My relationship to Lewis Stewart:
Me
Roger Dale Ray (Robert Jewell Vincent, father)
Elbert “Shorty” Tracey Vincent (grandfather)
Martin Riley Vincent (great-grandfather)
Emmie Stewart (2nd great-grandmother)
Lewis Stewart (3rd great-grandfather)
I really wanted to do a full post on the life of Lewis Stewart, but a lot of the information I have come across isn’t sourced on the websites where I found it and haven’t been able to source it yet. So until I can, I will offer a bit of what I do have on him, which would be his Civil War records (found on Fold3 and Ancestry). There are A LOT of records on him during the Civil War, so I will start with the first two sets I found and then I will post the last set tomorrow.
The first set is two pages I found on Ancestry. These are Draft Registrations. The first is titled Enrollment List of Persons Subject to Military Duty in the Second District of Kentucky. He is number 14 on the list. He is 35 years, white, a farmer, born in Kentucky and no previous military service.
The next page found on Ancestry is titled CONSOLIDATED LIST of all persons of Class I, subject to do military duty in the Second Congressional District, consisting of the Counties of Muhlenberg and (blank) State of Kentucky, enumerated during the month of July 1863, under direction of Capt. Jno (John) R. Grissom, Provost Marshal. On this list Lewis Stewart is found at number 19, age 35 years, white, farmer, married, born in Kentucky, no former military service and no remarks.
The next set of records I found for him are on Fold3.
Lewis Stewart was in the Union Army as a Private in Company C, 26th Regiment Kentucky Infantry. According to the first record, a Company Descriptive Book, Lewis enlisted March 22, 1864 for a term of 3 years. We also find out what he looked like! He is described as 36 years of age, 5 feet 8 3/4 inches tall, dark complexion, gray eyes and black hair. He is listed as having been born in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky and his occupation is as a farmer.
The next four records are Hospital Muster Rolls.
The first two Hospital Muster Rolls are both dated for November and December 1864. His attachment to the hospital occurred on November 27, 1864. The only other information for him on these records is that he is a patient, but no reason is given.
The last two Hospital Muster Rolls are both dated January and February 1865. They both have him as having returned to duty February 20, 1865. Still no cause of his hospital stay is given.
The last record from this set for him is his return to duty. This card says:
Nov. 1864~absent sick
Dec. 1864~absent hosp. B.Green, Ky
Jan. & Feb. 1865-absent sick in hosp.
May 1865-Detailed at Brig. Hd. Qur.
So we know from November 27, 1864 to February 20, 1865 he was in the hospital sick, but these cards don’t give us a reason. There is a notation at the bottom of this record letting us know that he was also recorded as Lewis “Steward”.
Don’t worry! Tomorrow’s post will have more information, including the reason for his stay in the hospital! Hopefully I can find sources to cite regarding his life outside of the military, too!
