Lost grave

[katygurl]

Reading the history for March 1863, it appears the 1st Kentucky started out in the Stanford/Danville area. Confederates were approaching and there were some troopers who were captured and paroled. If your relative was paroled, he would not be listed as a prisoner perhaps.

Stanford/Danville/Lexington/Winchester are all in close enough proximity that makes me think this might be relevant to your search. You can read the whole report beginning on page 134. There appear to be numerous opportunities for Wolford's men to be captured and the Thomson, Kentucky area is in the vicinity of these actions, one of which could describe what happened to your relative.

A few quotes:

So rapidly was the enemy advancing now, that at 6 p. m., on the 23d (of March,1863) the regiment struck tents and marched within two miles of Danville, arriving there late in the night……

The enemy was dilating about moving on our own men on the 24th, and did not approach the First Kentucky skirmishers on the Stanford pike until 12 m., and the firing commenced, and at 2:30 p. m., a general retreat was ordered. As the First Kentucky, being in the rear, fell back through Danville, there was a hand to hand contest, but fortunately there were but few casualties.

As the regiment slowly contested its way through the town, there were so many cross streets to contend with, that Lieut. Col. Adams found himself surrounded, and was compelled to surrender. A number of others were captured, but most of them made their escape. Many of the regiment were cut off in their retreat from the Lexington pike, and in making their way around by private roads and through plantations, had various adventures to relate of individual pursuit and hair-breadth escapes when they joined the main body of their comrades at Camp Nelson

A detachment of sixty picked men from different companies, all under command of Capt. Samuel M. Boone, of Company D, had been sent to Lancaster, and after Col. Wolford had orders to retreat, William S. Go wins, of Company I, was sent with a dispatch to Boone to meet us at Camp Dick Robinson ; but Gowins fell into the hands of the enemy and was paroled.

And on page 149 there was this notice of an encounter with some Louisiana cavalry on March 30 - in an action known as the Battle of Dutton's Hill.

Wolford's men, not being in a situation to see the movements of the enemy, were now in hopes that the bloody work was over, but were mistaken, for just at this time, Scott's dashing Louisiana Cavalry was seen flanking our position on the extreme right, endangering the capture of our train and horses then nearly a mile in the rear.
Serg. Thos. J. Graves and others, in charge of the horses, seeing the danger, moved up the horses toward the battle line.

So even as a farrier, your relative may have been involved. It would be interesting to know where the Union wounded were taken to be treated after the battle.

Tyvm. This gives me more information. Ty ty.

 

[lupaglupa]

I wish any of this info was enough to find his grave.

 

[katygurl]

I wish any of this info was enough to find his grave.

Me too, but it helps. Tyvm

 

[Nathan Stuart]

After reviewing these responses, it seems he may be buried in an unmarked grave.

 

[lupaglupa]

After reviewing these responses, it seems he may be buried in an unmarked grave.

I imagine so. Sometimes we come across stories about communities which buried unknown or barely known soldiers in their local cemetery. But naming those unfortunate men is almost impossible.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

I imagine so. Sometimes we come across stories about communities which buried unknown or barely known soldiers in their local cemetery. But naming those unfortunate men is almost impossible.

Yes, a sad fact. It also appears that he belonged to a swiftly moving mounted unit that operated over an extensive area. (The unit was known as 'The Wild Riders' in their regimental history title).

A record of any hastily arranged burial while on the move could easily have been lost/misplaced in the mayhem of the time.

 

[Fairfield]

I hate to add even more uncertainty but looking at this genealogy, it has been all screwed up by online trees. This matters because, with accurate information, it might be possible to zero in on an answer. There is confusion between the records of Lafayette Redding/Reding and those of Lafayette Redden (both of whom served in Kentucky and both were married to women named Matilda). There is real confusion about Redding's wife, Matilda. Sometimes she is said to have been born BROWN, then married Green HAMMOND, then married Lafayette Redding--the Indiana State Library marriage database seems to confirm this--however, Matilda Hammond filed for a widows pension in 1864 (George G. Hammond, 17th US Infantry). If this were my genealogy, I'd first disprove that Green Hammond and George G. Hammond were the same: then you can identify Redding family members. Then I'd look into why all the accepted records for the Reddings are in Indiana, not Kentucky (if the IN family is correct, could Lafayette be buried in Indiana?).

My two cents is to straighten this all out or you may find yourself exerting a great deal of effort on the wrong lineage.

 

[katygurl]

After reviewing these responses, it seems he may be buried in an unmarked grave.

I'm afraid of that very fact. There are several videos here lately that ppl have bought property in KY and SURPRISE they find graves cleaning remote wooded areas. A few have been civil war soldiers. It's been in my mind that he's been lost in time. Which is just heartbreaking.

 

[katygurl]

I hate to add even more uncertainty but looking at this genealogy, it has been all screwed up by online trees. This matters because, with accurate information, it might be possible to zero in on an answer. There is confusion between the records of Lafayette Redding/Reding and those of Lafayette Redden (both of whom served in Kentucky and both were married to women named Matilda). There is real confusion about Redding's wife, Matilda. Sometimes she is said to have been born BROWN, then married Green HAMMOND, then married Lafayette Redding--the Indiana State Library marriage database seems to confirm this--however, Matilda Hammond filed for a widows pension in 1864 (George G. Hammond, 17th US Infantry). If this were my genealogy, I'd first disprove that Green Hammond and George G. Hammond were the same: then you can identify Redding family members. Then I'd look into why all the accepted records for the Reddings are in Indiana, not Kentucky (if the IN family is correct, could Lafayette be buried in Indiana?).

My two cents is to straighten this all out or you may find yourself exerting a great deal of effort on the wrong lineage.

Ty for this. I also came across this. I know his son is Henry from Indiana. Henry is my mother's ggrandfather. From him down to my mother were all born in IN. I was alittle confused on the Ky part but but then we have alot of family that moved back and forth from KY. Ill work more on that end. Tyvm

 

[katygurl]

I placed a Find a grave memorial for him as "Lost In War"

Lafayette R Reding (1825-1863) - Find a Grave...

Served with Company I 1st Kentucky Cavalry Regiment USAFarrier LAfayette R. Reding. Enlisted August 16, 1861. Died Near Thomson, Ky., April 4 1863https://exploreuk.uky.edu/catalog/xt773n20cs06#page/497/mode/1up/search/LAFAYETTELost grave | Researching Civil War Records & Ancestry...

www.findagrave.com

If you like I will transfer this to you so you at least link him with other family members

Farrier LAfayette R. Reding. Enlisted August 16, 1861. Died Near Thomson, Ky., April 4 1863" from a regimental history

Making sure you're not a bot!

Tyvm.. I would love that!

 

[katygurl]

Tyvm.. I would love that!

Tyvm. I appreciate it. I can add the other family members to his now. Ty