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| Posted: Mon Dec 10th, 2007 11:01 pm |
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1st Post |
tcurrier
Member
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I'm new to this board, so I'm not sure where to post this question, but here goes anyway.
I had a great-great uncle who was killed in the Civil War on April 7, 1865. An article in his hometown newpaper reads as follows:
The funeral sermon of Cayton D. Grist, who was killed April 7th, 1865, on the Weldon rail-road in the Battle of Petersburg on the 3rd day of the engagement, will be
preached ....
However, I can find no record of a 'Battle of Petersburg' on April 7, 1865, only the Battle of Farmville (65 miles from Petersburg).
Could this be a mistake in the reporting, or possibly a separate skirmish that did occur on the Weldon Railroad below Petersburg on the same date ?
I'm confused and am wondering if anyone has any ideas ...
Thanks.
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10th, 2007 11:10 pm |
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2nd Post |
Johan Steele
Life NRA,SUVCW # 48,Legion 352
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THe battle of Petersburg involved almost constant sharpshooting & skirmishing as well as intermitent and arty fire. Petersburg was a seige w/ casualties almost daily.
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10th, 2007 11:22 pm |
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3rd Post |
Texas Defender
Member
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tcurrier-
Petersburg fell on April 2, 1865. Its my guess that he was killed on that day. It would have been easy for the folks at the newspaper to confuse a :"2" with a "7."
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10th, 2007 11:28 pm |
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4th Post |
javal1
Grumpy Geezer
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Welcome to the board,
My guess is that your ancestor was a member of the 81st Pa. Infantry, which had a Clayton D. Grist in their unit. Your guess on Farmville is probably correct, as the 81st had an engagement there on the date of his death....
Continuing its pursuit westward on April 7, the brigade encountered the temporarily entrenched enemy at Farmville (50 miles west of Petersburg). Ordered to force the Confederate position here, division commander General Miles sent the 81st PA, 2nd NYHA, and part of the 5th NH to envelop the enemy’s left. The attack, however, became suicidal. Made against superior numbers and over broken ground, it was repulsed severely, although counterattacks were beaten off. The Confederates abandoned this position at midnight, and the next day the brigade reached Holliday Creek (10 miles east of Appomattox/60 miles west of Petersburg) by late afternoon.
Welcome again, and good luck on your search.
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10th, 2007 11:44 pm |
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5th Post |
tcurrier
Member
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You are correct. Clayton (I misspelled his name previously) was a member of the 81st PA infantry.
In previous genealogies, it was mentioned that he was killed in the Battle of Farmville, so when I obtained the newspaper article, I was confused to see 'Battle of Petersburg' and the 'Weldon Railroad' mentioned.
I have also recently obtained records from the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington that contains a 'Casualty Sheet'. In it, it does state that the date of his death was in fact April 7, 1865. Under 'battle of', it says 'not stated', but under 'remarks', it says 'killed in action April 7th 1865, near Farmville, VA.
It's becoming apparent that it was in fact the Battle of Farmville that resulted in his death, despite what the newspaper article reported.
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10th, 2007 11:56 pm |
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6th Post |
| Posted: Tue Dec 11th, 2007 12:02 am |
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7th Post |
Texas Defender
Member
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Ah- no wonder I couldn't find: "Cayton Grist" in the Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System.  The NARA information makes it clear that Javal's theory was the correct one.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 25th, 2008 11:04 pm |
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8th Post |
Dadsongs
Member
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Hello:
To find this information about Clayton is a stroke of luck. As it turns out, he's an ancestor of mine, which makes you a distant relative. I won't burden this board with the genealogical details, but PLEASE get in touch with me and we'll share notes as to how we are related.
I'm very pleased to see that newspaper clipping! That will go into my family research archive. Speaking of which, my record of Clayton's service always said, "Died in the Battle of the Wilderness." I'm happy now I can be more specific. I also believe I know where his grave is! Take care!
Bruce
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| Posted: Tue Mar 25th, 2008 11:50 pm |
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9th Post |
tcurrier
Member
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Bruce,
Clayton was my Great Great Grandmother Ida Grist's brother. I moved here from NY State 35 years ago, without even realizing that I had ancestors that lived close by here.
I know where Clayton's grave stone is. It is located in Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Petersburg, VA. I have a photo of the grave stone, but the inscription isn't really legible.
You may email me at TCURRIER4@JUNO.COM
I'll be glad to share the genealogical details....
Tom Currier
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| Posted: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 07:20 pm |
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10th Post |
HankC
Member
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It is quite possible that he was wounded earlier and lingered until the 7th.
At that time of the war, hospital folks were not too picky over noting the deceased's day of wounding.
I have a relative whose death date is different on at least 3 documents...
HankC
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| Posted: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 08:13 pm |
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11th Post |
tcurrier
Member
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True, but the newspaper does specifically say ".. mortaly (sic) wounded, so that he died the same night, ..."
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| Posted: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 11:02 pm |
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12th Post |
ole
Member
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You've noticed, tcurrier, all the guessing. There never was a "Battle of Petersburg." I'm figurting that your ancestor fell at Farmville. The date works.
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