John Henry Cornelius (1837 - 1878)

Born 9 Mar 1837 in North Carolina

Husband of Sarah Lucy (Cundiff) Cornelius — married 19 Nov 1866 in Surry County, NC

Died 1878 at about age 40 in North Carolina, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Steve Hennings [send private message]

Biography

Born: 1837. [2-4]
Died: 1878. [7]
Married Sarah Lucy Cundiff, on Feb. 7, 1866.^[1] 2nd Lieutenant, Company F, 28th Regiment North Carolina Troops (Confederate).

He is in the household of William J. and Nancy P. Cornelius, age 13, in 1850. The family is living on a farm in newly formed Forsyth County, NC. ^[2] (All previous records would show Stokes County). By 1860, he is working on the farm of Jane Martin in Yadkin County, NC (East Bend Post Office).^[3] I assume she was a widow. She worked as a tailor, and John, along with Franklin Williams, was hired to work the farm. ^[3] But that requires some speculation on my part. Hennings-109 15:02, 30 July 2020 (UTC)

John H. Cornelius volunteered on August 10, 1861 [age 23] at Camp Enon. He was enlisted by Capt. J.H. Kinyoun of East Bend, NC. He entered as a Private, but rapidly rose to 2nd Lieutenant. He was appointed to the rank of Corporal on October 10, 1861 (2 months later) and 2nd Lt. on April 12, 1862 (8 months after enlisting). He suffered a compound fracture of the right thigh from a gunshot wound on May 27, 1862 and was captured at Hanover Court House, VA by the Army of the Potomac's Provisional Fifth Corp. under the command of General Fritz John Porter. ^[4] Porter was later court-marshaled for inaction at Second Bull Run (a.k.a. Second Manassas). ^[5]

He is at Tripler Hospital on May 30, 1862. He appears on a roll of prisoners of war at Fort Columbus, New York Harbor, received from U.S. Hospital, 51 Street, New York, on August 14, 1862. Sent from Fort Columbus, New York Harbor, to Fort Delaware, DE on August 23, 1862. Sent to Aiken's Landing, VA on October 2, 1862. Declared exchanged on November 10, but apparently exchanged on October 6, and admitted to General Hospital in Richmond that same day. He was transferred to Camp Lee on the 9th. ^[4]

He initially was treated at a Union Hospital. His leg was saved, but the bullet had hit the bone and once healed, his right leg was substantially shorter, making walking difficult. He resigned from the army on April 8, 1863. ^[4]

At the time of his capture he is described as being 25 years old, 5'10" tall, with dark hair, blue eyes and a florid (ruddy) complexion. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9N8-9P?cc=1726957&wc=QD8P-D1M%3A1588772770%2C1588773192 : 19 July 2016), Surry > Marriage records, 1853-1867 > image 85 of 91; North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6S69-684?cc=1401638&wc=95R6-16D%3A1031311901%2C1031691801%2C1031691802 : 9 April 2016), North Carolina > Forsyth > Forsyth county, part of > image 93 of 218; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDDY-RVW : 19 March 2020), John H Cornelius in entry for Jane Martin, 1860.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of North Carolina https://www.fold3.com/image/44842630?terms=war,confederate,civil,john,cornelius
5. ↑ https://civilwarhome.com/fjporterbio.htm

4. 1870 U.S. Federal Census.
"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWDS-2LD : 19 March 2020), J H Cornelious, 1870. 5. North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster.
6. Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865.
7. Find A Grave: Memorial #101905824