Researching Your Civil War AncestryDo you have a distant relative who fought in the Civil War? Would you like to find out if you do? This is the discussion for you!
Peter W. Hamilton enlisted in the 19th VA, Co. G, on May 1, 1861. From what I have been able to find, he was hospitalized on Oct. 17, 1861, at Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond, VA, with debility, it says. He returned to duty on Nov. 12, 1861. The next I can find out about Peter is that he was wounded on June 30, 1862 at Darbytown Road, VA.
One brother did not enlist in the 19th VA with his other three brothers, but opted instead for the artillery.
Augustus Houston Hamilton enlisted in May 15, 1864, into the G.B. Chapman's Company, Virginia Light Artillery (Monroe Battery).
Monroe Light Artillery was organized in April, 1862, with men from Amherst County, Virginia. The unit was active in the Kanawha Valley, then assigned to the Department of Western Virginia and participated in numerous conflicts including the actions at White Sulphur Springs and Lewisburg. Later it was active in Early's Shenandoah Valley Campaign and disbanded in the spring of 1865. In December, 1862, the company contained 3 officers and 116 men, and in April, 1864, there were 4 officers and 125 men present. Its commander was Captain George B. Chapman.
My records indicate that Augustus was present at the battles of Cedar Creek, Va - New Market, Va - Winchester, VA. He was also present at the battle of Cold Harbor, VA, June 1, 1864. He was promoted to Full Corporal and was transfered into the Rockbridge Light Artillery Regiment, VA, 1st Company, on Oct. 15, 1864.
Still looking for more info. Larry, any site or source you would suggest to get more information on my Confederate kin?
Sincerely,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
A Brief History of the Battery
Organized in Lewisburg, Monroe County, March 27, 1862, this battery served under Capt. Thomas A. Bryan throughout the war. In Southwest Virginia in the spring of 1862 this battery joined two other Monroe County batteries under Captain William M. Lowry and Captain George Chapman. In 1863 Bryan's battery was assigned to protect the salt and lead mines in Southwest Virginia. Reunited with the other Monroe batteries at Lynchburg in June 1864, Bryan's company was part of the defenses of that city while in the battalion under Colonel J. Floyd King and Major William McLaughlin.
After Lynchburg, Bryan's Battery served with Jubal Early, from his march to Washington, D.C. through the Shenandoah Valley campaign of 1864.
Spending most of the winter of 1864-65 in the Narrows, the men were in Christiansburg when they received the news of General Lee's surrender. "McLaughlin's Battalion scatterd on every road - and was no more."
For more detailed information on this company, and the men who fought in it, I recommend
Lowry's, Bryan's and Chapman's Batteries, of Virginia Artillery
by J.L. Scott
__________________ "Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our inclinations, or the dictums of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."
Unionblue-
It appears that you have caught "Ancestor Fever". It's not a bad thing, but it is contagious. The more you learn about your ancestors, the more lenient your views will become. That's been my thing- WHY did they think the way that they did? What values did they have in 1860 that have changed today? Were they landowners 'planters', what was their 'real property' value, and their 'personal property' value. The State Archives likely will have original documents on microfilm that you can make copies of. They have been my most reliable source of information for quite a few years now.
History and Geneology is my passion: The WBTS is only one facet of history. Message me anytime I might be of help.
Homer
__________________ Homer Gross Ellison L. Gross, 13th GA Cav, Daniel Boykin, 46th MS Inf, William C. Underwood, Co E, 6th MS Inf.
Blue-
In regards to the SCV, you would need a copy of a muster paper of an ancestor. This would be available from the State Archives. Usually SCV camps have someone who can get this from the archives. Personally, I get more satisfaction from going there personally and retrieving my own info. you never know what else you might stumble across while looking.
It's Fun!
for instance: My first ancestor set foot on this soil Oct 30, 1743 at Philadelphia, PA, moved down to NC, was arrested in the 1760s for being a leader of "the Regulators", a group that protested British tariffs before the Declaration of Independence in Salsbury, NC. When Lafayette came over, he landed in SC, then made his way North to meet George. He traveled through Salisbury, and was given a guide for his journey North. In the 1820s Lafayette visited the US again, and traveled via his original route, visiting the people who were instrumental in helping him reach Washington during the Revolution. He visited the Grosses in NC, and a few years later my G-Grandfather Ellison L. Gross(13th GA Cav) was born. The 'L' stands for Lafayette. My father also bears the 'Lafayette' middle name. It's amazing to find where some of our names come from. Prior to passing through NC, Lafayette had passed through another location that was populated by mother's family- the Boykins. Whether we agree with what they stood for or not, we can't change our bloodlines. A person should be aware that they may be in for a shock when they start researching!
__________________ Homer Gross Ellison L. Gross, 13th GA Cav, Daniel Boykin, 46th MS Inf, William C. Underwood, Co E, 6th MS Inf.
I always new there was a rebel in you some where lol
Congrats on your findings..
You have seen a new light so to speak by being able to place a relative at a specific place. And it makes what we do as a reenactor more moving and meaningful.. All though we may not experiance any thing like what they experianced. In our minds and hearts and blood Its there.. Through your actions their memory lives own.
Become more lenient in my views? Don't hold your breath!
Although I come from these ancestors, I am who I am, just as you are who you are through your own life experiences and choices you have made along the way.
Although I have ancestors who fought for the Confederate cause for reasons they find justifiable, I'm with Grant on this one. "Never have such brave men fought for a worse cause."
But I have never found the Confederate soldier to be evil or comtemptable, just fighting for the wrong cause in the wrong war. His bravery and honor are not to be denied, no matter how I feel on the causes of the war. And that opinion of mine has not been different or changed since coming to this board.
I appreciate your offer to assist with finding more information about my Confederate ancestors. I have tried to find sources on-line so I could learn more about them. Any ideas of who I could try?
Sincerely,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Neil, I detect a few yankee genes, but I'll leave that for you to sort out. One good quick sort for well researched information is H. E. Howard & Sons of Lynchburg, VA who have published numerous Confederate regimental histories. See if your regiments are on the list. Usually a lot of individual soldier information is included.
After the war, Augustus Houston Hamilton was the minister at Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church in Midway, Augusta County, Va. Nowadays, Midway is known as Steele's Tavern. It was named Midway because it is on the Augusta/Rockbridge Co. line about 20 miles from each county seat which would be Staunton and Lexington.
He was born in Nelson Co. about 1846 and his wife was Mary Harlow. He served at Mt. Carmel until 1913 and died in 1923. Both are buried there.
I am no relation but have researched ancesteral families in the area. My interest in checking out Rev. A.H. Hamilton is that one of my great grandfather's sisters was named Emma Hamilton Smith and somebody in the family had an old photograph of a lady with "Mrs. Hamilton" written on the back. Many members of my family belonged to Mt. Carmel and I strongly suspect that the picture is of the Reverend's wife.
Peter W. Hamilton enlisted in the 19th VA, Co. G, on May 1, 1861. From what I have been able to find, he was hospitalized on Oct. 17, 1861, at Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond, VA, with debility, it says. He returned to duty on Nov. 12, 1861. The next I can find out about Peter is that he was wounded on June 30, 1862 at Darbytown Road, VA.
One brother did not enlist in the 19th VA with his other three brothers, but opted instead for the artillery.
Augustus Houston Hamilton enlisted in May 15, 1864, into the G.B. Chapman's Company, Virginia Light Artillery (Monroe Battery).
Monroe Light Artillery was organized in April, 1862, with men from Amherst County, Virginia. The unit was active in the Kanawha Valley, then assigned to the Department of Western Virginia and participated in numerous conflicts including the actions at White Sulphur Springs and Lewisburg. Later it was active in Early's Shenandoah Valley Campaign and disbanded in the spring of 1865. In December, 1862, the company contained 3 officers and 116 men, and in April, 1864, there were 4 officers and 125 men present. Its commander was Captain George B. Chapman.
My records indicate that Augustus was present at the battles of Cedar Creek, Va - New Market, Va - Winchester, VA. He was also present at the battle of Cold Harbor, VA, June 1, 1864.
Neil,
Looks like our ancestors ate a lot of the same dust. My gr-gr-grandfathers in the 45th and 51st Virginia were in all of these battles. My roots are deep in Southwest Virginia. There's no feeling like finding a personal connection. Keep diggin' ! Now you'll know what true obsession is!
Congrats,
John W.
__________________ Ancestors in CSA Army: 51st VA, 54th VA, 45th VA, 50th VA, 24th VA
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