Pvt. Henry Hissong, 102nd Ohio Infantry my 3rd great grandfather on my mom's side.
Pvt. John Shaver my 2nd great grandfather. Dad's side
A letter written by John Shaver to his wife Martha during the Civil War.
letter written by John Shaver to his wife Martha, while John was serving in the civil war.July 11th 1864 Copied as written.Dear Wife I will now write to you and let you no that I am well I received your letter dated the 30th I will tell you something about our difficultys here which you have hird of the rebels attacked our boys and taken them prisoner only two of Crofs company killed and ? thear was but 15 detaled to go on the scout I was detale to go but I wasn't willing to go and they let me off that was the second time that I was detaled to go ? both times I cared not to Marching over the mountains the company that William Trumbo is in faugt them and wiped them but Billy Scorse and another man were taken prisoner they was out on picket guard and caut them before they could reach the block house they are camped 12 miles from us we hird the canons and we could see the smoke whare they burnt canal boats but they did not visit us they thout it would not be helthy to do so we have a fort and abot two 100 men that is fit for duty they had six or seven 100 they have gone back to Winchester again or gone that way our scout faut on Sunday last and on Monday they faught with the Midway Company and Donelsville are all in one now and they got two of our men Scorse and the other man and we got two fo thear men and one of them was Daniel Armentrouts Jason we have them here now they will send them to Columbus he said he has been at Columbus before and exchanged he is a rite sharp cooking boy he was not taken in the fight he was sent along the rail road to cut wire and the iron clad picked them up they don't like this iron bar and it will turn a canon ball it is very dry here but we had a little rain here last night and has the appearance of more we laid in out fort last night yet but moved to our camp this morning again we have some gray backs in our camp we are going to the river to wash our close this after noon I have been changing closes once every week we have been here with the exceptions of pants I have one pare I have washed them once we have a nice clean camp here our pants don't get very dirty there is man here from Shenedoah mountains ? he sais the rebels shot Peline week before last on his own field shot five balls through him this man came here from ? section if you see Andy(probably his brother Alexander Shaver who was married to Sarah Rosenbarger) tell them that he knows all the Rosenbargers he sais they are all union men save one ? he said John Jones went with him before in Columbus I wrote this letter several days ago the first of it ? I wish you had some of the ? that we have here. John Shaver
Interestingly, my 2 great, great grandfathers, Pvt. Isaac T. Miller and Pvt. John Shaver most likely faced each other around the time of this letter. John Shaver was from Pendleton Co. West Virginia, but moved to Clark Co. Ohio in 1853. So he may have known many of the men he fought against considering that the 153rd Ohio's main purpose was to guard the B& O railroad from attack by the confederates. These attacks on the railway was made primarily by Partisan Ranger groups who's numbers consisted of many men from Pendleton Co. WV and neighboring Randolph Co. VA. Isaac Miller was a member of the 18th Virginia Cavalry, which attacked the railroad numerous times in an attempt to cut off supplies to the union army. Following the movements of the 153rd Ohio I find the following account:
"In early July, the 153rd apparently experienced its first major taste of combat, when elements of the regiment were struck by two of Early’s cavalry brigades in separate expeditions. In the first of these, Brigadier General John Imboden’s Northwestern Virginia Brigade2 was sent to destroy the B&O bridge over the South Branch of the Potomac at its confluence with the North Branch. Imboden left the Valley on June 28, moving northwest toward their objective. Enroute through the North River Valley (a tributary of the Great Cacapon River), the brigade on July 3 encountered a scouting party of the 153rd under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Leeds at North River Mills (or Hammack’s Mills 3). The considerably larger Confederate forces captured 34 men and killed one officer of the 153rd–probably of Company A under Captain Thomas Rathbone.
The Northwestern Virginia Brigade during most of the period of interest was composed of the following units: 62nd Virginia Inf. Regt. (Mounted); 18th Va. Cavalry Regt.; 23rd Va. Cav. Regt.; McNeill’s Rangers; McClanahan’s Artillery Battery.
Imboden’s command continued north reaching the South Branch bridge on July 3, finding it heavily defended and protected by a blockhouse and an armored rail car with a 12-pound gun. Imboden attacked the next morning and succeeded in using his own horse-drawn artillery pieces to destroy the armored car, but his troops were unable to dislodge the Federal troops from the blockhouse or, because of Union sniper fire, to position his own artillery so that it could damage the bridge. The Union forces (the 153rd and the 6th West Virginia) lost 2 men captured and 2 men slightly wounded. Imboden’s losses were greater with 8 killed and 15 wounded."
Also interesting, both John Shaver and Isaac Miller ended up moving to Randolph Co. Indiana. John arrived in 1868, Isaac arrived in 1884. Their children, Rebecca Shaver, and Johnson T. Miller married and are my great grandparents. this must have made for interesting family get togethers!
link to another website about the 7th Indiana Cavalry
Pvt. Oren J. Taylor 7th Indiana Cavalry Co. E. my 3rd great grandfather, dad's side.
Oren Taylor is my 3rd great grandfather. He served with the Union Army in the 7th Indiana Cavalry Co. E. and Co. K. He was from Fremont, Indiana, and enlisted in the army in August 1863 at the age of 16. He was discharged in February 1866 in Texas. This photo was taken late 1865 after the war was over. He died in 1871 of a lung disease that he claims started during a march from Austin to Sherman, Texas the summer of 1865.
More on Oren Taylor.
Pvt. Oren Taylor is mustered out on February 18, 1866 in Austin Texas. On August 6, 1870, Oren J. Taylor filed for a pension for his service #159166. On December 1, 1888, Oren's widow, Amanda M. Olmstead filed for a widower's pension in Michigan #384855, and on June 21, 1890, in Kansas, Ella M. Gary filed for a minor's pension for her father's service #426970. Source; Military Archives Washington DC.
*7th Indiana Cavalry service record--
Expedition to Paris, Tenn., December 14-23, 1863. Action at Huntington, Tenn., December 27. Expedition from Union City to Trenton January 22-24, 1864. Bolivar February 6 (Detachment). Smith's Expedition to Okolona, Miss., February 11-26. West Point February 20-21. Okolona February 21-22. Ivey's Hill February 22. Hudsonville February 25. Regiment complimented by Generals Smith and Grierson for soldierly bearing and conduct during the Expedition. Near Raleigh, Tenn., April 3. Wolf River April 8. Near Raleigh April 9 (Detachment). Cypress Swamp April 10. Sturgis's Expedition to Ripley, Miss., April 30-May 9. Sturgis' Expedition to Guntown, Miss., June 1-13. Ripley June 7. Brice's Cross Roads (or Tishamingo Creek), near Guntown, June 10. Ripley June 11. White's Station June 20 and 26. Byhalia Road, near Colliersville, July 2. Action at Port Gibson, Miss., July 17. Grand Gulf July 19. Tallahatchie River August 7-9. Hurricane Creek August 9-13-14 and 19. Oxford August 9 and 11. Lamar August 14. Colliersville August 28. White Station October 4. Near Memphis October 4 (1 Company). Memphis, Tenn., October 20 and 24. Nonconah Creek October 29 (Co. "F"). March through Arkansas and Missouri in pursuit of Price September-November. Action at Little Blue, Mo., October 21. Independence October 22. Big Blue and State Line October 22. Westport October 23. Mine Creek, Marias des Cygnes, October 25. At the Marmiton, or Battle of Charlot, October 25. Grierson's Expedition from Memphis to destroy Mobile & Ohio R.R. December 21, 1864, to January 15, 1865. Capture of Verona December 25, 1864. Egypt Station December 28. Lexington January 2, 1865. Duty at Memphis and along Memphis & Charleston R.R. till June, 1865. Expedition from Memphis to Marion, Ark., January 19-22 (Detachment). Expedition from Memphis into Northern Mississippi March 3-11, 1865. Moved to Alexandria, La., June 6-16. Consolidated to 6 Companies July 21. March to Hempstead, Texas, August 5-26. Duty there and at Austin, Texas, till February, 1866. Mustered out at Austin, Texas, February 18, 1866.Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 47 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officer and 243 Enlisted men by disease. Total 294.*Source: A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer.This regiment was also known as the 119th Indiana Infantry. Oren Taylor's Pension File:
Oren filed for a pension service on August 1, 1870, as a resident of York Township, Steuben Co. Indiana. His occupation is listed as coopering (barrelmaker) when he is able. In the pension he claims he was disabled in January 1866, while serving with the 7th Indiana Cavalry Co. E. He states, " from severe hardships and exposures to which he was subjected and from overexertion while on a march from Austin to Sherman, Texas became overheated and took violent cold which settled upon his lungs resulting in permanent disease of the same which continued up to the time of his discharge and still continues by reason of which he is broken down in health and constitution and unable to perform manual labor" Witnesses to his claim are listed as Peter Buck and W.H. Eldridge. He signs his names as Orren Taylor. On December 28, 1870 his disabled claim is sent to the pension office for review. On January 4, 1870 the Adjutant General's office reports that there is no muster roll record on file for January 1866. It states that a muster roll dated February 18, 1866 reports Oren present and that he mustered out with company on that date with no evidence of disability. A Adjutant General's office report of June 6, 1884 states that the nature of Oren's sickness in March and April 1864 and the extent of his furlough in September 1864 is not stated. No hospital records, returns of companies K and E non medical leaves on file. Military records indicate that Oren was 5'8" weight 155, eyes grey, hair bown, complexion light. According to a claim of Ella M. Gary, daughter of Oren, Cornelius P. Taylor states that he was present at the death of Oren J. Taylor, and that he died in Hillsdale County, Michigan on or about the 16th day of december 1871 of Lung Disease that he contracted while he was in the army. This statement by C.P. Taylor, bother of Oren was made December 9, 1890 in Hillsdale Co. Michigan. Interestingly another person, William H. Woodward of Flint, Michigan, had a two different reasons how and why Oren was injuried and eventually died. On January 6, 1894, in the pension claim made by Oren's daughter, Ella Taylor, William states the following. I was with Orin Taylor thru the war. He was sick in the hospital with the lung trouble, I can't give the dates I was very young and can't remember like the older ones. He never was well after he went to the hospital, but got able to do duty. But kept failing till he at last joined the army above. PS What is rang with my case very respectfully, William H. Woodward. On March 2, 1895 from Montgomery, Michigan, William H. Woodward made the following statement in Ella's claim for Oren Taylor's pension. " I was always aquainted with Orin Taylor he first complained after the tree fell on him at Columbus, Kentucky, and always complained till he died. There was 7 years before he died. He could not do anything, he was in misery all the time complaining all the time of the (jam)? he received by the tree falling on him. it killed two that was in bed with him and came near killing Orin Taylor. I know this by sight for I was there and seen it." Very Respectfully, William H. Woodward. On November 4, 1895 William H. Woodward of Montgomery, Hillsdale Co. Michigan made additional statements in the claim. He states that Orin and he lived in the same place for one year after he was discharged. Woodward states the "A tree burnt down and fell on him about January 1864, came near killing him and he complained till he died. The tree fell on him at Columbus, Kentucky and he failed rite along till he died. I think he died with the Consumthing."
Mindy and I with our grandmothers. 
left to right Doug, Nancy, mom, Mike and me 1989.
mom and dad 1977.
My parents, Stewart D. Miller and Barbara J. DeBruyn. This photo was taken om their wedding day, October 24, 1950. My dad was 22, my mom was 19.
mom and dad 1950-51
My dad and grandpa hunting up in Newaygo, Michigan 1942.
My dad, Stewart D. Miller. This photo was taken in about 1948-49, He was born in 1928.
Taken about 1935, left to right my uncle Junior, Clarence Follman, (grandpa's brother in law) my grandpa Herschel Miller, my dad Stewart Miller. My dad is about 7 years old in this photo.
My grandparents, Herschel S. Miller and Mary E. Spaulding. Herschel's parents were Johnson and Rebecca Miller. Herschel was born in Redkey, Indiana in June 7, 1901. This photo was taken in Big Rapids, Michigan July, 1921. My Grandma Mary lived to be 98 years old. I this photo she is 17.
my great grandparents. Johnson T. Miller and Rebecca J. Shaver. Johnson was the son of Isaac and Amelia Miller. This photo was taken in 1886. Johnson is 23 and Rebecca is 26. Johnson was born in Pendleton Co. West Virginia in 1863. 
