1. A Word document was prepared that contains stories that have been located during genealogy research. This was then converted into a pdf format. Download the PDF file here
2. Elliott W. Enlow, my great-grand father, was in the 4th REGIMENT CAVALRY (Indiana 77th REGIMENT VOLUNTEERS) in the Civil War. This information was found on the internet in 2003.
This regiment was organized at Indianapolis and was mustered in Aug. 22, 1862. It left the state at once, a battalion of four companies commanded by Major Platter, proceeding to Henderson, Ky., and another battalion going to Louisville and thence to the interior of Missouri. Platter's battalion was engaged in skirmishes at Madisonville and Mt. Washington.
The third battalion under Col. Gray, was encamped at Madison, Ind., for a short time, moving thence to Vevay, and then to Frankfort, Ky., which place was reached on Oct. 24. It was stationed for a time at Gallatin, Tenn., watching Morgan's forces, and was engaged in a victorious fight near Munfordville in December. In Jan., 1863 it moved into Tennessee and was in slight skirmishing about Murfreesboro in March.
The regiment was united at this time, with the exception of Co. C, which became Gen. A. J. Smith's escort. The regiment moved with Rosecrans' army for Tullahoma and Chattanooga, participating at Chickamauga. It was also in the fight at Fayetteville, Tenn., Nov. 1.
It passed the winter in East Tennessee, holding an advanced position in all the cavalry movements, and was conspicuously engaged at Mossy creek, Talbott's station and Dandridge. In the severe fight at Fair Garden its division drove two divisions of the enemy 8 miles during the day.
Capt. Rosencranz, with the second battalion of the 4th, joined other regiments as skirmishers. Maj. Purdy, with the first battalion, supported by Lilly's 18th Ind. battery, and the remaining companies of the 4th, made a saber charge on a battery and captured it, together with a battleflag, and more prisoners than the charging party had men. Lieut.-Col. Lesslie was killed.
In March 1864, the regiment joined Sherman's cavalry, and was engaged at Varnell's station, Burnt Church, at Newnan in the McCook raid, and in all the movements of that expedition. After the fall of Atlanta it marched into Tennessee and was engaged at Columbia in October. It was stationed near Louisville, with the and brigade, 1st cavalry division, Military Division of the Mississippi, during November; was near Nashville in Jan., 1865, and in February near Waterloo, Ala.
It was engaged in Wilson's raid through Alabama and participated at Plantersville and Selma in April. It then moved into Georgia, leaving for Nashville in May.
Co. C, which had served as Gen. Smith's escort, engaged in all the operations of his command including the siege of Vicksburg and the Red River expedition, then joined the regiment in 1864 and served with it to the time of its discharge.
The regiment was mustered out at Nashville June 29, 1865. Its original strength was 1,223; gain by recruits, 301; total, 1,524. Loss by death, 204; desertion 84; unaccounted for, 54.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 3
Battles Fought Fought at Murfreesboro, TN. Fought on 26 August 1862 at Madisonville, KY. Fought on 01 October 1862 at Mount Washington, KY. Fought on 05 October 1862 at Madisonville, KY. Fought on 25 December 1862 at Munfordville, KY. Fought on 10 March 1863 at Rutherford Creek, TN. Fought on 28 March 1863 at Murfreesboro, TN. Fought on 01 November 1863. Fought on 03 December 1863 at Newmarket, TN. Fought on 16 January 1864 at Dandridge, TN. Fought on 18 January 1864 at Dandridge, TN. Fought on 27 January 1864 at East Tennessee. Fought on 27 January 1864 at Fair Garden, TN. Fought on 29 July 1864 at Newman, GA. Fought on 30 July 1864 at Newman, GA. Fought on 31 July 1864 at Newman, GA. Fought on 27 September 1864 at Pulaski, TN. Fought on 03 April 1865 at Selma, AL.
3. George and Jesse SPROWLS This is a story about two brothers, George and Jesse Sprowls, who were my 3rd cousins twice removed. They joined Company K Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers during the month of August 1862 in Washington County which is in the Southwest corner of Pennsylvania. On the Fourth day of September 1862, 96 men were mustered into service. On April 28th only 65 personnel marched out of camp. The other 31 men had come down with fever, dysentery, and other sicknesses. They then marched in to the Chancellorsville battle (April 30 – May 6). They fought in this battle May 1—5, then headed to Gettysburg. The brothers were in the Wheatfield Battle where During July 2nd, 1863, five of the regiment were killed, including Jesse.
George survived Gettysburg and on May 8th, 1864 he was in the “Battle at Todd’s Tavern, Virginia,” in this battle one journal stated “George Sprowls had his hair combed by a ball that took his hat off.” Then on May 12th, George was severely wounded and taken prisoner.
NOTE. Found in a journal: Mr. Amos Sprowls, of Liberty, Neb., a brother of Comrade Geo. Sprowls, wrote in answer to inquiry concerning George that he was wounded and made prisoner at Spotsylvania, May 12, 1864, kept in hospital at Richmond two months; thence sent to Andersonville prison; thence, owing to Sherman's march to the sea, sent to North Carolina; thence, at close of war, sent to Fortress Monroe to be conveyed by ship to Annapolis, Md. Three transports were loaded; and one of these, the "Governor," encountered a storm on Chesapeake Bay and sank with 1,600 souls. Sprowls was among them, as he was never heard of afterwards. A Mr. W. S. Crafto, living near Washington, Pa., reported seeing him on his way to Fortress Monroe.
This detail came from a book: “History of Co. K, 140th Penna. Volunteers 1862-’65” by B.F. Powelson First Sargent, Company Historian. It was printed by The Carnahan Printing Company in1906.
Here is George, a guy who survived all these battles, wounded, spent two months in a hospital, then survived Andersonville, and then to drown within sight of his home state.
HOWEVER: I have pictures of a Memorial Stone in Stony Point Cemetery, Washington County, Pennsylvania that stated:
Co K 140th Regiment PA Volunteers. Supposed to have died at Andersonville.
Could not read the entire inscription. This is just a portion of inscription: Regiment was making a charge, he was wounded and taken prisoner with other and sent to Richmond and placed in the 3rd ward of Hospital where he remained until sent to Andersonville, that prison of untold horrors and suffering. And here further knowledge of his fate ends.
HOWEVER: While writing up this story for tonight I did some more investigation.
PROBLEMS:
1. Contacted a person (Kevin Frye) who is near Andersonville and did a look up of prisoners for me. He could not find any SPROWLS as having been there.
2. He did some more research and found George SPROWELS as having mustered out on 5-31-1865 with notation that he was absent, sick at muster out.
3. I found in another book on the regiment: that Sprowls, Jesse was wounded at Spotsylvania 12May1864 (I thought that this was George) and NO mention of George.
4. Found two more books that list Jesse as having been killed at Gettysburg.
So was George at Andersonville and drowned after the war or not? I think that I will keep the story as is since it sounds better.
Memorial Stone to George and Jesse Sprowls in Stony Point Cemeterry, Washington County, Pennsylvania