contributed by Sharon S. Ashcraft to Chester County South Carolina Genealogy Trails

Compiled Confederate Service Records of

Joseph Joel Ashcraft
Fourth Son of Joel Ashcraft and Martha “Patsy” Ferguson

Private, Company H, 19th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry 

This file is indexed in the U. S. National Archives and Records as James G. Ashcraft. However, at some point during compilation of Joseph’s service records, one of the copyists noticed the transcription error and made note of it. At the top of the card shown above is a small ‘x’. Three cards in this file are marked with the same ‘x’ with one containing the following notation: “x appears in column of names as Joseph J. Ashcraft”

 

Joseph Joel Ashcraft joined the Confederate Army on November 18, 1863 in Chester District, South Carolina enlisting as a private with Capt. Senn’s Company H, 19th Regiment of the South Carolina Infantry.

On July 3rd, during the Atlanta Campaign of 1864, he was captured by Sherman’s troops near Marietta, Georgia.

Joseph was taken to Nashville TN and transferred from there to Louisville KY. He was then relocated to the Union prison at Camp Morton, Indianapolis IN. Arriving there on July 14, 1864, Joseph remained at Camp Morton until March 15th of 1865 when he was paroled.

As part of a prisoner exchange with the Confederates, Joseph was sent to Richmond VA. Here, he was admitted to Gen. Hospital #9 March 22nd and two days later was transferred to nearby Jackson Hospital. His name appears on the hospital’s muster roll dated March 27th 1865. On May 23rd, Joseph signed the Oath of Parole.

Confusion of the names is understandable. In the process of transcribing these records from the originals, ‘Jos.’ could easily be mistaken for ‘Jas.’ and the letters ‘J’ and ‘G’ were often indiscernible.

 - Sharon Spielman Ashcraft, December 16, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Text of April 26, 1865 Surrender Agreement


Terms of a Military Convention, entered into this 26th day of April, 1865, at Bennitt's House, near Durham Station, North Carolina, between General Joseph E. Johnston, commanding the Confederate Army, and Major-General W.T. Sherman, commanding the United States Army in North Carolina:


1. All acts of war on the part of the troops under General Johnston's command to cease from this date.


2. All arms and public property to be deposited at Greensboro, and delivered to an ordinance-officer of the United States Army.


3. Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate; one copy to be given to an officer to be designated by General Sherman. Each officer and man to give individual obligation in writing not to take up arms against the Government of the United States, until properly released from this obligation.


4. The side-arms of officers, and their private horses and baggage, to be retained by them.


5. This being done, all the officers and men will be permitted to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by the United States authorities, so long as they observe their obligation and the laws in force where they may reside.


W. T. Sherman, Major-General - Commanding United States Forces in North Carolina

J. E. Johnston, General - Commanding Confederate States Forces in North Carolina

Approved: U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General


Parole Signed by the Officers and Men in Johnston's Army


In accordance with the terms of the Military Convention, entered into the twenty-sixth day of April, 1865, between General Joseph E. Johnston, commanding the Confederate army, and Major-General W. T. Sherman, commanding the United States Army in North Carolina, __________________________________________ has given his solemn obligation not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly released from this obligation, and is permitted to return to his home, not to be disturbed by the United States authorities so long as he observes this obligation and obeys the laws in force where he may reside.

Sworn and subscribed to before me, the _____ day of ______ 1865.

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