have been trying in vain to find my ancestor, Joshua W Brown who lived in Paint Creek, Kanawha, Virginia and whose family fled to Union, Monroe County the fall of 1862. He is never on any rosters. However, I was just browsing the records on footnote for the 8th Cavalry as Joshua’s son Frank M Brown, age 17, was with that unit. I saw no Joshua or JW Brown. However, there was a Joseph W Brown, age 24, who was a private. Looking through his record, though, at page 3 you suddenly come to a JW Brown. This Brown is an ord(?) sergeant from Kanawha and if you keep looking, is age 40 in 1865. One card indicates he was out sick in Monroe for a bit. (That is where the family was living) Toward the end is an oath of allegiance Joshua signed in Cincinnati, as JW Brown. Joshua was living across the river from Cincinnati then in Campbell County, Kentucky where his youngest daughter was born in1867.

So my Joshua gets no recognition for his part in the war because somebody mistakenly thought the JW stood for Joseph W who is much younger and of a different rank. How do I go about getting my Joshua on a roster? I am sure others in my family are or will be looking for him.

I do appreciate any help or guidance you can give me.

Sue Brown Jennings
sjennings@ec.rr.com