A Civil War Family

By Bert McQueen Jr.

This book is about the Indiana Majors family and especially John S. Majors, Civil War soldier. In this book, published for the very first time, are letters written by John to his wife, Carrie, telling about the battles, food, and life around the camp. He speaks of Abe Lincoln, Grant, Old Lee, John Brown, and many more. If you're interested in American history, and especially the Civil War, this book is a must for your collection.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781643505756

Book preview

This true story starts back in the late 1700s after the Revolutionary War, when many pioneers moved west to claim rich new farmlands and bountiful game areas where they could hunt, fish, and trap. Among them were the Majors family of Welsh descent coming from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They came down the Ohio River with their personal belongings and wagons being carried by boat. The horses would be sent around by land to Cincinnati, where they met, and from there they continued by wagon to one of the first Welsh settlements. It was located not far from the Great Miami River in what is now called Butler County, Ohio. The settlement was founded, and they called it New London. At first, they were startled by the Miami Indians in the area, often known as the naked Indian, because in the summer, they wore very little clothing but, after a short time, found them to be a peace-loving tribe that they could live with in harmony.

The Majors were proud breeders of fine horses. These animals were a Thoroughbred-type horse that pleased the Indians’ eye. Their ponies were small and very coarse but, when crossed with the Thoroughbred, gave the Indians a much larger animal with more refinement but at the same time kept the hardy stamina of the Indian pony. This started friendly trading between the settlers and the natives, and they all lived as friendly neighbors, helping, showing and learning from each other. The Majors family continued to improve their stock and became well known as having superior horseflesh. Years later, a Robert Breckenridge Major was born. He was a natural with horses. He could teach them to do tricks of all kinds and became well known as a top trainer in the Miami Valley. When Robert was twenty years old, he married Sarah Lanphire, a bright young English girl. Together, they had eight children; one boy was called John Sylvania, namesake for the state of Pennsylvania where the Majors originally came from. John is my great-grandfather. When John was three years old, 1839, he moved with his family to Morgan County, Indiana, four miles from Martinsville on Blue Bluff Road. Here he received his education in an old log schoolhouse called the Majors School. When he was eighteen years old, he went to Martinsville to learn the harness trade, in which his father set him up two years later at Sardinia, Decatur County. In the spring of the year, John’s father would go through the countryside with his two stud horses and breed mares for people. Most people didn’t own a stud because they were too dangerous to have around. But Robert had trained these horses very well, and they were no trouble at all. The big draft stud pulled a two-wheeled cart while the Thoroughbred stud was tied on behind as the Majors rode along. The draft stud was called Big Jake. He was used to breed horses that were used for heavy loads or plowing. But the other horse tied on back was Danny Boy. He was used to breed lighter-type mares for riding and driving. They were usually on the road about two months, starting every year, the first of April. As they were heading down toward their old stomping grounds of New London, Ohio, they had to go through Franklin County, Indiana (named after Benjamin Franklin), and through a busy little town by the name of Mt. Carmel (name taken from the Bible). Anyhow, Mt. Carmel was kind of a halfway point between the Great Miami River at Hamilton, Ohio, and the Whitewater Canal, near Brookville, Indiana, the county seat. So, with its prime location, it made Mt. Carmel a thriving community. There were two sawmills, three buggy shops, a flour mill, hotel, general store and a blacksmith shop, two churches, and a schoolhouse. Robert said to his son, I think we’ll stay around here a few days and pick up some business. And at the same time get cleaned and rested up. Well, the stop there was a good idea. They made money, and the people were right friendly too. They got a late start out of town, and the sun was starting to set in the west when they pulled up in front of the Caleb Seal Farm. He came up, shook their hands, and said, I was sure hoping that you’d come this way ’cause I got a big Belgium mare I want bred to your stud. Well, they started to breed that old gal, but she kicked and bucked, and—well, she was just about the meanest mare they ever saw. They finally had to tie her legs so Big Jake could mount her without getting his head kicked off. Well, by the time they got the job done, it was about dark. Caleb’s daughter Carrie came out of the house and said her mother, Phebe, had invited the Majors for supper; and if they wanted, they could put up in the barn for the night. They accepted, and the next morning, they were up and gone before daylight, headin’ down toward the Great Miami River. Well, down to New London and all the way back to Martinsville, it was Carrie this and Carrie that. You’d thought that John had never seen a girl before. He said Father, I want to marry that girl. So, he started writing her, and in a few months, they had set a date. The wedding took place at the Methodist Church, Mt. Carmel, Indiana, at ten o’clock in the morning on February 4, 1858. John’s father, Robert B., was getting old, and he wanted him to take over the farm and breeding business at Martinsville. So that spring, John sold his harness shop at Sardinia and moved his new wife out to the old home place. But because of his wife’s poor health, they left the farm in Martinsville and moved back to her hometown of Mt. Carmel. There he set up a harness shop and also ran a stage line to Hamilton, Ohio, and back. He did this twice a week. It was a day’s ride to the Butler County Courthouse where he let the passengers off. He would then feed and water the team, rest them overnight, and head back to Mt. Carmel early the next morning with another load of passengers. He did this from 1860 to 1862. In the meantime, our Civil War broke out. Well, like any red-blooded American, he thought it was his duty to fight for his country. So, kissing his wife, Carrie, and children—little Ella and baby Frank—good-bye, he took his gun and headed for Brookville. The volunteers were to assemble on the steps of the Franklin County Courthouse. From there, they marched them right down the middle of the Main Street to the train depot. And all the while the band was playing and people were yelling and screaming as if a circus had come to town. From there, they went by rail to the state capital at Indianapolis. The Thirteenth Regiment Indiana Infantry volunteers were organized for one year’s service. And like most men, John thought the great army of the North could whip the Rebs in a month or two and be right back home with their families. Well, nothing could be farther from the truth. The Thirteenth Indiana Volunteers were organized in May 1861 for one year, but reorganized for three years and mustered in June 19, 1861. When John found out he would have to spend three years away from his family, he was in a state of shock because he soon found out that the military life was not for him. The Thirteenth was in many battles during the war, but the most famous