Confederate Ancestors

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Comment by Sue Pearson Greichunos on September 20, 2009 at 12:06am

Stacy ~ You're entirely welcome. I've been at a standstill with my own Tree on my Mother's side (Alabama roots), so I needed a little success with something to urge me on in my own quest! While on Genealogy.com, I ran into other seekers into my gr-gr-grandmother's side of the Tree, so it was all very much worth it! Good luck hunting!
Cheers! Sue

Comment by Sue Pearson Greichunos on September 19, 2009 at 2:22am

Also, Stacy ~~
You might contact the person at the following website:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/mccreless/messages/8.html
"Looking for information on George McCreless, 'twice a member of the House of Representatives' (Georgia or federal?). Not one of the original settlers in Newberry (S.C.) but lived there from 1803 until his death 13 Mar 1839. Query posted by Donn Renwick at genealogy.com.

Also, please see Cyndislist.com for many websites related to Civil War regiments, history, some photos (altho I couldn't find one of McCreless), etc. Cyndislist.com is a valuable resource for genealogy researchers.

Good luck, Stacy.

Comment by Sue Pearson Greichunos on September 19, 2009 at 1:55am

Stacy~~
At Ancestry.com, did a Military database search. I came up with no George McCreless in the Conferate forces, but there was a Capt. John McCreless at the Battle of Chickamauga, and who also was chosen for meritorious valor and whose name was placed on the Official Roll of Honor for that Battle. His name was the only McCreless on the Roll of Honor for that Battle, no other name even coming close to McCreless.

The citation is in the "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 1861-1865, Series I: Formal Reports, both Union and Confederate with Related Correspondence, Orders, etc. Serial #051, (Vol. 30, pt. 2)."

Or: I, 59, Vol. 30, Pt. 2, pp. 426, and 535. The pg #'s are not the same as the Image #'s in the database, but are specific to that report. Follows a little history of Hilliard's 3rd Inf. Battalion Alabama (from Ancestry):

Regiment: Hilliard's 3rd Infantry Battalion Alabama
Date of Organization: 25 Jun 1862
Muster Date: 25 Nov 1863
Regiment State: Alabama
Regiment Type: Infantry
Regiment Number: Hilliard's 3rd
Regimental Soldiers and History: List of Soldiers

Regimental History
HILLIARD'S LEGION
Hilliard's Legion was organized at Montgomery, June, 1862, and
consisted of five battalions; one of these, a mounted
battalion, was early detached and became part of the Tenth
Confederate cavalry.

The Legion proceeded to Montgomery nearly 3,000 strong, under
the command of Col. H. W. Hilliard, and was placed in McCown's
brigade. It took part in the siege of Cumberland Gap, and
spent the fall and winter in Kentucky and east Tennessee.

In April, Col. J. Thorington took command of the Legion, and
was succeeded in command of the First battalion by Lieut.-Col.
J. Holt, the whole Legion serving in Gracie's brigade at
Chickamauga.

In this battle it earned a splendid reputation. The First and
Second battalions suffered the heaviest loss, leaving more
than half their number either dead or wounded on the field.
Lieutenant-Colonel Holt was severely wounded, and the command
of the First battalion fell upon Captain Huguley.

Maj. Daniel S. Troy was in command after Chickamauga.
Lieutenant-Colonel Hall and Captain Walden, successively in
command of the Second battalion, were both wounded. This
battalion was the first to plant its banner on the enemy's
works. The colors were pierced by 83 bullets. The standard-
bearer, Robert Y. Hiett, was made a lieutenant.

The other battalions also fought nobly and suffered severely
both in officers and men. The Third was complimented on the
field by General Pond. The legion continued fighting in
Gracie's brigade in east Tennessee until, on November 25 1863,
it was dissolved.

Parts of the First and Third were consolidated and formed the
Sixtieth Alabama, under Col. J. W. A. Sanford; the Second and
Fourth, under Col. Bolling Hall, Jr., became the Fifty-ninth
Alabama.

Three companies of the First battalion became the Twenty-third
battalion, or Stallworth's sharpshooters. The history of the
legion is continued in the records of these organizations.

Source: Confederate Military History, vol. VIII, p. 234


Chickamagua after battle report:

Report of Lieut. Col. John W. A. Sanford, Third Battalion,
Hilliard's (Alabama) Legion.

IN THE FIELD, NEAR CHATTANOOGA,
September 26, 1863.
CAPT.: On the morning of the 19th instant, we formed a line of
battle on the banks of Chickamauga Creek, and with slight
changes of position remained there the entire day. In the
forenoon we were shelled by the enemy, but sustained no injury.

On the 20th instant, about 1 p. m., we began to advance against
the enemy, and between the hours of 4 and 5 p. m. we joined
battle. We then pushed steadily against the enemy. The battalion
immediately on our right having been momentarily checked in its
progress, we halted till it rallied and then moved forward to the
crest of a hill, which we held during the fight. A little after 6
o'clock several captains reported that many men had entirely
exhausted their ammunition. They were instructed to hold their
position. About twilight, the fire of the enemy having nearly
ceased, we were ordered to retire, and did so in good order.

We carried into the fight on the 20th instant, 211 enlisted men
and 18 officers; aggregate, 229. Of this number 4 were killed
and 42 wounded.

The conduct of the officers and men during the battle cannot be
too highly commended. All did their duty so well that it is
difficult to mention one as particularly distinguished without
being almost unjust to others. But the coolness and gallantry of
Capt. John McCrelles, of Company E, deserves notice. No one
could have acted with greater self-possession or with more
courage than he.

Asst. Surg. James B. Luckie, by his promptness and skill,
rendered invaluable service, and merits promotion.

Among the enlisted men, Corporal Hutto and Privates Hix,
Turner, and Tally, of Company A; Sergeant Baygents, and
Privates Jackson, Brooks, and Hall, of Company B; Private
Brown, of Company D; Sergeant Harris, and Privates Harris,
Lewis Skinner, and Williams, of Company E, and Privates
Simmons, Patrick, and Jackson, of Company F, acted with
noticeable courage.

Fifty privates, 4 non-commissioned, and 2 commissioned officers
were detailed for fatigue duty on the night of the 19th instant,
and did not return to the battalion till after the battle. I have
been informed they were attached to Col. Trigg's brigade. Of the
fatigue party, 1 man was killed, and 1 officer and 2 men were
wounded. None of the battalion were missing.

Yours, very respectfully,

J. W. A. SANFORD,
Lieut. Col., Comdg. 3d Batt., Alabama Legion, Gracie's Brig.

[Capt. H. E. JONES,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.]

Source: Official Records
CHAP. XLII.] THE CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. PAGE 427-51
[Series I. Vol. 30. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 51.]

Comment by Judy McLeroy Powell on September 15, 2009 at 7:00pm

Hello from Alabama! My gggrandfather, Eli Myrick, along with his brothers, William and Hiram, were prisoners at Rock Island after being captured at Chattanooga. William was exchanged, Hiram did not survive and is buried in the cemetery there. According to family legend, Eli died during the CW, but no one knows when, where or how. I've searched Ancestry, Footnote, etc. without any luck. Any other ideas would be helpful. Judy

Comment by Jayne McCormick on September 9, 2009 at 7:13pm

Fort Delaware has closed for the season, except for school groups (over 700 children) and ghost tours. However the Fort Delaware Society is still available to the public. If you had an ancester who was a prisoner at the Fort, you can contact the Society and see what information is available for him. The Society has been building a database for the approx. 33,000 prisoners who were at the Fort. The only thing the Society asks in return is that you provide, to us, any information YOU might have for your ancestor. Visit the Society's website at www.fortdelaware.org. Also, I have a book called "They Died at Fort Delaware" that lists those who died, the date they died, their company and regiment, and the cause of death. You may post an inquiry here or send me an email at bitsobluengray@aol.com with as much info you can..

Comment by Greta Koehl on August 21, 2009 at 5:17pm

There can be several reasons for short service records, especially for Confederates. Since the records are reconstituted from muster rolls, etc., the compilers would have to recognize the names as being the same person, so one set of records might be mistakenly separated out into files with different names (I've also had two guys mistakenly combined into one record). Also many men served in more than one unit, or spent time in training camps, their units got swallowed up into other units, etc. Some ancestors who were discharged for wounds, illness, and even being too young re-enlisted later. One approach might be to look into all the units that drew men from your ancestor's area, check their rosters, and read up on their histories. Hope this helps; I, too, have had some short records and records that were hard to trace.

Comment by Rosemary Taylor on August 12, 2009 at 12:33am

Hello. One of my Confederate ancestors is William Smith (1829-1911), who enlisted 1862, in Captain E. A. Pinnells Company of Mitchell's Battalion of Missouri Volunteers, under Price's Division of the Confederate Army. He signed his parole 1865, Alexandria, LA, as Lt. William Smith, Co. D, 8th Missouri Infantry. He resided in Phelps County, Missouri at the onset of the war, but moved to Lamar County, Texas after the war, where he died. I would like to know in which battles he fought.
My main Civil War interest is in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Indian Territory. The political and sociological environment before, during, and after the war intrigues me. I am trying to understand my ancestors' mind frame rather than dates of battles.

Comment by Bill Tiffee on August 7, 2009 at 11:18pm

Hi,
Looking for info on my great grandfathers, Charles C. (C.C.) Tiffee, AR and George W. Mays, AR. Both served and Charles Tiffee lost his leg (amputated) as a result of a war wound. Any help or information on either soldier would be appreciated.
Thanks, Bill Tiffee Silverton, Oregon

Comment by Darron Williams on August 7, 2009 at 10:37am

Has anyone ever run into an instance where a Confederate ancestor has a one or two page record yet is said to have served longer ?

My ggg grandfather Moody Young served in the 6th TN Inf. Co. I. He has a one page service record which states he enlisted May 23 1861. The record is the original muster roll dated Aug 12 1861, the date when the 6th was accepted into Confederate service. No further records & neither he or his widow ever applied for a pension.

The 1890 veterans census states he served until Dec 1864.

Comment by Darron Williams on August 7, 2009 at 6:32am

I'm not sure why this link is not clickable. I'll try again.

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/genealogy/default.aspx

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