Living Legacy: Benjamin S. Harrell

Benjamin Simpson Harrell who was in the Confederate Army that was a part of the 6 Virginia Cavalry. He was born on January 11, 1842 in Fauquier, Virginia. His family members are John Harrell (father), Jane Harrell (mother), and two younger sisters Georgiana and Jenny. During 1860 he mainly lived in South West Revenue District, Fauquier, Virginia. There his occupation was as a farmer and he was 18 years old.

2 Census Information:

1850 – family, ages, where census taken: 1850 census couldn’t be found for Benjamin S. Harrell.

1860 – family, ages, where census taken: During 1860, Benjamin S. Harrell and his family were living in the South West Revenue District, Fauquier, Virginia. His father John was 66 years old, mother Jane was 55 years old, and two younger sisters Georgiana was 4 years old and Jenny was 2 years old. In the South West Revenue District, he worked as a farmer at age 18 under his father John who was also a farmer and his mother Jane worked at home known as a house worker. In 1860 Benjamin S. Harrell family’s estate was $500 which converts to $11,375.67 in today’s amount of money. His personal estate was $300 which converts to $6,825.40 today. Benjamin’s father, John, was born on November 7, 1795 in Fairfax County, Virginia and died in the month of August in the year of 1860. John Harrell’s parents where John Harrell, and Martha Davis. Benjamin’s father, John, married Sarah Jane on the 6th of May in 1823 in Fauquier County, Virginia. Sarah Jane was born on September 9th, 1803 in Virginia and died also in the month of August in 1860 in Fauquier County, Virginia. Sarah Jane’s parents were Lewis Strother and Nancy Jackson. Both Sarah Jane and John Harrell had six children total including Benjamin Simpson Harrell.

3War Career

Include all index card numbers: He was a Confederate and his index card numbers include:

50802899, 3005, 3122, 3243, 3364, 3469, 3570, 3659, 3756, 6716, 7026, 49037279, 47419520, 46333129, 46376602, 40419, 20829

Include all the information from this record:

For September and October, 1862 Benjamin S. Harrell enlisted for war on March 15, 1862 in Salem by Captain Adams in period 3, his benchmark was that he was sick since the 21st of October 1862. In November and December, 1862 he was enlisted again for March 15, 1862 in Salem by Captain Adams for a 3 year war period but was absent due to sickness since October 21st. In May till June, 1862 he enlisted again on March 15, 1862 in Salem, Va but Captain Adams for a 3 year war period. He was paid by Captain R. Carter till April 30, 1863 and was present. In February 28, 1863, he was enlisted for March 15, 1862 in Salem by Captain Adams, paid by Captain R. Carter till December 31, 1863 and was present. For July and May, 1863 Benjamin enlisted and was present for March 15, 1862 in Salem by Captain Adams for a period of 3 years. Captain R. Carter last paid him to the time of April 30, 1863. Benjamin enlisted for November till December 1862 in March 15, 1862 in Salem by Captain Adams for a 3 year period war and was paid by Captain R. Carter till October 31, 1863 and was present. During July till August 1864 dated in December 30, 1864 Benjamin Harrell was enlisted for war on March 1st, 1862 in Salem by Captain Adams but he was absent because he was captured on Fairfax on the 31st of January of 1864. For September and October 1864 Captain Adams enlisted Harrell for March 1st of 1862 in Salem for 12 months. He was paid by Captain Carter till April 30th, 1864 but was absent due to being captured.

Where he enlisted:

Benjamin S. Harrell only enlisted in Salem throughout his entire war career.

What unit he enlisted in (a brief history if you want to):

Benjamin S. Harrell was apart of the Confederate Army. He played as a private soldier for the 6th Virginia Calvary. He was also apart of Company H.

4Where he fought – a history of the 6th CAV when he was in.

Benjamin Simpson Harrell only enlisted in and fought in Salem. When enlisted in September he was probably involved in the battle of Antietam. This battle was known to be one of the bloodiest battle in American military history. The Confederates retreat gave Abraham Lincoln a victory that he wanted that let to the issuing of the Emancipation proclamation. Benjamin S. Harrell was part of the Company H known as “the Wise Dragons”. Many of the men in this company were from Fauquier Country, Virginia. Company H is part of the 20th Regiment of Virginia Infantry.

8Date of death and cause:

Benjamin S. Harrell died on May 7th, 1865 due to a disease. This might’ve been the disease that explains why he was always absent due to being sick throughout his enlistments.

9Conclusions

Benjamin Simpson Harrell enlisted into the Confederate Army at the age of 18. Sadly, he died at the age of 23 due to a disease that effected his enlistments throughout his war career. He enlisted mainly in Salem by Captain Adams and mainly paid by Captain R. Carter. He served under the 6th Virginia Cavalry in Company H. ( I couldn’t find what battles he fought in leading to me not being able to explain what happened in the battles

Sources

http://www.myheritage.com/names/benjamin_harrel

http://home.comcast.net/~vahackley/database/f_13.html

http://go.fold3.com/query.php?query=Benjamin+S+Harrell

http://www.ancestry.com/

http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/battle-search-results.html?battle_year=1862

https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/6thRegiment,VirginiaCavalry%28Confederate%29

Benjamin S Harrell