Iowans for the Confederacy

My gggg Uncle, Winchester Miller, served with a Texas Regiment in the Civil War. No one has found a reason as to why he served the Confederacy, he was born in Ohio and raised in Jefferson County, IA. There is no record of him ever having been further south than Missouri.

I am unable to get to my records right now, but I believe he served with a cavalry unit, and only for, I think, two years. I don't believe he saw any major action during the war.

However, upon his return, the story is that the word got out that a "rebel" was at the farm and it was soon surrounded with an angry group demanding to see "Winnie." He apparently left through a back door, jumped on a horse, and left the area. He never returned home again.

Winchester Miller ended up in what was to become Tempe, AZ. He was instumental in getting the first irrigation canal dug to provide water to Tempe, and even served a few years as sheriff of Maricopa County, AZ. Unfortunately the decision he made to fight with the Confederacy cost him his ability to grow up and grow old with his family and work the land homesteaded by the Miller's of Jefferson County-land which is still in the family.

Contributed by:

Hilary Thompson, Private 4th Iowa Infantry, Company G

I am looking for information on the 4th regiment, company G infantry of Iowa volunteers. My ggg grandfather Hilary Thompson was in this regiment.  He signed up on the 4th of July 1861, enlisted in the army at Mt. Ayr, Ringgold Co. Iowa. Rank was that of private. He was 46 years old and this was his second enlistment.

I have quit a story on this man as he was married to Cynathia Ann Downs daughter of Benedict Downs known as Major from Kentucky. (Churchill and Downs Race track) Hilary was living in Iowa at the time of enlistment but records show that he went to KY and somehow was fighting for the South, he was wounded and sent back to IA. Hilary then enlisted again. (above information). During this time Hilary's sons were captured by the North and they explained their circumstances and they enlisted in the Union Army as well. There are records of this service in the Union Army but I for one would like to find and see for myself and any other information on this regiment!

Does anyone have any ideas? Or any information on how to find records from the South?

It is very possible, although we have no evidence, that the family was divided on the whole issue of the war and slavery. Being from Central Kentucky, one would think they may be more sympathetic with the Confederate cause. The Downs family owned slaves. But Hilary moved to Iowa about 1850
after his term of service in the 16th regiment, A private with the War with Mexico.

Thank-you ahead of time for any information you can help lead me in.

Thanks to the Iowa Civil War site, its is a wonderful site!!!
Terri McConaughy

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