Fighting in the Civil War

"There is a terrible war coming,
 and these young men who have never seen war cannot wait for it to happen,
 but I tell you, I wish that I owned every slave in the South,
 for I would free them all to avoid this war." - Robert E. Lee

This page is being prepared as a memorial page for all the many boys and men of the Folsom family who served on both sides in the Civil War.  Many of them did not even know one another; the Folsoms were well entrenched in southern states by 1860, and were actually greater in number than in the New England states and the Choctaw Nation.  Here are some letters, stories, records and testaments from and about those of our ancestors who served so honorably on both sides of this great and terrible conflict:

Folsom Family Association

Confederate Soldiers

Many thanks to Cousin Kay Lehman of Valdosta, GA for contributing this material.

Folsom Family Association

Union Soldiers

 

Name	Unit	Rank
Folsom, Albert	Co. C, Inf. 4th Regt. (killed at Battle of the Wilderness)	Unknown
Folsom, Asa	Co. B, 2nd Regt. NH Vol. Inf..	Private
Folsom, Benjamin F.	Co. F, 14th Regt. Inf./1st DC Cav (died York, PA)	Unknown
Folsom, Charles E.	Co. F, Mass. Inf.	Sergeant
Folsom, Charles H.	Co. A, 1st Regt. NH Vol. Cavalry	Unknown
Folsom, Charles W.	US Navy served on USS "Vandalia", "San Jacinto"	Unknown
Folsom, Daniel	Unknown	Unknown
Folsom, Dennet A.	3rd Regt. ME, Lt Artillery; Co. M, 1st Regt ME Heavy Artillery	Private
Folsom, Dexter J.	12th Regt NH Vol. Inf.	Sergeant
Folsom, Edward H.	Co. F&G, 2nd Regt., US Vol. Sharpshooters	Unknown
Folsom, Edward H.	Capt. Joshua Chapman's Co. NH Militia	Unknown
Folsom, Ezra F.	2nd Battery, Mass. Lt Artillery	Unknown
Folsom, George P.	U.S. Vol	Major/Paymaster
Folsom, Horace F.	Co. H, 11 Regt. NH Vol. Inf.	Unknown
Folsom, Horatio Nelson Jr.	Died at Vicksburg MS	Unknown
Folsom, Horatio Q.	20th IL INfantry (badly wounded in battle of Shiloh	Unknown
Folsom, Isaac	Co. D, 9th ME, Regt.	Corporal
Fulsom, Jackson H.	Co. B, 42nd Inf. Mass Vol Militia	Unknown
Folsom, Jacob Gale	Unknown	Unknown
Folsom, James D.	17th Regt. NH Vol. Inf.	Surgeon
Folsom, James W.	Co. E, 13th Regt. NH Vol. Inf.	Unknown
Folsom, John	Co. D, 6th Regt. NH Vol Inf.	Unknown
Folsom, John A.	US Navy served on USS "Ohio", "Bainbridge", "Niagara" and "R.R.Cuyler"	Unknown
Folsom, John D.	Co. B, 11th Regt. NH Vol. Inf.	Unknown
Folsom, John W.	Co. K, 1st Regt. NH Vol. Heavy Artillery	Unknown
Folsom, Leighton Joseph	Co. F, 20th Regt. Inf.	2nd Lieut.
Folsom, Nathan B.	20th Regiment, Illinois Infantry	Unknown
Folsom, Nathaniel Jr.	Co. G, 12th Regt. NH Vol. Inf.	Unknown
Folsom, Nathaniel W.	Co. I, 13th Regt. NH Vol. Inf.	Unknown
Folsom, Peaslett H.	Co. F, 2nd Regt. NH Vol Inf	Unknown
Folsom, Simon Pease	MN Inf Vol.	Unkown
Folsom, Stephen P.	Co. E, 14th Regt. NH Vol. Inf.	Unknown
Folsom, Stephen S.	vessel Henry Bunker	Unknown
Folsom, Thomas T.	Co. E, 5th Regt NH Vol Inf	Unknown
Folsom, William H.	Co. K, 8th Regt. Inf.	Corporal

 Many thanks to Cousin Peter Smith of Exeter, NH for contributing most of this material. And many thanks to Harry Folsom for managing the Folsom Family Association web site so well!


 

Report of Brig. Gen. E. L. Thomas,. C. S. Army, Commanding Brigade.
APRIL 27-MAY 6, 1863.--The Chancellorville Campaign.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXV/1 [S# 39]

HEADQUARTERS THOMAS' BRIGADE, May 19, 1863.

Capt. R. H. FINNEY,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

At an early hour on Sunday morning, the brigade was ordered to advance and attack the enemy. We advanced at once, driving a very heavy force of skirmishers before us. After proceeding about 250 yards, we found the enemy in strong force in our front, behind breastworks. The brigade charged with promptness and energy, and at the first charge drove the enemy, utterly routed, from their intrenched position. Advancing still farther, we found a second line of the enemy, which we at once drove from its position. This brigade and one regiment from the brigade on our right (General Pender's) continuing to advance, driving the enemy before us, met another line of the enemy. After a sharp conflict, this line was repulsed.
       
At this point, finding that there were no troops on my left and none in supporting distance on my right or rear, and the enemy were advancing in very heavy force on my left flank, and making demonstrations on my right, I ordered the brigade to move back, and took position near the line of the enemy's breastworks, where we remained until the whole line advanced. When the enemy had been driven back at every point, the brigade, according to orders, rejoined the rest of the division.
      
I take pleasure in reporting that Col. R. W. Folsom, Fourteenth Georgia; Lieut. Col. W. L. Grice, Forty-fifth Georgia; Maj. S. T. Player, Forty-ninth Georgia, and Capt. John Duke, Thirty-fifth Georgia, commanded their respective regiments with marked success. All the officers and men of my command who were present acted with the utmost coolness and the most daring courage before the enemy.
       
I have to regret the loss of several valuable officers. Captain [Robert P.] Harman, Fourteenth Georgia, and Captain [W. H.] Shaw, Forty-fifth Georgia, were killed, and Lieutenant-Colonel [James M.] Fielder, Captain [T. T.] Mounger, and Lieutenant [H. A.] Solomon fell, mortally wounded, within a few yards of the enemy's-breastworks, gallantly leading their men to the charge.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,
EDW'D L. THOMAS,
Brigadier-General.

14th Georgia Volunteer Infantry
Muster Roll of Company B, Ramah Guards
(Wilkinson County, GA)

OFFICERS AND NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS:

Folsom, Robert W.

Captain July 9, 1861. 
Elected Major August 1, 1861;
Lieutenant Colonel Sept 1, 1861;
Colonel October 23, 1862. 
Wounded at Wilderness, VA May 6, 1864.
Died of wounds in Richmond, VA May 24, 1864.
Buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA.

FIRST REGIMENT: Choctaw Cavalry (also called: First Choctaw War Regiment; formed from Battice's Battalion).

• First Colonel: Simpson N. Folsom
• F. Battice, Lt. Colonel

FIRST REGIMENT: Choctaw Cavalry (formed from First Choctaw Battalion)

• First Colonel: Sampson Folsom
• David R. Hawkins, Lt. Colonel

THIRD REGIMENT: Choctaw Cavalry

• First Colonel: Jackson McCurtain
• Tom Lewis, Lt. Colonel
• John Page, Major

FIRST REGIMENT: Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles

• First Colonel: Douglas H. Cooper
• James Riley, Lt. Colonel
• Willis J. Jones, Major
• Mitchell LeFlore, Major
• Sampson Loering, Major
• Tandy Walker, Lt. Colonel, transfered to Second Regiment Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles.

SECOND REGIMENT: Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles

First Colonel: Tandy Walker.

FIRST REGIMENT: Creek Cavalry

• First Colonel: Daniel N. McIntosh
• William R. McIntosh, Lt. Colonel
• Samuel Chekote, Lt. Colonel
• Jacob Derrysaw, Major
• James McHenry, Major

SECOND REGIMENT:Creek Cavalry

• First Colonel: Chilly McIntosh
• Pink Hawkins, Lt. Colonel
• Timothy Barnett, Major (later Colonel)

Brig. General Stand Watie's Indian Cavalry Brigade:

• First Cherokee Cavalry
• Second Cherokee Cavalry
• Creek Squadron
• Osage Battalion
• Seminole Battalion.

Colonel (later General) Douglas H. Cooper , the former Choctaw Indian agent from Mississippi, had assembled a formidable Indian force of 1,400 mounted men in the fall of 1861.

• Six companies of Cooper's Choctaw and Chickasaw Regiment.
• Colonel Daniel McIntosh's Creek Regiment
• Lieutenant Chilly McIntosh's and Major John Jumper's mixed Battalion of Creeks and Seminoles.
• The 9th Texas Cavalry.
• General McCulloch's 4th Texas.

Brigadier General Stand Watie

Stand Watie was born 12 Dec 1806 at the Cherokee town of Oothcaloga, near present day Rome, Georgia. His Indian name was Degadoga, He Stands (on Two Feet). His Christian name was Issac S. Watie, but he soon dropped his Christian name and became known as Stand Watie. His father was David Oowatie and his mother was Susanna Reese, a white woman. He had two brothers. Buck Oowatie, who later became known as Elias Boudinot, and was the editor of the Cherokee newspaper, "The Cherokee Phoenix," and his younger brother was named Thomas Oowatie.

The Watie family had large landholdings and ran a profitable ferry service on the Hightower River. They were members of the famous Ridge family that dominated Cherokee politics in the 1820's and 1830's. As early as 1828, Watie served as clerk of the Cherokee Supreme Court, and for more than forty years as a practicing attorney in the Cherokee Nation.

In October 1861, Watie received a commission as a colonel in the army of the Confederacy. He joined forces with General Ben McCulloch's Texas Cavalry to raise a force to protect the Indian Territory from Federal invasion by Kansas jayhawkers. In the fall of 1861, confederates under the command of Colonel (later General) Douglas H. Cooper, the former Choctaw Indian agent from Mississippi, had assembled a formidable Indian force of 1,400 mounted men. This cavalry unit included six companies of Cooper's Choctaw and Chickasaw regiment, Colonel Daniel McIntosh's Creek regiment, Lieutenant Chilly McIntosh's and Major John Jumper's mixed battalion of Creeks and Seminoles. These forces were supported by the five hundred white soldiers of the 9th Texas Cavalry.

General Stand Watie was greatly respected as a daring military master and strategist by the Union Generals.  In 1864 Watie was in command of the Indian Cavalry Brigade. The Brigade was composed of the First and Second Cherokee Cavalry, the Creek Squadron, the Osage Battalion and the Seminole Battalion. Headquartered south of the Canadian River, Watie sent squads to raid and plunder the Federal details around Fort Gibson. On June 10, 1864, his forces captured the stern- wheeler J.P. Williams, laden with supplies and goods worth approximately 1.5 million dollars. He was promoted to Brigadier General. On September 19, 1864 his forces were victorious at the second battle of Cabin Creek. General Stand Watie surrendered after the Civil War at Doaksville, Indian Territory on June 23, 1865.

He was was the last Confederate General of the war to surrender.

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