L. H. Dunlop

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

In 1855, someone named "L. H. Dunlop" wrote to the Lighthouse Board from Jacksonville, FL requesting appointment as a "keeper and mechanic" of the soon-to-be-built Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.

He never got the job, especially since construction was delayed several years. However, I recently found the following newspaper mentions:

Richmond Dispatch - 29 Jan 1862 (repeats in a few subsequent issues)
NOTICE TO MILITIAMEN AND VOLUNTEERS, whose Term of Service has Expired:
Capt. Dunlop's Company is being increased to a Battalion. Lt. Pairo is authorized to enlist, and sent to Yorktown, all men "who are mechanics and handymen." None but those who bear the best of characters can be received. The additional pay, and the rank of the Battalion in the service, are inducements such as are seldom offered.
Apply at 115 Main Street, or address me at Yorktown, VA
L. H. Dunlop, Captain, Commanding

Richmond Enquirer - 4 Mar 1862
L. H. Dunlop, 2nd Lt., Virginia Provisional Army, on Engineer duty. Date of commission: May 6th. Reported for duty to State Engineer: May 13. Employed in surveys and reconnaissance for Richmond defenses until May 20th. Ordered to report to Commanding General May 21st, and was subsequently employed in Norfolk Department until discharged, August 22nd.


Interesting that the Confederate Army was trying to raise a mechanics/engineers battalion in Virginia in early 1862. I can't find any indication they succeeded, but presumably the company would have been kept around. Anyone know?

Who was this guy? The only L. H. Dunlop I can find in Civil War soldier databases was a Private in the 1st SC Cavalry.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Could not find any record of a unit (company or battalion) that existed under the command of L. H. Dunlop. If there was such a unit intended, then suspect it either did not get off the ground or it did not last long. Nor, as was said, could L. H. Dunlop be found on any unit roster.

Interestingly, the newspaper citation, 'Richmond Enquirer – 4 Mar. 1862' refers to 'L.H. Dunlop, 2nd. Lt., Virginia Provisional Army'. But the Provisional Army of Virginia existed for only a short period (from Apr. 23, '61 to the end of Sept., '61) and contained no engineering/mechanic units. (Thereafter, soldiers were recruited into the Confederate Army).

The mention of Lt. Pairo, is likely a reference to Lt. Charles Henry Pairo (1842-1897). It appears he served as a 2nd. Lt., Co. D, 10th VA Cavalry, as from May, '62, and during '62 and '63. He also served as a private. with the 1st. Battalion, Richmond Local Defense – a local ordnance/armory unit in Richmond. (Presumably, this may have been in the period prior to him becoming a Lt. in the cavalry).

Can only conclude from this information, that L. H. Dunlop either operated independently of any command (unattached to a unit) or as a civilian, carrying out any engineering/mechanical work.

 

[RobertP]

I dropped my Fold 3 membership but when I enter the name L. H. Dunlop into the Confederate names box I get a hit with a blurred image. I can't get in but there is apparently a file on him.

 

[lupaglupa]

The L H Dunlap in Fold3 is a member of the 1st South Carolina Cavalry. He joins in 1861 as a private, company D, aged 25. He enlisted at Chester, which is between Columbia and Charlotte, NC. In November of 1862 he enters the hospital at Staunton, is back on duty the next spring. He spends parts of 1863 back in Chester on horse detail. In September 1864 he spends some time overseeing slaves.

Nothing about this seems to link him to the man you are seeking.

 

[RobertP]

L H Dunlop may not be the same guy as L H Dunlap. Dunlap's files are in the misc. category while Dunlop is attributed to the S.C. unit.

 

[lupaglupa]

I did a search for both Dunlap and Dunlop, as they are often mixed. I could not find additional records under either spelling, even when I opened the search up to just L or names that began with L.