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It's been a long time since I've posted on AC. I left the hobby more than a decade ago. I do miss it.
Anyway....I've been working on my family tree. Three out of four of my family's "primary" branches came to the US before the war. I've always hope to find an ancestor associated with the war just as a way to connect to my interest in the war. While three of the branches all had BIG families, just the timing of the births of the children lead many of them to be too old or too young for service. The couple of military age males I did find, for some reason, did not serve.
Until recently. Turns out my Great Great Grandfather enlisted, at the age of 19, in the 8 US Infantry Company H in Baltimore, MD in November of 1857. It was a five year enlistment and he was honorably discharged in January 1863. He came with his family to America from Switzerland. They arrived in NYC in 1855.
So I've been doing a lot of research on what he may have done. Here's what I know. The 8th US garrisoned a number of outposts in Texas and New Mexico. Company H was Fort Davis initially. On the 1860 US Census, he was at Fort Quitman Texas. At that time, Fort Quitman was led by 1st Lt Zenas Bliss with only about 20 men. Lt Bliss would go on to be Col of the 7th RI and earn the MoH at Fredericksburg. Post war he served in the west and rose to the rank of Maj General I believe. Today Fort Bliss is named for him.
Early in 1861, with war on the horizon, the US Government recalled many of its western regiments back east. The 8th was trying to consolidate in San Antonio, I believe in an effort to get to the coast and get a boat back to the east coast. Texas forces capture 9 companies of the 8th US. Somehow only Company G made it east. Company H was captured with 5 other companies at San Lucas Spring and became POW's. Companies A, C, and D, captured at another place, seem to have been released by late 1861. While many of the 8th's officers where eventually exchanged in the summer of 1862, many of the enlisted were held for 22 months. Many were exchanged in February 1863. My GGgrandfather however was at Fort Columbus in NY harbor on 17 January 1863. That's the day of his discharge papers.
So I have searched a lots of sources and have more on the way. I have his CMSR from the National Archives which really just has his enlistment documentation. I have his discharge papers. The OR of the Civil War has pages and pages of correspondance about the prisoners but mostly discusses the officers on parole. There are a few tidbits in there but the few details about the enlisted.
I bought and read a great book: Twenty-two Months a Prisoner of War by Stephas Schwartz. He was part of Company I, 1st US infantry who was taken at the same time. It gives great insight into the treatment of the prisoners and where they were held and their eventual exchange. It include General Banks 19th Corps General Order number 34 dated April 23, 1863. It lists the names of all the prisoners exchanged by company. Company H is among them. However my GGGrandfather's name isn't on the list. That makes sense since he was already discharged.
I have another book written by an officer of the 8th I'm reading. Again it has some interesting tidbits both nothing concrete about the incident. I've bought Bliss's memoirs and a couple of books recommended here about the US Regulars as well. They have yet to arrive.
So Grandpa Jullius in my mind somehow got out of Texas earlier that December 1862. If so, I'm trying to find out when and then what he did. The 8th did fight in a number of battles though it seems to have been part of a Regular Battalion that was comprised of companies that were released earlier than those that were capture at San Lucas.
I'd love to see pay/muster records on the 8th. Where would I find them? I plan to look for a POC at Fort Davis (which is a NPS property) to see if they have any historical document there that may shed some light on his life there. Fort Quitman is no more. Just a site evidently.
One more thing. When he enlisted in 1857, his civilian occupation is listed as "Machinist." In the 1860 census, his occupation is listed as "Machinist." He was a uniformed soldier. He promoted to Sergeant at some point and received a military pension. He there a position in the army for a machinist I'm not aware of?
Anyway, I'm just fishing for ideas on sources and places to look. Your advice will be greatly appreciated.
Anyway....I've been working on my family tree. Three out of four of my family's "primary" branches came to the US before the war. I've always hope to find an ancestor associated with the war just as a way to connect to my interest in the war. While three of the branches all had BIG families, just the timing of the births of the children lead many of them to be too old or too young for service. The couple of military age males I did find, for some reason, did not serve.
Until recently. Turns out my Great Great Grandfather enlisted, at the age of 19, in the 8 US Infantry Company H in Baltimore, MD in November of 1857. It was a five year enlistment and he was honorably discharged in January 1863. He came with his family to America from Switzerland. They arrived in NYC in 1855.
So I've been doing a lot of research on what he may have done. Here's what I know. The 8th US garrisoned a number of outposts in Texas and New Mexico. Company H was Fort Davis initially. On the 1860 US Census, he was at Fort Quitman Texas. At that time, Fort Quitman was led by 1st Lt Zenas Bliss with only about 20 men. Lt Bliss would go on to be Col of the 7th RI and earn the MoH at Fredericksburg. Post war he served in the west and rose to the rank of Maj General I believe. Today Fort Bliss is named for him.
Early in 1861, with war on the horizon, the US Government recalled many of its western regiments back east. The 8th was trying to consolidate in San Antonio, I believe in an effort to get to the coast and get a boat back to the east coast. Texas forces capture 9 companies of the 8th US. Somehow only Company G made it east. Company H was captured with 5 other companies at San Lucas Spring and became POW's. Companies A, C, and D, captured at another place, seem to have been released by late 1861. While many of the 8th's officers where eventually exchanged in the summer of 1862, many of the enlisted were held for 22 months. Many were exchanged in February 1863. My GGgrandfather however was at Fort Columbus in NY harbor on 17 January 1863. That's the day of his discharge papers.
So I have searched a lots of sources and have more on the way. I have his CMSR from the National Archives which really just has his enlistment documentation. I have his discharge papers. The OR of the Civil War has pages and pages of correspondance about the prisoners but mostly discusses the officers on parole. There are a few tidbits in there but the few details about the enlisted.
I bought and read a great book: Twenty-two Months a Prisoner of War by Stephas Schwartz. He was part of Company I, 1st US infantry who was taken at the same time. It gives great insight into the treatment of the prisoners and where they were held and their eventual exchange. It include General Banks 19th Corps General Order number 34 dated April 23, 1863. It lists the names of all the prisoners exchanged by company. Company H is among them. However my GGGrandfather's name isn't on the list. That makes sense since he was already discharged.
I have another book written by an officer of the 8th I'm reading. Again it has some interesting tidbits both nothing concrete about the incident. I've bought Bliss's memoirs and a couple of books recommended here about the US Regulars as well. They have yet to arrive.
So Grandpa Jullius in my mind somehow got out of Texas earlier that December 1862. If so, I'm trying to find out when and then what he did. The 8th did fight in a number of battles though it seems to have been part of a Regular Battalion that was comprised of companies that were released earlier than those that were capture at San Lucas.
I'd love to see pay/muster records on the 8th. Where would I find them? I plan to look for a POC at Fort Davis (which is a NPS property) to see if they have any historical document there that may shed some light on his life there. Fort Quitman is no more. Just a site evidently.
One more thing. When he enlisted in 1857, his civilian occupation is listed as "Machinist." In the 1860 census, his occupation is listed as "Machinist." He was a uniformed soldier. He promoted to Sergeant at some point and received a military pension. He there a position in the army for a machinist I'm not aware of?
Anyway, I'm just fishing for ideas on sources and places to look. Your advice will be greatly appreciated.