Our Afro-American Cousins

Sometime back, with the help of our cousin Jennifer Niles, I ventured into the genealogical history of the deep, pre-emancipation, south. This has been an eye opening experience to this "good ol' northern white boy". I am finding that, not withstanding slavery on the economic level, real integration was taking place to a large degree on the personal level. The vast majority of black slaves merely adopted the surnames of their owners, but there was also a significant number that came by the surname a different way. In our family alone, ( and the Reas were very minor slave holders), I know of two examples where caucasian Reas had children by their black slaves. Back then the children were called Mulatto, a word no longer used in these "politically correct" times. These unions took two forms. One form is where a white man actually married a black woman. The other relationship was one in which the woman was classified as his "consort". It is not at all uncommon when visiting a cemetery in the deep south of that period to find a white man burried with his white wife on one side and his black consort on the other. Jennifer related to me a charming story that has been passed down in her line concerning Etta Rea. Her father Charles Edwin Rea apperantly doted on her. When Etta got married, her father gave her a milking cow as a wedding gift. I am also finding how record keeping as it pertained to blacks in the south both before & after the war is abysimal to say the least. I suspect that this was no accident. White cemeteries are well inventoried while most black cemeteries are barely known of. Usually way back in the woods in the middle of nowhere. I intend to keep researching this subject with the goal being to eventually welcome our own black descent cousins fully into the Rea family.

I'd Have Sworn It Was A Turkey

From "The Daily Madisonian" August 16th, 1851

DREADFUL CASUALTY.-0n the morning of the

8th inst., a man by the name of William Stafford

acidentalIy shot Mr. David Rea, In Shelby

township, Ripley county. The circumstances are

these: Mr.Rea, the day prevlous, had been into

the woods and killed three wild turkeys. When

he went home he related his good success to Mr.

S., and told him the vicinity in which he killed

them. The next morning about daylight they

both repaired to the place-neither knowing the

design of the other. Mr. Rea got upon the ground

first, concealed himself by the side of a log, and

commenced squaling, in imitation of the turkey,

by blowing through his fingers, or an instrument

made for that purpose. Mr. S. being a short dis-

rance off, heard him, and looking in the direction

of the noise, saw Mr. Rea's head rising above a

Log. Supposing it to be turkey, he took delibe-

rate aim and shot him in the head - the ball entered

the occipital region and lodging in the frontal, pro

duced instant death.

Mr- Rea was a most excellent citizen; loved and

respected by all who knew him, and has left a wife

and large family of children to lament his untimely

end.- Aurora Standard.

The Rea Family in the Civil War - Part 5

 

Samuel R. Rea (1847-1889)

 

 Samuel R Rea was the son of John Hardaway Rea. He was born the 11th of December, 1847 in Kemper County, Mississippi. He enlisted toward the end of the war in the 3rd Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry Reserves, Company "F". He served in the rank of Private until the end of the conflict. . Here are some interesting facts about the 3rd Mississippi.

 

The companies were originally organized as Minute Men in 1862, and re-enlisted for twelve months in 1863, under the call of Gen. J. E. Johnston, it being understood between the Governor and President Davis that the men should be exempt from conscription during their term of service. They were understood to be rationed and paid by the Confederate States but the pay was generally several months in arrears. It is first mentioned as Mississippi cavalry, three companies, Col. John McGuirk, with Gen. Chalmers, headquarters Panola, April, 1863. April 8, at Holly Springs ordered to take post near Chulahoma. April 29, detailed to defend Panola, time of Federal raid. May 30, assigned to brigade of Gen Z. George, State troops. Colonel McGuirk was commissioned June 9, 1863; other officers June 11.

The regiment served under General George in the operations attending the raid of Colonel Mizner, June 15-25, 1863, who set out from LaGrange, Tenn., with orders to break the railroad south of Panola, turn on Chalmers and sweep the country of horses, mules, Negroes and the new crop of wheat. Colonel McCulloch skirmished with Mizner after he had crossed the Tallahatchie at Wyatt, and, in view of the Federal strength, Gen. George retreated from Panola across to Yockeney, sending one company to protect the railroad bridge. The whole command moved to that point, but too late to prevent the destruction of the bridge. Colonel McGuirk with his regiment, then pursued the Federal column on its return to LaGrange, swimming the Tallahatchie at Belmont, overtaking Mizner at Tyro and pursuing eighty miles to Hudsonville, "where, on Sunday evening, he overtook and chastised him handsomely, killing and wounding several and capturing 27 prisoners with about the same number of horses and equipments, an extraordinary achievement," considering the arduous service of the command. George's headquarters were at Grenada, and Colonel McGuirk was in command of the brigade in July, 1863.

July 21, General George reported that a detachment from Col. McGuirk's Regiment had cut the railroad and taken 15 prisoners near Germantown. In July regiment was ordered to Vaiden for enlistment in Confederate service. General George reported, "I fear half of McGuirk's Regiment cannot be gotten to Vaiden." The enlistment was not made.

In the field during the Federal raid from the Big Black and LaGrange, Tenn., to Grenada, August, 1863, of which there are no reports. Regiment then in Chalmers' Cavalry command, 200 in number, Colonel McGuirk commanding, but scattered between Panola and Grenada, arresting deserters and conscripts. Chalmers could not collect a command sufficient to hold Grenada, which the raiders occupied August 20, breaking the railroad and burning the rolling stock. The regiment, with Chalmers' command, moved from Grenada to Abbeville September 12. Assigned to Slemon's Brigade October 18. "The battalion under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Barksdale" was in Chalmers' command, September, 1863.

This regiment, the Seventh Tennessee (Colonel Duckworth), A. H. Chalmers' Eighteenth Battalion, and one rifled gun of McLendon's Battery, in all about 850 men, constituted the immediate command of General Chalmers when he was collecting forces for the raid to Collierville, Tenn., in October, 1863. With this command Chalmers was about to move to Salem for a juncture with Richardson's Brigade, when a column of Illinois cavalry, under Colonel McCrillis, advanced from LaGrange, Tenn., against Holly Springs, whither Chalmers moved on the 5th. McCrillis, with 750 cavalry, heard on his approach that Chalmers was ahead of him, and began to recross the Coldwater, when Chalmers attacked at Lockhart's Mill, October 6. There was a brisk skirmish, in which the four howitzers posted by McCrillis on the north bank of the river, played an important part. Chalmers then moved to Salem and on the morning of the 8th set out for Collierville, leaving Hooves' Regiment to occupy Salem. Meanwhile McCrillis had returned from LaGrange to the vicinity of Salem with 1,250 cavalry and mounted infantry and six guns. He attacked Hooves and drove him from the town, and Chalmers, learning of this, at a distance of ten miles, returned rapidly and attacked McCrillis, who occupied a strong position on a long ridge, with his skirmishers through the town. Chalmers had been reinforced and had 1,200 in the battle, but only one piece of artillery, which was useless after the third fire. After three hours' hard fighting, said Chalmers, the enemy was driven from every position. "In this affair the Second Missouri Cavalry (Lieutenant-Colonel McCulloch), Third Regiment Mississippi State Cavalry (Colonel McGuirk), and the Eighteenth Mississippi Battalion (Major Chalmers) bore the brunt of the conflict, and although the last two were composed almost entirely of untried men, they behaved with a gallantry equal to that which has ever distinguished the veterans of the Second Missouri Cavalry." Colonel McGuirk, who moved from his camp at Wyatt, was the first to reinforce Hooves, and was ordered to take the two regiments and command the front attack, but Chalmers decided to also attack in front. The regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Barksdale, charged the Federal position at Hamer's house, drove the skirmish line from the village, and compelled the retreat of the artillery from a hill. Captain Hartin and Lieutenant Kennedy were wounded in the fight. Captains Logan, Farris, Griffin, Barksdale, McKie, Webb and Lieutenants Thornton and Towns gallantly commanded the companies. The casualties of McGuirk's Regiment was 1 killed, 22 wounded; of the rest of Chalmers' troops 5 wounded. General Sweeney, commanding LaGrange, reported that on October 8, "our cavalry, under Color McCrillis, with the mounted infantry and a section of Captain Tannrath’s Battery, under Colonel Phillips, were attacked by the enemy at Salem and driven back on the railroad with considerable loss." In the night following, Chalmers was reinforced by Richardson's Brigade, about 850 men. Colonel Hatch on the other side came up from LaGrange with 750 Union cavalry, and no artillery, expecting to join McCrillis and Phillips, but finding them gone, he sent for reinforcements from Davis’ Mills. Chalmers remained most of October 9 in line of battle at Hamar’s house, with his force of over 2 ,000 men and six guns, believing that Hatch had against him "nine regiments and nine pieces of artillery." He reported that "there was some slight skirmishing, but the enemy did. not make his appearance in force." Hatch received orders to fall back to LaGrange, which made it possible for Chalmers to carry out his plan of a raid on Collierville, while Hatch, with a force of 2,200, returned again to hunt for him at Salem and Holly Springs. Chalmers moved to Holly Springs on the 10th for food and ammunition, and approached Collierville early on the 11th. In the disposition for attack, Col, McGuirk, with his own regiment and First Mississippi Partisans, was sent to gain possession of the town and attack the fort from the rear. The movements on the left and right drove the garrison to the rifle pits and part of them into the fort, and possession was taken of the train of cars on which General Sherman was traveling with a battalion of regulars as an escort, but the movement on the rear was not so successful. General Chalmers ascribed this to Colonel McGuirk's delay at the cavalry camp northwest of town. In the attack upon the cavalry camp, 1st Lieutenant-Colonel Barksdale commanded the regiment, about 175 men. He reported that after the First Partisans were repulsed, his regiment advanced upon the camp, firing steadily, and drove the enemy to shelter in the woods and swamp, and that he never saw men, even in the Army of Northern Virginia, deport themselves with more gallantry. He gave special mention to the conduct of Maj. B. M. Kilgore, who fell wounded while leading a charge, and to Captains Logan, Barksdale, Griffin, Gwartney, and Lieutenants Towns and Thornton, company commanders, Lieutenant Turner, Company H, and Lieutenants Thornton and Tyler, Company K, collected the prisoners, 89 in number. Lieut. J. H. Alexander brought off 18 wagons with mule teams. Sergeant Grizelle color bearer, distinguished on this as on former fields for gallantry, fell with a severe wound as he was carrying the flag, with a captured flag in his other hand. Lieutenant White, Company D, carried the colors forward. The casualties of the regiment were 1 killed, 6 wounded. The attack on Collierville failed, and General Chalmers retreated. At the crossing of the Tallahatchie, near Wyatt, October 13, the Confederate command, under Col. R. V. Richardson, was attacked by Hatch. McGuirk recrossed the river with his two regiments, about 300 men, dismounted, and two guns of the Buckher Battery, and took position to check the pursuit. A body of Federals under the famous Captain Hodgman, Seventh Kansas Jayhawkers, occupied a log house, which Barksdale and his men charged in the face of a heavy artillery fire from two batteries. The house was taken and Hodgman wounded and captured. About dark the regiment was again in action with Hooves' Regiment, repelling twice the Federal attack. It came up with a charge and a yell, said McGuirk. About 9 o'clock the rear guard, volunteers from this regiment, crossed the river. The casualties were 1 killed, 6 wounded, 3 missing. Captain Logan, Acting Major; Captain Barksdale, Lieutenant Hurt (commanding Company G), were mentioned for gallantry. For their service in this expedition, including the engagements at Salem, Collierville and Wyatt, honorable mention was given to Lieut.-Col. James A. Barksdale, Major; B. M. Kilgore, Adjutant; (Captain) W. Joseph Walker, Sergeant-Major E. L. Richmond, Orderly C. C. Harris, Capt. H. E. Williamson, Quartermaster,; Lieut. P, M. Morgan, Commissary; W. F. Baker, Acting Commissary.

The regiment, under the command of Colonel Barksdale, participated with George's Regiment in the gallant cavalry charge at Collierville, Tenn., November 3, 1863, which was repulsed by the unexpected volleys from revolving rifles of the Second Iowa, at the railroad. The advance of this regiment was on the Quinn's Mill road, and the attack was gallantly made, as was testified to both by Chalmers and Hatch, the officers commanding on each side. On the retreat, after crossing the Coldwater near Quinn's Mill, the regiment joined in the stubborn resistance which prevented their pursuers from crossing until the next day. The casualties of this regiment were the heaviest in General Chalmers' command -- 1 killed, 3 officers and 19 men wounded,

November 30, the same two regiments, crossing the Coldwater at very high water, moved into Tennessee with Chalmers' expedition in support of S. D. Lee and Forrest, reaching Moscow December 4. Slemons' brigade burned the railroad trestle over Grisson's Creek, between Moscow and Lafayette.

Colonel Meek, Eleventh Illinois, reported that his command, which had gathered up horses and mules and burned grain and cotton and shops on the Holly Springs road by way of Chulahoma, passed through Holly Springs on the evening of the 21st, stopped to feed on the Hernando road two miles from Hudsonville, and left that road for the LaGrange road when one of his pickets was shot, leaving two companies to bring in the wounded man. Later he sent back Major Funke with one company, hearing that a fight was on. McGuirk had come in by a by-road, and cut off the three companies, which extricated themselves with difticulty, losing 1 killed, 2 wounded and 26 prisoners.

Regiment assigned to Slemons' Brigade in the organization of the cavalry under S. D. Lee, January, 1864.

February 2, 1864, McGuirk skirmished near LaGrange, Tenn. The regiment participated in General Forrest's defeat of Sooy Smith's expedition near Okolona, February 20-22,. 1864, and had 3 wounded (see Second Cavalry). At the outset of the famous raid of Forest and Chalmers through Tennessee in April, 1864, Colonel McGuirk with his regiment and the First Partisans made a demonstration from Holly Springs toward Memphis, which was so effective as to make practicable the capture of Fort Pillow April 12.

In criticising the enlistment in State regiments to avoid conscription in the Confederate service, General Chalmers wrote, January 6, 1864; "These State companies have done more harm than good. I do not include in this remark Colonel McGuirk's Regiment -- that has done good service -- but both he and his officers have long since been convinced that the regiment would be more effective if it were regularly in Confederate service."

Regiment ordered to report at Macon to the Governor for special and important service, March 3, 1864. Aggregate of regiment, 325. Governor Clark appointed April 30, 1864, as the day for State cavalry to assemble at Tupelo for transfer to the Confederate service. "As the regiment of Colonel McGuirk is one of those to be transferred, it is very desirable that they should be paid the amount due them for the time they were in Confederate service, some five or six months are due them, also pay for horses killed in battle." The Governor declared they were in as good a state of discipline and as effective as any troops, and he consented to their transfer to the Confederate service. The regiment was reorganized at Oxford in the latter part of April, 1864, and the Colonel commissioned April 25, 1864. May 1, 1864, the Gholson Brigade was turned over to the Confederate States, Colonel McGuirk commanding brigade. May 22, General Forrest ordered Brigadier-General Gholson to take command of his brigade. The brigade was attached for a time to Forrest's command, and then transferred to the command of Wirt Adams before Vicksburg, being ordered to Canton, May 26.

Gholson's Brigade was withdrawn from Adams by General Forrest before Slocum's raid to Jackson, July, 1864, but rejoined General Adams near Jackson, in time to participate in the attack upon Slocum's column about four miles west of Jackson on the evening of July 6, when McGuirk's Regiment charged and attempted to cut off the wagon train. Another attack was made in the morning of the 7th and a third, near Clinton, by Lowry's Regiment. McGuirk's Regiment, commanded by LieutenantColonel Barksdale, had 8 wounded, 1 missing. General Gholson was severely wounded and Colonel McGuirk took command of the brigade.

Later in July the brigade was transferred to Georgia and was temporarily assigned to Walthall’s Division on the Atlanta lines, July 25, and put with Reynold's Brigade. General Reynolds reported that McGuirk's command joined him just before he marched out to the battle on the Lickskillet road, July 28, and they marched out on the left of his line. Reynolds charged the Federal line, behind log works, and was repulsed after a bloody fight. He reported that Colonel McGuirk, under orders from some field officer, charged the works a second time, but was compelled to fall back with considerable loss. "The loss in General Gholson's Brigade, some 450 strong, was 144 killed, wounded and missing." The casualties of McGuirk's Regiment was 8 killed, including Major T. W. Webb and Lieut. S. H. White, commanding Company C. Captain E. L. Richmond was dangerously wounded, Captains Daniel and Orr wounded and missing. Total wounded 43, including Lieuts. James Miller, R. A. Butler, W. O. Cockram, W. H. Thornton and John Griffin.

In the battle of Jonesboro, Ga., August 31, Colonel McGuirk, of Gholson's Brigade, reported to General Granbury with his regiment, dismounted, and a battalion of engineer troops (Major Presstman), and aided in the rout of the enemy in their front. Granbury wrote: "Seeing them endeavoring to rally at a crossing opposite my left flank, I ordered Colonel McGuirk to advance his two battalions in double-quick time, which was executed by that officer promptly and gallantly, and in time for his command to deliver a few volleys before the enemy escaped beyond the river." Moving his whole brigade up to Flint River, Granbury dressed his line on the position of Colonel McGuirk. September 19, General Hood, at Palmetto, ordered Gholson's Cavalry Brigade, then at Opelika, up the west side of the Chattahoochee River, opposite Newnan. September 28, with Ross' Brigade, formed Ross' Division of Jackson's Cavalry. December 12, 1864, McGuirk's Regiment was en route through Montgomery to Mobile. December 16-17, it took part in the pursuit of the Federal expedition to Pollard. January 6, 1865, regiment had been ordered to Brandon. January 20, marching to concentrate with Mabry's Brigade at Canton. February, 1865, McGuirk's Regiment ordered to report to Gen. Wirt Adams.

Paroled under the capitulation of Lieut.-Gen. Richard Taylor made at Citronelle, May 4, 1865.





Rea Family in the Civil War - Part 4

 

William Nelson Rea (1844-1918)

 

 William Nelson Rea first enlisted in Company "F" of the 136th Illinois Infantry and was discharged (after 100 days), with the rank of Sergeant. He then re-enlisted in the newly formed Illinois 152nd Infantry and was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He served in that unit until the wars end. After the war he & his wife Mary located in Ukiah County, California. After his death in 1916, his widow Mary applied for his Service Pension.





Rea Family in the Civil War - Part 3

 

James McCrary Rea

 

James McCrary Rea enlisted Mar. 17th, 1862. He was assigned to Company "A" of the 65th Illinois Infantry. He served until the unit was decomissioned. Here is a brief history of the 65th Illinois.

 

This Regiment was also known as the Second Scotch Regiment or Cameron’s Highlanders and was organized at Camp Douglas by Colonel Daniel Cameron. Cameron was born in Scotland, an ardent Democrat and a close friend of Stephen Douglas. Many of the Regiment’s volunteers were of Scotch descent. The men of Company A were from Henderson, Ogle and Stark counties, Company B from Mercer and Rock Island counties, Company C from Marshall County, Company D was largely made up of men from Michigan, Company E from Boone and McDonough counties, Company F from Lake County, Company G and H from Cook County, Company I from the State at large and Company K from Cook and Winnebago counties. The Regiment was mustered in for three years service May 1, 1862 and ordered to Martinsburg, Virginia (now West Virginia. The Regiment remained there until September 1862 and saw action at Darkesville, Virginia on September 7. The Regiment moved to Harper’s Ferry on September 12 and were laid siege by Lee’s army September 12-15. The 8th New York and the 12th Illinois Cavalry escaped but 12,000 Union troops, including the Sixty-fifth Illinois Infantry surrendered. The Regiment was paroled the following day and sent to Chicago where it remained until April 1863 when it was exchanged. The remainder of 1863 the Regiment served in eastern Kentucky and Tennessee and fought in the defense of Knoxville in November. The Sixty-fifth re-enlisted as veterans and went home of furlough in March 1864. Upon return from furlough the Regiment joined Sherman’s Army in the Atlanta campaign. They subsequently fought at Kenesaw and Lost Mountains, Muddy Creek, Noyes Creek, Nickajack Creek, Chattahoochie River and the siege of Atlanta. In the flanking movement around Atlanta the Sixty-fifth fought at Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station then pursued Hood into north Georgia and north Alabama. The Regiment moved to Nashville by rail in November then from Nashville to Pulaski, Tennessee. The Sixty-fifth was attacked by Hood and driven back to Columbia, Tennessee were during the battle of November 25 and 26 they lost 3 officers and 50 men killed or wounded. On November 30 they again met Hood at Franklin, Tennessee where they defeated the rebel forces and captured the colors of the Fifteenth Mississippi Infantry. Hood’s army fell back to Nashville and December 15 and 16 the Sixty-fifth fought in the battle of Nashville and pursued the retreating rebels to Clifton, Tennessee. On January 15, 1865 the Regiment was sent to Fort Fisher, North Carolina. After engagements at Cape Fear and Fort Anderson they captured Wilmington, North Carolina on February 22. They moved to occupy Goldsboro, North Carolina and Raleigh in March and April. Following the surrender of Johnston’s army the non-veterans were ordered home for muster out. The veterans marched to Goldsboro, North Carolina where they remained until muster out. May 1 four new companies of recruits joined the Sixty-fifth and in June officers and men were assigned from the Ninety-second, One Hundred Twelfth and One Hundred Seventh Illinois Infantry. July 13, 1865 the Regiment was mustered out and sent home 



Rea Famly in the Civil War - Part 2

 

Matthew Newton Rea - 1840-1861

 



Enlisted as a Sergeant on 19 August 1861.
Enlisted in Company G, 25th Infantry Regiment Indiana on 19 Aug 1861.
Killed Company G, 25th Infantry Regiment Indiana on 16 Dec 1861 at Blackwater, MO.

Here is a recap of the Skirmish at Blackwater Creek, courtesy of Wikipedia.'

 

Following the Siege of Lexington, Missouri the secessionist Missouri State Guard withdrew to the southwest portion of Missouri. Some Southern recruiters such as Colonel Franklin S. Robertson remained, attempting to fill their regiments. Robertson, a store owner in Saline County, Missouri born in Kentucky had been granted his commission by Major General Sterling Price at Lexington.
Meanwhile, Union Brigadier General John Pope, in command of the District of Central Missouri, was determined to suppress Southern recruiting in the region. He headed Southwest from Sedalia before turning the main body north toward Warrensburg.
Robertson collected his recruits at Grand Pass where they elected officers. On December 16, 1861 the 750 men began their March south. The plan was to first link up with Colonel J.J. Clarkson’s recruits near Warrensburg, Missouri before proceeding south to General Price. They were unable to merge with Clarkson but they were joined by Colonel Ebenezer Magoffin, who was on parole after being captured while attempting to recruit his own regiment. Magoffin is notable as the brother of Kentucky Governor Beriah Magoffin.
General Pope learned on the evening of December 18 that Robertson’s force would be camped at Milford.
Early the next morning Pope’s force marched toward Knob Noster, Missouri. Pope ordered Colonel Jefferson C. Davis’s brigade to the Blackwater bridge where he was to force the bridge. Simultaneously a battalion of the 2nd Missouri Cavalry (“Merrill’s Horse”) moved northeast to complete the envelopment.
Realizing his guardsmen were in a precarious position, Robertson formed a firing line of approximately 250 men while Colonel Magoffin was detailed with several dozen men to take possession of the bridge before the Federals arrived.
It was insufficient. Colonel Davis ordered three companies of the 4th United States Cavalry forward under Lieutenant Charles Copley Amory, with the 1st Iowa Cavalry in support. Amory dismounted his men and gave two volleys to the bridge’s defenders causing them to waver. Amory ordered a charge and the defenders fled. The now mounted force pursued, encountering some casualties at they made contact with the second line. They held their positions as the infantry came up and the envelopment was completed. Robertson's men recognized their predicament and requested a brief truce before surrendering
Federal casualties were exceedingly light, two killed and eight wounded. General Pope claimed the capture of “1,300 men…three colonels (Robinson, Alexander, and Magoffin)…one lieutenant-colonel (Robinson), one major (Harris), and 51 commissioned company officers” and “About 500 horses and mules, 73 wagons heavily loaded with powder, lead, tents, subsistence stores, and supplies of various kinds…also 1,000 stand of arms.”^[3] However, this appears to be overstated as records indicate “684 guardsmen and several civilians” eventually reached prison.^[

The Rea Family in the Civil War - Part 1

 

Claiborne Samuel Rea

 

Rea, Cleeborn S., Confederate Infantry, 20th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry

20th Infantry Regiment was organized during May and June, 1861, at Camp Trousdale, Tennessee, and in
July contained 880 men. Its companies were raised in the counties of Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford,
Sumner, Perry, Wayne, Humphreys, Hickman, Smith, Macon, and Wilson. It moved to Virginia, then
Cumberland Gap, and later saw action at Fishing Creek, Shiloh, and Baton Rouge. After serving in the
Vicksburg area, it was assigned to General Preston's, Bate's, Tyler's, and Palmer's Brigade, Army of
Tennessee.

The 20th fought with the army from Murfreesboro to Atlanta, returned to Tennessee with Hood, and was
involved in the North Carolina Campaign. It had 505 effectives in September, 1861, suffered 110
casualties at Fishing Creek, and of the 400 engaged at Shiloh, forty-seven percent were disabled.

The unit lost forty-eight percent of the 183 at Chickamauga, had few casualties at Missionary Ridge,
and in December 1863, totalled 203 men and 123 arms. Only a handful surrendered on April 26, 1865.
The field officers were Colonels Joel A. Battle, William M. Shy, and Thomas B. Smith; Lieutenant
Colonels Mosco B. Carter, John S. Gooch, and Frank M. Lavender; and Majors Frederick Claybrooke,
Patrick Duffy, John F. Guthrie, and Hency C. Lucas.
____




Bringing Justice to the American frontier - David Rea

David Rea was the great grand nephew of Robert Right Rea.

 

 

From the History of Andrew County, Missouri

 

 

 

What Killed Us? - Some Early Causes of Rea Deaths

 

Here's a listing of some early killers, culled from Jefferson Co. death records. See how many of these causes you recognize?  All the causes were attested to by a Physician.

 

 

NAME	DATE OF DEATH	AGE AT DEATH	CAUSE OF DEATH
George H Rea	1883	42	Valvulas disease of Heart
William F Rea	1887	30	Exaustion following irritation of  dyspepsia
Emily Rea	1889	2	Scarlatisia
Samuel Rea	1893	73	Cerebrial Spinal Menigitis
Christina Rea	1899	31	Ramollisserment of the Brain
Emma Rea	1899	48	Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Joseph Rea	1901	87	Senility
Robert R Rea	1901	65	Cardiac Asthma
Mrs. Lena Rea	1902	87	Inflamation of Stomach
Margaret Rea	1903	18	Abscesis of Lung



The Rea Family Hero & Mystery Woman - "Emily Harper Rea"

Emily Harper Rea was born in 1911 to Robert Right & Laura Rea. She was the grand-daughter of  William Franklin Rea & Elizabeth Harper. She was a graduate of Hanover College in Jefferson Co., Indiana. To support the war effort she volunteered with the American Red Cross and served in France. Here follows the mystery of Emily Harper Rea.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was a B17 pilot with the 306th Bomb group at Thurleigh, a few miles north-east of Bedford. On December 14th 1944, a buddy Doug Schrack and myself checked in to the American Red Cross Officers Club in Bedford. That night we were having a few drinks in the dining room and sitting a few tables away was Glenn Miller and his aide. I told my buddy I was going to ask him for his autograph. He laughed and said "your nuts. A lieutenant asking a Major for his autograph?". He talked me out of it.

Now over 50 years later I find ex-Lancaster pilot Ron Brown's web page in which he mentioned an episode in Venice, Florida at Christmas time. He was waiting in line at the post office when at the front of the line an American [friend] called out "this is the Englishman that killed Glenn Miller!".
Ron declared how much he would like to be rid of this stigma.
THE BROADCASTS
The History Channel and public PBS channel have recently presented videos supposedly describing the events leading to Glenn Millers disappearence. Here are Fred Shaw's observations word for word from both videos.
History Channel
" I estimated his height at about 1500 ft. He was way below us. I looked down at him, I recognized him as a 'sort' of norseman because of his high wing configuration, his parallel wing chord and a ludicrous small tail plate and also a parallel chord. I watched him and he was going south towards our tail.
Anyway I watched the aircraft down below us and just before he got to our leading edge of our wing he vanished from sight. I saw him flip over to port he looked like he was going into a spin, he dived in and splash, then he disappeared under the wing."
The Public PBS
" I saw a film of Glenn Millers story and I remember the way the film ended, unfortunately I seem to know what happened to Glenn Miller. I saw an aircraft and as I was watching I see him do a stall turn to port and go straight into the drink there was a white splash and that was it.
I joined the RAF in 1941 as a pilot or navigator, apparently they thought I would make a better navigator than pilot so off I went to be trained as a navigator No.1 Central Navigation School in Manitoba Canada. On the 15th of Dec. we were briefed to attack the town of Siegen in Germany. It was our first operational flight. We got about as far as south of Brussels when we recieved a message to the effect we were to return and jettison our bombs in the English channel. I never seen bombs exploding from a plane before. I put my head in a little observation blister where I could look vertically down, there sure enough 4000lb cookies were exploding and I could see the blast waves were radiating outward. As I was watching the bomb aimer said "there is a kite down there", and I looked down and saw a small tiny high wing monoplane which I immediately recognized as a Noorduyn Norseman which I recognized because I trained in Canada and became familiar with the Noorduyn Norseman."

Derek Thurman reported no bomb explosions in his claim. He was a flight engineer on the same crew.
Why did Shaw in the THC say the small plane was a "sort of a Norseman" while in the PBA he immediately identified it as a Noorduyn Norseman? Why were there no reports of bomb explosions in the 'The History Channel' video?
Were there any explosions at all it would certainly have been against regulations. A bomb would have detonated on water impact and a monstrous bomb that size would have obliterated every thing.
I've subsequently read that a Mr Thurman (flight Engineer) sold his log book for 880 dollars. It's seemed ludicrous that Fred Shaw (Navigator), years later after seeing a Glen Miller movie remembers bombs striking the plane. At the time it was broadcast all over England. He was just as popular with the British as with Americans. Think about it, with a combined speed of close to 300 mph, very low visibility, small plane, he's seen it flip over? It would have disintegrated. I think the idea of jettisoned bombs being responsible is crazy. I read the Ministry Of Defence report and neither the RAF nor Millers flight path was known.
A direct course to Paris would be over London and seems unlikely. With V1 and 2s plus barrage balloons London was a dangerous course. If I'd been the pilot I would headed for Dover and stayed well west of Calais as it was still in German hands. It was the shortest distance over water with flying conditions at that time. On one occasion I got too close to Calais and drew flak.
TIMING
Roy Nesbit Brit air historian stated by calculating local time which was daylight saving time, every thing would fit for Millers plane to be in the area at the precise time of bomb jettison. Roy failed to discover that we were on double daylight saving time. Check with any USAAF Group navigators or with Roger Freeman renown Brit air historian who authored several 8th USAAF documentaries. He missed no details. He will verify. That hour will put everyone at least 250 to 300 miles apart because the 8TH AAF flew formation from grouping to target and back to base we needed that extra hour of daylight. Ron Brown was puzzled by the statement that he landed before the Lancaster's took off. The correct statement was the Lancs landed before the Norseman took off.
ROUTE
Roy mentioned that the safe route over the channel would be the SHAEF shuttle. In the PBS Video a private pilot Sratton Richey demonstrated that by flying that route with an inaccurate magnetic compass you could drift over into to the drop zone. The fact of the matter was that the Norseman had a very accurate gyro compass and almost as many blind flying instruments as the B17. Julie Hicks grandaughter of Robert Noorduyn designer and producer of the Noourduyn Norseman got the information from her grandfather. I sent to Pete King Dec 15th mission report of 306 BG 423 Sqd to Kassel Germ. On that mission several B17's had to land at other fields because of bad weather. Tragically two B17's collided because of these conditions and 16 lives were lost.
BOMBING
Ron Brown contacted a former Armament Officer concerning jettison. He stated the regulation was to drop armed on enemy territory and safe on allied territory. Did someone break regulations? It would be unforgiving not to report a plane going down. Knowing it was a Canadian plane it would more than likely be RAF or RCAF crew, regardless it would have provided closure for next of kin. Roy stated it wasn't necessary to report the missing plane as it was over and done with no hope for the crew, and yet as an historian he relies on these very reports for historical conclusions.
Referring to Shaws map, on which is marked the 'aborted' point, it would have meant 136 lancs did a 180 degree turn to proceed to the busy English channel and jettison their bomb load within a few miles of a VIP shuttle route. It surely would have been insane to have a drop area there.
Ron Brown said the mission he flew to Siegen was with the 75 New Zealand Sqdn based at RAF Mepal close to Cambridge. He said they dropped bombs as ordered in the North Sea which was the pre designated area. He said on that occasion they were in 9/10th cloud cover and just able to see their wing tips. All RAF personelle contacted including ROAF pilot Ken Blyth knew of no drop area in the channel, only in the North Sea.

CONCLUSIONS

It's most regrettable that now when Millers death is mentioned the RAF get the blame, instead of their heroic service. So many of them made the ultimate sacrifice.
There are so many intangibles to Millers flight being hit by jettisoned bombs it boggles the mind to think you could draw any conclusions. After being involved in the Miller controversy for a few years, I can't help but be sceptical of some of these so called recorded events.
The Glenn Miller saga will forever be a mystery.

The Emily Harper Rea StoryThe picture below has been used on the page 'The Glenn Miller Mystery' to show the American Red Cross Officers Club in Bedford (see page). Howard Roth had written the piece several years ago and kindly sent the picture to add to his writing at the time. To my knowledge it is one of the few photographs remaining of the Club.
However, in November 2008 I was contacted by mail with a question as to the identity of the woman in the picture. In the subsequent correspondence with David Fiddimore he was to reveal that this could be one of the few photographs of Emily Harper Rea. She had been posted to the Officers Club in 1944 where she was Senior Staff Assistant and as Howard Roth had written in his accompanying article it was also here that Miller had been seen on the very night before his final flight from Twinwood.
Emily had been chosen to present Captain Glenn Miller with his Majors oak leaves when he was promoted from Captain to Major. In turn he gave her his Captain's bars as a keepsake. Indeed this special relationship that Major Glenn Miller had with Emily was to turn out to be most poignant when her young life was to end as abruptly and equally tragically as his own when she was killed in a B17 air crash on the Isle of Man in April 1945. All they found to identify Emily was her hipbone and her purse, which still contained Glenn's Captains bars - all were buried at Madingley in Cambridge.
webmaster

War time Airfield Layout
Airfield layout in 2000
Airfield under RAF (pre-1944)

The Last Flight
The Glenn Miller Mystery
The Emily Rea Story

Milton Ernest Hall
WACS at Milton Ernest Hall

Correspondence
Comment

The following extract is by kind permission
the 'After word' of David Fiddimore's book 'Tuesday's War'Emily Harper Rea was born in Madison, Indiana on 25 October 1911, and educated at Madison High School, and Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana. There are traces of her still in the school year books of the period. Her first job was in a bank, but she went on to become the PA to two state governors in turn. She joined the American Red Cross as a Staff Assistant in January 1943, and worked in the USAAF Officers’ Club in Bedford as a Senior Staff Assistant in 1944. She got a posting to Paris, where she was Programme Director at the American Red Cross Grand Central Club in Paris from late 1944 through to 1945.
I might have misplaced her in the Bedford club in September and October of 1944; who knows, perhaps she was revisiting old haunts? Unmarried at 33 – a little unusual in the 1940s – she seems to have made an immediate positive impact on all who met her. One old USAAF man from Thurleigh remembers her as " mother, kid sister and girlfriend " all rolled into one, and " one of the very best ".
She was killed as a passenger on Combined Operations, a B 17 that crashed on the Isle of Man on 14 April 1945 in thick weather, just 19 days before the end of the war in Europe. The war weary but serviceable bomber was on a flight between Thurleigh and Langford Lodge in Ireland. Langford Lodge was a recognised R & R destination for the US forces, and it is probable that most of the five crew and six passengers were on the flight for a few days escape from the war. The reason for Emily’s presence on the flight is maybe a little less certain: two other theories have been put to me but neither has been easily verifiable. The least plausible makes the best story. Emily left Paris on leave a few days before the announcement of the death of President Roosevelt. She spent a few days in London with friends, before moving up to Bedford and Thurleigh to be among the folk she knew best. A story goes that she was on the flight to Langford Lodge to catch an onward trans-Atlantic connection to Washington for a memorial service to the dead president; one of the few Americans brought home from Europe for it, because of her acquaintanceship with the President from her days as PA to politicians. Several of the dead from Combined Operations were buried at Madingley, and moving contemporary photographs show hundreds of distressed service and civilian mourners, most of whom were there for Emily: her coffin is a small mountain of flowers. Among the personal letters of condolence received by Emily’s parents was one from one Mrs Michael Bowes-Lyons, an aunt of the present Queen. The written and oral memoirs of those servicemen who met her are shot through with affection: it is almost as if it was impossible for someone to know her, and not fall a little in love with her.




The Murder of "Uncle Right"

Dateline Madison Indiana, 11 May 1869

 

 

Finding the Body of R.R. Rea-A Foul Murder has been Commited.

 

    The body found at Mann's Landing, below Hanover, yesterday, proved to be that of R.R. Rea. It was identified by several persons beyond a peradventure. Mr. Rea disappeared on the 8th of March last, over two months ago, and notwithstanding all the efforts made at the time, no clue could be found to his disappearance until yesterday. It was suspected at the time that he had benn foulu dealt with, but everybody was loth to believe that any one could bear malice against "Uncle Right" sufficient to imbrue his hands with murder: but the marks on the old man's head prove the suspicions to have been only too true.

The skull on both sides of his head was found to be broken in with some instrument like the leaden ball on the head of a raitan cane. But most likely the murderous instrument used by the perpatrator wa a slungshot. When found, every particle of clothing was off the body with the exception of one sock.

The body was very natural and not discolored in the least, showing that it could not long have been exposed to air, and no other part of the body showed signs of violence. How his clothing got off his body is an unexplained mystery, unless they were taken off by the miscreant who commited the murder to prevent identification of the body in case it was ever caught, and thereby conceal the murderer.

The last seen of "Uncle Right" was about 9 o'clock on Monday night, March 8th, in company with an entire stranger, to all who seen them pass out of the house, with whom he had been talking about going up to Switzerland county to buy hogs.

We cannot but think that he was murdered for the money he was supposed to posses, as no one who knew him could have been so hard hearted as to send his own soul to pardition, by murdering him for any petty or imaginary wrong.

His body was decently incased in a coffin and brought up to the city yesterday evening, and deposited in the vault at Springdale Cemerary to await the arrival of his son R.R. Rea Jr., who is on board the steamer Richmond; and has been telegraphed for.



Presbyterian to Baptist - An interesting switch.

 

The Rea clan, being of Scottish descent have historically been devout Presbyterians, so when I received this material from cousin Phyllis, I was startled, especially since my own grandfather was one of the prime movers.

From the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church (a Regular Baptist Church) on Hall's Ridge Road, Madison, IN:

Killis A. R. Lee and wife donated the ground for the church Oct. 7, 1897.  The Trustees elected were George Rea, Pres., J.P., Lee, Secretary, Robert D. Jackson, Treasurer. 

The Reas-----"Those who worked to build the church, that are in J. P. Lee's Secretary book:  George. W. Rea, Smith Rea, Ed Rea, Marion Rea, Williard Rea, Simpson Rea, and Harvey Rea."

Trustees- Oct. 9, 1887 Geo. Rea, J. P. Lee, R.D. Jackson, Jr., Clark Brown, Levi Rogers, James Stewart, Ebenezer Abe Rodgers.  The Trustees of Mt. pleasant church met all present except Clark Brown organized by electing Geor. Rea president.   

Oct. 18, 1897 commenced building church. 

Oct. 25, 1897 Trustees met to hear report all present from "Begging" committe.  (They were seeking money for their new church).  Recv:  Geo. W. Rea $6.80, Marion Rea $1.75, Smith Rea, $46.00, 

Andrew Rea

Today I just established contact with descendants of Andrew Rea, brother of Robert Rea. More to follow.

From the Buncombe Co. Clan.regarding Robert Rea

I just received this from our cousin Rod Mann there in North Carolina. He has spent vast years researching the Rea clan. I posed him a question regarding the "Wright" "Right" and "Rite" middle name fetish here in our Indiana line. Here's the reply.

Robert was apprenticed to a wagon maker or "wheelwright" named James Harris at age 12. This is most likely the same Captain James Harris whose company Robert joined at first in the Revolutionary War. Robert named his first son, James Harris, so there was obviously a lot of respect there.

In Robert's birth time period,  children were not generally given middle names. That did not start happening until about the 1790's. We have no record of Robert being given the middle name of Right. Lee Rea, feels strongly that if middle names cannot be supported by documents or records, they should not be added by descendents. By naming a son, Robert Right, Robert was probably not trying to give himself a middle name, but again was honoring James Harris. That is just my feeling on it.

My Grandpa - Willard Rea

When I think back to the days in the mid 50's when grandpa Rea lived with us for a time I remember certain things.

1. Grandpa Rea always called my mother Della - "Dellie".
2. He was thin and lank with beautiful snow white hair.
3. He usually had oat meal for breakfast, & had the ability to dribble about half of what he intended to eat all over the  table & floor.
4. On rare occasions he made mom prepare scrambled eggs w/ fried brains. Watching him eat that usually made me want to barf.
5. Grandpa loved to fish and I remember at least one time while we were visiting him in Madison, Indiana that he took me down to the river to fish for Drum.
6. He would sit in a chair for hours quietly while thumping his hand down on the armrest.
 My grandpa Rea was a great guy and I miss him, I only wish I had been old enough to appreciate him more then as the treasure that he was.

All In The Family - Murder

I just came upon this short citaion. The J.W. Rea is actually James Wright Rea. I have asked a member of the N.C. clan if they can identify the Capt. James Rea from PA>

From The Madison Courier, Jefferson Co., IN
8 Oct 1868
Capt. James S. Rea died from pistol shot fired by J. W. Rea; buried in Springdale; no relatives here; parents in Pa.; he married a Covell; was cavalryman in Union army, 39th In. Reg. (Co. H 8th Cavalry 39th Infantry) J.W. Rea born in Madison.
I will follow up and keep you posted as the story unfolds.

Robert Rea speaks again.

This appeared in an article in the Madison,Indiana Courier. It was a theatrical performance with an actor playing the part of Sheriff Robert Rea.

Robert Right Rea didn't start getting his side of the story out until 150 years after he was the sheriff of Jefferson County. As sheriff, he chased down and captured runaway slaves much like he also caught loose cattle or horses when the need arose.

"You're expected to uphold all laws whether you agreed with them or not," Rea said Saturday at one of the Black History Month celebrations, which include re-enactments. He clearly agreed with the anti-slave laws.

He was introduced by events organizer Sue Livers, who slyly told the audience of 15 that she was so sorry that the scheduled speaker, Dennis Jorgensen, was unable to attend, so Sheriff Rea would speak instead.

Rea gave a different perspective than is usually heard about what he said was the attitude of the majority of residents of pre-Civil War Madison, which was across the river from a slave state but was in a state where slave ownership was illegal.

Rea's family moved to Madison when he was 16 in 1816 from North Carolina. His family wasn't in the class that owned slaves, he said. Many residents of Madison also had moved from the South, but they also weren't necessarily anti-slavery, Rea said.

"What we were was anti-Negro because where we came from, the Negro was taking our jobs," Rea said, saying it was cheaper to buy slaves than to hire local people.

And in Rea's view, there wasn't anything wrong with his sometimes getting paid a bounty for catching slaves and returning them to their owners. If his deputies caught slaves, he shared the bounty, he related with pride.

The Constitution even required the return to rightful owners any people - the word slave wasn't used - "held to service or labor" in one state who escaped to another.

Only a very small minority of Jefferson County residents was anti-slavery, and the abolition movement was not the highest priority, Rea said.

The temperance movement was much bigger, he said.

"We're more concerned in Indiana about drinking than we are slavery," he said.

Emancipation also was a bigger issue than abolition, he said.

"Can you imagine what would ever happen if a woman ever got the right to vote?" he said.

Rea gave a history lesson about the politics of the time and justified his actions, telling about the Fugitive Slave Law and an Indiana law that made it illegal for blacks to move into the state. Those already here when the law was passed could stay, but newcomers were breaking the law.

Keeping up with who belonged and who didn't was why he owned a livery stable on Walnut Street in the Georgetown section of Madison, Rea said. Georgetown today is a historic district, with a marker at Fifth and Jefferson streets. Rea spoke Saturday in Georgetown at the A.M.E. Church building on Fifth Street, which is owned by Historic Madison Inc.

Rea said that despite news accounts at the time and the history that was written about Madison of his day, he was not universally hated.

"I was criticized by a few, but I've also been applauded by many," Rea said.

Rea answered questions from the audience, and this is a time when people like to try to trip-up re-enactors. Goaded by Livers, HMI executive director John Staicer asked Rea his wife's name.

There was a blank look on his face, but he quickly recovered and said, "For her protection ...," but didn't get to finish saying that he wouldn't divulge her name because the audience was laughing so much.

John Hutchinson, who was in the audience, asked Rea if he recalled anything about Underwood Cemetery, which is on the hilltop behind the garbage the transfer station. Rea said no, not really.

Hutchinson is descended from Rea's sister. Underwood is where several of Hutchinson's ancestors and their families are buried - including Sheriff Rea.

Livers is never far removed from the character she portrays, Patsy Ann Harris, a real person who was the wife of Rev. Chapman Harris, another real person who was a black pastor and a blacksmith, and was a conductor on the Underground Railroad.

After Rea had left the A.M.E. Church building with Jorgensen's wife, Ginger, Livers was in full Patsy Ann Harris mode as she talked to Staicer and a reporter, furious about the things Rea had said but saying she was trying to understand his point of view

Well, here is the Rea Family blog site I promised. I hope some of you will start visiting and posting births, marraiges, death and particulary neat Rea family stories & history items. I will shortly try to start using it for the Rea Newsletter.