The good, the bad and the ugly of the Civil War between 1861 and 1865. Immortalized here, thanks to a local relative who researched for years the facts of these brothers and cousin, that lay here before you.
The sons of Richard W. Southard – a thriving and well known miller of flour, seed and grains at 38 Market Street, Lockport and his wife Susan Hallock Southard. Their father continued to run his mill some 20 more years after the Civil War ended – never really knowing what happened to his sons.
The sons of Richard W. Southard – a thriving and well known miller of flour, seed and grains at 38 Market Street, Lockport and his wife Susan Hallock Southard. Their father continued to run his mill some 20 more years after the Civil War ended – never really knowing what happened to his sons.
A little History:
In April of 1861 Ft. Sumter, South Carolina was taken over by the Confederate Soldiers and started this whole mess. For years the north and the south had been debating on issues that led to what was to become the Civil War. Economics, cultural values, politics of the federal government and largely the thoughts on slavery were all at the top of the lists. Fort Sumter controlled the entrance to Charleston Harbor, making it a crucial military asset. The Confederacy saw it as a valuable stronghold that could prevent Union forces from easily blockading southern ports and launching attacks on Confederate territory. In Lockport in 1861 the politics was all the talk of the town. President Lincoln was calling for men to bear arms and join the fight to unify the states.
In April of 1861 Ft. Sumter, South Carolina was taken over by the Confederate Soldiers and started this whole mess. For years the north and the south had been debating on issues that led to what was to become the Civil War. Economics, cultural values, politics of the federal government and largely the thoughts on slavery were all at the top of the lists. Fort Sumter controlled the entrance to Charleston Harbor, making it a crucial military asset. The Confederacy saw it as a valuable stronghold that could prevent Union forces from easily blockading southern ports and launching attacks on Confederate territory. In Lockport in 1861 the politics was all the talk of the town. President Lincoln was calling for men to bear arms and join the fight to unify the states.
George Clinton Southard (29 years old) and his brother Robert Smith Southard (23 year old) both signed up from the call on May 22, 1861 to the 28th Regiment of New York Volunteers.
Before enlisting, George was a miller working with his father. George went with Company B while Robert was with Company A. August 9, 1862 George was wounded at Cedar Mountain, VA., but continued on. Unfortunately, diseases from the war and wounds also set in and George died in 1869.
History: Cedar Mountain
At Cedar Mountain there were twice as many confederate forces as Union troops. Even though George was wounded, the Confederate General Charles Winder was killed by the Union forces. It is said that Cedar Mountain was the only time Stonewall Jackson ever drew his sword. It was a miracle he survived. Little know fact of Stonewall Jackson is he went from being an orphan to one of the most valued generals in the Confederate Army. He was Self-educated, went to West Point Military Academy and graduated 17th in his class.
Before enlisting, George was a miller working with his father. George went with Company B while Robert was with Company A. August 9, 1862 George was wounded at Cedar Mountain, VA., but continued on. Unfortunately, diseases from the war and wounds also set in and George died in 1869.
History: Cedar Mountain
At Cedar Mountain there were twice as many confederate forces as Union troops. Even though George was wounded, the Confederate General Charles Winder was killed by the Union forces. It is said that Cedar Mountain was the only time Stonewall Jackson ever drew his sword. It was a miracle he survived. Little know fact of Stonewall Jackson is he went from being an orphan to one of the most valued generals in the Confederate Army. He was Self-educated, went to West Point Military Academy and graduated 17th in his class.
Robert Smith Southard was severely wounded in May of 1862 but survived in the camps until discharged in June 1863. He died in National Military Home in Dayton, OH in 1915 at the age of 77.
I don’t recall anyone ever saying he was survived by a wife or children; or that he even came back to Lockport.
I don’t recall anyone ever saying he was survived by a wife or children; or that he even came back to Lockport.
Richard Daniel Southard was 22 when he enlisted in Company F – 97th Regiment of New York Volunteers in August of 1863. He was captured at The Battle of Wilderness, Spotsylvania, VA and taken to Andersonville Prison, Georgia where he died of starvation and disease in 1864. It was stated that Richard Daniel was buried here in Cold Springs Cemetery, but how his body got back here has not been verified.
History: Battle of Wilderness, Spotsylvania
This two-day battle was a series of bloody skirmishes in which almost 30,000 men on both sides were killed or wounded. Many like Richard D were taken prisoners.
Andersonville was one of the worst prisons of the Civil War. It was the largest and most famous of the 150 military prisons of the Civil War, Camp Sumter, commonly known as Andersonville, was the deadliest landscape of the Civil War. Almost nobody survived escaping. Of the 45,000 Union soldiers imprisoned at Andersonville, nearly 13,000 died of wounds, disease, starvation even beatings. Because many were naked or near naked, the cloths and the boots were taken from the deceased if they had them and some were even killed by their own to take what the dead left behind. It was stated that Richard Daniel was buried here in Cold Springs Cemetery, but how his body got back here has not been verified.
Daniel Richard Southard born in 1827 was the oldest of the Southard sons to enlist in the Civil War in September 1862. In December of 1863 he enlisted in Company 1, 8th Regiment New York heavy artillery. In August of 1864 he was captured at Reams Station, Petersburg, Virginia.
On August 25, Confederates attacked and overran the Union position at Reams Station, capturing 9 guns, 12 colors, and many prisoners. Among them Daniel Richard Southard. He was transferred to Rebel Prison, Salisbury, NC. He served a total of 3 years.
On August 25, Confederates attacked and overran the Union position at Reams Station, capturing 9 guns, 12 colors, and many prisoners. Among them Daniel Richard Southard. He was transferred to Rebel Prison, Salisbury, NC. He served a total of 3 years.
The purpose of this battle was to siege the railroad which was the vital supply route of the confederates. South Side Railroad was the only railroad left to supply Petersburg and General Lee's confederate army.
In 1864, the Rebel Prison of Salisbury, NC held 8,740 inmates
In 1864, the Rebel Prison of Salisbury, NC held 8,740 inmates
Patrick Daniel Southard, a cousin of the above mentioned fought in the Civil War. He was young, just 17 when he went to fight for the rights. Patrick Daniel questioned himslf as to should he have thought twice about bearing arms for the Army? You be the judge. .
He was not proud to say, but he did abscond and made it back home to see his family and the family of his cousins. Only to hear of their stories and the hardship left on their remaining family. No parent or community wants to see or hear of the horrible ventures their deceased sons encountered or the hardships left upon them.
He was not proud to say, but he did abscond and made it back home to see his family and the family of his cousins. Only to hear of their stories and the hardship left on their remaining family. No parent or community wants to see or hear of the horrible ventures their deceased sons encountered or the hardships left upon them.