Horace Jameson (Hiram Horace, Hugh, Alexander, Thomas) was born July 9, 1833 at Hamburg, Erie County, New York, son of Hiram Horace and Sally Ann (Newell) Jameson. The family moved about 1840 to Brant, New York, approximately 20 miles south-east. On Jamuary 1, 1854 Horace married Martha Jane Paul, born August 24, 1834 at Wells, Rutland County, Vermont, daughter of James A. and Eleanor E. (Butts) Paul, then living at Colden, Erie, New York. Horace and Martha made their first home in the log cabin that Hugh Jameson had built at Brant, which they shared with Horace’s sister Harriet and her husband Edwin Hawkins.
The brothers-in-law worked on the farm for Hiram Jameson for a period of time, but Horace yearned for his own property. When it was announced that the United States government would make land available for homesteading in Minnesota in 1856 Horace and Martha decided to make the move. They were assigned acreage in the north-west corner of Sciota, Dakota County, where they settled in to make a life for themselves and to raise a family.
Over the course of the following five years they enjoyed a peaceful existence and the birth of three children: Eva, born October 10, 1857; Ida, born June 13, 1859; Eugene, born March 6, 1861. They made friends with several of their neighbors, the crops were good as a result of the rich soil – life had promise in Minnesota – then war broke out.
Across both the north and south the call went out for volunteers to enlist in the cause. Horace felt a great patriotic duty and a strong belief that he should serve, but hesitated mainly out of concern for his family. Announcements went out that proclaimed a new company was being mustered at Fort Snelling with expected move-out date of November 1861, but the companies were not filled to the military’s satisfaction so additional calls when out for men to enlist.
Horace answered the call, enlisting at that place on December 3 and was mustered into service on December 20, leaving Martha and the children at home under the protective wing of neighbors and was soon shipped out to Benton Barracks, Missouri.
He was first assigned to Company K of the Minnesota Light Cavalry, but through several name changes and re-assignments eventually found himself amongst the 5th Iowa. The following encompasses the movements of Horace – along with that of his comrades – as they performed their duties throughout the south…
Companies "A," "B" and "C" organized at Fort Snelling, Minn., as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Companies, Minnesota Light Cavalry, September to November 1861. Ordered to Benton Barracks, MO., November 1861, and attached to Curtis Horse, an Independent Regiment of Cavalry, which was later designated 5th Iowa Cavalry. Assigned as Companies "G," "I" and "K." Duty at Benton Barracks, MO. until February 1862. Moved to Fort Henry, TN., February 8-11. Served unassigned Dept. of the Tennessee to November 1862. District of Columbus, KY. 13th Army Corps, Dept. of the Tennessee to December 1862. District of Columbus, KY. 16th Army Corps, Dept. Tennessee to June 1863. 1st Brigade, Turchin's 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland, to October 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to December 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Cumberland, to January 1864.
SERVICE - Engaged in patrol duty during battle of Fort Donelson, TN. Expedition to destroy railroad bridge over Tennessee River February 14-16, 1862.
Transcript of diary from January 1 to March 31, 1863. (He kept two diaries for each year. One for daily entries – the other for copying dailies into so he could pass along to family. I have the partial one for 1863.
Duty at Forts Henry and Heiman, TN. until February 5, 1863, and at Fort Donelson, TN. until June 5, 1863. Moved from Fort Henry to Savannah, TN., March 25-April 1, 1862. Moved toward Nashville, Tenn., repairing roads and erecting telegraph lines April 3-6. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss. April 29-May 30. Acting as escorts to Telegraph Corps, Lockridge Mills May 5. Occupation of Corinth May 30, and pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 12. Duty at Humboldt until August 1862. Scouting and protecting railroad. Action at Fort Donelson, TN. August 25. Cumberland Iron Works August 26. Expedition to Clarksville September 5-9, New Providence September 6, Clarksville September 7. Scout toward Eddyville October 29-November 10. Expedition from Fort Heiman December 18-28. Fort Donelson February 3, 1863. Duty at Fort Donelson until June. Moved to Murfreesboro and Nashville, Tenn., June 5-11. Scout on Middleton and Eagleville Pike June 10. Expedition to Lebanon June 15-17. Lebanon June 16. Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Guy's Gap, Fosterville, June 25. Guy's Gap, Fosterville and Shelbyville, June 27.
Excerpts from letter to his Mother dated August 10, 1863.
Occupation of Middle Tennessee until September. Moved to McMinnville September 6-8, and operating against guerrillas till October. Operations against Wheeler and Roddy September 30-October 17. Garrison Creek near Fosterville and Wartrace October 6. Sugar Creek October 9. Tennessee River October 10. Expedition from Maysville to Whitesburg and Decatur November 14-17, 1863, to destroy boats on the Tennessee River. Outpost duty on line of Tennessee River from south of Huntsville to Bellefonte, Ala., November and December, 1863. At Maysville till January 1864.
Copy of Re-enlistment paper.
Veteranized January 1, 1864. Battalion moved to Minnesota January 7. Detached from 5th Iowa Cavalry February 25, 1864, and designated Brackett's Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry. Duty at Fort Snelling, Minn.,
Excerpts from letter to Martha dated March 27, 1864.
to May, 1864. March from Fort Snelling to Sioux City May 2-25. Sully's Expedition against hostile Indians west of the Missouri River June 4 to November 10, 1864. March to Fort Sully June 4-15. March to Fort Rice June 28-July 7. Pursuit of Indians to the Bad Lands July 19-28. Battle of Tah kah a kuty or Killdeer Mountain July 28. Passage of the Bad Lands of Dakota Territory August 3-18. Action at Two Hills, Bad Lands, Little Missouri River, August 8-9. Relief of Fiske's Emigrant train September 10-30.
Letter from Horace to Martha dated October 26, 1864.
At Fort Ridgley, Minn., till spring of 1865. Sully's operations against Indians May to
Letter to Martha dated March 1, 1865 after return to Fort Ridgely from furlough home to Western New York. Receipt for wiring of money.
Two passes to leave camp for various reasons dated May and June, 1865.
Transcript of diary for the entire year 1865. Includes financial memoranda…
Horace killed Aug 27.
Copy of original letter from his commanding officer regarding his death.
PDF file of “The Frontier Scout” which reports his death – three articles.
Son Hiram Horace born October 21, 1865.
Martha re-married March 21, 1874 Ira Bailey, daughter Sara Melissa born 1876.
Martha died 1907.
October, 1865. Patrol duty from Sioux City to Fort Randall, Headquarters at Sioux City, October, 1865, to May, 1866. Mustered out June 1, 1866.
Regiment lost during service 4 Enlisted men killed and 1 Officer and 6 Enlisted men by disease. Total 11.
Horace Jameson Civil War History