History General Sherman's Cook

[donna]

General Sherman's chief cook during the Civil War was Henry Mumphrey. He served as cook during most of the war. He was from Georgia and was mulatto slave. He was originally sold for $700. He escaped and gave valuable information to Union soldiers prior to the Battle of Atlanta. General Sherman took him on as his cook. He became his chief cook. He served Sherman until the end of the war. He went to Illinois with another soldier after the war. He lived with that soldier's family until he died in 1891. He is buried in Henderson Cemetery. Knox County, Illinois. He has Memorial on Find A Grave. There is plaque erected at his grave, stating that he was General Sherman's cook.

See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70977549/henry-mumphrey

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

General Sherman's chief cook during the Civil War was Henry Mumphrey. He served as cook during most of the war. He was from Georgia and was mulatto slave. He was originally sold for $700. He escaped and gave valuable information to Union soldiers prior to the Battle of Atlanta. General Sherman took him on as his cook. He became his chief cook. He served Sherman until the end of the war. He went to Illinois with another soldier after the war. He lived with that soldier's family until he died in 1891. He is buried in Henderson Cemetery. Knox County, Illinois. He has Memorial on Find A Grave. There is plaque erected at his grave, stating that he was General Sherman's cook.

See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70977549/henry-mumphrey

Interesting indeed.

 

[Stryker65]

Wow! Any idea on who that other soldier was? It would be quite interesting to see the relationship of Mumphrey within that soldier's family...

 

[Library Lady]

This is taken from the column "Tracking History" by Tom Wilson that appeared in The Register-Mail, a newspaper in Galesburg, Illinois, (Knox County) on August 9, 2011.

When Washington Dunbar of Henderson, who served with the 63rd Illinois was discharged in 1865 he persuaded Mumphrey to accompany him back home to Henderson. Mumphrey resided with the Dunbar family until his death in 1891. Mumphrey was given the honor of being buried in the Henderson Cemetery and a large appropriate monument depicting his life was erected in 1951.

I cannot find a "Washington" Dunbar in the muster rolls on the Secretary of State's website. I can, however, find a George Dunbar in the 83rd Illinois who is from Rio (either a township or a very small town in the Galesburg area) in Knox County.

Name
DUNBAR, GEORGE
Rank
PVT
Company
K
Unit
83 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics

Residence
RIO, KNOX CO, IL
Age
18
Height
5' 8
Hair
LIGHT
Eyes
BLUE
Complexion
LIGHT
Marital Status

Occupation
FARMER
Nativity
KNOX CO, IL

Service Record

Joined When
JAN 31, 1865
Joined Where
PEORIA, IL
Joined By Whom
MAJ NORTON
Period
1 YR
Muster In
FEB 1, 1865
Muster In Where
PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom

Muster Out

Muster Out Where

Muster Out By Whom

Remarks
PROMOTED CORPORAL MAR 1, 1865 TRANS TO CO G 61 ILL INF TO DATE FROM JUN 30, 1865


Find a Grave has a George Washington Dunbar who is buried in Henderson Cemetery in Henderson in Knox County. On looking at the picture, I can see where it could be difficult to determine whether that is 83, 63 or even 33. I'd say he's a good candidate for being that other soldier.

 

[Stryker65]

This is taken from the column "Tracking History" by Tom Wilson that appeared in The Register-Mail, a newspaper in Galesburg, Illinois, (Knox County) on August 9, 2011.



I cannot find a "Washington" Dunbar in the muster rolls on the Secretary of State's website. I can, however, find a George Dunbar in the 83rd Illinois who is from Rio (either a township or a very small town in the Galesburg area) in Knox County.

Name
DUNBAR, GEORGE
Rank
PVT
Company
K
Unit
83 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics

Residence
RIO, KNOX CO, IL
Age
18
Height
5' 8
Hair
LIGHT
Eyes
BLUE
Complexion
LIGHT
Marital Status

Occupation
FARMER
Nativity
KNOX CO, IL

Service Record

Joined When
JAN 31, 1865
Joined Where
PEORIA, IL
Joined By Whom
MAJ NORTON
Period
1 YR
Muster In
FEB 1, 1865
Muster In Where
PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom

Muster Out

Muster Out Where

Muster Out By Whom

Remarks
PROMOTED CORPORAL MAR 1, 1865 TRANS TO CO G 61 ILL INF TO DATE FROM JUN 30, 1865


Find a Grave has a George Washington Dunbar who is buried in Henderson Cemetery in Henderson in Knox County. On looking at the picture, I can see where it could be difficult to determine whether that is 83, 63 or even 33. I'd say he's a good candidate for being that other soldier.

View attachment 534678

However, if he was the same Dunbar, it'd have to be 63rd Illinois. The 83rd Illinois never was with Sherman -- it garrisoned Fort Donelson for its entire four-year term of service.