Great- Great Grandfather battleflags 55th of Virginia (1 Viewer)

[sammy719]

More pictures

Videos below - Just click the picture

 

[sammy719]

Sammy

Now that's what I call real ACW history-fascinating and thank you for sharing it. I too would be very proud if I could link such banners to my ancestors.

I can fill in a few details about your G.G.Grandfather's regimental flag and its markings having studied most of those Virginny boys brigades and their battles. Apologies if you already know this.

Falling Waters is sometimes confused with another battle in July 1861 with the same name. The flag's history of Falling Waters is better known to ACW Buffs as the Battle of Williamsport or Hagerstown and was fought in Washington County MD July 1863 as part of the Gettysburg campaign. The 55th Virginia were from Heth's Division-Brockenbrough's Brigade and fought a rear-guard action to allow Lee to cross back over the Potomac during his retreat from Pennsylvania. Kilpatrick's & Buford's Cavalry divisions attacked them and captured a great number of the regiment and others including General Pettigrew who was killed in the action-but by that time Lee and his army were long gone.

Later on in February the 55th and 47th Virginia were consolidated but only 2 officers and 21 men of the 55th were present at the surrender at Appomattox possibly one of them could have been your grandfather if he wasn't captured at Williamsport.

Bob

Thanks for the detailed info Bob, I know a good amount from reading alot about the 55th but you gave me a few facts I didn't know esp. about the Falling waters battle, so thanks again for the facts.
Sadly my Great- Great Grandfather was captured at Cashtown, before being released later on, so as far as I know he wasn't at the surrender, but I'm not 100% sure of that either, I guess I should keep digging, as I didn't know the 55th had anyone at the surrender in Appomattox, I will let you know what I find out...Sammy

 

[tdubel]

It's interesting to be able to trace the history of an ancestor to a particular unit.

I remember reading that many a battleflag that was captured by US forces was, many years after the War ended, given back to Reb units in the spirit of reconciliation. I'm sure Scott, Bob or George would have more info on this.

Sammy, I thought you hailed from Md. or did you have a branch that hailed from Va.?

Sammy, really cool stuff!

Brad, Maryland was split and my family is very evident of that. I can, like Sammy trace directly to units on both sides, for example, my tri great Grand was 1st MD Calvary Union, I have all of his war records, pension records, etc. A Museum in Boonsboro MD has his hat, coat and a few other effects. Unfortunately, a member of our family donated it and I have tried unsucessfully to retrieve it, it is a bad situation, but legal. Long story short, my family also owns a grandfather clock that was owned by the first sheriff of Washington County (who later killed his wife and was hung in the yard of the courthouse), anyhow, this "museum" has proposed a trade, which is not going to happen.

On the Confederate side, I have probably 20 relatives, all Co K 7th VA Calvary. One was killed at Yellow Tavern with Jeb Stuart. So, lots of history and records there too.

All in all, it is fascinating. But when you read that the Civil War was a split family affair, my family is living proof.

And for the record, there is NEVER any indication nor records that we were slaveowners on the Southern side, which is why I usually take great umbrage as the generalizations that are made. The Southern group were German immigrant farmers who made their own way.

TD

 

[sammy719]

Sammy, really cool stuff!

Brad, Maryland was split and my family is very evident of that. I can, like Sammy trace directly to units on both sides, for example, my tri great Grand was 1st MD Calvary Union, I have all of his war records, pension records, etc. A Museum in Boonsboro MD has his hat, coat and a few other effects. Unfortunately, a member of our family donated it and I have tried unsucessfully to retrieve it, it is a bad situation, but legal. Long story short, my family also owns a grandfather clock that was owned by the first sheriff of Washington County (who later killed his wife and was hung in the yard of the courthouse), anyhow, this "museum" has proposed a trade, which is not going to happen.

On the Confederate side, I have probably 20 relatives, all Co K 7th VA Calvary. One was killed at Yellow Tavern with Jeb Stuart. So, lots of history and records there too.

All in all, it is fascinating. But when you read that the Civil War was a split family affair, my family is living proof.

And for the record, there is NEVER any indication nor records that we were slaveowners on the Southern side, which is why I usually take great umbrage as the generalizations that are made. The Southern group were German immigrant farmers who made their own way.

TD

Very interesting indeed Tom from all sides of your family, lots of history no doubt, sadly on my side of the family (after doing some research), my fathers side of the family owned a large amount of land in upper Essex Co. Virginia and owned a number of slaves.

those were thier choices not mine, I wish they had not used slaves, my son knows about racism, slavery and the evil in which it was used, some of his great ancestors fought for the South in battle and accomplished many a great thing, but owning slaves was not one of them sadly...Sammy

 

[sammy719]

Sammy

Now that's what I call real ACW history-fascinating and thank you for sharing it. I too would be very proud if I could link such banners to my ancestors.

I can fill in a few details about your G.G.Grandfather's regimental flag and its markings having studied most of those Virginny boys brigades and their battles. Apologies if you already know this.

Falling Waters is sometimes confused with another battle in July 1861 with the same name. The flag's history of Falling Waters is better known to ACW Buffs as the Battle of Williamsport or Hagerstown and was fought in Washington County MD July 1863 as part of the Gettysburg campaign. The 55th Virginia were from Heth's Division-Brockenbrough's Brigade and fought a rear-guard action to allow Lee to cross back over the Potomac during his retreat from Pennsylvania. Kilpatrick's & Buford's Cavalry divisions attacked them and captured a great number of the regiment and others including General Pettigrew who was killed in the action-but by that time Lee and his army were long gone.

Later on in February the 55th and 47th Virginia were consolidated but only 2 officers and 21 men of the 55th were present at the surrender at Appomattox possibly one of them could have been your grandfather if he wasn't captured at Williamsport.

Bob

Well Bob, a quick update on some historical facts I found out (after much confusion) after my G.G. grandfather was captured at Cashtown at Gettysburg and sent to Fort Delaware as a prisoner of war , he remained there for many months until his release near the wars end, he made his way back to Essex co. Virginia got his honorable discharge papers from the Confederate Army and finished with a Corporals rank, and received battle honors (awards) for his service, but sadly he was not at Appomattox during the final days. I'm still finding bits and pieces of information of his unit during Gettysburg and some of the esrlier battles he fought in.

I will be returning to Viriginia later this year and can't wait to go back to the Mueseum of the Confederacy, if anyone knows of a certain battleflag that they would like to see (at the mueseum) I will asked to see it to take photos of it close up, pm me if you are interested...Sammy

 

[Poppo]

Well Bob, a quick update on some historical facts I found out (after much confusion) after my G.G. grandfather was captured at Cashtown at Gettysburg and sent to Fort Delaware as a prisoner of war , he remained there for many months until his release near the wars end, he made his way back to Essex co. Virginia got his honorable discharge papers from the Confederate Army and finished with a Corporals rank, and received battle honors (awards) for his service, but sadly he was not at Appomattox during the final days. I'm still finding bits and pieces of information of his unit during Gettysburg and some of the esrlier battles he fought in.

I will be returning to Viriginia later this year and can't wait to go back to the Mueseum of the Confederacy, if anyone knows of a certain battleflag that they would like to see (at the mueseum) I will asked to see it to take photos of it close up, pm me if you are interested...Sammy

Very interesting story,but in my opinion you shouldn 't be sad that your ancestor didn' t fight at Appomattox.....Battles and war are not fun, and he could have died during that battle. So be happy he survived the war.

 

[sammy719]

Very interesting story,but in my opinion you shouldn 't be sad that your ancestor didn' t fight at Appomattox.....Battles and war are not fun, and he could have died during that battle. So be happy he survived the war.

Hi Poppo,

there wasn't a battle at Appomattox but it was the site where the Civil War ended, so yes I wish he had been present at the surrender of the South ending the War, it would have been fascinating to know a family member was there to witness a historical signing of the Wars end, agree with you on the battles/wars part as soldiers that fought and died and families torn apart there wasn't much to thankful for except the wars ending...Sammy

 

[sammy719]

I finally got as much information as I could on my 3 time Great-grandfather over the last few years.....he volunteered in 1861 with the 55th of Virginia Company A in the artillery unit, he saw action at most of all the more notable battles during the early part of the War, being promoted to Corporal after Chancellorsville, then off to Gettysburg....George W. Samuel was at Picketts charge when his unit was decimated and over run, on July 5th George gave himself up as a prisoner of War at Cashtown Penn. He was moved to Fort McHenry for processing then taking to Fort Delaware....gets interesting here.....George applied to join the U.S. Calvary for the Union forces only to be denied by a Army Surgeon for past injuries, from that point other Rebel soldiers who sought to join Union ranks that were denied were put in a separate location called the Civillian barracks at Fort Delaware, near the end of the war those who applied to take the Oath of allegience were granted and George was on that list, shortly after taking the oath he gained his freedom and passage home to Essex Co. Virginia.... married twice, 4 children, became a Post Master and past away in 1929....lots of questions answered, but still digging to find out more.