Charles A Ray

Ranked in a Corporal then commissioned a 1st Lt. in Company G (Marietta Rifles), 26th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry, CSA. He is listed as a POW at Camp Chase Civil War Prison, Ohio. He was captured at Fort Donelson on 16 Feb 1862. He was transferred to Johnson Island Civil War Prison, Ohio on 26 Apr 1862. He was wounded at Gaine's Mill on 12 Jun 1864. You can view his records under the "media" tab.

http://www.26thmississippi.com/

http://www.26thmississippi.com/colors26.html

http://www.johnsonsisland.org/history/pow_barbiere/barbiereNR.htm

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1850 United States Federal Census

about Chas Ray

Name: Chas Ray

Age: 16

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1834

Birth Place: Alabama

Gender: Male

Home in 1850(City,County,State): District 7, Itawamba, Mississippi

Household Members:

Name Age

John Ray 47

Mary Ray 45

Wm Ray 20

Thos Ray 18

Chas Ray 16

Andrew Ray 14

Sydney Ray 12

Rebeca Ray 14

Levi Ray 8

Charlotte Ray 6

Nancy Ray 4

Solomon Ray 2

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U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865

about Charles A. Ray

Name: Charles A. Ray

Side: Confederate

Regiment State/Origin: Mississippi

Regiment Name: 26 Mississippi Infantry

Regiment Name Expanded: 26th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry

COMPANY: G (Marietta Rifles) Rank In: Corporal

Rank In Expanded: Corporal

Rank Out: First Lieutenant

Rank Out Expanded: First Lieutenant

Film Number: M232 roll 33

U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles

about Charles A Ray

Name: Charles A Ray

Rank at enlistment: 1st Lieut

State Served: Mississippi

Service Record: Commissioned an officer in Company G, Mississippi 26th Infantry Regiment.

Sources: Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records

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CONFEDERATE MISSISSIPPI TROOPS

26th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry

26th Infantry Regiment was organized during the summer of 1861 at Iuka, Mississippi. Many of the men were from Prentiss, Itawamba, Tishomingo, Perry, and De Soto counties. The regiment moved to Tennessee and was one of the units captured at Fort Donelson. In this fight it lost 12 killed and 69 wounded of the 39 officers and 404 men engaged. After being exchanged, it was assigned to General Tilghman's and J. Adams' Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. The unit reported 7 casualties at Coffeeville, totalled 420 effectives in April, 1863, and lost 2 killed, 5 wounded, and 10 missing at Champion's Hill. In February, 1864, it was ordered to Virginia and placed in J.R. Davis' Brigade. It fought at Cold Harbor, endured the battles and hardships of the Petersburg trenches, and ended the war at Appomattox. Only 4 officers and 8 men surrendered with the Army of Northern Virginia. The field officers were Colonel Arthur E. Reynolds, Lieutenant Colonel F.M. Boone, and Major Tully F. Parker.

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The regiment was in camp at Iuka until December 3, 1861 when it was ordered to Union City, Tenn., whence it moved December 28 to report to Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston at Bowling Green, Ky. From Bowling Green they marched to Russellville February 6, and thence to Fort Donelson, where they arrived February 13, and were engaged in battle until the surrender February 16, when all became prisoners of war. The commissioned officers were confined at Camp Chase and Johnson's Island, Ohio, for six months and then exchanged at Vicksburg. The non-commissioned officers and privates were at Camp Morton, Indianapolis, and exchanged September 13, 1862, at Vicksburg. Many died during the imprisonment.

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Charles Ray was captured at Fort Donelson, TN on Feb. 16, 1862 and sent to Johnson Island, Camp Chase POW Camp.

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Camp Chase Letter of Captain Albert E. Earley

Camp Chase near Columbus Ohio

April 19th 1862

Dear Parents

This will inform you that I am well at present tho I have bin very sick for some time since I have bin a prisoner. C. S. RAY (most likely Charles A. RAY), T. L. Farmer and myself are all of our company that are here. Both of them have bin sick. Farmer is low yet but mending slowly. I think his recovery doubtful. T. F. Parker is at ft warren mass. I hear from him by letter every week. He has had a very bad spell of typhoid fever but is getting well again. The rest of our company are at indianappolis. I hear from them occasionally. They have suffered much with sickness but no deaths since they arrived at that place. Bro H. P. died at this place the 2nd day after we arrived here with pneumonia. He spoke to me calmly of his death a day or two days before he died. I waited on him as best I could until a few hours before he died when I was taken suddenly very sick & was confined to my bed for several days. Tully Ray & Farmer then waited on him till he died. We labeled the coffin & the officers promised to put the same on the head board. If I should live I want to remove his remains to Mississippi, as he made that his last request. We left seven of our co very sick at St Louis & have not heared from them yet, but I feel pretty sure that R. M. Tynes died. We lost in battle 3 killed. J. L. Walker, Ths Swiney, Wm Brevin. Two missing, F. C. Bryant & P. H. Richardson. Seven wounded, some severely. We had but 44 men of our co in the battle. We are treated well enough for prisoners. I haven't the most distant idea when we will be released, but hope the time is not far distant when this unholy war will cease & we be permitted to return to our homes in peace. I close by saying farewell.

A. E. Earley

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Camp Chase Letter of Sergeant Thomas L. Farmer

Collumbus Ohio April the 20th 1862

Dear wife and little children

I embrace the opertunity of writing you a few lines in order to let you noe where I am. I am now at Camp Chase neare the citty of Collumbus Ohio. I and some of our officers arrived here the 1st day of March all very unwell at that time. H. P. Earley dide March the 2. The rest of our company has all got well but myself. I have not bin well since I got here. Tho I am non-improving hope I will soon be stout again.

My dear companion and little children I shall not attempt to tell or describe how bad I want to see you. I hope however, the time pray not to far distant & when I sall be taken home to remain there in peace. Tho I am in a very comfortable little room plenty to eat and of a good quality. Dear father & mother take care of my little family tenderly also yourselves. My love to you all as I am sending this note in Lietenant RAYS (Charles A. RAY) letter I will not attempt to write much at present as it is difficult for it to ever cross the lines. I am your most affectionate husband till death

Thomas T. L. Farmer

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Major Engagements and Events of the 26th Miss:

(Lt. Charles A. Ray's participation in the following show the word "present".)

   * Fort Donelson, Tenn (Feb. 12-16, 1862) - present

* Fort Donelson Captives in Prison after the Surrender (Feb.-Sept. 1862) - present
* Exchanged and Reorganized (Sept. 1862) - present
* Coffeeville, Miss (Dec. 5, 1862) - absent detached
* Fort Pemberton, Miss (Mar.-Apr. 1863) - present
* Willow Creek, Miss (May 3, 1863) - present
* Champion Hill, Miss (May 16, 1863) - present
* Siege of Jackson, Miss (July 1863) - present
* Detached Duty in the Volunteer and Conscript Bureau (July 1863-Feb. 1864) - present
* Meridian (Miss) Campaign (Feb.-Mar. 1864) - present
* Ordered to the Eastern Theatre (Mar. 24, 1864) - present
* The Wilderness, Va (May 5-6, 1864) - present
* Spotsylvania, Va (May 8-21, 1864) - present
* North Anna, Va (May 23-26, 1864) - present
* Bethesda Church, Va (May 31, 1864) - present
* Cold Harbor, Va (June 1-3, 1864) - present. He was wounded at Gaines' Mill June 12, 1864
* Siege of Petersburg, Va (June 1864-Apr. 1865) - absent due to wounds
* Weldon Railroad, Va (Aug. 18-22, 1864) - absent due to wounds
* Hatcher's Run (Feb 5-7, 1865) - absent
* Appomattox Campaign (Mar. 25-Apr. 9, 1865) - absent
* Surrender of the Majority of the Regiment at Hatcher's Run (Apr. 2, 1865) - absent
* Hatcher's Run Captives in Prison after the Surrender (Apr.-June 1865) - absent
* Twelve Men Surrender with Lee at Appomattox (Apr. 9, 1865) - absent
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Source 1: http://www.26thmississippi.com/

Source 2: http://www.26thmississippi.com/colors26.html

Source 3: http://www.mississippiscv.org/MS_Units/26th_MS_INF.htm

Source 4: http://americancivilwar.com/statepic/tn/tn002.html

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Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935

about C. A. Ray

Name: C. A. Ray

Spouse: Amanda P. Posey

Marriage Date: 7 Apr 1864

County: Itawamba