Andrew Robert RAPER

  General Notes:

Andrew was too old to join the Army during the Civil War. So he took stove soot and darkened his hiar. Then he wrote the number 50 on a piece of paper and put it in his hat. When they ask him if he was under 50 is said "Yes". At the time he went in to the Civil War he was 54 years old.

Above related by Jo Hayes, great grandson of Andrew



Andrew Robert Raper - Civil War
Joined for duty and enrolled in Capt. Neill's Co.I, 82 Reg't IND. Inf.
Aug. 22 1862. Monroe Co. IND. Age 55 years. He wrote the number 50 on a piece of paper an put it in his hat. When ask if he was under fifty he said "yes". Promoted to first sergeant from sergeant. Sept. 8 1864. Wounded in left thigh in action at Chickamauga. GA. Sept. 20 1863. Muster-out Roll, Near Washington D.C. June 7, 1865. The Tennessee Campaign, Chickamauga.
In the fall of 1863, Rosecarns advanced on Chattanooga with an army of
55,000 men. Bragg, seeking to keep his army free for action, evacuated the city and withdrew southward into Georgia. Rosecarns pursued him rashly. Bragg had received reinforcements from Virginia, and his forces numbered close to 70,000. He fell on Rosecarns savagely in the Battle of Chickamauga on September 19 and 20. The Northern right flank crumbled and broke completely. Only the left flank fought on under General George H. Thomas, who earned the nickname of "The Rock of Chickamauga." Rosecarns' entire Union army, badly mauled, eventually had to retreat into Chattanooga.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: listed in 1850 census age 41.

Andrew married Elizabeth (Eliza?) Isabella CHRISTY, daughter of Joseph CHRISTY and Ann BROWN, on Apr 26, 1827 in Spencer, Owen Co, IN. (Elizabeth (Eliza?) Isabella CHRISTY was born on Dec 3, 1809 in North Carolina, died on May 4, 1885 in Pawnee City, Pawnee Co, NE and was buried near Pawnee City, Nebraska.)