Was my Great Great Grandfather a 16 year old guard at Andersonville Prison?

Joined
Jan 10, 2019
Location
New Market, Alabama
I am very happy to have found this group! I am trying to verify a family story that has been told that my great great grandfather was a 16 year old guard at Andersonville Prison during the Civil War. His name was George E Columbus- Hartley. He was from the Ft. Valley/Bryon Georgia area so it is possible he could have been at Andersonville. Stories have been told that after the war he hid that part of his life and made up stories for obvious reasons. Probably did not want a noose necklace. Maybe George was with the 57th GA Regiment that was sent to Andersonville to relive the 5th GA Regiment..... On a good note, I have been able to verify all of his brothers and their links to the Civil War. His brother's were: William W. Hartley, (Private, Company A, Cobb Guards, GA Infantry) died at the battle of Gettysburg, Green Hartley (Private, Company E, 57th Infantry Regiment) and Elbert Hartley (Private, Company E, 57th Infantry Regiment). If anyone happens to know if their was a roster of prison guards at Andersonville I would be very appreciative! Thanks!!
 
First of all, he may have been reluctant to share information on his duty during the conflict, but that's no reason for you or your family today to be concerned. That was then, this is now. We all have ancestors with what some consider 'shady' backgrounds.
Have you been able to find any records of his service through Ancestry, Fold3 or the Soldiers and Sailors database?
 
He may not have cared to speak of what he witnessed. Guards were in closer proximity to men from the other side than anyone. No one can tell me men did not get to know each other, sometimes became friendly and frequently had a tough time viewing the other as the enemy. A 16 year old kid pitched into this thing called war may have had a terrible time dealing with what he saw, poor guy.

You came to the right place for more information. If there's a record of guards at Andersonville, it'll show up!
 
I am very happy to have found this group! I am trying to verify a family story that has been told that my great great grandfather was a 16 year old guard at Andersonville Prison during the Civil War. His name was George E Columbus- Hartley. He was from the Ft. Valley/Bryon Georgia area so it is possible he could have been at Andersonville. Stories have been told that after the war he hid that part of his life and made up stories for obvious reasons. Probably did not want a noose necklace. Maybe George was with the 57th GA Regiment that was sent to Andersonville to relive the 5th GA Regiment..... On a good note, I have been able to verify all of his brothers and their links to the Civil War. His brother's were: William W. Hartley, (Private, Company A, Cobb Guards, GA Infantry) died at the battle of Gettysburg, Green Hartley (Private, Company E, 57th Infantry Regiment) and Elbert Hartley (Private, Company E, 57th Infantry Regiment). If anyone happens to know if their was a roster of prison guards at Andersonville I would be very appreciative! Thanks!!
Michael, Happy you found us. As I welcome you from the Blue Ridge Mountain's the song "Rebel Soldier" ---"my homes across the blue ridge mountains" is going threw my head.
 
First of all, he may have been reluctant to share information on his duty during the conflict, but that's no reason for you or your family today to be concerned. That was then, this is now. We all have ancestors with what some consider 'shady' backgrounds.
Have you been able to find any records of his service through Ancestry, Fold3 or the Soldiers and Sailors database?

At this point I have not been able to locate anything on him. But we have been able to verify his 3 brothers that were enlisted during the war. I would really like to be able to verify George Hartley’s service since he is my great great grandfather. I appreciate everyone’s kind words and encouragement!!
 
I am very happy to have found this group! I am trying to verify a family story that has been told that my great great grandfather was a 16 year old guard at Andersonville Prison during the Civil War. His name was George E Columbus- Hartley. He was from the Ft. Valley/Bryon Georgia area so it is possible he could have been at Andersonville. Stories have been told that after the war he hid that part of his life and made up stories for obvious reasons. Probably did not want a noose necklace. Maybe George was with the 57th GA Regiment that was sent to Andersonville to relive the 5th GA Regiment..... On a good note, I have been able to verify all of his brothers and their links to the Civil War. His brother's were: William W. Hartley, (Private, Company A, Cobb Guards, GA Infantry) died at the battle of Gettysburg, Green Hartley (Private, Company E, 57th Infantry Regiment) and Elbert Hartley (Private, Company E, 57th Infantry Regiment). If anyone happens to know if their was a roster of prison guards at Andersonville I would be very appreciative! Thanks!!
Most of the Confederate guards at Andersonville were members of the 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th Georgia Reserves. These units were formed in 1864 and were mostly teenagers 18-and-under and older men. A lot of them are buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Americus, Georgia.
 
I found his brothers in Fold3 but not him.
 
At this point I have not been able to locate anything on him. But we have been able to verify his 3 brothers that were enlisted during the war. I would really like to be able to verify George Hartley’s service since he is my great great grandfather. I appreciate everyone’s kind words and encouragement!!

Welcome Michael, You may already have this :

Green Hartley's pension application. says he "enlisted at Andersonville". If you know the names of the other brother's wives, they may have filed for widow's pensions

http://vault.georgiaarchives.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/TestApps/id/555729/rec/14
 
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