George
May Trotter
Sept. 29th, 1835-
May 25th, 1918
George
May Trotter was born in Bartholomew County on Sept. 29th, 1835 in Indiana, his
parents were David Robertson Trotter and Sarah May both from Warren County, Ohio. David
settled in Bartholomew County in 1827 along with his family came his father, William
Trotter, and his mother, Martha Robertson, David’s brother, sisters, several aunts,
uncles, and cousins all moved to the new settlement.
There was an abundance of wild game in the
region of the new home, such as deer, foxes, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, turkeys,
quails and pheasants. Wolves, bears and panthers were occasionally seen. The creeks and
rivers abounded with fish.
George’s
middle name, May, came from his Mother’s maiden name; this was very common for the
parents to name one of their sons. George’s grandfather was George May. George’s
Dad was named after his mother also. George had 5 sisters and 4 brothers.
Nancy Ann Trotter- born June 9th, 1831 died Jan. 4th,
1906- lived 75 yrs
John R. Trotter- born
Feb. 13th, 1833 died Nov. 14th,
1854- lived 21 yrs
George May Trotter-born Sept. 29th, 1835 died May 25th, 1918- lived 82 yrs
Andrew W. Trotter- born Jan 18th, 1838 died May 21st,
1899- lived 61 yrs
Delilah Trotter-
born about 1840
died unknown
James H. Trotter- born Nov. 11th,
1842 died May 11th, 1899- lived 56 yrs
Martha Trotter-
born May 31st, 1845 died
Dec. 31st, 1845- lived 7 months
Matilda Trotter- born
about 1847
died unknown
Mary Trotter-
born about 1849
died unknown
Benjamin Trotter- born Aug. 7th,
1852 died March 9th,
1901- lived 48 yrs
George was a teacher in Hope, Indiana when President Lincoln called
for 75,000 troops to fight for the Union in the Civil War. On April 25th, 1861,
at the age of 25, George enlisted in the 6th Regiment of the Indiana
Volunteers, commanded by Augustus Abbett, of Columbus, IN. He was assigned to Company B
and was given the rank of Corporal. His future brother in law joined him, Private, Joseph
E. Hart along with his cousins, Privates, Duncan G. and William J. Robertson.
The 6th Regiment organized at Indianapolis,
Ind., April 22-27, 1861. They left the State for Grafton, West Virginia on May 30th and
were attached to Kelly's Command. They engaged in action at Philippi on June 3rd. Morris'
Indiana Brigade, Army of West Virginia in July. West Virginia Campaign July 6-16.
Carrick's Ford July 12-14. Pursuit of Garnett's forces July 15-16.They lost 3 by disease.
On Aug. 2nd, 1861 term expired and mustered out. After three months' service as
noncommissioned officer he was honorably
discharged and returned home.
On May 18th, 1862 George married Harriet Hattie Hart, whose Grandfather was Joseph Hart. Joseph Hart served in Captain Holcomb's company of the Fourth Virginia regiment, commanded by Colonel Thomas Elliot, and also in Captain Thomas Ridley's company of the Virginia regiment, commanded by Colonel Robert Lawson, in the Revolutionary War. His name is first borne on the rolls of the Fourth Virginia regiment for April, 1777, and it appears also on subsequent rolls to February, 1778, when he is reported "Discharged, Feb. 16, 1778."
George M. Trotter, and his brother in law, Gideon B. Hart, began enlisting a company for the service, 12th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which went into camp at Indianapolis, August 10th 1862. The regiment was organized August 16th, and of which Governor O. P. Morton commissioned him Captain; this company became Company H. with George as Captain and Joseph E. Hart 1st Lieutenant. On May 20, 1865, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, and held that rank until he was finally discharged on June 8, 1865.
One of his campaigns was with Gen. Sherman in his march to the sea and he also was present at the surrender of Joe Johnson's Army. This happened in Guilford Co. N.C. near Greensboro, and in effect ended the Civil War. This is where Lee's army was headed when they were trapped in Virginia and forced to surrender. George served in the 12th Indiana Volunteer Infantry with 4 of his cousins and 2 brothers in laws.
In the fall of 1865 George and his family
moved to Breckenridge, Caldwell County, Missouri. He bought a farm three miles from
Breckenridge, where he was one of the leading farmers of his township. He was a Mason and
has been ever since he was
twenty-one years old. He and his wife were members of the Congregational Church of
Breckenridge.
12th REGIMENT INFANTRY (3
YEARS.)
http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.htm
Organized at Indianapolis, Ind., May 27 to August 27, 1862, and mustered in August 17, 1862. Left State for Kentucky August 21. Attached to Cruft's Brigade, Army of Kentucky, and moved to Richmond, Ky. Battle of Richmond, Ky., August 30. Regiment mostly captured. Paroled and sent to Indianapolis, Ind., for reorganization. Action at Lexington, Ky., September 2 (Detachment). Regiment left Indianapolis, Ind., for Memphis, Tenn., November 23, 1862. Attached to 2nd Brigade, District of Memphis, Tenn. 13th Army Corps (Old) to December 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, District of Memphis, 13th Army Corps, December 1862. <dy_1123> 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 17th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps, to July, 1863. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 15th Army Corps, to September 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 15th Army Corps, to June 1865.
SERVICE- Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November-December, 1862. Action at Holly Springs, Miss., December 20, 1862. Duty at Grand Junction and Colliersville, Tenn., guarding Memphis & Charleston R. R. till June 1863. Ordered to Vicksburg, Miss., June 9. Siege of Vicksburg June 12-July 4. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 4-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. Duty at Big Black till September 28. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., thence march to Chattanooga, Tenn., September 28-November 20. Operations on the Memphis & Charleston R. R. in Alabama October 20-29. Chattanooga- Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Tunnel Hill November 23-25. Missionary Ridge November 25. March to relief of Knoxville, Tenn., November 28-December 8. Duty at Scottsboro, Ala., till May, 1864. Atlanta Campaign May 1-September 8. Demonstrations on Resaca May 8-13. Near Resaca May 13. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Movements on Dallas May 18-25. Battles about Dallas, New Hope Church Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Brush Mountain June 15. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Battle of Atlanta July 22. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. . Ezra Chapel, Hood's 2nd sortie, July 28. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Reconnoissance to Salkehatchie River, South Carolina, January 25. Salkehatchie Swamp February 2-5. South Edisto River February 9. North Edisto River February 12-13. Congaree Creek February 15. Columbia February 16-17. Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 20-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 20. March and review June 24, 1865. Veterans and Recruits transferred to the 48th and 59th Indiana Infantry. Regiment lost during service 8 Officers and 92 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 193 Enlisted men by disease. Total 295.
Civil
War
6th Regiment
3 Month Service
Company B
UNION INDIANA VOLUNTEERS
http://jerry.vigo.lib.in.us/civilwar/63mb.htm
Corporal- George M. Trotter- Bartholomew County, Indiana, mustered in 25
Apr 1861, mustered out 2 Aug 1861, term expired.
Detailed Soldier Records
http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/index.html
George M. Trotter Company B Soldier's Rank In Corpl.
Film Number M540 roll 78 Soldier's Rank Out Corpl.
Joseph E. Hart Company B Soldier's Rank In Pvt.
Film Number M540 roll 31 Soldier's Rank Out Pvt.
Duncan
G. Robertson
Company
G
Soldier's
Rank In
Pvt.
Film Number M540 roll 65 Soldier's Rank Out Pvt.
William J. Robertson Company C Soldier's Rank In Pvt.
Film Number M540 roll 65 Soldier's Rank Out Pvt.
Died in Brown’s Ferry, Tennessee Oct. 27, 1863
Civil
War
12th Regiment
3 Years Service
Company F & S
UNION INDIANA VOLUNTEERS
http://jerry.vigo.lib.in.us/civilwar/123ystaf.htm
Captain- George M. Trotter- Columbus,
Indiana, commissioned 17 Aug 1862
Major- George M. Trotter- Columbus,
Indiana, commissioned 17 Sep 1864.
Lieutenant Colonel- George
M. Trotter- Columbus, Indiana, commissioned 1 May 1865, mustered in 20 May 1865,
mustered out 8 Jun 1865, term expired.
Detailed Soldier Records
http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/index.html
George M. Trotter Company F&S Soldier's Rank In Capt
Film Number M540 roll 78 Soldier's Rank Out Lt. Col.
Jeremiah Trotter Company H Soldier's Rank In Pvt.
Film Number M540 roll 78 Soldier's Rank Out Pvt.
William C. Trotter Company H Soldier's Rank In Pvt.
Film
Number M540 roll 78
Soldier's Rank
Out Corpl.
Gideon B. Hart Company H Soldier's Rank In 1 Sgt.
Film Number M540 roll 31 Soldier's Rank Out Capt.
Joseph E. Hart Company H Soldier's Rank In 1 Lt.
Film Number M540 roll 31. Soldier's Rank Out 1 Lt
John T. Robertson Company H Soldier's Rank In Pvt.
Film Number M540 roll 65 Soldier's Rank Out Pvt.
John A. Robertson Company H Soldier's Rank In Pvt.
Film Number M540 roll 65 Soldier's Rank Out Corpl.
6th Regiment 12 Regiment
Family Reunion in Columbus, Indiana 1911