Torn families – the Burlesons, Yancey County, North Carolina.

 

Cumberland Gap

The War years are full of interesting stories and sad coincidences. Part of the latter may be found in the story of Daniel W. Burleson and his son William.

The Burlesons (sometimes Burlisons) were a middle-class family living in the mountains of western North Carolina. While the 1860 census enumerator did not divide their home county (Yancey County) into districts, they claimed they received their mail in Burnsville, North Carolina.

Like many families in the area, the war tore this family apart. William P. Burleson joined the 58^th North Carolina Troops in the summer of 1862. Like many records in the 58^th North Carolina, Burleson’s compiled service record is rather incomplete. We don’t know the exact date he enlisted, what company he joined, nor his rank. He was 18 years old. We might be able to assume that he was forced to enlist by the Conscription Act, but we really don’t know that either. All the records tell us is that he died of “typhoid fever” on September 15, 1862, at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. An announcement in the Asheville News on October 9, 1862, told people that William A. Burleson “was a pious boy and a good boy, and leaves a father and mother to mourn his loss.” (Jordan, NC Troops,14:422)

William’s father, Daniel, also joined the military. On May 6, 1864, in Cumberland Gap, where his son had died several months earlier, Daniel joined Co. H, 2^nd North Carolina Mountain Infantry (US). Daniel was 45 years old at the time of his enlistment. Five months later, on October 5, 1864, Private Daniel Burleson died of chronic diarrhea at the hospital in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. We really don’t know why or what compelled Daniel to enlist in the Federal army. The two North Carolina regiments from the western part of the state were not exactly models of fighting to preserve the Union, or even to free the slaves. They were more akin to robbing and plundering their neighbors. Daniel would leave several children back in Yancey County fatherless. (Two other sons would also join local Federal regiments in 1864).

There is really little more to add to this story. In a post-war widow pension application, John W. Burleson, one of Daniel’s other sons, stated that Daniel had been forced into the home guard and forced “to hunt up his neighbors, union men, [and] help force them into the rebel army and he did not want to do this any longer. The only thing left for him was to join the federals…” Of course, pension records are not always the most reliable source.

In the end, it is just another tragic glimpse of our history. Most of the graves of the Federal soldiers were relocated to the Knoxville National Cemetery after the war.  There is a good chance that is where Daniel Burleson is interred. The grave of William, and hundreds of other Confederates who died in the Cumberland Gap area, seems to be lost to history.

Torn families – the Flussers

 

   Often we hear that the Civil War was a war fought brother against brother. And that’s true, but really oversimplified. It was brother against brother, and father against son, and mothers and sisters against fathers and sons, and uncles, and cousins. One of those families were the Flusser family.

   Charles T. Flusser was born in Prague in 1798. He immigrated to the United States, settling in Maryland and marrying Juliana S. Waters. They had several children, including Ottokar (1830); Charles (1832); and Guy (1833). It is thought that the family moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi, and then later Louisville, Kentucky. Thomas died in 1858 and is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.

Flusser stone at Cave Hill Cemetery

   The war found the family on different sides. Charles W. Flusser graduated from The United States Naval Academy in 1854. He stayed with the Union, arising to the rank of lieutenant commander. He spent much of the war along the coastal waters of North Carolina, and in April 1864, he was commanding the USS Miami, when the CSS Albemarle sailed down the Roanoke River. The Albemarle engaged the USS Southfield, sinking the gunboat. Flusser fired a shell at the Albemarle, but the Albemarle and the Miami were so close that a piece of shrapnel rebounded back and killed Flusser. He is buried at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Maryland. (Three different US destroyers have been named in his honor.)

   Oldest brother Ottokar Flusser joined the Fourth Texas Infantry on July 11, 1861, at Camp Clark, Texas. He apparently was mustered in as a second sergeant in Company B. In March 1862, he was nominated to be a captain in the regular Confederate army. However, when Flusser was killed in the battle of Sharpsburg, Maryland, in September 1862, his rank was listed as private. Ottokar Flusser is buried in the Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.

   Younger brother Guy Flusser also served. On June 1, 1863, in Abington, Kentucky, Guy Flusser enlisted in Company K, 4^th Kentucky Cavalry (CS). He was mustered in as a private. The 4^th Kentucky Cavalry was a part of John Hunt Morgan’s command. At some point, it appears he was promoted to Lieutenant. Flusser was killed in a skirmish at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, September 14, 1864. Guy Flusser is also buried at the Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.

   It appears that none of the three brothers was married at the time of death. On a marker in the family plot in Cave Hill Cemetery is a stone that reads “TO MY SONS.” The marker has both a cavalry sword and a ship’s anchor.  

Brothers versus brothers.

We are all familiar with the idea of the War being a War in which brothers fought against brothers. But how often do we actually come across those stories? In my research for Civil War Charlotte, I've actually found on such tale. Ok, I kind of knew this story before, but not all of the details. So, here are the details.
     In 1838, Dr. John H. Gibbons became chief assayer at the new United State Mint in, or near, Charlotte, North Carolina. The first gold rush was rapidly expanding the town. Previously, the Gibbons family had lived in Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia to be exact. There were ten Gibbons children.
     One of those sons was John Gibbon (no, I don't know why he does not have the s). John was eleven when the family moved, and went on to spend about five years in the Queen City. John graduated from West Point in 1847, and served in the Mexican War and the Seminole War, and taught artillery tactics at West Point.  When the Civil War started, John became chief of artillery for Irvin McDowell. In 1862, he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers and assigned command of a brigade of Wisconsin Men. Later, this brigade was known as the Iron Brigade. John later commanded the 2nd Division, II Corps, and at Gettysburg, commanded the Corps during part of the battle. It was on his front that the Picket-Pettigrew-Trimble charge landed on July 3. He was also wounded the second time. Gibbon would later command the XVIII Corps, and then the XXIV Corps. Following the War, he served out West, battling the Sioux , Cheyenne, and Nez Perce. He later commanded the Army of the Pacific Northwest, before retiring in 1891. He died in Baltimore, Maryland,  and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
     An older brother was Lardner Gibbon. Lardner was a Lieutenant in the United States Navy and was sent by the US government to explore the Amazon River. On July 2, 1861, he was appointed a captain in the Confederate States Artillery. He is listed as ordinance officer and commander of corps artillery in the 2nd Military District of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.  He later resigned on August 5, 1863. Just what his role was after his resignation is unclear. An interesting aside is that both John and Lardner served as best men in the wedding of Daniel Harvey Hill. Lardner died on January 1, 1910.
     Yet another older brother to John was Robert Gibbon. He was born in 1822 and graduated from the Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia.  He returned to Charlotte where he was living when the War commenced. Robert was appointed surgeon of the 28th North Carolina Troops on or about September 25, 1861, and served in this capacity until appointed senior surgeon of James H. Lane's brigade on January 29, 1864. Once the War ended, Robert returned to Charlotte and practiced surgery in the Queen City. Two of his sons founded Presbyterian Hospital. Robert died on May 14, 1898.
     The last brother was Nicholas Gibbon. He was born in 1837 and was attending lectures at the Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia when the war commenced. He returned to Charlotte and enrolled in the North Carolina Military Institute, under the command of family friend D. H. Hill.  Nicholas served as a private in the 1st North Carolina Volunteers. Once that regiment mustered out of service, Nicholas was appointed Assistant Commissary of Substance in the 28th North Carolina Troops (under the command of James H. Lane, another North Carolina Military institute professor). Nicholas served in this capacity until resigning on September 17, 1863. He then served on Cadmus Wilcox's staff and in other positions until returning to North Carolina to look for deserters. Nicholas married into the Alexander family and farmed in Mecklenburg County after the War. He died on October 17, 1917.
     There you have it, brothers fighting brothers. By the way, two of the Gibbon sisters also married Confederate soldiers, and somehow, they are all related to James J. Pettigrew.