Friday, July 10, 2015

Louis Leoferick Marks.

Maryland Campaign of 1862.

War Talks of Confederate Veterans
Published 1892.

Statement by L. L. Marks.

Comrade L. L. Marks, of Petersburg, Va., who was captain of Company C, of the 12th Va., says: "When we stacked arms to get rations, f he trays of bread were in sight, in front of each company, and were very tantalizing to us as hungry as we were, but we left without touching them. At the place at which we unslung knapsacks and formed the line of battle to the left of the turnpike, we were immediately (less than fifty yarjis) in rear of Grimes' battery, which we understood was drawing the fire of the batteries of the enemy, numbering thirty pieces. We moved forward to charge these guns of the enemy, and after going some little distance came to a point at which were Gens. Lee and Anderson. Gen. Long- street rode up and asked that his men be relieved, as they were exhausted in the pursuit of the enemy on his front. We were then marched across the turnpike, very much to our relief, as we had understood that we were to have charged the enemy's batteries referred to."

Referring to this incident, Comrade Tur- ner says: "I well remember that, whilst we were having our color-bearers and general guides out aligning the brigade, some mounted staff-officer came dashing from the direction of the place at which Hood's Texas brigade played such havoc with the Federal Zouaves, and, seemingly regardless of Gen. Mahone, dashed along down the line and at the top of his voice cried out, 'Hurry up, boys! We have them on the run! If you will just hurry up, we will get our independence to-day!' Gen. Mahone, not appreciating the interruption, shouted, 'Tell that crazy fool to get out of the way, and you listen to me.' These were about Gen. Mahone's words, as well as I remember them." 

Comrade Marks, who when wounded was left on the field during the night, says, that he then learned that the troops which engaged us at this point were fresh troops, recently brought to the front from the fortifications about Washington.

Author.  If you would like to learn more of his military record and his family take this link.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=marks&GSmn=l&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=48&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=16611076&df=all&

Brigadier-General William E. Baldwin.

Brigadier-General William E. Baldwin entered the Confederate service early in 1861 and was commissioned colonel of the Fourteenth Mississippi infantry. He was assigned to the army in central Kentucky and in February, with his command, constituted part of the force at Fort Donelson. The important part borne by him and his troops at that important post is best told in the report of General Pillow, who said: "I speak with special commendation of the brigades commanded by Colonels Baldwin. Wharton, McCausland, Simon ton and Drake." And again, "Colonel Baldwin's brigade constituted the front of the attacking force, sustained immediately by- Colonel Wharton's brigade.

These two brigades deserve especial commendation for the manner in which they sustained the first shock of battle, and under circumstances of great embarrassment threw themselves into position and followed up the conflict throughout the day. Being mostly with these two brigades, I can speak from personal knowledge of the gallant conduct and bearing of the two brigade commanders, Colonels Baldwin and Wharton. Baldwin and his command were involved in the surrender of Donelson.

After being exchanged he was assigned v the army of West Tennessee, and on December 6, 1862,  was engaged in a spirited and successful battle at Coffee- ville. General Tilghman, who commanded on this occasion, says in his report: "I take special pleasure in mentioning the names of Brig. -Gen. W. E. Baldwin, of my own division, and Col. A. P.Thompson, commanding a brigade in General Rust's division. These officers, in command on my right and left, displayed the greatest good judgment and gallantry. ' ' General Baldwin had received his brigadier-general's commission on the 19th of September, 1862.

His command consisted of the Twentieth and Twenty-sixth Mississippi and the Twenty-sixth Tennessee regiments of infantry. He led this brigade at Port Gibson, Baker's Creek (Champion's Hill), the Big Black, and through the siege of Vicksburg. Here he was a second time made prisoner of war and paroled. After his exchange he was assigned to the command of a brigade in the district of Mobile. His further participation in the war was, however, soon cut short by his death, which occurred on the 19th day of February, 1864. In his death the Confederacy lost a gallant and efficient soldier and Mississippi an illustrious citizen.

Thursday, July 09, 2015

Thomas Minor, Revolutionary War, Virginia..

Revolutionary War Records, Virginia 

Minor, Thomas (A.G. 50,117), Capt. Va. State Troops, d July 21, 1834. He entered service, then (as Francis T. Brooke testified in 1830) he was Adjutant of Colonel Willis's Regt. of Minute Men below Fredericksburgh under Gen. Mercer in the spring of 1775. Capt. Minor's Co. was raised in Spottsylvania Co., and marched first to the North : he was at the battle of Monmouth, and then returned to Va. to recruit: after his term of service had expired he served as Aid to General Stevens, and was serving in that capacity at the battle of Yorktown. Being in affluent circumstances after the war he made no request for bounty to which he had a claim, but in Feb. 1830, he made claim for land bounty for eight years service. Dec. 18, 1820, he being then 77 years old and residing in Spottsylvania Co., Va., applied to Congress for commutation.

William Cason, testified that he enlisted as a soldier in Mar., 1777, under said Minor, and served three years, and we were engaged in the battle of Monmouth. Lieut. Richard Peacock of Fredericksburg, age 78, Apr. 15, 1830, knew Thomas Minor from his youth. Dec. 11, 1829, Abram Maury stated that Minor was in General Weedon's Brigade. William Jackson, residing in Fredericksburg, age 76, knew Thomas Minor both before and after the surrender of Cornwallis. William Allen, age 64, knew Minor from boyhood.
Mrs. Elizabeth Minor, who m Thomas Minor before the war, d Dec. 7, 1836. The will of Thomas Minor, made Sept. 21, 1833, and recorded Aug. 4, 1834, mentions five married daughters: Patsey Taylor, Melinda, Elizabeth, Lucy and Sarah Ann; two single daughters; Alice Thomas and Ann Maria; and sons, Hubbard Taylor, Jefferson, Samuel and Thomas; his wife Elizabeth, and a son-in- law, William Jackson, Jr. His exrs. were Hubbard B. Minor and William Jackson, Jr. 

James Bulloch, nearly 72, Apr. 5, 1832, residing at Fredericksburg, was born and raised in Spottsylvania Co., served several tours of duty and was at the siege of Yorktown. He was for several years overseer for Minor's mother, who was a widow.


Wednesday, July 08, 2015

Gen Percival "Pierce" Butler.

Gen Percival "Pierce"  Butler.

Butler. Birth: Apr. 4, 1760, Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
Death: Sep. 9, 1821, Carrollton, Carroll County, Kentucky.

Parents: Thomas Butler (1720 - 1791), Eleanor Parker Butler.

Wife: Mildred Hawkins Butler (1763 - 1833).

Children: Eleanor Butler (1787 - 1844), Thomas Langford Butler (1789 - 1880), William Orlando Butler (1791 - 1880), Richard Parker Butler (1792 - 1885), Pierce Butler (1794 - 1851), Frances Maria Butler (1796 - 1843), Caroline Thomas Butler Pryor (1798 - 1885), Edward Butler (1800 - 1801), Edward Butler (1802 - 1821), Mary Langford Butler (1807 - 1861).

Siblings: Mary Butler Tipton (1732 - 1776), Richard Butler (1743 - 1791), William Butler (1745 - 1789), Thomas Butler (1748 - 1805), Percival "Pierce" Butler (1760 - 1821), Edward Butler (1762 - 1803).

Burial: Butler Family Cemetery, Carrollton, Carroll County, Kentucky.

Revolutionary War Record.

Butler, Pierce (or Percival), was born in Carlisle, Pa., April 4, 1760, died in CarroUton, Ky., Sept. 9, 1821. Was commissioned First Lieutenant 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment, under Col. Thomas Craig, Sept. 1, 1777. With this regiment through campaigns of 1778, '79, '80, '81, '82. Was at siege of Yorktown on Gen. La Fayette's staff and received handsome sword from La Fayette after the surrender of Cornwauis. Jan. 1, 1783, transferred to 2nd Pennsylvania. Sept. 23, 1783, joined 1st Pennsylvania with which he remained to close of War.- Butler, Pierce.

Tuesday, July 07, 2015

JOHN T. GILMER

Dr John Thornton Gilmer. 

Birth: Mar., 1808, Wilkes County, Georgia.
Death: Jun. 27, 1866, Quincy, Adams County, Illinois.

Wife: Lydia Laurie Barker Gilmer (1812 - 1878).

Burial: Home Cemetery, Fowler, Adams County, Illinois.

DR. JOHN T. GILMER, of Adams County, State of Illinois, was born in Wilkes County, Georgia, in the year1808. He was a son of Dr. John T. Gilmer, a Virginian by birth and education, who removed from Virginia to Georgia, and from Georgia to Kentucky, in the year 1813, and from Kentucky to Illinois in 1833.

The subject of this sketch had in early boyhood embraced the Christian religion, and, throughout his life and in the hour of death, he was cheered and sustained by its influence.

He was courteous, kind, generous, and hospitable. These virtues drew around him the poor, who sought his beneficence, the helpless, to whom he extended a generous aid, and the persecuted, who found shelter beneath his roof.

A hungry man never left the house of Dr. Gilmer, nor did a shivering stranger ever approach it without receiving an invitation to warm at his fires, and share the comforts of his home.

When the reign of cruelty, torture, and terror was supreme in Missouri, hundreds of its best citizens were driven out of their houses to witness the destruction of their property, insult to their families, and to make their escape at midnight, by the dazzling light of their burning dwellings. Others, seeing their parents or children shot down, fled, to escape with their lives, and in distant places sought shelter, until the murderous storm was over.

"Wherever they hoisted their standards black, Before them was murder, behind them was wreck." 

Men were shot down in the fields, and their remains were fed to the swine. Nameless cruelties were perpetrated, until many of the people of Missouri were strangers and pilgrims, scattered over the Mississippi Valley.

The wide extent of Dr. Gilmer's acquaintance, as a mem- ber of the Christian Church and as a physician, attracted many of the most respectable of these refugees to his house, where he entertained them with a liberality, which will be kindly remembered after his persecutors are dead and for- gotten. This kindness was considered an offence against " loyalty," and occasioned his arrest.

In the summer of 1863, the Doctor was seized at his home and dragged to Quincy, by a regiment of mercenaries, mainly Austrians, who had been engaged with Haynau in his butcheries in Hungary, and who had committed several murders in the Quincy military district. From Quincy he was taken to Springfield, Illinois, by these brutes, (who had insulted his family at the time of his arrest,) cast into a miser- able, filthy prison, and there detained until the indignation of the people, at the grossness of these outrages, became so wide-spread, that the authorities were compelled to release him.

He had committed no offence, unless it be an offence to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the sick.

This imprisonment wounded his proud and sensitive spirit to such an extent, that he never afterward enjoyed good health. He had a stroke of apoplexy, induced by his im- prisonment, from which he partially recovered, but finally yielded to its power.

He died as he lived, the friend of liberty, and the servant of God.

Sunday, July 05, 2015

EVI LAY RANDALL

Picture taken 1888, Push to enlarge.
EVI  LAY RANDALL, of Appleton.  Wis., member of G. A. R. Post No. 133,  was born June 22, 1829, in Sandgate, ^ Bennington Co., Vt. He is the son of Levi and Anna (Hurd) Randall and belongs to New England Puritan stock in both lines of descent. His great grandfather in the paternal line was Jud2:e William Lav of Connecticut and held his office under warrant of George HL of England, 'i'he family held lionorable position and General Wasldngton was their guest on one occasion. His father, Levi Randall, was born in Saybrook, Conn. I'he' son received his education primarily in Werraont and attended Troy Conference .Academy at Poultney. He was reared on a farm and when he was twenty-one, he came to Appleton to enter Lawrence University to take a course of study. Later, lie fitted for the business of a carpenter which lie followed umtill he became a soldier.

When he was seventeen he acquired a knowledge of the cornet and at that age was the owner of his first instrument, and he was a member of various bands prior to enlisting as a musician in the 6th Wisconsin Regiment at Appleton, July 10, 1861. He was discharged Sept. 27th of the same year at Washington on account of hemorrhage of the lungs and consequent disability. He acted as a member of the regimental band and officiated in hospital duty until his discharge. Three of his brothers were in the service during the war. A. B. Randall was chaplain of a colored regiment and now resides at Ciaremont, Va. R. H. Randall was a soldier and musician in the 6tli Wisconsin (see sketch) and R. K. Randall of Grundy Center, Iowa, was a soldier in the Ist Wisconsin Cavalry through its entire period of service.

Mr. Randall returned from the war to Apple- ton and engaged in farming. His property is situated at the city limits and is separated from the corporation by 2nd Avenue. July 8, 1856, he was married to Jeanette J. Gridley and they had two daughters,Clarissa Anna married A. C. Tucker and her daughter is named Corinne. Lillian Harriet has been married and has a son Levi Randall Gridiey. Mrs. Randall died Dec. 24, 1886. She was the daughter of Rev. Cyprian H. Gridley, wdio was spiritual adviser of two deserters who were shot at Flatisburg in the war of 1812.

His family dated back to Pilgrim stock and was of Scotch lineage. His wife was Clarissa Peck, and Bishop Peck of the M. E. Church belonged to the same family. " Father " Gridley was one of the first ministers of the New York Conference and was ordained by Bishop Asbury, who arrived in the United States in 1784 and who was associated with Rev. Thomas Coke (ordained by Wesley in England) in the organization of the Methodist Church in America. (Dec. 24th, of the same year.) Mr. Randall's middle name perpetuates that of his ancestor, Judge Lay. Mr.Randall returned from the war to Appleton and has since been interested in farming. He is making a specialty of horticulture in which he takes an enthusiastic interest.