Civil War Relative

[cpt dan blodgett]

I had been told by family members that my Great Grand Father Ransom Robins (4th MN Inf.) had been with Sherman on his march to the sea.  I've since confirmed this and also learned that his brothers Alfred and Tennessee were in this unit as well, but died (from disease/not enemy action) during the war.

It wasn't until I started playing with Ancestry.com that I learned that I had a first cousin (3 times removed) who was a Major with the 12th NH Inf.  For those of you who've met me or would like to compare his likeness to my photo, you may see a bit of family resemblance.

Interesting the wifes GGF was also in the 12th New Hampsire, wounded at Chancellorsville.  Received 160 acre land grant in IOWA signed by US Grant.  Do not know if he recovered and made the trip to Gettysburg.  My GGF was in the 31st VA Inf.  That unit was at Gettysburg in the vicinity of Spangler Springs.  There is a possibility that both were at Gettysburg how ever the 12th New Hampsire fought just north of the Peach Orchard a long way from where the 31st Va was on the Culps Hill side of the fight.

[Bat 2919]

I'm bringing back this four year old post as I've had a great deal of time on my hands lately and with the help again of Ancestry.com  I've found out more about two more relatives who were CW era veterans.  I almost started a new post, I was going to title it Indian Wars relatives but decided this would be the best place for it.  On 14 November 1862 my Great Grand Father George Fowler was 15 years old when his two older brothers Loraine 20 and Francis 18 enlisted.  Both were assigned to A Co of the 10th Minnesota Inf.  I'm sure they assumed they were going to fight in the Civil War and the 10th did go on to fight in the CW but without either of my Great Uncles.

Before they went on to the CW the 10th Found themselves in the middle of what would become know as the Dakota War of 1862.  The 10th was at the 26 December 1862 hanging of 38 Sioux in Mankato, MN,  The 10th was also part of a 2000+ force sent to Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory (now ND) where 18 year old Francis died on 14 July 1863.  He was buried in the fort cemetery but his remains were moved and Find a Grave shows his headstone now located at the Custer Battlefield cemetery.  I have to assume his death was from disease or accident since the first battle (Big Mound) didn't occur until 24 July 1863.

After their duty in DT the 10th was sent to St. Louis and assigned to garrison duty at Benton Barracks (St Louis Fairgrounds Park) from October 1863 until April 1864.  In April the 10th was sent to CW duty but my Great Uncle Loraine wasn't with them.  He was discharged for disability on 10 December 1863.  The records I can find don't say what this disability was but he must have recovered since he married, had 5 children and didn't die until 1897.

[38OVI]

My GG Grandfather served from Ohio, joined Sherman at Savannah, Ga. and fought at Bentonville, NC. in March of 1865.  I have camped on the same field he fought on in 05,10, and 15.  He survived the war and returned to Ohio.  He was crushed to death in an accident at work at 3 am 25 December, 1873.  I stopped in Ohio in 2010 after the event and ordered a new stone to replace the one that had weathered so badly after his death. There was no GHS as they did not become available after 1873.  Served in the 38th Ohio  Volunteer Infantry.  My aunt's father-in-law served as a Lt. in the 22nd Virginia, Army of the Valley, Army of Northern Virginia.  Was captured at Winchester, Virginia in 1864, where his commanding officer, George S, Patton, was killed.  He was sent to Ft. Delaware, and was released at the end of June 1865, without being "reconstructed".  I have the .44 Colt that was returned to him after his release as part of Lee's surrender. 

[Capt Quirk]

I tried searching Ned's relative there and got no hits.

Your ancester Sir, is likely responsible for the lack of records in my new home town. While trying to research the history of our property, I could not find anything prior to 1864. When  I asked the woman in charge about it, her response was rather venomous- "That is when the Yankees burned down the Courthouse." Talk about holding a grudge!

[cpt dan blodgett]

In the past month or two I found out not only was my Grand Fathers dad in the 31st Virginia Infantry, my Grand Mother's dad was in the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry.  That must have been an interesting wedding.  Blue on the Brides side Grey on the Grooms.

[Guns Garrett]

On my dad's side, my 4X gr-grandfather Moses J. Vanderpool, and his son Granville, were members of the 35th Missouri Infantry in 1862.   Moses only served about 6 or 8 months, and was discharged "for age" (he was 42).  Granville, only 20, spent most of his time on garrison duty in Arkansas.  Participated in the defense of Helena, AR July of 63. Family tradition says he spent most of his time guarding kinfolks who were POWs...haven't found anything to verify that.  I didn't find that there were any POW camps in Arkansas.  Afterwards, Moses and Granville were both members of the GAR, and Moses was buried in his Army uniform in 1914, at the age of 94, at the Union Cemetery in Princeton, MO.

On mom's side, my 3X gr-grandfather William Pleasant Johnson, was from Staunton, VA, and "jined up" in May of 61.  He was a member of Co.L 5th Virginia Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, under Col Thomas J. Jackson.  He was wounded at 1st Bull Run, on Henry House Hill.  He lost an eye from a shell fragment, and was later invalided out of the Army.  After the War, he ended up in Alabama, and later, Arkansas.  I got copies of his papers from the National Archives several years ago, when it was still free.  I'm not sure what the fee is now.

[1961MJS]

Hi

My Mom's great grandfather was in the 47th (I could go look) Kentucky Mounted Infantry pretty much the whole year of 1864.  He was 18ish at that point.  They escorted the supply trains from Cairo to Chattanooga.  Wouldn't surprise me if he didn't stop by home on the way through.  They were from the Madisonville Kentucky area.  His discharge papers say December 1864. 

Later

[Trailrider]

Great-grandfather, Izzy, and his brother of my second cousin were from Georgia, but were drafted into the 23rd Alabama. One family story has it that he was a cook.  When the 23rd surrendered at Vicksburg, at least Izzy was shipped to Chicago to the POW camp there.  He supposedly gained his release by promising to "take the oath", and wound up cooking for the North.  Mutually hated by both sides, as he apparently wasn't a very good cook!    After the war, he settled in Chicago, raised a family and his son and grandson both became noted ENT doctors.

[Blair]

My Mother's-mothers father, Charles S. Auld, enlisted in 3 Confederate Units, Co. B 1st VA Arty, Co. A 2nd VA Cav. and Co. A 2nd MD Cav.
He was captured twice, paroled the first time and after the second time enlisted in Co. F 1st US Vol. Inf. He was mustered out in May of 1866. (This was the longest serving Galvanized Yankee Unit, Jan of 1864 to May of 1866.)
My best,
Blair

[The Pathfinder]

Trying to find connections can be convoluted. My wife's family sent three brothers off with two of them dying in Andersonville. Took a while to track because my wife's father has the discharge paperwork for one of his grandfather's but it turned out to be his other side of the family the brothers came from. My own family is even stranger, having rumored relations to both Alexander Gardner (worked with Mathew Brady taking pictures) and confirmed relation to General Ambrose Burnside (wished I owned one of his rifles). There is also a relative in the 1st Rhode Island Artillery whose name escapes me. Also found my namesake in the 1st RI Infantry records, but he's the only one that didn't indicate a rank, don't know if he was a spy, a lay about, busted or what. Not even sure he's related, but finding your name listed is a thrill. 

Dang, now I feel like looking for a Burnside cheap.

[cpt dan blodgett]

Little more research as previously stated My Dads Grandpa my GGP on his dads side was in 31st VA Infantry.  Dads GP on his mom's side was in the 2nd Wisconson Cav enlisted Dec of 63 so missed Gettysburg.  Some how both families ended up in Nebraska.  Thinking the wedding must have been an interesting affair.  No family lore as to how many casualties on each side darn!

[Pitspitr]

Dads GP on his mom's side was in the 2nd Wisconson Cav enlisted Dec of 63 so missed Gettysburg.  Some how both families ended up in Nebraska. 

That seems pretty common. My G-Grandpa was from Wisconsin and talking to folks from around here it seems like if they were here shortly after the war, they came from there.

[cpt dan blodgett]

Great-grandfather, Izzy, and his brother of my second cousin were from Georgia, but were drafted into the 23rd Alabama. One family story has it that he was a cook.  When the 23rd surrendered at Vicksburg, at least Izzy was shipped to Chicago to the POW camp there.  He supposedly gained his release by promising to "take the oath", and wound up cooking for the North.  Mutually hated by both sides, as he apparently wasn't a very good cook!    After the war, he settled in Chicago, raised a family and his son and grandson both became noted ENT doctors.

If ya can't killem with your cooking cure em eh???

[Marshall Mims]

Also, search for (his) unit history, any correspondence for his unit, and any diaries written by men in his unit that have been uploaded to the web, or listed by location- where you may obtain a copy.

[TomcatPC]

Replying to an old topic...  Glad to see I'm not alone in having relatives that were in the conflict.

My Great Grand Dad (yes, Great...not Great Great, etc.) Served in the War Between the States.
Francis Albert Fry, 2nd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, he was in towards the end, I don't have many details right now.
He was born in Farnham, Surrey, but I understand he moved to the East End of London where he lived prior to crossing the Atlantic.
He came to Canada and then the US.  Married a lady from Pelee Island, Ontario, who's family was also from England.
He had a twin Sister named Flora Victoria Fry (twins where named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert).
He passed away in Bellevue, Ohio, US circa 1923.  Since I was born in 1970...no I never met him...  From what I understand, he was very proud of being English and that has been channeled through time to me.
Thanks
Mark

[Robert Swartz]

From what I've researched for the most part, looks like I have little or none in the direct family, looks like mine may have moved to Nebraska to avoid the draft.

....ha, mine is as bad, had a relative on my fathers side that wrangled a substitute. Really not clear on how, no one on that side of the family had anything in the way of wealth.

[cpt dan blodgett]

It wasn't until I started playing with Ancestry.com that I learned that I had a first cousin (3 times removed) who was a Major with the 12th NH Inf.  For those of you who've met me or would like to compare his likeness to my photo, you may see a bit of family resemblance.
[/quote]
My wife Anne's Great Great Grandfather was in the 12th New Hampshire and was wounded at Chacellors Ville  Do not know if he recovered in time for Gettysburg  or if he was mustered out due to wound in any case he got a land grant signed by us grant for a farm in Iowa

[Tornado]

My GG Grandfather served in the 2nd TN Union Infantry.  The story goes, they were occupying Rodgersville, TN when the Confederate leaning town folks threw a party in the evening to distract and delay the Union officers.  Early the next morning the 4th Kentucky Cavalry, CSA swooped in and captured the 2nd TN with little resistance.  Casualties were five killed, one wounded, and 20 officers and 474 men captured.  He was sent to prison camps in Richmond and then to Andersonville, where he died of dysentery.   His brothers had moved to Arkansas before the war and had joined the Confederate army, although they never saw each other, it was brother vs. brother.   A Michigan soldier was captured in the same skirmish and  published a diary, I read the diary and figured it paralleled my GG Grandfather's, it was pretty interesting.