Captain-Scout Daniel Ellis.



Capt. Daniel Ellis.



Daniel Ellis.

Birth: Dec. 30, 1827, Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee.

Death: Jan. 6, 1908, Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee.



Scout Daniel Ellis.



Civil War Union Army Officer. A southern Unionist during the American Civil War, he became a "pilot," guiding some 4000 Unionists, Confederate deserters, prison escapees, slaves, and all manner of fugitives through the mountains of East Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky, to safety beyond the Union lines. While piloting, he recruited for several regiments, provided information on Confederate activities to Federal authorities, and maintained a mail service between mountain Unionists and their men in the Union army. With a reward on his head and constantly avoiding capture, he became known as "The Old Red Fox." Near the end of the war he formally joined the Union army as captain of Company A, 13th Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry. In 1867 Harper and Brothers published his war memoirs, "Thrilling Adventures of Daniel Ellis." He is buried in the family cemetery at 345 Garrison Hollow near Elizabethton, Tennessee.

Burial: Ellis Family Cemetery, Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee.

Note.  For those who would like to read more about Daniel Ellis, can find two good books on line they are;

History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunter Cavalry. By Samuel W. Scott, Pub. 1903.
Thrilling Adventures of Daniel Ellis.  By Daniel Ellis, Pub. 1867.

Colonel Frances " Frank" Marion Walker, C. S. A.

One of the hardest pictures to find is that of a Confederate solider in uniform, at lest that's the case for me, and when I find one its a real prize for me.  Take this picture of Colonel Frank M. Walker who was of the 19th., Tennessee Infantry, I was drawn to his face, I liked it, one can be drawn to some one even if its the enemy. I tried to find some information on him but found very little.  Oh, I was able to find some reports in the History of the 19th., but as they have to be copied by hand then retyped, or I could have copy them as a print and post them, but I try not to do this to much as it shows signs of being lazy, although there is a time and a place for everything.  

Although there are no reports, I can say he ran a well kept camp, and for the most part all the men were fond of him.  Camp life was like most camps quiet and lazy, and uneventful, but for this one dark night.  A Virginian came to camp riding a fine horse to visit Colonel Walker, the Virginian tied up his horse and went into the tent. The sentry on duty had a hard time seeing into the night, it was very dark and the overhanging trees made the dark even more intense.  Later that evening the sentry who was station on the road that ran through camp and not more then twenty feet from Colonel Walker's tent, heard foot steps approaching and give the command, "Halt who gose there,?' there was no answer.  Then again two or three more steps, then they stopped and again no answer to the command to halt. 

By now the sentry was real nerves he thought  maybe some one was trying sllip by or upon him.  Again quiet foot steps, again no answer to halt.  When the sentry heard the steps again he aim into the darknest and give the command "Halt Who gose there," not getting a answer fired into the night.  A horse wheeled and ran back some twenty steps and fell dead.  It was the fine horse of the Virginian who rode in the evening before, it had gotten loose and was trying to get passed the sentry.

Colonel Walker himself brought some excitement to camp as well, he was carelessly handling or shaking a box of caps in his hand when they exploded, blowing open the box, and pieces of the caps cut his hand in several places.

Colonel F. M. Walker, had compassion, for the men of regiment as well as the case of Nathaniel Pruitt, Co. H, who was court-martialed and senteence to be shot.  This was the first and the last death sentence everpassed upon one of the old nineteenth.  June 10, was set for the execution, but through the influence of Colonel Walker and Major Heiskell, Pruitt was reprived.  He was brought out from prison to an old field near the command; his coffin placed in front of the open grave and he knelt behind it.  The guards were drawn up and made ready, when his reprieve came and was released.  He deserted the next night and fortunately for him, he was never caught.

In the beginning I said I didn't like puting up information in a print formate, but I also said there was a time and a place for it, well nows the time. I found this information at the last minute and I had to get it in. Note to read this information better or to enlarge the picturejust push on one of them.

James L. Cooper, 20th, Tennessee Infantry.

I'm always on the look out for different kinds of civil war pictures and when I run across what I call a before and after picture I get a little excited, these pictures show a soldier in uniform then later in life.  Its neat to see how they change through the years.

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Note. To enlarge pictures push on one.
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The Three Crosthwaite Brother's



Frank B. Crosthwaite.



Frank Burton Crosthwaite was born in Ruhterford County Tenn.  Where the war began, he was living in Iowa.  He left home, bussiness and all, and came back to his native State, and enlisted in Company E., of the Twentieth Tennessee Infantry.  At reorganization at Corinth, Miss., he was chosen First Lieutenant of the company.  He had Previously been chosen one of the color guards, which placehe filled with distinction.  At Vicksburg, Miss., He was promoted to Third Lieutenant of the company, and served in that capacity until killed at Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862.  He was one of nature's noblemen.  He was hardly old enough to be called a man, only about twenty, yet he was one of the best of friends, one of the most benerous of foes, and all in all a braver or more generous-hearted man or soldier could not be found.

He became impressed with the idea that he would be killed in this battle, and tried in every way to shake off the presentiment, but to no purpose.  His friends tried to prevail on him not to go into the fight.  Captain Ridley advised him not to go, offering to excuse him and hold above criticism.  But he preferred to give up his life to being even exposed to a shadow of criticism.  "No emphatically no, I will not accept an excuse, but will go into the fight, and die for what I know to be right."



Bromfield Crosthwaite.



Lieutenant Crosthwaite was not only very intellectual, but was one of the most amiable of young men.  To know him was to love him, and to know him butter was to love him more.  Language seems inadequate to pay full tribute to such a noble youth.  "Peace to his memory."  A younger brother, Bromfield, was a member of a Missouri regiment, and was killed at Corinth, in the fall of 1862.  He was regarded as one of the bravest and most gallant of "Pap Price's" army.

Shelton Crosthwaite was born in Rutherford County, Tenn.  When the great war broke out, he came from his adopted home in Iowa, and enlisted in Company E., of the Twentieth Tennessee Infantry as a private, and served as such until killed in the battle Fishing Creek, January 19, 1862.  It would but mildly put it to say he was decidedly the most indtellectual as well as the best informed man in the Company.



Shelton Crosthwaite.



He did not want promotion, and was satisfied with his position as a private.  No man could possibly have displayed more heroic courge then did he on the battlefield at Fishing Creek.  Early in the action he received a wound, but pressed right on saying, "Boys they have shot me, but I can still shoot," nor did he stop until he was pierced through by a ball, and fell dead on the field.  He was indeed a model youngman, and no man could say ought against him; he was punetual, gentle, and brave.  In his death Company E., lost one of the best men, and the South one of its most deserving patriots.

Note. Frank B. Crosthwaite was born in 1842.  Bromfield Crosthwaite was born in 1844.  Shelton Crosthwaite was born 1840.

William Penn Lyon.



William P. Lyon.



William P. Lyon.

Birth: Oct. 28, 1822, Chatham, Columbia County, New York.

Death: Apr. 4, 1913, Santa Clara County, California.

Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was district attorney of Racine County, Wisconsin and was involved in the state Legislature. To support volunteer troops, he enlisted and was elected Captain of a company in the Eagle Regiment in 1861. As part of the 4th Army Corps, he was promoted Major in the 8th Wisconsin Infantry on January 18, 1862. With the 8th Wisconsin Infantry, he participated in various expeditions in Kentucky and Tennessee until September 1863.

In April 1864, he was promoted Colonel in command of the 13th Regiment Wisconsin Infantry assigned to guarding trains and lines of communication in northern Alabama from Confederate guerrillas. From June 1865 to November 1865, the 13th was sent to New Orleans and into Texas to repel rebel outposts. For duty diligently and faithfully performed, he was brevetted Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers on October 26, 1865. After the war, he resumed his legal political career and served on the Wisconsin Supreme Court retiring as Chief Justice, in 1894. Toward the end of his life, he moved to California to be near his children and was active in the Grand Army of the Republic, Post 7 San Jose, until his death.

Burial: Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California.

Numbers 227. Reports of Colonel William P. Lyon, Thirteenth Wisconsin Infantry, of operations December 19-21 and 31, 1864.

HDQRS. MEMPHIS AND CHARLESTON R. R. DEFENSES, Hunstville, Ala., December 21, 1864.



William P. Lyon.



SIR: I have the honor to report to you that I left Stevenson on the afternoon of the 19th instant with one train and arrived at Woodville a little before dark. I found colonel Prosser preparing to move to Brownsborough. He moved up the river about four miles that night, and attempted to cross at the most shallow ford on that stream but the high water prevented him from doing so. He returned, and after several hours labor planking the railroad bridge we got his command across. The other trains arrived on the morning of 20th, and after leaving sixty infantry and a piece of artillery at the bridge, together with the dismounted and twenty mounted cavalry, we moved on to Brownborough, arriving there at dark. The railroad and bridges are unharmed, btu all of the block-houses were burned on the 19th. Colonel Prosser preceded us to Brownsborough, and at maysville surprised and scattered from 100 to 200 rebels, killing 3 and capturing 7; several were drowned in attempting to swim Flint River.  Hearing from a tolerably authentic source that there were 700 rebels, infantry and artillery, in Huntsville, besides their cavalry, I thought it prudent to send Colonel Prosser ahead to reconnoiter before putting my trains across Flint River. He moved in the night, arriving here at daybreak, and took quiet possession of Huntsville.

There have been but a few troops here, and they left last evening. I arrived here with the trains soon after noon. I left 35 men at Hurricane Creek and 100 at Brownsborough. Captain Williams' command, which came here with Colonel Prosser, is ordered to the latter place to-morrow morning. I also left a piece of artillery there. When the trains left Larkinsville yesterday morning Captain given's command had not arrived there,a nd, of course, no artillery was left here; but i started a train back there this morning with the artillery and ot complete the repairs to the telegraph line, which is broken in several places. I sent a guard of fifty men on this train.

I learn here that the gun-boat fleet passed down the river last night, and I therefore do not sent the detachment of the Seventy-third and One hundred nad second Ohio Volunteer Infantry to Whitesburg. We get but little intelligence here of the movements or intentions of the enemy. A report, which i deem tolerably reliable, is, that orders were received here yesterday form General Hood to hold Huntsville at all hazards, and, further, that it was his intention to make Decatur his main position, with his right resting at this place. The intelligence of Hood's defeat did not reach here until yesterday.

The enemy did but little damage in this vicinity. They carried off Judge Humphreys a prisoner, and obtained some forty recruits. We arrived here too soon for their conscription. I await intelligence from Decatur with considerable anxiety.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. P. LYON.



Judge William P. Lyon
&
Mrs. Adella C. Lyon.



Four Faces Of 187th., Pennsylvania Infantry.

Here is a group picture of soldiers who must be friends as they took it together and are in the same company.  There is very little information here, so if one is an ancestor and you have information on him I would like to hear about it, so I can post it here.
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Company G.

1. George A. Wolcott 1st Sergeant, Mustered April 7, 1864, Mustered out with Company, August 3, 1865; Vet.
Note.  As of 1904-5, was residing at Halstead Pa.

2. Stephen M. Whitbeck Sergeant, Mustered April 7, 1864, Mustered out with Company, August 3, 1865; Vet.

3. John S. Jenkins Sergeant, Mustered April 7, 1864, Promoted from Corporal February 6, 1865; mustered out with Company, August 3, 1865.
Note.  As of 1904-5, was residing at Pittston Pa.

4. John Montgomery Corporal, Mustered May 17, 1864, Promoted to Corporal, February 24, 1865; mustered out with Company, August 3, 1865; Vet.
Note.  As of 1904-5, was known to be dead.

Update January 22, 2014.

The following information is given by Pj, Sisseck, if you have any questions or have any information she can be reached at the following whitbeckwonderings@yahoo.com.

Hello!  I would love to tell you all kinds of things about Stephen M. Whitbeck, one of those four faces!  He was my second great grandfather, and the only Union Soldier I have found in my ancestry.  I have at lest three Confederates, one of whom died late 1863-early 1864, before his youngest child was born 1 June 1864.

 

Stephen M. Whitbeck was born 2 Feb 1835 in Hudson, Columbia Co NY to Gilbert Whitbeck and Charlotte Morse (some say Moss).  He had a cousin, Gilbert K. Whitbeck, who also served in the Union Army, from PA.

 

Stephen’s first wife was named Elizabeth (surname unknown, so far) - she died as Elizabeth A. Smith, 1889, and is buried in Border Plains, IA.

 

1860 census finds S M Whitbeet (creative spelling!) in Washington TWP, Warren Co NJ.  His first enlistment in the Army was from Flemington NJ, in the 37th Infantry.  Some of the records from NJ give his middle initial as W - I think he may have had three names, as others in this family did.  His enlistment in the 187th PA Infantry was 1865-1865.

 

1870 census finds SW Whitbeck and family in Fort Dodge, Webster Co IA.  Clarence Whitbeck, born 1867, was my great grandfather.  Stephen and Elizabeth must have split up soon thereafter.  I have not found a divorce record yet, if one exists.

 

1873, A.E. Whitbeck married George W. Smith in Webster Co IA.  She was still married to him at her death in 1889.

 

1880 census, the household of George Smith includes step-sons surnamed “Withback”.  I have not found Stephen in 1880 - he was likely in MT with/near several relatives, including his brother, James.

 

1890 census, Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, Widows Schedule.  Stephen Whitbeck was in Great Falls MT.  Some of his conditions relative to the War are listed.

 

1900 census, Great Falls MT.  Stephen Whitbeck is listed with a wife, Mary, whom he had married about 1887.  A boarder in the home was Frank T. Oberman.

 

May 1908, Stephen M. Whitbeck applied for admission to the Soldiers’ Home in Orting, Peirce Co WA.  He died there in May 1912, and was buried on the grounds.  His Veterans’ Affairs file #1566 can be accessed from Washington State Digital Archives.  Quite a bit of detail is in that file.  I will mention that I have proven some of it to be untrue…but perhaps he suffered some senility.  In any case, the file contains a letter written by Clarence L. Whitbeck, who was my great grandfather.  The letter clearly states that Stephen M. Whitbeck was his father.

 

I would love to hear from descendants of the other gentlemen in the photo.  I would also like to learn where to get prints from that card.  Besides the four men you mention, there is a photo of John W. White and a single of John S. Jenkins printed on above the four men.  All appear to be done up like a postcard.  I would love to learn the purpose of this card, who made it, where it is archived, etc, etc!

 

I have also chased John S Jenkins and wife Rhoda to Luzerne Co PA, George A. Wolcott and wife Anna to Northumberland Co PA, tried to find Corp John Montgomery (struck out) and hesitate to even look for John W. White.....

Wilmot Ayres.

Normaley I won't post with so very little information, but this boy is so young and I know someone is looking for information on him.

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Wilmot Ayres, Mustered into the 127th., Pennsylvania Infantry, Company B., on January 20, 1864, for 1 year, his rank Musician.  Discharged by special order May 29, 1865.  Died November 7, 1902.

Captain Lorenzo L. Greenawalt, 127th, Penn. Infantry.

In August of 1862, a group of men came to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, looking for men to form companies for the State Volunteer Army and stopped at the Tannery of Lorenzo L. Greenawalt, after listening he agreed to go to the meeting that was to be held at the court house thaat evening.  That evening Greenawalt and about 132 men signed their names.  On August 8, 1862, Greenawalt alone with the other men took the train to Harrissburg, Pennsylvania, after reaching Harrisurg they were sent to the court house were they signed their names, after a few days the men were form into companies.  On August 13, 1862, Greenawalt was elected Captain of Company E., 127th, Pennsylvania Infantry.

Now I'm not going to sit here and give you the history of 127th., nor Company E., as this information can be found on the inernet, instead I well tell of the man that lead this company with bravely and with honor.  I was unable to find were he was born or died, but with a little hard research one could find out.  This information is not much of importance to me, although it may be to others.  What I want to talk about is his character and deeds.  The average age of the company was twenty and below.  The men thought of  Greenawalt as a father figure and he treated them as sons, scolding them when it was warranted, trying to turn his boys into men.

Greenawalt was always looking after his boys trying to keep them out of harms way as much as war would allow.  One case in point was as they neard the town of Frederichsburg the fighting had been fearce, it had so fearce that a women who's house faced the battle field said as the evening came to a close the field was blue in color from all the dead Union soldiers, and when morning came the field was white the reb's had striped the soldiers clean.  When Greenawalt near the outskirts Fredericksburg his company was ordered to the field.  But Greenawalt had been looking over the land and saw the reb's lines were two deep and their placements of artillery was dead on.  Greenawalt know it would be suieidal to send his boys to the field, so he refuse too do so.  Captain Greenawalt marched his men up to General Howard's Headquarters, and boldly told the General that he did not want his men slaughiered; and after he told his story, General Howard said; "Why don't are artilley silence them?"

Captain Greenawalt was himself wounded at Fredericksburg, on December 13, 1862, it happen at Marie's Hill, Colonel Jennings was just getting ready to give the order to charge, when Greenawalt seem to feel a shell coming right towards him.  He "ducked" and it passed over his head, the wind of it nearly blowing his cap off.  The shell burst just in back of him, and an iron canister shot from it and struck him in the center of the back, of the fleshy part of the right thigh.  It had been a shrapnell shell, usually loaded with about seventy stell balls.  He did not think he was hit, although the ball had gone nearly through the leg to the front, and through the muscles.  He was taken to the hosptail where the Assisant Surgeon said he should wait for the Surgeon to take out the ball, but Greenawalt wanted immediate action.  The assisant said if Greenawalt would take the responsibility,  he would remove the ball; Greenawalt said; 'Go ahead."

Now the rest of the story is as long as what has been written so far so I will give the short of it.

Needless to say the Assisant wasn't good at his job,  the assisant made a two inch long and one inch deep cut in his thigh.  But the assisant couldn't get at it, so he mad the cut deeper it took three trys befor the ball was removed.  Later the ball was given to Greenawalt who would carry the ball with him the rest of his life.

A few days later he was taken to a hosptail in Washington, but by now the wound had gangrene the doctors wanted to remove the leg but he said he won't make it as he was to weak from the loss of blood.
Greenawalt felt good for the most part but for his wound, which was now black from the top of his knee to his ribs.  Greenawalt had written his mother who said she would come.  Greenawalt had friends come by to see him off and on.  One day two soldiers friends came by and after he told his story and they saw his condition, one friend a New York soldier brought two revolvers and threatened to shot any one who touch him till his mother came. 

There was little the doctors could do for him, they made a long cut in his thigh and exposed the museles and let the wound drain.  By the time his mother came the wound showed signs of healing and a few days later his mother took him back to Lebanon to recover.  Greenawalt after a few months he was feeling much better although he was on crutches and still weak.  Then on April 9, 1863, he was given orders to report back to his regiment.  Greenawalt took a train to Harrisburg to report.  He was still on crutehes and weak when he reported to the provost marshal, who after seeing his condition give Greenawalt a immediate discharged.
Captain Greenaawalt would come back to Harrisburg to met his boys of company E., after their company was discharge, his only regret was he wasn't there at their discharge. 

Pennsylvania 23rd, Infantry at Cold Harbor.

All the men on this page were either killed, or died from their woundes at the battle of Cold Harbor.

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Zachariah J. Shaw, Private, 23rd., Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F., Mustered August 2, 1862, for 3 years.  Killed at the battle of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864.



James G. Williamson, Second Lieutenant, 23rd., Pennsylvania Infantry, Company K., Mustered August 24, 1861, for 3 years.  Promoted from Sergeant, July 1, 1863.  Died June 2, 1864, from wounds received at the battle of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864.

Albert G. Russekk, Corporal, 23rd., Pennsylvania Infantry, Company C., Mustered August 2, 1861, for 3 years.  Killed at the battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 1, 1864.

William Johnson or Johnston, Private, 23rd., Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E., Mustered August 4, 1861, for 3 years.  One roster states he was missing in action at the battle of Cold Harbor, while another says he was killed in the battle on June 1, 1864.

Hugh McMichael, Corporal, 23rd., Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E., Mustered in August 14, 1861, for 3 years.  Promoted to Corporal, June 1, 1864, tansferred to the 82nd., P. V., September 14, 1864.  Died of wounds received at the battle of Cold Harbor. 

James Sweeney, Private, 23rd., Pennsylvania Infantry, Company E., Mustered AAugust 14, 1861, for 3 years.  Kined at the battle of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864.

The battle of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864.

The 23rd., was known as the Birney's Zouaves.

Those killed or died from wounds received on that day.

Field & Staff.

Sergeant-Major, Ira Webster.

Company A.

Private, Peter Born.

Private, William Boyd.

Private, James Kilpatrick.

Private John Newcamp.

Private, William F. Wills.

Company B.

Corporal, Max Lakemeyer.

Private, William J. Kilpatrick.

Company C.

Corporal, John E. Little.

Corporal, John Matherson.

Corporal, Albert G. Russell.

Private, Levi Campbell.

Private, James Garrigan.

Private, Thomas Gallagher.

Private, Jacob Keith.

Private, James Mullen.

Private, William Maguire.  Died at Libby Prison from wounds received at the battle of Cold Harbor.

Company D.

Lieutenant, John G. Boyd.

Corporal, William Montgomery.

Private, Charles Gallagher.

Private, Andrew Keim.

Private, Gerald McHenry.  Died July 6, 1864, from wounds received at Cold Harbor, buried National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia.

Company E.

Lieutenant, James Johnson.

Sergeant, John McNeill.

Corporal, William S. Davis.

Private, John A. Burk.

Private, John Carroll.

Private, Robert Donahue.  Died June 8, 1864, from wounds received at Cold Harbor.

Private, John Humes.

Private, William Johnson.

Private, George Long.

Private, John Mone.

Private, John Sweeney.

Private, John Shelladary.

Private, William Shea.

Company F.

Private, William S. Bristler.

Private, James Hamilton.  Died from wounds received at Cold Harbor.

Private, Zachariah Shaw.

Private, E. Thomas.  Captured and died at Andersonsville, August 30, 1864, from wounds received at Cold Harbor.

Company G.

Lieutenant, Benton Kames.

Corporal, David Applegate.

Private, Henry Ernst.

Private, George W. Ewell.

Private, William Graham.  Died from wounds received at Cold Harbor.

Private, John Yeager.

Company H.

Captain, James M. Craig.  Died February 2, 1899, from wounds received at Cold Harbor.

Corporal, Anthony Schaffer.  Died from wounds received at Cold Harbor.

Private, John Landis.  Died December 18, 1864, from wounds received at Cold Harbor, Virginia.

Private, Thomas Myers.

Private, Adam Schenck.

Company I.

Captain, Henry A. Marchant.

Sergeant, John B. Bowers.

Corporal, Henry Zimmerman.

Private, John E. Brown.

Private, Edwin C. Brown.

Private, William Carpenter.  Died February 21, 1865, from wounds received at Cold Harbor.  Buried 1st., Division General Hospital Cemetery, Annapolis Maryland.

Private, George E. L. Morrison.

Private, Abner H. Reed.

Private, Beneville S. Ruth.  Died Andersonsville, November 16, 1864, from wounds received at Cold Harbor.

Private, George H. Seifred.

Company K.

Lieutenant, James G. Williamson.

Corporal, John Zaun.

Private, Thomas C. Beardsmore.  Died June 6, 1864, from wounds received at Cold Harbor.

Private, Charles H. Bryon.

Private, Edward Eisenbarth.

Private Jacob Harp.

Private, Daniel Mason.

Private, William McCleary.  Died October 6, 1864, from wounds received at Cold Harbor.

Private, Charles Schmitz.

Private, Aaron Van Fleet.

Private, Alexander Williamson.