Following the battle at Shiloh in April 1862, the 3rd Ohio Cavalry, USA was moved into North Alabama for guard duty along the Memphis and Charleston RR. This railroad, though the name has changed several times, is still in use today. Little did I know as a child growing up in Larkinsville, Jackson County, Alabama not one mile from those tracks, what roles in history were played out there. This railroad was a crucial supply line for the Confederacy in the early parts of the Civil War. Obviously the Union sought to deny its use to the Confederacy and to preserve its use for themselves. In late August 1862 a portion of the 3rd Ohio Cavalry under the command of a Lt. Roberts made its way along the railroad tracks that would take them into Larkinsville, Alabama. While in Larkinsville Lt. Roberts met a group of "Lincoln's Loyalists" who expressed a desire to join the Union cavalry. Lt. Roberts enrolled these men on 26 August 1862. Although I am unsure as to the exact number, I have thus far identified seven of these loyalists: Solomon W. Wininger, Thomas Milton Gentle, William Latham, Peter H. Gold, John N. Roberts, George W. Culver and John Sanders. One has to wonder if John N. Roberts was a close relative of the Lt. Roberts who enrolled them. Perhaps he was and therefore took the word of John N. Roberts that all were loyal Union men. The military records of Thomas Milton Gentle indicate that he and his friends enlisted in the Union cavalry in August 1862 at Decherd, Tennessee, about 40 miles due north of Larkinsville, Alabama. It is apparent the men joined in Larkinsville, Alabama and accompanied Lt. Roberts to Decherd, Tennessee for formal induction. The first six men named above joined company F and John Sanders joined Company D. Why Sanders joined a different company from the others is unknown, perhaps he had a close relative already serving in Company D. The service record of the 3rd Ohio has already been well documented: Perryville, Stone's River, Tullahoma, Chickamauga, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, etc. This writing is therefore of a more personal nature. It concerns my ancestors along two different lines, the first three men named above - Solomon Wininger, Thomas Milton Gentle and William Latham. Solomon W. Wininger (pronounced Wine-uh-gur), my 3rd great grandfather, was at the time of the Civil War already a veteran of the Seminole Wars in Florida. From his service record I learned, with amusement, that his daughter and my 2nd-great grandmother, Julia Elizabeth, was born 9 months and 8 days from the date of his discharge at Bellefonte, Jackson County, Alabama. When Solomon joined the 3rd Ohio in August 1862, he was already at the advanced age of 60 years. I am compelled, with admittedly biased pride, to comment on this man's strength, vigor and patriotism. A small man of Cherokee/Melungeon heritage he stood only 5'5" tall with dark complexion, black hair and black eyes. Although slight in stature and of advanced years, he had to be in tremendously good physical condition for the cavalry accepted him without condition. How many men of today, or then either, would volunteer at age 60 to live on horseback and sleep whenever one could, either in the saddle or on the cold ground.... rain, shine, winter, or summer? Solomon Wininger served reputably with the 3rd Ohio for two years until the end of June or early July 1864. At Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, age and exposure finally struck him. He contracted "Dropsy by reason of exposure." For recuperation, he was sent from Kennesaw to Hospital No. 1 at Nashville, Tennessee and from there to a hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. While in Indianapolis, his 3-year enlistment expired. Solomon re-enlisted on 16 January 1865 in I Company, 17th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps. He served in this unit for the remaining duration and was discharged on 24 June 1865. Solomon returned home to Jackson County, Alabama and lived the remainder of his life, finally succumbing on 10 October 1885 to dropsy at the age of 83. The present-day town of Wininger, in Jackson County, Alabama is named in his honor. Thomas Milton Gentle was my 2nd-great grandfather and, having married Julia Elizabeth Wininger, was the son-in-law of Solomon Wininger. Thomas M. Gentle accompanied his father-in-law and others as they made their way to enlist in the Union cavalry. Thomas, a Methodist minister by profession and calling, must have felt compelled enough by patriotism to temporarily put aside his ministry and join the armed services of the United States. Thomas served with the 3rd Ohio without harm until he, too, at Kennesaw, was stricken by illness. In mid July 1864, Thomas was sent to Chattanooga, Tennessee for treatment of "jaundice and exposure. After some recuperation and being only about 60 miles from home, Thomas was granted leave. It was while at home on leave that a child was conceived. A son was born in July 1865 and named for Thomas' commanding general. The child proudly wore the name William Sherman Gentle. Thomas' military record indicates he spent several months recuperating and awaiting muster-in (Sept. and Oct. 1864 ... absent, sick; Nov. and Dec. 1864... absent with leave; Jan. and Feb. 1865 .... detached, awaiting muster- in; Mar. and Apr. 1865 ... present, awaiting muster-in. Finally, Thomas was able to rejoin his troop at Macon, Georgia and was, without further incident, discharged from service at Nashville, Tennessee on 17 June 1865. Following the war, Thomas returned home and began anew his career as a Methodist minister. However, troubles were not over for him. In the 1870s, he was stricken with measles and permanently lost his sight. Although blind, Tom kept preaching. He enlisted the aid of a youth in the congregation to assist him on the pulpit. When it came time to recite Scripture, the youth would whisper the passage into Thomas' ear and Thomas would, in evangelical spirit, bellow out the Scripture to the congregation. On one occasion, Blind Tom, as he was affectionately and respectfully called, had his hand on the Bible when it came time to recite a verse of Scripture. The youth, unable to read the passage because of Tom's hand, whispered into his ear, "Remove your hand." Tom immediately and without thinking bellowed to the congregation, "Remove your hand!" One can only guess at the possible guilty feelings that may have run throughout the congregation. William Latham was my 3rd ancestral member of Company F, 3rd Ohio Cavalry. My gg-granduncle served in F Company for the duration of the war without any apparent leave. At the time of the siege of Atlanta, William "Bill" Latham had a granduncle, John Cox, living in Atlanta. In a March 11, 1911 letter Alfred Latham, Bill's younger brother, relates a visit by Bill Latham to his Uncle John. Alfred writes, "Grandmother Ball was a Cox. She was of scotch decent (sic). She had a Brother living in Atlanta during the civil war. Bill Latham was at his House twist (sic) during the War. Bill said he was in fine Scercomstances (sic)." In early June 1865, following the end of the war, Companies D and F found themselves in Macon, Georgia. On or about June 7, 1865 the regiment, or at least Companies D and F set out for Nashville, Tennessee by train for mustering-out. Upon arrival in Atlanta they found the railroad unusable for about 40 miles northward to Cartersville, Georgia. The troops went on a forced march to Cartersville in order to meet a particular train the next day. The weather was unusually hot, even for Georgia, and heatstroke or heat prostration overcame William. He was helped by some of the seven men mentioned at the beginning of this is article, notably Thomas Gentle, Peter Gold and John Sanders. With their help, William made it safely to Cartersville, and they all rode together to Nashville for mustering-out on 17 June 1865. The Civil War has been called many things: The Civil War; The War of the Rebellion; The War Between the States; The War for Southern Independence; The War of Northern Aggression; even that most recent unpleasantness. To me, the one I find most compelling is The Brothers War. Even the name evokes feelings of sadness in me. A violent time in our history where brothers often faced each other across some field and, without always knowing of the other's presence, tried to kill each other. I sometimes wonder if this happened to William Bill Latham. As we already know, the 3rd Ohio was at Stone's River and at Tullahoma. Bill Latham had two brothers who served with the 26th/50th Alabama Infantry, C.S.A. Lt. Ephraim Latham, who later would desert the Confederacy and become a Captain in the Union Cavalry also under General Sherman s command, fought for the Confederacy at Shiloh and Stone s River. From my limited knowledge of the battle, I believe Ephraim Latham's C.S.A. Company was aligned at one end of the Confederate line and the 3rd Ohio Cavalry was aligned at the end of the Union line. As luck would have it, the 3rd Ohio, USA was opposite the 26th/50th Alabama, C.S.A. Did these brothers fire on each other? I wish I knew. Sgt. Richard Latham fought for the Confederacy and was wounded at Shiloh. He recovered from his wounds only to die of disease in October 1862 while in camp at Tullahoma. I have wondered if he also faced his brother William in some skirmish. It would seem unlikely as William had not joined the Union Cavalry at the time of the Battle of Shiloh and Richard died in Tullahoma prior to the Battle of Stone's River. However was there some skirmish where the brothers may have met? Reading about the Civil war has always been of interest to me, but it has only been since learning of my ancestors, who showed great courage and patriotism by remaining loyal to the Union, that history has become more personal and doubly interesting. I am extremely proud to be a 3rd Ohio descendant. As long as God lets me walk on this earth, their memories will be honored. Thanks, Carl Latham