Civil War Ancestors

Two of our direct ancestors served in the Union Army during the Civil War: Robert W. Allen and Thomas L. Richey.

Robert W. Allen

Robert Allen, Harold Hawes' maternal grandfather, actually joined the Union Army twice! Excerpt from History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington Counties, Indiana: From the Earliest Time to the Present, Together with Interesting Biographical Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc. (Higginson Book Company, January 1, 1884):

ROBERT W. ALLEN, grocer, was born in Salem, Ind., December 29, 1845...Robert W. Allen remained with his parents until sixteen years old, and when but little past that age he enlisted, in 1862, in Company E, Fifty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry. In 1863 his father took him from the army against his will, but he could not resist aiding his country when it was in danger, and accordingly he re-enlisted, being assigned to Company A, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Regiment. He continued in the service until the close of the war.

Aunt Charlene's notes confirm his two musters:

My grandfather ran away to join the Union forces when he was 16. He was returned home by the army. A year later he ran away again and this time he was permitted to stay. I think he was a bugler with an Indiana outfit. I saw his discharge papers once. (Grandma Allen drew a widow’s pension.) Butch may have the discharge. He was injured – had shrapnel in his legs that were not removed...Mother told me she never knew her father to have a “well” day. The shrapnel wounds never healed and the dressings had to be changed daily. He died when mom was ten.

The image below lists Robert as First Sergeant in the Indiana 146th Regiment Infantry:

Thomas L. Richey

Mary (Bailey) Lathrop's maternal grandfather was James Austin Richey. His father, Thomas Linton Richey, and his older brother John, served in the Union Army. Thomas joined the Illinois 63rd Infantry Regiment. Excerpt from Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois (Richland County Genealogical and Historical Society, Brookhaven Press - January 1, 1909):

James Austin Richey's father and elder brother, John, served through the Civil war, his father having enlisted December I, 1861, and his brother in 1862. Father Richey joined the Sixty-third Illinois Regiment,' Company A, under Captain Glaze (afterwards promoted to colonel, Captain McClure taking charge of the company). Thomas L. Richey was soon promoted to the rank of sergeant and went to the sea on the march with Sherman. On the I3th of July, 1864, he was mustered out of service, obtaining surgeon's certificate of total disability, his term of service having covered two years and eight months. John Richey served but a little over a year, being discharged in St. Louis in the spring of 1863, from the hospital there on account of his broken health. He was attacked with the measles at Memphis, Tennessee, brought about by the hardships entailed and lack of shelter.

Page updated

Report abuse