I have totally fallen behind in the
52 Ancestors challenge hosted by Amy Johnson Crow.
One of the prompts was groups. I wanted to write about my Great Great Grandfather James Mitchell Hoyt. He belonged to the organization GAR - Grand Army of the Republic. It was a fraternal organization for Union Soldiers. My Great Grandmother Mollie remembered to going to various encampments . However I realized I really didn't know enough to really write a whole narrative about GAR and my Great Great Grandfather's involvement. I can however tell you about the GAR and some history about my grandfather.
James Mitchell Hoyt born Feb 2, 1841 in Sciotoville, Ohio to Alanson and Sarah Hoyt. He was the 8th child born out of 9 children. His mother, Sarah, died when James was 16 years old. He jointed the Union Illinois Volunteers 27th Regiment, Illinois Infantry on Aug 12, 1861. James was 20 years of age. According US Civil War Records and Profiles, James had a lights complexion, blue eyes, light hair color and stood 5ft 8 inches tall.
James was wounded and taken prisoner at Stone River Tennessee Dec 31, 1862.
The Battle of Sone River (also known as the Second Battle of Murfreesboro) was a battle fought from December 31, 1862 to January 2, 1863 in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. Of the major battles of the war, Stones River had the highest percentage of causalities on both sides. Although the battle itself was inconclusive, the Union Army's repulse of two confederate attacks and the subsequent Confederate withdrawal were a much -needed Union morale after the defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg, and it dashed Confederate aspirations for control of Middle Tennessee - Wikipedia
To put battle of Stone River in the Civil War time line, the Battle of Stone River was occurring just as President Lincoln was signing the Emancipation Proclamation January 1, 1963 and the Battle of Gettysburg was to later occur on July 3, 1863.
James was mustered out on 20 Sep 1864. In 1864, James married Mary Eliza Virgin in Mason, Illinois. They had their first child Kinsey Alanson "Kay" Hoyt Sept 30, 1965. By 1870 James and Mary and 3 children were in Union , Cass County , Iowa.
James was a member of the Grand Army of Republic Sam Rice Post 6 in Atlantic Iowa. Though his GAR record also mentions that his application was never completed and he belonged to Hallet Post (Halleck) in California. His daughter Mollie remembers going to various encampments during her childhood. An encampment usually was several days and had pageantry, programs and speeches. This is an area I am still researching.
"The Grand Army of the Republic is a unique organization. No child can be born into it. No proclamation of President, edict of King or Czar can command admission. No university or institution of learning can issue a diploma authorizing its holder to entrance. No act of Parliament or Congress secures recognition. The wealth of a Vanderbilt cannot purchase position. Its doors open only on the presentation of a bit of parchment, own, torn, and begrimed as it may be, which certifies to an honorable discharge from the armies or navies of the Nation during the war against the rebellion, and unlike any organization, no new blood can come in. There are no growing ranks from which recruits can be drawn into the Grand Army of the Republic. With the consummation of peace through victory it ranks were closed forever; its lines are steadily growing thinner, and the ceaseless tramp of it columns is with ever-lessening tread. The gaps in the picket lines grow wider every day. Details are made for the reserve summoned into the shadowy regions until by and by only a solitary sentinel will stand guard, waiting until the bugle call from beyond shall muster out the last Comrade of the Grand Army." - www.iowasuvcw.org
By 1893, James and family had moved to Bonesteel SD. They were to homesteaders. They began their journey to South Dakota in Missouri. They traveled by covered wagon. They took chickens and cows with them. They kept the chickens in a coupe in the wagon. When they would stop and camp they would let the chickens out. After dark, the chickens would roost on the wagon wheels then it was the children's job to catch them and put them back in the coupe. While in the central part of Nebraska one night they heard the harness rattle. When they got up the next morning on of the mules was gone. James rode the other mule and tracked the wayward mule. He finally caught up with him almost back at the Missouri Line. When they reached South Dakota they built a sod house. James's daughter Mollie use to tell about finding bull snakes under the bed. His wife, Mary Eliza, died February 19, 1901.
James died October 19, 1929 at age 88. He died in Iowa but was buried in Bonesteel, SD. He was a father to 8 children.
Ironically just before I posted this blog Amy Johnson Crow had a whole blog on researching using GAR records
