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re: The Civil War: Why did your ancestors serve?
Posted on 6/29/15 at 10:35 pm to MasCervezas
Posted on 6/29/15 at 10:35 pm to MasCervezas
quote:Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound...
God rest his soul
0
Posted on 6/29/15 at 10:52 pm to MasCervezas
Some were drafted, some volunteered.
One of the Welshman was pulled in right before Manassas. He was a young man and he must have been excited marching off to war - his sentiments changed, slightly, after a miniball went through his leg.
The conscription officer found him a week later, hiding in a haystack, back at home.
The Confederacy achieved almost total mobilization, so if you had ancestors living in the south during the war - someone in your family fought under arms.
Talk to your grandparents and see what stories they have.
One of the Welshman was pulled in right before Manassas. He was a young man and he must have been excited marching off to war - his sentiments changed, slightly, after a miniball went through his leg.
The conscription officer found him a week later, hiding in a haystack, back at home.
The Confederacy achieved almost total mobilization, so if you had ancestors living in the south during the war - someone in your family fought under arms.
Talk to your grandparents and see what stories they have.
This post was edited on 6/29/15 at 10:59 pm
Posted on 6/29/15 at 11:45 pm to Tigerwaffe
The hell if I know. Probably because they lived in the south and didn't want assholes like Sherman to burn their home down.
Posted on 6/29/15 at 11:55 pm to Tigerwaffe
My great great great great grandfather was the general in chief of the confederate army. He was morally opposed to slavery, but thought it was necessary for a time. He was contacted to serve in the Union army, but when the South called he went home.
This post was edited on 6/29/15 at 11:57 pm
Posted on 6/30/15 at 12:21 am to Masterag
I come from a long line of frontiersman and outdoor types.
A spy, a horse thief, and a calvaryman who rode with Nathan Bedford Forrest. And a bunch of other crackers.
A spy, a horse thief, and a calvaryman who rode with Nathan Bedford Forrest. And a bunch of other crackers.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 12:34 am to Tigerwaffe
I have some native american heritage and from what I can tell, most all fought for or along side the Confederacy.
Apparently my ancestors were not exactly in love with the Federal Government.
Apparently my ancestors were not exactly in love with the Federal Government.
This post was edited on 6/30/15 at 12:35 am
Posted on 6/30/15 at 6:23 am to Tigerwaffe
Two great great great grandfathers left behind records passionately and eloquently explaining why they proudly fought for beliefs they held dear. Primarily, a belief in the God-given right to own slaves.
Seriously, I had ancestors on both sides and it seems they went with their respective states, like most Americans did.
Seriously, I had ancestors on both sides and it seems they went with their respective states, like most Americans did.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 7:07 am to PowerTool
quote:
Two great great great grandfathers left behind records passionately and eloquently explaining why they proudly fought for beliefs they held dear. Primarily, a belief in the God-given right to own slaves.
Sounds like your ancestors were a Southern counterpart to mine. In each case, slavery appears to have been the issue that motivated them to volunteer and serve.
I had hoped that more posters would have written records from their ancestors—diaries, family histories and so forth—that brought to light their motivations for the actions they took.
I can see I'm quite fortunate to have ancestors who were interested in chronicling our family's (on my mother's side) history from the time they settled in the colonies (New Jersey and Pennsylvania) from Scotland.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 7:22 am to TigerPanzer
I was attempting to joke about the first part.
This was my real answer:
It would be great if they had left behind written records, but none did that I know of.
The Yankee was a Mexican War veteran who seems to have enjoyed fighting. He rose in rank high enough to be acquainted with Grant and be memorialized in a couple places, but despite being a prominent citizen and attorney, doesn't seem to have left behind much written record of his own. He was a first generation American and I suspect he was simply loyal to his family's adopted home.
On the Southern side, the best I can gather is that they were rounded up in the local militia but did little to distinguish themselves. Typical South Louisianans.
This was my real answer:
quote:
Seriously, I had ancestors on both sides and it seems they went with their respective states, like most Americans did.
It would be great if they had left behind written records, but none did that I know of.
The Yankee was a Mexican War veteran who seems to have enjoyed fighting. He rose in rank high enough to be acquainted with Grant and be memorialized in a couple places, but despite being a prominent citizen and attorney, doesn't seem to have left behind much written record of his own. He was a first generation American and I suspect he was simply loyal to his family's adopted home.
On the Southern side, the best I can gather is that they were rounded up in the local militia but did little to distinguish themselves. Typical South Louisianans.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 7:26 am to TigerPanzer
An interesting story about one of my great-great aunts, named Sophia.
Even as a child she was pro-Union all the way. In fact, whenever she saw someone wearing a "butternut" badge (worn by Ohio Democrats in sympathy with the South), she ran up and tore the badge off the offender's lapels.
A true American patriot—or a self-righteous little bitch—depending on your point of view.
Even as a child she was pro-Union all the way. In fact, whenever she saw someone wearing a "butternut" badge (worn by Ohio Democrats in sympathy with the South), she ran up and tore the badge off the offender's lapels.
A true American patriot—or a self-righteous little bitch—depending on your point of view.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 7:30 am to Tigerwaffe
Both sides of my family history are heavily lined with confederate soldiers.
I would imagine they fought because their entire home state was invaded, and you were a pussy if you didn't fight.
I would imagine they fought because their entire home state was invaded, and you were a pussy if you didn't fight.
This post was edited on 6/30/15 at 7:38 am
Posted on 6/30/15 at 7:36 am to PowerTool
quote:
I was attempting to joke about the first part.
Got it.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 8:59 am to TigerPanzer
Because back then it was part of the job description?
150 years later the job description is a bit different
150 years later the job description is a bit different
Posted on 6/30/15 at 9:03 am to Tigerwaffe
No clue. I had one that was pretty high ranking in the Confederate army. I know he had some slaves on his north Florida farm, but no idea why he fought. He was somehow involved with the founding of what is now Florida State University, or maybe his daddy was. Can't remember.
Also had a few on the Union side, one that was put in prison for desertion. Apparently he just dropped his gun and ran off during some small skirmish in Kentucky. I'm guessing he was drafted.
Also had a few on the Union side, one that was put in prison for desertion. Apparently he just dropped his gun and ran off during some small skirmish in Kentucky. I'm guessing he was drafted.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 9:08 am to Tigerwaffe
3x Great Grandfather fought for the Confederacy out of Florida. His family was dirt poor, and there's no record of any slaveholding.
While we've never found a diary or anything, I'd imagine that he fought because an invading army was headed towards his home.
While we've never found a diary or anything, I'd imagine that he fought because an invading army was headed towards his home.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 9:12 am to TigerPanzer
My grandfathers' grandfather lived in Clanton,Al and was a dirt farmer. He was drafted and served his time and then came home to his family.Wife and 11 children.
At that time you could pay someone to go in your place. A man came to my gg grandfather and offered him a sum of money to take his place. he took the money and went for the second time. After he got to a battlefield in NC or Va. He fought that battle and then came home. A deserter he went home to his family.
So I am the spawn of a Deserter.
At that time you could pay someone to go in your place. A man came to my gg grandfather and offered him a sum of money to take his place. he took the money and went for the second time. After he got to a battlefield in NC or Va. He fought that battle and then came home. A deserter he went home to his family.
So I am the spawn of a Deserter.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 9:15 am to Herman Frisco
Most confederates ended up deserting. Lee had to surrender at Appomattox because most of his army simply got up and went home.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 9:25 am to Tigerwaffe
most non-slave owner po' white trash dirt farmers served in the confederacy because the idea of war was glorified by demagogue Democrat fire-eater politicians who were attempting to protect their slave holdings and states' rights. emotions were played upon and the masses were led to believe that the war would be over quickly, and that there was no way a yankee could fight as good as a southerner. most southerners were uneducated and completely unaware of the world outside their immediate surroundings. they hadn't traveled. they weren't worldly. their lives consisted of work, sleep, work. they had no idea of the north's ability manufacture a war machine against which the south had no chance. therefore, the good ole southern boys eagerly jumped in to become cannon fodder.
my family tree has quite a few CSA soldiers. none of them owned slaves.
my family tree has quite a few CSA soldiers. none of them owned slaves.
Posted on 6/30/15 at 9:47 am to Tigerwaffe
Bc they hated black people. DUH
Posted on 6/30/15 at 9:49 am to Tigerwaffe
quote:
The Civil War: Why did your ancestors serve?
I never got the chance to ask them. When I do, I'll let you know.
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