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Gents-
I took the plunge about three years ago to find out about my Civil War ancestors by subscribing to a couple of geneolgical sites. In a hobby where there are many things competing for our limited dollars I was very hesitant to do it. I had a couple of reasons to finally pursue the quest. First and foremost I wanted to know if my people were actually "there" and what battles they may have seen. Second I wanted to give the gift of family history to my family...older and younger. And third I was rather jealous of all the guys around me that knew where their gg grandfathers were during the war.
Was it worth it? YES! It was at times a frustrating journey for sure but I got a lot out of it too. I joined the Sons of Union Veterans and the G.S. of the War of 1812 based on my findings. But the quest was and still is pretty darn fun. As an example my 2 ggg uncles were living in Iowa but they joined an Illinois Infantry Regiment in Paducah, Kentucky. How does that happen? I only just got the answer when I bit the bullet and ordered one of these uncles's pension records from the National Archives. According to Uncle Albert he stated that he and his brother joined the 12th Illinois Infantry at Paducah, Kentucky in October 1861 while visiting family in Massac County, Illinois. Massac County is right across the river from Paducah. This was a great find because it solved that mystery and showed that the cousins they were visiting were the same soldiers I found in other Illinois regiments while doing research.
From there the 2 uncles were involved with General Grant's campaign against Ft. Henry and Donelson in February 1862. As fate would have it these two uncles were at the last minute along with their regiment placed on the far right of Grant's line at Ft. Donelson. Just in time for the Confederate breakout attack on the morning of February 15, 1862. The 12th Illinois took a beating that day along with the other units that were with them that morning. NOW THE COOL PART. In the same pension record Albert and several of his former comrades in depositions walked me through that morning. These depositions were there because Albert was trying to get an increase to his pension based on his being wounded on February 15th. In a courtroom type interaction the Bureau of Pensions Investigator askes these former comrades what happened that day.
The three soldiers gave a blow by blow account of what they saw! A vivid account of two enemy lines trading shots that day and at some point Pvt. Albert Cumpston goes down wounded. According to the other depositions the soldiers said they saw his brother go to his aid "and was in turn wounded...severely." In another deposition a comrade says the brother that was wounded trying to aid the first brother died very quickly after being shot. Pvt William H. Cumpston was the brother that died. He is buried at Ft. Donelson National Cemetery to this day Grave #232.
Albert Cumpston was eventually sent to the hospital. Also according to his pension record he spent time in 3 different hospitals. It took him over a year to recover from his wound. The injury he recieved, (also from his pension record), was a "buckshot" that hit him behind the left ear. The buckshot was never removed and according to his own account it caused the loss of hearing in his left ear immediately and the slow loss of sight in the left eye. Despite the wound, which never completely healed, and the loss of hearing and sight Albert returned to his regiment and served out his enlistment. He even reenlisted as a veteran serving until mustered out in July 1865.
In February of 2012 I had the honor of standing on the ground that was the Union right flank at Ft. Donelson, Tennessee where this part of my Civil War family history occured! It was an experience that is hard to put into words. It was humbling to say the least. It was also frustrating because I was standing in someone's front yard! This part of the Ft. Donelson battlefield was not protected and currently is a housing development. Despite this it was with great relief that an area a little further back was marked as having been recently purchased by the Civil War Trust. To ALL of you Gents that have given and continue to give to the Civil War Trust...THANK-YOU! I recently joined the Civil War Trust based on this experience and my visit to the Franklin Battlefield later in the spring.
My point from this long tired post is this guys. Take the time to find your Civil War ancestors if you haven't already. They will be able to tell you a lot about the war...from their experiences. And to also help preserve the battlefields. Its all worth it!
I took the plunge about three years ago to find out about my Civil War ancestors by subscribing to a couple of geneolgical sites. In a hobby where there are many things competing for our limited dollars I was very hesitant to do it. I had a couple of reasons to finally pursue the quest. First and foremost I wanted to know if my people were actually "there" and what battles they may have seen. Second I wanted to give the gift of family history to my family...older and younger. And third I was rather jealous of all the guys around me that knew where their gg grandfathers were during the war.
Was it worth it? YES! It was at times a frustrating journey for sure but I got a lot out of it too. I joined the Sons of Union Veterans and the G.S. of the War of 1812 based on my findings. But the quest was and still is pretty darn fun. As an example my 2 ggg uncles were living in Iowa but they joined an Illinois Infantry Regiment in Paducah, Kentucky. How does that happen? I only just got the answer when I bit the bullet and ordered one of these uncles's pension records from the National Archives. According to Uncle Albert he stated that he and his brother joined the 12th Illinois Infantry at Paducah, Kentucky in October 1861 while visiting family in Massac County, Illinois. Massac County is right across the river from Paducah. This was a great find because it solved that mystery and showed that the cousins they were visiting were the same soldiers I found in other Illinois regiments while doing research.
From there the 2 uncles were involved with General Grant's campaign against Ft. Henry and Donelson in February 1862. As fate would have it these two uncles were at the last minute along with their regiment placed on the far right of Grant's line at Ft. Donelson. Just in time for the Confederate breakout attack on the morning of February 15, 1862. The 12th Illinois took a beating that day along with the other units that were with them that morning. NOW THE COOL PART. In the same pension record Albert and several of his former comrades in depositions walked me through that morning. These depositions were there because Albert was trying to get an increase to his pension based on his being wounded on February 15th. In a courtroom type interaction the Bureau of Pensions Investigator askes these former comrades what happened that day.
The three soldiers gave a blow by blow account of what they saw! A vivid account of two enemy lines trading shots that day and at some point Pvt. Albert Cumpston goes down wounded. According to the other depositions the soldiers said they saw his brother go to his aid "and was in turn wounded...severely." In another deposition a comrade says the brother that was wounded trying to aid the first brother died very quickly after being shot. Pvt William H. Cumpston was the brother that died. He is buried at Ft. Donelson National Cemetery to this day Grave #232.
Albert Cumpston was eventually sent to the hospital. Also according to his pension record he spent time in 3 different hospitals. It took him over a year to recover from his wound. The injury he recieved, (also from his pension record), was a "buckshot" that hit him behind the left ear. The buckshot was never removed and according to his own account it caused the loss of hearing in his left ear immediately and the slow loss of sight in the left eye. Despite the wound, which never completely healed, and the loss of hearing and sight Albert returned to his regiment and served out his enlistment. He even reenlisted as a veteran serving until mustered out in July 1865.
In February of 2012 I had the honor of standing on the ground that was the Union right flank at Ft. Donelson, Tennessee where this part of my Civil War family history occured! It was an experience that is hard to put into words. It was humbling to say the least. It was also frustrating because I was standing in someone's front yard! This part of the Ft. Donelson battlefield was not protected and currently is a housing development. Despite this it was with great relief that an area a little further back was marked as having been recently purchased by the Civil War Trust. To ALL of you Gents that have given and continue to give to the Civil War Trust...THANK-YOU! I recently joined the Civil War Trust based on this experience and my visit to the Franklin Battlefield later in the spring.
My point from this long tired post is this guys. Take the time to find your Civil War ancestors if you haven't already. They will be able to tell you a lot about the war...from their experiences. And to also help preserve the battlefields. Its all worth it!