Saturday, August 07, 2010

The Frontier Wars 1790-1796.

I have a new source for the militia, it covers the frontier wars, and covers the years of 1790-1796. The Indians were causing a lot of trouble at this time and for this reason the militia was on the frontier a lot. There were many militia regiments on the frontier at this time to many to put here. This page will be about one Kentucky regiment. Kentucky had many men on the frontier and like I stated to many to put here.

If you didn’t see a ancestor in this regiment, you can request a look up for a name, in the many other Kentucky regiments. My source covers many states and I will list them here so you well have a chance to find some information on your ancestor.

Note. As I have thousands & thousands of names at this web site, I must have the ( Title ) of this page for without the ( Title ), I may not be able to help you, My address can be found in my profile.

The index for my sources it covers the following States.

1. Kentucky.
2. Ohio Territory.
3. Southwest ( Tennessee ) Territory.
4. Virginia.
5. Pennsylvania.
6. Georgia.
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Major General Charles Scott’s Command.
Major Notley Conn’s Battalion.
Captain David Davis Company.

Mustered Roll of a Company of Mounted Volunteers under the Command of Captain David Davis, Major Notley Conn’s Battalion in the service of the United States, Commanded by Major General Charles Scott, from July 10 ( When last mustered ) to October 22, 1794.

1. David Davis, Captain, Commissioned June 13.

2. John Dunkin, Lieutenant, Commissioned June 13.

3. William Owens, Sergeant, Enlisted July 10.

4. James Thompson, Sergeant, Enlisted July 10, Horse died October 17.

5. Blank.

6. Blank.

7. Joseph Moore, Corporal, Commissioned June 13, served to October 20, died October 20.

8. Blank.

9. Blank.

10. Blank.

11. James Brown, Private, Horse died September 3.

12. John Brown, Private.

13. James Brown, Sen., Private, Horse lost September 3.

14. John Carpenter, Private.

15. Peter Comer, Private, Horse lost September 4.

16. Joseph Cox, Private, Horse lost September 4,Wounded August 20, left at fort Washington; Discharged November 9.

17. Michael Dougherty, Private.

18. Edward Dayle, Private, Deserted from Fort Recovery.

19. Robert Ellison, Private, Deserted from Fort Recovery.

20. Moses Flower, Private, Deserted from Fort Recovery.

21. William Gorman, Private.

22. William Gable, Private, Horse sold September 25.

23. James Hannah, Private, Horse lost October 14.

24. Charles Key, Private, Horse lost October 14.

25. Samuel Leming, Private.

26. John McIntyre, Private, Horse lost September 4.

27. John Mills, Private.

28. Charles McMillen, Private.

29. Archibald McFarland, Private, Horse lost October 14.

30. John McCutchin, Private, Horse lost September 22.

31. Isaac Peede, Private, Horse lost September 20.

32. Elijah Railey, Private.

33. Benjamin Rankin, Private.

34. William Rankin, Private.

35. Aaron Rodgers, Private.

36. John Smith, Private, Horse died August 4.

37. Edward Walling, Private, Horse lost July 21.

38. Clement Walters, Private, Horse lost September 1.

39. Thomas Wells, Private.

40. James Ward, Private.

Certification: E. W. Butler, Captain, October 22, 1794.

( NA, RG. 94:54, Box 3. )

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Colonel Thomas W. Sweeny & Private Murry.


Thomas William Sweeny.

Birth: Dec. 25, 1820
Death: Apr. 10, 1892
Photo provided by John "J-Cat" Griffith.

Civil War Union Brigadier General. Born in Ireland, he moved to America in 1832 and settled in New York City. He joined the Baxter Blues, militia company in 1843, his unit fought in the Mexican War and his right arm was amputated after being wounded. After he recuperated, he fought against Native Americans in the Southwest and on the Great Plains. When the Civil War began, he was stationed in St. Louis, Missouri and became Brigadier General of Missouri's volunteers. While fighting at Wilson's Creek, he was wounded, carried off the field and returned to action in January of 1863. He led troops at Fort Donelson, was wounded at Shiloh, fought at Corinth and led a division in the Atlanta Campaign. After the war, he remained in the Army and retired a Brigadier General of Regulars in May, 1870.

Colonel Sweeny, give a battle report on the operations of October 3-6, 1862, in this report he made this statement about private (? ) Murry.

Private Murray, of Company E, Fifty-second Illinois, when the regiment fell back from the redan, he refused to retire, saying "it was Colonel Sweeny's orders to hold the fort to the last." He was ordered by a rebel captain to surrender, and upon his refusing to do so was fired at and wounded in the captain's revolver; whereupon Murray shot him dead. He was then attacked by a private, whom he also dispatched. He brought off the captain's revolver as a trophy of his bravery. By this time our troops rallied, came to his rescue, and drove the rebels out of the redan.

Note. If you know who this Murry was I would like to know, so I can add the information to this page. My address can be found in my profile.

Update 11-15-2012.

I was given this information by Tood Theiste who I would like to thank.

He was Charles Murray, a 21 year-old, single, Irish-born laborer who was living in Rockford when he enlisted in Company E.  His exploits were described in a portion of the _New York Times_ article "Personals" published in the November 8, 1862 edition.  He died on January 8, 1864 at the army hospital in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

On October 4, the Fifty-second was posted to the battery's immediate south (left), with the rest of their division stretched along the railroad to their left.  After the division on the battery's right was swept away and the battery captured, the Confederates appeared behind the Fifty-second's right flank.  LTC John Wilcox then ordered the regiment to retreat--with the rest of the division following suit.  Falling back about 200 yards, the regiment (and division) rallied, lost their color bearer, and then counterattacked.  They recaptured the battery and used the battery's cannon to fire some rounds at the retreating Confederates.

In Rosecrans' after-action reports and press releases he castigated Davies Division for this retreat, as he happened to be nearby and saw it--having not seen any of their excellent fighting the rest of the battle.  As a result, it makes sense for the division's reports to highlight the valor and courage displayed by the men throughout the battle.  It worked too, for when the various reports came in, Rosecrans later apologized for his rash statements.

Monday, August 02, 2010

Learn To Think Outside The Box.

Many times when researching we find a pieces of information here and a piece there, then we try to put it all together, and a lot of times important information is left out. This is mostly because the ever day researcher, is made up of daughters, sons or grand-children looking into their family. The enemy for these researchers is time, most work or go to school during the day, and in the evenings,there are other family activities that cut down on their research time. As their time is short, they usually start with a surname, as we all do. But after finding little they are not to sure were to go from there.

They have yet learn how to think out side the “Box”, lets say for example his names is John Willis, and you found very little, where to you go from there, well try; John Willis Civil War, or any other wars he was in or any battles he may had been in. Try the registry of Deeds, Probate court, County genealogy societies, County Libraries, States Historical and County Historical societies, and the list goes on. You just have to learn to think out side the “Box.” And always remember to record where you found the information so you can back your information as fact, and if you can get a copy of the real document the better.

I know there are some that are saying, “But I can’t go to all those places.” That’s true many of us can’t but this is the computer age, and all the places can be found on the internet. Now that’s not to say you won’t have to send a few letters or pay a few fee’s but that goes with researching. Now to be fair I have been doing this for eight years and spend about sixteen hours a day on the computer, so I have learn to think out side the “Box,” Does this mean I learn it all?, far from it, I learn something new every day.

Below you will find two examples on Samuel Duffield, the first example well be the original information. The second example well be mine, now it’s true there is not a lot of information here. However with the added information I was able to add I make the document more important and interesting to read. Now too be fair to the original researcher, this may have been all the research they had, or they may have done some research but found nothing. That’s why it’s so important to learn to think out side the “Box.” By knowing were to look and by thinking outside the “Box,” I was able to find this added information in less then ten minutes.
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Example-1.

Samuel Duffield.

Birth: Unknown.
Death: Aug. 10, 1899.
Burial: Geuda Springs Cemetery, Geuda Springs, Sumner County
Kansas,

Civil War, Corpl, 1st Missouri, Company F. State Militia Cavalry.
Aged 62 years 10 months 18 days.
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Example-2.

Samuel Duffield.

Birth: 22 Sep 1836, Braxton Co., W. Va.
Death: 10 Aug 1899, Gueda Springs, Ks.
Burial: Geuda Springs Cemetery, Geuda Springs, Sumner County
Kansas.
Aged 62 years 10 months 18 days.
Father: George Duffield
Mother: Mary Givens

Samuel Duffield, enlisted in the 1st., Missouri State militia, cavalry, on March 24, 1862, at Gallatin Missouri, he was mustered in on April 8, 1862, at Gallatin Missouri. He was a private of company K., his age was 25. He mustered out from company F., on March 11, 1865. On his discharge from company F., he held the rank of Corporal.
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Important note. Some of you may whish to use this information and that’s ok, however some errors may have been made, so do some more research before stating this information as fact.