A Nation Divided
The Civil War tore families apart as brother fought against brother. Our ancestors served on both sides of this conflict —some for the Confederate States of America, others for the Union and the Grand Army of the Republic.
Civil War Veterans
Below are the stories and records of those who served, organized by their allegiance during the war.
Confederate States of America
James Washington Smith —Company K, VA 8th Cavalry (Big Sandy Rangers)
James Washington Smith - CSA
Confederate Bugler
James Washington Smith served in Company K, VA 8th Cavalry as a Bugler. Company K was also called the Big Sandy Rangers.
James was called by his middle name of "Washington" or "Wash." He enlisted in December 1861 and served until approximately February 1864.
Read James Washington Smith's Full Civil War Story
Union —Grand Army of the Republic
John Ramey "Shank" Wheeler —68th Kentucky Regiment, Union Militia
John Ramey "Shank" Wheeler - Union
Father of James Lee, Stephen Moses, and Daniel Rolen Wheeler
Catherine Wheeler
John Ramey Wheeler was stationed in Louisa, Kentucky, in the Union Militia —68th Kentucky Regiment, to which he was enrolled in 1864. His sons James Lee, Stephen Moses, and Daniel Rolen also served in the Union Army.
James Lee Wheeler – Co B, 14th Kentucky Infantry
James Lee Wheeler - Union
Private, Company B, 14th Kentucky Infantry
Pvt. James Lee Wheeler was born November 21, 1841/1842 in Lawrence County, Kentucky. He was the son of John Ramey Wheeler and Rachel "Rebecca" Lemaster.
James Lee Wheeler was one who enlisted for the North at the age of 19 on October 10, 1861, after riding his horse all night to Catlettsburg, KY. His actual active duty began December 10, 1861, when James Lee mustered in at Camp Wallace in Louisa, KY, as a private.
James Lee would serve his country well until June 20, 1864, when at the age of 22 years, he was wounded in a battle in Altons. It would be 15 days later before James Lee would be admitted into the General Hospital (#1667) in Louisville, KY, on July 5, 1864. James Lee suffered a severe flesh wound in the upper part of his thigh; a minnie ball was removed. James Lee was shortly thereafter transferred to the General Hospital in Ashland, KY. By November 1864, James Lee returned to active service.
James Lee Wheeler would marry his war bride, Mahala Angiline Sparks, in Blaine, KY, on January 4, 1865, less than a month before his military discharge on January 31, 1865. James Lee lived a productive life until his death on January 19, 1921, in Webbville, Elliott County, KY.
Battles Fought —During His Long Service
- Skirmish at Tazewell, Tennessee – August 6, 1862
- Skirmish at Salyersville, Kentucky – November 30, 1863
- Kolb's Farm – June 22, 1864 (Cobb County, Georgia)
- Kennesaw Mountain – June 27, 1864 (Cobb County, Georgia)
- Atlanta – July 22, 1864 (Fulton County, Georgia)
- Jonesborough – August 31 – September 1, 1864 (Clayton County, Georgia)
- Salyersville – April 13, 1864 (Kentucky)
Civil War Muster Card
Stephen Moses Wheeler —Union Army
Stephen Moses Wheeler - Union
Brother of James Lee Wheeler
Stephen Moses Wheeler served alongside his brothers James Lee and Daniel Rolen in the Union Army during the Civil War.
Daniel Rolen Wheeler —Union Army
Daniel Rolen Wheeler - Union
Brother of James Lee Wheeler
Daniel Rolen Wheeler served alongside his brothers James Lee and Stephen Moses in the Union Army during the Civil War.
Mark M. Wheeler —Vermont Cavalry Co D
Mark M. Wheeler - Union
Union Vermont Cavalry Co D
Mark M. Wheeler served in the Union Vermont Cavalry Co D during the Civil War.
Mark M. Wheeler manuscript excerpts coming soon...
Morgan Garrett —7th Regiment Company F, West Virginia Cavalry
Morgan Garrett - Union
Union 7th Regiment Company F, West Virginia Cavalry
Morgan Garrett served in the Union 7th Regiment Company F, West Virginia Cavalry during the Civil War.
Morris Garrett —Indiana 17th Regiment Infantry
Morris Garrett - Union
Indiana 17th Regiment Infantry, Union Army
Morris Garrett served in the Indiana 17th Regiment Infantry, Union Army.
He was transferred to the Veteran Volunteer Pioneer Corps on August 21, 1864. He re-enlisted as a Veteran Volunteer on January 4, 1864.
General George Rappeen Smith —Adjutant General, Missouri Militias
General George Rappeen Smith - Union
Adjutant General for Missouri Militias
General George Rappeen Smith moved his family to Missouri and was made a general for the militia to fight with the Mormons in Missouri, which numbered around 4,000. He was very anti-slavery, feeling it was in opposition to God's designs.
He founded the town of Sedalia, named for one of his daughters. He played a big role in getting the railroad moved to go through Sedalia and then further west.
He later held a federal position in the US Government and ran for Congress several times, though never winning. He started a small "Historically Black College" named in his honor.
When the Civil War started, he was made the Adjutant General for the Missouri militias for the early months. Though he was considered too old to lead troops into battle, he continued to support the war effort for its duration.
"Our Eden was nursing the serpent slavery, which was whispering a siren song into the ears of pride and luxury, but which at no distant day was to fill our country with the blackness of despair. Our young men had nothing to do, and our young women had no aim in life except marriage, and it was considered almost a disgrace to be an old maid. Twenty-five years of maidenhood constituted an old maid, and thirty years cut her off from hope, happiness, and respectability. Slavery was conducive to indolence and immorality. God has so arranged this life that if we are bread-eaters, we must be bread-winners; each individual for himself, must earn his bread 'by the sweat of his brow.' If he does not have to make his money, he can sweat a little over its expenditure, a no less arduous task, if properly and conscientiously done, than the making of it."
"The South has needed a whipping, to my certain knowledge, for thirty years; and I pray God for her treason she may get a good one!"
"Furthermore, if every man, woman, and child in the State should vote for going out, I would vote for staying in; and if every State in the Union should go except Massachusetts, I would go to Massachusetts, if I had to crawl on my hands and knees to get there!"
Pack Family —Fathers, Brothers and Cousins Infantry
Pack Family - Union
So many of the Pack family volunteered to fight for the Union while living in Kentucky, a border state.
Pack Family Who Served —Some Pack Relatives Fought for the Confederacy
- Samuel Pack —Loyal Eastern Virginia Volunteers, P-Y and Lt. Damron's Independent Co West Virginia Infantry
- James H. Pack —Lt. Damron's Independent Co., Virginia Volunteers as a Private. Joined for duty October 1, 1861 in Wayne Co. Virginia. Mustered out March 21, 1862 at Ceredo, Virginia. He served with Gilbert Moore and his brothers Thomas P. and Alexander, also James Maynard and some of the Damron family.
- John Pack —Lt. Damron's Independent Co West Virginia Infantry
- William Harrison Pack —Lt. Damron's Independent Co West Virginia Infantry (POW)
- Anderson Pack —Lt. Damron's Independent Co West Virginia Infantry
- An SO many more —Lt. Damron's Independent Co West Virginia Infantry
Related Stories
James Washington Smith Civil War Story
The complete story of James Washington Smith's service in Company K, VA 8th Cavalry (Big Sandy Rangers).
Read Story →
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