Colonel! That is my brother!

[SWMODave]

Neighbors Home Mail #2 Feb 1876

I believe this is the brother that survived the battle

Finding the brother that died has been difficult but I believe he may have been B.W. Bowman of Co A 51st Tennessee.
The Fifty-first Tennessee (Confederate) Regiment was organized at Henderson early in 1862, with eight companies, four from Shelby and Tipton Counties, and four from Madison and Henderson Counties. It was first commanded by Col. Browder. It participated in the siege of Forts Henry and Donelson, at which time it was only a battalion, and at the latter battle was assigned to artillery service, and consisted of only about sixty effective men.

FIFTY-FIRST TENNESSEE INFANTRY.
COMPANY A.
Captain, N. A. Wesson.
Bowman, B. W., d. during service.
source

Confederate Soldiers who Died in Clarksville, TN/Fort Donelson (excerpt)
TENNESSEE -
Bibb, Mary (Nurse)
Bibb, Susan (Nurse)
Bowman, B.W.
source

Who is B.W. Bowman and is he the deceased brother?

I do not have any family tie to this family - just thought it was a very sad story that deserved some names attached.

And since behind every name is a unique story - the nurses with the same last name got me curious as well and this is what I found on them
There was a Confederate Hospital in Clarksville as early as October of 1861. The hospital tended to the sick soldiers from the area camps and during the battle for Fort Donelson, many of the wounded Confederates were evacuated to Clarksville. Several local free black families assisted with the tasks associated with caring for the soldiers. Among them were sisters Mary and Susan Bibb, who served as nurses. Both sisters died from disease contracted while tending to the soldiers. It is thought they were buried along with the deceased soldiers under what is now the Confederate Soldier's Memorial Bridge on Cumberland Drive.
source

 

[dlofting]

Great post.....thanks for the research.

 

[Susan-s3js]

Methinks Col Kinney mis-remembered the name or the event. I found George W. Bowman in the Union records and he did, indeed, serve in the 56th. He was the son of David and Susannah Watts of Springfield Township, Gallia County, Ohio, born about 1840. George married Nancy Queen in Gallia County on 4 Jan 1861. They had one child that died 18 Oct 1863.

George W. Bowman enlisted 17 Oct 1861 at Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio and mustered in on 29 Oct 1861. According to his widow's pension application, the muster roll for May-Jun 1863 states he was "Killed in Action 1 May 1863 near Port Gibson" TN. Her application gives his DOD as 2 May 1863 at Thompson's Mill near Port Gibson. I have a copy of the application - Nancy was a rather colorful character.

George Bowman had 6 sisters and one brother according to census returns. His brother was Henry born about 1845 in probably Gallia County, Ohio. I find no firm evidence he served during the Civil War and he outlived George, marrying Elizabeth Russell 21 Mar 1867, Gallia County, Ohio. I cannot positively identify him in records after this event.

There is undoubtedly a kernel of truth in COL Kinney's story, but it is not this kernel.

 

[Larryh86GT]

There are just so many sad tragedies in the CW.