Genealogy: 3 Brothers and 3 Tragedies in the Civil War

Back to my previous post, Ohioan Henry Frederick (b. 1834, 3. 1815), who named his last child Ulysses S. Grant Frederick (b.1865, d. 1927), did not serve in the Civil War.  But, I have found three of his first cousins who did – the Brouse brothers – whose fates are interesting, yet tragic.

Harriet Frederick Brouse (b. 1806, d. 1887) is a daughter of Thomas Frederick Jr., and the sister of Henry’s father, Jacob Frederick.  Harriet had twelve children, seven sons and five daughters.   At least three of her sons; William, Jacob, and Reason; served in the Union Army.  One died in action, one was discharged due to mental illness, and one was charged with desertion.

Background:  William (b. 1826, d. 1896) and his younger brother Jacob (b. 1839, d. 1863) enlisted in the Union Army on the same day - August 19, 1862.  They were both assigned to Company G of the 120th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI).  Their brother Reason (b. 1836, death date unknown) was drafted into the Union Army two months later, on October 9, 1862 and was assigned to the same unit. 

1)  Jacob’s Fate:  All three brothers were present at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, December 26 – 29, 1862, where Union forces commanded by General William T. Sherman tried, and failed, to capture the Confederate defenses at Vicksburg, Mississippi.  It was a one sided victory for the Confederates whose casualties numbered 207, compared to the Union’s 1,776.  On the last day of the battle, Jacob Brouse was shot in the abdomen, the ball going straight through his body.  His brother, William, was by his side when it happened.  Still alive, Jacob was taken to the hospital boat, “Henry von Phul.”  William tried to board the boat to see his brother but was turned away.  Noticing men carrying firewood onboard, William picked up an armload of wood and joined them.  On board, William found Jacob, and saw a Doctor pulling a handkerchief back and forth through the wound in his abdomen.  William left the boat, and never saw his brother again.  The Army lists Jacob Brouse’s official date of death as January 12, 1863 – apparently he lingered for nearly two weeks!  According to Jacob’s Civil War pension file at the National Archives his mother, Harriet Frederick Brouse, received a small government pension for her son’s death. I was unable to find any record of where Jacob was buried – I will continue to search.

2)  William’s Fate:  Consulting William’s Civil War pension file at the National Archives, I found affidavits from family, friends and neighbors stating that before the war he was mentally slow, with memory and learning problems.  Four Army colleagues swore in their affidavits that these problems worsened after the death of William’s favorite brother, Jacob, at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou.  William was officially discharged from the Army on February 10, 1863, after serving only six months of his three year enlistment.  The reason for his discharge was noted as, “dementia - there is almost complete loss of memory, impaired intellect, and failure of the physical powers."  William returned to his home in Wayne County, Ohio; where he was buried next to his wife, Maria.  A Civil War Veteran’s Star marks his grave.

3) Reason’s Fate, Part One:  The Civil War pension file for Reason Brouse is thick with contradictory information.   In his pension application, Reason claimed  he injured his back and kidneys in a fall from his bunk in November 1862, one month after he was drafted.  Due to this injury he was placed on teamster duty, driving wagons of supplies to the battlefront, during the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou in December 1862.  Reason was in and out of hospitals after this battle, but was present with the 120th OVI for the Siege of Vicksburg (May 18 – July 4, 1863).  His physical problems persisted, and he was granted a furlough from March 12 – May 12, 1864.  Reason traveled home by way of a steamship up the Mississippi river.  Upon arrival in Wayne County, Ohio he learned that his brother-in-law, Samuel Musser, had deserted the 120th OVI and was living in Canada.  Reason swore in an affidavit that he immediately left for Canada to try and persuade Samuel to do the right thing and return to their unit.  Reason stated that once in Canada he became violently ill, so ill that he was unable to return home, let alone the 120th OVI, for three years!  Fearing his death was near, Reason sent for his wife, mother and unmarried sister to join him in Canada.  Reason did not notify his unit of his illness, and was declared a deserter from the Union Army in February 1865.  Reason and his family returned to Wayne County, Ohio in May 1867.

Reason’s Fate, Part Two:  At some point between 1870 and 1880, Reason and his family moved to Missouri.  In January 1890, Reason petitioned the War Department to have the desertion charge changed to an honorable discharge, so that he could apply for a pension.   This petition resulted in a treasure trove of information being gathered and placed in Reason’s pension file!  After a three month investigation, the Army granted Reason an honorable discharge in April 1890.  Reason then applied to the Bureau of Pensions, which conducted its own investigation (the bureaucracy and red tape were alive and well in 1890!).  After a five year investigation; with affidavits from war colleagues, friends and Wayne County neighbors sometimes affirming, and sometimes contradicting Reason’s story; on July 10, 1895 the War Department set aside the honorable discharge and reinstated the desertion charge.  Contradictory affidavits stated that no one remembered Reason falling from his bunk while in the service, that while in Canada (and supposedly near death) Reason worked loading and hauling cordwood and stone, and that two of Reason’s children were born in Canada (according to 1870 census records this is true, daughter Mary was born in Canada in 1865, and daughter Harriet was born in Canada in 1867).  Reason died and is buried in Missouri – I find no evidence that he ever returned to Wayne County, Ohio.  I suppose that a deserter from the Union Army was a more acceptable neighbor in a border state like Missouri.

More Research Ahead!  As stated before, genealogy research always raises more questions!  I must go to the National Archives to learn more about the supposed deserter, Samuel Musser (did he ever rejoin the 120th OVI? Was he declared a deserter?).  I have also found evidence that another brother, James William Brouse may have served in the War, along with another brother-in-law, George Spacht.  What are their stories?