Garren's Civil War research

[terrell garren]

I am Terrell Garren and I am searching for documents, photographs and other information pertaining to Confederate soldiers known as Junior Reserves. In the last year of the American Civil War seventeen year olds were drafted and sent to the Confederate Army. Many were captured before being officially assigned to regiments. Those not captured became part of what was known as the First Regiment North Carolina Junior Reserves. There were at least two hundred such boys from our area.

I am also searching for letters, military records, old newspaper accounts or any other information on Confederate soldiers from WNC who were in Union prisons during the Civil War.

Finally, I am seeking names and information on Union soldiers from WNC. Most of these men were in the Confederate Army first. Most went over to the Union Army very late in the War. There names may appear in both Union and Confederate records. Photographs of these men are rare and important if you happen to have one.

The state of North Carolina is also researching these same groups. Any important information I collect will also be sent to the North Carolina Office of Archives and History in Raleigh.

Thank you,
Terrell T. Garren

[terrell garren]

Dan and James,

Thanks, Dan for getting that together. I was just getting ready to put it on myself. Now I won't have to as you have done an excellent job with it. I would just comment on all of the guys in the 62nd and the 64th who were captured at Cumberland Gap in September 1862. They were offered the chance to join the Union Army and would not do it. Many of them later died. If you come from one of those men who survived Camp Douglas then you come from the toughest knot on the tree. As I have done in the past, I recommend that people with family connections to Camp Douglas read, To Die In Chicago: Confederate Prisoners at Camp Douglas, 1862-1865 by George Levy. It is horrible, "worse than Andersonville," according to the author.

Thanks,
Terrell Garren

[Dan Slagle]

In reply to James Bryant's post: North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865, Volume 15, contains information on the Edwards men in the 64th N.C. Infantry. According to the book, they all did enlist July 15, 1962, in Madison County.

James was reported absent on sick furlough on September 25, 1862; then reported absent without leave prior to March, 1863; then reported awol through June 30, 1863; then, "No further records. [May have served later as Private in Company I, 3rd Regiment N.C. Mounted Infantry (U.S.).]" According to Kirk's Raiders, by Matthew Bumgarner, a James Edwards, age 18, from Madison County, enlisted in Co. I, 3rd N.C. Mounted Infantry, on February 10, 1865. He "deserted at Asheville 5/1/65."

John Henry was originally in Co. D, and then transferred to Co. E prior to November 1, 1862. He was reported present in Co. E on November 25, 1862. "No further records." According to Bumgarner's book above, there was a John Edwards, age 21, who enlisted in Co. E, 3rd N.C. Mounted Infantry, on September 1, 1864. He deserted in December 1864. This may or may not be the same John.

Isham was "reported present through June 30, 1863. Captured at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, September 9, 1863. Sent to Louisville, Kentucky. Confined at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, September 26, 1863. Released at Camp Douglas on May 18, 1865. [His correct given name may be Isom.]"

So it looks like Isham was the only brother at Camp Douglas. He was there with 3 of my gg grandfathers who all survived and came back home.

[James Bryant]

I am researching three brothers of my great grandfather, all who enlisted in Marshall NC on July 15, 1862 and were in the 64th NC Infantry Company D. I understand that two were captured - perhaps at Cumberland Gap - and though I do not know where they were taken, I understand it might have been Camp Douglas. I did not find them listed among the dead on the memorial, and this seems to agree with our understanding that they survived prison and went home. I have not been able to locate a roster of the "survivors" of Camp Douglas. Their names: James R. Edwards, John H. Edwards and William Isham Edwards, the last, the one who was not captured. Any assist in being able to trace them at Camp Douglas or other would be appreciated. I have only just begun reading The Read on WNC and am enjoying it.
James Bryant

[Dave Smith]

Is there a definitive list of CSA and USA from Polk? I understand the difficulty in late war of folks crossing over to the Union, I had several that did that from the Caldwell/Burke/Mitchell counties. Doesn't seem like too many folks have worked on Polk.

[terrell garren]

Dave,

Thanks for catching that. That's the good thing about this site. You post something the whole world can see it. For clearification, your comments remind us that the Henderson Slave schedules for 1860 would include Transylvania but not Polk. For those who want the Polk County information there is a seperate schedule for 1860. For the 1850 figures, Polk would be included in Henderson's numbers.

If you see anything else, speak up.
Thank you again.
Terrell Garren

[Dave Smith]

Polk County NC was ratified January 20, 1855. Transylvania was in 1861.


Another question came in today via email. "What areas were part of Henderson County in 1860?"
This is an important question because the slave counts for Henderson County involves the 1860 Census. Both Polk and Transylvania counties were carved off of Henderson after the 1860 Census was taken. Therefore, the names and numbers for Polk and Transylvania are included in the count for Henderson County.

[terrell garren]

Hello Samuel,

I don't have his record here but I assume he was either in the 62nd or 64th North Carolina Infantry. Both of these regiments were at Cumberland Gap when the Confederate commander surrendered the entire garrison to the Union Army. It occurred September 9, 1863. All these men were sent to the most horrific of all Civil War prisons, Camp Douglas, in Chicago, Illinois. More than 40% of the men in the 62nd and the 64th died at Camp Douglas. I don't doubt that the Union record says he died of "pneumonia" but I'd call it something else. He really died, like all the others, of abuse, torture and malnutrition. Many historians, who know the true story behind this prison, say it was murder. At any rate I'll dig up his record for you when I get back to the Library.

Thank you for the comment.
Terrell

[Samuel DeWayne Shelton]

My great great grandfather was captured by yankees in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee and held in a union POW camp. I believe he died of pneumonia, if I remember correctly. His name was James Hampton of Buncombe County. I have other relatives who fought for the Confederacy as well.

[terrell garren]

I ask readers to see recent posts on the Tour Civil War Sites blog. The discussion on the Deep Creek site is important.
TG

[terrell garren]

CHEROKEE CONFEDERATES

The Rob Nuefeld story this week about the Civil War sites in Haywood County and Waynesville brings attention to the Cherokee invovlement. The story of Cherokee Confederates is a facinating account of native american involvement in the Civil War.

Busheyhead, George W., He was a Cherokee Confederate who enlisted before conscription. He survived the war. His grandson, Robert Busheyhead, would be one of the last true speakers of the Cherokee language. Thanks to special efforts by Western Carolina University, Robert Busheyhead provided countless recordings of Cherokee speech. These recordings are used to teach the language to modern day Cherokees.

Ratler, Stephen, He was with Colonel Thomas when the Legion was camped at Deep Creek in early February 1864 when the Federal Army raided the camp. Thomas escaped but Ratler did not, he was captured and taken to Knoxville. He was released after taking the oath and he survived the war. He has many modern day Ratler (Rattler) descendants living in the Snowbird Community of Graham County. It was the Rattler family that inspired the character, John Rattler in my book The Fifth Skull.

Inoli, He was also known as Inola or Enola, but his most interesting name was "Black Fox." He was a Confederate Captain and was the highest ranking Cherokee. He was for a while Commander of Co. C, Thomas' Indian Battalion. Inoli was also known to be both a Cherokee Shaman and a Methodist Minister. His home was at the old Cheorkee lodge where Tecumseh once a great conference where tried unsuccessfully to get the Cherokees to join the coalition of tribes against the United States.

Shuler, John F., While not officially a Cherokee he may have had some Cherokee blood. He served under a Cherokee Commander in Inoli's Company C., Indian Battalion. He is probably a distant ancestor to Congressman Heath Shuler. When Stephen Ratler was captured at Deep Creek in February 1864 Shuler was also Captured there. He didn't fair as well as Ratler, Shuler was sent to the fedeal prison at Fort Deleware.

Just like their white counterparts, one will find a few Cherokees who went over to the Union Army at the end of the war. But for the vast majority, Cherokee land was Confederate territory. For more information on the facinating story of Cherokee Confederates see, North Carolina Troops: A Roster 1861-1865, Volume XVI by Brown and Coffey or Storm In The Mountains, by Vernon Crow.

Terrell Garren