2022 02 Week 5 Branching Out
Sometimes, branching out means looking at your ancestors' siblings, etc. In this case, I'm branching out to the family of Thomas Morrow Hennon and his wife, Martha (Phillips) Work Hennon. They had 9 children. Four of their sons served in the Civil War and this is their story. (The good the bad and the ugly.) Please remember that these were different times and these were very young men doing their best to survive. Some parts of the letters they wrote home are difficult to read. (And make me want to apologize for my cousins, long dead.)
I outline here my descent compared to theirs. (I descend through the same line twice as my great-great grandparents were cousins.
My descent from these families is doubled!
William and Eleanor (?) Morrow
Joseph and Margaret (Morrow) Hennon
Mary Ann (Hennon) and William James McConahy
Margaret Jane (McConahy) and George Van Eman Morrow
Sierra Nevada (Morrow) and James Preston Book
Margaret Annetta (Book) and Valentine Edward Mohney
Donald Edward and Nettie Lynda (Lindbeck) Mohney
Donna Evalyn Mohney
and
William and Eleanor (?) Morrow
Charles and Rebecca (Moore) Morrow
Adam and Catherine (Van Eman) Morrow
George Van Eman and Margaret Jane (McConahy) Morrow
Sierra Nevada (Morrow) and James Preston Book
Margaret Annetta (Book) and Valentine Edward Mohney
Donald Edward and Nettie Lynda (Lindbeck) Mohney
Donna Evalyn Mohney
The descent of the four brothers is:
William and Eleanor (?) Morrow
Joseph and Margaret (Morrow) Hennon
Thomas Morrow and Martha (Philips) Hennon
Joseph W. Hennon and brothers
Joseph W. Hennon was born 7 June 1836 in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. He had 8 siblings: Sophia (m. John Henry Jenkins); Amaziah Phillips m. Martha P. Hasely; William W. (more about him later); Nancy m. Joseph Callahan; James P.: Martha m. Samuel Mack; Josiah M. (more about him later) m. Margaret Jane McClaren; and Thomas Jefferson (more about him later) m. Agnes S. Cunningham.
When the Civil War occurred, Joseph W. , Josiah M.; William W. and Thomas Jefferson Hennon enlisted. Amaziah P. appears to have remained home to run the family farm. The four brothers detailed their service in letters which were obtained by Michael Kraus, who kindly shared them with me. (Transcription and any errors are mine.)
Joseph enlisted in Company E, as a private on Aug. 31, 1861. On August 27, 1861 and 24 December 1861, he was detailed for brigade baker and returned to his company for duty on June 1, 1862.
Postmarked Sep 17, 1861 Washington, D.C.
Camp Calarama September the 16th
Sweet Amazla I take my pen in hand to address you(r?) gentlemanship I am well at present and So is Sheaf we have a devil of a nice time fo it in the boars nest that is what we call our mess we have that note on our tent the wild boars den No 10 we have made quite a hall on uncle Sam we hav got blankets guns cartridge boxes knapsacks some of us has got Socks and caps and all hav shirts and drawers wet get plenty of grub such as it is it is composed of beef pork beens rice homeny Shager muleases and bread but recollect we done get them all at a time I want you folks to write kind of deasent- letters here after spell well and write (soon? same?) Josiah recieved a letter today that we suppose come from some of you it had no name on it so we had to gess at it if it had been a sencible one we mite have gessed bell(Ct)er we have made a rule in our mess that evryone reads all the letters there was a squad of us went to see the the defenceive works we went across the potomac river into the state of old verginia we ware within too miles of the rebble pickets our boys ar well fortified overthere the hole country is tore up as far as we went it is all one farm now they hav taken all the fence rails and timber to make ball(tt) cries here (there?) is canon on every hy peace of ground there is tuns of canon balls over ther and canister the devils that that they would pley hell a little so they marched on one of our encampments but they run the thing in the ground for they about too hundred of there devils killed I saw them taking one of our men to the bone yard that was killed in the fight and I saw fore men that got darned bad hurt the same time I want you to write as soon as posible and tell me how buisness goes on my side of the house if there is eny County newspaper about there send them post hast(+e) evry weak it witt(ll) not cost much mor than a cent a pop J J Book says you may chaw his Bag (Rag?) for ole acquaintenc sake
Direct to J. W Hennon
care of capton Bently
Colanol Leasures Regi
Washingon citty D.C
Spelling was not his forte as shown in the above letter, written to his brother Amaziah. This letter mentions his brother Josiah, who was also serving. Also mentioned is J. J. Book. He is, I believe, James Jackson Book, son of George and Jane (Jackson) Book, and grandson of Peter and Margaret (?) Book. (So another of my cousins) J. J. served as a private in the 100th PA regiment Roundheads.
Another of his letters was partly transcribed and posted on the Civil War Pittsburgh Facebook page:
Josiah M. Hennon was born 24 May 1840 in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, PA.
He enlisted in Company E, 100th Regiment, PA Volunteer Roundhead Regiment, which was organized at Pittsburg August 31, 1861. At his enlistment, he was a shoemaker. He was 5 feet 6 inches and had a light complexion, gray eyes, and dark auburn hair.
Left State for Washington, D.C., Sept 2, and duty there until October 9.'
Postmarked Sep 27, 1861 Washington, D.C.
Camp Kalorama
1861 September the 26th
Dear sir I take my seat to let you know that i am well at present and hope that you are so to wee are getting along verywell considering there is nothing going on very particular wee have enough of drill yet and a little somthing to eat yet. jo(?) received your letter today whiten i read wee have pritty fine times here but it is getting very Cold now at night in the tents, wee have one blanker, a piece but you must amagin that is not very much clothing for a person hoo has to ly on the bare groung (d) but it does very well so far wee have not got all our clothing yet wee have two shirts one pair drawer one cap one pair of shoes per man i would like to know how the weather is out thare and if the chestnuts is ripe yet i supose the farmers has all there seeding done yet i cannot giue you any war news for thare is nothing going on now except prepare ing for war thay is lots of batteries going up ready for the conflict thare is better than three regiments encamped in this field to day being as it is fast day wee had preachin to day and prayer meeting to night wee have to drill eight hours per day squad drill company drill and regimental drill and dress parade everday so you must think a fellow is put through pritty well wee have a good time standing gaurd at night each man has to stand 8 hours out of twenty four, i have to stand once a week wee have to stay a wake all nigt when on post or not if any man is found sleeping on post he is court marsheld and shot for it or something else it is acording to the danger he is in tell the folks around thare that i want them to write me a few if thay please tell tom and bill to write to me if it soots them tell the rest of the folks an(d) old maids kill(proper name kile?) that I send them my respects give my best respects to the rest of the family tell bill(?) rickey to let me hear from him if he thinks enouth or me tell bob aken to chaw my ruler tell ben cuningham to fuck (?) me and all the rest of the boys wee have got a sutler here who has a store for the soldiers wee can go in tick(?) for our paper thare is no girls here but n---- and thay are better built for shitting than jumpimg fences nothing more at present write soon yours truly SMDC(?)
Josiah M. Hennon to Amazia Hennon
Moved to Annapolis, Md., October 9.
Sherman's Expedition to Port Royal Harbor, S.C., Oct 21-Nov 7, 1861.
Capture of Forts Walker and Beauregard, Port Royal Harbor, Nov 7.
On 8 December 1861, he had typhoid fever.
Attached to Stevens' 2nd Brigade, Sherman's S.C. Expedition, to April, 1862.
Occupation of Beaufort, S.C., Dec 8, and duty there until June, 1862.
- 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Dept. of the South, to July, 1862.
He served as a hospital nurse from 31 October to 31 December 1862 and as hospital orderly from 30 April to 31 December 1863.
- Port Royal Ferry, Coosa River, January 1.
- 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, to April, 1863.
3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Dept. Ohio, to June, 1863.
Operations on James Island, S.C., June 1-28.
Legaire's Point, James Island, June 3.
Skirmishes on James Island June 3-4.
Battle of Secessionville, James Island, June 16.
Evacuation of James Island and movement to Hilton Head, S.C., June 28-July 7.
Moved to Newport News, Va., July 12-17, thence to Fredericksburg August 4-6.
Army of the Tennessee, to August, 1863
Operations in support of Pope August 6-16. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2.
Battles of Groveton August 29;
Bull Run August 30;
Chantilly September 1.
2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to Sept. 1863.
Maryland Campaign September 6-24.
Battles of South Mountain September 14 and Antietam September 16-17.
March up the Potomac to Leesburg, thence to Falmouth October II-November 18.
Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15.
Postmarked Dec 26 Knoxville, Ten.
Knoxville Tennessee december 22 1863 (or '62)
Dear Brother
I received twoo letters from you and was glad to hear from you I also received some postage stamps whltch I was glad to get I am midty well at present I have not much Time for writing just now our regt is reenlisting for 3 more years I did not think that you was a copperhead to call old woodward your man. he is my man to if I had him in gunshot of me. but Curtin is my friend and friend to all the soldiers and I wish he would draft evry man that is able to stand the service now I dont want to quarl with you but I would much rather you would tell that that to sone one else for old woodward is nothing more than a cesaish it was him that would not let the soldiers vote he knew if he did that it would not give him any chance for all the soldiers would vote for certin
J M Hennon
Direct as before
Josiah re-enlisted on 28 December 1863.
- Burnside's 2nd Campaign, "Mud March," January 20-24, 1863.
- Moved to Newport News, Va., Feb 13, thence to Covington, Ky., March 20-28.
Duty in District of Kentucky.
At Paris, Nicholasville, Lancaster, Stanford and Somerset until June.
- Movement through Kentucky to Cairo, Ill., June 4-10, thence to Vicksburg, Miss., June 14-17.
- Siege of Vicksburg June 17-July 4.
- Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 5-10.
- Siege of Jackson July 10-17. Duty at Milldale until August 6.
- Moved to Covington, Ky., thence to Crab Orchard, Ky., August 6-18.
March to Knoxville, Tenn., September 10-26, and duty there until October 3.
Action at Blue Springs October 10.
- Knoxville Campaign November 4-December 23.
Campbell Station November 16. Siege of Knoxville Nov 17-Dec 4.
Repulse of Longstreet's assault on Fort Saunders November 29.
- Pursuit of Longstreet December 5-24.
- At Blain's Cross Roads until January, 1864.
- Veterans marched over Cumberland Mountains to Nicholasville, Ky., Jan, and on furlough until March.
Army Ohio, to March, 1864.
Ordered to Annapolis, Md., and duty there until April.
Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12.
Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7;
Spottsylvania May 8-12;
Ny River May 10;
Spottsylvania C. H. May 12-21.
Assault on the Salient May 12.
North Anna River May 12-21.
Ox Ford May 24.
Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28.
Totopotomoy May 28-31.
2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to June, 1864.
Cold Harbor June 1-12.
Bethesda Church June 1-3.
Before Petersburg June 16-18.
Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864.
Weldon Railroad August 18-21.
1st Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, to September, 1864.
He was a prisoner of war, captured on 19 August 1864 at Weldon Rail Road.
He was moved to Libby Belle prison in Richmond, Virginia on 22 August 1864, and to Salisburg, North Carolina on 9 October 1864.
He was paroled on 10 March 1865 and reported back to the Union Army on 12 March 1865, at Camp Parole, Maryland. He was given a furlough on 15 March 1865 for 30 days. This furlough was extended for 30 days by surgeon's certificate as he was suffering from pneumonia.
- Moved to Washington, D. C, April 21-28, and duty there until July.
- Grand Review May 23.
- 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, to July, 1865.
He was discharged on 24 July 1865 after serving 3 years and 11 months.
This is a record of his service in the war. Amazingly, he was at so many of the major battles: Bull Run, South Mountain, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Battle of the Wilderness.
His regiment lost 16 Officers and 208 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 183 Enlisted men by disease. Total 409.
He survived the war, despite spending some time in Libby prison and returned home to marry Margaret Jane McClaren on 11 September 1865. The marriage occurred in Mahoning County, Pennsylvania and was officiated by James Dickson, Justice of the Peace.
He applied for a pension at age 39 years.
He was an elder at the Moravia Presbyterian Church. He bought a farm in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, PA. He moved to Missouri in the 1870's, but returned to PA and bought 50 acres from his brother, Amaziah, located in West Pittsburgh, Taylor Township, Lawrence County, PA.
When he reapplied for his pension at age 71 years (5 May 1912), he had lived in Missouri for a time.
He again applied on 9 June 1915 and was living in West Pittsburg. The pension was granted on certificate # 266696. An affadavit by W.W. Bower stated that Josiah had never regained "stout and robust" as before, and that he was unable to work at hard labor. (Civil War Records)
He belonged to the United Veterans Legion Camp #9, New Castle, PA.
He remained there until 1917 when he moved to Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio.
The third brother, William W. Hennon was born in 1844 in Irish Ripple, Wayne Township, Lawrence County, PA.
William enlisted with his brother, Thomas Jefferson Hennon (More later), on 13 March 1865 in Company H of the 87th Regiment, PA. (See history under his brother, Thomas J.)
Wn W Hennon
Mr A P you dead not send me nnny postage stamps, till I get a letLer and then(m) I will senend you a dollar or low and then send them I have six or eight yet that i had had in my valice that I diden know I had all the rest of my mess lost thare knapsacks in the battle and ery thing thay had So thay have be living on me and my stock Cowldent stand it
Wee had some fun In farmsville Whe sent through it after night and stayed(?) to get a cross a little Stream and wee had to get in dowble file to Cross the pontoon bridg witch took Some time thare was an old wench that som of the boys bounce in back of a pile of tobacco and thay pitched in keen Sam Mikals held the light and she resieved about 60 big schorges (charges?) one after another I nearly killed myself laughing the darned old bitch Could hardly stand
old Abrahom dyed Swnday morning at 9 o clock of a mortal wound whitch he recived at a theatre in woshngton and thay say that it was an actor that done it in a mystake but his life is m(n)o better than our president that got killed is it the boys is it making a great fwss a bout it but I tell them that he is mo bell(tt)er than enother man I say he had no bwisness at such a place aint that so tell me how you are bwilding that bridge a Cross beaver creek tell me how eaf frlsh corn is resting these times tell him that ae may bee glad that thay wouldent have hin for the word volinteering is nothing but draft at last (least?$) whennwhen he gets to know the deffinition as well as I do wright soon
Address
Co H 87 reg P V 1 Bre 3 division 6 army Corps Washington D C
A P Hennon Wm W Hennon wright soon and tell me all the news
Aprile the 15th 1865
Camp near Berks Station
Mr A.P. it is with pleasure that I take my seat to jet you know that wee are well and harty I have got no letters from anny person yet and i want one pritty soon or I will quit wrighting the mail Comes in twice evry day and our neighbaars boys gets one evry day and I have and I have wrote as mutch more as thay have and get none yet So now I will send for Some pastage stamps and I dont want mor than 6 or 8 at a time and I want you to send them soon Without any hesitation what ever I must tell you that old Abe is dead he dyed yesterday morning at 7 P M he was shot at a theare in Washington that was a bad go on mr linColn wasant it So now it is time to go to bed swch as it is and I will finish it in the morning
Aprile 18th I have got a goodnights sleep and got up for roll Call and have Just got in Cal tom and Silas and Bob is getting thare breakfast ready golly but thay hait it and so do I for on that 11 days march wee lost old owr Camp ketles and wee have nothing to Cook in but owr tins and plaits wee first Cook owr beaf and then Cook and then Cook owr Cofie and it takes a good While although Wee dont half Cook it
I Was owt on picket Sunday and me and another schap Slipped owt through yhe woods a bowt a mile and Went to a howse Whare thare was 7 boys and 3 gals and old folks like wise and thay invited us in wee was hunting a lone(?) and wee got to talking about grub and such like and wee told them that wee wuld give them all thay wold ask for a pame(?) and the gals went to work and thay got us a splendid diner the diner Consisted of hoe Cake potatoes broilt beat and pork and dryed beef and pudiug and rice and greens and Vinegar and molasas and water for thay say thay Cant get anny Caffie for its $75,00 per lbs(?) thay have oney(money?) or scrip enough to lead a pack horse but it aihtworth any thing wee gave them $125 Cents for owr diners and a pare (pane?) for owr Swppers and when wee Come back the rest had a Calf killed and wee took owr tins and made a big pile of sowp and pwt owr hoe Cake in it and had a roaring Supper wee was owt 3 miles from Camp and thay releas gwards after night and wee Came on Saturday night and got off on Swnday night and wee dident know whare owr bregade lay and 1 was so full that I cowld hardly get to the Company but I made it a bowt 10 A M thay was so glad to see the yankees all the boys was all drafted ono got wounded and an other killed and the others got home thay invited us to Come back and spend a night with them I belive 1 will go and put one of thare gals throvtgh
to A.P.H Adress Co H 87. reg PV
from WmW H 1 Bre. 3 division
pleas rite soon 6 army Corps
and give my respects Washington
to the rest of the family DC
Danville Via. (?) April the 25th 1865
Dear sister it withe pleassure that I take my pen to inform you that we are all well hoping those few lines may find you all the same wee marched 100 miles in five days wee started on last Sunday and arrived here day before yesterday I thought that wee wold go to Citty point but thare was no toroops hare and thay took us here but Johnson Surrenderd when he herd we was Coming that was the best thing he Coule do for if hee would get the old Six Corps at his heels he would have to suffer he had Danville fortified mighty Strong if him and lee had (turn over) Got here thare wold been Some hot times bwt thats whare thay was owt generald I think wee wownt stay here long wee are going to muster for owr pay tomorrow that is Sunday again that is always the day for that kind off work iff Josiah is is not gone back to the army yet tell him to write me 2 letter and When you writu tell me what prison he was in for I wowld like to know Wee wont have army more fighting to do for the rebellion is pritty near to a Close old grant has got them Whare kale(?) had the hen the man that killed old liiicolln got killed the other day thats what ened the fighting as mutch as anny thing els for the Johnys dident like the idia of Coming wnder a monarchal gowermnent like it woald owe been if lincolin had ave liwed See thay Can Carry owt what thay sead you know that thay sead if he got realicted that thay wowld fight till the last howr Well wee Came through as nice a Country as ever you Saw or I eather Well I must tell you What wee are doing Cal is eating bob is pwting way a letter that he has Just wrote and Siles is reading and tom has Just gone on guard and Sam Wright home thare mirth and pleassura reings I Suppose you folks think that the War-is a bowt over but I think it is time tell me how awnt mary is is getting a ilng tell me if you have made any garden yet thay have nice gardens down here and the wheat is owt in head and
the Corn has got its first howing that appears pritty early It is verry warm here on this last march some of the men droped down deed with faigwe Well thay marched us so hard thare was 2 men of owr reg fell dead the doctor bled them but all off no use in owr Corps thare was a bowt 20 dyed with fatigue I Stood it first rate Well I mwst Close give my best respects to the neighbowrs and all enquiring frieds I remain
as ever yowr trwe brother Nancy Heno
Wm W Hen
Co H 87 regt PV
1 bre 3 division
e(?) army Corps
Washington D C
wright soon tell natty to wright and your father
May the 5th 1865 Danville Virginaia
Sister nancy it Is with plearsure that I take my pen to answer yowr letter of the 23 (illegible word) was to hear that yow as all well and fwll of pain(?) you wish the war was over So do I but it will bee over before 3 months I downt suppose wee will long in the army thay are going to get (illegible word) and discharge all others troops all men in the hospatals is getting thare discharge and all parolled prisoners gets there dischare So Josiah will get his discharg whether he wants it or not unless he Joins the regwlars but 1 think he wowld rather bee home a year or too at least I wowld for a fellow gets so torned lasy in the army and when he is called on for dwty it makes him feel mean the orders was that wee was to gward the railroad beetwen bwrksville and Swthein(?) station bwt that was Cowntermanded and now wee will bee taken some place els the general orders is for the Comersarys not to get anny more supplyes till the first of June that makes me think that wee will get owr discharge before long and another thing makes me think that wee will get home is that all sowldiers gots thare discharge ixscept the regwlars I am sorry to hear that awnt mary is out off tobacco tell her that if she Comes down here that She Can get all the tobacco she wants I think I Can send her one pipe fwll in this letter it will stain the paper a little but she wownt Care for that Well I mus quit for batallion drill Well Nancy I have Just Came in off drill and I am verry worm but wee have dress parade at 6 o clock and I must finish the letter or I Cannot; sand it the first mail Cal is on Camp gard this day and to night and I Suppose I will have to gwan(guard) to morrow Well thare is Some straglers in owr Company that lies to do extra dwty and oome boys in bed till after roll Call and thay have to do extra dwty and that Saves (Iwrn ovr--turn over) wrest some thare is a fellow the name of John hvmt that Stragld and bum all the way for over 100 miles and he has been on dwty for 7 days and nights thay downt Catsh this boy in that way it is better for a boy to do his dwty if he is tiard and then he Can rest when in Camp Well nov I will Close give my respects,to the rest wright soon Nancy
dear awnt I suppose you will bee married again I get home if yow and coal gets married Call the first one after me that is Wm Coal that is if its a boy I will send yow a pipe fwll of tobacco wright to me and tell me how you and Coal is making it wright soon
Mrs Mary Coal
Postmarked Jun 14 Washington, D. C.
fall in for your hard tack
3 division hospital
June the 12 1865
Dear sister I sit my self down to answer your verry kind letter there was a bit in your envelop from Charley Bowers and thare was a little piece from Jim and I dident see yours till to day and I answered the letter to jIm so I see that you are the owther of this letter. I am so nurvice I can hardly wright well me and Tom is a good bit better than wee ware the doctor has quit giving us medison if we had a better apitite wee would go to the reg but I can hardly eat what they have here they have tea soft bread rice tomatioes peaches and lemons and lemonade and ale and they keep a fellow in paper and tobacco but for all that I would rather bee in the regiment thare is 36 men in the hospital some is pritty bad
June 13th Well nancy I had to pack up and go to the regt and I had to quit wrighting So now me and tom are owth in the regt again I would rather be here as among So manny sick men I am well but verry weak the fever brings a fellow down fast I am verry poor I can spand my arm anny place I wouldent weigh mutch over 100 lbs I am sorry to ear that Jane Morrow is so bad but evry purson has to bee sick sooner or later well nancy I am glad to hear that you have such a nice garden but the walk aint done yet again you nead it you will be tiard enough I am glad to hear that the peaches and apples got saved of the frost for I want to have pitch in my self I think I will Com __akeing home a bout that time turin over thay are dischargeing t the men and sending them home every day I think it will Come our turn after while Josiah came to the hospatal and stayed with us a bout 2 hours He looks first rate Cal has just gone for water he is well he wrote you a letter some time a go and never got anny answer and he dount know what is the reason well I will close give my respects to the rest of the family and all enquirieng friends if anny thare bee. Nancy Hennon
Wm. W. Hennon
He died in service. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, #2566, Range 40, Block 17, Section B. He had been a farmer. (Another source says Section B, Grave #12217.) I have not located a photo of him.
**** When researching William, keep in mind that he had 2 cousins, William George Hennon and William Cicero Hennon who were about the same age. Ancestry records intertwine the records of all three! As well, there were a couple Thomas Hennons- again confused by Ancestry.
And the last brother to also serve in the Civil War, Thomas Jefferson Hennon, was born 15 March 1842. He enlisted with his brother William, in New Brighton, PA on 1 March 1865. His enlistment record says that he lived in Irish Ripple and describes him as a 22 year old farmer with light hair and complexion, blue eyes, and his chest that measured 36/33. He entered Company H, 87th PA Infantry, Volunteers.
The 87th Regiment Infantry was organized at Yorktown September, 1861.
Joseph served Guard duty on Northern Central Railroad from Pennsylvania line to Baltimore, Md., September 16, 1861, to May 24, 1862.
Attached to Railroad Guard, Middle Department, to May, 1862.
Baltimore, Md., Middle Department, to June, 1862.
He was on duty at Baltimore, Md., until June 23, 1862.
At New Creek, W. Va., until August 20.
Expedition under Gen. Kelly across Laurel Hill and Rich Mountain August 27-September 12.
Expedition over Cheat and Allegheny Mountains October 31-November 12. March on Petersburg, W. Va., December 6-9.
Railroad Division, 8th Corps, Middle Department, to March, 1863.
Reconnaissance toward Wardensville and Strasburg April 20.
Expedition to Webster May 20.
2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 8th Corps, Middle Department, to June, 1863.
Reconnaissance toward Strasburg June 10.
Middletown June 12.
Newtown June 12.
Bunker Hill June 13 (Cos. "G," "H").
Battles of Winchester June 13-15. Retreat to Harper's Ferry.
1st Brigade, Elliott's Command, 8th Corps, to July.
Escort stores from Harper's Ferry to Washington, D.C., July 1-3.
Joined Army of the Potomac and pursuit of Lee July 5-24.
Wapping Heights, Manassas Gap, Va., July 23.
Bristoe Campaign October 9-22.
Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8.
Kelly's Ford November 7.
Brandy Station November 8.
Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2.
Payne's Farm November 27.
Reenlisted December, 1863.
Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army Potomac, to March, 1864.
Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12, 1864.
Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7;
Spottsylvania C. H. May 8-21.
Assault on the Salient May 12.
North Anna River May 23-26.
Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28.
Totopotomoy May 28-31.
Cold Harbor June 1-12.
Before Petersburg June 17-18.
Siege of Petersburg until July 6.
Weldon Railroad June 22-23.
1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army Potomac and Army Shenandoah, to June, 1865.
Moved to Baltimore, Md., July 6-9.
Battle of Monocacy Junction July 9.
Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-December 1.
Charlestown August 21-22.
Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19.
Fisher's Hill September 22.
Battle of Cedar Creek.
Duty at Kernstown until December.
Moved to Washington, D.C., thence to Petersburg, Va., December 3-7.
Siege of Petersburg December, 1864, to April, 1865.
March 9th 1865
Sir I Seat my self down to rite a feu lineS to you to let you now that wee as al well att presant wee ar Sltte (still) here- at frigheu(?) yet but wee will soon heft to lave this place perhaps tomorrow i dont now where wee will go to yet but i Suppose wee will go to harrisburgh and i Suppose wee wil get put through like blazes wee have bully times here to what wee will have well i Send my likeneSS home to you it is not a verry good ome but it will do well that iS al at presant I will write a gain wehen we get to harrisburgh
A P Hen
T.J.Hennon
Fort Fisher, Petersburg, March 25, 1865.
Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2.
Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Appomattox C. H. April 9.
Surrender of Lee and his army.
March to Danville April 23-27, and duty there until May 23.
He was treated for constipation on 20 May 1865, for "debility" from 13 June to 16 June 1865, and for diarrhea on 20 June 1865.
March to Richmond, Va., thence to Washington, D.C., May 23-June 3.
Corps Review June 8.
Postmarked Jul 17 Alexamdria, Va.
Washington D C
June 17th 1865
Sister nancy seeing i had an oppertuniLy to write i thot that i would write a few lines to you as been as i have never written eny to you i want you if you get this and you ecsuse It i want you to write a little plainer your writeing is very hard to read bil and i as not very wel at presant but i am getting a good deal better bill is not so well as i am but wee wil come al right yet tirn over wel nancy i had to quit writing for to eat a lunch wel i think wee wil hardly get home for the forth it wil soon be harvest and tben the boys wil swet i suppose you chaps wil have a prity good harvest at home this time i suppose the corn looks prity wel 1 would like to be at home a bout the time the roasting ears and beans is ripe It would go good to sit down to a plate of beand and a bushel of roasting ears it is good to talk a bout nice nancy I want to anssore
James letter so i wil close riting to you and i wil write more some time a gain so write soon
wel James i want to ansare your letter it was not a very large one but it wil ansure wel James wee had another hard cold march from richmond to Washington and i think that wee wil have another be fore long i hope not the is am tired of marching it does not go good i suppose you wil have to jump in to the harvest field this time like a cut rabbit it wil make you gro to get a good swatting i want you chaps to rais loads of cabbage for i expects to get home a bout fol about the time the peaches and apples is ripe and roastingears-and beanse wel James i must quit rite soon
Thomas J Henn
J Hennon
On June 29, 1865, he mustered out at Alexandria Hospital, Virginia (Sicket USA General Hospital).
His regiment lost during service 10 Officers and 80 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 112 Enlisted men by disease. Total 202
Upon returning home, he lived for a time at the Locust Ridge home of the Honorable Judge Joseph and Jennet (McGregor) Cunningham, working as a laborer. He would be married to their daughter, Sarah Agnes Cunningham, at that home on 19 January 1872, by the Rev. John H. Aughey.
After Agnes died in 1881, he moved to Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio.
He applied for a pension on 27 May 1912. An affidavit was written by Joseph H. McConahy and Alfred Aley, stating that he was "afflicted by heart disease" attributed to his war service.
In 1907, he had lived in Ellwood City, PA. His pension was granted on certificate # 449899.
He reapplied on 19 June 1918, stating that he had lived in Washington County, Iowa, Keota, Keokuk County, Illinois at age 40 years, and in Missouri during the spring of 1874. In Sullivan County, Missouri, he lived near his cousin Joseph. He stated that he had gone to Texas in 1880 and stayed there until 1884, but was unable to do any labor. He further stated that he had trouble with "piles" from the time he mustered out. An affidavit was signed by James P. Hennon.
Thomas Jefferson Hennon died 6 December 1917 and was buried in Belmont Park Cemetery in Trumbull County, Ohio.
So there is a glimpse into the lives of 4 soldier boys, two who gave their lives and two who survived. By branching out, you can learn much about the times in which your ancestors lived.
