Samuel Reed Civil War Soldier

                Samuel Reed is my fourth great grandfather. He fought in the Civil War and died on October 6, 1864 because of dysentery. I found information about him from his burial in Little Rock National Cemetery in Arkansas. Much of the information my family has about him came from his military records. (Military Service) Learning about him helps me to understand the Civil War on a personal level. Samuel Reed is significant to me because he was willing to leave his family and fight for his beliefs.

                Samuel was born in about 1820, in Pennsylvania. On December 13, 1855, he married Caroline Shuey in Sasona, Carroll County, Illinois. In the 1860 census, he was living in Owl Creek, Woodson County, Kansas Territory. At that time, he had a wife and a daughter. (1860 Census 297) He left them behind when he went off to war, but at times, he was able to visit with them. (Military Pension)

                Order No. 10 issued on August 18 all pro-confederate families were to leave by August 21. The confederates retaliated by killing 150 men and boys in Kansas. (Commager 392) Order No. 11 issued on August 25 all people in Missouri in the border counties of Jackson, Cass and Bates had to leave their homes by September 9. Over 20,000 residents fled and their homes were torched. (KC 1)

                Samuel was a private in Company G of the Kansas Calvary. He enlisted on September 28, 1861 and mustered out on January 16, 1862. The Calvary volunteers needed meticulous training in skills and horsemanship. Without training they could kill themselves or others, lose battles and skirmishes. (The Union 3) “The Civil War was the last large conflict in which soldiers on horseback played an important part.” (Civil War 36) In July of 1863, he participated in Order No. 11, which was the removal of Confederate’s from Missouri. This Order would forever change the lives of the people in Kansas and Missouri.

                Many letters and journals testify of these events. Order No. 11 was one of the darkest chapters in the feud between Missouri and Kansas. During this service, Company G lost 1 Officer and 52 Enlisted men who were killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 140 Enlisted men who died by disease. Samuel Reed was one of those enlisted men who died from disease fighting for the Union. Samuel Reed is significant to me because he was willing to leave his family and fight for his beliefs.

Works Cited

Commanger, Henry Steele, The Blue and The Gray, Indianapolis, Indiana, The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., 1982.

“KC events mark dark chapter in Civil War.” 21 August 2003, <http://www.semissourian.com/story/print/117893.html>

Stanchack, John. Civil War, New York, New York, Dorling and Kindersley, 2000..

“The Union Calvaryman in the Civil War.” 11 June 2006, <http://bufordboys.com/UnionCavalrymanII.htm>.

US Federal Military Pension File #133747.

US Federal Military Service File #198354.

I wrote this a few years ago for a class.

Samuel G or R Reed Civil War Military Service Record – File Notes

He was born in Northumberland, PA. I assume this is the county.

He was 41 years old at death, 5 feet 6 inches tall, dark complexion,

with blue eyes, and dark brown hair.

His occupation was carpenter.

He transferred from Home Guards by Capt. G. A. Miller

to Co. 9 Reg. Kans. Dec. 29, 1861.

He furnished his own horse and horse equipment.

He worked as a teamster and extra duty as a carpenter.

His final assets were auctioned included trousers $.75, drawers $.75,

socks $.30, Haversack $.30, Banknotes $1.75, total $3.55. 

His death was on Oct. 6, 1864 and his final payment on Jan. 16, 1865,

which was $100 that I assume went to his wife.

The file is 14 pages.

Samuel Reed Civil War Pension File – File Notes

Illinois, Chicago - Caroline Reed widow of Samuel Reed commencing 6 Oct 1864, $8 and $2 for each child until age 16, per month. Barbara until 14 Oct 1872, Almira until 13 Oct 1879, minors of Samuel Reed. Commencing May 1869 Ending Oct 1879 Residence 1864-1867 Brooksville, Ogle County,  Illinois. Births of children attested by midwife and deceased physician’s record.

Solomon Straw guardian of minor children of Samuel Reed, Carroll County, Illinois, 3 Aug. 1869 (second husband of Caroline Reed) Barbara born 15 Oct. 1856 in Brooksville and Almira born 14 Oct. 1863 in Humbold, Allen County, Kansas. Caroline and Samuel Reed were married 13 Dec. 1855 in Savannah, Carroll County, Illionis, #98,369. The witnesses had known the father Samuel Reed for about eight years. $12 per month.

Restored for Caroline Straw, widow of second husband Straw, 3 Aug. 1901, Buchanan County, Iowa. Widow’s affidavit, age 67, 11 April 1903. Marriage to Straw 27 May 1869, his death 21 Sep. 1899. $12 per month. Applied for further pension 7 Oct. 1916. Land assessment and value of personal property.

Witnesses, neighbors and children’s affidavits, with signatures.

Caroline Straw died 18 Apr. 1917.

Number 57812. This file is 79 pages. $37, February 2001