Civil War Veterans in My Family Lines
I have discovered many great-great and great-great-great grandfathers who fought in the civil war. Having had 3/4 of my family lines in Indiana starting from between the 1820s to the 1850, many of my people fought on the side of the Union. My maternal grandmother's line, not being based in Indiana, although the most documented by distant cousins over the decades, is the line that I have yet to make deeper progress in researching and understanding. I have found grandfather's on her side that did indeed fight for the confederates. It is my goal to research and document all of my ancestor vets and fill in the blanks with general knowledge about where they were, what battles they fought in, etc.
Below are brief sketches of some of what I know so far. I continue to add to them as my knowledge progresses. If you have any further knowledge about any of these individuals, their wartime experiences, or anything about their families, please feel free to email me! |
John R. Allen, Ind Vol, 14th Regiment, Co. D; 7/61-7/64
My great-great grandfather. My Dad's, Dad's, Dad's Dad. There has been a book written about the 14th Regiment, Gallant Fourteenth: The story of an Indiana Civil War Regiment, written by Nancy Niblack Baxter. I have the 4th "Memorial" edition, published in 2008. Although, sadly I found no mention of any of my people in it (that I know of), it is an excellent book, very readable (even for non-civil-war-enthusiasts) and is a treasure trove of lifestyle information about southern Indiana in the mid-1800's as well as the obvious info about the regiment's movements, hardships, and triumphs. There is a story that he was spent at least one awful night in a sick tent on Lookout Mountain (Chattanooga?). He was on the very edge of the tent and was exposed to the cold snowy weather all night long. At one point in the night, one of the other soldiers became delusional with fever and ran out of the tent and climbed up a nearby tree. It is said that the next morning, the only people still living who'd gone to sleep in that sick tent the night before, were the man who'd climbed the tree and my great-great grandad. His son, my great-grandad, had yet to be conceived. Another story told about Grandad John was told by someone connected to him through one of his daughters. It is said that John was a fine horse trainer. One day he came across the need to teach a lesson to one of his grandchildren. The child was trying to get a horse to do something by shouting at it and hitting at it in some way or fashion. John Allen, began speaking in just as angry tones to this child in words that were incomprehensible to the child (it is said to have been French). The tone was that of command but no matter how adamantly my grandfather shouted, the child still did not understand. He stopped then and explained to the child that that was exactly how the horse felt. And one can't expect an animal to obey when it has no idea of what it is being commanded to do, and it only gets worse when there's shouting and violence. (Other family surnames in found in 14th roles, George W. Faucette, d.5/64; James T. Overman, transf. to 20th Reg. 6/61 or 6/64. Not confirmed that they are relations.) I have found copy of an original doc. #16762 concerning his admittance to "the (Veteran's) Home" as a "perm." resident. The disabilities listed are illegible. It also lists Military, Domestic, and Home History, giving his height as 5'8"; age 80; eye color: GR; hair color: Gr; read & write: Yes; Occ: farmer; widow; name and address of nearest relative: daughter, Mrs. Henry Haywood, Bloomfield, IN), by his age this doc was from around 1921, died 23 Feb 1924 - at the above mentioned Veteran's Home - somewhere in Virginia. Buried: Walnut Grove Cemetery, Greene Co., IN |
James Moffett, 97th Reg., Ind Vol Infantry, Co. E; 8/62-6/65
Wagon Master, listed in role as "James Moffat" My great-great grandfather. My Dad's, Mom's, Dad's Dad. This grandfather is first found in the Greene Co, Indiana census of 1850 as a 16 year old living with the Lay family. All but the baby were listed as having been born in Tennessee. It is interesting to me to try to imagine James' experience, fighting on the Union side having lived much of his childhood in Tennessee, and with potentially some family still there and fighting as confederates. James' father's name was William and on one census was listed as born in Scotland. James' mother's name was listed as unknown. I have seen some reference that Catherine Lay, who was in her 30's in the 1850 census was in fact James' mother. Although I have found zero primary evidence or found any family stories that support this. The Lays, Catherine and William and some of their children moved on to Missouri eventually, but James stayed in Greene County, marrying Lucinda Overman of a family living in the same township. I would LOVE to learn more about this grandfather. Buried: Walnut Grove Cemetery, Greene Co., IN Samuel Casad, 43rd Reg., Ind. Inf., Co. C; 11/61-d.11/62
My great-great-great grandfather. My Dad's, Dad's, Dad's, Mom's Dad. He was the father-in-law of John R. Allen (Ann Casad Allen's Dad) He died of "lung fever" in Helena, Arkansas in 1862. Buried: Casad-Sparks Cemetery, Greene Co., IN Mason Faucett, 115th Reg., Ind.Vol. Inf., Co. A.; 7/62
& 149th Reg., Ind. Vol. Inf., Co. G.; discharged 9/65 My great-great-great grandfather. My Mom's, Dad's, Mom's, Mom's Dad. Below is directly quoted from "Biographical Memoirs of Greene County, Indiana: With reminiscences of pioneer days. ILLUSTRATED INDIANAPOLIS. INDIANA 1908 B. F. BOWEN & CO. "Mr. Faucett enlisted July, 1862, in Companv A. One Hundred and Fifteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served in Tennessee and Kentucky, being in several minor engagements. He enlisted a second time on Feb- ruary 2, 1864, in Company G, One Hundred and Forty- ninth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served in Alabama and Tennessee, being in a number of small engagements. He was discharged in September, 1865." Buried: Grandview Cemetery, Greene Co., Indiana David Loos, Jr, 71st Reg., Ind. Inf.; 8/62-d.4/64
(Eldest brother of g-g Hiram Loos) My great-great-great Uncle. My Dad's, dad's, mom's, dad's brother. Died a P.O.W. at Andersonville Prison at age 24, 18 April 1864. Buried: Switz City Cemetery, Greene Co., IN |
Ancestors connected to other military arenas whether registration cards or action
Benjamin Hampden Paxton, registered WWI
My great grandfather. Registration Card, 15 June 1917, age 21 height: medium; build: slender; eyes: brown; hair: light; bald: no |
Samuel David Allen said to have fought in war of 1812.
My great-great-great-great grandfather. My Dad's, Dad's, Dad's, Dad's, Dad's Dad. |