It started me thinking about our family's relationship to the Civil War. Although I've blogged before lateral relatives who fought for the South, as far as I know, my only direct ancestor to fight in the war was Hiram B. Brattain, who fought for the Union. He would have been my 3xgreat-grandfather. I've found two published accounts of his service. The first, reproduced here, comes from a book called Those I Have Met or Boys in Blue, written by Samuel Harden in 1888. The following excerpt is from pages 104-105:
about some
H. B. BRATTAIN Was my Second Lieutenant in Company H, 69th Indiana Volunteers, and I first became acquainted with him in August, 1862. He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, near Boston, six miles South of Richmond, October 23, 1832, and was married to Miss Louisa Wiseheart May 28, 1853, at Mechanicsburg, Henry county, Indiana. Of this union the following children have been born: Miss S. J. Brattain, married to J. P. Deane, of Des Moines, Iowa; Miss C. A. Brattain, married to Edwin Fulton, of Lynchburg, Ohio; Miss M. A. Brattain, married Frank Castle of Alexandria, Indiana; C. A. Brattain, married to Allia Herron, of Alexandria, Indiana; J. C. F. Brattain, married to Indiana Howard, of Alexandria; J. B. Brattain, resides at Elkhart, Indiana; Will Brattain, resides at Middletown, Indiana, and Frankie E. Brattain, deceased.
Mr. Brattain came to Madison county in 1835, where his father entered land four miles South of Fishersburg. Here he remained many years, when he removed to Henry county. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in Company F, 8th Indiana Volunteers (three months service) and participated in the battle of Rich Mountain, West Virginia. At the expiration of his term of service, he re-enlisted in Company H, 69th Indiana Volunteers, July, 1862, and was elected and commissioned Second Lieutenant of that company; was in the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, and resigned at Memphis, Tennessee, December 20th, on account of ill health.
He was made a Mason at Clarksville, Indiana, in 1853, and an Odd Fellow at Middletown in 1863. He is a member of Lew Tyler Post G.A.R. at Alexandria. I have known Mr. Brattain for many years, at home and in the field, and he was never found wanting in an emergency. He was a brave man and a good officer, and well liked by his comrades. He now resides in Middletown, Indiana, where he and his estimable lady belong to the Methodist Church, and are held in the highest esteem.
The second source that describes Hiram Brattain's service was History of Henry County, Indiana, written by George Hazzard in 1906. The following excerpt was found on pages 257-258:
HIRAM B. BRATTAIN
Hiram B. Brattain, husband of Philander Wisehart's elder sister, Louisa, was also a soldier of the Civil War. He was a private in the same company and regiment as Philander Wisehart, and when the latter received his death wound at Rich Mountain, he was present and received from him his dying words, "Tell mother I am willing to die and feel that all is well." The regiment was mustered out of service on August 6, 1861, and Mr. Brattain returned home where he remained until Aug 8, 1862, when he was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company H, 69th Indiana Infantry. He was mustered into the service of the United States, August 12, 1862, and on the 19th of the same month departed for the front with his regiment. On August 30, 1862, at the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, the regiment was terribly cut up and a large part of it captured. After exchange, the regiment was re-organized, but Lieutenant Brattain was compelled by increasing disability to resign March 27, 1863. He returned to Middletown, where he has since lived, enjoying the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens."
The Union forever! Hurrah, boys, hurrah!
No comments:
Post a Comment