I have CD's of the Roll of Honor for Union Soldiers and Military Records for Confederate Soldiers and would be happy to do a look up for you, just email me with your request!
MY ANCESTORS IN THE CIVIL WAR
1. Marion Casey (my great-great grandfather on my grandmother's side). Marion enlisted in the Confederate Army on Dec. 15 1861 in Spartanburg S.C. He entered service as a member of the South Carolina 18th Infantry Regiment, Company E. It appears that he was a continuous member of this unit and participated in the battle of Second Manassass and South Mountain. I say this because on one of his muster rolls he was paid by Maj. Bryan on Sept. 1 1862 and that was during the time this unit was involved in those actions. He was transferred to the Gist Guard Artillery Battery on May 4, 1863 and stayed with that unit until wars end. He was "mustered out" or paroled from active military service 26 April 1865 near Goldsboro N.C. He enlisted as a private and got out as a corporal. His muster rolls show that he was on duty with the 18th Regiment in 1862-1863 and with the Gist Guard at Morris Island S.C. in Nov-Dec 1863 and on duty at Fort Sumter in Jan-Feb 1864. The unit histories and major engagements are detailed below.
Unit History-SOUTH CAROLINA 18th Infantry Regiment-Assembled during the winter of 1861-1862 with men from Laurens County and other counties in the north western part of the state. After serving in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, it was ordered to Virginia. During the war it was assigned to General Evan's, Elliott's, and Wallace's Brigade. The 18th fought at Second Manassas, South Mountain, and Sharpsburg, moved to North Carolina, then saw action at Jackson, Mississippi. Returning to South Carolina, it was involved in the operations around Charleston. During the spring of 1864 the unit was sent back to Virginia where it participated in the Petersburg siege north and south of the James River and the Appomattox Campain. This regiment lost forty-nine percent of the 230 engaged at Second Manassas and had 3 killed and 39 wounded during the Maryland Campaign. In September, 1863, there were 363 present for duty and at Petersburg mine explosion, 205 were disabled. It sustained many casualties at Slayer's Creek and surrendered 16 Officers and 139 men.
Battles:
Manassas, Second
Other Names: Manassas, Second Bull Run, Manassas Plains, Groveton, Gainesville, Brawner's Farm Location: Prince William County
Campaign: Northern Virginia Campaign (June-September 1862)
Date(s): August 28-30, 1862
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. John Pope [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee and Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson [CS]
Forces Engaged: Armies
Estimated Casualties: 22,180 total (US 13,830; CS 8,350)
Description: In order to draw Pope's army into battle, Jackson ordered an attack on a Federal column that was passing across his front on the Warrenton Turnpike on August 28. The fighting at Brawner Farm lasted several hours and resulted in a stalemate. Pope became convinced that he had trapped Jackson and concentrated the bulk of his army against him. On August 29, Pope launched a series of assaults against Jackson's position along an unfinished railroad grade. The attacks were repulsed with heavy casualties on both sides. At noon, Longstreet arrived on the field from Thoroughfare Gap and took position on Jackson's right flank. On August 30, Pope renewed his attacks, seemingly unaware that Longstreet was on the field. When massed Confederate artillery devastated a Union assault by Fitz John Porter's command, Longstreet's wing of 28,000 men counterattacked in the largest, simultaneous mass assault of the war. The Union left flank was crushed and the army driven back to Bull Run. Only an effective Union rearguard action prevented a replay of the First Manassas disaster. Pope's retreat to Centreville was precipitous, nonetheless. The next day, Lee ordered his army in pursuit. This was the decisive battle of the Northern Virginia Campaign.
Result(s): Confederate victory
South Mountain
Other Names: Crampton's, Turner's, and Fox's Gaps
Location: Frederick County and Washington County
Campaign: Maryland Campaign (September 1862)
Date(s): September 14, 1862
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan [US]; Gen. Robert E. Lee [CS]
Forces Engaged: Corps
Estimated Casualties: 4,500 total
Description: After invading Maryland in September 1862, Gen. Robert E. Lee divided his army to march on and invest Harpers Ferry. The Army of the Potomac under Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan pursued the Confederates to Frederick, Maryland, then advanced on South Mountain. On September 14, pitched battles were fought for possession of the South Mountain passes: Crampton's, Turner's, and Fox's Gaps. By dusk the Confederate defenders were driven back, suffering severe casualties, and McClellan was in position to destroy Lee's army before it could reconcentrate. McClellan's limited activity on September 15 after his victory at South Mountain, however, condemned the garrison at Harpers Ferry to capture and gave Lee time to unite his scattered divisions at Sharpsburg. Union general Jesse Reno and Confederate general Samuel Garland, Jr., were killed at South Mountain.
Result(s): Union victory
Unit History-SOUTH CAROLINA GIST GUARD ARTILLERY BATTERY- Organized in early 1862 the battery served as a heavy artillery unit from June 1863-May 1864. It was temporarily attached to the 15th South Carolina Heavy Artillery Battalion in June 1863. Surrendered by General Joseph E. Johnston at Durham Station, Orange County North Carolina on April 26, 1865. The company's first commander was Captain Charles E. Chichester but was subsequently known as Captain Gilchrist's Company. The company was assigned to various military districts but I won't list them (I do have them if you are interested).
Battles-Two battles of Charleston Harbor.
April 7, 1863-Operations against the Defenses of Charleston-Principal Commanders- Rear Adm. S.F. Dupont (U.S.), General P.G.T. Beauregard (C.S.)
Description: In April, Maj. Gen. David Hunter prepared his land forces on Folly, Coles and North Edisto islands to cooperate with a naval bombardment of Fort Sumter. On April 7, the South Atlantic Squadron under Rear Adm. Dupont bombarded Fort Sumter, having little impact on the Confederate defenses of Charleston Harbor. Although several of Hunter's units had embarked on transports, the infantry was not landed, and the joint operation was abandoned. The ironclad warships Keokuk, Weehawken, Passaic, Montauk, Patapsco, New Ironsides, Catskill, Nantucket, and Nahant participated in the bombardment. Keokuk, struck more than 90 times by the accurate Confederate fire, sunk the next day.
Results: Confederate Victory.
September 7-8, 1863-Operations against the Defenses of Charleston-Principal Commanders- Maj. Gen. Quincy Gillmore (U.S.), Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard (C.S.)
Description: During the night of September 6-7, Confederate forces evacuated Fort Wagner and Battery Gregg pressured by advancing Federal siegeworks. Federal troops then occupied all of Morris Island. On September 8, a storming party of about 400 marines and sailors attempted to surprise Fort Sumter. The attack was repulsed.
Marion did draw a war pension and it appears that he picked up his money at Hanna Brothers Store.
2. James Luther Rhodes (my great-great-grandfather on mother's side). James enlisted in the Union Army on September 7 1862 as a member of Company K of the 91st Regiment of Ohio Infantry Volunteers. He served with the unit until he died from wounds received near Winchester Va. on Oct. 5, 1864. The company was mustered out just eight months later. He was on continuous service except that he is shown as absent without leave in July of 1863 in Ohio, probably went back to check on the Farm. He was apparently born in Jackson County, Ohio and was listed as a Farmer. He was wounded in the battle of Opequon, near Winchester Va. on Sept 19, 1864 and died in a field hospital in Winchester on Oct. 5th. He is buried in the National Cemetery in Winchester, Va. gravemarker #771. During the battle of Opequan, or the Third Battle of Winchester as it is also known, the 91st was attached to Gen. Crook's VIII Corps and Col. Duval's Second Division (Second Brigade). As the VI and XIX Corps attacked the ememy front, the VIII Corps flanked and attacked from the south late in the day around 5-6pm. The 91st sustained many casulaties attacking the Reb's fortified positions. On the 91st's immediate right, a calvary regiment was also attacking commanded by Col. George Armstrong Custer.
Note: Subsequent to his death, his wife Mary Skelton died shortly thereafter apparently of grief. Their sons, James Walter Rhodes(my great-grandfather) and William Winfield Rhodes were placed in the Ohio Soldier's and Sailor's Children's home in Xenia Ohio on Feb. 8, 1870. They were picked up by their uncle John Henry Rhodes on July 26, 1870 and were taken to live with their grandparents in Memphis Missouri. One final note-James's brother Francis Marion Rhodes was also killed in the Civil War in May of 1864 in Resaca, Georgia.
Unit History-91st Regiment Infantry organized at Camp Ironton, Ohio, August 26, 1862. Moved to Ironton, Ohio, August 26-September 3, thence to Guyandotte, Va., September 4. Mustered into United States service September 5. Ordered to Maysville, Ky., September 15. Orders changed to Point Pleasant, W.Va. Attached to District of the Kanawha, W.Va., Dept. of the Ohio, to March 1863. Duty at Point Pleasant, Va., till September 26, 1862. Raid up the Kanawha to Buffalo September 26-28. Action at Buffalo September 27. Advance to Gauley Bridge Falls of the Great Kanawha, Oct. 20-Nov 3 thence moved to Fayetteville November 8 and duty there till April, 1863. Advance to Summerville, duty at Summerville and Fayetteville till May 1864. Pursuit of Morgan July 20-31, 1863. Expedition from Charleston to Lewisburg November 3-13. Scammon's demonstration from the Kanawha Valley Dec. 8-21. Big Sewell and Meadow Bluff Dec. 11. Lewisburg and Greenbrier River Dec. 12. Crook's Expedition to Dublin Depot and New River Bridge, Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, May 2-19, 1864. Cloyd's Mountain May 9. New River Bridge and Newbern Bridge June 10- July 1. Diamond Hill June 17. Lynchburg June 17-18. Buford's gap Aug. 29. Berryville Sept. 3. Battle of Opequan, Winchester Va. Sept. 19. Fisher's Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek Oct. 19, Kablestown Nov. 18. Guarding Railroad Bridge at Opequan till Dec. 20. Ordered to Martinsburg Dec. 30 and duty there till March 17, 1865. Moved to Cumberland, Md., March 17, thence to Winchester April 5, and duty there till June 2. At Cumberland, Md. till June 24. Mustered out June 24, 1865. Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 60 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 87 Enlisted men by disease. Total 153.
Battle of Opequon September 19, 1864- Principal Commanders were Maj. Gen. Phillip Sheridan (U.S.) and Lt. Gen. Jubal Early (C.S.).
Description: After Kershaw's division left Winchester to rejoin Lee's army at Petersburg, Lt. Gen. Jubal Early renewed his raids on the B&O Railroad at Martinsburg, badly dispersing his four remaining infantry divisions. Winchester changed hands for the last time in September 1864 with a Union victory that owed much to a Quaker schoolmistress, Rebecca I. Wright. A staunch Unionist, she sent word through an elderly slave to the new Federal commander in the valley, Major General Philip Sheridan, that one of Early's divisions had been sent to Richmond. Sheridan and Early had been maneuvering around the northern valley for more than a month, but with this new information, Sheridan suddenly had the advantage and decided to attack immediately.
On September 19, Sheridan advanced toward Winchester along the Berryville Pike with the VI and XIX Corps, crossing Opequon Creek. The Union advance was delayed long enough for Early to concentrate his forces to meet the main assault, which continued for several hours. Casualties were very heavy. The Confederate line was gradually driven back toward the town. Mid-afternoon, Crook's (VIII) Corps and the cavalry turned the Confederate left flank. Early ordered a general retreat.
Here is a detailed account of the actions of the Second Division on September 19, written by the Division Commander Col. Rutherford B. Hayes.
"Reports of Col. Rutherford B. Hayes, Twenty-third Ohio Infantry, commanding Second Division, of operations September 19, 1864
Headquarters Second Infantry Division
Army of West Virginia
Near Cedar Creek, Va., October 13, 1864.
Captain: I have the honor to report that at the battle of Opequon, September 19, 1864, the Second Infantry Division, Army of West Virginia, was commanded by Col. Issac H. Duval until late in the afternoon of that day, when he was disabled by a severe wound, and the command of the division thereupon devolved upon me. Colonel Duval did not quit the field until the defeat of the enemy was accomplished and the serious fighting ended. The division took no part in the action during the forenoon, but remained in reserve at the Opequon Bridge, on the Berryville and Winchester pike. The fighting of the other portions of the army had been severe, but indecisive. There were some indications as we approached the battle-field soon after noon that the forces engaged in the forenoon had been overmatched. About 1p.m. this division was formed on the extreme right of the infantry line of our army, the First Brigade, under my command, in advance, and the Second Brigade, Col. D.D.; Johnson commanding, about sixty yards in the rear, forming a supporting line; the right of the Second Brigade being, however, extended about 100 yards farther to the right than the First Brigade. The division was swung around some distance to the left, so as to strike the rebel line on the left flank. The rebel left was protected by field-works and a battery on the south side of Red Bud Creek. This creek was easily crossed in some places, but in others was a deep, miry pool from twenty to thirty yards wide and almost impassable. The creek was not visible from any part of our line when we began to move forward, and no one probably knew of it until its banks were reached. The division moved forward at the same time with the First Division, Colonel Thorburn, on our left, in good order and without much opposition until we unexpectedly came upon Red Bud Creek. This creek and the rough ground and tangled thicket on its banks was in easy range of grape, canister, and musketry from the rebel line. A very destructive fire was opened upon us, in the midst of which our men rushed into and over the creek. Owing to the difficulty in crossing, the rear and front lines and different regiments of the same line mingled together and reached the rebel side of the creek with lines and organizations broken; but all seemed inspired by the right spirit, and charged the rebel works pell-mell in the most determined manner. In this charge our loss was heavy, but our success was rapid and complete. The rebel left in our front was turned and broken, and one or more pieces of artillery captured. No attempt was made after this to form lines or regiments. Officers and men went forward pushing the rebels from one position to another until the defeated enemy were routed and driven through Winchester. Twice during the afternoon the rebels reformed behind lines of earth-works and stone fences, and succeeded in temporarily checking our advance; but very opportunely the cavalry on these occasions on our left charged in magnificent style the rebel lines and destroyed their last chance of holding the field. This division followed the rebel rout into Winchester, being the first troops to enter the town; marched through and at dusk camped south of the town, having passed from the extreme right of the infantry line of our army to a point behind the extreme left. The loss of the division was as follows: First Brigade -killed, 13;wounded, 121;missing, 1; total, 135. Second Brigade - killed, 24; wounded, 167; total, 191. Total - killed, 37; wounded, 288; missing, 1. Aggregate, 326
Rutherford B. Hayes. "
Confederate generals Rodes and Goodwin were killed, Fitzhugh Lee, Terry, Johnson and Wharton wounded. Union general Russell was killed, McIntosh, Upton, and Champman wounded. Because of its size, intensity and result, many historians consider this the most important conflict of the Shenandoah Valley. Forces engaged were 39000 on the Union side and 15000 on the Confederate side. Casualties were 5000 on the Union side and 3600 on the Confederate side.
3. Gideon Casey (my great-great -great grandfather on my grandmother's side). Gideon enlisted in Company H, 9th South Carolina Reserves on March 17, 1862 and served until February 14, 1863. I have not, as yet, found much on this reserve unit. From what I can gather, it was used as a standing 90 day reserve outfit with its members not on continuous service but would be called up if necessary. Gideon was 64 years old at the time of his enlistment.
CIVIL WAR LINKS
- Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet - U.S. - Civil War / War for Southern Independence
- Virginia Civil War Trails | Valley and Mountains
- U.S. Civil War Center -- Civil War Books
- Civil War Page
- Civil War Plymouth Pilgrims Descendants Society
- CIVIL-WAR Links
- Military & Pension Records for Union Civil War Veterans
- The American Civil War
- The American Civil War Homepage
- The Valley of the Shadow: Living the Civil War in Pennsylvania and Virginia
- U.S. Civil War Center -- Civil War Soldiers and Units Information
- U.S. Civil War Center -- Index of Civil War Information available on the Internet
- U.S. Civil War Center -- Researching People of the Civil War Era
- Men of the Hills