A few weeks ago, on my return from the living history in
Maryland, we stopped by Lexington and spent a few moments with Stonewall
Jackson. We also stumbled over to the Confederate monument in the cemetery, and
found the names of several Tar Heels chiseled on it. That got me to thinking -
who were these men and how did they wind up so far from the front lines of the
War? (Yes, the war visited Lexington in June 1864.)
So, who were these men?
On one side is the name of J. C. McKinney, Co. B, 34th N. C.
John C. McKinney was from Cleveland County and was 39 years old when he
mustered in as a private in February 1863. Four months later (June 17-19, 1863),
he died of typhoid at a hospital in Lexington.
Below McKinney was G H B Huggins, Co.I, 2nd N. C. There are
no Hugginses in Company I, but I did find a Henry B. Huggins in Company G.
Huggins enlisted in Northampton County on July 18, 1861. He was wounded
sometime around July 1, 1861, by the "explosion of a bomb shell at Camp
Wyatt." Huggins was detailed as a nurse in Lexington on February 15, 1863,
and died there of "typhoid pneumonia" on June 16, 1863.
On another side of the monument were the names W. G. Gilbert
and A. T. Gilliam, both listed as having served in the 23rd North Carolina. There
was a Willis Gilbert in Company D. His records state he was born in Caldwell
County and enlisted at the age of 28 in September 1862. He died at or near
Lexington around February 6, 1863, of "chr[onic] gastritis."
A. T. Gilliam is proving a challenge. There are no A. T. Gilliams
in Company A, 23rd North Carolina Infantry. I tried looking on Soldiers and
Sailors for A. Gilliam, and T. Gilliam, but I could not identify this soldier.
I also looked at the compiled service records for the 23rd NC, but I did not
really see anything there that matched. It could be that the inscription is totally
wrong, or maybe this poor lad died of some disease after he enlisted but before
he was mustered into the regiment.
I did a little online searching , but I did not find a whole
lot about a war-time hospital. The Stonewall Jackson house was used as a
hospital, but it is unclear if this happened during the war. Maybe someone has
that answer as well.
I wonder how many other Tar Heels are tucked away in places,
seemingly forgotten.
1 comment:
I had a Great Great Grand Father that was in a Co. out of Greenville S.C he's not even on recorded for the civil war either it could be due he was in a milita and joined in with the regulars I'm not sure but I did find some uncles that joined up
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