Civil War Ancestors

[Doc Neeley]

My cousin did a significant amount of research and I have also on our ancestors and numerous folk were in the war on both sides. My family names are Pendergrass, Beaver, and Neeley. I have Pendergrasses that fought at Shiloh and died. After losing this child, his father protested the war and was beheaded by Confederate troops.

Pendergrass brothers fought at Gettysburg, one on each side, and both survived.

My SASS namesake, Dr. Columbus Taylor Neeley (My GrGrandfather) didn't fight to my knowledge, but his brother, Clay, died in Andersonville Camp. Doctor Neeley was the first doctor to the Choctaw tribe in Tuskahoma.

My other GrGrandfather, Lt. Wilson A. Beaver, was in the Chickasaw company of the Indian Regiment and his home was used as a Confederate hospital, and was known as 'Confederate House' in Beaver AR. When they dammed the Arkansas river and created Beaver lake (named for his family) the home was flooded and is now under water.

[Ozark Tracker]

Doc,  we've been having some drought here in Arkansas and the local tv stations have been showing some coverage on the things that have been showing up as beaver lake recedes,  it covered a town 2 cemeteries indian burial ground and a turn of the century resort.  a lot of the resort is now out of the water and there are a couple of houses intact that can be seen below the water of the lake.
Actually the white river is the river that supplies beaver lake with it very clear and cold water. the Arkansas river is about 70 miles to the south at Ft. Smith.

[Curley Cole]

One of my relatives was a teamster for an arterlery (sp) unit in the north. I had another relative Joseph Cooper that enlisted in the first big war (that one with the english!) He enlisted as a private on June 7th and was mustered out on June 14th. (still looking to find out why such a short career. He had honorable discharge and doesn't appear to have been wounded...
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[Old Top]

Curly,

Maybe they found out that he did not have enough teeth, needed at least two in the front to dtear the cartrige paper, or was that the Civil War?

Old Top

[Curley Cole]

Top

I am begining to represent that remark...ahaaa

Anyways my relative was Iasiah Cole. He was a Teamster in the 4th Regiment, Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Co. L. Enlisted in August 1864, and mustered out in 1865.

So, guess he spent some time with the asses of the Company...

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[Bristow Kid]

Can anyone help me with some information.  I would like to research my families history becasue I want to know if I had any relatives that fought in the Civil War.  But most of my family that would know are long gone.

Bristow Kid

[Ozark Tracker]

http://www.ancestry.com/community/


http://genforum.genealogy.com/surnames/

You might go to both of these sites and type in your ancestors ( grandfather, great grand father etc.) and see if any thing comes up I have found several relatives I had never heard of through these,  a few are still alive and I correspond with regularly.  start out with just your surname and go through everybody you know their names.

Also go to the state and county if you know that and check there. they are on these boards also

hope this helps

[Bristow Kid]

Thanks Ozark

I'll give them a try.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Bristow Kid,
Also try the following link.
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi

Slim

[Bristow Kid]

Thanks Slim

[Curley Cole]

BK, Also check your local Morman church, or better yer if near a good size city go the Morman Temlpe, they all have historical societys and are well stocked with census, social security and military records. A good deal of birth and death records. They also have very helpful staff, that will walk you through any of your searches...that is how my daughter in law found out my link...
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[Ozark Iron John]

Civil War Soldiers and Sailers System

Just type your name and state into the field and press enter.  You'll be surprised what turns up.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

OIJ, Search there turned up two W.H. Hendersons in the 40th Virginia Inf., which was partially raised in Lancaster Co.. Which is the county my family was living in at that time. No info there as to what the H for both of them stood for, if Harvey, then it could be one of my great-great uncles. One was a private, the other a Captain. My direct ancestor didn't show up in the search, but I'll have to go back and refind what the first initial in his name stood for. T. James didn't bring anything up.........Buck

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

I'm sorry I missed this post, Brigid.  That was indeed Olustee.  I've heard the reenactment is pretty good.  Hope I'll get to see it some day.

Hey JD! Was that the Battle of Olustee by any chance? It happened near the farm my dad's family had, and he said that when he was young, he heard his grandfather talk about having heard the cannon fire when he was a small child. Went to the reenactment down there several years ago...really enjoyed it.

[Pistolero]

Here are mine that I know of:
1. John Warren White, from Spartanburg/Glenn Springs, S.C..  Served as a Corporal in Co. "K", 5th SC Inf, then Lt in Co. "K", Palmetto Sharpshooters, S.C. Vols.. Wounded and resigned in '62, reenlisted as a private in his old company in '64 and killed at Ft. Harrison, Petersburg in 1864. Three of his four brothers also died in that war.
2. Joseph B. Edelen, from Pr. Georges Co., Md.. 1st Lt in 2nd Bn Maryland Guard (militia). Disbanded by Lincoln, his company Co. "H", Washington Vols, crossed Potomac and served as Co. "H", 7th Virginia Inf. Shot through cheek with a .36 cal ball at 1st Bull Run. He spit the ball out, continued the battle and later made a watchfob out of it that he carried the rest of his life.
3. Dr. Alexius Llewellyn Middleton, from Pr. Georges Co., Md.: Served as an Asst. Surgeon (Lieutenant) with 2nd Texas Infantry in Trans-Miss Dept.
4. Thom. B. Berry, Charles Co., Md.. No proof but think he might have served in a Va cav unit.
5. Dr. John F. Rodgers, Franklin/Woodford Co., Ky.: Surgeon of 11th Ky. Cav. U.S.. He was a pacifist and wanted no part of either side. He rode in Ky unit, in defense of Ky.. But when it went into Union army he refused to be mustered in and was resigned and was discharged.
6. Ebenezer Stenhouse, Columbia, S.C.. 1st Sgt. then 3rd Lt with "Columbia Greys", Co. "C", 2nd S.C. Vols.. In winter of '61/'62 while on pickett duty he got sick and came down with pneumonia and almost died. It damaged his heart and lungs and was discharged from service for medical reasons. He fought Sherman's criminals with other townspeople and local troops in 1865.
There were many other kinfolk, brothers and cousins, on all sides that fought, but the above list are all great or great great grandfathers. 
Take care,
Pistolero
Millbrook, Al.

[EZWriter]

There have been a few of my ancestors who served in the "war of Northern aggresion," some were even Yankees!
One fella, lived on a farm in either Missouri (My home state) or Illinois. He heard there was going to be a battle near where his farm was, so he kissed Katie goodby and went off to join up with the Yankee army camped near by. It wasn't very long until indeed the battle did take place. He survived the battle OK, and when it was done he figured he'd done his patriotic duty and went on back home to take up where he left off from his farming. Some time later, the records don't show just how long, another dustup is brewing so he gives Katie another smooch and double times it back to join up again; only this time, remembering his experiences the first time, tells this different outfit he's a sergeant. He figured they had a better deal than the privates like he'd been before. Well, chalk up another win for the Bluebellies, and like before, when the gunsmoke clears he feels like he's done another fine job for Old Abe. Katie sure is glad to see him back behind a plow too, and figures alls well. Well it wasn't. It's like the man said, "War is Hell", because sure enough, Bobby Lee ain't through with them Yankees quit yet and mounts yet another attack. This time the fella barely has time to shake Katie's hand and he's off to war again. On the way, he gets to thinking about all the fighting he's done and it strikes him that it would be even better if he went back as an officer. So he joins up with the first Yankee outfit he runs into and tells them he's Lieutenant Fella, and has been on leave, and could they use a little help. Well, they say the third time is a charm, and I guess they're right because Lt. Fellow makes it through another skirmish and this time he had so much fun he decides to hang around. Hang around he did, for the whole danged war and ended up as Captain Fella. Somewhere in the US Army records of that period, there are two desertions entered into the record. Neither deserter was ever caught, or for that matter probably never pursued.  Captain Fella returned home to sweet Katie for a raincheck on that missed kiss, then went back a short time later to serve for good. He served twenty years in the Army to retire with a full pension as a Major.  The records don't mention whether he ever picked up that plow again though.  True story, honest  !
Lonesome Roads

[Doc Neeley]

Here are some of my ancestors that were participants in the Civil war. My Great gr grandfather was Wilson Beaver. His mother's maiden name was Christiane Pendergrass and the names here are his cousins. Wilson's daughter, Demarious, married my alias namesake, Columbus Taylor Neeley.


Levi Pendergrass CSA-captured at Gettysburg. D: 1880
Charles Pendergrass Union army D: 1932 (brother of Levi)*

James Atlas Pendergrass CSA
John Pendergrass CSA

George Washington Pendergrass CSA
David Swain CSA

Jesse Wilson Pendergrass Pvt. 2nd rgt. Mo. Inf. CSA D: 1901
Titus Pendergrass Pvt. Co. A 58th Rgt. AR Militia CSA
Calen Pendergrass Union soldier (brother of Jesse and Titus)

Joseph Allan Pendergrass, was a friend of Jesse James after the war and allowed Jesse and his men to hide in his barn when they were near his home in Pleasant hope, MO. He joined the CSA and fought under Shelby and later, Price. He was captured near Independence, MO and was a POW the last year of the war.

Albert Pendergrass CSA D: Mar. 10 1865 at POW camp in Delaware.

Joseph James Pendergrass CSA

Wilson A Beaver CSA Hunters Regiment Indian troops.

[Frenchie]

Mack Cullars enlisted in Geo. and fought in southern Geo. and a big battle in northern Fla., the name of which I can't remember offhand.

Olustee? Most important CW battle in Florida. http://americancivilwar.com/statepic/fl.html

[Trailrider]

Howdy, Pards,

The only relative I know of who served in the CW was a Great-great-uncle, Isadore Lewy.  I haven't researched him, but a cousin, a more direct descendent, has...

According to the family lore, Isadore and his brother Ben were from Georgia originally, but were conscripted into the 23rd Alabama, which went up to Vicksburg.  When Vicksburg surrendered, Isadore (don't know what happened to Ben) was sent North to the military prison near Chicago. He had been a cook, and from all accounts NOT a particularly good one!

Conditions in the prision camp were horrible!  Apparently, though my cousin denies it, they offered Issie a chance to "galvanize", which he did!  So they made him a cook in the Union Army.  He was mutually hate by both sides!   Anyhow, he stayed in Chicago and got married.  His son married one of my grandfather's sisters!

[Top Kick Ken]

Evening All,

Been doing genealogy on my family for almost 35 years, started helping my mom when she started researching.  But I've hit some dead ends on some branches of my tree...it's almost like there is a deep dark secret that no one is supposed to know.  The only two I know for sure are:

GG Grandfather(Maternal Grandmother's side):  Horace P. Graves, Corporal, 20th Maine Volunteers (of Gettysburg fame).  Never made it to Gettysburg due to illness. 
He was listed in his records from the National Archives as a hospital steward for a short time before mustering out.  Was well thought of as there are numerous notes and recommendations as to his character.  Family story was...that he continued to follow the regiment  on it's way to Antietam and served in a hospital there.  The 20th Maine as I understand it was held in reserve at the Battle of Antietam.  He trained as a blacksmith in his native Maine and he later became a minister as well as working as a smith.  He was married 6 times that I know of and at least two of the women he married were related to other members of his regiment. 

His wife, Sarah Magoon(My GGGrandmother)  had five brothers(if my hunches and research proves to be correct), all of an age to have served in the Civil War.  There are 7 Magoons that served from Maine that I know of and the family did have some connections to Vermont and New Hampshire which could mean that there are another 20 possibilities...There are name matches for all of her brothers and father, if my searching has got the right "Sarah".  We shall see as I send for records.

GGrandfather(Maternal Father's Side):  Oscar S. Johnson, Private, 9th US Infantry.  Regular Army(not volunteers), 9th US Infantry served out in CA (Department of the Pacific).  Joined the regiment under an assumed name(unknown reason) in 1863(?)ish, deserted and was caught.  Was imprisoned and released, sent back to his regiment where he served the remainder of his enlistment.  Service was described as honorable, but even more perplexing to me is that In the records I have there are notes from several sources that are difficult to reconcile.  He had a few scars described as a gunshot wounds and a saber slash to his leg that cannot or were not explained.  The unit he was in saw no action, but the stories were that he protected gold shipments that were sent "Back East". One note said that one of my G Uncles (as a child) was looking at a "picture book" of the Civil War and that there were "pictures" I take that to mean illustrations of the Baltimore riots in 1861; and my GGrandfather supposedly looked at the illustration and said that he had been there and other places in the East early in the war on some form of "detached duty" or in another regiment.  He was an extremely intelligent man who was born in Sweden;  He reportedly spoke 4-6 languages and had some higher education in either Sweden or Denmark.  He was very active in the GAR in California (I have a photo of him in his GAR Uniform).  He has his GAR medal and an as yet unidentified reunion medal that appears to be from a cavalry unit due to the crossed sabers that figure prominently in it's design (One of the many mysteries of this interesting man).  He committed suicide in 1895 when my Grandfather was six years old, one report in the pension record stated that he was very serious and carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.  He wrote a poem that was published in a Visalia, CA newspaper that were hardly the thoughts of someone who had seen no action (I have a copy of the article in my notes here, somewhere, and will try to post it here later).  I know that my GGrandmother had one heckuva time getting his pension.

Here's the poem:  The following poem was written sometime in the early 1860's during the Civil War by my Great-Grandfather. The Visalia paper said that it was written after his recovery from a severe illness incurred in the service of his country, he having served two enlistment periods in the Union Army.  (It was part of an article describing his arrival in Visalia, CA from San Francisco).

Our Life

There runs a mysterious river

Just down at the foot of the hill;

At the end of the way where the dark shadows lay,

As the dark vapors rise dank and chill;

At the foot of the difficult mountain

The scene of such toiling and strife;

Which in the springtime we climb

In the autumn of life descend.

And that's our Life.

It's a long and a wearisome journey

Tho oftentimes too quickly o'er

And we may find at last

We have travelled too fast

Down to the dark waters' shore.

Beyond there's a beautiful country

And well I remembered the time

I was carried so near

I thought I could hear

The voices of that better clime.

Perhap they were voices of Angels

Who waited and watched round my bed,

And they may come again

And carry me, when I am dead,

O'er the shadowy river,

Beyond its unspeakable gloom,

To the land of the blest,

Where my soul shall find rest

In it's garden of beauty and bloom

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

MY dad's paternal family came over from Norway much later and so none of them are in this hunt.  My Grandmother's side of the family is still very much an unknown as she died when my Dad was 9 years old and I don't have much information on that side of the family.  There were in Minnesota, so who knows what I'll find there.

And so the search continues...

Top Kick Ken