Late to the Dance

[samgrant]

Since there has not been any activity in this section for a couple weeks, I'll suggest a thread for latecomers to the war. For whatever reason these joined up just about when the war was seemingly all but settled, but maybe they didn't know that.

One of my ancestors joined the 2nd Illinois Light Artillery (Battery L) on Oct. 18, 1864.

He was sent to Vicksburg where that unit sat out the war there till mustered out in August 1865.

I have at least seen one copy of a lettter of advice that this guy's older veteran brother sent him (alot about shoes and foot care), and from that letter, it was deduced that the recruit had to wait because of his age, not just to get some glory before it was all over.

samgrant

 

[Nathanb1]

Since there has not been any activity in this section for a couple weeks, I'll suggest a thread for latecomers to the war. For whatever reason these joined up just about when the war was seemingly all but settled, but maybe they didn't know that.

One of my ancestors joined the 2nd Illinois Light Artillery (Battery L) on Oct. 18, 1864.

He was sent to Vicksburg where that unit sat out the war there till mustered out in August 1865.

I have at least seen one copy of a lettter that this guy's veteran older brother sent him, and it seems the recruit had to wait because of age, not just to get some glory before it was all over.

samgrant

Cool....our "local" veteran, who served in the cavalry under Forrest, also enlisted in 1864, obviously because of age....didn't stop him from having some tales to tell. I'd love to hear more about your ancestor and others!

 

[larry_cockerham]

Most folks, or some anyway, jump to the conclusion that the war ended at Gettysburg, PA in the summer of 1863. Many thousands of lives would have been saved had that been the case. The entire Tennessee campaign was to unfold after Sam's ancestor joined in October, 1864. Lee and Grant had much 'dancing' left in Virginia. Sherman was down in Savannah eating shrimp while Hood wasted an entire army for the most part, so there was still much to be played out and learned about ourselves as a nation.

 

[proud texan]

I have an ancestor Robert T. Conner who enlisted in the 1st TEXAS Inf. was wounded at 2nd Manassas
then at the Seige of Suffolk was once again wounded and sent home on wounded furlough. Reported to Gen.Smith and mustered in an Independent TEXAS Regiment (still trying to figure which one) and wounded at Mansfield April 8, 1864. His brother John W. Conner enlisted 14th Texas Cavalry and ended up being (KIA) at Mansfield. He had reenlisted with the 2nd Battalion Cav. Texas State Troops. I have the family Bible with this information and the Confederate Military records. But John Conners are incomplete and don't know the details of his service. Still in the process of sorting this out.

 

[catspjamas]

Interesting, I've just recently received a book "Reluctant Rebels", about this very topic, enlisting late. I've only read the introduction, so as soon as I've read more I'll post some of what the book says.

 

[DixieRifles]

One of my ancestors joined the 2nd Illinois Light Artillery (Battery L) on Oct. 18, 1864.

He was sent to Vicksburg where that unit sat out the war there till mustered out in August 1865.

Odd. Why would he be sent to Vicksburg after the fall of the city? I assumed Sherman pulled most of his forces out and left a few units who may have been strengthened with green troops.

Steve

 

[Nathanb1]

Odd. Why would he be sent to Vicksburg after the fall of the city? I assumed Sherman pulled most of his forces out and left a few units who may have been strengthened with green troops.

Steve

I think you just answered that--enlisted 1864 would be pretty green.

Not to mention THIS GUY (below), who they were always afraid would pop up out of nowhere.....

 

[DixieRifles]

True, they had to hold the territory that they captured, especially the capitals. I guess I assume when he enlisted in 1864, he joined a new unit that was just organized. I can see sending replacements to V'burg but would they have sent an entire Artillery battalion? Would they have sent the guns, too? Or just let them take over the captured weapons or the pieces that were left there after Sherman left?

I don't intend to start a discussion under this thread and this Category. I have been reading about the Union troop movements thru Memphis and along the M&CRR after the fall of V'burg. A lot of troops were moving, which made a juicy target for Forest.

Steve