Civil War

Here I’ve transcribed the military record to hopefully give a feel for what they contain without being exhaustive.  Any family member wishing these records are certainly welcome to them, just email me.

This drawing was attributed to Middleton, Strobridge and Company from the period of time right after the Battle of Perryville.

CIVIL WAR

Minch L. Gray/Grey

Son of John and Lovenia (Loubenia, Lovena, Lobena, Devenia) Gray, husband to Mary Virginia Martin, father to Susanna (Susie), James (Jim) and Pickens (Pick) Gray. 

On 5 Aug 1861 Minch L. Gray (some records as Grey) enlisted as a private in St. Augustine Florida.  He was mustered in to Company E, 3rd Regiment of the Florida Infantry.  One record (signed by S. Bates) shows he was 28 years old.  It designates Capt. Bird’s Company, 3 reg’t Florida Infantry, enrolled on 21 June 1861 to report to ? Francis Barracks, St. Augustine on 5 Aug 1861.  He signed up for 1 year’s service.  He was signed up by Capt. D. B. Bird.

Sometime during the November/December 1861 time-frame he went home on furlough.  On two of the records it specifies he was absent because he was wounded in the Battle of Perryville, Ky, October 8th.  The last record is a Register to claims of deceased officers and soldiers from Arkansas and Florida by Mary V. Gray through an attorney (H H Illegible) on 20 April 1863.

John J. Gray/Grey
Son of John and Lovenia (Loubenia, Lovena, Lobena, Devenia) Gray, other relationships not discovered by me yet (hint, hint!).

John’s enlistment records are virtually identical to his brother, Minch’s (see above).  The only difference is he was 22 years old at the time.  Also in his file is a record that specifies that his records are listed as both John Grey and John Gray but filed under John Gray. 

On his pay record (June 30 to Oct 31, 1862) there is a note that he was paroled.  There is an undated record with this statement on it “J. J. Gray, Pvt, Co E 3 Regt Fla appears on a List of Paroled Confederate Prisoners, captured and paroled by the U. S. forces in Kentucky in Sept., Oct., and Nov., last, who have report to Genl Bragg and were placed in camp at Chattanooga, Tenn.  Declared exchanged by Col. Robt Ould by telegram to Maj. Fairbanks, A. A. I. G., Jan. 11, 1863″.  I am presuming this would have been a result of the Battle of Perryville.

More than the suffering that Minch must have endured, John really went through it.  On 23, Jan. 1863 there is another notice he was paroled.  This record states “JJ Gray Pvt Co E 3 Rgt Fla appears on a List of Exchanged Prisoners sent to their command under Capt. J. H. Campbell, dated Jan. 23, 1863″.  I have no idea what battle it may have been from, but am assuming it’s just a duplicate from the other form and the incident was Perryville.

During the period from 1 May 1863 to 31 Oct 1863 he was absent and sick in the hospital, with no other notes.  Somehwere during the period 31 Aug to 31 Dec., 1863 he went home on furlough.  After returning, there is entry recorded “J. J. Gray Pvt Co E 3 Regt Fla’s name appears on a REgister of Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Confederate States who were killed in battle, or who died of wounds or disease.  When deceased June 16, 1864.  Where and from what causes Atlanta, Georgia with $3.00 left”.  This record is recorded in the Confed. Arch., Chap. 10, File No. 3, page 96 and signed by J. W. Williams.

There is no record of anyone settling his estate.

Further info on Perryville here.

It really brought this home to me, just how devastating this was.  I can’t imagine the pain John and Lovenia endured, but they were not alone by any means.  Sad, truly sad.