The American Civil War (1861–1865) was fought in North America within the United States of America, between twenty-three mostly northern states of the Union and the Confederate States of America, a coalition of eleven southern states that declared their independence and claimed the right of secession from the Union in 1860-1861. The war claimed more American lives than any other conflict in history, with approximately total killed (1.78% of population) and over 970,000 casualties (3.09% of population). The causes of the war, and even the name of the war itself, are still debated (see the article Naming the American Civil War).

Seven states seceded shortly after the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 – even before he was inaugurated:

• South Carolina (December 20, 1860)
• Mississippi (January 9, 1861)
• Florida (January 10, 1861)
• Alabama (January 11, 1861)
• Georgia (January 19, 1861)
• Louisiana (January 26, 1861), and  Texas (February 1, 1861).

The map above represents the states that were involved during the US Civil war; Red representing the Southern forces and Blue  representing the Union Forces. The light blue are northern states that permitted slavery. The unshaded areas were not states before the civil war.

These States of the Deep South, where slavery and cotton plantation agriculture were most dominant, formed the Confederate States of America (February 4, 1861), with Jefferson Davis as President, and a governmental structure closely modeled on the U.S. Constitution (see also: Confederate States Constitution). After the Battle of Fort Sumter, South Carolina, Lincoln called for troops from all remaining states to recover the forts, resulting in the secession of four more states: Virginia (April 17, 1861), Arkansas (May 6, 1861), North Carolina (May 20, 1861), and Tennessee (June 8, 1861).

This site is dedicated to our family members that made the ultimate sacrifice

List of US Civil War battles fought by our family members
Battle of Jonesboro, Battle of Honey Hill, Battle of Nashville

McGinty T. CASON, C.S.A.1816-1863 
Pvt. Company B 50^th Regiment Georgia Infantry, killed at Shenandoah Valley, Virginia in 1863. McGinty is buried at Mount Jackson, Our Soldiers Cemetery, Shenandoah County, Virginia. McGinty Cason was awarded the Distinguished Service Award.

It is interesting to note that McGinty and the brother of his sister-in-law Joel Walker both received that same decoration the same year. Joel the brother of Phoebe Walker wife of Hillery Cason died in a confederate hospital in Virginia on 20^th January 1863. McGinty T. Cason was the son of Frederick Cason and Elizabeth Williams and the brother of Hillery Cason who was in the same Company.

Dennis Smith, C.S.A 1834-18^th Dec 1864

Wounded at the Battle of Honey Hill, Jasper County, South Carolina. Died of his wounds in Confederate Hospital, Charleston, South Carolina. Dennis was the brother-in-law of Margaret “Medders” Smith and brother of Edward J Smith.

Company F 47^th Regiment Georgia Infantry
Battle of Honey Hill 
Other Names: None 
Location: Jasper County 
Campaign: Savannah Campaign (1864) 
Dates: November 30, 1864

Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. John Hatch [US]; Col. Charles Colcock [CS] 
Forces Engaged: 6,400 total (US 5,000; CS 1,400) 
Estimated Casualties: 796 total (US 746; CS 50)

Result(s): Confederate victory 
CWSAC Reference #: SC010 
Preservation Priority: II.3 (Class C) 

Description: Leaving Hilton Head on November 28, a Union expeditionary force under Maj. Gen. John P. Hatch steamed up the Broad River in transports to cut the Charleston & Savannah Railroad near Pocotaligo. Hatch disembarked at Boyd’s Landing and marched inland. On November 30, Hatch encountered a Confederate force of regulars and militia under Col. Charles J. Colcock at Honey Hill. Determined attacks by U.S. Colored Troops (including the 54th Massachusetts) failed to capture the Confederate entrenchments or cut the railroad. Hatch retired after dark, withdrawing to his transports at Boyd’s Neck. 

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