Ancestry

Edward Wyer (the white-bearded gentleman wearing epaulets in the second row) served as a drummer boy in the Union Army's 6th & 78th Corps D'Afrique. He is pictured here with Edward Wyer's Creole Cornet Band in Pensacola, Florida, in 1887.

Kady Brownell Tent #36 DUVCW:

Our Ancestors Are Diverse

Our heroic ancestors joined a wide range of Union regiments and companies. Their experiences brought them to Gettysburg, Andersonville, Fredericksburg, Honey Hill and Appomattox Court House, among other places.

They represented several states and came from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds. Some were immigrants recently arrived from Germany and Ireland. Others were born in the U.S. and came from long established American families. They were both white and black.

Our ancestors were regular army and volunteers. They served in infantry, cavalry, light and heavy artillery, elite units and as drummer boys.

They came from all walks of life. There was a tailor, a clerk, a pharmacist, a cooper, a cartman, a farmer, a grocer, a paperhanger, and a former slave, to name but a few. At least one was paid to serve as a substitute. Some remained in the military after the Civil War.

Many survived the War with no physical injuries. Others were wounded in action or injured in service. Some were prisoners of war. Still others paid the ultimate price with death in combat.

All of our ancestors received honorable discharges. One was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.

Whatever their background or experiences, we remain proud of our ancestors' commitment and bravery.


Written by Mary F. Cordato, Ph.D.
Edward Wyer's Creole Cornet Band photo credit: The State Archives of Florida/Florida Memory
Other photos courtesy of the National Archives. All photos used with permission.

Pecks Staff, including Col. Silas P. Titus
Col. Silas P. Titus, 122nd New York Volunteer Infantry, Third Onondaga Regiment
Henry B. Simmons, Co. F, 6th Ohio Cavalry, in his GAR uniform, ca. 1890

OUR PATRIOTS:

Daniel Arnold, 138th IN Infantry

Christian Frank Becker, 150th IL Infantry

Seeley Bovier, 80th PA Cavalry

Joseph Braxmeier, 41st NY Infantry

John Tyler Brewer, 7th KY Infantry

Herman Brower, 2nd NY Heavy Artillery

William Buckingham, Luther's Independent Co., PA Infantry Militia

Charles F. Burger, 21st & 98th PA Infantry

Henry Burr, 97th NY Infantry

Joseph Buser, 52nd NY Infantry

Cornelius C. Cady, 1st CT Heavy Artillery

Charles Pitman Camburn, 9th NJ Infantry

John Collins, 140th OH National Guard

Benjamin Lyman Cowles, 1st CT Cavalry

Emanuel Cox, 24th & 95th PA Infantry

Henry Dike, 6th MA Infantry & 1st MA Sharp Shooters

Michael Dolan, 116th PA Infantry

Timothy Donaghue, 69th NY Infantry

Martin Dott, 7th NY Heavy Artillery

Stephen Eismann, 46th NY Infantry and 2nd Brigade Headquarters

Alfred Fairhurst, 8th NY State Militia

Johnson Foster, 5th NY Cavalry

Daniel Gildersleeve, 165th NY Infantry

Abraham Hayes, 70th NY Infantry

Samuel Hearn, 5th US Infantry

Charles Hess, 39th NJ Infantry

Sgt. Christian Hofsass, 15th NY Heavy Artillery

Andrew Holland, 21st CT Infantry

James G. Jones, USN

John Levens, 99th Regular Army

James Little, 81st NY Infantry

John P. Lounsbury, 6th NY Heavy Artillery

John Norton Luce, Jr., 3rd MA Heavy Artillery

Alfred Thomas Lukens, 184th OH Infantry

James Francis Meagher, 47th NY Infantry

Moses Middleswarth, Purnell's Legion, Co. F, MD Infantry

John Murphy, 4th Artillery, US Army

James Murray, 4th US Infantry

Henry Orthofer, 4th NY Cavalry

Ezra Pearsall, 127th NY Infantry

Henry Philipson (a.k.a. Alexander Phillips), USN

Adolph H. Schumann, 1st NJ Light Artillery

James A. Scott, 2nd NY Light Cavalry (Harris's Light Brigade)

Theodore Winifred Scott, 39th NJ Infantry

Christopher J. Sheridan, 96th NY Infantry

Henry B. Simmons, Co. F, 6th Ohio Cavalry

Charles R. Smith, 48th IN Infantry

August Speer, 70th NY Infantry

Ludwig Stamm, 5th PA Cavalry

Thomas Stanley, 28th CT Infantry

William Strouse, 18th NY Cavalry

Silas P. Titus, 122nd NY Volunteer Infantry

William Wells, USN

Daniel Weyandt, 170th OH Infantry

Walter Cole White, 148th OH Infantry

Charles G. Williams, 1st NY Lincoln Cavalry

Edward Wyer, 6th & 78th Corps d’Afrique