For Veterans Day it seemed appropriate to tell the story of one of our ancestors that fought in the Civil War - Lyman W. Swift.
Lyman was in the Union Army and fought in the battle of Marks' Mill in Arkansas. This is from the History of Washington County Ohio, published by H.Z. Williams & Bro. in 1881.
"Roll of Honor - war of 1861 to 1865. The following is a list of volunteers in the service of the United States during the war of the Rebellion. ... The roll is as full and accurate as it can be made with out great expense and trouble. It will prove a source of just pride to the people of the county, generally, as well as to the descendants and friends of those whose names are here recorded, an will be a standing challenge to the patriotism of the future to emulate the example of the volunteers of 1861-5."
"Swift, Jr., Lyman W., age 24, volunteer, December 4, 1861, three years, Seventy-seventh regiment, company F, private, served four years and four months, mustered out March 8, 1866, captured at Mark's Mills, and in prison nine months."
The only photo I have of Lyman is this one with his wife Margaret in their old age.
Here's a memorial at Mark's Mills Battleground State Park in Arkansas. It says - "The battle of Marks Mill fought here on April 25, 1864 was a complete confederate victory. General James F. Fagans division of confederate cavalry surprised and captured a Union supply train of 2000 men and 240 wagonloads of supplies. General Powell Clayton, Union Commander, narrowly escaped capture by flight with small detachment." Here's a website you can go to if you want to read more:
Marks' Mills Battlegrund State Park
Here's a link to the Veteran's Day post I did last year which has info on Mom and I and Grandpa Swift
Swift Veterans
