Question of the Week: Did any of your ancestors serve in the Civil War?
Do you have a direct ancestor who fought in the Civil War? If so, who were they, and how much do you know about their service?
Do you have a direct ancestor who fought in the Civil War? If so, who were they, and how much do you know about their service?
None did! One Great-great grandfather worked for the New York Central. The other Great -great Grandfather worked for the Ellis Locomotive Works in Schenectady New York.
If you worked for a railroad in the North, you had a deferment since the railroad industry was a vital National interest.
My GG GF, W.H. Sinclair, was a nine-month enlistee with the 3rd Maryland Infantry Regiment (U.S.) from October 1862 to July 1863. During that time, he experienced Burnside’s Mud March, was hospitalized for dysentery, and fought at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg before being honorably discharged.
Frank “Skip” Shaffer’s Ancestor
Job Ward Parsons was born March 13, 1838 in Randolph County, Virginia (now West Virginia). My great-great grandfather on my Father’s side proudly proclaimed that, “I was a Confederate soldier from choice”.
Following the ‘atrocities’ put upon the citizens of Tucker and Randolph counties by Union General R. H. Milroy in the fall of 1862, Job Ward Parsons, “decided that Old Virginia had called me, and I went to her aid with all my heart.” During this period, Job was mentioned in correspondence from Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and in a letter penned by General Robert E. Lee to Union General Henry Halleck regarding the “threats against unarmed and defenseless citizens”, by the Union Army.
As a result, in November of that year, Job Ward Parsons enlisted in Company A of the Eighteenth Virginia Cavalry, Brigadier General John D. Imboden’s Command. He served as second sergeant, and was detailed by General Imboden as his principal scout.
Parsons fought in every battle the 18th Virginia Cavalry were in including, Fisher’s Hill, Kernstown, Winchester, New Market, Cedar Creek, and the Battle of Fort Stevens in Washington City with General Jubal Early. Following the battle of Gettysburg, General Lee assigned Imboden to escort and protect the 17-mile wagon train of 10,000 wounded soldiers, on their retreat back to Virginia. Parsons described the ordeal as “the hottest fight I was in during the war, to defend our wagon trains”. After the death of Captain Taylor of Company A, the men got up a petition to make him Captain, and General Imboden approved it.
Job Ward Parsons left the Army of Northern Virginia, when Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse. After searching for gold and exploring Alaska, he spent his final days in West Virginia where he “had fought so hard for the cause.” He died at the age of 81 in March of 1919.
My great great grandfather was Hampton Riley Jones (born May 25, 1829). He joined Company K, 4th South Carolina Infantry as a Private on March 7, 1862 at Pendleton, SC. In April, 1862, there was a big reorganization of regiments and the 4th SC Infantry ceased to exist, so he (and his 2 brother-in-law) became part of Company L, Palmetto Sharpshooters, part of Micah Jenkins brigade Longstreet’s Corp. While heading to Antietam and South Mountain, they blew up the railroad bridge across the Monocacy River. During the Gettysburg Campaign, they were left behind to guard Richmond. They also were not part of Chickamauga, as they were on the second train load and did not reach the battle in time. They did participate in Wauhatchie, one of the rare night battles of the war. Hampton was wounded in the right hip on May 11, 1864 during Spotsylvania. He returned to duty and was wounded in the left shoulder on September 30, 1964 at the battle to recapture Fort Harrison around Richmond (one of the brothers-in-law was killed at this battle; the other brother-in-law was captured at Battle of Darbytown Road a week later). The last card in his file states he was paroled at Newton, NC on April 19, 1865.
He married my great great grandmother July 31, 1865, and they had 9 children together (he had 2 daughters from previous marriage and she had 1 daughter from previous marriage). Hampton Riley Jones died December 25, 1884 of pneumonia, his wife Mary Elizabeth Keasler (born October3, 1840) died in January 12, 1920.
My great great grandfather,Pvt George Harbridge served in the 26th New Jersey Infantry at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.
My great grandfather, Andrew Tow, fought at Vicksburg and other places during his service.
He was a poor Norwegian immigrant who settled in Norway, Iowa, and before the war took a flatboat down the Mississippi to New Orleans—which was common for selling farm products. While in New Orleans, he seems to have visited a slave auction. We don’t know what specifically happened, but he became an abolitionist as a result of what he witnessed.
So he joined the Union Army and served, I think, for three years. My grandmother (his daughter) told me how he would never tolerate his children saying they were “starving”—because they had no idea what that really meant (as he did!)
And what’s also interesting is that, after seeing actual war up close, this abolitionist became a pacifist Quaker for the rest of his life.
He was born and died on April 3. I was given his name, as I was born also on April 3. Maybe I’ll go out the same day too!
My G-G-grandfather, Capt. William W. Burke, served in Co. C 22Regiment USCT.
He was from Philadelphia, PA. The 22nd Regiment led the parade of troops in the funeral March from the White House to the Capitol for President Lincoln.
He died January 10, 1904, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. At some point after he was mustered out, he and his family moved to Washington, DC., where he spent the rest of his life.
My great-great grandfather Private William McClintock served in Company G, 118th Pennsylvania Infantry … the regiment was sponsored by the Corn Exchange bank in Philadelphia and was thereafter known as the Corn Exchange Regiment … the unit served in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division 5th Corps throughout its service from August 1862 thru June 1865 … William was wounded twice — in the thigh at the Wilderness in May 1864 and in the foot at Peebles Farm the following September … he mustered out with the regiment in June 1865, returned to Philadelphia, and married in 1866 … the couple had five children and William died in 1924 at age 84 … his name is on the Pennsylvania Monument at Gettysburg along with all the other Quaker State vets who served in the Army of the Potomac.
My great, great grandfather served in the 101st Ohio at Stones River but was captured. He was originally from Maryland, so family legend holds that he encountered his cousin, serving in a Confederate Maryland regiment, who paroled him (I’ve never found any documents that confirm this, though). Later, he enlisted in the 3rd Maryland Potomac Home Brigade and probably fought at Monocacy. All that’s left of his uniform is a single button, which I keep in a small glass case.
I had about a dozen ancestors, all in Pennsylvania units. One’s name is on the PA Monument at Gettysburg. Another was in the 48th PA. I’ve followed in his footsteps to battlefields at Roanoke Island, Second Manassas, Antietam, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, oh and that little thing called the Crater… they dug the mine!
I had an uncle on my mother’s side of the family. James Redmond. Served in Company F, 12th Pa Reserves. Was mortally wounded at Antietam, and died at Point Lookout October 6, 1862.
Clearly would be a great great great several times over Uncle. ?
Great-grandfather Alexander Pattison Watson was a private in 67th Pennsylvania volunteers, from Indiana, PA. Captured in the Second Battle of Winchester, he was imprisoned at Belle Isle in Richmond and later fought as part of the 6th Corps in the 1864 Shenandoah campaign, including in the battle of Cedar Creek. He was part of the pursuit of Lee from Petersburg to Appomattox. His collection of personal effects and battlefield artifacts he collected were donated to Appomattox National Historical Park, where they are part of the display depicting the life of a Union soldier. Descendant is Elizabeth Church Mitchell.
Great-Great Uncle Colonel Carter Braxton commanded the Confederate Fredericksburg Artillery. Several of his personal effects, including a pistol and a tunic, have been, and may still be, on display in the visitor center at Fredericksburg National Historical Park. Descendent is Charles Wellman Mitchell.
Great great great grandfather, Washington Clay Abernethy, was born 1847 in Gaston County, NC. He’s technically too young as a 14 year old when the war begins, but by 1864 is conscripted into the Co. C, 2nd NC Junior Reserves as a 17 year old at least by December. Presumably he’s involved in several smaller actions in Eastern NC and Southern VA before facing off against Sherman’s veterans at Bentonville from March 19-21, with the Junior Reserves holding a portion of Johnstons line. For all the descedents of the “Seed Corn of the Confederacy,” thank god the war ended or else I wouldn’t be typing this comment.
Joseph Godfrey Swartz, my great-grandfather, was among the Rockbridge County, Va. teen-agers drafted into the Confederate army in 1864. He fought at Piedmont and served somewhere in the Richmond/Petersburg defenses afterwards, until February 1865. Disease or Yankee bullets killed three other Confederate ancestors, and a little-known great-grandfather was in the Quartermaster Department.
I had a couple of great (no idea off the top of my head how many greats to add) uncles, both in the CSA from TN. Gen Bushrod “Rust” Johnson on my mother’s side.
On my father’s side, John Ephriam Gold 1841-1939. John left us an account of his life and a brief account of his service via the Smith County Historical & Genealogical Society. John served in Co F of the 24th TN from Jul 19, 1861 until his capture at Chattanooga. He was sent to Johnson’s Island Prison and released in 1865. We know about the details of his Civil War travels only from a reminiscence he left for his children that was passed down to us.
I don’t really know anything about Gen Bushrod Johnson’s service but I’m hoping to learn more about both of my ancestors.
My Great Grandfather, Thomas Bowler from Ballyferriter, Co. Kerry, served as a Landsman on a few ships. He lied about his age, because he was only 16 when he arrived in NY. I have his discharge papers and his pension application. When I visited Ireland in 1980, the Bowler family farm was still there and we heard stories about Thomas going to America to fight in the Civil War.
Maternal GG-grandfather, Pvt James Thompson, 83PA, wounded at Fredericksburg in 1862 but served his commitment;
Paternal GGG-grandfather, Pgt James Holmes, 142NY, wounded at Second Fair Oaks (Darbytown) in 1864, invalided out of service in 1865;
At least 30 relatives by the name of Critchlow from GG-granduncles out to 4th cousins.
My wife’s great grandfather was with the 21st Wisconsin Infantry, it muster in September 1862 and muster out June 1865. Fought in Perryville, Stone river, Chicamauga, Mission Ridge, and Resaca where he was wounded in the left arm. He and the regiment went on with Sherman to Atlanta, Savanah and up through the Carolinas and finally the last battle at Bentonville. They marched from there through Richmond and to Washington DC and marched in the Grand Review. They were put on a train to Milwaukee and mustered out. Of the 960 men who left with the regiment only 260 of these men returned with it.
Most of my ancestors were anabaptist pacifists and did not joint in the fighting, but my great aunt, Elizabeth, married a veteran named Felix Kauffman who served with the 200th Pennsylvania and was wounded in the foot while attempting to retaking Fort Stedman on March 25, 1865. My father recalled Uncle Felix’s stores of his good luck of surviving picket duty following the death of his predecessor solder on picket duty, and the death of his successor on the picket line. He died in 1901 leaving his wife (my father’s aunt) and a son.
My great-great grandfather, Thomas Edwin Kemp, enlisted with the 4th Maryland Infantry in 1862 as a private. The regiment served in the Harpers Ferry area guarding the B&O Railroad. In July 1863 the brigade, 1st, 4th, 7th and 8th Maryland, joined the Army of the Potomac. The Maryland Brigade remained with them through to Appomattox. He steadily rose to color corporal, sergeant, sergeant major and 2nd Lieutenant and Adjutant. He was very active in the GAR and he passed in 1899 from chronic diarrhea.
My great grandfather, Cyrus Loose, joined the 202nd PA in late August 1864. His uncle, Charles Albright, was the colonel. They were lucky in that they were stationed at Fairfax Station and guarded the Manassas Gap railroad against Mosby. He injured his back when Mosby derailed his train on October 10, 1864 (my birthday which is how I remember it) and the story passed down through the family is that he became addicted to morphine due to this. He started and ended the war as a private. We have his diary along with several photos of the camp and a nice CDV album, but unfortunately no names in the CDVs. After the war he went to Jefferson Medical school in Philadelphia, then went west and opened a family practice in Peabody, Kansas. Unfortunately he came down with pneumonia and died in his early 50’s.
Our family had four Civil War ancestors (great-great grandfathers)..
James Nixon Rothrock enlisted in replacement Company C, 78th Pennsylvania, in February 1865. The company was sent to Nashville, where he died of smallpox in March. My wife and I visited his gravesite in Nashville in 2021.
James Fowler enlisted in Co. C, 28th Pennsylvania, in July 1861. He was with the regiment in XII Corps at Antietam and Chancellorsville, but went sick in June 1863, and didn’t rejoin the regiment until just after Bentonville in 1865. I used to live about 15 minutes drive from where his regiment encamped near Raleigh.
John Jacob Heffner enlisted in Co. A, 119th Pennsylvania (Sixth Corps) was at Fredericksburg, Salem Church at Chancellorsville, but was sick during Gettysburg. He returned to the regiment in time for Rappahannock Station and Mine Run. He was wounded during Gordan’s flank attack at the Wilderness and rejoined the regiment in time for Third Winchester. At Petersburg his regiment was part of the VI Corps breakthrough, Saylors Creek and was with the Corps at Appomattox and the march to Danville.
James Doxey, who was in Co. H, 65th New York, had the most interesting story. He enlisted in the 65th in 1861 and was at Malvern Hill. After Fredericksburg he deserted, but was picked up by Confederate raiders and imprisoned at Castle Thunder in Richmond. While there he and other prisoners agreed to join Gilmore’s 2nd Maryland Battalion of cavalry. When the unit raided north near Martinsburg, he and others escaped into Union lines. He was imprisoned at Camp Delaware, but was identified as a Union deserter and sent to Old Capitol Prison. He and other deserters petitioned President Lincoln to be allowed to return to service with his regiment. He was court-martialed and sent back to the 65th in time for the Petersburg breakthrough and Saylor’s Creek, where he served at the other end of the battle line for Heffner. Doxey’s enlistment expired before the other members of the 65th, who had reenlisted as Veteran Volunteers. Not many can claim an ancestor who was a deserter from both armies in the Civil War.
I have several Civil War ancestors with the most direct being my Great Great Grandfather, William Lewis Randolph. He began his service in the 57th Virginia Infantry and eventually became the brigade ordinance officer of Armistead’s brigade- later Barton’s and Steuart’s brigade. He was captured at Saylers Creek and released from Johnsons Island on June 9th,1865. He then returned to Albemarle county and worked his farm until his death in 1892.
I had 3 ancestors serve in the 14th Virginia Cavalry; 2 in the 17th Virginia Cavalry; and 11 serve in the 22nd Virginia Infantry including Major Robert Augustus Bailey who was killed at the Battle of Droop Mountain, November, 1863.
Ancestors – Civil War
Pvt. Lafayette Abbott – 79th Illinois – died 10/63 – cholera
Pvt. George W. Ashmore – 143rd Illinois – Died of typhoid on hospital steamer D. A. January – 9/64
1st Lt. Hezekiah Ashmore – 21st Illinois
1st Lt. Hezekiah M Ashmore – 123rd Illinois
Capt. James M. Ashmore – 123rd Illinois
Pvt. John Ashmore – 21st Illinois Killed at Stones River
Sgt. John N. Ashmore – 55th Illinois Killed at Shiloh
Pvt. Thomas Ashmore – 21st Illinois Killed at Stones River
Pvt James Black – 55th Illinois
Pvt. William Black – 55th Illinois
Pvt. Robert H. Crawford – 148th Indiana
Pvt. Henry Grimm – 79th Illinois
Pvt. Wesley Hoge – 21st Illinois – Died of wounds on 1/11/63 received at Stones River, 12/31/62
Maj. George W. McKonkey – 5th Illinois Cavalry
Yes! As a child my great-grandfather who grew up in Franklin, Robertson County, Texas would tell us stories from his grandfather, whom he lived with. My great-grandfather’s cousin also shared stories because she grew up with my great-grandfather. The stories revolved around battles along the Texas coast and the extremely cold weather. Also battles around Alexandria Louisiana. After graduating with a degree in history, followed by a Masters degree, I did independent research and discovered my ancestor served in Co. “E” Col. James B Likens’ 35th Texas Cavalry Regiment. He signed an affidavit for the pension of one of his comrades who had been shot near Marksville Louisiana and that is the only proof of service because no muster rolls have been discovered. I am currently writing a regimental history so their story does not die.
My GGF, 1LT George P. Crane, son of a County Galway immigrant, grandson of an Irish rebel in 1798, served in the 1st La. Heavy Artillery. He had a cousin in the Washington Artillery and another cousin in the 1st La. Heavy artillery. A Texas ancestor served in Hobby’s Regiment in Texas.
Tom
My great great uncle served three years in the U.S. Engineers Battalion. Remarkably, an official employed by one of my law firm’s clients has a g-g grandfather who served in the same company.
I just recently discovered that my Great Great Grandfather was a private in Company E, 1st Maryland Cavalry, CSA. At 22 years old, enlisted in Richmond on November 30, 1862. Enlisted with his horse, valued at $230.00. Was marked present for duty until November 1864. Captured at Beverly, West Virginia, October 29, 1864. Transferred to Camp Chase, Ohio. Was released after signing the oath of allegiance, May 11, 1865, a month after Appomattox.
My great-great-great grandfather William Royal was a private in Co. D of the 33rd North Carolina. Through one means or another (either AWOL, MIA or deserted), he missed the big to-do at Gettysburg. He is buried at the Baptist church in Liberty Knob, N.C.
No direct ancestors but a lifelong Civil War buff nevertheless. First direct, my grandfather, arrived in US in October 1914. Other three grandparents came in the 1920’s. Read a used copy of a Stillness At Appomattox when I was very young and been hooked since.
Several indirect ancestors, but one direct ancestor I know about was my great-great-great grandfather, Thomas Joseph Murphy; He was an Irish immigrant and served in the 2nd Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Union) as a lieutenant. His brother, John, was the colonel. Thomas had an arm shattered on December 15th, 1864 at the battle of Nashville, but he survived the war and moved to California.
Samuel Jackson Pryor served with the 2d Arkansas Mounted Rifles from Wilson’s Creek through Mobile, surrendering in 1865. He then went home, and was shot four years later by an annoyed husband.Ah, another Lost Cause!
No great-great-grandfather. However, had 27 Confederates (1 died at the Point Lookout POW camp) and 15 f or the Union.
GGGrand 4th SC Inf, Co H, 1st Manassas, Mattthews Hill, anchored on Sudley Rd., first to meet Burnside’s troops. Listed as wounded, died 5 months later at age 46.
His son my GBGrand, enlisted in ‘63 at age 16 with 6th SC Cavalry Co. E. Served with Butler’s brigade thru Va., Sc , NC. 6th Sc occupied the “bloody angle” at Trevilians Station.
GGrandmother’s 6 brothers all Co A, 16th GA Inf. One died of disease, one wounded Chancellorsville and died 4 mo. later, two POW Knoxville with one losing arm, one POW Farmville
Two other uncles 16 th GA, one died Petersburg and buried at Hollywood cemetery.
Last one to mention joined 25th NC Inf 1862 and listed as parolee at Appomattox. 25th was on Maryes Heigths and
Stone wall, West woods Sharpsburg, Fort Stedman etc.
Yes – 30. In my direct line, 8 served in Pennsylvania regiments, including two great-great-grandfathers, and four of the eight gave their lives. Their cousins and in-laws served in the Army of the Potomac, Army of the Cumberland, and Army of Northern Virginia. Many made Corporal and Sergeant, but there were no officers. We have a tradition in our family – we work for our living. We always had writers in the family, and of these 30, three left remarkable diaries – and one of these left behind what is considered the most fascinating diary ever to emerge from the Civil War. My book about the diary and its author, ‘Till The Stars Appeared,’ will be published next year, with a film to follow. Handsome lads, too – you should see the photographs.
Six of my eight 2 and 3 X great grandfathers (GGF) were in Tennessee regiments in the Civil War. The first three fought at Shiloh.
James Franklin Chester (2XGGF) was a private in the 27th Tennessee Infantry. At Shiloh the 27th was assigned to Brigadier General S.A.M. Wood’s Brigade, in Hardee’s Third Corps. Wood’s Brigade made first contact with the union patrol sent out by Brigadeir General Peabody. That engagement started the battle. James saw action at Munfordville, Perryville, Stones River, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge were he was captured and sent to the Rock Island Prison Camp. Facing a cold winter, with little food, lacking winter clothing, and crowded prisoner barracks he galvanized by joining the 2nd U. S. Volunteer Infantry and went west to rebuild the forts and protect settlers from native american raiding parties. He returned to Tennessee in 1866.
George Washington Lashlee (2GGF), was the 5th Tennessee Infantry. He fought in all of the major actions in Tennessee and Kentucky eventually attaining the rank of 3rd Lieutenant.
John Alexander Utley (3GGF) was a private the 5th Tennessee. The 5th, was part of Brigadier General Alexander P. Stewart’s Brigade in Polk’s Corps at Shiloh.
Meredith “Pridgen” Holland (2X GGF)was a private in the 55th (Brown’s) Infantry. Fought and was captured at Island Number 10. He was exchanged, returned to the 55th and was later transferred to Confederate Navy finishing the war at Mobile Alabama
James Nix (3XGGF) enlisted in the 11th Tennessee and with served that regiment at the Cumberland gap
William Watts Miller (3XGGF) was a private in the 26th Tennessee Infantry died of illness in Bowling Green Kentucky in December 1861.
James Chester had three brothers in the 10th and 27th Texas Cavalry and a half-brother, John who was in the 14th Tennessee Infantry in Archer’s Brigade, Heth’s Division, Hill’s Corps. He was captured on July 3rd after the Pickett–Pettigrew–Trimble Charge and sent to Fort Delaware.
Several were in the war all in the Confederate army. Two were in the 47th NC infantry under Pettigrew and were probably at Gettysburg. One was later wounded at Bristoe Station and was detailed to be a hospital steward the rest of the war because of his wound.
Yes, three great grand uncles all from Brunswick or Greenville Counties, VA. All in CSA. One KIA at Cedar Mtn. One POW
Pvt CH Wrenn. 23rd Reg, Co F, VA Cavalry
Pvt William Lewis Braswell. Coleman’s Hvy Artillery, POW Amelia Court House, April 1865, sent to Point Lookout. Paroled in June.
Pvt John Tucker Braswell (brother of William). 21st Reg, VA Inf, Co G. Killed in action Cedar Mtn Aug 9, 1862.