Rebel or Unionist?

[Whitfield's Legion]

Can someone help me find out what regiment my 5th great-grandfather served in. I've come across conflicting family legend from two sources that are faulty at best.

His name was George W. Uselton (1819-1901)
I've found during the Mexican war he served in the 3rd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, but not much else is known about him.

 

[Allyn]

The Better Soldiers and Sailors website lists a George W. Usleton, later corrected to Uselton, as serving as a private in Co. L, 102nd PA Infantry. Does this sound like your man?

 

[Whitfield's Legion]

The Better Soldiers and Sailors website lists a George W. Usleton, later corrected to Uselton, as serving as a private in Co. L, 102nd PA Infantry. Does this sound like your man?

He was from Coffee County Tennessee, so I figure not

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Born in 1819, he may have been considered overage.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

The Better Soldiers and Sailors website lists a George W. Usleton, later corrected to Uselton, as serving as a private in Co. L, 102nd PA Infantry. Does this sound like your man?

The George W. Uselton in Co. L, 102nd PA Infantry, was aged 21 years when he enlisted on Sep. 3, '61 as shown on the official regimental roll (under the last name of 'Usselton'). Based on age, it cannot be him. (Relying on the years of his birth and death disclosed in the OP).

Chances are the gentleman inquired about did not belong to any regular CW military unit (either Northern or Southern), if indeed he saw any active service during the conflict.

 

[WinterLeia]

The Tennessee State Library has a list of Useltons who submitted a Confederate pension application. It's a very short list. Your ancestor is not on it. But his brother, Alfred Uselton, is. Alfred was in the 17th Tennessee. So, you might start your search there. Close relatives tended to join the same regiment. Here's the list:

Uselton

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

The Tennessee State Library has a list of Useltons who submitted a Confederate pension application. It's a very short list. Your ancestor is not on it. But his brother, Alfred Uselton, is. Alfred was in the 17th Tennessee. So, you might start your search there. Close relatives tended to join the same regiment. Here's the list:

Uselton

His pension was denied. It can be accesed at Family Search

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/180502497

 

[RedRover]

George W. Uselton/Usselton, served with Company B, 3rd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, in the War with Mexico (1846-48).

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/59991510

The Third Tennessee Volunteers was commanded by Colonel Benjamin F. Cheatham (later a Confederate general) was organized in late 1847, and disbanded in July, 1848.


A family history from 1981 suggests a George Uselton went to Illinois during the 1860s, and in some manner supported the Union cause.

Knox

www.google.com

A John W. Uselton (d. 1933) served in Company C, 31st Illinois Volunteers during the 1860s. Buried in Gallatin County, Illinois.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/224442965/j-w-uselton

In the 1880s George W. Usselton associated with other United States Veterans in reuniion at Gallatin County, Illinois, but as a veteran of the Mexican War...

History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin and Williamson Counties, Illinois, from the Earliest Time to the Present

www.google.com

From 1887, in Illinois, George Usselton received a pension for his Mexican War service. US Mexican War Pension filing number 6,572, Certificate number 12,128, and there is a Widow's Pension application number 162033, and certificate number 12,788.

US Veterans Pensions were not provided to anyone who in any manner, "voluntarily engaged in or aided or abetted the late rebellion against the United States" of the 1860s.


Interestingly, there are other pension application files relative to veteran application no. 6572, for a George Uselton of Tennessee, which suggests service under an alias of "Brown" under an officer named Newman in a Tennessee cavalry unit in the War with Mexico as well.

Perhaps reference to Col. Jonas Thomas' Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Volunteers (aka 1st Tennessee Mounted Infantry), whose Company D was commanded by Capt. L.D. Newman. The Regiment serving from June, 1846 to May, 1847 (mustered out at New Orleans). There was a Pvt. "Joseph Brown" in that company.

The Federal Pension application records noted above (which would be at the National Archives) should have lots of information about George Uselton.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

The Third Tennessee Volunteers was commanded by Colonel Benjamin F. Cheatham (later a Confederate general) was organized in late 1847, and disbanded in July, 1848.

I wonder if this is the source of much of the family lore confusion. "He served under Cheatham" being applied to the wrong war.

 

[lupaglupa]

Some areas around Coffee County were Unionist, so he may well not have fought for the Confederacy.

 

[Whitfield's Legion]

Some areas around Coffee County were Unionist, so he may well not have fought for the Confederacy.

It seems that's the case. One of my 4GG's brothers served in the 31st Illinois from coffee

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

One of my 4GG's brothers served in the 31st Illinois from coffee

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/49988920