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
Officer of the Pennsylvania Line
- Wendy's 7th great uncle
- Served spring of 1776 to 1778 as an Ensign under Captain Nagel, Col Hand, Pennsylvania Line.
- Served summer of 1778 two months as ensign of Berks County Militia.
- Also served as a Captain in the militia pursuing Indians in the Wyoming Valley and in the Whiskey Rebellion
- Served as quartermaster in the Cavalry at Pittsburg.
- Fought in the Battle of Long Island, Battle of White Plains, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Paoli, Battle of Germantown and Battle of White Marsh (Chestnut Hill).
The War of 1812
Simon Alexander Cummins
Pvt Capt Thomas Brooks' Company, 2nd Regiment VA militia, 01 Dec 1814 to 09 Feb 1815
- Michael's 4th great grandfather
Jacob Finkbone
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
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
Company A, 9th Virginia Cavalry, Confederate States of America
- Michael's 3rd cousin, 4x removed
- Enlisted on 05 Mar 1862 and was present through 05 Oct 1864.
- Likely participated in the Peninsula Campaign, the Seven Days' Battles, the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, the Battle of Brandy Station, the Battle of Gettysburg, the Bristoe campaign, the Overland Campaign, some of the Siege of Petersburg and some of the Valley Campaigns of 1864.
William Hamilton Washington Cummins
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
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
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
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
Company B, 50th Regiment, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Wendy's 4th great grandfather
- He was 52 years old when the 50th Regiment was organized, and 56 when it mustered out. Still Private Daniel Maderia was listed in the 50th, his wife Elizabeth filed paperwork for his pension as well as his headstone, which is in Alsace Lutheran Church Cemetery. She is buried next to him, birth and death years matching our records. There is a GAR marker on his grave verifying service from 1861 to 1865. It is quite surprising for a man of his years, but appears to be true. His sons were all of a fighting age, perhaps he went in their stead?
- Attached to the 50th Regiment, Daniel would have seen the following engagements: First Battle of Pocotaligo, Battle of Groveton, Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Chantilly, Battle of South Mountain, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Siege of Vicksburg, Jackson Expedition, Knoxville Campaign, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Battle of North Anna, Battle of Totopotomoy Creek, Battle of Cold Harbor, Siege of Petersburg, Battle of the Crater, Battle of Globe Tavern, Battle of Peeble's Farm, Battle of Boydton Plank Road, Battle of Fort Stedman, Appomattox Campaign and the Third Battle of Petersburg.
- This means that John W. Cummins stood across the field from Daniel & Jacob Finkbone as well as Daniel Madara: four members of Our American Family in one battle, represented on both sides.
John W. Ritz
Company F, 30th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, United States of America
- John is Michael's 3rd great grandfather
- John was joined the 30th Iowa in June of 1863. In August of 1864 he returned home to become an appointed Postmaster.
- Attached to the 30th Iowa for those dates, John would have participated in Siege of Vicksburg, Battle of Lookout Mountain, Battle of Missionary Ridge, Battle of Resaca, Battle of Kennesaw Mountain and the Battle of Atlanta.
William R. Sherman
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.
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