Arc like and arch over arc are higher and higher goals, seen too in regards the Civil War, the ultimate goal is the Creator.

Many families have many stories about their involvement with the Civil War, some stories are parts of a larger one.

There are truths to find out which might not have been apparent to us in the current moment, such as about their ancestor; sometimes the lack of clarity is set there for that reason, so that one can seek the knowledge and the truth.

When the Civil War ended, even though racial tensions may have still been existent afterwards, it came as a windfall of grace for many families, that their own relatives that were fighting each other, even siblings, could come to halt, without having to be concerned with whether or not they were a turncoat on their military unit.

The brief quiz/ thought questionnaire below is a work in progress. Having a strong command and knowledge of their answers, as well as many other aspects of the Civil War and its related history, may affect perspective:

The number of casualties of the Civil War were____

The number of casualties (both sides) that were mainly of European stock were_____

The number of Union casualties that were mainly of European stock were_____

The number of Confederate casualties (both sides) that were mainly of European stock were_____

The number of casualties (both sides) that were not mainly of European stock, such as African Americans, Arabs, Asians, Native and American Indians, Hispanics and Latinos were_____

The number of Union casualties that were not mainly of European stock, such as African Americans, Arabs, Asians, Native and American Indians, Hispanics and Latinos were_____

The number of Confederate casualties that were not mainly of European stock, such as African Americans, Arabs, Asians, Native and American Indians, Hispanics and Latinos were_____

USCT troops explained is _______

Qualifiers for individuals to be in a USCT were________  

Thankful are many for the days of June in 1865 that may be referred to as Juneteenth.

In that span, for instance from June 13th to June 19th, a number of developments happened, such as soldiers were temporarily stationed in Galveston, en route their return trip home upon the conclusion of the Civil War. Paperwork was signed and date stamped for mustering out of soldiers. There may have been practical aspects of administering to every step of the developments; logic upholding is, soldiers were injured, accountability of soldiers, unboarding process of the transportation mechanisms that got them there, and so on. It might be easy to imagine when Juneteenth is recognized, soldiers standing in perfect lines, all on 2 legs, and a sweeping pronouncement of now African Americans are free, on June 19th, 1865, but, that might not have been exactly how events actually unfolded.

Great divides were accomplished, and great dividers accomplished many things through the means of the Civil War. Some of the wounds may have started to heal, yet there still remain many others.

Civil War Records that appear pertinent to my ancestry

These are a few:

Samuel K. Woodson

Some records point to, although may not confirm a 100%, that Samuel Woodson may have been the father of some of the children of Althmatilda, later known as Matilda Powell. From over a hundred years back in my father's maternal ancestry. Records in the National Archives of Samuel Woodson, or a Samuel Woodson, though say nothing of the females known in the Powell family.

William Starbuck

There were at least several soldiers named William Starbuck that served in the Civil War. The one known as the father of the chef that worked on the riverboats in New Orleans, in William Powell, one of children of Matilda Powell, is a celebrated veteran of the Civil War that has a large monument in his honor. He may have had a number of spouses in his lifetime.

Ten Eyck

There is at least one USCT Ten Eyck soldier that was from the Mid-Atlantic, reference hazel eyes in his description in military records, that made the ultimate sacrifice.

Frank Thornton

There were a large number of Thornton that fought in the Civil War, both sides. There were a number of soldiers named Frank Thornton. Even in the region loosely bounded by Raleigh and Cumberland, North Carolina, there are records of multiple soldiers, one an officer, with the name Frank Thornton, living at the same time.

From what I understand to be my agnatic great great grandfather, Frank Johnson Thornton, may have served in a USCT for at least some point in his life. His description though is consistent with family lore, European stock. 

Staying away from hypothetical without the facts, it can be stated that in the regions near Leesburg, and Catoctin area of Virginia, there were Native and American Indians that preceded the Cherokee, federations of long ago, such as channels along the lines of the Lene Lanape, commonly known today as Delaware Indians. 

"Land that will become Loudoun is uncharted wilderness inhabited by Sioux (Manahoac), Algonquin, Iroquois and Piscataway Indians" (https://www.visitloudoun.org/things-to-do/history-and-museums/loudoun-county-timeline/#:~:text=The%20land%20that%20will%20become,Algonquin%2C%20Iroquois%20and%20Piscataway%20Indians.)

Historic or history documents and records, indicate that Frank Thornton was in at least some portion of his early years of life in Loudoun County Virginia. Around the time of just after the conclusion of the Civil War he settled in a house in the historic region of Oberlin Village, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Oberlin Village today is known as a locale that African American historically lived in over time; solely though has some questions. Frank Thornton is known as a progenitor for a number of descendants that survive today, some of the names involved with the family are Haywood and Scarborough.

[My genealogy website, Of Surname Thornton Ancestry & Related, has more information as to how I am related to these.]

Background information

Civil War soldiers sometimes were placed in units that were far away from their places of residence that they were prior to becoming a part of the unit. It may be helpful when studying an ancestor that was in the War, to accept that place of service, or name of the state of the unit might not have been the hometown.

Units sometimes traveled rom their original place to another location, for instance to carry out a battle.

Words

In keeping with the meaningful statement of President Eisenhower, “Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go in your library and read every book”, the truth be told about the ancestor, is what it is. 'Iqra', transliterated, 'Read', as it commonly translated today, are the first words Angel Jabreel, or Gabreel, revealed to the Prophet, prayers upon, and peace; so, read, study, research, is the way to go.

When you read, and there is no pretending after the truth is found, it is disdainful to burn the books, or some of them, in an effort to attain something worldly, like seeking power for the wrong reasons.

Nomenclatures for outward skin tone, have changed over the years, and of course regardless of what they are, is not the right path to judge.

A truth is African Americans have been a major driving force in sustaining the American economy down to this very day, and it is anticipated it will stay that way for years to come. Each day when work is not performed, for instance, the result of inclement snow, or whatever the circumstance, the economic loss is large.

A truth is, many ethnicities were affected by the Civil War, and the conclusion of the Civil War, and 'Blacks' and African Americans, were not the only ones that benefited from Union victory, not the only ones that suffered in the eras leading up to the Civil War, and were not the only ones that sacrificed so we can be where we are today.

There have been numerous leaders, politicians, political and community leaders, that have been very positive about Juneteenth, and I am happy to hear that. I do not know how much they know. I do know that I have had the fortune of being assisted on my Civil War genealogy research project, especially Frank Thornton, by notable genealogists and libraries. What has become clear, is the freedom of African Americans in the framework of Juneteenth is a significant point, albeit, it is a part of many other aspects.

Being 'politically correct' is not always the beacon, as what constitutes being politically correct long ago, evident by the Civil War, Juneteenth which may not have been considered in some circles 150 years ago, equality for Asian Americans during the WWII era, and refrainment from unnecessary discriminatory remarks about Native and American Indians on up until last week, may not be what is politically correct today, or in the future. On the ride with a lie or partial truth while other truths remain suppressed can be dangerous, and wind up in disaster later. 

Let's face it, or at least I have to face it, one of the renown activists behind the materialization of Juneteenth is 94 years old. A woman also over 90 is my last surviving grandmother, who had to be rushed to the hospital a few days ago a stay a few days. This grandmother years ago was the one that provided some direction enabling me to eventually find out about Powell family as they were several generations before her, Samuel Woodson and William Starbuck. Whether one or the other is the biological father, or head of household, or both, one both, or both neither of these cases, it emphasizes why reading is so important, which emphasizes why education is so important. And while you can get it. My last grandmother no longer remembers me or my name. Education enables the ability to read. The ability to read enables further education. The ability to read and being educated enables formulating sound policy and direction.

This writing was originally started June 21, 2021. Legislation was signed making Juneteenth a Federal holiday several days before.

Statement June 20, 2022

Today being a public holiday date in 'Juneteenth', my thoughts are,  'no one can do it, or something large, all by himself'; of course save the Lord. I wrote last year about the different dimensions that went into the Civil War, that some many people today may have heard little about. According to some pedigree charts, whether entirely proven or not, one of my ancestors was mainly of European (Irish/English) region stock, but classed in varying ethnic categories, fought for the Union contrary to about 90% of other Civil War veterans who fought for the Confederacy with same surname, in Thornton. I am still learning about Secretary of State James Innes Thornton, renown planter. (Informational note: his birth date may have been near the time of the father of Frank Thornton the 5th Mass USCT Civil War Vet.)  It appears I have another relative  who was in a troop in the Confederacy described as 'Non-White', which transitioned to the Union during the War. There is another great grandfather whose parents or grandparents were recent immigrants from England, perhaps who were not in the Continental US when generations that witnessed generations of tensions over slavery issues were, and (he) served for the Union. Starbuck.

All to say, when you remember this day, 'Juneteenth', it is not just a celebration to give praise to, and sentiment over the challenges of, African Americans, leading up to the Civil War and its outcome, but recognize ALL those who gave, sacrificed, and contributed to get those of us in America that earned a peaceful voyage the good aspects of where we are today.

--Folks elder, than myself, even just one generation back, might point out that 1965, for instance, was still somewhat recent in their minds, which was the year the Selma to Montgomery (Alabama) march, or marches for actuality of events, took place, whereat, in some minds, it was not until then, that certain rights that 'Non-Whites' or just ethnic divides (reference New York, 'Irish need not apply here'), Voting Rights Act to mention, brought up as it was about one or two months in the yearly calendar before the Tulsa massacre which occurred end of May through first of June thereabout, 101 years ago (1921), about a month and 3 weeks earlier in the year before Juneteenth. This year, spotlight was shown on the Tulsa event as the million dollars was given to last known survivors, made news headlines. There may be some that feel that the marks which show that equality is truly here took place in years beyond the end of the Civil War, and there are areas where there is still room for improvement. Still though, all that sacrificed for equality are all that sacrificed, Mr Reeb, Soldier Starbuck, et al, regardless of ethnicity or whether they were African American or not, and to not recognize there efforts is contrary to being careful, because what is not wanted is bringing up past divides in ways that mushroom future divides, especially the ones that have been progressed beyond.