Military Service in Our American Family

More will be added to this page over time as we document those who served.

 

The Revolutionary War

Christian Madera USA Flag 1812

Officer of the Pennsylvania Line

 

The War of 1812

Simon Alexander Cummins USA Flag 1812

Pvt Capt Thomas Brooks' Company, 2nd Regiment VA militia, 01 Dec 1814 to 09 Feb 1815

  • Michael's 4th great grandfather

Jacob Finkbone USA Flag 1812

Pvt Capt John May's Co PA Mil, 01 Sep 1814 to 28 Nov 1814

  • Wendy's 4th great grandfather

 

The Civil War

Finus Erastus Cummins C.S.A. Battle Flag

Company C, 2nd Regiment, kentucky Mounted Infantry, Confederate States of America

Company E, 8th Kentucky Cavalry, Confederate States of America

  • Michael's 3rd great uncle
  • The 8th Kentucky Cavalry supported Morgan's Raid, operating as guerrillas (incl: Battle of Corydon) deep in Union territory until their capture or destruction at the Battle of Buffington's Island
  • After the Battle of Buffington Island, Finus spent time as a prisoner of war at Rock Island, the notorious prison that brought 'terror to the heart of any Southerner who had relatives imprisoned there.' (Gone with the Wind, Chapter XVI)

John W. Cummins C.S.A. Battle Flag

Company A, 9th Virginia Cavalry, Confederate States of America


William Hamilton Washington Cummins C.S.A. Battle Flag

Company G, 1st Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry (under Helm), Army of Central Kentucky, later inducted into the Orphan Brigade, Confederate States of America

Company D, Morgan's Men, Confederate States of America

  • Michael's 3rd great uncle
  • Enlisted in Oct 1861, remained in service until Lee's surrender in 1865
  • in the 1st KY CAV, participated in the Battle of Belmont, Battle of Fort Henry and the Battle of Fort Donelson
  • Was captured at the Battle of Ft Donelson in February of 1862, was then held prisoner at Johnson's Island until he was exchanged in August 1862.
  • WHW Cummings was listed as one of the 678 men on a roster of "Morgan's Men, Kentucky" specifying "Company D". When William was released from Johnson's Island in August of 1862, "recruits for "Morgan's Men" came pouring in from all surrounding and neighboring counties and it was not long before Morgan's force amounted to a brigade"
  • Morgan's Men led Morgan's Raid, operating as guerrillas (incl: Battle of Corydon) deep in Union territory until their capture or destruction at the Battle of Buffington's Island. I have no records that William was captured again. Some of Morgan's Men evaded capture and continued their guerrilla tactics until Morgan escaped from prison.
  • When applying for his pension in 1912, he listed himself as a member of 'Company G, 5th Kentucky'. The 5th Kentucky Cavalry was rolled into Morgan's Men at one point. 'Morgan's Men' stuck together even while Morgan was imprisoned by the Union, rode with him again when he escaped and remained together after his death. In the book 'History of Morgan's men' those remnants were present in Abbeville, S.C. where the book identifies the 'Last Confederate Counil of War' with Davis. Morgan's Men disbanded after that meeting. On his application for a pension Abbeville, S.C. is where William says he was paroled under terms of Confederate surrender.

Daniel Finkbone U.S.A. Flag

Company A, 14th Regiment, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Company B, 128th Regiment, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Company F, 192nd Regiment, Pennsylvania, United States of America

  • Wendy's 3rd great grandfather
  • Daniel enlisted on 27 Apr 1861 and mustered out on 24 Apr 1863.
  • Attached to the 128th, he very likely participated in the Battle of Antietam and the Battle of Chancellorsville, witnessing the two bloodiest days in American military history. More, he was on the field opposing one of Michael's ancestors, John W. Cummins.

Jacob Finkbone U.S.A. Flag

Company B, 128th Regiment, Pennsylvania, United States of America

  • Wendy's 4th great uncle
  • Daniel enlisted on 14 Aug 1862 and mustered out on 19 May 1863.
  • Attached to the 128th, he very likely participated in the Battle of Antietam and the Battle of Chancellorsville, witnessing the two bloodiest days in American military history. More, he was on the field opposing one of Michael's ancestors, John W. Cummins.

Peter Finkbone U.S.A. Flag

Company F, 5th Regiment, Pennsylvania, United States of America

  • Wendy's 4th great uncle
  • The 5th Regiment mustered in Harrisburg from 20 April 1861 to 25 Jul 1861

Daniel Madara U.S.A. Flag

Company B, 50th Regiment, Pennsylvania, United States of America


John W. Ritz U.S.A. Flag

Company F, 30th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, United States of America


William R. Sherman U.S.A. Flag

Company F, 9th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, United States of America

  • William is Michael's 3rd great grandfather
  • William joined the 9th Iowa on 14 Sep 1861 and mustered out on 20 May 1862 in St Louis.
  • Attached to the 30th iowa for those dates, William would have participated in the Battle of Pea Ridge.

Elkanah Sherman Jr. U.S.A. Flag

Company F, 27th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, United States of America

  • Elkanah is Michael's 4th great uncle
  • The 27th Iowa was organized on 03 Oct 1862 and mustered out on 08 Aug 1865
  • If Elkanah was in the 27th Iowa the entire time, he would have participated in the Red River Campaign, Battle of Pleasant Hill, Battle of Nashville.
  • Elkanah was admitted to the National Home for Disabled Veteran Soldiers, Milwaukee, WI, in June of 1890. He remained there until he passed away in 1923.

 

The Vietnam War

 

Modern Wars