Re: looking for george w. conway
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In reply to:
looking for george w. conway
8/20/00
Included is part of an article in the Wayne County, Tennessee history book.
Source: Wayne County History, Vol II p 50
Her husband, George Washington Conaway, a farmer, enlisted in Company E, 64th Illinois Infantry at Iuka, Mississippi, on September11, 1862, at age 40. He enlisted with a Federal Regiment from Illinois during a major recruiting effort to replenish battle losses taken by Union Regiments from Illinois after the battles of Forts Henry and Donnelson and the Battle of Shiloh in western Tennessee in the winter and spring of 1862.
This was a very demanding time for everyone living in the South. Everything harvested, milled, or woven was seized for the war effort. Horses and cattle were rounded up and either stolen or confiscated to support the demands of the Armies. For a farmer, it was nearly impossible to make a living. With pressure to survive being paramount, and with a strong sense of nationalism, George made the decision to enlist and fight for the Union.
He fought in the battle of Iuka in September of 1862 and the battle of Corinth in October of 1862. During the build up of force for the Tullahoma, Chattanooga, and Chickamauga campaigns,his unit performed headquarters guard duties and patrolling activities in and around Northern Mississippi and Alabama.
He, like so many others from both sides got sick from dirty water, unsanitary camp conditions and later died in the Union Field Hospital(Corona Female College) in Corinth, Mississippi on December 11, 1863- one year and three months after he took the oath of enlistment. His wife, Susan never remarried.
She lived with their daughter, Mary and her husband, Jonathan Hardin. Source: History of Wayne County, Volume II.
Happy hunting,
Marie