Two Grandsons of James Lyle Died in the American Civil War

 

Two Grandsons of James Lyle Died in the American Civil War

Jean M. Hoffman, CG

 Many grandsons and husbands of granddaughters of James Lyle served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Two grandsons never returned home.[1]

Joseph R. Lyle was the son of Charles Lyle (3^rd son of James) and Sarah Johnson. He was born about 1842 in Jefferson County, Indiana.[2] The family moved to Wapello County, Iowa, by 1848.[3] Joseph was enlisted for three years at age 20 by Capt. W. V. Lucas on 15 August 1862 in Waverly, Iowa. He was described as five feet ten inches tall, of dark complexion with blue eyes and black hair at enlistment. He mustered in on 26 November 1862 in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa, as a private in Company B, 14th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was marked present on all company muster rolls through February of 1864.[4]

Joseph R. Lyle was killed in action on 9 April 1864 at the Battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, during the Red River Campaign at age 21 or 22. There was no inventory of his effects as all were lost on the battlefield where he fell. Capt. Lucas did present an account which stated that Joseph had last been paid 31 Dec 1863, received $23.83 in clothing and still owed the sutler $2.[5]

Wilmer Magarvy Lyle was born on 9 November 1843 in Republican Township, Jefferson County, Indiana, son of William Lyle (5th son of James) and Matilda Ritchey.[6] This family moved to Schuyler County, Illinois, and then to Sullivan County, Missouri, by 1859.[7] Wilmer enlisted on 18 February 1862 in Macon City, Missouri, in the 11th Regiment, Missouri State Militia Cavalry that was organized in Missouri at large from 1 Jan to 20 Apr 1862. They were assigned to duty in the District of North Missouri under the Union Army with various detachments engaging in action until they were consolidated with the 2nd Regiment Missouri State Militia Cavalry. He was mustered in on 27 March 1862 in Macon City, Missouri, by Capt. P. P. Cook as a private in Company G. Wilmer was described as six feet, one inch tall with sandy hair and complexion and blue eyes at age 18.[8] His unit from 2 September 1862 was Company G, 2nd Missouri State Militia Cavalry in which he was marked present on all muster rolls, including a special one on 10 Apr 1863. He used his own horse and equipments between 30 April 1863 and 31 August 1863 but had them furnished by the army before and after that time. He was assessed $1.00 by the army for a canteen, haversack and waist belt in February 1864. Wilmer's cavalry unit engaged in skirmishes and scouting expeditions and detachments from it chased after or confronted Confederate units in Missouri and Arkansas and he undoubtedly was involved in some of these actions.

Wilmer died on 6 July 1864 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at age 20 at the post hospital of gunshot wounds received on July 4th while on guard duty. He was one of only eighteen enlisted men in his regiment to be killed or mortally wounded in the war. His effects were not inventoried but were in the hands of his parent and legal representative, William Lyle, by 25 September 1864 as indicated by the company commander, Capt. Asahel Jones. Wilmer had last been paid through 29 Feb 1864 and had been advanced clothing valued at $28.33 which left him overdrawn by $13.68. He was buried at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, until a major relocation project in 1869 when his remains were moved to section 24, no. 5436 of the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.[9]

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[1] See Lyle Family website, https://sites.rootsweb.com/~jeangene/Lyle/ . James lived in Pennsylvania and died by 1839 in Allegheny County. He and his wife, Hannah Crawford, had six sons and one daughter who mostly moved west.

[2] 1850 U.S. census, Wapello County, Iowa, population schedule, District 13, Wapello, Iowa, USA, sheet 406b, dwelling 90, family 90, Charles Lyle household; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2649386:8054 : viewed 27 May 2024).

 [3] 1856 Iowa state census, Wapello County, population schedule, Charles Lyle household, Washington Township, page 593 (written 31); imaged, “Iowa, U.S., State Census Collection, 1836-1925,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/5011187:1084 : viewed 27 May 2024); lived in Iowa for nine years.

 [4] Joseph R. Lyle, Co. B, 14th Iowa Infantry, compiled military service record, Records of the Adjutant General's Office, RG 94, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

 [5] Joseph R. Lyle (Pvt., Co. B, 14th Iowa Inf., Civil War) minor sister’s pension application no. 132,902 (never granted); Civil War and Later Pension Files; Record Group 15: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

 [6] 1850 U.S. census, Schuyler County, Illinois, population schedule, Bainbridge Township, sheet 415A, dwelling 182, family 188, William Lyle household; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/16583500:80546 : viewed 27 May 2024).

 [7] 1860 U.S. census, Sullivan County, Missouri, population schedule, post office Greencastle, page 777, dwelling/family 1077, William Lyle household; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/40931250:7667 : viewed 27 May 2024).

 [8] Wilmer M. Lyle, Co. G, 2nd Missouri State Militia Cavalry, compiled military service record, Records of the Adjutant General's Office, RG 94, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

 [9] Wilmer M. Lyle Record of Service Card, Civil War, 1861-1865; Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, Missouri; imaged, “Soldiers Database: War of 1812 - World War I,” Missouri Digital Heritage (https://s1.sos.mo.gov/records/archives/archivesdb/soldiers/Detail.aspx?id=S201902&conflict=Civil%20War : viewed 27 May 2024).