FiremarshalBill
Private
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2016
A friend of mine and I were the guest speakers at our local Genealogy Club yesterday to talk about the American Civil War and how our genealogy interests were sparked by our ancestors who fought in the war. We had a few weapons and photo show-and-tell items on display, but mostly our separate talks were about our specific ACW ancestors. My friend and I have known each other for almost 20 years through our local car club here in town, but we had never really talked about the distant branches of our family trees. However, as we each gave our own presentation, some curious things came out...
His G-G-Grandfather Edwin, and my G-G-Grandfather Isaac, were born two years apart (1836 and 1838). Both were born in Medina County, Ohio and for a time lived only 6 miles from each other. His G-G-Grandfather left Ohio for Illinois the same year (1853) that my G-G-Grandfather left Ohio for Michigan. Both ancestors joined Union Infantry Regiments early in the war - mine the 3rd Michigan (and later the 1st Michigan Light Artillery), his - the 45th Illinois). Both men were promoted to the rank of Sargent and eventually assigned to General Sherman's XVII Army Corps. Both left Atlanta on their "March To The Sea" on the same day. Both men were wounded in the same battle (Griswoldville, GA on November 22nd 1864), and both had to be transported the rest of the way to Savannah in the back of an ambulance wagon. I find it interesting that there were numerous times in their lives when our two ancestors could have met (and maybe they did), but it wasn't until a chance genealogy club presentation 180+ years later that the G-G-Grandsons of these two Veterans made their Civil War connections.
His G-G-Grandfather Edwin, and my G-G-Grandfather Isaac, were born two years apart (1836 and 1838). Both were born in Medina County, Ohio and for a time lived only 6 miles from each other. His G-G-Grandfather left Ohio for Illinois the same year (1853) that my G-G-Grandfather left Ohio for Michigan. Both ancestors joined Union Infantry Regiments early in the war - mine the 3rd Michigan (and later the 1st Michigan Light Artillery), his - the 45th Illinois). Both men were promoted to the rank of Sargent and eventually assigned to General Sherman's XVII Army Corps. Both left Atlanta on their "March To The Sea" on the same day. Both men were wounded in the same battle (Griswoldville, GA on November 22nd 1864), and both had to be transported the rest of the way to Savannah in the back of an ambulance wagon. I find it interesting that there were numerous times in their lives when our two ancestors could have met (and maybe they did), but it wasn't until a chance genealogy club presentation 180+ years later that the G-G-Grandsons of these two Veterans made their Civil War connections.
Bringing the