Iowa regiment? looking for info

[mactisgrande]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone could give me some information on this photo (attached). The fellow on the left is my fiance's ancestor, and we were hoping to learn more about him and where/with whom he would have served. We don't know much, just that he was from Fort Dodge, Iowa (as indicated on the photo) and may have served in Tennessee.

He has a sword and what I think is a Colt revolver which to me, suggests he was at least an NCO or higher, but I am no expert in these matters. The sword seems to have a more elaborate wrist guard than the other one in the photo, but I can't identify it as I am sure many swords were non standard issue. He's also wearing a kepi, which I thought may be unusual. I had read somewhere that soldiers from the west often wore more "messy attire" which included a floppy looking hat.


Any thoughts are much appreciated, thank you!

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Hello mactisgrande.

Welcome to CivilWarTalk.

Union troops in the Western Theater were a lot more rugged in appearance as opposed to their Eastern counterparts, but
they were not at all "messy" by choice.

All men on both sides took pride in their appearance.
Especially if a camera was around.

There are many reasons for this, and I'm sure our uniform experts will elaborate.

Your fiancé is lucky to have such an image of her ancestor!

 

[mactisgrande]

Thank you! Rugged would definitely be a better word, my mistake. And yes, she is indeed very lucky and pleased to have the photo. Another member of that same family was actually a Graybeard.

 

[Package4]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone could give me some information on this photo (attached). The fellow on the left is my fiance's ancestor, and we were hoping to learn more about him and where/with whom he would have served. We don't know much, just that he was from Fort Dodge, Iowa (as indicated on the photo) and may have served in Tennessee.

He has a sword and what I think is a Colt revolver which to me, suggests he was at least an NCO or higher, but I am no expert in these matters. The sword seems to have a more elaborate wrist guard than the other one in the photo, but I can't identify it as I am sure many swords were non standard issue. He's also wearing a kepi, which I thought may be unusual. I had read somewhere that soldiers from the west often wore more "messy attire" which included a floppy looking hat.


Any thoughts are much appreciated, thank you!

They both appear to be cavalry enlisted and as such have the requisite gauntlets and cavalry sabers, in addition to the Colt revolvers. Company A of the 11th PA Cavalry was formed from recruits at Ft Dodge. Do you have a name to go with the photo? There were troops organized in Webster County IA that were part of the Northern Border Brigade, they relieved US troops, so that they could move east for duty in the Civil War. The Border Brigade then helped to protect the Iowa frontier from Indian attacks.

 

[Package4]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone could give me some information on this photo (attached). The fellow on the left is my fiance's ancestor, and we were hoping to learn more about him and where/with whom he would have served. We don't know much, just that he was from Fort Dodge, Iowa (as indicated on the photo) and may have served in Tennessee.

He has a sword and what I think is a Colt revolver which to me, suggests he was at least an NCO or higher, but I am no expert in these matters. The sword seems to have a more elaborate wrist guard than the other one in the photo, but I can't identify it as I am sure many swords were non standard issue. He's also wearing a kepi, which I thought may be unusual. I had read somewhere that soldiers from the west often wore more "messy attire" which included a floppy looking hat.


Any thoughts are much appreciated, thank you!

Well I think we can rule out Civil War, the Garrison Brothers set up shop in Fort Dodge in 1884, so this photograph was taken around that time or thereafter. I thought the trooper on the left had a five button sack coat and seemed rather thick for ACW, but was too difficult to see clearly.

 

[frankconrad]

Both the 6th and 7th Iowa Cav were sent West against the Indians, and were not discharged until late 1865 and early 1866.

 

[mactisgrande]

Hi everyone,

Can't thank you enough for your help, especially Package4! I was able to get some more info, his name was Joseph P. Flattery, and he was indeed a Private in the 11th PA Cavalry Company L, at least according to the National Park rosters. His family was from Fort Dodge, but my fiance's mother seems to think he went to PA to enlist, which seems consistent with what Package4 was saying.

What I don't know is why the photo appears to be post-civil war, if it indeed was taken after 1884. Maybe it was like a reunion photo? Or was that regiment moved out west post Civil War?

Thank you again!

 

[Pvt.Shattuck]

The script style in the "Garrison Bros." logo is post Civil War. The kepi and sack coat are Indian War era.

 

[mactisgrande]

The script style in the "Garrison Bros." logo is post Civil War. The kepi and sack coat are Indian War era.

Thank you, very impressive work!

So, below is his record I found on nps.gov. Am i correct in assuming, then, that he served during the ACW and the Indian Wars?

Would there be anywhere to see where/with whom he served after the war, since I assume the 11th PA Cavalry was mustered out?

Can't thank you all enough for the help, my fiance and her family are really excited to be rediscovering all of this!

Flattery , Joseph P.
BATTLE UNIT NAME:
11th Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry (108th Volunteers)
SIDE:
Union
COMPANY:
L
SOLDIER'S RANK IN:
Private
SOLDIER'S RANK OUT:
Private
ALTERNATE NAME:
FILM NUMBER:
M554 ROLL 37
PLAQUE NUMBER:
NOTES:
Company Note - F&S

 

[Iowa Miss]

The Ft Dodge area has a good historical society and there have been several active Civil War reenactors involved in events at the fort in Ft Dodge. I would suggest you attempt to contact some of those people.
WEBSTER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. P.O. BOX 543. FORT DODGE, IOWA50501

There is a genealogy research room at the Ft Dodge Public Library.

Have you looked through "A History of Ft Dodge and Webster County Iowa" published in 1913 by Pioneer Publishing? A copy should be in the public library.

 

[frankconrad]

I don't have the source, but very early in the war when the first call was made , at least one Co in Iowa went East and enlisted in a Penn Cav unit. As all the units were full, In Iowa, If this is the case there would be other Iowans in the same Co.

 

[Package4]

Here is what I believe happened, your fiancé's ancestor was most likely from PA, NY, OH or NJ (Co A was from Iowa, E & F New York, M from Ohio and I from NJ) joined the 11th in PA, records show he enlisted in 1864 and went West with regiment after the war:

Joseph P. Flattery
Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 1/21/1864 as a Private.

On 1/21/1864 he mustered into "L" Co. PA 11th Cavalry
(date and method of discharge not given)

Promotions:
* Sergt Major 3/13/1865

Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
* 3/13/1865 from company L to Field & Staff

Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:

- History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com

 

[mactisgrande]

I think that timeline makes a lot of sense, especially since the Flatterys were living in both PA and IA, making it more likely he was okay with a move out west after the war. I will keep everyone posted if I learn anything else, my fiance was able to find some old family records that might shed more light.

Thank you everyone for your help, she is so pleased to find this out!

 

[Package4]

I think that timeline makes a lot of sense, especially since the Flatterys were living in both PA and IA, making it more likely he was okay with a move out west after the war. I will keep everyone posted if I learn anything else, my fiance was able to find some old family records that might shed more light.

Thank you everyone for your help, she is so pleased to find this out!

You will find that individuals on this site are always glad to help!

 

[mactisgrande]

Thank you again! I am very jealous of her; my family all immigrated after the war from Italy.

It turns out based on her family's records and her research on ancestry.com that she is related in some capacity to all the Flatterys in the soldiers database (she is still solidifying all the connections though).

Interestingly, there is another Joseph Flattery that is listed in the 9th Regiment, US Infantry (Regular Army). Is it possible the Joseph Flattery of the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry is the same person (a duplicate name would be just as likely though)?

My understanding is that soldiers in the US Regular Army often held ranks in the US Volunteers as well, or would that be unusual, especially since one is listed as infantry and the other cavalry?

Thank you all for the help!