Hi Everyone!

Bkurty73

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I am super new to this, but I was hoping someone could help me. My 3-times great-grandfather was Elijah Crabtree, a Union soldier who fought in the Civil War and who was killed in Sparta, Tennessee on February 23, 1864. I am planning on visiting Sparta in the spring. My question is, could someone tell me if they are familiar with the area? I would like to pay my respects to the site where he was killed. My mother's great-grandmother was alive when my mother was a child and she said that her great-grandmother was told that he had been a kind man, but never got to know him. I would really like to be able to honor his memory, as his 3x great-granddaughter. Thank you in advance :)
 

Bkurty73

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Yes, thank you for that. His wife received a letter from his commanding officer attesting to his character as being a good man. I did an extensive search and found that his body is actually in a military cemetery in the Memphis area. I just wondered if there are any kind of markers in Sparta showing where he was killed. I'm sure the area is probably built up and it will be unlikely that I will find out where he and his step brother were shot.
 

rittmeister

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Yes, thank you for that. His wife received a letter from his commanding officer attesting to his character as being a good man. I did an extensive search and found that his body is actually in a military cemetery in the Memphis area. I just wondered if there are any kind of markers in Sparta showing where he was killed. I'm sure the area is probably built up and it will be unlikely that I will find out where he and his step brother were shot.
i have no idea - i'm german
 

jgoodguy

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I am super new to this, but I was hoping someone could help me. My 3-times great-grandfather was Elijah Crabtree, a Union soldier who fought in the Civil War and who was killed in Sparta, Tennessee on February 23, 1864. I am planning on visiting Sparta in the spring. My question is, could someone tell me if they are familiar with the area? I would like to pay my respects to the site where he was killed. My mother's great-grandmother was alive when my mother was a child and she said that her great-grandmother was told that he had been a kind man, but never got to know him. I would really like to be able to honor his memory, as his 3x great-granddaughter. Thank you in advance :)
Good to see you. IMHO there is no way to know where he died other than a very general location.
 

jgoodguy

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i have no idea - i'm german
Lots of Union soldiers were exhumed and reburied in an Union cemetery. Calvary especially meant a very dispersed battlefield. Most markers I am aware of are in Battlefield parks.

Here is somewhere to start.

I'll keep searching. Also CW record keeping was sparse.
 

5fish

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Elijah Crabtree, a Union soldier
Hi, do you have his rank and what union regiment he was with in the war... and town he was from... I am guessing he was with the 5th TN cavalry Union... It seems they were busy on the Feb 22, 1864...

Feb. 22: Skirmish, Johnson's Mills
TENNESSEE--5th Cavalry (Detachment). Union loss, 23 killed, 1 wounded. Total, 24.

Feb. 22: Skirmish, Sparta
TENNESSEE--5th Cavalry.

Feb. 22: Skirmish, Calf Killer Creek
TENNESSEE--5th Cavalry. Union loss, 8 killed, 3 wounded. Total, 11.
 

5fish

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Here is what the 5th Tn. Cavalry was doing from feb to April 1864...

Operations against guerrillas about Sparta February to April, Johnson's Mills February 22 (Detachment). Sparta and Calf Killer River February 22.

Here is a book bottom of 90 and the top of page 91. It state the Confederates kills union prisoners at Johnson Mills...


February 22, 1864 - Skirmish on Calfkiller Creek, TN, where the Confederates inflict severe casualties on the Federals, part of Col. John M. Hughs, CSA, Confederate operations in Middle Tennessee.
 

5fish

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I am super new to this, but I was hoping someone could help me. My 3-times great-grandfather was Elijah Crabtree, a Union soldier who fought in the Civil War and who was killed in Sparta, Tennessee on February 23, 1864.
I found what you wanted: how Elijah Crabtree died... The confederate I think Battle of Dug Hill is the Skirmish at Johnson Mills... it seems Calf Killer creek was an escape route...


Elijah died while on picket duty... read the link its a great story about how the war fought...

Tuesday, 23 February 1864

The next day, Privates William Countiss, Elijah Crabtree, Patrick Thurman, and Thomas Wilcher were posted outside the barricades at Sparta on picket duty. Suddenly, they spotted six men dressed in Federal uniforms running towards them and frantically calling for protection. As soon as these "Federals" got close, they drew their weapons and rushed the guards. Countiss, Crabtree, Thurman and Wilcher, caught off guard, immediately surrendered. The Confederates shot all four men. Thurman, who was shot through the forehead, lingered until about midnight before succumbing to death. Countiss, Crabtree, and Wilcher died immediately

It seems it the 25th Tn. Cavalry Regiment (CSA) was involved along with Champ Ferguson. Champ Ferguson was a murdering Confederate guerrilla no wonder no prisoners were taken...


Crabtree, Elijah
BATTLE UNIT NAME:5th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry SIDE: Union COMPANY: G SOLDIER'S RANK IN: Private SOLDIER'S RANK OUT: Sergeant ALTERNATE NAME: FILM NUMBER: M392 ROLL 4 PLAQUE NUMBER:NOTES:
 

Bkurty73

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I found what you wanted: how Elijah Crabtree died... The confederate I think Battle of Dug Hill is the Skirmish at Johnson Mills... it seems Calf Killer creek was an escape route...


Elijah died while on picket duty... read the link its a great story about how the war fought...

Tuesday, 23 February 1864

The next day, Privates William Countiss, Elijah Crabtree, Patrick Thurman, and Thomas Wilcher were posted outside the barricades at Sparta on picket duty. Suddenly, they spotted six men dressed in Federal uniforms running towards them and frantically calling for protection. As soon as these "Federals" got close, they drew their weapons and rushed the guards. Countiss, Crabtree, Thurman and Wilcher, caught off guard, immediately surrendered. The Confederates shot all four men. Thurman, who was shot through the forehead, lingered until about midnight before succumbing to death. Countiss, Crabtree, and Wilcher died immediately

It seems it the 25th Tn. Cavalry Regiment (CSA) was involved along with Champ Ferguson. Champ Ferguson was a murdering Confederate guerrilla no wonder no prisoners were taken...


Crabtree, Elijah
BATTLE UNIT NAME:5th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry SIDE: Union COMPANY: G SOLDIER'S RANK IN: Private SOLDIER'S RANK OUT: Sergeant ALTERNATE NAME: FILM NUMBER: M392 ROLL 4 PLAQUE NUMBER:NOTES:
Yes, that's him. Thank you so much
 

5fish

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Yes, that's him. Thank you so much
It seems or I guess he was murdered by men from Champ Ferguson's guerillas... I do not think they were from the 25th TN. Cavalry Reg. but who knows...
 

rittmeister

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we got a new rss feed about it tha battle of dug hill - maybe it helps
 

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That's an interesting story - it's too bad your ancestor was killed but it's also good to be able to put a name and a history on what is usually a mere number in a story. If ever a piece of rope was put to a good use, it was the piece that hung Champ Ferguson. That fellow would kill you if he thought you were thinking bad about him! (And that was self defense in his mind...)
 
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