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The Civil War: Why did your ancestors serve?
Posted on 6/29/15 at 7:49 pm
Posted on 6/29/15 at 7:49 pm
I have a book on the history of my mother's family written in 1923. I discovered that four of my ancestors volunteered for and served in the Union Army.
About their father, Thomas Stewart, the book says:
"During this trying period of our Nation's History, no man in Wood County (OH) was more pronouncedly loyal to the Union or contributed more liberally toward the suppression of the Rebellion than did our father.
He was a Democrat in early life, when Democracy meant loyalty to the true Republican principles which underlie the foundations of our government, but when the Democratic Party espoused the cause and extension of Slavery, he turned from them and helped to found the Republican Party, and was a warm adherent to its principle through the rest of his life."
My ancestors then, ordinary farming people from Ohio, supported and fought for the Union cause because of their opposition to slavery.
If you had ancestors in the conflict, did they leave any record of why they joined one side or the other?
About their father, Thomas Stewart, the book says:
"During this trying period of our Nation's History, no man in Wood County (OH) was more pronouncedly loyal to the Union or contributed more liberally toward the suppression of the Rebellion than did our father.
He was a Democrat in early life, when Democracy meant loyalty to the true Republican principles which underlie the foundations of our government, but when the Democratic Party espoused the cause and extension of Slavery, he turned from them and helped to found the Republican Party, and was a warm adherent to its principle through the rest of his life."
My ancestors then, ordinary farming people from Ohio, supported and fought for the Union cause because of their opposition to slavery.
If you had ancestors in the conflict, did they leave any record of why they joined one side or the other?
This post was edited on 6/29/15 at 7:51 pm
42
Posted on 6/29/15 at 7:52 pm to Tigerwaffe
I had ancestors on both sides and there is no written record of why they served or why they chose the side they did that I know of, what you have is great always keep it.
Posted on 6/29/15 at 7:53 pm to Tigerwaffe
quote:They loved having slaves
If you had ancestors in the conflict, did they leave any record of why they joined one side or the other?
Posted on 6/29/15 at 8:01 pm to Tigerwaffe
My great-great-great-grandpa fought for the Union and I imagine he was drafted 
We have a tintype of him in uniform but that's about it.
We have a tintype of him in uniform but that's about it.
Posted on 6/29/15 at 8:03 pm to Tigerwaffe
My great great great grand pappy hated the blacks.
And the jews
And the jews
Posted on 6/29/15 at 8:21 pm to MasCervezas
My great great grandfathers were fur traders in LA, and fought for the Union to maintain the country as one. They had great respect for their State, hometown, and country.
Funny thing is, their hometown is now completely abandoned.
For the History buffs, It's East Orange, LA.
Funny thing is, their hometown is now completely abandoned.
For the History buffs, It's East Orange, LA.
Posted on 6/29/15 at 8:59 pm to Tigerwaffe
My great great great grandad, the man I was named after, was a dirt poor farmer who couldn't fight against his beloved state (Louisianna).
This was the case for a lot of Confederate troops. They weren't all slave holding racists.
This was the case for a lot of Confederate troops. They weren't all slave holding racists.
Posted on 6/29/15 at 9:14 pm to Tigerwaffe
No idea who served on which side (if any served at all) when it comes to my family, tbh.
This post was edited on 6/29/15 at 9:15 pm
Posted on 6/29/15 at 9:38 pm to TupeloReb
quote:
They weren't all slave holding racists.
Quite true. And did you know that some free blacks actually ... owned slaves? I learned this on a tour of the city of Fredericksburg, VA.
Posted on 6/29/15 at 9:39 pm to MasCervezas
quote:
My great great great grand pappy hated the blacks.
And the jews
A Confederanazi. Wow.
Posted on 6/29/15 at 9:55 pm to Tigerwaffe
Both sides of my family settled in Appalachia. One in NC and the other the TN. I had family that fought for both north and south. I know two that were Union soldiers were captured and died at Andersonville. I had at least one Confederate relative and those were just on my Dad's (TN) side. I haven't really looked into it any more than that.
Posted on 6/29/15 at 10:00 pm to Tigerwaffe
I had ancestors that served with the South. No record on why they served, but I'm sure it had to do with them being backwood rednecks.
Posted on 6/29/15 at 10:07 pm to Tigerwaffe
I don't know of any who did.
Posted on 6/29/15 at 10:08 pm to Tigerwaffe
My ancestors were all 20th century immigrants, so no.
Posted on 6/29/15 at 10:10 pm to GeauxToBed
Yeah, Depression-era immigrants are my last known ancestors. Irish and Dutch
The English-German strand runs back supposedly to colonial times. They would've been Yankees
The English-German strand runs back supposedly to colonial times. They would've been Yankees
This post was edited on 6/29/15 at 10:13 pm
Posted on 6/29/15 at 10:17 pm to Tigerwaffe
Mine were moderately well to do German immigrants to Indiana. Honestly not sure why they served other than that most of the other people they emmigrated with were doing it.
Posted on 6/29/15 at 10:22 pm to KSGamecock
quote:Well la ti da, KSRebelgator
Mine were moderately well to do
Posted on 6/29/15 at 10:26 pm to Tigerwaffe
quote:
A Confederanazi. Wow.
God rest his soul
Posted on 6/29/15 at 10:29 pm to Tigerwaffe
My great-great-great grandfather fought for the Confederacy. He was 15 when "the war of northern aggression" came to Georgia. Governor Joe Brown put a call to arms and formed the Georgia Militia. It was composed of teenage boys and 50+ year old men. He fought all around Atlanta. He literally used his own rifle and wore a uniform his Mama made from some drapes.
Posted on 6/29/15 at 10:32 pm to Tigerwaffe
My Great-Great-Great Grandfather was Raphael Semmes, Captain of the CSS Alabama.
He served because he thought the Federal Government was unjustly using the South to help the North get rich. He thought the North was just as racist as the South and that the North only took the anti-Slavery position for PR means.
He served because he thought the Federal Government was unjustly using the South to help the North get rich. He thought the North was just as racist as the South and that the North only took the anti-Slavery position for PR means.
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