Military Monday – POW Malachi J. Rivers

Malachi J. Rivers was born on 29 August 1842 to Frederick C. Rivers and Sarah Ann Hurst.  He was the seventh (7th) child among fifteen (15).

Malachi J. Rivers enlisted in the Civil War as a Corporal in Company B, 26th Regiment on 4 May 1862..He was enlisted by M. F. Jackson for 3 years.

Malachi enlistment was without incident until the Battle of Petersburg, Virginia, a series of battle that took place around Richmond and Petersburg from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865.

The Jan-Feb Muster Roll for Malachi shows that he was captured in front of Petersburg on 30 July 1864.
Image 13 in his file shows that he arrived at City Point on 5 August 1864, that he was captured at Petersburg on July 30, 1864 and that he would be transferred to the Prison at Elmira, NY on Aug 8, 1864 .

The next image (14) shows Malachi J. Rivers as a Prisoner at Elmira arriving on 12 August 1864 from Point Lookout, Maryland. It also states that he was transferred for exchange on March 14, 1865.

Our next image (15) show Malach PAROLED from Elmira on March 14, 1865.

He is next shown on the Muster Roll for Jackson Hospital in Richmond , Virginia on 24 March 1865.  While at Jackson Hospital, Malachi was diagnosed with SCORBUTIS* he was then furlough on March 24, 1865 for 60 Days.

Malachi J. Rivers was a lucky man. The war ended with the surrender at Appomattox on 9 April 1865.
Malachi returned home and married Sarah Boatwright Rivers in December 1865. They  had had eight children.

Malachi died 24 April 1904. Sarah Boatwright Rivers Rivers, his wife, applied for a widow's pensioner for his service in the war on 17 October 1919. Pension Application #2573.[2]

Sarah Boatwright Rivers Rivers died 26 June 1931, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

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* SCORBUTIC ULCERS: Ulcers caused by scurvy.
[1] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (https://www.fold3.com/image/20/84630758/ : accessed 7 October 2012), entry for Malachi J. RIVERS, Corporal; Co. B, 26st Reg't (Volunteers); Confederate.
[2] Archives and History, "Records of Confederate Veterans, 1909 - 1973," database, South Carolina, South Carolina Archives and History Database (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/search.aspx : on-line viewed, download 2 October 2011), CSA Pension Application #2573; Sarah Boatwright Rivers Rivers, Widow of Malachi Rivers.