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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 10:01:00 AM

Title: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 10:01:00 AM
We haven't had a solid ACW thread in ages.  That needs to change.  I'm particularly interested in hearing about American Languishites' Civil War era ancestors.

I've been digging into my genealogy a bit to try & learn/re-learn some things about my lineage.  My recent focus has been on getting every possible detail about my ancestors' Civil War service.  All 8 of my great-great grandfathers were of young adult age during at least part of the Civil War, and from what I've dug up so far 4 of them served on the Union side in Ohio infantry regiments, and two served on the Confederate side (both in the same cavalry regiment).  Still trying to get a handle on what the other two were doing at the time.

My patrilineal great-great-grandfather enlisted in 1864, just in time to take part in the Overland Campaign (lucky him).  His regiment (126th Ohio Infantry) was involved in Grant's disastrous assault at Cold Harbor and he somehow survived that, only to be sent up into Maryland a few weeks later to fight in the Union delaying action at Monocacy.  There he was wounded, then trampled by advancing Confederate infantry, and then captured and sent to Libby prison for the duration of the war.  In spite of all that he lived to the age of 91.  I ordered reproductions of all his service & pension records from the National Archives-- hope to get more details from those. 

Haven't uncovered much details about the others yet, though I have an idea of what action the Virginia cavalry dudes saw.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Ed Anger on August 28, 2014, 10:04:07 AM
Most of mine were rebels. Tennesseans with Granny Lee. A few stayed back and murdered people for fun.

Wife's Irish and German ancestors were all Union folk. And loathed Copperheads.

Mew.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Caliga on August 28, 2014, 10:07:31 AM
One of my great-great-grandfathers was in the US Marine Corps during the Civil War, fought in the Mobile Bay campaign, and was in Lincoln's honor guard when they took his body around by train after his assassination.

I have his discharge papers and a certificate outlining his experiences (I guess his formal honorable discharge) signed by Jacob Zeilin that I put in a frame with some UV-proof glass shit to protect it.

I also had a bunch of ancestors serve in Pennsylvania militia regiments around the time of the Gettysburg campaign.  Most of these dudes were enlisted shortly before, and then discharged shortly after, the battle of Gettysburg.

On the Confederate side, I may have had some ancestors on my mom's side from Maryland who fought for the South, but I haven't definitively proven that yet.  Princesca definitely had ancestors in Kentucky who fought for the Confederacy, as well as some who fought for the Union.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 10:24:53 AM
Oh also Cal I found a Pennsylvania Dutch ancestor.  That line was apparently traced back to Alsace.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Caliga on August 28, 2014, 10:28:20 AM
Quote from: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 10:24:53 AM
Oh also Cal I found a Pennsylvania Dutch ancestor.  That line was apparently traced back to Alsace.
If you have early American ancestry, then I'm not at all surprised.  Lots of people don't realize that they have Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry outside of PA, because the ones who moved west/south quickly assimilated/changed their names. :)

I have Alsatian Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry too, but most of mine is Swiss and Rhinelander.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Monoriu on August 28, 2014, 10:41:39 AM
Pretty sure mine didn't fight in that war.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 10:43:33 AM
Almost all of my ancestors came in through Virginia and spread out west from there.  A few had arrived in Massachusetts in the 1600s and then moved through or around Pennsylvania to get to Ohio or Virginia (almost all ending up in Ohio by 1850-ish).  And the further I go back, the Scottish names I see :unsure:
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 10:51:32 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on August 28, 2014, 10:41:39 AM
Pretty sure mine didn't fight in that war.

Who knows, maybe a very, very, very distant relative.  I read where a handful of Asian Americans fought in the ACW.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: celedhring on August 28, 2014, 10:57:13 AM
An ancestor of mine from Cervera fought in a rebel Carlist party under the Infante Alfonso Carlos, clashing with the liberals in Central Catalonia until the rebellion was put down. He then fled to France to avoid retribution.

Oh wait, wrong Civil War.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: PDH on August 28, 2014, 11:42:43 AM
My...er...great-great-great-grandfather was Henry A Wise, the Governor of Virginia who was in office when John Brown was hanged.  He later became a horrible Confederate General.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Barrister on August 28, 2014, 11:57:27 AM
My relatives were all in their respective old countries that far back, which is pretty standard for western Canada.  The prairies weren't settled until later on.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: alfred russel on August 28, 2014, 12:02:26 PM
My great great grandfather was an officer for the 5th florida infantry regiment. Its first battle was Second Bull Run, was in the Bloody Lane at Antietam, lightly engaged in Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, among other battles. He was taken prisoner at the Wilderness, exchanged and rejoined the the regiment during the Siege of Petersburg. In the end the regiment surrendered at Appomattox, and he was one of just 53 left. Depending on the source, the regiment started with 1000-1500.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: CountDeMoney on August 28, 2014, 12:41:40 PM
Quote from: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 10:24:53 AM
Oh also Cal I found a Pennsylvania Dutch ancestor.  That line was apparently traced back to Alsace.
[/quote
So that's where you get your Amish sensibilities.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 12:47:06 PM
The one ancestor I had that was an officer was present at Gettysburg, and he kind of fucked up there.  He had a cavalry regiment in Albert Jenkins' brigade (which was the cavalry for Ewell's Corps).  Jenkins became badly wounded on the second day of Gettysburg Col. Ferguson (my ancestor) didn't seem to take note that he was now the brigade commander.  The other part of Jenkins' brigade basically fell back and did nothing.  They should have taken position along the eastern/northeastern roads to guard the Confederate left flank.  So Ewell had to divert two infantry brigades to that task, which could have helped his Day 2 attacks on Culp's Hill.

The regiment then fought against Custer in the Day 3 cavalry battle, which was pretty much a draw.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 12:47:42 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 28, 2014, 12:41:40 PM
Quote from: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 10:24:53 AM
Oh also Cal I found a Pennsylvania Dutch ancestor.  That line was apparently traced back to Alsace.
So that's where you get your Amish sensibilities.

You know it.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: The Brain on August 28, 2014, 12:49:45 PM
No ancestors I know of, but I am related by marriage to the elephant they couldn't hit.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: KRonn on August 28, 2014, 01:06:05 PM
My ancestors were still in Italy, maybe the fighting they did were in the Italian civil wars as the separate Italian states formed a nation. Or just as likely were happily making their own pasta, perfecting their tomato sauce recipes and inventing pizza.   
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:11:34 PM
I have a couple Civil War vets.

On my father's fathers side everyone were Marylanders right on the border who stayed out, probably influenced by the fact their towns changed hands...I think it was 16 times.  I think they had Lettowist sympathies being in heavily slave holding areas, and some of their cousins were in Lettowist service, but my direct paternal ancestor freed his slaves in the 1850s (they were the only free blacks in the town) for reasons that are unknown to me.  I hope they were good reasons.

On my father's mothers side of the family they were either Irish hanging out drinking heavily in County Donegal or solid Lettowists.  One was a big slave owner so he was exempted from service so his slaves would not rebel and rape the white women or something.  The other served in the misleadingly named '2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles' since Confederate bureaucratic bungling lost them their horses early on.  So they were the '2nd Arkansas Walking Rifles'.  He was injured twice, once at Pea Ridge (forcing him to sit out the Kentucky Campaign) and then again at Murfreesboro/Stones River.  The second wound was serious enough to end the war for him, and I believe he had to be evacuated from the Atlanta hospital when the Hammer of the Lettowists arrived.

My mother's family were all midwesterners.  Two of my Great-Great-Grandfathers served and one of my Great-Great-Great Grandfathers. One from Ohio served in the 26th Ohio Infantry until serious disease caused him to be discharged and sent home.  He never saw any action.  One from Iowa was in the 8th Ohio Cavalry and was the Blacksmith but was captured during the Atlanta campaign.  He was imprisoned in Andersonville before escaping during a prison transfer and made it back to Union lines, emaciated and near death.  His brother was in Regular Army (13th US Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, Company C) and received the Congressional Medal of Honor at Vicksburg, two of his cousins died at the same battle.  The Great-Great-Great Grandfather was in his 40s but volunteered to help stop Hood's invasion of Tennessee and his unit, the 173rd Ohio Infantry Regiment, participated in the Battle of Nashville but suffered no casualties so they probably were just there.

TLDR: Four of my ancestors served, only two saw any battle and were both casualties being wounded and captured.  All were enlisted men and everybody survived to tell the tale and breed my family.  The end.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: CountDeMoney on August 28, 2014, 01:15:41 PM
Quotebut my direct paternal ancestor freed his slaves in the 1850s (they were the only free blacks in the town) for reasons that are unknown to me.  I hope they were good reasons.

Didn't know there were any bad reasons to release slaves, but I think out of the box like that sometimes.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:19:05 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 28, 2014, 01:15:41 PM
Quotebut my direct paternal ancestor freed his slaves in the 1850s (they were the only free blacks in the town) for reasons that are unknown to me.  I hope they were good reasons.

Didn't know there were any bad reasons to release slaves, but I think out of the box like that sometimes.

Since it was a woman and her children, who spent the 1850s and the Civil War working in his house before moving to Philly with some of her relatives, it is not out of the realm of possibility that maybe there was an improper relationship of some sort happening.  But maybe he just thought slavery was wrong.  Either way I suppose good on him for doing the right thing.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: alfred russel on August 28, 2014, 01:19:41 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 28, 2014, 01:15:41 PM
Quotebut my direct paternal ancestor freed his slaves in the 1850s (they were the only free blacks in the town) for reasons that are unknown to me.  I hope they were good reasons.

Didn't know there were any bad reasons to release slaves, but I think out of the box like that sometimes.

There was some controversy over owners freeing their slaves that were old and sick and unable to perform useful labor in order to escape the ornerous obligations to keep them fed and clothed.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 01:20:11 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:11:34 PM
On my father's fathers side everyone were Marylanders right on the border who stayed out, probably influenced by the fact their towns changed hands...I think it was 16 times. 

On my dad's side the families moved back & forth across the river from Ohio to Virginia/West Virginia in the 1800s.  But my dad's mom's family was on the Virginia side when fighting broke out and my dad's dad's family was on the Ohio side, so those were the sides they chose.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:23:47 PM
Quote from: celedhring on August 28, 2014, 10:57:13 AM
An ancestor of mine from Cervera fought in a rebel Carlist party under the Infante Alfonso Carlos, clashing with the liberals in Central Catalonia until the rebellion was put down. He then fled to France to avoid retribution.

Oh wait, wrong Civil War.

That works.  What happened after that?
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:28:52 PM
Quote from: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 10:24:53 AM
Oh also Cal I found a Pennsylvania Dutch ancestor.  That line was apparently traced back to Alsace.

I have some of those.  From Zurich Canton.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Malthus on August 28, 2014, 01:29:14 PM
I have no American ancestors who were living in America at the time, but if I did, I would hope they would have had the good sense to be war profiteers. [/lawyer]  :P
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:33:17 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 28, 2014, 12:02:26 PM
My great great grandfather was an officer for the 5th florida infantry regiment. Its first battle was Second Bull Run, was in the Bloody Lane at Antietam, lightly engaged in Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, among other battles. He was taken prisoner at the Wilderness, exchanged and rejoined the the regiment during the Siege of Petersburg. In the end the regiment surrendered at Appomattox, and he was one of just 53 left. Depending on the source, the regiment started with 1000-1500.

My wife's side of the family were solidly Lettowist and this is a pretty typical story.  One of them was one of 32 left out of a consolidated Regiment that once was four Regiments totalling about 5,000.  One was from a North Carolina Regiment that ceased to exist after Gettysburg, of the 9 cousins from Davie County who joined up he was the only one who survived.  The stories of Confederate units are pretty hard core.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: The Brain on August 28, 2014, 01:34:10 PM
Quote from: Malthus on August 28, 2014, 01:29:14 PM
I have no American ancestors who were living in America at the time, but if I did, I would hope they would have had the good sense to be war profiteers. [/lawyer]  :P

lol
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:35:51 PM
Quote from: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 01:20:11 PM
On my dad's side the families moved back & forth across the river from Ohio to Virginia/West Virginia in the 1800s.  But my dad's mom's family was on the Virginia side when fighting broke out and my dad's dad's family was on the Ohio side, so those were the sides they chose.

Odd.  The Ohioans were not copperheads?  Maybe the Virginians were press-ganged?  Strange they would just happen to line up that way.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:36:11 PM
Quote from: The Brain on August 28, 2014, 01:34:10 PM
Quote from: Malthus on August 28, 2014, 01:29:14 PM
I have no American ancestors who were living in America at the time, but if I did, I would hope they would have had the good sense to be war profiteers. [/lawyer]  :P

lol

A fine Swedish military tradition.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 01:41:57 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:33:17 PM
My wife's side of the family were solidly Lettowist and this is a pretty typical story.  One of them was one of 32 left out of a consolidated Regiment that once was four Regiments totalling about 5,000.  One was from a North Carolina Regiment that ceased to exist after Gettysburg, of the 9 cousins from Davie County who joined up he was the only one who survived.  The stories of Confederate units are pretty hard core.

Was that the NC regiment that suffered 100% casualties at Gettysburg?
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: alfred russel on August 28, 2014, 01:44:00 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:33:17 PM
My wife's side of the family were solidly Lettowist and this is a pretty typical story.  One of them was one of 32 left out of a consolidated Regiment that once was four Regiments totalling about 5,000.  One was from a North Carolina Regiment that ceased to exist after Gettysburg, of the 9 cousins from Davie County who joined up he was the only one who survived.  The stories of Confederate units are pretty hard core.

My father researched this guy's war history, and I helped (mainly because he was telling the stories through the family and I thought he might be putting in unsubstantiated stuff).

But one story through the family history is that when he married my great great grandmother shortly after the war, someone asked her why should was marrying my great great grandfather (who was apparently a rather rough and uncouth individual). She replied that she was marrying him because all the good men were killed during the war.

With the knowledge of the regiment's history the context of the statement changed: this regiment came from a rural area of Florida, and even today 1,000+ men would be a lot. What came through the family history as a joke was probably an accurate description of what really was the case.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: celedhring on August 28, 2014, 01:48:17 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:23:47 PM
Quote from: celedhring on August 28, 2014, 10:57:13 AM
An ancestor of mine from Cervera fought in a rebel Carlist party under the Infante Alfonso Carlos, clashing with the liberals in Central Catalonia until the rebellion was put down. He then fled to France to avoid retribution.

Oh wait, wrong Civil War.

That works.  What happened after that?

His descendants lived around the Perpignan area until my great-grandfather reentered the country in the 1920s. The Carlist cause still burning bright in the family's hearts, he volunteered for a Tercio de Requetés in the Spanish Civil War, the Carlist militia that supported the Nationalists.

Having fought for the winning side, he became an influential character in my hometown (Badalona) after the war, even being close to be appointed major. But the Carlists quickly fell out of favor and he lost his position.

His brother, who had also fought in the Civil War, volunteered for the Italian army in WWII. He fled to Switzerland in 1943 and now I have family branch there. 
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 01:52:10 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:35:51 PM
Odd.  The Ohioans were not copperheads?

Pretty strong Union men & Republicans.  I would say on the aggregate that Kentucky-Ohio-(West) Virginia tri-state region was pro-Union.  The county in West Virginia I grew up in was pretty evenly split-- the Methodist churches in the area split congregations and formed their own churches based on the North-South split.  I believe the county voted to break away from Virginia to form West Virginia.

QuoteMaybe the Virginians were press-ganged?  Strange they would just happen to line up that way.

Nah, they apparently had some loyalty to Virginia.  One dude was a lawyer and raised a battalion which became a regiment, and the other one signed up early on and served in same unit as a corporal. 
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:52:22 PM
Quote from: derspiess on August 28, 2014, 01:41:57 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:33:17 PM
My wife's side of the family were solidly Lettowist and this is a pretty typical story.  One of them was one of 32 left out of a consolidated Regiment that once was four Regiments totalling about 5,000.  One was from a North Carolina Regiment that ceased to exist after Gettysburg, of the 9 cousins from Davie County who joined up he was the only one who survived.  The stories of Confederate units are pretty hard core.

Was that the NC regiment that suffered 100% casualties at Gettysburg?

It was the 13th and it was 80%.  Though it looks like the unit was still around until the end of the war so I was wrong that it ceased to exist.  I guess my source was relaying that the original 13th ceased to exist.  Its Battle Flag lists Cold Harbor:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcivilwartalk.com%2Fattachments%2Fconfederate-battle-flag-of-the-13th-north-carolina-infantry-jpg.7058%2F&hash=2e18c0209552a238d6a77c29569328de9f320d69)

Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:55:54 PM
Quote from: celedhring on August 28, 2014, 01:48:17 PM
His descendants lived around the Perpignan area until my great-grandfather reentered the country in the 1920s. The Carlist cause still burning bright in the family's hearts, he volunteered for a Tercio de Requetés in the Spanish Civil War, the Carlist militia that supported the Nationalists.

Having fought for the winning side, he became an influential character in my hometown (Badalona) after the war, even being close to be appointed major. But the Carlists quickly fell out of favor and he lost his position.

His brother, who had also fought in the Civil War, volunteered for the Italian army in WWII. He fled to Switzerland in 1943 and now I have family branch there. 

Well let me just say I can identify with having ancestors who heroically supported causes that horrify me :P
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: alfred russel on August 28, 2014, 02:02:32 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:55:54 PM
Well let me just say I can identify with having ancestors who heroically supported causes that horrify me :P

Jesus Valmy, dont tell me you have Aggies as ancestors?  :o: :hug:
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: celedhring on August 28, 2014, 02:05:25 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:55:54 PM
Quote from: celedhring on August 28, 2014, 01:48:17 PM
His descendants lived around the Perpignan area until my great-grandfather reentered the country in the 1920s. The Carlist cause still burning bright in the family's hearts, he volunteered for a Tercio de Requetés in the Spanish Civil War, the Carlist militia that supported the Nationalists.

Having fought for the winning side, he became an influential character in my hometown (Badalona) after the war, even being close to be appointed major. But the Carlists quickly fell out of favor and he lost his position.

His brother, who had also fought in the Civil War, volunteered for the Italian army in WWII. He fled to Switzerland in 1943 and now I have family branch there. 

Well let me just say I can identify with having ancestors who heroically supported causes that horrify me :P

My mother has photos of my great-grandad in full fascist regalia, plus his Falange Española (our fascist party) membership card. He also harbored Nazi officers that were fleeing to SA; one Nazi colonel courted his daughter (my grandma), and gave her his cap*. Yeah, a nice piece of work he was.

*Which, to my annoyance, she threw away.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 02:05:47 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on August 28, 2014, 02:02:32 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:55:54 PM
Well let me just say I can identify with having ancestors who heroically supported causes that horrify me :P

Jesus Valmy, dont tell me you have Aggies as ancestors?  :o: :hug:

Hey I said they horrify me not lead me to contemplate suicide!
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: viper37 on August 28, 2014, 02:25:42 PM
My great grandmother was an american citizen born in Florida.  If any of my ancestors or someone closely related to one of my ancestor fought in the civil war, it was on the Confederate side.  But I doubt it, I think her family were fairly recent immigrants when she was born, in 1900.  Could be wrong, I wasn't too old when she died and she didn't live long in my grandmother's house.  She was a cool grandma though :)
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Malthus on August 28, 2014, 02:28:35 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:36:11 PM
Quote from: The Brain on August 28, 2014, 01:34:10 PM
Quote from: Malthus on August 28, 2014, 01:29:14 PM
I have no American ancestors who were living in America at the time, but if I did, I would hope they would have had the good sense to be war profiteers. [/lawyer]  :P

lol

A fine Swedish military tradition.

:lol:

Ball bearings, anyone?
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: grumbler on August 28, 2014, 04:36:09 PM
Quote from: Barrister on August 28, 2014, 11:57:27 AM
My relatives were all in their respective old countries that far back, which is pretty standard for western Canada.  The prairies weren't settled until later on.
Ditto.  All four of my grandparents came here after the Great War.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: grumbler on August 28, 2014, 04:41:09 PM
Quote from: Valmy on August 28, 2014, 01:11:34 PM
.... received the Congressional Medal of Honor at Vicksburg,
:mad:  You fucking know better than to call The Medal the "Congressional Medal of Honor!"


Dunno why it irritates the fuck out of me that people can't get the name of the highest US award for valor right, but it does.

The SEC Network just did the same thing in their story on the USC player who earned The Medal.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Admiral Yi on August 28, 2014, 04:47:12 PM
All I have is a vague rumor that a distant relative fought at Vicksburg (on the Blue Team) and won a Congressional Medal of Honor.  The one given out by Congress.

Truth be told, I'm not aware of *any* direct relative that served in *any* war.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Razgovory on August 28, 2014, 04:54:03 PM
German unionists in Illinois.  I had a great great great uncle who died at Fredrick.  Of disease oddly enough.  I'm also related to a Union rear admiral, Andrew Foote.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Archy on August 28, 2014, 04:54:35 PM
Non, all us emigration of family members happened post ww2
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Tonitrus on August 28, 2014, 04:56:09 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on August 28, 2014, 04:54:03 PM
German unionists in Illinois.  I had a great great great uncle who died at Fredrick.  Of disease oddly enough.  I'm also related to a Union rear admiral, Andrew Foote.

Not odd at all, IIRC disease was the primary killer of the ACW.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Tonitrus on August 28, 2014, 04:57:45 PM
And troops from Illinois some of the worst hit...

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.civilwar.org%2Feducation%2Fhistory%2Fcost-of-war%2Fusa-losses-by-state.jpg&hash=fc9d0117a3dd209ca260f6d66306e47b29263f2d)

http://www.civilwar.org/education/civil-war-casualties.html
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: alfred russel on August 28, 2014, 05:03:25 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on August 28, 2014, 04:47:12 PM
Truth be told, I'm not aware of *any* direct relative that served in *any* war.

My father and I fucked it up, but before that we had a good run of military service going back paternally.

Grandfather: volunteered for the navy the day after pearl harbor
Great Grandfather: volunteered for the Spanish American war
Great Great Grandfather: Civil War volunteer, discussed above
Great Great Great Grandfather: also volunteered for Civil War service, but ended up in some non combat BS role as he had broken his hip sailing around the world before the war and was a bit too old.

I don't remember the details going back further, but I know a few generations before a great x something fought in the Revolution for South Carolina and got some land for it.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Sheilbh on August 28, 2014, 05:07:28 PM
Quote from: celedhring on August 28, 2014, 10:57:13 AM
An ancestor of mine from Cervera fought in a rebel Carlist party under the Infante Alfonso Carlos, clashing with the liberals in Central Catalonia until the rebellion was put down. He then fled to France to avoid retribution.

Oh wait, wrong Civil War.
My ancestors are from Wexford...
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: CountDeMoney on August 28, 2014, 05:59:53 PM
Quote from: grumbler on August 28, 2014, 04:41:09 PM
Dunno why it irritates the fuck out of me that people can't get the name of the highest US award for valor right, but it does.

Probably because you're an overly anal nitpicker.  But we knew that.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: grumbler on August 28, 2014, 06:11:28 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 28, 2014, 05:59:53 PM
Quote from: grumbler on August 28, 2014, 04:41:09 PM
Dunno why it irritates the fuck out of me that people can't get the name of the highest US award for valor right, but it does.

Probably because you're an overly anal nitpicker.  But we knew that.
Probably true.  Let's call it "the Congressional Medal of Homer" while we are at it.  This is a forum that obsesses over the difference between the Seljuk Turks and Ottoman Turks, or the differences between the T-62 and T-74, but can't name a famous fucking medal correctly.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Razgovory on August 28, 2014, 06:13:57 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 28, 2014, 05:59:53 PM
Quote from: grumbler on August 28, 2014, 04:41:09 PM
Dunno why it irritates the fuck out of me that people can't get the name of the highest US award for valor right, but it does.

Probably because you're an overly anal nitpicker.  But we knew that.

One of these days someone on this board  is going to say "ask for anal" and have Grumbler show up.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Ed Anger on August 28, 2014, 06:21:37 PM
Pass
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Caliga on August 28, 2014, 06:32:48 PM
Quote from: PDH on August 28, 2014, 11:42:43 AM
My...er...great-great-great-grandfather was Henry A Wise, the Governor of Virginia who was in office when John Brown was hanged.  He later became a horrible Confederate General.
You win the thread.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Tonitrus on August 28, 2014, 06:33:53 PM
If someone's ancestor was used by Bedford Forrest as a shield, they could top that.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Caliga on August 28, 2014, 06:38:28 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on August 28, 2014, 06:33:53 PM
If someone's ancestor was used by Bedford Forrest as a shield, they could top that.
It seems remotely possible in Princesca's case.  She had an ancestor whose was in a (Union) Kentucky cavalry regiment and was killed at the Battle of Jackson.  His name was Jefferson Duncil which I always thought was a neat name.

Anyway, his widow went on to marry her first cousin and she is descended from all three of them. :blush: :kentucky: 
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: Caliga on August 28, 2014, 06:46:05 PM
Another relative (since I just thought to pull my records for him up):

Enlisted in the Pennsylvania 1st LA Batty E Light Artillery Battery on 20 Jun 1861.
Promoted to Full Corporal on 26 Jun 1862.
Promoted to Full Sergeant on 13 Aug 1862.
Mustered out on 03 Oct 1862, Yorktown, Virginia due to rheumatism and diarrhea. :blush:

Re-enlisted (as a Private) in the 24th Indiana Light Artillery on 22 Oct 1862 in Marion, Indiana.
Mustered out as a Corporal on 03 Aug 1865.

Those of you I am FB friended with:  I took a pic of me at this dude's grave a few months back and posted it.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: LaCroix on August 28, 2014, 07:00:57 PM
i'm related to custer :)
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: CountDeMoney on August 28, 2014, 08:22:09 PM
Quote from: Caliga on August 28, 2014, 06:32:48 PM
Quote from: PDH on August 28, 2014, 11:42:43 AM
My...er...great-great-great-grandfather was Henry A Wise, the Governor of Virginia who was in office when John Brown was hanged.  He later became a horrible Confederate General.
You win the thread.

That guy was a real asshole.  So glad PDH broke the cycle.
Title: Re: American Civil War Ancestors
Post by: PDH on August 28, 2014, 10:28:36 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 28, 2014, 08:22:09 PM

That guy was a real asshole.  So glad PDH broke the cycle.

Oh the assholes bred true for a number of generations...according to my ex-wife it is still holding true.  Luckily, I have no issue.