Civil War

History of the War

Family Members who served: 

James Garwood ; William Crosby

Photo Gallery of War

Favorite Links of this War 

Table of Troops - by States

   Many historians have long debated whether the cause of the American Civil War was about slavery.  We will not enter that debate.  This war which has been so well documented in Ken Burn's PBS specials, which has renewed public interest in that era in American history.  The war began on April 12, 1861 when southern troops fired on Fort Sumter, a U.S. military post in Charleston, South Carolina.  Fierce fighting and many families suffered during the four long years the war lasted.  It finally came to an end when on April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered his ragged Confederate troops to the Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.  At the time, the Civil War took more American lives than any other in history.   Other names for this war are War of Secession and the War Between the States.

   "With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

Abraham Lincoln,  Mar 4, 1865, 2nd Inaugural Address

James V Garwood - Union Army

grandfather of Paul Bruner

James was a private in Company C of the 58th Regiment of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.  He enlisted as a private on 22 December 1863 and he was discharged from service 25 Jul 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.  

The 58th Indiana Regiment was responsible for most of the bridging work in the Atlanta campaign, from Tenn. to the coast.  At times, this work was completed while under fire. 

civil war medals -click on image to enlarge 

the medal on the right is a membership badge from the

 G A R : Grand Army of the Republic

THE GRAND ARMY of the REPUBLIC was organized after the end of the Civil War by Honorably Discharged Union Army Veterans, although other Veteran groups were formed, the GAR was the largest and best known.  The GAR was formed in the late 1860's and continued meeting until the final Encampment in 1949.  The last Union veteran died in 1958.

The Grand Army was formed in Units called Posts and sometimes named after well-known Military heroes, almost every small town or village boasted of having a post.  Some of the larger cities more, depending on the percentage of eligible veterans.  Ohio at one time had close to 800 posts.     

More on Garwood

Civil War Pension

Regiment Histories

Battles 

William J Crosby - Union Army

grandfather of Prentiss Bertelsen

Enlisted in Company K, Eighth Cavalry, 5 Jan 1864 at Allegan, for 3 years, age 30.  Mustered 26 Jan 1864.  Discharged for disability at Pulaski, Tenn, 15 June 1865.  

Source: Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865

Library of Congress - Photo collection

Civil War Maps - Library of Congress

   There are many excellent websites to visit in regards to this subject.  I have by no means the complete list of sites -- but do go and visit some Civil War sites -- it is a captivating subject!

Abraham Lincoln Research Site

LSU - US Civil War Center

Indiana Civil War

Don Harvey's Michigan Civil War Website

Ohio Civil War

Michigan Roster

Cindy's List of Civil War Websites

PBS - Civil War