Document showing he mustered out May 31, 1865 |
Solomon Ishmael was born November 14, 1817, in Kentucky to Robert and Mary Adams Ishmael. He was married first to America Manning, and they had six children (including my 3rd great grandmother, Serena Jane Ishmael) before she died in 1860. He married Elizabeth Martin in 1861 and they had six children together.
Muster roll showing illness event |
According to the various muster rolls, Solomon contracted small pox in around February 1864, and was in the hospital in McMinnville, Tennessee, until at least after the muster roll dated January 14, 1865. His regiment was guarding the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad at McMinnville from December 1863 to July 1864, so that fits in the right timeframe. While he was ill, his company saw much action, including the Battle of Peach Tree Creek and the Battle of Atlanta in Georgia. It appears that he was eventually well enough to rejoin his regiment at some point, as he was mustered out near Washington, D.C, at the end of the war.
Muster roll with personal details |
His Civil War documents also give us some personal details about Solomon:
- He was a farmer.
- He was born in Nicholas County, Kentucky (which is corroborated by census documents).
- He had grey eyes and brown hair.
- He was 5'10" tall (or 6' 1/2", depending on which document you look at) and had a medium complexion.
- He was not able to write his own name, and made his "mark" on documents where a signature was required.
- He was generally healthy when he enlisted: he'd been vaccinated, his organs were all "sound and perfectly formed," he was not a drinker and he'd never had "the horrors."
- He enlisted for a period of three years.
- Oddly, several of the documents noted his age as 35, 42, 44 or 45 years old. In truth, he was between 44 and 47 years old during his time of service.
- Prior to joining the Union Army, he had been enlisted in the Kings Regiment of the Missouri State Militia.
Form for Examining a Recruit |
Declaration of Recruit |
Volunteer Enlistment Form. Also includes signature of his recruiting officer, Samuel Rooks (another of my 4th great grandfathers) |
77y 1m 5d. "Rest soldier, rest. Thy warfare o'er. Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking. Dream of battlefields no more, days of danger, nights of waking." Co B 23 Mo Inf.
Pension record |
Here's how I'm descended from Solomon J. Ishmael:
Solomon J. Ishmael/America Manning >Serena Jane Ishmael/Thomas J. Rooks >Mary Jane Rooks/Frederick Harmon Brittain >Andrew Lee Brittain/Jessie Luetta Halstead >Woodie Leroy Brittain/Edith Vivian Hunt >William Lee Brittain/Rebecca Elizabeth Bartram >me!
Wendy-
ReplyDeleteHow did you come across his enlistment paperwork? Very interesting!
Heather
I'm always interested in military paperwork (even though I am not a huge fan of the military)...I don't even know if anyone in my family aside from my grandfathers were involved in any war. No idea at all...
ReplyDeleteHeather: I found the papers on Footnote.com. It's a subscription site, but been worth its weight in gold regarding my military ancestors.
ReplyDeleteRenee Anne: I'm not a huge fan of how our military is often run, but I appreciate the service of our men and women. Each generation of my family seems to have someone in the service, and many served in wars, so it's always fascinating to me. I'm a sucker for a good Civil War documentary, too.
Solomon J Ishmael is my great-great-great grandfather. He was the father of Solomon, Jr, who was the father of Osa Orange Ishmael Hessenflow, who was the mother of my grandmother, Helen Frances Garrett Chrisman.
ReplyDeleteAlso, my paternal great-great grandfather, William B Sherrow, fought in the 14th Indiana and the 6th US Cavalry and was also buried in Grundy, Co. Missouri.
Troy,
DeleteWe are certainly 'cousins' as Ishmael and Sherrow are both names in my 'line'. I found a photo of Osa Orange Ishmael Hessenflow on line. Is that your image? Appreciate all who share!
Hi Troy! It's great to meet an Ishmael cousin. Thanks for your comment!
ReplyDeleteThanks again "Cousin" Wendy!
ReplyDeleteSolomon J Ishmael is my 2nd great grand uncle. Thanks again so much for sharing all this. If you need a photo of his gravestone, I can share!
Thanks for all your comments, Kathy! I have a photo of his gravestone on my Ancestry.com page. They are a fascinating family. I've been wanting to read the book you mentioned elsewhere (Inventing America's "Worst" Family). I see that a used bookstore near me has a copy, so I might pick it up this weekend. Cheers!
Delete