Forsythe Family Network

CIVIL WAR DAYS

Transcribed from W. G. Wolfe’s”Stories of Guernsey County”

THE SPIRT OF THE TIMEMore than one-half of the adult population of Guernsey County entered the army. Until near the close of the war they enlisted of their own free will. Motivated by the spirit of pure patriotism, married men with families and single men whose services were needed at home answered their country’s call. They deemed it their duty to defend the flag.

The mothers, wives and sisters left behind to sacrifice and suffer exhibited as great, perhaps greater devotion to duty than tehir sons, husbands and brothers who went to the front. To them was the task of providing a living for themselves and dependents. Then there was the ever present anxiety for the safety of the absent ones snf the agonizing suspense while waiting for news after great battles.Widow Mckim, the mother of six sons and three daughters lived on a little farm near Kimbolton. The sons were John, George, Martin, Hiram, William, and, James; the daughters, Elizabeth, Rebecca and Catherine. When President Lincoln’s first call for men came John hastened to Cambridge to enlist and one week later he was on his way to war as a member of Ferguson’s Guernsey Guards. There were calls for more men; with their mother’s consent, George, Martin, Hiram and William McKim volunteered at one time. James was the only son left. Married and the father of four small children, he lived near the home of his mother. He became restless. On the one hand was the duty to his country, on the other, was his duty to those depending upon him for support. His wife and mother told him to go. “We’ll manage to get along in some way,” they said.Catherine McKim, the mother, was a weaver. From early morning until late at night she sat at the loom, weaving cloth from wool and flax for the neighbors. The daughters raised some crops on the little farm. A short time after James left for war his wife gave birth to another child making five for her to support. With the assistance of her mother-in-law and sister-in-law she did manage to “go along”.The McKim boys fought in some of the greatest battles of the war, not togetehr, but in different sections of the South. They remained in the service until the war closed. Then one at a time they returned home, all six of them. Not one of them received a wound of serious consequence.

(Note: A Civil; War newspaper called attention to the outstanding example of patriottism and sacrifice. For verification and further details the writer is indebted to Mrs. James L. Randall, now living at 428 Gomber avenue, who is a daughter of James McKim)Liberty township prided herself on her representation in the war. At the beginning of the war there were about 150 voters in the township. Seven months after the first call for men fifty had volunteered and were at the front. Their names follow: William Barlow, John Burdett, Alf Burgess, Samuel Black, Alfred Bigley, S. W. Brown, William Cunningham, Lewis Cogill, William Calvert, James Carnes, Westley Current, John Current, Jodeph Douglas, Sylvester Frame, William Gibson, Porter Gibson, Andrew Hubert, M. V. Hartshorn, Daniel Harrison, William Harrison, John Harrison, J. C. Meagher, William Miller, Mack McMullen, Alexander McMullen, John McMullen, Alex Milligan, Jacob McKee, John McKim, Geroge McKim, Martin McKim, William McKim, James McKim, J. M. McCurdy, Harrison Porter, Moses Phillips, John Reed, William Stewart, Clark Sears, Pat Smith, David Thompson, John K. Thompson, George Van Sickle, John A. Wharton and William White.There is no available complete record of those men after their enlistments. Samuel Black died of wounds received at Stone River and was buried at Nashville. Alfred Bigley died in Ashland, Kentucky, and was buried at New Albany, Indiana. Alfred Burgess was buried at Cave Horse, Kentucky, John Reed died in a hospital and was buried at Nashville. Clark Sears was killed at Missionary Ridge and buried at Chattonoogs.(Monday- “Fought on Both Sides”)