East Tennessee Roots
Major
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2010
- Location
- Kingsport, Tennessee
From the NY Times, June 2, 1865. My 2nd great-grandfather took the Oath of Allegiance on June 19, and was furnished rail transportation back to North Carolina on the 20th, probably traveled as far as Wilkesboro. His home was in the "Brushy Mountains" in Wilkes County.
http://www.nytimes.com/1865/06/02/news/the-rebel-prisoners-at-hart-s-island.html
http://www.pddoc.com/skedaddle/052b/rev_robert_lowry.htm
The Union Chaplin that preached to them:
Robert Lowry
Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 7/1/1862 as a Chaplain.
On 7/1/1862 he was commissioned into
US Volunteers Hospl Chaplains
He was Mustered Out on 8/1/1866
Other Information:
born in New York
The Union General Mentioned:
Wessells, Henry W., brigadier general, was born in
Litchfield, Conn., Feb. 20, 1809. After he was graduated at
West Point in 1833 he took part in the Seminole war of 1837-40,
first as a second lieutenant of infantry and then as first
lieutenant, being promoted on July 7, 1838. In Gen. Scott's
Mexican campaign he was promoted captain and received the
brevet of major for gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco. In
the former contest Capt. Wessells, though wounded, seized the
regimental flag on the death of the color-sergeant and put
himself at the head of his men. On his return from the war the
state of Connecticut voted him a jeweled sword, which was
presented to him with military ceremonies. Capt. Wessells was
on the Pacific coast in 1849-54, and was in the Sioux
expedition of 1855, after which he served in the Northwest till
the Civil war. On June 6, 1861, he was promoted major, and on
Aug. 22 of that year he received the colonelcy of the 8th Kan.
infantry. After serving on the Missouri border he resumed his
commission in the regular army Feb. 15, 1862, and in March was
transferred to the Army of the Potomac. He was made a
brigadier-general of volunteers April 25 and served in the
Peninsula, receiving the regular army brevet of lieutenant-
colonel for gallantry at Fair Oaks, where he was wounded. In
McClellan's change of base he commanded the rear-guard, and
then engaged in the defense of Suffolk, Va., afterward serving
in North Carolina. After serving at Kinston, Goldsboro, and
New Berne, he was placed over the sub-district of the
Albemarle, taking command May 3, 1863. On April 17, 1864, he
was attacked at Plymouth, N. C., where he had a garrison of
about 3,000 men, by Gen. Robert F. Hoke with about 15,000
Confederate troops and the iron-clad "Albemarle." After a
gallant defense which lasted three days Gen. Wessells
surrendered the town. He was taken to Libby prison, whence he
was transferred successively to Danville, Macon and Charleston.
At the last-named place he was one of the officers that were
placed under the fire of the Union batteries on Morris island.
On Aug. 3, 1864, he was exchanged, and on Nov. 11 he became
commissary of prisoners, which post he held until the close of
the war. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel Feb. 16, 1865, and
brevetted colonel to date from April 20, 1864, "for gallant and
meritorious services during the rebel attack on Plymouth, N.
C." On March 13 he was given the regular army brevet of
brigadier-general. He then served on the northwestern frontier
till Jan. 1, 1871, when he was retired. After that time he
resided in his native place, but at the time of his death he
was on a visit to Delaware. Gen. Wessells died in Dover, Del.,
Jan. 12, 1889.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 8
http://www.nytimes.com/1865/06/02/news/the-rebel-prisoners-at-hart-s-island.html
http://www.pddoc.com/skedaddle/052b/rev_robert_lowry.htm
The Union Chaplin that preached to them:
Robert Lowry
Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 7/1/1862 as a Chaplain.
On 7/1/1862 he was commissioned into
US Volunteers Hospl Chaplains
He was Mustered Out on 8/1/1866
Other Information:
born in New York
The Union General Mentioned:
Wessells, Henry W., brigadier general, was born in
Litchfield, Conn., Feb. 20, 1809. After he was graduated at
West Point in 1833 he took part in the Seminole war of 1837-40,
first as a second lieutenant of infantry and then as first
lieutenant, being promoted on July 7, 1838. In Gen. Scott's
Mexican campaign he was promoted captain and received the
brevet of major for gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco. In
the former contest Capt. Wessells, though wounded, seized the
regimental flag on the death of the color-sergeant and put
himself at the head of his men. On his return from the war the
state of Connecticut voted him a jeweled sword, which was
presented to him with military ceremonies. Capt. Wessells was
on the Pacific coast in 1849-54, and was in the Sioux
expedition of 1855, after which he served in the Northwest till
the Civil war. On June 6, 1861, he was promoted major, and on
Aug. 22 of that year he received the colonelcy of the 8th Kan.
infantry. After serving on the Missouri border he resumed his
commission in the regular army Feb. 15, 1862, and in March was
transferred to the Army of the Potomac. He was made a
brigadier-general of volunteers April 25 and served in the
Peninsula, receiving the regular army brevet of lieutenant-
colonel for gallantry at Fair Oaks, where he was wounded. In
McClellan's change of base he commanded the rear-guard, and
then engaged in the defense of Suffolk, Va., afterward serving
in North Carolina. After serving at Kinston, Goldsboro, and
New Berne, he was placed over the sub-district of the
Albemarle, taking command May 3, 1863. On April 17, 1864, he
was attacked at Plymouth, N. C., where he had a garrison of
about 3,000 men, by Gen. Robert F. Hoke with about 15,000
Confederate troops and the iron-clad "Albemarle." After a
gallant defense which lasted three days Gen. Wessells
surrendered the town. He was taken to Libby prison, whence he
was transferred successively to Danville, Macon and Charleston.
At the last-named place he was one of the officers that were
placed under the fire of the Union batteries on Morris island.
On Aug. 3, 1864, he was exchanged, and on Nov. 11 he became
commissary of prisoners, which post he held until the close of
the war. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel Feb. 16, 1865, and
brevetted colonel to date from April 20, 1864, "for gallant and
meritorious services during the rebel attack on Plymouth, N.
C." On March 13 he was given the regular army brevet of
brigadier-general. He then served on the northwestern frontier
till Jan. 1, 1871, when he was retired. After that time he
resided in his native place, but at the time of his death he
was on a visit to Delaware. Gen. Wessells died in Dover, Del.,
Jan. 12, 1889.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 8