What sort of information can be found on soldiers who died during the Civil War? (USA)

Question

I have not researched the (US) Civil War from a genealogical point of view, and I have little sense of what approach to take or what resources might be available,  As part of the Tryon Name Study I was unable to identify further data on the attached Frank Tryon.  Direct evidence for him is limited to the 1860 census. Beyond that I have several of his children and his wife who remarried.

On the findagrave record of his son-in-aw the profile manager indicates that Captain Frank Tryon served as a confederate officer and was wounded at the Battle of Fort Donelson and died a few days later.

I'd like to be able to confirm that information, and I'd like to see if there is additional information about his service, and perhaps confirmation of his age,  (I have his age as indicated by 1860 census, but I'd like to see if it's consistent).

Comments

Here is a NPS link on the Battle of Fort Donelson

 

https://www.nps.gov/fodo/planyourvisit/thebattleforfortdonelson.htm

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His son in law's memorial has this comment:

Tryon, a Confederate officer, was wounded and captured at the Battle of Ft. Donnelson, Stewart Co., Tennessee and died a few days later.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=111633861

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Fold has free access to Civil War military records for a few more days.  You might find something there.

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It seems today is the last day, I think.  Lucky timing!   I just need to figure out how to properly cite the set of documents on his service.

Answer 1

I used the "Research Roots Search For Frank Tyron" link, at the bottom right of his profile, to take me to this FamilySearch page for him (Familysearch is free, requires sign up; great site.)

As well as a lot of civil war links and census links for him and other Frank/Francis Tyrons, that search turned up a findagrave memorial for him.  That has a short newspaper clipping about his wounding and death, and an uncredited picture.  A google images search on the picture turned it up again here on rootsweb, with his name, unit, and rank: "2nd Lt. Frank Tryon Co. E, 2nd Ky. Inf. Mortally wounded at Murfreesboro (Sketches of Camp Boone, 1860)"

There's still plenty for you to research, what with all the other results on FamilySearch.  Have fun!

Findagrave and Rootsweb links:

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=161650577

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~orphanhm/photogal.htm

Comments

So I googled on "Sketches of Camp Boone, 1860" and found this, in which he is mentioned several times. (Note that you can click the thumbnails for a much bigger image. The same portrait is labelled "Col. Rank Tryon-Assistant Quartermaster General, Assistant Commissary-General, 1860"  -- showed it to a friend, who ID'd his eppaulettes as having a colonel's insignia (and..."that's a corncob, I've never seen a corncob before.")  He would have been a behind-the-lines administrator, but stuff happens in combat.

The clipping on Findagrave has his rank wrong -- "too much celery on his shoulder for him to be a lieutenant", says my friend, and there's the Sketches of Camp Boone ID.  I wouldn't trust that it gives the correct battle, either; both may be journalistic choices.

Link: https://exploreuk.uky.edu/?f%5Bsource_s%5D%5B%5D=Sketches+of+Camp+Boone%2C1860&page=1

 

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Thanks for looking into this.  At first I was a little thrown off by the dates for Camp Boone... wkipedia says the camp was laid out in early 1861, whereas the series is titled Camp Boone Sketches, 1860.   I also thank you for finding the findagrave memorial, with the article.  Great to rely on the expertise of you and your friend .. to help determine that the rank was likely incorrect in the article and on the memorial.  I am not finding any text associated with the sketches other than the labels which appear to transcribe the descriptive notes on each.  

 

Thanks also for mentioning familysearch -- I use it as often as I can, though I have not looked into what military records they might have other than pension records.   

I find it very interesting that he was a Colonel.   His census record (1860, Kentucky) indicates he was born in New York State and was an agent for the American Express Company (which I find was established 1850).  I am wondering what education would have been required for that work - which would also put him in line for a rank such as Colonel - and perhaps there may be some way to determine whether he had prior military service before the Civil War, and whether (and where) he may have attended college perhaps.

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The records on Fold3 indicate his rank as second lieutenant, died Jan 9 1863 some days after wounds inflicted at Murfeesboro.   


The records there also clarify the discrepancy with regard to Fort Donelson and Battle of Stones River/Murfreesoboro, which are 11 months apart.  It seems he was captured after Fort Donelson, held at Ohio prisoner depot, paroled/exchanged, fought at Murfreesboro, was wounded and captured then died Jan 8, 1863.

Here are my noted from Fold 3 records:  
2 Lt, Francis Tryon - Muster-in roll - Age 33 - Roll Dated Jul 13, 1861.  Joined for duty and enrolled jul 13 1861 at Camp Boone, Tennessee.  Traveling 175 miles to Rendezvous. Remarks:  Detached service - Hospital, Aug 1, 1861.
 
Appears Roll of Prisoners of War a Camp Chase, Ohio. Arrested Fort Donelson, Feb 16, 1862. Transferred to Johnson's Island April 10, 1862.


Appears on Roll of Prisoners of War at Depot Prisoners of War, near Sandusky, Ohio.  Captured Feb 16, 1862, Fort Donelson.  Sent Vicksburg, Sept 1, 1862.



Nov 1862 Absent Murfreesboro  - Regimental Returns


"Missing since battle of Murfreesboro"

Appears on Roll of Prisoners of War at Johnson's Island, Sandusky, Ohio. Roll dated Sept 1, 1862.  Captured: Fort Donelson, Feb 16, 1862.


Appears - list of officers captured and paroled at different times and places, exchanged Nov 8, 1862.

Dec 1862 - Present - Murfreesboro - Regimental Returns


Report of wounded moved to General Field Hospital and Murfreesboro, Tenn., from Branch Field Hospital.  Admitted jan 3, 1863. Sent to Murfreesboro Jan 8.  Complaint/gunshot: flesh right hip.

Appears on a list of confederate prisoners who died within the Federal lines in the Department of the Cumberland from Dec 31, 1862 to March 1, 1863.  Taken prisoner: Stone River.  Cause of Death: Gunshot wound.  Date of death Jan 9, 1863, Murfreesboro.




Appears on list of killed wounded & missing in Hanson's Brigade, in the actions before Murfreesboro, Tenn., Dec 31 1862- Jan 3 1863.   Wounded, Severely. Supposed mortally, left on field.

Nov/Dec 1862 Company Muster roll - notes Wounded at battle of Murfreesboro Jan 2, 1863 and since died.

Jan/Feb 1863 Company Muster - notes - Died from effects of wounds received at Murfreesboro January 9, 1863.

Appears on a register of Prisoners of War, Dept of the Cumberland.  Captured: Stones River, died January 9, 1863.

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Dug around a bit more, particularly since the annotations on the U Kentucky document are handwritten.  Turns out the photos are of the *first* Camp Boone, an administrative camp set up in 1860 when Kentucky was still neutral, and of the Kentucky State Guard, not the Confederate army.  Evidently he held a much lower rank later in the regular army -- because his tabs in the picture are definitely a colonel's, not a lieutenant's, and he is repeatedly identified in the photo book as "Colonel."

Rare book seller re: Sketches of Camp Boone, the first encampment

Full-size image, "Visit of the Governor to Col Frank Tyron"

Col. Rank (sic) Tryon-Assistant Quartermaster General, Assistant Commissary-General, 1860

 

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Thank you for digging deeper and resolving the seeming discrepancy.   Much appreciated.

Answer 2

This is the last day for free Fold3.com records - I found many full records - hurry - you have until midnight tonight [April 15]

Happy Hunting!

Sheryl

Answer 3

familysearch.org  and then that takes you to fold3, if you are a member,  $7.99 and that gets you all their records. Another is nps.org  that has 95% listed and it is free, no copies of muster cards like fold3.. There is also National Gravesite locator.. free..wikipedia.com has the more famous. And then last but closest is wikitree.com  :)