Thomas Campbell Ashinhurst Union Ancestor of Daniel L. Nation, Major, USAF Retired

Family tradition has it that my Union Army ancestor, great-great-grandfather Thomas Campbell Ashinhurst, was born in Belfast, Ireland on November 20, 1845. “TC” is descended from one of two Ashinhurst brothers and two cousins who immigrated to Norfolk, VA, from Northern Ireland in 1793. His father, James T., was born in Virginia in 1809. TC’s four older brothers and sisters were all born in Kentucky near Burkesville. TC’s being born in Belfast could be possible. Most Scotch-Irish immigrants of the 18^th and 19^th centuries, especially those who came before the famous famines of the 1840’s, had been successful in Ireland and were successful in the “New World.” They often returned to Ireland for visits with family. But that’s a different story.

TC enlisted in Company E, 13^th Kentucky Cavalry in Clinton Co., KY, on August 19, 1863. The National Archive records available cover January to April and July to October 1864, along with his muster-in and muster-out pages. He is listed as “Absent Sick” in March and April 1864.

Col. J. W. Weatherford, a former major of the 8th Kentucky, formed the 13th Kentucky in Columbia, KY, in the summer of 1863. (They were actually mustered into service on December 23, 1863, and served for 15 months, until they were mustered out in January, 1865.) They were mainly employed in Eastern-Southern Kentucky, and saw action immediately after their formation. In October 1863, they were sent after Richardson’s raiders, surprised them and chased them back across the Cumberland River. In early December 1863, they participated in several scouting parties, killing 15 guerillas and capturing 23. In March 1864, they fought Col. Hamilton along the Cumberland, capturing him and 12 of his men. In May 1864, they fought the enemy at Wolfe River, capturing a captain and seven men while losing two killed and others wounded. When Morgan’s men raided into Kentucky in June 1864, the 13^th was on duty in Lebanon. Their final engagement of the War was under Gen. Hobson on the raid into Saltville, VA, in September 1864, losing four men killed and 13 wounded. Following duty at Mt. Sterling, Lexington and Crab Orchard, the 13th was ordered to Camp Nelson, KY, on December 17, 1864.

TC mustered out with the unit at Camp Nelson, KY, on January 10, 1865. His record indicates he was last paid on April 30, 1864, may have been paid $47.32 for clothing in kind, and owed the government $3.68 for a halter, cartridge box and a pair of spurs and straps. TC’s brother Ralph served in the Federal Army (Co. D, 12^th Kentucky Infantry) as a private for the entire war. He received a minor wound near Resaca, GA, in 1864. Their eldest brother Mark joined the Confederate cavalry (Texas Cavalry, Co. E, Morgan’s Regiment) and was last heard from near Corinth, MS, in 1863.

After the war, TC married Nancy Carter Luttrell in Cumberland Co. KY on April 12, 1866. Her brother, J.J. Luttrell, had served in Company D, 5^th Kentucky Calvary. TC and Nancy had four daughters and a son. Their son, Christopher C., born on June 13, 1870, is my great grandfather. Ralph Ashinhurst moved near Warsaw, Missouri, in 1880 and died there in 1924.

Christopher married Julia Anne Shelley on May 28, 1892. Julia is a descendant of Captain William Long, who saw service in the 2^nd Virginia Cavalry in the Revolutionary War. As a reward, Captain Long received 4,000 acres in Kentucky in 1814, between Burkesville and what is now Dale Hollow Lake State Park. Christopher and Nancy had nine children, including my grandmother, Cora Ashinhurst, who was born on that land in 1895. My great aunt Montie, born there in 1902, lived there until she died in 1991. Her son, Wayne Flowers, is now its owner. The Flowers family and their relatives (including us sometimes) hold an old fashioned family reunion at the old “home place” every 4^th of July. Standing quietly next to that log house is a special experience.

Nancy died in 1899. TC lived on in Kentucky until he died on June 30, 1930. TC, Nancy and her brother J.J. are buried side-by-side in the Vincent cemetery across the road from the “home place.” TC’s and JJ’s headstones show they served in the War.

Interestingly enough, Zacheriah Luttrell, Samuel Long and Thomas Lutteral served in Company A; Wiley, Travis and Samuel Long in Company E; and John Hardin and Samuel Paragen in Company F. George Hargis served in Company G and James M. Flowers in Company H. James Long served in Company K with Austin Bailey in Company L. All those surnames show up in my family tree somewhere. Lots more threads to investigate. There were even three York’s in the 13^th. Remember Sgt. Alvin York of WWI fame?

By the way, my grandfather William I. Nation, who married Cora Ashinhurst in 1913, is descended from Christopher C. Nations, a Confederate private who served with the 2^nd Tennessee Infantry Regiment, Provisional Army, from its formation in 1861 until July 1863.

Contributed by Daniel L. Nation, Major, USAF Retired