In the footsteps of our ancestors

So, I am hooked on Ancestry.com.  It has made me realize how very little I know about my ancestors. I wonder how many times we cross the same paths that our ancestors did and we don't know it.  I realized that happened several years ago, and I didn't realize it until tonight.

While going down the primrose path of documents in Ancestry.com, one bit of data caught my attention.  My Great Great Grandfather on my Grandmother's side (got that?) had a son who died in the civil war.  His burial site came up as Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  This made me pause.  We went to the Stones River National Battlefield many years ago during a family vacation.  In fact, there is a whole convoluted story about that which ends up with me in the back of a patrol car.  But, I digress. The museum was fascinating and the grounds were deeply moving.

Now, I come to learn my ancestor,  George William Glassbrook was a Private in the 21st Michigan Infantry, Company K.  He enlisted on August 15, 1862 in Ionia Michigan and joined Company K of the 21st on September 4, 1862.  On February 13, 1863 he died of disease (unspecified).  He was 19 years old.   Interestingly, my Great Grandfather's name was George H. Glassbrook. He was born in 1876, so he never met his brother, but it appears he was named after him.

Then, I found these photos.  The first is George's gravestone.  The other 3 are photos of the 21st Michigan Infantry's camp.

This lead me into reading more about the 21st Michigan Infantry.   It was formed during the early fall of 1862 in Ionia, Michigan.  The men of the 21st served honorably until June 21, 1865.   They mustered on September 4, 1862, left Michigan on September 12th and reported in Cincinnati, Ohio.  From there, they were sent to Louisville, Kentucky and joined the march through Kentucky and participated in the battle at Perryville.  They reached Nashville on November 12, 1862 and advanced toward Murfreesboro.  They engaged in battle at Lavergne, Stewart's Creek and Stones River.  (17 killed, 85 wounded and 37 missing in action).  The 21st was with Sill's Brigade, Sheridan's Division.  They remained on picket and guard duty in Murfreesboro until June, 1863.  

From there, they moved to Tullahoma, then Cowan Anderson's Station and Bridgeport.  On September 2, 1863 they advanced into Georgia.  Battle of Chickamunga they lost 11 to death, 58 wounded, 35 missing in action and 3 Prisioners of War.   Then they detached to form part of an Engineer brigade, and engaged as such at Missionary Ridge.  They were stationed near Chattanooga until June 1864, building a bridge and erecting storehouses there.  On June 11, 1864 they were ordered to Lookout Mountain where they were building hospitals, running mills and had picket duty.  They were relieved of the engineers duties in September and joined Rousseau's forces in pursuit of Forrest into Alabama.  In October 1864 they were ordered to Chattanooga and Dalton, Georgia to join the 2nd brigade, 1st Division, 14th Army Corps for the march to the sea.  They moved to Milledgeville, then to Augusta, then to Savannah and then on December 18, 1864, Carolina's Campaign.  They went to Sister's Ferry, crossed the Savannah River on February 5, 1865 and engaged at Averasboro and Bentonville (lost 92 officers and men to death and wounded out of 230 total).  

They reached Goldsboro on March 25, 1864 where the 21st remained until Johnston's surrender, then they marched to Richmond, 280 miles away in less than 8 days.  (WOW)  Grand Review at Washington DC and mustered out on June 8, 1865.    They started with 1,108 men, gained another 369 recruits along the way and lost 368 men by death, including my ancestor, George W Glassbrook.  

I found this article.  It originally ran in the January 1863 edition of the Detroit Advertiser and Tribune.  I thought it was fairly moving.

From the Mich. 21st Regiment.

Correspondence of the Advertiser and Tribune.
Camp on Stone River, Tenn., Jan 19.

We are once more in camp and have again entered upon the regular routine of camp duties. We are recovering somewhat from the effects of the hardships and exposure of a week upon the battle-field; and saving our terribly thinned ranks, things are beginning to assume their usual appearance. We have lost many a noble generous hearted fellow from our midst. Their loss can never be repaired. At the camp and bivouac fires their cheerful voices will be heard no more. But they fell like brave men, and died as the true soldier loves to die, on the bloody field and amid the crash of battle.

THE TWENTY-FIRST IN THE LATE BATTLE.

The 21st comes out of this fight covered with blood, and not altogether without honor. The following extract from the report of our brigade commander speaks for itself: "The enemy having turned our right, was again advancing in force, when I moved to the rear with the 24th Wisconsin and 88th Illinois, across the road where I formed, on the left of the 88th Indiana, leaving the 21st Michigan to support Capt. Hiscox's battery. They were here assailed by great numbers of the enemy, but manfully held their ground until the battery was removed, when they fell back in good order, losing heavily in killed and wounded." (See report of Lieut. Col McCreery.)

OFFICERS COMMENDED.

In speaking of the officers of his brigade, he mentions Lieut. Col. McCreery and Adjutant Wells, of the 21st, in the highest terms of praise, saying: "They behaved with great coolness and presence of mind, being ever ready to obey my commands."

IN CLOSE QUARTERS.

And here let me add, on falling back with the battery, we formed again in a thick cedar wood, where portions of Sheridan's and Nagly's divisions were engaged in the most desperate and determined contest, being almost entirely surrounded by an overwhelming number of the enemy. Here we experienced the horrors of war, in all its terrific magnificence and splendor. Heaven and earth seemed to quake and tremble under the terrible discharges of artillery; the air seemed literally frightfully alive with hissing bullets and screaming shells. Huge tress are cut off by solid shot, and come crashing to the ground; the limbs are torn from the cedars by the bursting shells, and as you move along. the earth is ploughed at your feet and your clothes are rent and torn as if by some angry spirit; rider less horses, with flowing manes and distended nostrils, dash madly through the wood; men are dropping about you on every side; you see their ghastly wounds, and their faces grow pale in death; you hear their dying groans despite the roar of cannon and the rattle of musketry.

For full two hours were we in the midst of this lead and iron hail, until two of our flag-bearers were shot down, and twenty six bullet holes torn in our banner. Scarcely a man in the regiment came out of that wood without bearing marks of the bullets on his person or clothes. You can form some idea of the terribly searching character of the fire, when I tell you that the very rabbits in their nests were killed by it.

DEATHS SINCE THE BATTLE.

Several of the poor fellows, at first reported wounded, have since died, and many more must go.

CALL ON THE SANITARY COMMISSION.

By the way, have we a Sanitary Commission in Michigan? And if so, could not something be done to alleviate the sufferings of our hundreds of wounded in hospitals: Illinois, Wisconsin and other States have their agents here, looking after the wounded, distributing delicacies, &c., but not a Michigan man have we seen since the battle.

THE SURGEON.

Dr. John Avery is doing good service in the regiment. He is an excellent surgeon; very successful in the treatment of all camp diseases; kind-hearted and patient, he has won the esteem and love of all. He has also executive ability; everything connected with the hospital is kept snug and neat, and the sick are made comfortable. Col. McCreery has succeeded in getting an officer detailed to look after our sick and convalescents in Kentucky, and to hurry the latter forward to the regiment as fast as possible.

RECRUITING SERVICE.

Capt. Harry C. Albee, of Grand Haven, has been sent home on recruiting service. Lieut. John Morton, of Ionia, I think will be put on the same service. We feel anxious to see late Michigan papers; Dec 20th is the latest date which has reached us.

Yours truly, M. B.

This article was written on February 24, 1863, so shortly after George passed away:

From the 21st Regiment.
In Camp – Foraging – A Scene – Butternut in the Foreground – Health of the Regiment – Southern Barbarity – Lieut. Burritt – Changes – Election of Field Officers – Promotions.

Camp near Murfreesboro, Tenn.
February 15th 1863.

Special Coor. Of the Advertiser and Tribune.

The 21st is still in camp on Stone river, where we have been since the battle. Picket and forage duty is now the order of the day. We are detailed upon one or the other almost daily. Two or three times a week a trail of one hundred wagons, or more, is sent out for forage. Each wagon carries four men, to load, and the whole train having an escort of at least one brigade of infantry, a section of artillery and a squadron of cavalry. They go but eight or ten miles beyond our picket lines, until finding the necessary forage, they make a break for it, when the corn cribs are emptied, and the corn blades looted in “double quick time” and the wagons are moving off; the darkies looking with wide-mouthed wonder upon the proceedings; the “Butternut” proprietor stalking about with his hands in his pockets, chewing “nature leaf,” and expostulating, begging or whistling in utter despair. After the wagons are loaded the Quartermaster gives a receipt for the amount that has been taken, and nolins vole ns“Butternut” becomes a creditor of the United States. It makes some of these rich old secessionists groan, the entire products of a year’s labor (of their slaves” taken at one call – but groans are of no avail. Some, however, yield with a good grace, claim they are Union men, and say that Uncle Sammy is very welcome to all they have, Some of them carry their magnanimity so far as to refuse to take receipts. Of course, a certain clause in said receipts has nothing to do with said refusal, to wit: “To be paid for only on proof of loyalty.”

We scarcely ever go without coming in contact with some of the rebel cavalry who are constantly prowling about in our regt. The skirmishing is sometimes right sharp and bloody, resulting sometimes in loss on both sides.

Our regiment is daily improving in health and effective strength; over one hundred and sixty men have come up to the regiment from hospitals, since we have been in our present camp. We were pained and shocked, the other day, by noticing in the papers an extrant from the Richmond Whig, stating that one of our officers, Eil Burritt, is to be shot at Atlanta, Georgia for having on his person facsimile Confederate money, Lieut. Burnett was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Stone River, He was a faithful efficient officer, and a perfect gentleman, He has a brother in the South, and of the South, we understand, If he be sacrificed to Southern malignity, no “Butternut” either officer or soldier, need expect any mercy hereafter if he falls into the hands of the 21st. A great many changes have been made in the affairs of the regiment since it left the State. All the field officers, who organized the regiment are gone. Colonel Stevens, from long-continued ill health, brought on by hardships and exposure, has been compelled to resign, The same with Major Hunting. Both regretted very much to leave the service, and both will be missed by us. After the resignations were accepted, the officers of the regiment held a meeting and unanimously recommend the following Field Officers: Lt. Col. Wm. B. McCreery, of Flint, to be Colonel, Adjt. Morris B. Wells, of Ionia, to be Lieutenant-Colonel; Capt. Seymour Chase, of Kent, to be Major. These officers are the unanimous choice of the regiment, and we hope the appointments may be made.

The following recommendations for promotions in the line have also been made: Myron C. Russell to be 1st Lieutenant, vice Chance resigned; James Houghton to be 2d Lieutenant, vice Russell, promoted; Arthur C. Prince to be 1st Lieutenant, vice Dunham, resigned; Charles W. Eaton to be 2d Lieutenant, vice Turner, resigned: Eli E. Burrett to be 1st Lieutenant, vice Russell, resigned; John C. Taylor to be 2d Lieutenant, vice Burritt, promoted: Sergt. Charles E. Belknap, Co. H. is promoted to Sergeant Major, vice Eaton, promoted. All the above named officers are acting in the places they are recommended to fill. Lieut. A. B. Morse, formerly of the old Sixteenth, is Acting Adjutant, He has lately joined the Regiment.

Respectfully, M.B.

Now I'm sad that I didn't know about George W Glassbrook when I was there. When I return, I will visit his gravesite and pay my respects to this ancestor that I learned about tonight.  I wonder if the paths I walked along that day were paths that he had walked as a scared 19 year old.  I will wish his spirit rest. And, I wonder what part of who he was lives on in my family, those who share his DNA.  

I wonder what I will learn about my family next.