Completely confused

[Appalachian American]

I have been doing research on my family and their Civil War experience for a long time. I came across my GGG-Grandfather's service records a week ago and I was confused. Apparently, my GGG-Grandmother filed for a Confederate widow's pension in Tennessee which I found the records BUT my GGG-Grandfather was found to be in the 11th Kentucky Cavalry (Union) He died in 1864 and is buried in Lexington. My question is, is it possible he had served with the South at the start of the war then deserted to join the Union as the South began to lose? Or did my GGG-Grandmother have his regiment listed as the 11th KY Cav. (CS) by mistake? I am trying to find any record of the 11th being in Blount County, Tennessee because I doubt he would have trekked that far to Kentucky just to join the Federal Army. I have tried Ancestry.com and Fold3.com to see if I could find him in Confederate service first but no luck. I do know that my GGG-Grandmother did get a Union widow's pension of $8 a month awarded in 1866.

 

[Will Posey]

"I doubt he would have trekked that far to Kentucky just to join the Federal Army."

My great grandfather trekked much farther, from Polk County, Tennessee to Camp Nelson, Kentucky, where he enlisted in the 8th Tennessee Cavalry, U. S., in 1863. There were many Tennesseans who made that trip.

 

[Nathanb1]

If you don't mind posting his basic info, I suspect someone can help you. Good luck!

 

[PartywithArty]

"I doubt he would have trekked that far to Kentucky just to join the Federal Army."

My great grandfather trekked much farther, from Polk County, Tennessee to Camp Nelson, Kentucky, where he enlisted in the 8th Tennessee Cavalry, U. S., in 1863. There were many Tennesseans who made that trip.

I agree. You would be surprised at the distance in witch a man would travel to enlist in a certain regiment. That goes for both sides.. My 4th great grandfather on my moms side lived in Claiborne county,Tenn and went to Mississippi to join the 14th Tennessee infantry...My 5 great uncle on the McDaniel side traveled from South Carolina to Mississippi to join an artillery unit. Exact regiment has slipped my mind,ill think of it tonight when im almoast asleep..

 

[Appalachian American]

What I have is one Private William C. Morton enlisted in December 1863 with the 11th Kentucky Federal Cavalry in Louisville. His death was on April 16, 1864 (his 38th birthday) My GGG-Grandmother applied for a Confederate widow's pension application ID W1823. I can't make out the ID for the Union pension but I am close. If it helps, William's widow's name was Mary E. Brook Morton.

 

[johan_steele]

Don't discount people traveling long distances. One of the men I studied to create my Living History persona traveled from St Paul MN to roughly Bismark ND while trading w/ the Indians. All on foot w/ only couple mules & a Mormon Cart. He left in early May and returned by early October. That's most of 1000 miles in 150 odd days.

 

[DixieRifles]

I saw the Widow's Pension records on Fold3. The file for William C. Morton and Mary E. Brook contains 52 pages including a copy of family records from their Bible and the last letter William wrote before he died in 1863.
It states he was a Sergeant in Co. L of 11th Kentucky Cavalry.

The records seem pretty solid to me.

 

[Appalachian American]

I will look into those records. Thank you.

 

[Fighting Eagles]

You're darn lucky if the entire pension file's available on Fold3. I think they've only scanned something like 5% of the files.

 

[Pogster]

What I have is one Private William C. Morton enlisted in December 1863 with the 11th Kentucky Federal Cavalry in Louisville. His death was on April 16, 1864 (his 38th birthday) My GGG-Grandmother applied for a Confederate widow's pension application ID W1823. I can't make out the ID for the Union pension but I am close. If it helps, William's widow's name was Mary E. Brook Morton.

Her application is noted on Page 249 of Index To Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications, 1995, Byron Sistler. However, this does not mean she was awarded a pension, just that she applied. She could have "miswritten' when she entered "C.S." after his regimental number, as you suggest. Her application would have been filed in or after 1905, forty years after the war ended, so she could have been confused.
Photocopies of Tennessee Confederate pension applications are available from the Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Services (615) 741-2764.

 

[Pogster]

To confuse matters, there was a Private William C. Morton who served in Company H of the Confederate 16th Tennessee Infantry Regiment. This unit was composed of men from Warren County, Tennessee, and was formed in June 1861.
Warren County is in Middle Tennessee.

 

[DixieRifles]

forty years after the war ended, so she could have been confused.​

Confusion seems to run in this family.

To confuse matters, there was a Private William C. Morton who served in Company H of the Confederate 16th Tennessee Infantry Regiment. This unit was composed of men from Warren County, Tennessee, and was formed in June 1861.​

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Read more:​

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http://civilwartalk.com/threads/completely-confused.73783/#ixzz20Ace4uKs​

Hey! This could be the same person. The files for this soldier reported that he was under age--- age 17. A later card dated 1863 said he was discharged in 1862. Maybe he changed sides.
What was the age of the Union soldiers?

 

[Appalachian American]

My GGG-Grandfather was 38 in 1864 (he died on April 16,1864 his 38th Birthday)