Inferential Genealogy Study Group in 2nd Life – Civil War Papers

In Inferential Genealogy Study Group in 2nd Life – Search Broadly #7  I mentioned that I had found some Civil War records. Have only heard about them, but not seen them. Up until today, no matter where I looked, I could not find David Ridgely Howard anywhere related to the Civil War. I was beginning to question if everyone in the Civil War would be found in the Civil War records. The fact that I have seen two indications that he had been wounded, not once but, twice, I thought for sure I would find something.

Well I did. 20 pages of documents on Footnote.com.

He enlisted August 21, 1862 in Richmond, Virginia by Capt R. B Winder for “3 yrs or war”.

Company Muster Rolls were included, including “Sep & Oct, 1864″. He was absent with remarks of “Wounded on Weldon R.R. Aug 19, 1864″. This confirms one wounding that I have found.

Then there were three Hospital Muster Rolls, so I can follow him through the hospitals. Then there was the Medical Directors Office record. “Aug, 19, 1864 – vs flesh upper ext portion left thigh” and was put on furlough for 60 days. The next record told us why. “G.S. amputation right lef flesh upper est portion of thigh”.

So, more details are here but there are two major questions still “on the table”

1) was he wounded at Gettysburg

2) why did he enlist in Richmond

Back to the books that I have picked up and waiting arrival to find the story of how he got from Baltimore to Washington, and now to Richmond. My Civil War re-enactor friend gave me some hints and hoping that one of this sources helps fill in the blanks.

Lots of data entry into my genealogy software. Am working on creating his Civil War Timeline that are now documented by these Civil War Pension files.

Inferential Genealogy Study Group in 2nd Life – Search Broadly #7

Been waiting for a couple of books on the Civil War. Can’t say patiently, but waiting.

Up until this point, I had not entered any information into my genealogy database. Trying to stick to “the rules”. Then I realized that there were no rules on this, and since I heavily rely on my database, I thought I would start entering data into it.

When back to my first blog post:

Inferential Genealogy Study Group in 2nd Life – Stated Goal

 

I then did a quick internet search, from within my program and FOUND D. R. Howard’s Civil War Pension file. 20 pages of it. Lots of information to enter and review. Information that I have been gathering and have found may be confirmed in this file.

 

Details to follow.

Inferential Genealogy Study Group in 2nd Life – Search Broadly #6

Busy day for this project yesterday.

How neat is this. An encampment by the 1st Maryland Battalion, CSA at the National Civil War Museum.

D. Ridgely Howard, from all indications was a member of this Battalion. The quest for the visit to the Museum was to talk to the re-enactors from this unit.

The battle at Gettysburg that started my on this quest, using Inferential Genealogy, was Culps Hill. It may have been mentioned in the program, but it didn’t make it to my notes. The information, to date, indicates that D. Ridgely Howard was wounded in this battle. I have other sources that point to this, don’t have them in hand to read. Hopefully a small Civil War Bookstore will come through for me on this.

But, my question was more WHY would a Baltimore resident choose to join a Confederate army. Who might share that story.

This gentleman told me the story of why D. Ridgely Howard might head south to join the C.S.A. I have some reference material to confirm his story. Will post that story much later.

The apple in his hand was just shot in a demonstration of what would happen to an apple when shot by one of those rifles at 6 inches. Burned on one side, but the apple was OK to eat on the other.

My hats off to this gentleman, because in real life, he was a Vietnam Veteran, 2 tours of duty, and shot in Vietnam. His first tour was at the same time that I was there.

We shared, briefly, our real life stories as well as the Civil War stories. I am only sorry that I didn’t get his Civil War name, nor his real life name.

Thank you for your story (stories).

So, this concept of Search Broadly is helping me to find the story of D. Ridgely Howard.

Stay Tuned

Inferential Genealogy Study Group in 2nd Life – Search Broadly #5

This is a continuation of Inferential Genealogy Study Group in 2nd Life – Search Broadly #4

Two things are going on here. 1) we are walking out the door to visit The National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg PA and 2) finding a Source in an Online Family Tree on a website that I haven’t visited before.

The source read:

The First and Second Maryland Infantry, C.S.A., Robert J. Drive, Jr., (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books), 444.

So, I must be doing something right. Unplanned trip to his museum, where, as it turns out, the 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA is having an Encampment the same day, and finding a potential link back to me.

In the material on the website, it says “And third, John Eager Howard‘s son James had two sons in the regiment. James McHenry Howard, another lawyer, also served on Gen. Elzey’s staff. DAVID RIDGELY HOWARD was wounded at Gettysburg, spent time in hospitals, and was wounded again at the battle of Weldon R.R. in August of 1864 before being retired as invalid.

James McHenry, James, John Eager were listed in the only tree. But, what caught my eye was that David Ridgely Howard was wounded at Gettysburg and later at Weldon R.R.

More questions. Why couldn’t I find David Ridgely Howard in the Civil War Records? Will have to go back there and look. I would have thought that being wounded twice and “retired as invalid” would have resulted in some paperwork in the Civil War Pension files.

Inferrential Genealogy Process – Finding D. Ridgely Howard

So, where have I been lately?

Working on a Cemetery Project for a local Historical Society. I’ll use that excuse for now. But, back to the quest for finding D. Ridgely Howard as part of the Inferrential Genealogy Process.

While reading Face Book, Dear MYRTLE mentioned a book store that she couldn’t get away from on a recent trip to central Pennsylvania.

Since this Civil War veteran may be a distant relative, I have been watching the Civil War activity, also on Face Book. Of interest has been the The National Civil War Museum. Checking out the websites from Face Book, I realized that they both were in Harrisburg, PA.

On the Calendar of Events was this entry:

Living History Encampment – 1st Maryland Battalion, Company A, CSA

Now, who could miss this event.

Think its time to pay a visit to Harrisburg stopping in both places. We’ll see if there is more information on D. Ridgely Howard at the Encampment and/or Book Store.

Thank you Dear MYRTLE !!!