A few days ago, my dad called wanting to know if I could find his grandfather‘s military records so that he could order a marker to be placed at the new Murray County Veterans Memorial Park.  Specifically, he needs Jim’s service dates, latest rank, and any medals he may have been awarded.

I immediately logged on to Ancestry and Footnote to see what I could find.  I got the first hit at Ancestry, with the “U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914.”

This is a log that lists one line (across 2 pages) for each soldier who enlisted in the above time frames.  I was excited when I first saw it, because  I thought I would learn a few things, such as his enlistment date and residence.

Now that I’ve transcribed it, I’m absolutely amazed at how much I learned from one row of information.

James B. Butler enlisted in the U. S. Army on November 10, 1901 in Ellijay, Georgia for a period of three years.  His residence at that time was Ramsey, Georgia [aka Ramhurst].  He was a twenty-one year-old farmer, who was six feet tall, with blue eyes, light brown hair, and a ruddy complexion.  He served in the 9th Infantry and the 1st Infantry and was discharged on November 9, 1904 at Fort Porter in New York.¹

How does this mesh with what I already knew about his military service?  I know from my grandmother that he fought overseas and was injured.  I always thought he was in the Spanish-American War, but 1901-1904 is more in line with the Philippine Insurrection.  I looked up the 9th Infantry, and they did, in fact, serve in the Philippines immediately after leaving China and the Boxer Rebellion² (which ended just before Jim enlisted, so I know he wasn’t in that).  The 1st Infantry also served in the Philippines during the same time period. ³

In addition to the enlistment register, I also found pension index cards on both Ancestry and Footnote.  Jim filed for an invalid pension on July 21, 1921.  The Ancestry version of the index card indicates service in both the 9th Infantry and 1st Infantry, but the Footnote version only shows the 9th Infantry.

I ordered a copy of Jim’s casefile from NARA, so I should have answers to some of these questions, plus (hopefully) a lot more information on his service, in a few weeks.

I’m catching up on some prior 52 Week Challenges that I had missed along the way.  Challenge #19 was to:

Examine the “Genealogy and Military Records” page on the National Archives page (http://www.archives.gov/veterans/research/genealogy.html). (Non-U.S. folks: examine the military records information from your country’s national archives.) Click the links and read everything you can. If you’ve ordered a military file before, read this page again and refresh you memory so you can help others. Authors of genealogy blogs can write about records they’ve received, comment on the National Archives page, or ask questions of their readers via their blog.

I love military records!  So often, they are chock-full of fabulous details that can’t be found anywhere else.  I’ve used many of the records described on the NARA page above – compiled service records, pension records, etc.

My first experience ordering a record from NARA was in December 2008.  I had learned that there was a declined pension file for my Butler brick-wall ancestor – James B. Butler – who had served in both the Florida Seminole Wars and the Civil War.  I ordered the file using the online system on 12/26/08 and it was mailed to me three weeks later.

I was expecting about 10, maybe 15 pages, as that had been my experience with Revolutionary War pension files that I had found online at Footnote.com.

Imagine my surprise when this arrived.

It’s 234 legal-size pages!

Not only did I learn lots of details about  James’ military service, but I also got residences for his children, as they all were interviewed for depositions, learned about James’ various marriages, and learned when and where he died.

If you’ve never looked into military records, what are you waiting for?

This post was written as part of an occasional series called “52 Weeks to Better Genealogy” – a challenge created by Amy Coffin at WeTree. To see all my posts in the series, click here. To see how other folks have answered the challenge, check out Geneabloggers.com.

This week’s challenge from Amy at WeTree is to play with Google Maps, a “a helpful tool for determining the locations of addresses in your family history.”  My genealogy software uses Google Maps to map all the locations for each individual within the database, so I’ve never gone straight to Google Maps and used it as a genealogy resource.  This was a fun exercise to see what the possibilities are.

I decided to look up Rock Island Arsenal, home of the Confederate Prison Camp where my great-great-grandfather was held prisoner during the Civil War.  I did not have an address, but I knew there was museum on the site, so I searched on “rock island arsenal museum, rock island, illinois.” (Click on any of the images below to see larger versions.)

Next, I changed to Satellite view and zoomed in on the Confederate Cemetery.

Next I clicked on the “More” Button and chose “Photos.”  Several photos appeared on the map, two of which were on Rock Island.  I switched back to “Map” view to make the photos stand out better, then clicked on one near the National Cemetery to make it larger.

Street view was not available, possibly because the Rock Island Arsenal is the largest government-owned weapons manufacturing arsenal in the United States.

Now I want to visit Rock Island in person and tour the museum.  Sounds like a road trip in the making!

This post was written as part of an occasional series called “52 Weeks to Better Genealogy.”  To see all posts in the series, click here.  It is also a qualifying post in the 2010 Geneablogger Winter Games.  Click here to see all posts related to the Games.

I had a conversation with my dad on Friday about his ancestors who fought in the Civil War.  I thought it would fun and interesting to put together a list, with a summary of each person’s military service.  I’ve also included each person’s relationship to my dad (as opposed to me, which is my usual practice.)

James B. Butler, my dad’s great-great grandfather – Prior to the Civil War, James served in the U. S. Army, fighting in the Second Seminole War in Florida.  He enlisted on October 5, 1837 for a period of six months.  He served as a Private under Captain Abram Chastain in the 1st Regiment of Georgia Mtd. Volunteers, commanded by Col. E. W. Chastain.

James enlisted in the Confederate Army on June 17, 1861 in Adairsville, GA. He was mustered in at Camp McDonald as a private in Colonel Wofford’s 18th Georgia Regiment, Company F. He spent at least 60 days in the hospital for nephritis and bronchitis. Due to these illnesses, he was declared unfit for duty and was discharged on November 6, 1861 at Camp Goldsboro, North Carolina.  James re-enlisted and served in the 18th GA Infantry, Company H. On September 2, 1864, he was at Jackson Hospital in Richmond, VA and given a 30-day furlough to go to Atkins, GA. He was captured in the hospital at Richmond, VA on April 3, 1865.  He was transferred to Libby Prison in Richmond, then to Newport News, VA, where he was released on June 15, 1865.

Benjamin Burgin Hemphill, Dad’s great-great grandfather – Ben enlisted in the Confederate Army on March 10, 1862 at Spring Place for a period of 3 years or until the end of the war.  He was a 5th Sergeant in Company A, 39th Georgia Infantry.  He was captured at the Siege of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863 and paroled “according to the terms of capitulation entered into by the commanding Generals of the United States and Confederate forces July 4, 1863.” He signed his oath of allegiance to the United States on July 8, 1863.  He appears on a list of men of the 39th Georgia regiment who were furloughed at Enterprise, Miss about July 22, 1863.  He appears on the muster roll of officers and men “paroled in accordance with the terms of a Military Convention entered into on the 26th day of April, 1865, between General Joseph E. Johnston, Commanding Confederate Army, and Major General W. T. Sherman, Commanding United States Army in North Carolina.”

Francis Marion Kendrick, Dad’s great-grandfather – Francis served as a Private, then a Sergeant, in Company B, 29th Tennessee Infantry in the Confederate Army.  He was captured in Murray County on January 21, 1864 and sent to the Union prison at Rock Island, in Illinois, on January 31, 1864.  Francis spent nine and a half months as a prisoner at Rock Island.

On October 13, 1864, in exchange for his release from Rock Island, Francis enlisted as a private in the 3rd U. S. Volunteers, Company A for a period of one year. The company arrived at Fort Kearny in Nebraska on April 9, 1865. Francis spent his time in the U. S. Army as a stock hand. He mustered out of the U. S. Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on November 29, 1865.

William West, Dad’s great-grandfather – William served as a private in Company D, Lillard’s 3rd Tennessee Mounted Infantry, Confederate Army.  He enlisted on March 1, 1862, in Benton, Tennessee, for a period of three years or until the end of  the war.  He spent several months as a patient in the hospital in Meridian, Mississippi in 1862 and 1863, returning to active duty on March 5, 1863.  He was captured at the seige of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863.

In addition to these ancestors, my dad (and I) have other, more distant, relatives who fought in the Civil War, mostly on the Confederate side, but at least one who fought in the Union Army.

Monteville and other members of the Roberts family aided in capturing the Union soldiers who were involved in the Andrews Raid (a.k.a. The Great Locomotive Chase).  The Andrews Raiders had abandoned the locomotive General eighteen miles south of Chattanooga.  The hunt for the fugitive raiders was prompt and successful; several were captured the same day and all within two weeks.

A group of family workers, including Monteville, his sons George, Martin, and Loranza, with the other Roberts, James, Thomas, and Williams, were working at the Roberts’ business establishment.  They were working at the mill and repairing rifles for the Confederacy.  One of them looked up to see a man riding a white horse across the field and jumping the rail fences as he approached the family.

When the man reached them, he quickly said, “Yankee raiders stole a train and got up here past Ringgold before they stopped.  Them Yankees got off and run into the woods down there” and he gave a sweeping motion with his arm to let them know what he meant.

It was the wooded area near White Oak Mountain, not too far from the Roberts home.  They lived in Hamilton County, Tennessee, fairly near the state line.  The man continued with the news.  Loranza is reported as remembering him saying, “The militia is meeting today and everybody is to meet with them at Catoosa Springs as quick as they can.  We’re all to form up groups to hunt for them.”

Needless to say, the entire group of older Roberts’ left their work in the hands of the younger boys.  The younger boys were broken-hearted at being left there to wait.  Monta Roberts was among the group who found some of the men early the next morning and turned them over to the authorities who “laced them up” in the Ringgold jail.

Sources:

Whitehead, Tolva Roberts. Roberts and Allied Families. Atlanta (1204 Milton Terrace, S.E.): T.R. Whitehead, 1960.

Welcome to Andrews Raid – The Great Locomotive Chase. Web. 12 Sept. 2009. (http://www.andrewsraid.com).

As we prepare to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our nation, I want to take a moment to recognize my ancestors who fought for (or supported the fight for) our freedom and independence.  I have seventeen ancestors and relatives who were involved in the American Revolution.  To see the complete list, click here.  Many thanks to all of them for their service and sacrifice.  I’m in constant awe of their courage.

As I wrote last week, I’m working on my DAR application, which must include a description of the Patriot’s service.  I’m applying through Captain Thomas Hemphill, my 4x-, 5x-, and 6x-great-grandfather.  He supported the cause monetarily and as a soldier and officer.

In 1776, he furnished wagons to be used in the Cross Creek Expedition. This campaign against the Tory elements of Central and Southeastern N. Carolina culminated in the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge on Feb. 27, 1776, where the Patriots won a decisive battle against the Loyalists.  Those of you who read Diana Gabaldon will remember this battle from the latter part of A Breath of Snow and Ashes.  Moore’s Creek Bridge was a pivotal battle in the Southern Campaign;  Tory activity in North Carolina decreased and sentiment for the revolution rose, leading to increased recruitment of soldiers into the Patriot forces.  Two months later, North Carolina became the first state to grant its congressional delegates the authority to vote in favor of independence.

In January 1780, Hemphill enlisted as a lieutenant in a mounted rifle company commanded by Captain Robert Patton (my 6x-great-uncle).  In early April, the company began a march toward Charleston, S. C., then under partial siege by the British. They arrived at Monck’s Corner, South Carolina, coming under the combined command of Gen. Isaac Huger.  (Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion “The Swamp Fox” was from the Monck’s Corner area, so it is possible that Hemphill and Patton both knew and fought with him.)  The day after they arrived, on April 14, 1780, in a pre-dawn attack, the British completely routed and dispersed the Americans.   Patton, Hemphill, and the remnants of their command later joined in with the the mounted troops of Col. William Washington, remained at Camden for a while, and then marched to Cross Creek. At Cross Creek, they came under the command of Col. Charles McDowell. Col. McDowell and his troops marched back toward Charlotte and eventually to Lincoln County.

Hemphill and his men, being mounted, advanced quickly into Burke County.  He, in the meantime, had received a Captain’s Commission, and began to organize a company at Burke Court House.  He then led his company in the Battle of Ramsour’s Mill.  In this battle of neighbors against neighbors, the Patriots won despite being outnumbered 1300 to 400.  It was the first Patriot victory after the devastating defeat of the Continental Army at Camden.

Afterwards, Hemphill and his men accompanied the McDowells in the S. C. skirmishes in the summer of 1780.  On October 7, they fought in the Battle of King’s Mountain, widely considered the turning point of the war.

After the war, Thomas Hemphill lived a long and prosperous life in Burke County, North Carolina.

I’ve decided to join the DAR.  I’ve thought about this for awhile and finally decided to go forward for a variety of reasons.

1. Identifying Revolutionary War patriots is one of the things that originally got me interested in genealogy.
2. Obtaining access to the DAR genealogy files.
3. Completing the rigorous application process will be a test of my research skills.  I’ll also see exactly what is required; I’d like to establish proofs of the same standard to each of my patriot ancestors (which currently number 12).

Number three is a key reason.  I coud join on my great-aunt’s application and use the short form.  However, my current plan is to join on the service of Captain Thomas Hemphill, which means I have to establish proof of births, deaths, marriages, and connect each of the generations from me to him.  I have quite a few proof documents already.

I contacted the local chapter this week and heard from two members, including the registrar yesterday.  They were very nice and seem eager to  help me through the application process.

As I reported here, I’ve recently found records related to James A. McEntire in two new Ancestry.com databases:  U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles and Confederate Pension Applications from Georgia.  Here is a summary of the information found in these two records.

James was born in McDowell County, North Carolina.  He and his family moved to Murray County, Georgia in about 1837.

He enlisted as a private in Company A, Georgia 39th Infantry Regiment on 10 Mar 1862.  He served for four months after enlisting, then furnished a substitute.   Apparently it was the practice among the wealthy (on both sides) to hire a substitute to fight.   The Confederate Army disallowed substitutes in 1864.   James later enlisted in Edmundson’s Battalion, in which he served until the surrender.  He mustered out at Kingston, Georgia on 12 May 1865.

James was part of a group of men who were convicted in federal court of conspiracy in 1885.  He spent eight years in federal prison in Ohio.

He was back in Murray County in 1902, at which time, he filed for an Indigent Soldier’s pension for his service in the Civil War. He describes his occupation since the end of the war as farming. He filed his pension on the grounds of “age and poverty,” and “infirmity and poverty.” He owned no property and had no source of income. He says he has a wife, “but no family.” A. K Ramsey and R. E. Wilson were witnesses on his behalf.

His mailing address is recorded in each year from 1902 to 1907 for the purpose of mailing his pension check.  The address was usually in Murray County, but occasionally Gordon County (where he was later enumerated on the 1910 census).

As many other blogs have reported, Ancestry.com has recently added five new databases to its Civil War collection.  I have found two particularly valuable:

U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles

Confederate Pension Applications from Georgia

A quick search of the U. S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles database yielded the record for James A. McEntire.  I learned that he enlisted as a private in Company A, Georgia 39th Infantry Regiment on 10 Mar 1862 and mustered out at Kingston, Georgia on 12 May 1865.  I have high hopes as I search for other individuals that I know fought in the Civil War.

The Confederate Pension Applications from Georgia are where the real gold lies.  Pension applications often have so much information, such as residences, medical records, military service details, friends and neighbors, marriage dates.  So far, I have found files on the following individuals:

• James A. McEntire
• Mariah (Langston) Roberts
• Fanny (Saunders) Hemphill
• Mary Elizabeth (McEntire) Hemphill
• William West

I have only processed two of these files, but I have found some wonderful information.  Come back for details in future posts.

William Brookshire, my 5x great-grandfather, served several tours of duty in the American Revolution.  He was drafted for his first tour in Rowan County, North Carolina in August of 1775 or 1776.    Under the command of General Griffith Rutherford, his militia company marched upon the Cherokee Nation, but found that the Indians had fled.  General Rutherford took a portion of the troops and marched on to the Valley towns.  The remainder, including William’s troop, stayed to guard the troops’ supplies.  They were also directed to scour the countryside, destroying all the Indian’s property that they found.  This three-month tour ended when the troops returned to North Carolina.  He was discharged at Salisbury.

About 1778 or 1779, William was called to service against the Tories, who were being troublesome on the waters of the Yadkin and Deep River in the section of North Carolina where he lived.  His class traversed the countryside for about three weeks, under the command of Captain Williams and Major Crump, in search of Colonel Fanning.

Sometime in the summer of the following year, his class was again called to suppress the Tories on the Deep River.  Under the command of Captain Aaron Hill, they traversed the counties of Guilford, Randolph, and Anson, but the Tories soon desisted from further action.  The tour lasted four weeks.

During the following winter, his class marched, again under the command of Captain Hill, to aid in suppressing the Tories under Colonel Fanning.  Fanning escaped and the Tories dispersed.  This tour lasted four weeks.

About 1781, just after the battle of Guilford, the Tories, encouraged by the approach of Cornwallis, became active in the area of the Yadkin and Deep River.  William joined the company of mounted infantry commanded by Captain William Cole in Rowan County.  They spent three weeks keeping the Tories in check, then were discharged.

He was not called upon again during the Revolution.

Source: “Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files,” database and images, Footnote.com, iArchives, (www.footnote.com : NARA), File of William Brookshire (North Carolina), pension no. S.6706; accessed 04 Jan 2009.