Trivia 8-26-16 4 times, not so lucky & bonus

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This Union Colonel, 4th in his class at West Point, was mortally wounded, being shot 4 times, after leading the first charge at Rohrbach's Bridge.

What was his name?
What was his regiment?
What was his connection to the Confederates?

credit: @Brenal

bonus:

We were organized as a cavalry company in 1863; with serving soldiers from our little young homestate and our large neighbour. Scouting and operating against partisans we were disbanded after a few months - and returned a few months later with the same duties. By now several of us were armed with repeating rifles, ironically with the Spencer. Being not afraid of ghosts we lost over half of our men to the grey. We were valued though ahead of our time; and were disbanded again and replaced shortly afterwards. Which unit are we?

credit: @GELongstreet
 
Union Colonel Henry Walter Kingsbury, Colonel in the 11th Connecticut Infantry. He was CSA General Simon Bolivar Buckner's wife's brother.
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Bonus: My guess is,
1st Connecticut Cavalry Regiment

Edit - The 1st Connnecticut Cavalry was organized in 1861.

Hoosier
 
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Colonel Henry W. Kingsbury, 11th Connecticut. His sister, Mary Jane was married to Major General Simon Buckner (CSA). Kingsbury's wife, Eveline McLean Taylor Kingsbury had a sister, Sarah Rebecca Taylor Jones who was married to Major General David Rumph Jones (CSA), commander of a Confederate division at Antietam. The Taylor sisters were the daughters of Brigadier General Joseph Pannell Taylor (USA), the younger brother of President Zachary Taylor. Zachary Taylor's daughter, Sarah Knox Taylor was Jefferson Davis' first wife and his son was Lieutenant General Richard Taylor (CSA). Pretty well connected IMO.
https://www.geni.com/people/Henry-Kingsbury/6000000012286369243

Bonus: Spencer's Scouts, later renamed Blazer's Scouts.
 
Colonel Henry Walter Kingsbury of the 11th Connecticutt Volunteer Infantry.
The coming of the Civil War divided allegiances not only among his West Point classmates but in Kingsbury´s personal life as well. Of the 52 member class of May 1861 forty-one fought for the Union and eleven for the Confederacy. His sister, Mary, wed future Confederate Major General Simon Bolivar Buckner. Their wedding was an auspicious one; during the ceremony the house next door caught fire and the wedding was paused while the groom, clergy and guests doused the flames.
Also late in 1861 Kingsbury married Eva Taylor, niece of President Zachary Taylor and sister-in-law of his close friend David R Jones. Jones would rise to a Major General in the Confederate Army.

source-http://shaf.org/take-care-of-the-men/


Bonus-Blazer's Scouts - Now the scouts were selected from among the best men in the 5th, 9th, 13th and 14th West Virginia Infantries, the 12th, 23rd, 34th and 36th Ohio infantries and the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry. They all became mounted cavalry. Commanded by Captain Richard Blazer.
source-http://www.wvcivilwar.com/blazers-scouts/
 
Colonel Henry Walter Kingsbury
11th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Brother-in-law of General David Rumph Jones, the man entrusted by Robert E. Lee to defend the Lower Bridge.

Blazer's Scouts aka Brigade Scouts or Spencer's Scouts
organized in West Virginia 1863
First commanded by Captain John W. Spencer
After engaging in several operations to negate the Confederate partisans, the scouts were disbanded only two months after being formed
Blazer's Scouts began dueling with Mosby's Rangers in a series of operations in the Shenandoah Valley during the Valley Campaigns of 1864. They used the superior firepower of their Spencer repeating rifles effectively, and initially thwarted Confederate efforts in the region
O
n November 18, 1864, at Kabletown, West Virginia, Mosby was able to defeat Blazer's Scouts, inflicting 42 casualties, almost half of the Union force.
January 1865, Blazer's Scouts were officially disbanded


 
What was his name? Henry Walter Kingsbury
What was his regiment? 11th Connecticut Infantry
What was his connection to the Confederates? His sister married future confederate Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner. While still a minor his father died and family friend Ambrose Burnside along with Buckner, became Kingsbury’s legal guardians. Kingsbury himself married the niece of former president Zachary Taylor and became Brother in law to confederate Gen. D.R.(neighbor)Jones.
http://shaf.org/take-care-of-the-men/


Bonus: Independent or Blazer's Scouts (we ain't afraid of no Grey Ghosts)

This was the independent Scouting Company formed under the Sept 5, 1863 order issued by Col. Carr B. White of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 8th Army Corps.

"Three (3) Lieutenants, eight (8) Sergeants, eight (8) corporals and one-hundred (100) privates will be received as volunteers to form an independent Scouting Company for this brigade"

It came to be known as Blazer's Scouts when Richard Blazer took command.

"The brigade consisted of the 9th West Virginia Infantry and the 12th and 91st Ohio Infantries. Captain John White Spencer of the 9th WVA was chosen to command the scouts and Lieutenants Harrison Gray Otis of the 12th Ohio and Richard Blazer of the 91st Ohio were also assigned as well.... Assertions in the Mosby accounts that these men took on the designation “Legion of Honor” almost certainly have no basis in fact. Not one of the men assigned ever used this term in an article, pension record or had it attributed to them in their obituaries. They were proud to be “Independent Scouts” or call themselves “Blazer’s Scouts” after the man who would command them in 1864"
http://www.wvcivilwar.com/blazers-scouts/
 

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Not sure about others, but I think it took me more time to answer these two questions than any given 5 previous questions and I still worry that the bonus is incorrect. :smile:

Answers: Colonel Henry Walter Kingsbury / 11th Connecticut Infantry / sister married Confederate Major General Simon Bolivar Buckner- ALSO Kingsbuy's wife was sister in law to Confederate Major General David R. Jones

Before the Antietam Campaign:
Son of USMA graduate and career Army officer JJB Kingsbury, he was appointed 2nd Lt, and soon after 1st Lieutenant in the 5th US Artillery after graduating from West Point in May 1861. He was in command of Battery D, 5th US Artillery (attached to Morell's 1st Division of the V Corps) at the Seven Days (June - July 1862 ). He accepted the appointment as Colonel of the 11th Connecticut Infantry and took command in July 1862.

In the Antietam Campaign:
He led his regiment in the first assault on the Rohrbach (later Burnside's) Bridge about 11 am on the 17th. Their attack was repulsed, but the regiment continued to fire on the defenders from the East bank of the Antietam until it was eventually stormed at about 1 pm. At about that time Col Kingsbury was shot at least 4 times - mortally wounded while encouraging his men - he died the next day.

Birth Date: 05/25/1836 Place of Birth: Chicago, IL
College: US Military Academy, West Point, NY Graduating Year: 1861 Class Rank: 4th
Death Date: 9/18/1862 Death Place: Sharpsburg, MD Burial Place: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, DC
source: http://antietam.aotw.org/officers.php?officer_id=218

His sister, Mary, wed future Confederate Major General Simon Bolivar Buckner. Their wedding was an auspicious one; during the ceremony the house next door caught fire and the wedding was paused while the groom, clergy and guests doused the flames. Late in 1861 Kingsbury married Eva Taylor, sister-in-law of his close friend David R. Jones. a future Major General in the Confederate Army.
source: http://shaf.org/take-care-of-the-men/

BONUS: I could not find a clear answer to this question- actual unit designation or common name???. It looks like the answer you are looking for is Blazer's Scouts (or the *Legion of Honor), but please see below for unit designations.
Col. Carr B. White of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 8th Army Corps came up with a more organized way to deal with the guerillas and to provide for security of the Army.

On the 5th of September, 1863, he issued the following order:
Three (3) Lieutenants, eight (8) Sergeants, eight (8) corporals and one-hundred (100) privates will be received as volunteers to form an independent Scouting Company for this brigade.
The company will be relieved from guard, fatigue and other camp duties during the continuance of its organization. At least one half of the company will be expected to be on the scout all the time. Its headquarters will be in the woods. None but experienced woodsmen and good shots will be accepted. Commanders of regiments are directed to receive and report the names of suitable men volunteering for this service.


The brigade consisted of the 9th West Virginia Infantry and the 12th and 91st Ohio Infantries. Captain John White Spencer of the 9th WVA was chosen to command the scouts and Lieutenants Harrison Gray Otis of the 12th Ohio and Richard Blazer of the 91st Ohio were also assigned as well.

*Assertions in the Mosby accounts that these men took on the designation “Legion of Honor” almost certainly have no basis in fact. Not one of the men assigned ever used this term in an article, pension record or had it attributed to them in their obituaries. They were proud to be “Independent Scouts” or call themselves “Blazer’s Scouts” after the man who would command them in 1864.
source: http://www.wvcivilwar.com/blazers-scouts/
 
I am watching "Greatest Battles of the Civil War - The Unknown Civil War Series" to find the answer to this question. During the battle of Antietam, Col. Henry Kingsbury, commanding 11th Connecticut (my home state), the men who are firing at him are commanded by his brother-in-law. General David R Jones of the CSA. This was a good question as I had to think hard as to where I could find the answer. I don't have an answer to the bonus question.
 
1. Colonel Henry Walter Kingsbury
2. 11th Connecticut Infantry
3. His brother-in-law was CSA General Simon B. Buckner

Bonus: 4th Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry


Edit - The 4th West Virginia Cavalry was organized in 1863, but does not fit the other clues given in the question.

Hoosier
 
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This Union Colonel, 4th in his class at West Point, was mortally wounded, being shot 4 times, after leading the first charge at Rohrbach's Bridge.

What was his name? Col Henry W Kingsbury
What was his regiment? 11th Connecticut InFantry
What was his connection to the Confederates? He had 2 connections, his sister Mary J Kingsbury Buckner was married to CS Gen Simon Buckner. Plus, He was killed by CS Troops led by General David Rumph Jones, Henry's brother in law, whom was married to Rebecca (Taylor) Jones a sister to Eva (Taylor) Kingsbury and Col Henry W. Kingsbury's wife.

BONUS: We were organized as a cavalry company in 1863; with serving soldiers from our little young homestate and our large neighbour. Scouting and operating against partisans we were disbanded after a few months - and returned a few months later with the same duties. By now several of us were armed with repeating rifles, ironically with the Spencer. Being not afraid of ghosts we lost over half of our men to the grey. We were valued though ahead of our time; and were disbanded again and replaced shortly afterwards. Which unit are we? Blazer's Scouts AKA Brigade Scouts or Spencer's Scouts
 
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His name was Henry Walter Kingsbury

His regiment was 11th Connecticut Infantry.

His connection to the confederacy was his brother in law troops (General David Rumph Jones) killed him. InterestinglyGeneral David Rumph Jones was the nephew of Zachery Taylor, 12th US President.

I need more time on the bonus question. Three hours of searching has proved nothing.
 
Bonus question update.

My best guess is the.
Second Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry

They fought against the "Grey Ghost" John Mosby. There were California and Mass residents.

This was a very difficult question. In the words of the great Roberto Duran, No Mas, No Mas, I give up. Hope this is correct!


Edit - The Second Massachusetts Cavalry was a regiment, not a company. It was organized in 1863 and it did fight against Mosby, but does not fit all the clues of the question.

Hoosier

 
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