Jacob Garretson Vail (1827 - 1884)

Born 1827 in Indiana, United States

Descendants

Died 9 Oct 1884 at about age 57 in Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, Kansas, United states

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Biography

Jacob Vail is Notable.

'Jacob Garretson Vail was an American coachmaker and soldier. Vail was a Brevet Brigadier General in the Union Army during the Civil War. He served during the Civil War as Colonel and commander of the 17th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "long, faithful and gallant services". (bio by: Russ Dodge)

Jacob G. Vail was born in 1827, in Floyd County, Indiana. ^[1] He was the son of Joseph Vail and Sarah (Garretson) Vail, ^[2]

Vail was a coachmaker in Floyd County. ^[3] Sometime before 1860, Vail moved to Gibson County and continued to be a coachmaker. ^[4]

On July 19, 1853, Jacob G Vail married Malinda Dance in Knox County, Indiana. They had 6 children. ^[2] Link to photograph

Military Service

Brevet Brigadier General Jacob Vail served in the United States Civil War.
Side: USA

• Civil War

Jacob G Vail mustered in on June 12, 1861. Vail and George Gorman organized a company from Gibson County. Vail was appointed Captain of Company H, 17th Regiment, Indiana Infantry. ^[5] Vail's Company participated in the West Virginia Campaign and then moved to the Western Theatre. In December 1862, the regiment became mounted infantry and was equipped with Spencer repeating rifles. The unit became known as the "Lightning Brigade." ^[6] Vail participated in the siege of Corinth. He was in combat in the Battle of Perryville and Battle of Chickamauga. In November 1863, Vail was in combat at the Battle of Missionary Ridge. On April 2, 1865, at the Battle of Selma, Vail assumed command of the 17th Regiment. By taking Selma, the 17th Regiment had put an end to the Confederate's largest supply manufacturing. This likely had an impact on General Lee's decision to surrender 7 days later.

Vail enlisted as a Captain. He was promoted several times. He served a Major from April to June 1864. He served as Lieutenant Colonel from June 1864 to October 1864. He served as Colonel from October 1864 until March 1865. ^[5] Colonel Vail was brevetted Brigadier General as of March 13, 1865. ^[7]

Post War

After the War, Vail returned to Gibson County, Indiana. Vail served as Gibson County Sheriff from April 1866 to February 28, 1868. ^[7] Vail moved to Leavenworth, Kansas and was again a carriage-maker.

Jacob Garretson Vail died on October 9, 1884. He was buried at Mount Muncie Cemetery, Lansing, Kansas. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8150846/jacob-garetson-vail: accessed 25 November 2023), memorial page for Jacob Garetson Vail (1827–9 Oct 1884), Find a Grave Memorial ID 8150846, citing Mount Muncie Cemetery, Lansing, Leavenworth County, Kansas, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Family Tree, database with images, FamilySearch.org, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Record for Jacob Garretson Vail, ID LDK5-5L8. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LDK5-5L8
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHJ8-LGL : Fri Oct 06 10:08:29 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Vail and Sarah Vail, 1850.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4FG-WDZ : Thu Oct 05 21:37:17 UTC 2023), Entry for J G Vail and M D Vail, 1860.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Fold3, Jacob G. Vail (https://www.fold3.com/memorial/660034737/jacob-g-vail-civil-war-stories/facts : accessed November 25, 2023), database and images, https://www.fold3.com/memorial/660034737/jacob-g-vail-civil-war-stories/facts
6. ↑ Wilder's Lightning Brigade - American History Central. https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/lightning-brigade/
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Jacob G. Vail, Military Wiki, Fandom. https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Jacob_G._Vail

• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXXG-99V : accessed 30 January 2016), Jacob G Vail, Indiana, United States; citing p. 20, family 146, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,815.

• "United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDP-Y3ML : accessed 30 January 2016), Jacob G Vail, 1887.

• Link to Geni Brig Gen Jacob Garretson Vail

• Military History Online Jacob Vail

Acknowledgement

This person was created on 19 May 2010 through the import of My Family File.ged.