Strong Family Influence in Certain Companies, Regiments and Brigades at Gettysburg

Tom Elmore

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The following examples suggest that certain extended family clans exerted a strong, if not dominant, influence within some companies, regiments and even brigades.

Berkeley, 8th Virginia: Lieutenant Colonel Norborne Berkeley, Major Edmund Berkeley, Captain William N. Berkeley and 1st Lieutenant Charles F. Berkeley of Company D (brothers).

Houston, 11th Virginia: Captain (acting Lieutenant Colonel) David G. Houston, Jr. of Company D, Captain Andrew M. Houston, 1st Lieutenant Matthew Houston and Private Edward M. Houston of Company K (brothers).

Cocke, Company E, 18th Virginia: Captain Edmund R. Cocke, 2nd Lieutenant William F. Cocke (brothers).

Humphreys/Stamps, 21st Mississippi: Colonel (acting brigade commander) Benjamin G. Humphreys and Captain (acting Major) Isaac D. Stamps, Company E (brother-in-law).

Benning/Jones: Brigadier General Henry L. Benning, Assistant Adjutant General Seaborn J. Benning (son) and Colonel John Abraham Jones, 20th Georgia (brother-in-law).

Culver, 15th Georgia: 1st Lieutenant Henry C. Culver of Company E, 2nd Lieutenant Thomas H. Culver and Privates Edward H. Culver, German P. Culver (forage master) and Benjamin C. Culver (butcher) of Company K (brothers).

Butler, 3rd Arkansas: Chaplain George E. Butler, Adjutant Lewis P. Butler, 2nd Lieutenant Henry A. Butler and Private Charles A. Butler of Company I (brothers).

Miller/Land, Company K, 53rd North Carolina: Captain William J. Miller, 1st Lieutenant Thomas C. Miller (brothers) and 2nd Lieutenant Thomas C. Land (uncle).

Bedingfield, Company G, 60th Georgia: Captain John Y. Bedingfield, 1st Sergeant Robert E. Bedingfield (brothers).

Miller, 42nd Mississippi: Colonel Hugh Reid Miller (father), Sergeant Major George Miller (son) and Ordnance Sergeant Edwin Miller (son).

Shoup, Company H, 7th Virginia Cavalry: Captain John C. Shoup, 1st Lieutenant Jacob G. Shoup (brothers).

Feamster/White, Company A, 14th Virginia Cavalry: Captain Moorman White (brother-in-law), 1st Lieutenant Thomas L. Feamster and 2nd Lieutenant William N. Feamster (brothers).

Waldron/Garcelon, Company I, 16th Maine: Captain William H. Waldron (uncle), 2nd Lieutenant Charles A. Garcelon (nephew).

Eaton, Company A, 16th Vermont: Captain Henry A. Eaton, 1st Sergeant Eugene E. Eaton (brothers).

Burbank, U.S. Regulars: Colonel Sidney Burbank (commanding brigade, father), Captain Sullivan W. Burbank, 14th U.S. Infantry (son).

Colgrove, 27th Indiana: Colonel Silas Colgrove (commanding brigade, father), Major Theodore F. Colgrove (son).

Letford, 29th Pennsylvania: Adjutant William Letford (father), Sergeant Major Charles H. Letford (son).

Tourison, Company E, 147th Pennsylvania: Captain A. S. Tourison (father), 1st Lieutenant William L. Tourison (son).
 
Third North Carolina State Troops (3rd NC Infantry) started the war with a strong family influence like this, but battlefield wounds had already taken a terrible toll by time of Gettysburg. Col. Gaston Meares was originally commissioned as commander of the regiment and his brother Edward Graham Meares was commissioned as a Lt. (and later promoted to Captain). Col. Meares was married to the sister of Maj. William DeRosset, who would succeed him as Col. after Meares was killed at Malvern Hill. DeRosset's brother Armand Lamar DeRosset was a Lt (later promoted to Captain). E.G. Meares was killed at Sharpsburg, and the elder DeRosset badly wounded there, so they didn't make it as far as Gettysburg either. Not sure if Capt. A. DeRosset made it to Gettysburg, but he survived the war and lived till 1910 before dying of natural causes.
 
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The following examples suggest that certain extended family clans exerted a strong, if not dominant, influence within some companies, regiments and even brigades.

Berkeley, 8th Virginia: Lieutenant Colonel Norborne Berkeley, Major Edmund Berkeley, Captain William N. Berkeley and 1st Lieutenant Charles F. Berkeley of Company D (brothers).

Houston, 11th Virginia: Captain (acting Lieutenant Colonel) David G. Houston, Jr. of Company D, Captain Andrew M. Houston, 1st Lieutenant Matthew Houston and Private Edward M. Houston of Company K (brothers).

Cocke, Company E, 18th Virginia: Captain Edmund R. Cocke, 2nd Lieutenant William F. Cocke (brothers).

Humphreys/Stamps, 21st Mississippi: Colonel (acting brigade commander) Benjamin G. Humphreys and Captain (acting Major) Isaac D. Stamps, Company E (brother-in-law).

Benning/Jones: Brigadier General Henry L. Benning, Assistant Adjutant General Seaborn J. Benning (son) and Colonel John Abraham Jones, 20th Georgia (brother-in-law).

Culver, 15th Georgia: 1st Lieutenant Henry C. Culver of Company E, 2nd Lieutenant Thomas H. Culver and Privates Edward H. Culver, German P. Culver (forage master) and Benjamin C. Culver (butcher) of Company K (brothers).

Butler, 3rd Arkansas: Chaplain George E. Butler, Adjutant Lewis P. Butler, 2nd Lieutenant Henry A. Butler and Private Charles A. Butler of Company I (brothers).

Miller/Land, Company K, 53rd North Carolina: Captain William J. Miller, 1st Lieutenant Thomas C. Miller (brothers) and 2nd Lieutenant Thomas C. Land (uncle).

Bedingfield, Company G, 60th Georgia: Captain John Y. Bedingfield, 1st Sergeant Robert E. Bedingfield (brothers).

Miller, 42nd Mississippi: Colonel Hugh Reid Miller (father), Sergeant Major George Miller (son) and Ordnance Sergeant Edwin Miller (son).

Shoup, Company H, 7th Virginia Cavalry: Captain John C. Shoup, 1st Lieutenant Jacob G. Shoup (brothers).

Feamster/White, Company A, 14th Virginia Cavalry: Captain Moorman White (brother-in-law), 1st Lieutenant Thomas L. Feamster and 2nd Lieutenant William N. Feamster (brothers).

Waldron/Garcelon, Company I, 16th Maine: Captain William H. Waldron (uncle), 2nd Lieutenant Charles A. Garcelon (nephew).

Eaton, Company A, 16th Vermont: Captain Henry A. Eaton, 1st Sergeant Eugene E. Eaton (brothers).

Burbank, U.S. Regulars: Colonel Sidney Burbank (commanding brigade, father), Captain Sullivan W. Burbank, 14th U.S. Infantry (son).

Colgrove, 27th Indiana: Colonel Silas Colgrove (commanding brigade, father), Major Theodore F. Colgrove (son).

Letford, 29th Pennsylvania: Adjutant William Letford (father), Sergeant Major Charles H. Letford (son).

Tourison, Company E, 147th Pennsylvania: Captain A. S. Tourison (father), 1st Lieutenant William L. Tourison (son).
This is certainly interesting, andt it leads to the inevitable question: do we know the fate of these clans? It seems the Colgrove's and Burbank's came through Gettysburg okay. Benjamin Humphreys, who takes command when Barksdale is mortally wounded, is promoted to Brigadier General and commands the brigade at Chickamauga, albeit in a style that was unlikely to have pleased Barksdale. The Benning's (father and son) were physically unscathed, but brother-in-law/uncle, Col John A. Jones was killed in the attack on Houck's Ridge (above Devil's Den). Col. Hugh Miller is not mentioned as a casualty in Gen. Joseph Davis' reports, but another source shows him as wounded. Anyone care to fill is some of the lesser known men in the above list?
 
I agree. Just look at the Britton family in the 1st Pa Cav. I think Co L and M list 6 of them and all are brothers or cousins. One eventually committed suicide shortly after the war.
 
As Bruce Vail points out in his post, such dynasties were more common or considerably larger in the early days of the war, but steady attrition over time diminished their influence. Such was indeed the case for many of those on my list at the conclusion of this battle:

Berkeley: Norborne - wounded, captured; Edmund - wounded; William - wounded, captured; Charles - captured.
Houston: David - mortally wounded; Andrew - wounded, captured; Thomas - wounded, captured.
Cocke: William - killed.
Humphreys/Stamps: Isaac - mortally wounded.
Benning/Jones: John - killed.
Culver: Thomas - wounded; Edward - killed.
Miller/Land: William - killed; Thomas Miller - wounded, captured; Thomas Land - wounded.
Shoup: John - wounded; Jacob - killed.
Waldron/Garcelon: William - wounded and captured; Charles - captured.
Eaton: Henry - wounded; Eugene - wounded.
Letford: Charles - killed.
Tourison: William - killed.
 
Here are the suspected relatives I could find in Company F, 48th Georgia at Gettysburg:

Anderson: John L. (captured), Uriah (KIA)
Christian: 2nd Lt. Theo, McA. T.W.
Curry: David, George W.
Davis: Sgt. George W. (KIA), Isham J., William Godfrey (WIA)
Fortner: Ebenezer S., O.B.
Foskey: A.J. (deserted), Emory A. (deserted, born 1829), James T. (deserted, born 1830), Manning A. (KIA, born 1836), Stanley Manning (KIA, born 1833), William G. (WIA and captured, born 1842)
Granto: William C., William H.
Haddin: William H., William J.
Hall: Jr. 2nd Lt. William L.J. (KIA, born 1845), James K. (captured, died at Ft. Delaware 10/13/63), James M. (KIA, born 1838), Joseph B. (KIA, born 1839), William A. (captured, died at Ft. Delaware 8/30/63, born 1843), William L.J.
Horton: Harrell (born 1843), James C.H. (born 1845), James J. (born 1846), Solomon Harrell (born 1840)
Johnson: David T. (captured, born 1838), William J. (born 1836)
Meeks: Sgt. Daniel L., Bennett E., Spencer A. (WIA and captured at Fairfield)
Outlaw: W.G. (KIA), William L. (KIA)
Powell: Crayton L., John W. (captured), Joseph W. (WIA and captured, died at Ft. Delaware 9/26/63), Robert L., Stephen (KIA)
Price: Sgt. Ricy Jr., Alfred, Samuel P.
Ricks: Sgt. William G., Arthur W., Lyman D.
Riner: Cpl. James M., Amos J. (WIA), Wiley Y., Wilson
Rowland: James S. (born 1839), William J. (captured, died at Hammond General Hospital 10/63, born 1840)
Townsend: Henry C. (captured), Isaac N.
Wheeler: E. Duncan, Shadrack (captured)
Wiggins: Amos W. (captured), James I.

Ryan
 
William Oates reported the next of kin in Company G, 15th Alabama:

(Father) Morris Holmes and two sons, Pulaski and William
Three Griffin brothers
Six Riley brothers
Four McLeod brothers
Three Shepherd brothers
Three Stone brothers
Three Renfroe brothers
Three Smith brothers
Two Balkcom brothers
Two Melvin brothers
Two Miller brothers
Two Parish brothers
Five Roney brothers
Two Trawick brothers
Two Whatley brothers
Two Sumner brothers
Three Watson brothers
Two Woodham brothers
Four Kirkland brothers
Four Galloway brothers
Two Enfinger brothers

Lots of kinfolk in regiments. My interest was identifying those who dominated the leadership of a particular unit. Another interest, for another time, is the reaction when a family member was struck down in battle. A soldier was not supposed to leave the ranks to tend to a wounded man, but how tough it must have been to watch a brother, father or son struck down and have to leave them behind to fight on.
 
William Oates reported the next of kin in Company G, 15th Alabama:

(Father) Morris Holmes and two sons, Pulaski and William
Three Griffin brothers
Six Riley brothers
Four McLeod brothers
Three Shepherd brothers
Three Stone brothers
Three Renfroe brothers
Three Smith brothers
Two Balkcom brothers
Two Melvin brothers
Two Miller brothers
Two Parish brothers
Five Roney brothers
Two Trawick brothers
Two Whatley brothers
Two Sumner brothers
Three Watson brothers
Two Woodham brothers
Four Kirkland brothers
Four Galloway brothers
Two Enfinger brothers

Lots of kinfolk in regiments. My interest was identifying those who dominated the leadership of a particular unit. Another interest, for another time, is the reaction when a family member was struck down in battle. A soldier was not supposed to leave the ranks to tend to a wounded man, but how tough it must have been to watch a brother, father or son struck down and have to leave them behind to fight on.

Tom is familiar with one such example -- the Futch brothers of the 3rd NC (again!). One brother left the firing line when his brother in the same company was badly wounded. He became distraught at his brother's death the next day. Just two months later he deserted, was caught, and executed.
 
The following examples suggest that certain extended family clans exerted a strong, if not dominant, influence within some companies, regiments and even brigades.

Berkeley, 8th Virginia: Lieutenant Colonel Norborne Berkeley, Major Edmund Berkeley, Captain William N. Berkeley and 1st Lieutenant Charles F. Berkeley of Company D (brothers).

Houston, 11th Virginia: Captain (acting Lieutenant Colonel) David G. Houston, Jr. of Company D, Captain Andrew M. Houston, 1st Lieutenant Matthew Houston and Private Edward M. Houston of Company K (brothers).

Cocke, Company E, 18th Virginia: Captain Edmund R. Cocke, 2nd Lieutenant William F. Cocke (brothers).

Humphreys/Stamps, 21st Mississippi: Colonel (acting brigade commander) Benjamin G. Humphreys and Captain (acting Major) Isaac D. Stamps, Company E (brother-in-law).

Benning/Jones: Brigadier General Henry L. Benning, Assistant Adjutant General Seaborn J. Benning (son) and Colonel John Abraham Jones, 20th Georgia (brother-in-law).

Culver, 15th Georgia: 1st Lieutenant Henry C. Culver of Company E, 2nd Lieutenant Thomas H. Culver and Privates Edward H. Culver, German P. Culver (forage master) and Benjamin C. Culver (butcher) of Company K (brothers).

Butler, 3rd Arkansas: Chaplain George E. Butler, Adjutant Lewis P. Butler, 2nd Lieutenant Henry A. Butler and Private Charles A. Butler of Company I (brothers).

Miller/Land, Company K, 53rd North Carolina: Captain William J. Miller, 1st Lieutenant Thomas C. Miller (brothers) and 2nd Lieutenant Thomas C. Land (uncle).

Bedingfield, Company G, 60th Georgia: Captain John Y. Bedingfield, 1st Sergeant Robert E. Bedingfield (brothers).

Miller, 42nd Mississippi: Colonel Hugh Reid Miller (father), Sergeant Major George Miller (son) and Ordnance Sergeant Edwin Miller (son).

Shoup, Company H, 7th Virginia Cavalry: Captain John C. Shoup, 1st Lieutenant Jacob G. Shoup (brothers).

Feamster/White, Company A, 14th Virginia Cavalry: Captain Moorman White (brother-in-law), 1st Lieutenant Thomas L. Feamster and 2nd Lieutenant William N. Feamster (brothers).

Waldron/Garcelon, Company I, 16th Maine: Captain William H. Waldron (uncle), 2nd Lieutenant Charles A. Garcelon (nephew).

Eaton, Company A, 16th Vermont: Captain Henry A. Eaton, 1st Sergeant Eugene E. Eaton (brothers).

Burbank, U.S. Regulars: Colonel Sidney Burbank (commanding brigade, father), Captain Sullivan W. Burbank, 14th U.S. Infantry (son).

Colgrove, 27th Indiana: Colonel Silas Colgrove (commanding brigade, father), Major Theodore F. Colgrove (son).

Letford, 29th Pennsylvania: Adjutant William Letford (father), Sergeant Major Charles H. Letford (son).

Tourison, Company E, 147th Pennsylvania: Captain A. S. Tourison (father), 1st Lieutenant William L. Tourison (son).
Benjamin G. Humphreys of the 21st Mississippi was the father in law of Isaac Davis Stamps - he was married to Humphreys daughter Mary Douglas (Humphreys) Stamps. Also, Lt. Col. William L. Brandon of the 21st Mississippi had two sons in the regiment - Lane W. Brandon, who eventually became captain of Company D, and William R. Brandon, who was a private in the same company. William L. Brandon was promoted to colonel after Benjamin G. Humphreys moved up to brigade command, but he had been wounded at the battle of Malvern hill, had a leg amputated, and was never able to return to the regiment.
 
My guess is that family relationships were the rule and not the exception. On the work that I have been doing on local soldiers (both officers--up to the rank of general--and enlisted men), almost all have extensive numbers of near relatives in the military. Very often in the same unit.
 
Third North Carolina State Troops (3rd NC Infantry) started the war with a strong family influence like this, but battlefield wounds had already taken a terrible toll by time of Gettysburg. Col. Gaston Meares was originally commissioned as commander of the regiment and his brother Edward Graham Meares was commissioned as a Lt. (and later promoted to Captain). Col. Meares was married to the sister of Maj. William DeRosset, who would succeed him as Col. after Meares was killed at Malvern Hill. DeRosset's brother Armand Lamar DeRosset was a Lt (later promoted to Captain). E.G. Meares was killed at Sharpsburg, and the elder DeRosset badly wounded there, so they didn't make it as far as Gettysburg either. Not sure if Capt. A. DeRosset made it to Gettysburg, but he survived the war and lived till 1910 before dying of natural causes.

& the Frederick clan that started with the 3rd NC: Alfred, Felix, John W., Elisha, James R., Patrick

Thanks for the info on the 3rd!
 
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