Kentucky Conferate Records Question

[eborgman]

I have an ancestor, Frank Wecker, that I know was a drummer in Co. G, First KY Cavalry, CSA under Jack Thompson. The regiment was known sometimes as the Dixie Guards. I have Frank's picture in full uniform with his drum, there are several newspaper articles from Owensboro, KY newspapers during his lifetime that confirm he had been in the war and with that regiment, but I haven't been able to find one "official" Confederate record that lists Frank Wecker/Wicker as being in the Confederate army. The National Archives doesn't seem to have a record and neither do several popular online resources. Is this common for Confederate records? Are they gone or are they just hard to find? Any clues would be appreciated.

 

[TerryB]

Welcome from Nashville. I did some browsing in fold3 and came up dry. No likely alternate spellings, either.

 

[TerryB]

I'm not sure they had drummers in the cavalry, just buglers. You might want to double check your sources. Jack Thompson only has one card and it's from 1865 re his POW exchange. If that's all the records that exist for him, I'd say they've been lost or destroyed for Frank Wicker.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

I have an ancestor, Frank Wecker, that I know was a drummer in Co. G, First KY Cavalry, CSA under Jack Thompson. The regiment was known sometimes as the Dixie Guards. I have Frank's picture in full uniform with his drum, there are several newspaper articles from Owensboro, KY newspapers during his lifetime that confirm he had been in the war and with that regiment, but I haven't been able to find one "official" Confederate record that lists Frank Wecker/Wicker as being in the Confederate army. The National Archives doesn't seem to have a record and neither do several popular online resources. Is this common for Confederate records? Are they gone or are they just hard to find? Any clues would be appreciated.

I tried real hard to help ! No luck ! The 1st Kentucky was part of the " Orphan brigade " in the Confederate Army fighting in the western theater of the war. Kentucky remained in the Union. They were unable not only to go home, but also to return to Kentucky and recruit replacements as their numbers dwindled. As a result the Kentucky units were merged, sometimes with larger units from other states. Many of the Kentucky units served under Joe Wheeler, N.B. Forrest, and John H. Morgan. I couldn't find a Frank WECKER anywhere ! There were several named WICKER listed from various states but no Frank. Was Frank his first, middle, or a nickname maybe. You having his photo, there's probably a record out there somewhere.

 

[eborgman]

Thank you TerryB and east tennessee roots! Very kind of you both to take a look.

Yes, TerryB, I was surprised that the Online Obituary Index from the Daviess County Library had it listed as, "soldier - Civil War, CSA, drummer, Co. G, First KY Cavlary," in its index to an 1890 newspaper article. It could be a mistake in the index, as I've never heard of drummers in the cavalry! I did get copies of all the newspaper articles, however, I'll have to double check the original article.

As far as I know, east tennessee roots, Frank was just Frank Wecker or Wicker. He had a son John Frank so maybe he was originally John Frank. I just received some information that said that people from KY actually had to sign up for the Confederate Army in Virginia but there doesn't seem to be any records left.

An interesting bit of information from an index of an 1888 newspaper article said that Frank and "William Wallace are the only members who live in Owensboro of the Dixie Guards that left Owensboro during the Civil War 27 years ago, most of company of about 50 were killed at the Battle of Bull Run."

The main reason I was redoubling my efforts to find a record is that I just recently found his grave plot in Owensboro, KY and he has no stone. I heard that Civil War veterans from both sides could have a military stone provided by the government if they had no stone. The catch is that only "official" records can be used to prove service despite photos, and articles.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[donna]

Welcome to forum. Kentucky usually has good records on those who served. Have you tried the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort? Also have you tried Ancestry message boards on Kentucky? I have written on them many times and have been able to get information from others researching the same ancestors. I have actually been in contact with several cousins I didn't know I had because of my inquiries.

 

[donna]

I saw his Memorial on Find A Grave. I presume you one who placed it. Very nice memorial and photos.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Thank you TerryB and east tennessee roots! Very kind of you both to take a look.

Yes, TerryB, I was surprised that the Online Obituary Index from the Daviess County Library had it listed as, "soldier - Civil War, CSA, drummer, Co. G, First KY Cavlary," in its index to an 1890 newspaper article. It could be a mistake in the index, as I've never heard of drummers in the cavalry! I did get copies of all the newspaper articles, however, I'll have to double check the original article.

As far as I know, east tennessee roots, Frank was just Frank Wecker or Wicker. He had a son John Frank so maybe he was originally John Frank. I just received some information that said that people from KY actually had to sign up for the Confederate Army in Virginia but there doesn't seem to be any records left.

An interesting bit of information from an index of an 1888 newspaper article said that Frank and "William Wallace are the only members who live in Owensboro of the Dixie Guards that left Owensboro during the Civil War 27 years ago, most of company of about 50 were killed at the Battle of Bull Run."

The main reason I was redoubling my efforts to find a record is that I just recently found his grave plot in Owensboro, KY and he has no stone. I heard that Civil War veterans from both sides could have a military stone provided by the government if they had no stone. The catch is that only "official" records can be used to prove service despite photos, and articles.

Thanks again for your help!

as I've never heard of drummers in the cavalry! I believe the 1st KY Cavalry actually organized in the beginning as the 1st Ky Infantry.

 

[eborgman]

Good advice donna, thanks!

Really? That's interesting east tennessee roots, that would seem to explain it.

 

[TerryB]

Agree with "Roots" that some KY units changed designation. The 8th Inf was mounted, but still called infantry at first, and so on. However, I found no Frank Wicker/Wecker at fold3 by checking all states.

 

[eborgman]

Yeah, TerryB, that was the problem, I have discovered. So, "officially," to the US government, he never served.

 

[ExNavyPilot]

The NPS's Civil War Soldiers and Sailors (CWSS) database shows four separate units when I search for a 1st KY Cavalry:

1st Battalion, KY Cavalry​

1st Regiment, KY Cavalry​

1st Regiment, KY Cavalry (Butler's)​

1st Regiment, KY Cavalry (Helms')​

I checked all the "W" surnames in those units and didn't see anything that resembled Wecker or Wicker. However, as you said Frank Wecker served under a Jack Thompson, I did a search for any Jack Thompson in a Kentucky unit and came up with just one, and he was in the 1st Battalion, KY Cavalry. However, this Thompson was a Private. Hmmm....this sure is a challenge.

 

[Littlestown]

Welcome to the forum! Have you tried the First Kentucky (Orphan) Brigade Rootsweb page? http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~orphanhm/index.html

 

[kbear]

There is a R.A. Thompson's Cavalry. There is some info on this unit on Fold3. Seems to have been a short-lived unit with men sent to other regiments - most to 1st (Butlers) KY Cav or 2nd (Woodwards) KY Cav.

Another suggestion, given that you are dealing with a last name that begins with "W" (like I am), don't overlook possible mispellings with names starting with "M" or "H". I have seen both in my research. Good luck!

 

[TerryB]

There's a telegram under Misc at Fold3 showing that a Major Jack Thompson was within Federal lines in violation of Order # 38 and was taken prisoner. That's all it says. This was in 1863, the wire being sent between Henderson and Louisville. The 1st Ky Battn did quite a bit of scouting (read espionage) and were part of Wheeler's Cavalry. So there's a chance that their records would have been deliberately destroyed.

Also, I tend to think Wecker's first name was Benjamin, but so far, no luck.

 

[eborgman]

Thank you for checking ExNavyPilot I appreciate it.

I will check out that website Littestown, thanks!

 

[eborgman]

Here is an item that I came across in the History of Daviess County, Kentucky from the 1880s.

"He (not Frank Wecker) then returned home, and he and Jack Thompson raised the Dixie Guards, which became Company G, Color Company of the First Kentucky Infantry Volunteers. Captain Triplett was elected Captain of this company, and remained such until the disbandment."

According to newspaper articles and Frank Wecker's obituary he joined under Thompson and was a member of the so-called Dixie Guards. But, he was a drummer and was only 14 or 15 years old when he joined up.

His photograph in uniform is here on Find-A-Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11999498 It's said he was about 16 in the photograph, though he looks a bit older.

Thank you everyone for all the valuable information!

 

[TerryB]

Here's a link to an Antiques Roadshow that turned up Jack Thompson's pistols. Thompson was recruiting in May 1863 in Kentucky when he was captured and sent to Johnson's Island. He was paroled at then end of the war.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/fts/pittsburgh_201106A32.html

John P. "Jack" Thompson was a member of the Dixie Guards and they served in Virginia, under the 1st Kentucky Infantry. Wekcker may have been so young that he was not carried on the rolls.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Here is an item that I came across in the History of Daviess County, Kentucky from the 1880s.

"He (not Frank Wecker) then returned home, and he and Jack Thompson raised the Dixie Guards, which became Company G, Color Company of the First Kentucky Infantry Volunteers. Captain Triplett was elected Captain of this company, and remained such until the disbandment."

According to newspaper articles and Frank Wecker's obituary he joined under Thompson and was a member of the so-called Dixie Guards. But, he was a drummer and was only 14 or 15 years old when he joined up.

His photograph in uniform is here on Find-A-Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11999498 It's said he was about 16 in the photograph, though he looks a bit older.

Thank you everyone for all the valuable information!

The William Wallace mentioned in your post on find-a-grave, was discharged for disability in Richmond, Virginia Oct.29, 1861.

 

[ExNavyPilot]

Okay, I'm getting slightly less confused. Based on all the info provided, I believe Frank Wecker was a drummer in the 1st KY Infantry, not cavalry. This unit was a one year unit that fought in Virginia, and is not listed on the OOBs for either 1st or 2nd Manassas/Bull Run. However, a Wikipedia listing says that the two KY battalions that were consolidated to form the 1st KY Infantry (CSA) arrived in Virginia before 1st Manassas. Its one notable fight occurred at Dranesville in Dec 1861 under JEB Stuart. (The Wikipedia listing errs in saying the unit was in the Battle of Yorktown; they completed their 1-yr term and mustered out about a month prior to that battle.) I concur with TerryB that the young Wecker might not have been on the official rolls as a drummer boy.

Here's the CWSS listing for the unit:
1st Regiment, Kentucky Infantry

Overview:1st Infantry Regiment was organized during the summer of 1861 for a one year term of enlistment. In August the 1st (Duncan's) Kentucky Battalion merged into the regiment, and in December totalled 800 effectives. Ordered to Virginia it fought at Dranesville under J.E.B. Stuart, then in March, 1862, was assigned to provost duty at Orange Court House. In April, with 496 men, it was placed in D.R. Jones' Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. However, its term of service soon ended and the unit disbanded. The field officers were Colonel Thomas H. Taylor, Lieutenant Colonels Edward Crossland and William P. Johnston, and Major Benjamin Anderson.