Harrison G Smith

[Mustang Man]

Harrison was living in the Dawsonville, Ga. area prior to the war
He served in the Chesatee Light artillery under a Capt William Bomar. Harrison's record shows he was captured at Middleton, Va. in August 1864
He was taken first to the old Capitol Prison in Washington Dc and later transferred to the Federal Prison Camp in Elmira, New York
Looking at different descriptions of the Battles of Cedar Creek in October 1864 , that area is called both Middleton Va. and Middlettown, Va.
John Macdonald calls it Middleton Va. in his book " The Historical Atlas of the Civil War" p307 while Shelby Foote calls it Middleton, Va in his book
" Red River to Appomattox", p507. My question is " In 1864 was it callled Middleton or was this a typo error. As Harrison was captured in August 64 and the Battle of Cedar Creek did not happen until October 64 , can any one tell me what was going on in August 64 prior to the major battle in Octiober?

 

[RedRover]

I see that Corporal Smith was recorded as captured at Middletown, VA on August 12, 1864.

Middletown is just north of the Cedar Creek...

And from October, we have the reference to the battle of Cedar Creek on the 19th.

The Medical and Surgical history of the war reported the Battle of Cedar Creek of Oct. 19 was called called,

 

[ErnieMac]

The War of the Rebellion Atlas Plate 027 which was compiled in 1861 shows the spelling as Middletown.

 

[Mustang Man]

I see that Corporal Smith was recorded as captured at Middletown, VA on August 12, 1864.

View attachment 483614

Middletown is just north of the Cedar Creek...
View attachment 483613




View attachment 483609
View attachment 483610


And from October, we have the reference to the battle of Cedar Creek on the 19th.
View attachment 483611

The Medical and Surgical history of the war reported the Battle of Cedar Creek of Oct. 19 was called called,
View attachment 483612

 

[Mustang Man]

Thank you for your quick response . I am thrilled to finally solve this question on Middleton or Middletown.
I will be touring Gettsbury next Saturday and plan to visit Middletown on Sunday. with my son. I diid not mention earlier that Harrison survived Elmira and moved to the Brownwood, Texas area after the war. My Grand fatherr one William Henry Smith and his siblings were all born in the Indian Creek area near Brownwood. Harrison was active in the Masonic lodge as well as the Baptist church in that area. Around 1910 , he moved his family to the Fort Bend County, Texas area and passed soon after.

 

[RedRover]

Here's Sheridan's plan on August 12, to drive through Middletown to Cedar Creek, etc.

 

[Mustang Man]

Here's Sheridan's plan on August 12, to drive through Middletown to Cedar Creek, etc.
View attachment 483652
View attachment 483653

 

[Mustang Man]

Red Rover, Thanks for the additional information regarding Union activity on August 12, 1864.
I am not sure at that day that my Harrison was still attached to the Chestatee Light Artillery
I have noted in other writings that his commander Bomar was also captured as well as his cousin Moses Cannon at a later date.

 

[RedRover]

This chap has posted the roll of the Chestatee Light Artillery/38th Georgia listing few men captured August 12, '64 at Middletown.

Roll, Chestatee Light artillery:

B.R. Touchstone also captured that day at Middletown.

James A. Dacus, listed as captured at Winchester that same day...

My understanding is the Chestatee light artillery battery was converted to infantry and sent to join the 38th Georgia in Virginia as a newly attached company in mid-1864.

 

[Mustang Man]

I appreciate your comments about the Chestatee light artillery being converted to infantry and joining the 38th Georgia in Va.