The Huxford Genealogical Society identifies our second great grandmother as Lydia Stewart, sister of Priscilla. Grandma* Lydia's first husband was William Webb. Priscilla married Berry Whitley.
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| Pioneers of Wiregrass-Huxford Book V page 420 |
William Webb and Berry Whitley
On the 1860 Ware County, Georgia, census, the three sisters - Priscilla Whitley, Lydia Webb, and Martha Pittman - and their families are next-door neighbors of their widowed mother, Ann Stewart, and another daughter (?), Rodha. (zoomable pdf file).
Off to War
On October 1, 1861, William Webb and Berry Whitley were sworn into the 26th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry, Company H.
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| Capt. Robert Newton-King |
Webb last appears on the rolls at the end of his six-month enlistment; March 31, 1862. His wife would later claim 'Widowhood.' Berry Whitley would re-enlist and serve until the end of the war. He applied for War Pension in 1898 (zoomable pdf file). From his application, we learn he was re-assigned to 4th Regiment, Georgia Cavalry Company E under Capt. Robert Newton King.
Off to Florida
"In March (1863 ed.) the regiment was ordered to support other Confederate troops gathering nears Jacksonville, Florida, to confront some recently-arrived water-borne Federals probing the St Mary's River."
A Brief History of Clinch's Regiment, 4th Georgia Volunteer Calvary
Berry Whiteley's was one of five companies comprising 277 men sent to meet the Yankee incursion. Grandpa George Leonard Merritt was part that invasion. The two sides did little more than trade a few volleys before Georgia's 4th Volunteer Cavalry was relieved by a Florida confederate regiment.
"The Feds soon abandoned the effort and passed on the effort to permanently occupy Jacksonville after robbing a few plantations and generally destroying anything of value they could find further up the St. John's River."
A Brief History of Clinch's Regiment, 4th Georgia Volunteer Calvary
Berry Whitley completed the war and his unit surrendered in Atlanta, Georgia.
George Leonard Merritt
"On April 1, 1863, the 6th left Jacksonville and traveled through Hilton Head and Beaufort along the coast to Folly Island arriving May 1. There they participated in the second attack of Charleston and Fort Sumter by way of Morris Island "
Chap V: The Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5
"...(March 1, 1863 ed.) we finally made a landing on Folly Island. The island was rightly named, for a man in civil life must indeed be a fool to think he could live on such a barren place; ...With swarms of sand fleas and mosquitoes for our constant companions, we pitched our camp on the sand hills; "
Chap V: The Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5
For five months, Connecticut's Sixth was part of a secret build-up on Folly Island.
Our fatigue duty was quite arduous, as we were obliged to work nights, and had to maintain the utmost silence, speaking only in whispers. When we were obliged to fell trees we sawed them in two and lowered them gently to the ground by means of ropes.
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| Folly Island July 1863 |
All the heavy cannon were brought through the woods and mounted at night, and then masked by covering them with leaves and dirt. It was with the greatest secrecy that the work was pushed forward.Huge mortars and parrot guns came from Hilton Head, landed at Stono Inlet and were dragged slowly and tediously to their place under cover of darkness. Ammunition was taken forward and concealed every night.
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| Folly Island July 1863 |
By moonlight and during heavy thunder showers the work went steadily forward. At the end of that time, ten large batteries had been completed, mounting 48 heavy guns and within 400 yards of the enemy’s works all.
Chap V: The Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record
On July 10th, our grandfather Merritt was wounded in action.
A Selection of Original Civil War
Views of Morris Island
Views of Morris Island
Part 1: Okefenokee Merritt Family Part 5 Burning of Jacksonville
Part 2 George Merritt and Lydia Stewart Part 6 Brothers-In-Law
Part 3 From the North Part 7 Deserters
Part 4 A Connecticut Yankee Part 8 Yankee in the Swamp
*Note: Relationships, such as grandmother, 2nd great, etc., are expressed from the perspective of the grandchildren of Willis Edgar and Carrie (known as) Mae (Merritt) Musgrove.
Terms of relationship - grandmother, uncle, aunt, cousin, etc. - are used here generically to include relatives such as fourth great grandfathers, great grand uncles, second cousins twice removed, etc.
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