WILLIAM HEMBREE

William Hembree was born 1840-41, died Jan. 1862. He was my gr.gr.grandfather. I do not know yet where or who he came from. If any Hembree/Embree researchers could help, I would appreciate it very much.

William Hembree enlisted as a Private in the Union Army at Estill Springs, Estill County, Ky. on October 10, 1861. Documents show he was in Co. H, 8th Infantry Regiment, Ky. on Jan. 15, 1862. He died on Jan. 18, 1862 at Lebanon, Ky. from fever, he was 21 years old.
In reading letters from a young soldier in this camp on William's day of death, sent to his grandfather, there was mention of measles in camp and suspicion of smallpox in 2 people there.

William is probably buried as an "unknown" at Lebanon National Cemetery, Marion County, Kentucky--original count of deaths from the battle at time of his death--865 burials, 281 of those were unknown.

Hembree, Wm.-----Jackson, Julia Ellen 8-6-1859 Goosey, David, bondsman

William and Julia were married August 6, 1859 at McKee in Jackson County, Ky. They had one son, John Hembree Feb. 20, 1861, Estill County, Ky. John is my gr. grandfather.

On Jan. 14, 1864, Julia filed claim for Pension for minor son, John Hembree, with G. V. Holland listed as guardian of John Hembree. In that day, a single woman needed an important person to be guardian to minor child, it helped them receive the pension. In this time frame, there was a G.V. Holland who was a doctor in Berea/Big Hill area, Madison County, Ky.

Organized at Estill Springs and Lebanon, Ky., October, 1861. Attached to General Thomas's Command to January, 1862. 16th Brigade, Army of the Ohio, to September, 1862.

SERVICE: Duty at Estill Springs, Ky. until November 28, 1861. March to Lebanon, Ky. November 28-December 3, and duty there until March, 1862.

Lebanon National Cemetery is located on the southern edge of Lebanon in Marion County, Ky. From Highway 55, take Highway 208 South for 1/2 mile to the cemetery.

In 1861, Colonel John M. Harlan form Springfield, Illinois, established Camp Crittenden at Lebanon and began recruiting the 10th Kentucky Infantry regiment. From November of that year, Lebanon had become the primary staging center for General George H. Thomas's Mill Spring camp. The town remained an important Union supply depot during the Civil War, as well as a major center for the Union hospitals. Even after the fighting moved south during the last two years of the War, at least one military hospital continued to operate in town. During the same period, Lebanon was a major recruiting camp for "colored troops". Over 2,053 men were recruited, the overwhelming majority of whom had been slaves in the region.

Official records indicate the U.S. government first obtained the land for the cemetery in 1862, but it was not designated a national cemetery until 1867. The original interments were the scattered remains of Union soldiers from Lebanon and the surrounding countryside. there were 865 total original interments including 281 unknowns. the original triangular tract is bounded by a stonewall and it contains an 1870's lodge occupied by the superintendent and the remains of a rostrum.

The cemetery was placed on the National register of Historic Places in 1975.

Estill Springs is more or less a ghost town now. This old resort and Civil War recruiting station was located along present-day SH 89, at the foot of Sweet Lick Knob, ½ mile north of Irvine. A state historical marker (#555) is at the site. A resort operated here between 1814 and 1924, when the hotel burned. In 1861 a recruiting station was located here, and it also served as the home for the 8th Kentucky (Union) Infantry Volunteer Regiment.

When the Civil War erupted Sidney Barnes, owner of the estate of Estill Springs, rallied to the side of the Union. He was the prime force in the formation of the famous Eighth Kentucky Infantry Regiment. The regiment was comprised mostly of men from Estill and her neighboring counties. The soldiers earned national acclaim for their heroic efforts in capturing the crest of Lookout Mountain in that celebrated battle. The names of Sidney and several of his subordinates are enshrined on a plaque atop the precipice. Sidney's plantation at Estill Springs became the training base for the Eighth Infantry while the regiment was being assembled. Sidney had acquired the estate from his father-in-law just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. Barnes was given a Colonel's commission and assumed command of the regiment. As commanding officer he is credited for much of the success achieved by the unit.