Confederate Heritage MY FAMILY in "The War of Northern Aggression" 
When I began tracing my family's genealogy, I knew military presence would be a part of my search, as it had always been known that the men in my family had served their country. I hadn't expected to find much for the time period covering The Civil War. (not that I find anything at all "civil" about the time.) I hadn't expected to find much, because I knew that all my early ancestors were simple farmers. They fought not for glory nor for money, but for a cause in which they believed deeply. They longed for peace and for a safe return to their families. What great contribution could they have made for the cause? I just did not know... "All gave some...some gave all." William Geter Streetman, my GGGrandfather volunteered for service to the Confederate States of America 03May 1862 in Milton County, Georgia at the Union Hill Church. He was assigned to The GA 56th Regiment Co G. On the same date three of his sons, Thomas Jefferson, William Wilson, and Joseph Harrison, also volunteered for Service, and were assigned to the same Regiment.
The 56th Regiment of Georgia, Co. G, originally known as Cummings Brigade- was assigned to the Army of Tennessee, Confederate States of America - CSA.
He and his son, Joseph were captured at The Battle of Nashville in 1864 by the Union Army and sent to Camp Chase in Ohio until the end of the war in 1865. Although many of the soldiers of the Confederacy towards the end of the war, being sick, half starved, half clothed, desolate and battle weary, simply laid down their guns and went home, all the members of my family stayed until the end. One uncle, Robert Streetman, a prisoner at Fort Delaware, died there in May 1865, the same month the war was officially over, but 2 months before the last prisoners were released from the prison. He is buried
in a mass grave near Ft. Mott, New Jersey, where today a bronze
monument listing only his name and "GA Co G" stands. (see below)In 1865, when my GGGrandfather, William Geter Streetman, and the sons who survived the war, returned home, William Geter left Georgia with his wife Rhoda Wilson, and five family members enroute to Texas. Two sons, Lovic and Thomas Jefferson remained in Georgia. When the family reached Grand Lake in Arkansas, the boat on which they were traveling sank to the bottom of the Mississippi River. They lost everything but their lives. They homesteaded land 9 miles from the banks of the Mighty Mississippi in Chicot County, Arkansas. In 1869 they purchased the land from the owner, Carrie Meyer. This is where my GGGrandparents are buried and where my Mother, Doris Evelyn Streetman was born in 1923.
I am so fortunate to have access to this photo of one of my Confederate ancestors in uniform. Most of the information here comes from many hours on the Internet, information from relatives, and encouragement from people like George Camp, LA Division of Sons of Confederate Veterans. (see an example of this is in a letter I received from George at the bottom of this page.)
Great-Great Uncle
son of William G and Rhoda Streetman
Volunteered for service to the Confederate States of America 03May 1862 in Milton County, Georgia at the Union Hill Church at age 20.
He was assigned to The GA 56th Co. GThomas Jefferson Survived the war and returned to Georgia. When my GGGrandparents William Geter and Rhoda Streetman left Georgia in 1869, he remained in Georgia. He was engaged to be married to Amanda Hammons, and her family had planned to move to Tennessee. Thomas Jefferson moved to Dickson County, Tennessee with her family where they were married. He and Amanda Hammons Streetman had been married 52 years when he died in 1921 at the age of 79. A member of the Methodist Church, he is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Dickson County, Tennessee.
In 1911 he applied for a pension. Listed on his application were the following disclosures:
"I drink nothing stronger than coffee. I believe my first battle was Baker's Creek, Mississippi. I received a scalp wound at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, sent to hospital, recovered, and re-joined my company. We were surrounded at Vicksburg for 40 days. I was
Captured July 4, 1863, released July 8, 1863, and sent back to Georgia for reorganization. I fought in the Battle of Nashville, and surrendered with General Johnston in North or South Carolina in 1865."
Grave Marker of Thomas Jefferson Streetman
Co. G 56 GA Regiment
Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Sylvia, TN
GGreat uncle, son of William G. Streetman and Rhoda Streetman Volunteered for service to The CSA May 3, 1862 at Union Hill Church, Milton County, Georgia
13 June 1862 Mustered into Co G, 56th Reg. GA Vol Inf . Captured at
Battle of Nashville December 16, 1864. Sent to Camp Chase Ohio
Prison Camp until the war ended in 1865. This would put him and
his father William Geter in the same prison camp. He survived the war and returned home to Georgia, where he left with other family members enroute to Texas in 1869.
Camp Chase Ohio Prison
PVT. William Wilson Streetman
Son of William G. and Rhoda Wilson StreetmanLeast is known of this ancestor who was Killed during the war, but we don't know where or when. Some records indicate he may be buried at Louden, Tennessee.
The Georgia Civil War Archives lists the following information: Streetman, W. W.- October 15, 1861..Enlisted as a private in Co. I, 3rd Regiment Ga. State Troops
Roll dated April 7, 1862, (last on file), shows him present. Mustered out April 11, 1862. Enlisted as a private in Co. G, 56th Regiment Ga. Inf. May 3,1862. Union Hill Church, GA
My GGGrandfather's brother's son Died at Fort Delaware as a result of deplorable conditions. Located on Pea Patch Island, the Fort
was used as a Federal Prisoner of War Prison. Opened for prisoners April 1862, more than 22, 700 Confederate prisoners were confined there. Of these prisoners, 2,346 died at Fort Delaware. The dead were transported across the river to New Jersey, near Fort Mott. The boat traffic across the river must have served as a silent, but constant reminder to both Confederate and Yankee of the bitter price being paid for civil war. Some were buried in trenches, and individual identification was lost. Today a monument stands at the site of the burials with a bronze plaque listing the names of the interred. (see R. M. Streetman's name at top of photo taken in 1998)
Grave Marker of Robert M. Streetman (Co.G, 2 GA Reg.)
died 5/29/1865 at Fort Delaware, 2 months before the last Confederate prisoners were released from this prison. He is buried in Confederate mass grave at Finn's Point Cemetery, NJ-Visiting Ohio Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, wrote in July 1863
after visiting Ft. Delaware....."The prisoners were afflicted with smallpox, measles, diarrhea, dysentery and scurvy as well
as the ever-present louse. A thousand ill; twelve thousand on an island which should hold four;
astronomical numbers of deaths a day of dysentry and the living having more life "on" them than
"in" them. Lack of food and water and thus a Christian nation treats the captives of its sword?"
Monument in Vicksburg National Park, MississippiCummings's Brigade: Col. Elihu P. Watkins
24th, 36th, 39th, 56th Georgia RegimentUnder the command of:
General John Bell HOOD
November-December 1864
George M. Camp
Chief of Staff LA DIV
Sons of Confederate Veterans"Dear Donnis,
You really have a number of ancestors to be proud of in the Streetman line. I'm leaving in a few hours to go to Montgomery AL, for a Heritage Rally proclaiming our Southern Independence with lots of Confederate Flags, etc. You may have recently seen on the news the NAACP boycott in South Carolina, unless they take down the Confederate Battle flag. Well, we're fighting that and lots of other Heritage Issues. so I don't have time to really go into detail but I can tell you that Camp Chase was a Hell Hole to be sent to, about like Auswitch Labor Camp that the Jews were sent to in WWII. I'm surprised your Streetman ancestors lived to get out of it. Some of the battles I do know that your GG Uncle fought in were Bakers Creek, MS, Missionary Ridge, Battle of Nashville, and Battle at Vicksburg. Also, General John Bell Hood led your kin folk up to a nightmare in Nashville. On the way up at Franklin TN, 6 Generals were killed in the Battle of Franklin including one of my hero's Gen. Patrick Cleburne. I've been there & seen where they fought. Hood led us into a death trap at Nashville, bless his heart. He was so doped up with laudanum, one legged (due to a recent amputation post battle wound), couldn't use one arm (shot & left paralyzed
in it), & couldn't hardly stay on his horse after being picked up & put on it. Had to be tied on his horse. At Franklin one of the General's told Gen.
Cleburne, "good Lord, we're walking into certain death across that field Cleburne", to which he replied---"well if we must die, then let us die like
gentlemen."
You should be proud of your ancestors and what they went through for the Cause of Southern Independence. You need to get into the United
Daughters of the Confederacy, Order of the Confederate Rose, & help us FIGHT FOR OUR HERITAGE! Well, I've got to get some rest because I'm getting up in a few hours to leave for Montgomery. Keep in touch and let me know what you find out. I'll try to help you, if you have trouble, but seems like you've already "plowed the ground".George
George M. Camp
Chief of Staff LA DIV
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Next - A Typical Confederate Soldider Homepage
