including Eltham’s Landing [May 7, 1862, New Kent Co., Virginia (Union Peninsular Campaign)]; Seven Pines [May 31-June 1, 1862, Fair Oaks, Henrico Co., Virginia], Gaines’ Mill [(aka First Cold Harbor) June 27, 1862, Hanover Co., Virginia; “Gaines’ Mill saved Richmond for the Confederacy in 1862” (Note Gn-10)]; Malvern Hill [July 1, 1862, Poindexter’s Farm, Henrico County, Virginia]; Freeman's Ford [Rappahannock Station, Aug, 22-25, 1862, Culpeper and Fauquier Co., Virginia]; Second Manassas [(aka Second Bull Run), Aug. 28-30, 1862, northern Virginia], and Sharpsburg [(Antietam), Sept. 16-18, western Maryland].

 

On July 1, 2, and 3, 1863, the brigade took part in the battle of Gettysburg [southern Pennsylvania], and the retreat battle of Boonsborough Gap [July 8, 1863, Boonsboro, Washington Co., Maryland]. In Georgia the brigade fought on Sept. 19-20 at Chickamauga, where Hood was wounded and forced to leave his division [Union forces had occupied Chattanooga, but the Army of Tennessee, C.S.A., blocked their attempt to march south towards Atlanta]. In Tennessee the brigade joined the sieges of Chattanooga [Oct.-Nov. 1863; Nov. 23-25, Union forces captured Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge (Gn-10)] and Knoxville. Later, at the battle of the Virginia Wilderness [May 5-7, 1864, Spotsylvania Co., Virginia], General Lee personally led the Texans in one of their charges [Tx-5]; and they fought at the series of Spottsylvania Court House battles [May 8-21, 1864].

 

It is estimated that at the beginning of the war the Texas regiments comprised about 3,500 men, and that during the war recruits increased the number to almost 4,400. The brigade sustained a 61 percent casualty rate and, at its surrender at Appomatox Courthouse, numbered close to 600 officers and men.

 

At Second Manassas, “the Texas 5th distinguished itself as point brigade and suffered severe casualties and wounded. During the battle, Elias B. was listed among the wounded.” [Tx-3 pg.68] “Elias had been sent to the hospital at Bristol, Virginia, by Feb. 24, 1864, and returned to duty before June, 1864. Again on Nov. 22, 1864, Elias was admitted to Howard's Grove General Hospital at Richmond, Virginia, and returned to duty on December 8, 1864. Elias B. McAninch was paroled at Appomattox on April 12, 1865. During his enlistment he was given a furlough from Jan. 31, 1863, through February 28, 1863. He also received a bounty of $100 for his duty in the army.” [Note Tx-1]

 

When the war was over, Elias returned home to his family and friends in Texas. “When Elias enlisted in the Confederate Army, his son, William David McA., left school to take care of the family.” [Tx-1]

 

The 1870 census shows the family living together in Milam County [Note Tx-6]

“McAninch, Elias B.  42  M  W  Farmer  b.Tenn.  /  Sarah  39  Keeping House  b.Ala.  [son, 3 dau.]

William D.  20  Farmer  b.Miss.  /  Mary  16  b.Texas  /  Sarah  13  b.Texas  /  Ann  10  b.Texas”.

 

By the 1880 census, William had married, had two children, and Elias was living with them [Tx-6]

“McAninch, William D.  30  W  M  Farmer  b.MS  /  Elizabeth C.  21  W  F  Wife  b.TX  /

William T.  1  W  M  Son  b.TX  /  John F.  6/12  W  M  Son  /  [and] Elias B.  52  W  M  Father”.

 

Having been disabled in active service, Elias was “entitled to a Land Certificate as a permanently-disabled soldier, under the Act approved April 9th 1881”, and received Texas ‘Confederate Scrip’ for 1280 acres of “vacant, unreserved and unappropriated public domain of the State of Texas” [Tx-7]. However, Elias soon sold his certificate rights to W. J. Moore, Jr., of Llano, Texas, on Feb. 7th, 1882, “for value received” [amount not recorded]. Land was surveyed in 1886 (only 329 acres, survey No.3 in Llano County, Texas, “about 13 miles S 5 E of Llano town”), and ‘Land Patent Certificate No. 386’ was issued Oct. 16, 1886, by the Texas General Land Office, for John Ireland, Governor of the State.

 

McAninch for the Confederacy, Eight Who Fought for Southern Independence   Conf Sold .doc

McAninch Family History NL, IX -4  November 2001  Copyright Frank McAninch   page 2001-29

 

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