Private Daniel K. McDougall
2nd Massachusetts Cavalry
Union Army

Daniel Kirkwood McDougall was born in Glasgow, Scotland on July 12, 1838 to James and Margaret McDougall.  He joined the Union Army in California, and he traveled by way of Cape Horn to get to the East Coast.  He was mustered into Company L of the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry on March 14,1862  as a private.  He fought under Generals Custer and Sheridan.  While on leave in Washington, D. C., he met President Lincoln on the street.  In their conversation, Private McDougall told President Lincoln that he had not been paid for six months.  President Lincoln gave him a dollar.  While transporting a prisoner from Strasburg to Harpers Ferry, he was wounded in the leg.  The bullet was left in his leg.  He was discharged on July 24, 1865.  He return to California, and he married Lydia Hamilton of July 4, 1866.  He died in Salinas, California on May 3, 1923. 

Timothy Reese
Monterey, California

CLICK TO RETURN TO OTHER SOLDIER' STORIES