Oh my yes, I have had someone serve in every war this country has been in....and that is a lot. Now the question is where to start. Maybe I will start with my GG Grandfather George Washington PILGRIM, Jr. who served with the 6th GA Cav. Army of TN and his brother Isaac Timms PILGRIM. Here is their story...

As most everyone knows, George Washington Pilgrim, Jr., and Isaac Timms Pilgrim served in the Confederate Army during the War Between the States as did many of our ancestors.

George and Isaac were mustered into the Confederate States Service on July 11, 1861, at Lynchburg, Virginia. They were members of a group of men called "Sardis Volunteers". Most members of the Volunteers were from Georgia, however there were some from other states.

George and Isaac were enlisted in Colonel John T. Mercer Trimble's Brigade, Ewell Division, Jackson Corps.

This company subsequently became (Old) Company E, 21st Regiment, Georgia Infantry. It was detached from the 21st Regiment, Georgia Infantry, by S.O. No. 106, A. & I.G.O., dated May 8, 1862, and subsequently became Company G, Calvary Battalion, Smith's Georgia Legion. The 21st Regiment, Georgia Infantry, originally consisted of nine companies and was known as the 4th Battalion (Mercer's), Georgia Infantry. Captain J. B. Akridge's Company, Georgia Volunteers, was attached to the battalion and with the nine other companies constituted a regiment by S. O. No. 144, dated September 5, 1861.

Isaac spent 1861 in Company G ((Old) Company E), 21st Georgia Infantry, serving under Captains Hood (June-July) and Hart (November-December), stationed in Richmond, Virginia.

On May 21, 1862, the whole of Company G was transferred to the Army of Tennessee and became known as Smith's Legion on July 1, 1862 under the leadership of Colonel Sumner J. Smith. Smith's Legion was also known as Georgia's Partisan Rangers and was made up of both cavalry and infantry battalions.

In 1863, Isaac transferred to Company G, 6th Georgia Calvary, Iverson's Brigade, Martin's Division, Wheeler's Corp, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John R. Hart and Major Benjamin F. Brown. In Company G at this time was Isaac's brother George.

While serving in the War, George participated in many battles, most probably those conducted at the Battle of Seven Pines, Virginia, in 1862; the Seven Days Battle, the Battle of South Mountain, Antietam and Chancellorsville.

In the spring of 1863, the 23rd left Virginia for North Carolina and then posted to Charleston, South Carolina, where it performed duty at Battery Wagner, Johns Island and Fort Sumter. The 23rd then moved south to Florida and participated in the Battle of Olustee.

After the Battle of Olustee, the 23rd returned to South Carolina and was then posted to Virginia in the spring of 1864 where it fought at Drewery's Bluff, Cold Harbor and Petersburg.

On the afternoon of November 10, 1864, the 23rd, under the command of General Wheeler, attacked a encamped contingent of the Union Army at Frankin, Tennessee. This attack came to be known as the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee. The Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, came to be recoginized as one of the pivotal battles that hastened the end of the war. The losses incurred by the 23rd and the Union forces during the Battle of Franklin rendered both forces almost completely ineffective as fighting units. Several weeks later the 23rd was almost annihilated at the Battle of Nashville, Tennessee.

George was wounded in the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee.

Shortly after the Battle of Nashville, General Robert E. Lee, realized that the Southern cause was lost and began preparations to end the war.

The 23rd surrendered to Union forces in North Carolina in February, 1865 and were subsequently discharged in April, 1865, at Charleston, South Carolina.

On August 10, 1913, George filed a Soldier's Application for Pension for Use of Soldiers in Indigent Circumstances with the State of Texas. At that time George was a resident of the Confederate Home in Austin, Travis County, Texas. He was granted a monthly pension of $50 on September 1, 1913. George is buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Travis County, Texas in the section reserved for Confederate veterans. One of George's witnesses testifying on behalf of his pension application was his former Captain of Company G, John R. Lay. The second of George's witnesses was Curtis Green who originally enlisted with George and Isaac as members of Sardis Volunteers. After the war, Captain Lay moved to Saratoga, Hardin County, Texas. Curtis Green had moved to Oglesby, Coryell County, Texas.

George decided to be buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, TX because of a family fight...seems he and his sons got into one, as they had married sisters whose Dad, William R. Pilkinton had fought for the Union. Old George was ornery even in his old age. He is buried in the section reserved for Confederate Veterans. This is a beautiful cemetery that is the home to many of Texas' famous folks.

Issac Pilgrim's second wife, Sarah Emmaline "Emma" Powell Pilgrim, filed a Widow's Application for Pension at Camp County, Texas, on July 12, 1911. This application was not approved and she subsequently filed a second application and was granted a Veteran's Survivors pension under Pension Number 28792 in the amount of $500 on August 1, 1914.

Testifying for Sarah was G. R. A. Brison who was a recruit of Sardis Volunteers in 1861. Mr. Brison testified that he personally knew Isaac, commenting "I served in the same company and was in the same "mess" with the said I. T. Pilgrim for two years". Curtis Green also testified on Emma's behalf.

When Sarah passed away, her casket, dress and burial equipment was provided by a firm named Ellis Hardware, Furniture, Gas Stoves, Undertaker Goods and Farm Implements at Pittsburg, Camp County, Texas. Her casket cost $200, dress $12.50, hearse $10.00 and equipment $7.50 for a total of $230 which was paid out of her estate.

As for George Washington Pilgrim's daughters-in-laws father, here is his story....which isn't as long as he left early in the fight having been wounded with a head injury and an arm injury, too, from a cannon ball.

William R. PILKINTON joined the enlisted in Co., C, 8th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry, he was living in Webster County, Missouri at the time the war broke out. He joined when it was organized at Jefferson City, Bolivar, Warsaw and Linn Creek December 18, 1861, to May 6, 1862. Unattached, Dept. of Missouri, to September, 1862. District of Southwest Missouri to July. 1865. He only stayed about 18 months and then was injured and left for home where he spent the rest of the war. He was given an Honorable Discharge and was given a pension of 10.00 a month for his services. He was married to Mary Catherine RAGAN of Texas Co., MO in Hartsville, Wright Co., MO on November 16, 1854. William was joined in the unit by his brothers, James D. Pilkinton, Benton Pilkinton (who died of war related causes on September 28, 1863, at Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, USA); Jesse Pilkinton, served in Co. C, 8th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry; he died at home of pneumonia. His step-mother Matilda filed a request for pension in 1890 but was denied based on relationship (pensions were not granted to step-parents, etc..).

Hope this helps....
Hugs,
Cheryl