Questions about Service / POW's

[atuttle32]

First, let me say that with the number of ancestors I have who fought in the Civil War who actually lived through it - well, I'm surprised I'm even here to post this! And thanks in advance for being patient with someone fairly new to *detailed* Civil War history!!

First Question ... My second great-grandfather, Pleasant Hutchison, enlisted in the army in Company H in the 22nd Regiment in North Carolina in November of 1862 as a private. In Feb 1864 he is listed as being at the Headquarters of the Army of Northern Virginia as a Yard Master in the QM Department. I found other muster roll sheets that stated he was a wagon master, teamster, etc. The history of this regiment from the NPS site gives a general outline of what battles they fought in, the Brigadier Generals who headed their brigade, etc. I guess my question is - is there some site that gives a timeline of the different regiments/brigades/when they combined with other regiments/etc.?


Second question ... my third great-grandfather, Abner Martin Keeney, enlisted in the 6th Kentucky Calvary in the summer of 1862 as a private. He was captured in July 1863, I believe while they fought under J.H. Morgan (General?). From his muster roll sheets, I've been able to piece together what I've listed below. Were prisoners generally paroled completely out at the end of the war, and if so, is there any record anywhere of this? I've looked at the history of Point Lookout, and it was a pretty scary place.

• 20 July 1863 Captured in Cheshire, Ohio
• 23 July 1863 Transferred to Camp Chase - Columbus, Ohio
• 20 Aug 1863 Transferred to Camp Douglas - Chicago, Illinois
• 20 Feb 1865 Paroled at Camp Douglas and Forwarded to Point Lookout - St. Mary's County, Maryland for exchange

Thank you for any help you can give!!
Amelia

 

[Robtweb1]

Welcome from Louisiana. You can do a search of the Official Record of the War of the Rebellion for your regiment, and the officers' reports and the Orders of Battle will show when units were consolidated. I'll get you the link later today, or someone else might post it if they have it handy. The best online site is at Cornell University.

Robert

 

[Robtweb1]

Here ya go.

http://digital.library.cornell.edu/m/moawar/waro.html

Robert

 

[atuttle32]

Thank you! I'm excited to find another website to perform research on. I've had no luck with the few university websites I had tried, but this one looks very promising!

 

[badger roy]

For a fairly extensive history of the 22nd North Carolina,try HISTORIES OF THE SEVERAL REGIMENTS AND BATTALIONS FROM NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GREAT WAR,1861-'65(5 Volumes) by Walter Clark.(Unfortunately only Vols. 3 & 5 are online;Vol 3 begins with the 43rd NC so the 22nd is probably in Vol 1 or 2.)
best regards,
badger roy

 

[Robtweb1]

You're welcome. Let me know how it works out.

Robert

 

[ole]

I guess my question is - is there some site that gives a timeline of the different regiments/brigades/when they combined with other regiments/etc.?

Stewart Syfakis wrote, some years ago, ten small volumes supertitled "Compendium of the Confederate Armies." For each unit, the names of officers is given. When your ancestor joined up, the colonel was J. Johnston Pettigrew.

There is, for each regiment, where they were assigned (battalion, division, deptartment, etc.). And for each regiment, there is a list of battles. In the case of the 22nd NC, it would be hard to find which battles it wasn't involved in.

There are likely better online sources than Sifakis' books, but I happened to have the NC book just a few inches from my right elbow.

In late 1863, exchanges all but ceased. Fast-moving outfits necessarily either "took no prisoners" or sent combatants home with their promise (parole) of not taking up arms until exchanged. What comes to mind is Jackson's taking of Harpers Ferry during the First Pennsylvania Campaign which culminated near the village of Sharpsburg, MD. Jackson left a division (A.P. Hill's) there to take paroles; there was no way to take that many prisoners in one swell foop.

 

[atuttle32]

I believe I read somewhere (and you'll have to forgive me if I'm incorrect because I'm learning so much so fast that I sometimes still get things mixed up) that the 22nd Regiment out of North Carolina started out at over 1000 strong and there were only 97 men left when they surrendered at Appomattox. It was that statement that really made me stop and think that I needed to learn more about the Civil War and that it would give me a glimpse into what their lives were like back then. I guess my GG grandfather working in the QM Dept helped him survive while in the Army of Northern Virginia - I'm assuming they didn't rush into battle like those of the infantry.

 

[ole]

I believe I read somewhere (and you'll have to forgive me if I'm incorrect because I'm learning so much so fast that I sometimes still get things mixed up) that the 22nd Regiment out of North Carolina started out at over 1000 strong and there were only 97 men left when they surrendered at Appomattox. It was that statement that really made me stop and think that I needed to learn more about the Civil War and that it would give me a glimpse into what their lives were like back then. I guess my GG grandfather working in the QM Dept helped him survive while in the Army of Northern Virginia - I'm assuming they didn't rush into battle like those of the infantry.

Believe you might be correct in assuming, atuttle, that gggfather survived because the CSA found him more useful in managing stores and wagons.

Aside from the guns, the most important thing the armies protected were their wagons. As yard boss, your gggfather was as important as the guns and the regimental colors.

A 1,000 is about regulation size for a regiment. That only 97 survived is also not surprising, given the number of nasty battles the 22nd was involved in. (We probably won't know how many finished out the war hiding in the hills of North Carolina.)

 

[atuttle32]

Funny you say that about how many were hiding in the hills of North Carolina. I have another grandfather (Alexander E. Powell - a second GG) who fought for the 10th Regiment out of South Carolina ... he deserted in January of 1863 and returned at the end of March 1863. I found later records that said his deserter status was without merit (and he was approved for a pension in 1920), but ironic that his wife gave birth to their second child "about 1864"! But what's really sad is that so much of my family from Williamsburg County in South Carolina was in the 10th Regiment. Alexander fought alongside three of his mother's brothers - his uncles. I've confirmed that two died in Mississippi in 1862/1863 (definitely one from illness, the other not sure yet), and I show a death for the third in 1865 at Gettysburg of all places (very suspicious!), though I cannot confirm that one yet.

Just wait until I start asking about Seige Trains - I don't understand what that is AT ALL and haven't had time to research. I do know that yet another second great-grandfather (Laney Ard) enlisted with Company C in the South Carolina Seige Train / Manigault's Battalion in April of 1862, serving in and around Charleston SC. Eventually he was discharged due to disability in June of 1864. I just wish I could find out what the disability was for.

I'm proud that my family on both sides has been in this country for so long, but it's making all this research a little daunting. I'm determined to see it through though - first the Civil War, then onto the Revolutionary War!!

 

[khalleron]

For a fairly extensive history of the 22nd North Carolina,try HISTORIES OF THE SEVERAL REGIMENTS AND BATTALIONS FROM NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GREAT WAR,1861-'65(5 Volumes) by Walter Clark.(Unfortunately only Vols. 3 & 5 are online;Vol 3 begins with the 43rd NC so the 22nd is probably in Vol 1 or 2.)
best regards,
badger roy

Volume 2 is available here - http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924092908544 in a variety of formats.

Keep in mind that Confederate regiments recruited/conscripted from the Appalachians had extremely high rates of desertion. They probably didn't have a 99% casualty rate.

 

[atuttle32]

@khalleron, see my note re desertion above about another grandfather who did desert for three months from a SC regiment.

I've been able to track my GG grandfather in the NC 22nd Regiment through October 1864, but haven't been through all of the muster sheets yet. I am hoping that I can track him through the end of the war. Today I found the receipts for his pay from June through August 1863 - he was listed as a Yard Master during the Battle of Gettysburg.

It really means a lot to me that you are all helping me and answering all my questions. I am very passionate about my family history, and now about the Civil War and that era.

 

[ibmicheal]

2nd question....Camp Chase was one of the better POW Camps, he wasn't there very long then off to Camp Douglas and he lived to be paroled very lucky man, there is a book named to die in chicago by Levy, written by POWs and different outfits are stated in the book.
He just went to Point Lookout to be exchanged in 65 sounds odd anyway maney were paroled at Douglas to make their own way back.

 

[atuttle32]

@ibmicheal - I am still researching the information on the different POW camps so I appreciate the reference on the book by Levy; I will definitely add that to my list of wonderful books everyone here has given me!

I was able to find all the supporting muster roll sheets regarding this grandfather's transfers between the different POW camps - the wording I used was from those sheets. I don't understand why he was transferred either - why would they transfer him to another camp so far away? It doesn't make sense to me. To be honest, I don't even know what "for exchange" means ... It's no secret that I am very new at this research, hence why it's so frustrating for me because sometimes (like now) I don't know if there even IS an answer to my questions!

 

[M E Wolf]

Southern Historical Society Papers.
Vol. XV. Richmond, Va., January-December. 1887.
Paroles of the A.N.V.--Misc.

[excerpt]
List of Unattached Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, Cut off from their Commands, Paroled by Major D. B. Bridgford, Provost Marshal.

[excerpt]
-----
List of detailed men and employees in service of Capt. G. W. Shell, A. Q. M. Headquaters.

Serg't W. S. Ward, Co. A, 39th Va. Batt. Cav.
Private Joshua Thomas, Co. D, 39th Va. Batt. Cav.
T. W. White, Co. A, 17th Va. Reg't Inf'y.
M. M. Hite, Co. A, 39th Va. Batt. Cavalry.
N. Bell, Norfolk L't Artillery.
W. H. Cautzon, 2d Co. Washington Artillery.
J. Meyers, Co. B, 14th Louisiana Reg't Inf'y.
Jas. O'Conner, Co. E, 61st Ga. Reg't Inf'y.
Jas. Farmer, Co. A, 45th N. C. Reg't Inf'y.
J. H. Fooshe, Co. A, 3d S.C. Batt. Inf'y.
J. C. Causey, Co. B, 3d Va. Cavalry.
D. G. Marrow, Co. B, 3d Va. Cavalry.
E. K. Peake, Co. I, 32d Va. Inf'y.
C. B. Wildman, Virginia Reserves.
M. B. Cash, Co. E, 27th Va. Inf'y.
G. Foster, Co. D, 57th Va. Inf'y.
Pleasant Hutchison, Co. H, 22d N. C. Inf'y.
A. Butts, Co. B, 39th Va. Cav. Batt.
J. S. Lupton, Co. A, 39th Va. Cav. Batt.
J. W. Dennis, Co. A.
J. W. Shultz, Co. A, 5th Va. Inf'y.
------------------------------

Southern Historical Society Papers.
Volume XII. Richmond, Va., January-February, 1884. Nos. 1-2.
Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, August 31, 1864. (a)
WILCOX'S DIVISION.
Major General C.M. Wilcox.

Scales's Brigade.
Thirteenth North Carolina, Colonel J.H. Hyman.
Sixteenth North Carolina, Colonel W.A. Stowe.
Twenty second North Carolina, T.S. Gallaway.
Thirty fourth North Carolina, Colonel W.L.J. Lowrance.
Thirty eighth, North Carolina, Colonel John Ashford.

--------------
Southern Historical Society Papers.
Vol. XV. Richmond, Va., January-December. 1887.
Paroles of the A.N.V.--Scales's Brigade.

(Ninety-seven individuals surrendered).

 

[M E Wolf]

Southern Historical Society Papers.
Vol. XVI. Richmond, Va., January-December. 1888.
The Wee Nee Volunteers of Williamsburg District, South Carolina,
in the First (Hagood's) Regiment.
By Major JOHN G. PRESSLEY, of the Eutaw Battalion, South Carolina Volunteers.
About the middle of August, 1861, it being their purpose to join the regiment of Colonel Johnson Hagood, many of the old members of the Wee Nee Volunteers and quite a number of recruits met in the courthouse, in pursuance of a call from the captain, and reorganized the company. No one thought of opposing the captain, but there was a spirited contest for some of the other places. The following was the result of the election: Captain, John G. Pressley; First Lieutenant, Thomas J. China; Second Lieutenant, Calhoun Logan; Junior Second Lieutenant, Henry Montgomery, Jr.
[excerpt]
About the first of September the company took the train for Charleston, the most of them embarking at Kingstree. The men were all in high spirits. Joseph Ard, from the neighborhood of Clocktown, deserves special mention. Owing to a defect in his organs of speech, he could not make himself understood by one not accustomed to hearing him talk. Some days before the company took its departure he applied for membership, and was kindly, but firmly, refused by me, because of his infirmity. While standing on the platform superintending the embarkation of the men and their baggage, in the dim twilight of the morning, Ard approached me in company with one of his friends, who came with him to interpret. He tried to tell me something, which the interpreter said was that he was very anxious to go with the company.

"Ard," said I, "the government would not take you as a soldier. I am very sorry, but you cannot go."

With tears in his eyes, Ard addressed something to the interpreter, at the same time giving me a most beseeching look. The poor fellow, no doubt, believed that it rested entirely with me whether he would be allowed to serve his country with his brother and neighbors, who were members of the company. I can remember now, after the lapse of more than twenty-one years, just how he looked. My heart was touched, and I felt that I could not resist his appeals.

"What does he say?" I inquired.

"Captain," said the interpreter, "he says if he can't be a soldier he can cook." "Well," said I, "if you are so anxious to go, get aboard."

His face became at once radiant with joy, and my own heart was lightened by the knowledge that I had made a good, kind-hearted fellow happy. When the mustering officer came and the roll was called, Joe Ard was very particular in answering in accents which he had been practising so as to conceal his defect of speech. Perhaps I may have been guilty of a dereliction in duty in being a party to mustering him in, but he made such an excellent soldier that none of us, who were parties to the fraud (if it was a fraud), need have any qualms of conscience on that subject.

[excerpt]
In order to pass off the long winter evenings, the men organized a debating society. The barracks, where they slept, was the debating hall. My presence seemed to be a damper on their eloquence, though I encouraged every innocent pastime. I heard but one debate, and then the speakers did not know that I was present. I stood back among the crowd of spectators. The debaters were Privates Singletary, E.G. Ard and one of the Camerons. The question for debate was: "Which exercises the greater influence over man, the love of money or the love of woman?" Cameron took the side of money, and greatly amused his hearers by some joke on Singletary as to his destroying a counter worth a good many dollars in pursuit of a ten-cent piece which had fallen into a crack. The joke was taken in good part and very much enjoyed by the society. Ard took the side of woman and "brought the house down" by his argument.
[excerpt]
The casualties at Swift Creek on the 9th of May, were as follows: Company A. Killed: Private W. L. Jeter. Wounded: Corporal J. H. Dickerson, slightly in the head and arm; private E. F. Cross, slightly in the face and arm; P. Gowan, slightly in thigh; W. S. Lanneau, slightly in thigh. Missing: Corporals T. W. Miller and F. W. Locke.

Company C. Wounded: J. K. Gamble.

Company H. Killed: Captain T. L. Hammond; Second Lieutenant F. G. Hammond; Corporal W. A. Rochester; privates J. Goin and W. Cunningham. Wounded: Sergeant E. W. Rush, slightly in hand; Privates P. C. Dobbins, by concussion; J. A. Carmichael, severely in hand; P. P. Hodgson, severely in thigh. Wounded and captured: Sergeant J. H. Fagin and Corporal K. Lamb. Missing: Privates A. Thompson and L. D. Murphy.

Company K. Killed: First Lieutenant F. J. Lesesne, Corporal J. J. Ard, privates P. H. Lesesne, F. J. N. Dennis, J. D. Wilder, John Davis, J. G. Player, E. Ard, E. Browder, J. E. Cubstead, W. D. Duke, W. R. Byrdick, W. V. Stukes. Wounded: Second Lieutenant Charles Lesesne; Corporals S. Mitchum, severely in shoulder; W E. Mitchum, slightly in arm; C. M. Matthews, slightly in thigh; privates J. H. Hodge, stunned; W. Byrdick, severely; W. W. Thorn, severely in hip; B. R. Ard, slightly; J. C. Hodge, severely in thigh; J. B. Tanner, slightly in thigh; S. Wilder, slightly.

[end of excerpt]

 

[M E Wolf]

Manigault - Ordnance (siege train)

O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME 1 [S# 1] CHAPTER I.
CORRESPONDENCE AND ORDERS RELATING SPECIALLY TO THE OPERATIONS IN CHARLESTON HARBOR FROM OCTOBER 31, 1860, TO APRIL 14, 1861.
CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE. ETC.,(*)--#1
FORT PALMETTO STONO INLET, S. C.,
March 7, 1861.
Brigadier-General DUNOVANT:
GENERAL: I have the honor to inform you that in the firing at this post yesterday, the 18-pounder guns, which are the largest at this post, were found entirely insufficient to command the Stono Channel of this entrance. At an elevation of five degrees the balls failed to reach the Stono Channel. I take occasion, therefore, again to call this matter to your attention, and to request that two 32-pounders, or, at all events, two 24-pounders, be ordered to this post. In a conversation with Colonel Manigault, of the board of ordnance, on Friday last, March 1, I was led to believe that two 24-pounders would be sent to this post in a few days; but they have not yet been received. Except our field guns, we have here but two 18-pounders.

In the present uncertain aspect of affairs, when any point seems subject to assault, I would suggest, for your consideration, the remoteness of the troops here from effective assistance, and the smallness of the force under my command. If the fortification had been brought to a comparative state of completion, we could hold it against large odds. The planters of John's Island, who volunteered to complete it, as I was informed, left it not half finished, and the troops have bestowed much labor upon it, to bring it to a defensible condition. I therefore again call your attention to the smallness of the force here (considering the unfinished state of the fortification). to the difficulty of timely succor, and to the impracticability of a retreat, surrounded, as we are, by rivers, and without transports being furnished us, if retreat should become necessary.

I have the honor to remain, your obedient servant,
J. J. POPE, JR.,
Commander of the Post.
-----
HDQRS. PROV. ARMY CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA,
Charleston, S. C., March 25, 1861.
Col. EDWARD MANIGAULT,
Chief of Ordnance S.C. Army, Charleston, S. C.:
------------
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME VI, Chapter XV [S# 6]
Correspondence, Orders, And Returns Relating To Operations On The Coasts Of South Carolina, Georgia, And Middle And East Florida From August 21, 1861, To April 11, 1862.
CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.--#2
HDQRS. FIRST MILITARY DISTRICT, DEPT. OF S. C.,
Georgetown, November 15, 1861.
Maj. Gen. R. E. LEE:
GENERAL: There are two redoubts near the mouth of Winyaw Bay, on Cat and South Islands.
The first has mounted two 32-pounders, 50 rounds each; one rifled 12-pounder, 50 rounds, and two 24-pounders, 150 rounds each; three principal faces nearly completed; two bastions in rear, and curtain entirely unfinished; no bomb-proof. South Island redoubt, four 24-pounders, 125 rounds each; one rifle 6-pounder, 50 rounds; one 18-pounder, 125 rounds; three faces finished, still open in rear; bomb proof will be completed in ten days; garrisoned by 320 men of Tenth Regiment. There are near Georgetown, of Tenth Regiment, 565 men; three companies cavalry are on South Island, two near Georgetown, 135 men; one company rifles attached to Tenth Regiment, for local duty near Georgetown, 50 men; one section light artillery on Waccamaw Neck, 40 men--l,110 men. I have called on General Harllee, local volunteers, for 800; 280 have reported for duty; 200 more to arrive to-morrow; 480--1,590; the remainder, 320 cannot be here under a week. The 1,110 men are well armed, drilled, and equipped, and have about 100 rounds of ammunition to each man. The 480 are badly armed, mostly with shot-guns, are undrilled, fully supplied with ammunition, but are scarcely fit for service yet.

I will do the best I can, should the enemy appear.

There is also at the mouth of the North Santee River a redoubt mounting three guns, 12-pounders, not yet completed and not garrisoned; ammunition there sufficient. We have a full supply of powder and sufficient 24, 18, and 12 pounder round shot. You will perceive that the other guns are short of the proper number of balls.
Your obedient servant,

A.M. MANIGAULT,
Colonel Tenth Regiment, &c.
-----

 

[ole]

"For exchange" means that both sides will trade prisoners, one for one private. And, just blathering, 20 privates for one colonel or other officer. "Paroled" means that you can go home, but promise to not take up arms again until exchanged. (Like that's going to work in the real world. There are, however, records of those who refused to return to service because they'd given their parole. Both sides. Look around yourself. How many would keep their word? People don't change.)

 

[M E Wolf]

O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME VI, Chapter XV [S# 6]
Correspondence, Orders, And Returns Relating To Operations On The Coasts Of South Carolina, Georgia, And Middle And East Florida From August 21, 1861, To April 11, 1862.
CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.--#6
HDQRS. TENTH REGT. S. C. V., C. S. P. A.
Second Military District, Mount Pleasant, April 5, 1862.
Cap. L J. R. WADDY,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters, Pocotaligo :
CAPTAIN: By permission of General Ripley, to whom I reported on my arrival here from Georgetown with my command, the Tenth Regiment, I have the honor to report that the instructions received from the general commanding have been executed. The redoubts in the First Military District have been abandoned; the guns, 20 in number, dismounted, and are now on their way by railroad to Charleston, with ammunition, ordnance stores, &c. Logs of wood resembling pieces of ordnance have been mounted in the place of each gun that has been removed, and three companies of cavalry and three of infantry are encamped near them; the positions have the appearance of being still occupied. The troops cannot be cut off by any but a land attack, against which only ordinary precaution will be necessary.
[excerpt]
The command of the district I have turned over to Col. R. F. Graham, commanding Twenty-first Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, with the following-named force under him:
State defense: Twenty-first Regiment, R. F. Graham, commandant, ten companies, 700 men; battalion, R. Nesbit, commandant, seven companies, 500 men. Fourth Battalion Cavalry, Maj. J. C. Wilson, four companies, 240 men; Tucker's cavalry, one company, 115 men.

For the war unconditionally: Ward's light battery, six pieces, one company, 112 men.

The district in its present defenseless condition requires a considerable cavalry force as a coast guard and police force. The five companies left there are, I think, sufficient for that purpose. The infantry can be of but little use, and I think it would be better to place them on the line of railroad (Kingstree), from which point they could be easily moved in any direction in the State where their services may be needed. At Georgetown where they now are, it would be a three days' march to reach any point on the railroad, and requires by the ordinary mail route two days nearly to convey information to them. I arrived here on the 3d instant with Tenth Regiment, 903 strong, having left behind) sick and convalescents, 123 men, the greater portion of whom will rejoin me on Tuesday next, also 77 men on furlough at that time, 30 of whom are on thirty days' furlough. Aggregate strength, 1,103.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
A.M. MANIGAULT,
Colonel Tenth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers.
-----
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME X/1 [S# 10]
APRIL 29-JUNE 10, 1862--Advance upon and siege of Corinth …
No. 38. -- Report of Col. William P. Johnston, Aide-de-Camp and Special Inspector, in reference to operations in Department No.2.
[excerpt]
RESERVE CORPS.
Brig. Gen. J. M. WITHERS commanding.
[excerpt]
Fourth Brigade.
Col. A.M. MANIGAULT.
28th Alabama.
34th Alabama.
1st Louisiana Infantry, detached.
10th South Carolina.
19th South Carolina.
Waters' battery.
--------------
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXX/2 [S# 51]
AUGUST 16-SEPTEMBER 22, 1863.--The Chickamauga Campaign.
No. 360.--Report of Brig. Gen. Arthur M. Manigault, C. S. Army, commanding brigade.

 

[atuttle32]

I am not sure what to say about your postings, ME Wolf - except that you have made one Southern lady very happy, and a little weepy too. There is very little to no research on either of these men, and I am trying my best to do what I can to make sure that their history travels down through the family. All I knew of Pleasant Hutchison when I started this research was that he was a farmer who moved from North Carolina to Missouri between the end of the war and 1870. Now I know so much more about him and his personality. And the Ard side? I know nothing at all, except their names ... haven't even been able to get a date of death for Laney Ard. The most interesting part though is that a speech/hearing impediment has occassionally popped up here and there throughout the Ard side of the family and no one knew why. And now I have another clue as to where it came from. So from my heart - thank you!!!