I didn’t believe my eyes when I read the Richmond Times Dispatch headline:
“Four children of Civil War Soldiers still live in Virginia” by Bill Lohmann
According to heritage groups that track this kind of thing, there are at least 24 children of Confederate soldiers and 30 children of Union soldiers still living in the U.S., the children of aging veterans and young brides. They range in age from 83 to 106, and most do not remember their father because they were so young when their father died.
CLICK HERE to read more about these rare living links to history.
This seems astounding, yet I have my own interesting links to the Civil War.
A dear elderly lady from my childhood, “Cousin Emily” Ramey, in Rectortown, VA, used to tell us about the friendship between her father and Col. John S. Mosby, “The Grey Ghost.” When they were both old men and my “Cousin Emily” was a young girl, Mosby visited their home in Fauquier County, the same home where I visited her over a half century later. I might have sat in the same chair where Mosby sat. I definitely walked across the same wooden floors.
My husband’s great-grandfather lost a leg in the first battle of Manassas. He lied about his age to be allowed to enlist in a Confederate Mississippi regiment when he was just a teenager, and in spite of his injuries, he lived to be an old man whom my mother-in-law, his granddaughter, remembered fondly.
What is your closest link to the Civil War?
Photo credit: “Civil War Soldier” by Loretta Humble via StockXChng
Hi, Elizabeth! I actually have copies of letters to and from my great-great grandfather, George Kerr Briggs (b. 3/15/1839 – d. 12/2/1912) who served in the Confederacy from 1861-1865. One quote: July 14, 1863 – “Everything looks very dark at this time… I believe the Yankees are about to get the upper hand of us. I think we will have a hard time before long. I fear the Yankees will have Richmond before long. They have got Vicksburg, and I believe they whipped Lee in Maryland…”. Isn’t it amazing to read those words?
Wow…gives me the chills! Thank you so much for sharing these with us, Cyndi!
I don’t have one, not one, link to the Civil War. My great-grandfather James Day came to America from Wales after the Civil War, to work in the coal mines in PA. My great-grandmother came here about the same time. So life in America (for me) came after the Civil War. Interesting stuff though!
Karen, I think it’s cool that your roots in America are so recent and you represent those families for whom American was the hope for a better future. But if they worked in the Pennsylvania coal mines, life was very hard, so you clearly come from hardy stock! No surprise there! 🙂
Wow, a family mystery! I hope your research digs up more information on what happened to Charles Druet, Andy. And Samuel certainly left his mark, didn’t he? Thanks so much for sharing.
The next time you come across his unique handwriting, send me a scan of it. That sounds like it would be a great addition to a series of blog posts about handwriting.
Most of my ancestors were Quakers that migrated to the south. They were opposed to war and therefore, I cannot find many references to the civil war in my family history. I do have one very close connection however.
My Great Grandmother, Della Druet (1861-1970) lived across the street from us when I was a child. I spent nearly every day of my childhood listening to her stories about growing up on a rural farm in Tennessee. She married Charles Druet in 1905 whose father was a union soldier in the civil war. I am certain this did not set well with her throughly southern family which probably led to Charles Druet’s mysterious disappearance around 1908 leaving Della to raise two young daughters on her own.
My Great Great Grandfather, Samuel Druet (1844-1915) enlisted in the 161st Ohio Infantry in May 9, 1864 at the age of 19. His unit fought in several battles including Hunter’s Raid on Lynchburg June 6-25, 1864 and Harper’s Ferry July 4-7, 1864. After the war he attended medical school and practiced medicine for twenty-two years, the last twelve years as institutional physician at the Anamosa Penitentiary in Jones County Iowa. He also served in the Iowa General Assembly beginning January 13, 1896 for two terms ending January 7, 1900.
In my collection of family archives, I have several original photographs of Samuel Druet that include beautiful examples of his unique handwriting.