Color: Gr

Hair Color: Bk

Last City: Felton

Native of: CN

Enlisted: 1863/12/26

Discharged: 1865/08/07

Military Unit: MI_ 2 Inf_ Co F

Rank: Pvt

Military Notes: E-Vienna_ "P-8/64-2/65

GAR#: W32

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: GAR 1886 Pub