Who were your Civil War ancestor what is their story?

the above story included none of my stepfather's service aboard USS Mars on which he was a BM3. He was a material handler offloading 55-gallon drums of what the Vietnamese Nationals call "Yellow Rain". He raised me from the age of 11 years and I still call him my DAD. BM3 Donald Wayne Meisenheimer. Recently the Veteran's Administration recognized his disability as service connected. The B-12 treatments and hearing aids are AWESOME!. He removes his cover and stands at parade rest when the colors pass. **** Good Man, my DAD.
 
Armstrong, Martin V.
Born 1835 in Missouri; Died 1880
what a great read this is. you have done a great job of researching your history. please thank all of your family members for their service!
Franklin County Land Atlas 1865 (62) 17-21-16
1877 Franklin County Township History - Cutler - 21
Western Home Journal - 1868 (3)
1885 Atlas Cutler S-22
Miami County Family History - 189 (Grauel)
Franklin County Family File
Probate Court File - A-28
Buried: Howard Cemetery (Civil War Veteran - Company D 12th Regiment)
Census: 1859 Peoria - p4; 1860 Peoria - 2980; 1870 Peoria - 157; 1875
Cutler - p8

You can these days research with ease all the well known and published articles in reference to the activities of the 12th Kansas Volunteer Infantry.

What you can not do is look up the stories relayed to me by my grandmother.

Her husband was Arvin F. Armstrong, the grandson of Martin Van Buren Armstrong.

Martin Van Buren Armstrong (MVBA) is first found in the Kansas census of 1859 (irregular yes... but think about the times, Bloody Kansas) with his "first" family -- I looked up the microfilm (yes microfilm) back in the mid 1990's at the library in Ottowa KS. I forget the names but he lived in a homestead near Rantoul with his wife, father, child(ren) and a servant (indentured female) surname Merchant. The same listing in the 1860 census, I found on microfilm at the library. This is Franklin County KS. "First" family? yeah. I'll get to that.

Death records indicated he was buried in Howard Cemetery. I found his headstone. Grandma told me at the time that I was the first Armstrong she knew of to look at it since she and my grandfather had been there in the early 1930's. The cemetery is on private property, and twenty-some years ago it was in timber. MVBA's headstone is (was?) a grand sight to see. The inscriptions were well weathered but still legible. On the side if I recall correctly facing the West, "Civil war Veteran -Company D 12th Regiment".

12th Kansas Volunteer Infantry mustered in 1862 September. Organized in Paola KS under command of Col. Charles W. Adams. D Company was comprised entirely of residents from Frnaklin County KS. MVBA listed his residence as Stanton, a town just across the river (Marais Des Cygnes) from his homestead place near smaller rural Rantoul KS.

<<below, is snip cut and paste from Wiki, a synopsis of 12th KS Vol INF activities from muster-in to muster-out>>


"The regiment was assigned to duty by detachments on line between Kansas and Missouri until November 1863. At Olathe, Paola, Wyandotte, Mound City, Shawnee Trading Post, Fort Scott, Leavenworth and Fort Riley, Kan. Company H at Fort Larned until January 1864, then rejoined regiment at Fort Smith, Ark., also occupy Kansas City, Westport, and Hickman's Mills, Mo., guarding trains and operating against guerrillas. Operations in Jackson County against Quantrill November 2–5, 1862 (Company A). Baxter Springs October 6, 1863 (detachment). Companies B, E, and F escort train to Fort Smith, Ark., October 28-November 17, 1863. Companies A, C, D, G, I, and K concentrated at Fort Scott November 1863, and march to Fort Smith, Ark., December 13–28, 1863. Duty there until March 1864. Steele's Expedition to Camden March 23-May 3, 1864. Prairie D'Ann April 9–13. Jenkins' Ferry, Saline River, April 29–30. Return to Fort Smith May 3–16, and duty there until February 1865. Fort Smith September 1864. Moved to Little Rock February 24, 1865 and duty there until June."

<<end snip from cut-n-paste>>

(I recieve no credit nor is none asked for compiling any of the original research regarding the details described above. Nevertheless, I had a hand in it.)


MVBA for his part, stomped around Eastern Kansas for three years with his unit ultimately mustering out of service at Little Rock in June of 1865.

here's the neat part of the story.

Martin (MVBA) came back to his homestead on the banks of the Marais Des Cygnes near Rantoul and Stanton KS (it's on a bend in the river)... to find it taken over by his neighbor because while he was off being a soldier, all his family had died. They had all been buried over in Howard Cemetery. The neighbor we assume did not resist to surrender the homestead place back to Martin, because between then and the 1870 census I've found no records contesting MVBA's ownership. We do however find MVBA in the census with a new wife. And daughter. And a little later, with his new wife, daughter, another daughter, and a son.

Martin had come home to find his family gone. His homestead place was returned to him by his neighbor, gladly. Martin the widower married his new young wife Elizabeth Gragg (sometimes found spelled Gregg) from near the Barton/Vernon MO county line. This union produced first two daughters then one son. The youngest, the son, was named John Franklin Armstrong.

That very John Franklin Armstrong is my grandfathter's father. Martha Olene (Phipps) Armstrong married Arvin Franklin Armstrong, and she is my oral source for most of these stories, as relayed to her by "Dad Armstrong" (as she referred to her father-in-law) and his older sister Mary (Armstrong) Grauel.




An interesting note here is that my Grandma Martha's own maternal grandmother was Judith (Longacre) Phipps. Wife of John Phipps. Sheldon, MO.

Study reveals, like it or not, that Longacre is a name known as Bushwhacker "Royalty".

Judith's father was David M. Longacre, PVT, E Co 10th MO Cav CSA. Her oldest brother was Martin V. Longacre, PVT, H Co 3rd MO Cav CSA. These would be Martin David my GGG Grandfather, and my GG Grand-uncle Martin.

(the history of those units these days is easy to 'google')


David M. Longacre - Civil War history.... Served with Missouri 10th Cav., Co. E he's the father of my Grandma's Grandma.

<<"The Roster of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865", Vol. X, page 26

According to the Missouri State Archives papers on file, David M. Longacre belonged to McDonalds Reg. Cav. Captured 1 Jan 1863. Exchanged, assigned to duty with Co. H, 3rd MO. Cav. on 1 Aug 1863. Battles: Carthage, Wilson Creek, Lexington, and Springfield. He was born in Roane County, TN Resided in Clinton, MO.

his son, Grandma's Grandma's eldest brother... Pvt Martin V. Longacre Co. E 10th MO Cav (CSA) born 1843 in Missouri died 29 APR 1863, Williamsburg VA (disease).>>



As if that were not enough, now we return to the first Martin in the story, MVBA. That second wife he took, Elizabeth Gragg, was the grand-daughter of George Henry Norvell. The same Geroge Henry Norvell ("Hank" as related to me in stories told to my by my Grandma Martha) who was a member of C Co, 2nd MO Cav CSA.

"Hank" Norvell, if you look up my tree, is another of my GG Grandfathers then.

there's plenty of gray and a sliver of blue, but they all bled red blood from West Central Missouri and Eastern Kansas.


Chapter Two...

But now here remember our original hero in this story, Martin Van Buren Armstrong. That first oddball census of 1859 in Kansas listed his father John living in his household. Further research revelead that John was a veteran of service under Jackson. No, not "Stonewall", but ... Andrew. Yes, in the "War of 1812" there was an affair reffered to as the Red Stick Mess. For his part, he was warrented a parcel in what is now Henry County MO. I've seen the document. John mustered out before the famous Battle of New Orleans, but did indeed participate in the Red Stick affair. That parcel is now mostly or completely underwater near Deepwater MO. Truman Lake.

Genealogy research linked John to another US Army veteran and another land warrant granted to his own father. John's father would be my own ... let us now count the "G's" ...

Great great Grandfather, Martin Van Buren Armstrong. Co D 12th KS Vol INF... Youngest son of...
Great great great Grandfather, John Armstrong... warrented a parcel in what is now Henry Co MO for his service in Red Stick affair War of 1812 under Andrew Jackson...
John was the son of ...
Great great great great Grandfather Armstrong, warrented a parcel in the Ohio River Valley for his service which includes a time as a company commander in Light Horse Harry Lee's cavalry Brigade, where he was wounded at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.



-- William Joseph (Billy) Armstrong,
born 25 Feb 1965 in Fort Scott KS
to this day resides in Smithville MO... Untied States Navy from 1984 to 1993, submarine service... SSN-680 USS William H. Bates

and daughter AT2 Jazmyne E. Armstrong HSC-12 World Famous Golden Falcons
recently Honorably Discharged USN 2008-2014
forward deployed attached to NAF Atsugi
attached as Air Wing to both USS George Washington and USS Abraham Lincoln


In this house, we observe Veteran's Day.
 
Welcome.
I have one ancestor in the 12th Missouri Infantry, survived many battles and was promoted to First Sergeant. My other great great grandfather served for the New York Cavalry Militia, served protecting Washington, D.C. for three months.
 
My g g grandfather, Alfred Phillips, was one of nine survivors from his unit in the battle of Franklin. He was in a Mississippi regiment. I believe it was the 43rd. He then was captured close to Nashville, TN and taken as a prisoner of war. I understand he spent some time in a Yankee prison and got very sick. He eventually took the oath of office and was released. Of course, as soon as he could, he went back to the rebel army and fought again for the South.
 
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I am certain he was a brave man and had very strong loyalty to his state. It is to his strong character that he was able to return to battle after enduring a terrible imprisonment.
 
Welcome from West Virginia! Here are my uncles and grandfathers in the war:

Apr 1861 Daniel Walters Co. H 37th Regt.

May 1861 Elliott Walters Co. E, 39th Regt.

Jun 1861 Henry C Flesher Co F 2nd Inf Lt

Jul 1861 John Flesher Union Scout central WV

Aug 1861 Wm H Flesher 2 WV Cav

Sep 1861 Robert P Flesher Co F 1st WV Cavalry

Nov 1861 Wm R Moneypenny Co C 10WV

Mar 1862 Asa Moneypenny Co C 10 th WV

Aug 1862 Jesse C Brown - Co B 15th WV

Aug 1862 Daniel M. Williams Co F 15th WV Inf

1862 Joseph L Williams 99th Ind Inf, Sherman’s Bummers

Sep 1862 Thomas Moneypenny Co B 15 WV Inf

Sep 1862 James Moneypenny Co B 15 WV Inf

Sep 1862 Albert Moneypenny Co B 15t WV Inf

Sep 1862 Henry T Moneypenny Co B 15 WV inf

Oct 1862 Edward Moneypenny Co C 10 WV inf.

Oct 1863 Christian Simon Co E 4 WV Cav 6 mo

Jan 1864 William H. Moore Co I 3rd WV Cav

Sep 1864 Perry M Moneypenny Co C 6 WV Inf

Mar 1865 H P Spence Co D 56th PA

Plus one Confederate soldier and one Confederate judge who seems to have hung around Stonewall's camp.

Which would you want to hear about? :wink:
 
Hi - My GGG-Grandfather, George Rockhold was a private in the 1st West Virginia Cavalry, Company C (Union). Still trying to sort out a few things, but I find his survival fascinating.

He was born in 1840 in Elizabeth, WV. Not sure when he joined, but I found something that said he had been a prisoner of war since Nov. 7, 1863 and I've been trying to figure out under what circumstances that happened. I see battles around that time that the Union won and claimed POW's on that date. Maybe he was just doing basic scouting and ran into trouble?

The most interesting thing is that he was a prisoner at Andersonville for at least a year. He ended up in the prison "hospital" which was said to be pretty much a death sentence if you were sick enough to go. His medical record said he had chronic diarrhea and he was in there for many months. And yet he survived and was "Exchanged" in April of 1865.

He made it home and got married in September of 1866, had a couple of boys and then died in 1875 at age 35. His wife had to apply for invalid pension a couple of years before his death. I read that his health had been affected long-term and he may have had tuberculosis and definitely rheumatism.

A few years later, his widow married his younger brother Charles Alexander Rockhold, who served in the West Virginia Militia and they had seven daughters.

I went to the cemetery where George Rockhold is buried and his headstone says he was in the 1st WV Infantry, yet all the records I find on online definitely have him on the roster of the Cavalry. Wonder if someone made a mistake on the headstone?
 
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I have been doing family research when I can. Came up with some interesting characters
2nd Great Grandfather William L. Harris joined Ico 6th Florida Inf. Regiment. Captured Missionary Ridge Tenn Nov 25, 1863
his brother, Isaac Harris, joined Ico 6th Florida Infantry Regt. Killed at Battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864
They're Nephews
Nathan P. Harris joined 12th Ga Inf Regt. Captured at Spotsylvania May 11 1864
Jasper Harris joined Ico 6th Florida Inf Regt. Captured at Battle Nashville Dec 16, 1864
Columbus Harris joined Ico 6th Florida Inf Regt. Captured at New Hope Church March 18, 1864
Henry Harris joined Ico 6th Florida Inf Regt. Wounded at Chickamauga sent home Sept 1863.
Side note. Henry's Pension papers say he was Captured and Paroled at home by Union Troops in Holmes county Florida in Sept 1864. same time as Battle of Marianna Florida.
Research strongly suggests that little brother George age 17 may have unofficially been with Home guard defending town.

I am in awe.......
I had a family member in the GA 12th KIA @ Cold Harbor. John W Brantley
 
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My close kin who fought in the East are:

Gr gr Gramps:
-114th NY, Co. I, Charles H. Babcock (Captured by Mosby while guarding ambulance train between Berryville and Harpers Ferry, POW in Richmond til early 1865)


2nd Great Grand Uncles:
8th NY Cavalry, Co. H, Gilbert Brown, before leaving for War, he got girlfriend, Calista Parker, pregnant about July, 1861.


Gilbert joined 8th NY Cav in 3+ months later, Nov., 1862. His daughter, Cora A. Brown, was born April 10th, 1862 (a month before the 8th’s first battle:

1st Winchester); upon reenlisting he likely got a 30-day furlough to go home, at that time, March 19th, 1864 court document shows he and Calista sat before a judge...


...and Gilbert was ordered to pay the town $30, plus $1 per week in child support. He would be dead by time Cora turned 3).

Fought at 1st Winchester, Harpers Ferry (where unit famously escaped thru the besieging lines/Antietam Campaign), heavy fight/highest Union losses of day @ Beverly Ford/Brandy Station, VA

... opened day #1 @ Gettysburg under Gen. Buford; Overland Campaign/Sheridan's Shenandoah and Wilson's Weldon RR Raids, big fight:

Nottoway Courthouse, captured 6/29/64 @ Reams Station, died 10/1/64 @ Andersonville)


186th NY Capt., Co. E, Lansing Snell, heavy losses on Petersburg breakthru day, April 2nd, 1865 (He is younger bro of Clay’s 4th gr. Gramma Marg Snell – Lansing’s son Jacob and cousin Jeremiah Snell [wounded] also in reg. that same day)


76th NY, Co. B., Sgt. Henry Horton Turner, fought next to Iron Brigade evening of Aug. 28th, 1862 at Brawners Farm (88 casualties, including 17 killed) & Aug. 29th-30th @ 2nd Bull Run; also engaged at South Mountain, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville (lightly), 1st day @ Gettysburg (VERY heavily: 195 casualties including 33 killed), discharged for disability Feb., 1864, dying at home that same year. [he applied for invalid pension March 1st, 1864]




Below are 1st thru 3rd cousins

1st Mass. Cavalry, Co. E, Farnum Southwick; in for over 2 yrs; @ Brandy Station, Gettysburg, heaviest fight was May 5th: Todd’s Tavern/Wilderness



1st & 10th Vermont, Col. Albert B. Jewett (1st VT, a 3 month unit, June 1861: Big Bethel) and then to 10th Vermont (2 years: biggest fight was Mine Run, VA, Nov. 27, ’63—10 killed/58 wounded in 10th VT)



2nd Conn. Heavy Art. [converted to infantry], Asahel Brockett, lost eyesight in one eye in Wilderness (went fully blind after War); HEAVY losses at Cold Harbor, 6/1/64 (84 killed/214 wounded!); other heavily engagements 6/22/64 @ Petersburg, 9/19/64 Opequon Creek and 10/19 @ Cedar Creek.


2nd Vermont, Giles Jewett Burgess, 1st Bull Run, Penin., Gburg, wounded Spotsylvania; (also, by marriage: Giles’ sis Eliza’s husband Col. James Walbridge of 2nd VT)



2nd Wisconsin, Charles Elam Jewett (Iron Brigade) 1st Bull Run (wounded), Peninsula Campaign: especially Gaines Mill/Malvern Hill, 2nd Bull Run (wounded in 3 places, Brawners Farm), Gburg (wounded and put out of War)



5th NY Cav, Co. F, John W. Claus [listed on record as “Closs”], at Cedar Mountain, killed 2nd Bull Run



5th Michigan Cav, Co. K, Henry H. Herkimer, under Custer; heaviest fighting: July 3, 63, Gettysburg, then Todd’s Tavern, Yellow Tavern (death of JEB Stewart) and Hawes Shop during Wilderness & Spotsylvania; Opequon & Cedar Creek


5th Vermont, Co. A, Capt. Jesse A. Jewett [NOT FOUND],




7th Ohio, Co. A, & then 150th Ohio, Edgar B. Burton (Jewett side), wounded Port Republic [NOT FOUND],



8th Illinois Cav, Nelson Fader



8th Mich, Co. B, James M. Himes (1st cousin Feeter side), 2 years: big losses at Seccessionvile, also heavily engaged 2nd Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, then in 20th Michigan last 3 months before dying of disease.

8th Mich, Co. B, Lester E. Jewett (1st cousin Jewett side), @ 2nd Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, then transferred into Co. B, US Army Engineers
8th Mich, Samuel P. Jewett (2nd cousin), 4 years (big losses at Seccessionville, also heavily engaged 2nd Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, off to TN for 5 mths, then back for Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon RR)



10th NY Heavy Art., Co. G, Alexander L Timmerman, in front of Petersurg most the time, quick Cedar Creek trip/fight (3 captured), then back for heaviest losses April 2, 65 @ Bermuda Hundred



12th Mass Col. Fletcher Webster (2nd cousin, son my 1st cousin statesman Daniel Webster), lightly engaged @ Balls Bluff, Peninsula, Cedar Mountain, killed during Longstreet’s massive charge at 2nd Bull Run



16th Mich, Co. K, Lt. Wallace Jewett, (1st cousin), Peninsula/heavy losses at Gaines’ Mill (231 casualties including 64 killed), Malvern Hill; heavy casualties @ 2nd Bull Run; engaged at Dec. 13th, ’62 Fredericksburg; killed during defense of Little Round Top



17th Mich, Jonas Porter Jewett, “Came home almost a complete wreck”, unit suffered heavily at South Mountain (140 casualties including 24 killed), Antietam (90 casualties including 15 killed), then by train to TN, then back east: heavy losses in Wilderness, Spotsylvania



22nd NY Cavalry, a Morris Loucks, Joined Feb., 1864, in Grant vs. Lee battles; captured (date unknown), died at Andersonville 10/13/64


81st NY, Co. I, Maurice A. Graves [Brockett side]; In Sept. 1862, wounded @ Swift Creek near Bermuda Hundred, thru Cold Harbor (211 casualties in unit, including 54 killed), “promoted to musician”, transferred to Vet Reserves 1/14/65



103rd Ohio, Francis H. Burton (Jewett side), died of disease after 1.5 years [NOT FOUND]]



107th NY, Co. K, Corp. Reuben Zimmerman, pretty heavily engaged @ Antietam, discharged before Chancelorsville



115th NY, Orville Snell, captured with 12,000 other Union soldiers at Harpers Ferry, wounded Olustee, FL, back north, in Bermuda Hundred engagements; Cold Harbor; captured/paroled 6/16/64 @ Deep Bottom (6 killed/46 wounded that day), Chaffin’s Farm; in front of Petersburg rest of War

115th NY, Alonzo Smith (also in Feeter line), killed at Olustee, FL



121st NY, Lt. George H. Snell disasterous losses at first big fight: May 1863 Salem Chuch/Chancelorsville Campaign (116 casualties including 73 killed!); engaged in Nov. 1863 Mine Run battle, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Opequon & Cedar Creek (11 killed/34 wounded), and Sailors Creek

121st NY, James Alfred Brown, disasterous losses at first big fight: May 1863 Salem Chuch/Chancelorsville Campaign (116 casualties including 73 killed!); engaged in Nov. 1863 Mine Run battle, Wilderness; killed May 10, 1864 @ Spotsylvania

121st NY, Co. A, Milton Snell (3 years; same path as Lt. George Snell, See above)

121st NY, Charles E. Snell (1st cousin; same path as Lt. George Snell, accept Charles discharged after being wounded at Spotsylvania)

121st NY, Sgt. Henry A. Timmerman, (3 years; same path as Lt. George Snell, See above); wounded 3 times: at Fredericksburg, Wilderness and Petersburg



123rd NY George T. Ketcham (1st cousin, s/o gr aunt Gertrude Timmerman) in heavy fight, May 3rd, 1862 Chancellorsville, then Culp’s Hill/Gettysburg, then West to Atlanta, March to Sea, Bentonville.




152nd NY, Henry Eldred, defense of Suffolk, VA then in July, 1863 was ordered to New York city during the draft riots, then w/ Grant for heavy fighting May 5-6, 1864/Wilderness (10 killed/48 wounded) and May 12/Spotsylvania (10 killed/52 wounded), May 3/Cold Harbor (9 killed/16 wounded), he was captured July 22/Weldon RR, died at Andersonville

152nd NY, Lyman Snell, musician/soldier defense of Suffolk,VA; ordered to New York city during the draft riots of July, 1863, then out before ’64 Grant vs. Lee battles)

152nd NY, Lt. Franklin Snell (all 3 years; for battles: see Eldred, above, for path)

152nd NY, Abram Vedder wounded May 5th, 1864, Wilderness (earlier “deserted” from 93rd NY)



157th NY, Joram [listed as “Jerome Timerman”] Timmerman (killed in his first battle: Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863; the 157th suffered 116 casualties)

157th NY, Joram’s bro Walter Timmerman [listed as ‘Timerman”] (fought at Chancellorsville; was 1 of 94 in his regiment captured at Gettysburg, July 1 & 2, 1863; paroled July 3, then listed ad “deserted”)


186th NY, Sgt. Jacob Snell (1st cousin/son of gr uncle Lansing who was Capt. of 186th)

186th NY, Jeremiah Snell (cousin; wounded Petersburg 4/2/65)



193rd NY, Co. A, Robert H. Coppernoll
 
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I've reenacted Mansfield and Pleasant Hill numerous times. P.H. was always a favorite.

Good story. I always thought that the Red River campaign wasn't so much won by Taylor as it was lost by the inept Banks.
I'm not knocking Taylor, just jabbing Banks.

Great points about the Red River campaign!

I am friends with the great great grandson of NP Banks here in New England and even he will admit that NP was a better politician then he was a general!

...but somehow he managed to not blow it just enough to keep his job most of the way to the war haha.


Also regarding the Red River campaign my great great grandfather in the 114th New York regiment and fought there as did his brother who had moved west to Iowa and was in the 27th Iowa infantry!

Kind of a wild coincidence that they ended up being on the same battlefield, after living so far apart, I always wondered if they ever got together somehow back at the famous dam building site.

RED RIVER WEATHER REMINDER
Regarding Banks, remember yes he did not exhibit terrific leadership, but the Red River was experiencing one of the longest droughts in history there, it had not rained substantially for 9 years and so the gunboats and supply boats could not keep up with the troops.
 
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Great points about the Red River campaign!

I am friends with the great great grandson of NP Banks here in New England and even he will admit that NP was a better politician then he was a general!

...but somehow he managed to not blow it just enough to keep his job most of the way to the war haha.


Also regarding the Red River campaign my great great grandfather in the 114th New York regiment and fought there as did his brother who had moved west to Iowa and was in the 27th Iowa infantry!

Kind of a wild coincidence that they ended up being on the same battlefield, after living so far apart, I always wondered if they ever got together somehow back at the famous dam building site.

RED RIVER WEATHER REMINDER
Regarding Banks, remember yes he did not exhibit terrific leadership, but the Red River was experiencing one of the longest droughts in history there, it had not rained substantially for 9 years and so the gunboats and supply boats could not keep up with the troops.
From what I read recently, Banks got and held his job by performing a political favors for Lincoln prior to the war.
He probably would have lost his job, but he always seemed to do just enough to keep his feet out of the fire, unlike Butler.

It is very odd to me the Banks and Butler outranked Sherman. It just don't seem right.
 
Pvt. Isaac Mason was a young college student in 1863 in Alabama. He joined the Tuscaloosa Volunteers and was assigned to the 2nd Alabama Light Artillery, Lumsden's battery. According to family legend he was wounded in the buttocks. He made it through all but the last battle of the war without firing a rifle. At Spanish Fort, they gave him one. He commented on how heavy it was. He surrendered at Citronelle Alabama and spent time as a Prisoner of War at camp near Columbus Miss. I have a pay receipt for $50.79 he received at that camp. I knew his son, my grandfather when I was a small child.
Private Mason had gray eyes, light hair, fair complexion and was 5'9" tall.
Of the 25 relatives of mine who fought in the war, for the South, only 5 were alive in 1875. Isaac Mason was one. His seed flourished.
 
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From what I read recently, Banks got and held his job by performing a political favors for Lincoln prior to the war.
Did what you read give any more detail than that?

Its my impression from what I have read that he got and held his job becuase Lincoln thought he was qualified to be a general.
 
PTSD is not a new thing. I've heard that the prohibition movement was born out of ACW vets with terrible alcohol problems. A generation of people grew up watching their dads get loaded every day just to cope.

Thanks for sharing. Very detailed.
JKing, so true and sad... in fact an excellent new book about our ancestors' post CW struggles I recommend is called:
Marching Home
 
My 2 great grandad Abram White served in the Iron Brigade 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He fought at first and second Bull Run, Brawners farm, Gaines Mill, Fredricksburg, and was wounded in the cornfield at Antietam. His brother Eli was is 4th Wisconsin Light Artillery Battery. He was at Swift Creek, Drurys Bluff, Chapins Farm, and the siege at Petersburg.
Jay hats off to a 2nd Wisc descendant!

... my cousin Charles Elam Jewett was in the 2nd, Co. F from Racine

and lemme tell ya whenever I stand on Brawners Farm ridge at dusk in late August I get shivers knowing what they went thru

(my cousin was hit 3 times and survived that night...only to die years later when:

He was attempting to rescue 2 little boys swept off the banks of the raging Kern River near Bakersfield, Calif...

they pulled Charles in, and inside his vest pocket was his Iron Brigade medal)

By the way there is a FABULOUS book on the 2nd Wisc. that goes from their formation just up til after 1st Bull Run...

cool concept, and the author pulls it off.. can't remember the books name offhand (think it might be If This is War)
 
Documented detailed accounts of an ancestor's plight during the civil war are wonderful to have! I had a GGGrandfather in the 96th PA. The only details I have uncovered about him personally is that he was promoted to "Wagonner" shortly after his enlistment and he served with his brother in the same Company H. Have not much personal information on the several GGUncles and ancestors who served in different companies of the 165th PA, except for company records, rosters, reports and information regarding the units as a whole. Personal information and accounts are such a treasure!
 
Greetings,

I too have ancestors who fought in the Civil War. My family is originally from western NY around the Wellsville, Andover area. My first ancestor is Pvt. Francis M.Bassett who enlisted in 1862 at Portage NY, with Co.E, 1st NY Dragoons. His unit fought up and down the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. I have done much research on him and his regiment. I have his original sword, discharge papers and copies of muster rolls and other information.

The second ancestor is his older brother, Pvt. George H. Bassett , who also enlisted in 1862, but with the 21st Alabama Infantry Volunteers. George Bassett was relocated with other family members in the South around age 13. He fought at Shiloh, and later became a clerk for Gen. Withers in Polks Army of Tennessee. Towards the end of the war he became a drug purveyor, serving under the CSA Surgeon General. He is mentioned in the Civil War books "From That Terrible Field - Civil War Letters of James M. Williams 21st Alabama Infantry Volunteers" and Art Green's fantastic unit history of the 21st Alabama Infantry.

Both brothers are buried in Independence, NY. in the same cemetery. George H. Bassett, who died in 1912, had Co.A 21st Ala. Inf. CSA added to his small grave marker. This caused somewhat of an uproar within our family, along with the community of Independence, as many in the area had relatives who fought and died in the Union Army. Francis M. Basset lived until 1917 and was buried with a much larger and more expensive grave marker. His company and 1st NY Dragoons was also added to his marker.

I am very proud of my Civil War heritage, both Union and Confederate!!!

View attachment 28990 View attachment 28991
What a GREAT story... and why the Civil War will always be such a rich tapestry
 
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