East Tennessee Roots
Major
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2010
- Location
- Kingsport, Tennessee
Union Sergeant Jacob C. Miller, Enlisted on 8/13/1862 at Elgin, Kane Co.,Illinois as a Private into "G" Co. Illinois 113th Infantry. He was 22 years old. He was awarded the Medal Of Honor for action on 5/22/1863 at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Four months later, September 19, 1863 at Chickamauga, he was quite literally, shot between the eyes and left for dead behind Confederate lines. Regaining conciseness, and being determined not to be taken prisoner, he made it back to Union lines, so covered with blood that Rebels he met didn't recognize he was a Yank. His own Captain failed to recognize him. The Daily News of Joliet, Illinois on Wednesday June 14, 1911 featured a story entitled:
Jacob Miller, A War Scarred Hero:
“Since September 19, 1863, he has lived with an open bullet wound in his forehead. For a number of years the bullet remained in his head but piece by piece it fell out till now. It is thought none of it remains in the wound. During the time was in the head it at times would produce a stupor, which sometimes would last two weeks, it being usually when he caught cold & produced more of a pressure on the brain. At other times delirium would seize him & he would imagine himself again on picket duty & would tramp back & forth on his beat, a stick on his shoulder for a musket, a pitiful object of the sacrifice for freedom. As these pieces of lead gradually loosened & fell out he regained his usual health & is now at the age of 78 years, one of the most, if not the most remarkable survivor of the Civil War.” Jacob lived another six years, dying on 1/13/1917 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Confederate Private Alfred Newton Proffit of Wilkes County, NC. enlisted Aug 22,1862 into Co.D 18th NC Infantry. He's present and on the rolls until he's listed absent & wounded May-June 1864. He survived many battles and was present at Appomattox. He was slightly wounded several times and received a head wound in the Wilderness May 9, 1864. He suffered from severe headaches for several years following the war. Oral family history says one day he sneezed and a small portion of a shell dislodged from his sinus cavity. The shell portion is reportedly still in the possession of his descendants. Alfred lived till 1929 and had 31 grandchildren. He was the only one of four brothers to survive the war. The classic book "Four Brothers in Gray" tells their story and has been recently reprinted and republished.