Locating military documents

[Jallenbiggs]

BIGGS-- Hmm. That names sounds familiar.

W. F. Biggs was 30 years old when he enlisted at Tishimingo County under Captain Stone.
He was wounded at Antietam BUT he was hit in the lungs and thigh and died October 13th of 1862. This makes more sense that he died closer to the date of the battle than in 1864. You have the right Day & Month; wrong Year. I can see how someone could make that mistake---note how they wrote the "2" on the 2nd card below. Looks like a "4".

Here are three documents from his files. Sorry, I can't reduce these nor find the trick to posting a thumbnail image.

View attachment 318631
View attachment 318632

View attachment 318634

This is some great information. I did find a lot of info on Fold3 but I didn't find all of this information. Thanks so much.

 

[Jallenbiggs]

View attachment 318638

wow, yall are finding all kinds of great information. I guess I just haven't gotten into the sites deep enough. I am on Fold3 now but wow, I haven't found anything like this.

 

[Jallenbiggs]

More on Company K of 2nd Mississippi Regiment.

Company K, aka "Iuka Rifles" was mustered in at Iuka, Tishomingo County on 6 April 1861. Captain was John M. Stone, who was elected Colonel on 22 April. Next Captain was George W. Latham, illed at 2nd Mansasa and then Jesse A. Cook killed at Antietam.

At Antietam, the 22nd Mississippi Regiment was in Law's Brigade of Hood's Division. So they were not repelling Hood's Division but were attacking across the cornfield to stop the Union attack cold in their tracks.

Union Col. R. R. Dawes, 6th Wisconsin, wrote to Colonel Stone in 1876:
"We fought the 2nd Mississippi in the corn field in front of the Dunker Church at Antietam. They drove us and we barely saved by a hand a battery of six 12-pounder Howitzers, planted in front of some haystacks."

Casualties at Antietam: 27 Killed and 127 Wounded.

Wow, this is great stuff. I really appreciate it very much.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

wow, yall are finding all kinds of great information. I guess I just haven't gotten into the sites deep enough. I am on Fold3 now but wow, I haven't found anything like this.

You might be interested in this site, http://civilwardata.com/ I've used it for years.

 

[Jallenbiggs]

Please clarify this. Are you searching for records of Col. M. D. Moreland?? Is he an ancestor? That sounds like the commander who formed Moreland's cavalry regiment. The regiment seems to have gone by different names. I thought this was the 4th Alabama Cavalry. One of my wife's ancestors from Tishimingo County, Miss., served in that regiment. When he applied for pension, he had to prove that he lived in Miss but served in this Alabama unit.
I'm not sure of the name of the Moreland who commanded Moreland's Alabama Cavalry. I may have that info somewhere. But that regiment was at Brices Crossroads.

BTW, it might be easier to follow this thread if you posted a different thread for each relative. This can get confusing especially if some have same name or same regiment.

Yes, Col. M.D. Moreland was my great-great-grandfather. Here is some of the information I located:
CONFEDERATE ALABAMA TROOPS
Moreland's Regiment, Alabama Cavalry
OVERVIEW:Moreland's Cavalry Battalion was organized in August, 1863, at Russellville, Alabama, with men raised in Frankiln County. Assigned to General Roddey's Brigade, the four-company battalion skirmished in North Alabama and Tennessee during the winter and spring of 1864-1864. Later it moved to Mississippi and took an active part in the fight at Tishomingo Creek. On May 18, 1865, it surrendered at Iuka.
The field officers were Lt. Col. M. D. Moreland and Major J. N. George.

file:///C:/Users/Jbiggs/Desktop/MD%20Moreland.pdf#page=1

 

[Jallenbiggs]

Search for William Harrison got 23 hits.

Found two(2) William T. Harrison in N. Carolina regiments. Both living after 1864.

Two(2) William Harrison. No info on death.

William J. Harrison. Survived the war.

Did not find a match to anyone in a N. Carolina regiment who died in 1864.

Thank you for looking. I haven't been able to locate anything either.

 

[Zella]

Paging @Coonewah Creek for your 2nd Mississippi ancestor.

 

[lupaglupa]

I had an ancestor at the prison camp in Elmira (or Hellmira as the POWs called it). I have been there to see the site and also to the cemetery. There is a group in Elmira that have restored some of the site - they might be able to help you with that part of your search. You can find them on Facebook. If you have endless amounts of time you can read through the old records from the camp - that will likely help in giving you more info. It's slow going but very good when you do find stuff.

 

[Coonewah Creek]

Paging @Coonewah Creek for your 2nd Mississippi ancestor.

How'd I miss this thread in the first place? I hate when my "day job" gets in the way.

I see you've already gotten info on your 2nd Mississippi relative's service records. I'm sorry I was slow on seeing this thread.

Here's a summary of the 2nd Mississippi's history during the Sharpsburg (Antietam) battle (sorry for some of the odd formatting. This was cut and pasted from a Word file). This picks up following the battle at South Mountain where the 2nd Mississippi also suffered several casualties...

Tired and hungry, the men of the 2nd Mississippi found it necessary to again advance against the Federals at dusk on the evening of September 16th. Elements of the Army of the Potomac had crossed Antietam Creek north of Lee's army and were moving into positions opposite the Confederate left flank. Hood was ordered into the East Woods, a small woodlot which was being infiltrated by Federal skirmishers. Law's Brigade, in skirmish order just north of the East Woods, was suddenly met by a reconnaissance party of the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves ("Bucktails"). The Bucktails, with their Sharps breechloading rifles, used their enhanced firepower to turn the slow withdrawal of Law's skirmishers into a stampede as they neared the edge of the woods. Luckily, the 4th and 5th Texas arrived to hit the Pennsylvanians simultaneously from the west and south, supported by a section of howitzers from Stephen D. Lee's artillery battalion. By 8:00 p.m. however, most of Hood's units had fallen back to the West Woods for the night. As darkness fell, Law's Brigade soon came under Federal artillery fire from the batteries to their right on the other side of Antietam Creek.[1]

As night approached, the men lay in the West Woods, facing north while the Union heavy guns fired down the length of their lines from the east. Luckily, most of the shots fell just in front or rear of the Confederate positions. However, the colonel of the 11th Mississippi, Phillip Liddell, was struck in the torso by a bursting shell fragment and would die two days later.[2]

Some time after midnight, Hood's men were relieved and allowed to get some rest and food. Other than a half ration of beef and some green corn, they had not eaten for three days. As most of the men wearily returned to their original positions near the Dunker Church, details from each company were sent to forage for food and prepare a morning meal.[3]

The men of the 2nd Mississippi were awakened on the morning of September 17th while it was still dark. Although Hood had persuaded General Lee to allow the division to stay in reserve long enough for the men to eat their long-overdue meal, McClellan's battle plans did not cooperate. Shells began to fall near the Dunker Church in preparation for a Federal assault on the Confederate left. Law was forced to order the still-hungry men to fall into ranks and prepare for battle.[4]

Somewhat after 6:00 a.m., Colonel Law moved his brigade in columns east across the Hagerstown Pike, where it turned north and deployed in a single battle line. The 2nd Mississippi under Colonel Stone anchored the extreme left of Law's line, while next came the 11th Mississippi, 6th North Carolina and 4th Alabama on the extreme right. To the left of the 2nd Mississippi the Texas Brigade was similarly deployed in line, with the 1st Texas on the right of the brigade. Law's men advanced into the Miller Cornfield in a generally northerly direction, loading and firing as they went, except for the 4th Alabama, which moved by the right flank down the Smoketown Road toward the East Woods. The veteran fighters of the 2nd and 11th Mississippi and the 6th North Carolina savagely drove the Federals out of the Cornfield (probably upset at having their long-anticipated breakfasts interrupted). They then reformed along a rail fence at the northern edge of the field, continuing to fire at Federal batteries and infantry units coming onto the scene. At one point, the Confederate line rose and fired at a mere thirty feet distance into the 4th and 8th Pennsylvania Reserves, panicking them, which in turn, panicked the 3rd Pennsylvania Reserves in their rear. As the Federals regrouped and additional reinforcements arrived, however, Hood's men saw they could not continue to hold their position without help. Union soldiers were infiltrating the gap that had developed between the 6th North Carolina's right flank and the 4th Alabama's left, slowed by its advance into the East Woods. The men had to fall back. As Law's men withdrew, the northern border of the Cornfield along the fence was marked by a long precise, row of Mississippians, stuck down where they stood by one terrible fire (see Map A8).[5]

Hood's punishing counterattack into the Miller Cornfield had saved the Confederate left, but at a terrible cost. As the survivors retired behind the Dunker Church, they found only about 700 unwounded men of approximately 2000 in the division who had advanced at dawn. For expediency, the remnants of Hood's two brigades were reorganized in the field as two regiments. Despite the losses however, these veteran soldiers recovered sufficiently to be used to gather up stragglers from other units. By 1:00 p.m., Hood had been resupplied with ammunition and the men were ready for combat once again, but the main fighting had moved further down the line. The Federals showed no further interest in trying to advance against the Confederate left for the remainder of the day.[6]

After the war, on June 1, 1876, Colonel Rufus Dawes of the 6th Wisconsin wrote Colonel (then Governor) Stone a letter that mentioned the fight at Antietam. It reads in part, "We fought the Second Mississippi in the corn field in front of the Dunkark [sic] Church at Antietam. They drove us, and we barely saved by hand a battery of six twelve-pound howitzers, planted in front of some hay stacks. You will remember this place well, if your [sic] are Col. Stone of that Regiment." This would not be the last time the 2nd Mississippi encountered the 6th Wisconsin in battle. The regiment reported heavy losses of 27 killed and 127 wounded at Antietam. Its strength is not known with certainty, but may have numbered about 300 effectives at the start of the battle (most Southern regiments were much reduced by straggling on the march north into Maryland). Among the wounded were Colonel Stone, Lieutenant Colonel David Humphreys and Major John Blair, all the regiment's field officers.[7]

​

[1] O.R., 19, pt. 1, pp. 923, 937; Priest, Antietam, pp. 15-17, 19-23.



[2] Ibid., p. 18. Davis, Leaves in an Autumn Wind, p. 285.



[3] Murfin, Bayonets, p. 210.



[4] O.R., 19, pt. 1, p. 923, 937.



[5] Priest, Antietam, pp. 52, 55-56, 61-62, 64-65, 68-70; Sears, Landscape, p. 213.



[6] O.R., 19, pt. 1, pp. 923, 925, 938; Sears, Landscape, p. 276.



[7] Rietti, Military Annals of Mississippi, p. 36; Rowland, Military History of Mississippi, p. 47. One of the wounded was the author's great-grandfather, Private Thomas Benton Weatherington, Company H, 2nd Mississippi. His pension application says he was wounded in both legs on September 17.

 

[Jallenbiggs]

Wow. That is a lot of information. I am amazed at the amount that can be located. Thank you very much.

 

[DixieRifles]

The field officers were Lt. Col. M. D. Moreland and Major J. N. George.

file:///C:/Users/Jbiggs/Desktop/MD%20Moreland.pdf#page=1

Something didn't work. I can't access your C: Drive. ;-)

 

[Zella]

How'd I miss this thread in the first place? I hate when my "day job" gets in the way.

I see you've already gotten info on your 2nd Mississippi relative's service records. I'm sorry I was slow on seeing this thread.

Here's a summary of the 2nd Mississippi's history during the Sharpsburg (Antietam) battle (sorry for some of the odd formatting. This was cut and pasted from a Word file). This picks up following the battle at South Mountain where the 2nd Mississippi also suffered several casualties...

Tired and hungry, the men of the 2nd Mississippi found it necessary to again advance against the Federals at dusk on the evening of September 16th. Elements of the Army of the Potomac had crossed Antietam Creek north of Lee's army and were moving into positions opposite the Confederate left flank. Hood was ordered into the East Woods, a small woodlot which was being infiltrated by Federal skirmishers. Law's Brigade, in skirmish order just north of the East Woods, was suddenly met by a reconnaissance party of the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves ("Bucktails"). The Bucktails, with their Sharps breechloading rifles, used their enhanced firepower to turn the slow withdrawal of Law's skirmishers into a stampede as they neared the edge of the woods. Luckily, the 4th and 5th Texas arrived to hit the Pennsylvanians simultaneously from the west and south, supported by a section of howitzers from Stephen D. Lee's artillery battalion. By 8:00 p.m. however, most of Hood's units had fallen back to the West Woods for the night. As darkness fell, Law's Brigade soon came under Federal artillery fire from the batteries to their right on the other side of Antietam Creek.[1]
As night approached, the men lay in the West Woods, facing north while the Union heavy guns fired down the length of their lines from the east. Luckily, most of the shots fell just in front or rear of the Confederate positions. However, the colonel of the 11th Mississippi, Phillip Liddell, was struck in the torso by a bursting shell fragment and would die two days later.[2]
Some time after midnight, Hood's men were relieved and allowed to get some rest and food. Other than a half ration of beef and some green corn, they had not eaten for three days. As most of the men wearily returned to their original positions near the Dunker Church, details from each company were sent to forage for food and prepare a morning meal.[3]
The men of the 2nd Mississippi were awakened on the morning of September 17th while it was still dark. Although Hood had persuaded General Lee to allow the division to stay in reserve long enough for the men to eat their long-overdue meal, McClellan's battle plans did not cooperate. Shells began to fall near the Dunker Church in preparation for a Federal assault on the Confederate left. Law was forced to order the still-hungry men to fall into ranks and prepare for battle.[4]
Somewhat after 6:00 a.m., Colonel Law moved his brigade in columns east across the Hagerstown Pike, where it turned north and deployed in a single battle line. The 2nd Mississippi under Colonel Stone anchored the extreme left of Law's line, while next came the 11th Mississippi, 6th North Carolina and 4th Alabama on the extreme right. To the left of the 2nd Mississippi the Texas Brigade was similarly deployed in line, with the 1st Texas on the right of the brigade. Law's men advanced into the Miller Cornfield in a generally northerly direction, loading and firing as they went, except for the 4th Alabama, which moved by the right flank down the Smoketown Road toward the East Woods. The veteran fighters of the 2nd and 11th Mississippi and the 6th North Carolina savagely drove the Federals out of the Cornfield (probably upset at having their long-anticipated breakfasts interrupted). They then reformed along a rail fence at the northern edge of the field, continuing to fire at Federal batteries and infantry units coming onto the scene. At one point, the Confederate line rose and fired at a mere thirty feet distance into the 4th and 8th Pennsylvania Reserves, panicking them, which in turn, panicked the 3rd Pennsylvania Reserves in their rear. As the Federals regrouped and additional reinforcements arrived, however, Hood's men saw they could not continue to hold their position without help. Union soldiers were infiltrating the gap that had developed between the 6th North Carolina's right flank and the 4th Alabama's left, slowed by its advance into the East Woods. The men had to fall back. As Law's men withdrew, the northern border of the Cornfield along the fence was marked by a long precise, row of Mississippians, stuck down where they stood by one terrible fire (see Map A8).[5]
Hood's punishing counterattack into the Miller Cornfield had saved the Confederate left, but at a terrible cost. As the survivors retired behind the Dunker Church, they found only about 700 unwounded men of approximately 2000 in the division who had advanced at dawn. For expediency, the remnants of Hood's two brigades were reorganized in the field as two regiments. Despite the losses however, these veteran soldiers recovered sufficiently to be used to gather up stragglers from other units. By 1:00 p.m., Hood had been resupplied with ammunition and the men were ready for combat once again, but the main fighting had moved further down the line. The Federals showed no further interest in trying to advance against the Confederate left for the remainder of the day.[6]
After the war, on June 1, 1876, Colonel Rufus Dawes of the 6th Wisconsin wrote Colonel (then Governor) Stone a letter that mentioned the fight at Antietam. It reads in part, "We fought the Second Mississippi in the corn field in front of the Dunkark [sic] Church at Antietam. They drove us, and we barely saved by hand a battery of six twelve-pound howitzers, planted in front of some hay stacks. You will remember this place well, if your [sic] are Col. Stone of that Regiment." This would not be the last time the 2nd Mississippi encountered the 6th Wisconsin in battle. The regiment reported heavy losses of 27 killed and 127 wounded at Antietam. Its strength is not known with certainty, but may have numbered about 300 effectives at the start of the battle (most Southern regiments were much reduced by straggling on the march north into Maryland). Among the wounded were Colonel Stone, Lieutenant Colonel David Humphreys and Major John Blair, all the regiment's field officers.[7]

[1] O.R., 19, pt. 1, pp. 923, 937; Priest, Antietam, pp. 15-17, 19-23.
[2] Ibid., p. 18. Davis, Leaves in an Autumn Wind, p. 285.
[3] Murfin, Bayonets, p. 210.
[4] O.R., 19, pt. 1, p. 923, 937.
[5] Priest, Antietam, pp. 52, 55-56, 61-62, 64-65, 68-70; Sears, Landscape, p. 213.
[6] O.R., 19, pt. 1, pp. 923, 925, 938; Sears, Landscape, p. 276.
[7] Rietti, Military Annals of Mississippi, p. 36; Rowland, Military History of Mississippi, p. 47. One of the wounded was the author's great-grandfather, Private Thomas Benton Weatherington, Company H, 2nd Mississippi. His pension application says he was wounded in both legs on September 17.

Haha no worries, Mike! I didn't immediately notice the 2nd MS reference when I saw a this thread yesterday. When it finally dawned on me, I knew I needed to tag you.

 

[Jallenbiggs]

Something didn't work. I can't access your C: Drive. ;-)

I will try again. One day I may learn how to use technology. Lol.

 

[DixieRifles]

Captain Adam Albritton Biggs CSA I have located information stating he served as a Captain in General Forest's Brigade

I have been looking for a Captain Biggs. Can't find him. "Forrest's Brigade" could mean anything. At first, I considered maybe he was on the General's HQ staff. Rather it sounds more like he was on the staff of a brigade commander but it just as well could mean he commanded a company within one of the regiments. Remember, as Major General, Forrest commanded a cavalry DIVISION, which consisted of 4 brigades. The question then becomes; Which regiment? Forrest had regiments in the first year of his operations which were different from those in 1863-64 and then some added later. There is a lot of regiments and a lot of States to search through.
I tried searching for his name in any Tennessee regiment. No luck. I did a quick search in Mississippi units but I can't say it was very thorough.
{Edited} I checked Grady Howell's version of "Military History of Mississippi", which he added an extensive index of all names of officers mentioned in Rowland's original edition, and I did not find his name.

I will keep looking for more staff officers and look for Captain Biggs' name in indexes of some of my books.

 

[Jallenbiggs]

I have been looking for a Captain Biggs. Can't find him. "Forrest's Brigade" could mean anything. At first, I considered maybe he was on the General's HQ staff. Rather it sounds more like he was on the staff of a brigade commander but it just as well could mean he commanded a company within one of the regiments. Remember, as Major General, Forrest commanded a cavalry DIVISION, which consisted of 4 brigades. The question then becomes; Which regiment? Forrest had regiments in the first year of his operations which were different from those in 1863-64 and then some added later. There is a lot of regiments and a lot of States to search through.
I tried searching for his name in any Tennessee regiment. No luck. I did a quick search in Mississippi units but I can't say it was very thorough.
{Edited} I checked Grady Howell's version of "Military History of Mississippi", which he added an extensive index of all names of officers mentioned in Rowland's original edition, and I did not find his name.

I will keep looking for more staff officers and look for Captain Biggs' name in indexes of some of my books.

This is the only reference I could find for him.

Capt. Adam A. Biggs Obituary
Died Saturday, January 31, 1914. Capt. Adam Albriton Biggs, aged 73 years, 11 months and 21 days. Captain Biggs was the fourth son James and Nellie Biggs and was born in North Carolina, February 10, 1840. At the age of two years his parents moved to Kentucky where most of his early life was spent. He enlisted in the Confederate army at the age of 20 years, and was later raised to the rank of captain in General Forest's Brigade.
After the war he engaged in the mercantile business in Paducah, Ky. In 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ellen Balenger, of Mayfield, Kentucky and to this union was born seven children, four girls and three boys, all living except one son. In 1878 Captain Biggs moved to Texas and in 1898 moved to Chickasha. Two years later he moved to Mountain View and became a settler of this town. He came here on the first train that ran into the town. He engaged in the hotel business and was successful and made many friends, as he was strictly moral and temperate in all things, and he was proud of the fact that he never used tobacco nor strong drink.

 

[DixieRifles]

This is the only reference I could find for him.

Capt. Adam A. Biggs Obituary

I did find his grave on Find-A-Grave but it stated pretty much the same general info about his family. No regiment or command was mentioned. Since he had ties to Kentucky, I may have to look in the Kentucky records. Just prior to the West Tennessee Raid of 1864 & the Battle of Fort Pillow, Col. A. P. Thompson's Kentucky brigade was added to his command.

 

[DixieRifles]

Since he had ties to Kentucky, I may have to look in the Kentucky records.

I quick search of FOLD3 records for Kentucky turned up an Adam A. Biggs who was a Corporal in the 8th Kentucky Mounted Infantry. It seems he deserted and/or a prisoner of war.
Must not be him. Certainly NOT a captain.

A search for all BIGGs resulted in 16 hits but none of them have the correct initials.

 

[DixieRifles]

[QUOTE"]Capt. Adam A. Biggs Obituary
Died Saturday, January 31, 1914. Capt. Adam Albriton Biggs, aged 73 years, 11 months and 21 days. Captain Biggs was the fourth son James and Nellie Biggs and was born in North Carolina, February 10, 1840. At the age of two years his parents moved to Kentucky where most of his early life was spent. He enlisted in the Confederate army at the age of 20 years, and was later raised to the rank of captain in General Forest's Brigade.[/QUOTE]

The Find-a-Grave info says he Adam Biggs was born in North Carolina and died in Oklahoma. Census records seem to say he lived in Tennessee. I thought he may have lived in Kentucky between that period but I don't find any connections.
I searched for his name in service records of N. Carolina; nothing.

I did a lot of search trying to find the exact regiments that were in Colonel "Sam" Thompson's Kentucky cavalry brigade (not to be confused with his 1861-62 infantry brigade), and I found where it had one Kentucky regiment and some Dew Wisdom's regiment which was the 19th (Newsome's) Tenn Cavalry. So I looked for a Captain Biggs in some of the Kentucky cavalry regiments just in case it was spelled slightly differently. Nothing.

It seems the closest match is the Corporal Adam A. Biggs of the 8th Mounted Infantry---that I posted above.

What do you think? @Jallenbiggs

 

[Jallenbiggs]

[QUOTE"]Capt. Adam A. Biggs Obituary
Died Saturday, January 31, 1914. Capt. Adam Albriton Biggs, aged 73 years, 11 months and 21 days. Captain Biggs was the fourth son James and Nellie Biggs and was born in North Carolina, February 10, 1840. At the age of two years his parents moved to Kentucky where most of his early life was spent. He enlisted in the Confederate army at the age of 20 years, and was later raised to the rank of captain in General Forest's Brigade.

The Find-a-Grave info says he Adam Biggs was born in North Carolina and died in Oklahoma. Census records seem to say he lived in Tennessee. I thought he may have lived in Kentucky between that period but I don't find any connections.
I searched for his name in service records of N. Carolina; nothing.

I did a lot of search trying to find the exact regiments that were in Colonel "Sam" Thompson's Kentucky cavalry brigade (not to be confused with his 1861-62 infantry brigade), and I found where it had one Kentucky regiment and some Dew Wisdom's regiment which was the 19th (Newsome's) Tenn Cavalry. So I looked for a Captain Biggs in some of the Kentucky cavalry regiments just in case it was spelled slightly differently. Nothing.

It seems the closest match is the Corporal Adam A. Biggs of the 8th Mounted Infantry---that I posted above.

What do you think? @Jallenbiggs [/QUOTE]
I could only find a reference for a Corporal Biggs as well. Perhaps he decided to promote himself??..lol. I really appreciate you researching him. I have gotten a little frustrated and started researching my mothers side of the family tree and have located a few relatives which served in the CSA. So, I am addicted to this now!

 

[DixieRifles]

I could only find a reference for a Corporal Biggs as well. Perhaps he decided to promote himself??

Oops!! You re-copied my post---instead of quoting it. Just highlight it and select "Reply". No need to copy and paste.

I went back to that soldier's service records to look for an age. Then I started reading more of his files.
He was captured at Fort Donelson in 1862.
Then he was reported as deserted on 20 June 1864. However, there is another entry that says he was wounded at Brices Crossroads (Tishomingo Creek) on June 10 - 11. See below.
There is a copy of a hand-written letter dated September 1863 reporting he lost 33 head of cattle worth $11,550.

Then there is one odd one, below, that seems to say he requested to be in a "secret service".