re: Anybody here direct descendants of both Confederate and Union Civil War soldiers?

You’re a bigot AND a supporter of tyranny then?

Just kidding. That’s pretty cool.

But by all means, we have to suppress all this history.

So anyway, just two known great-great grand uncles.

GOOD GUYS: Arkansas and Tennessee. Confederate cavalry and infantry.

BAD GUYS: Illinois. Contract surgeon under Gen. Butler.

My kids are descended from Confederate, Union, World War I, WWII, Korean War and Revolutionary War vets. We sat out Vietnam.

I have a good one for you. My Great great great GF, was both a Confederate and Union Soldier.

In 1862, most Southern States that had seceded had to turn to conscription to field newly formed regiments. The Confederate leaders thought it would be a short conflict that would end before the spring of 62. When the State of Ga voted whether or not to secede, an overwhelming majority of the North Ga delegates voted against secession. Most people in North Ga were poor farmers who did not own slaves. My GF lived in Elijay, Gilmer County and did not enlist in 61. Most of the 61 enlistees were from middle and South Georgia(I had 2 GFs from south Ga who did enlist in 61.)

In Spring of 62, the State unleashed "Home Guards" to go into areas like Gilmer Co where they coerced the men into the enlistment camps. Failure to comply was usually met with property destruction, threats, and sometimes violence. As such, my GF "enlisted" in the 39th Ga (Gilmer Tigers #2) Regiment as a 1st SGT. He was 36 at the time.

The 39th Ga was under Pembertons command at Vicksburg. Shortly after Pemberton surrendered to Grant, his regiment was paroled in a prisoner exchange. Of course, upon return to Georgia, the regiment was reformed and was thrown into action at Chickamauga in September 63 and later at Chattanooga in November. When Grant finally broke the confederate siege of Chattanooga, he successfully forced the Confederates to retreat to Dalton, Ga.. There they made winter camp.

While they were in winter camp, one of Grant's junior officers offered up a brilliant idea. Knowing that the Confederate morale was low, he came up with the idea to persuade them through secret agents to defect to Chattanooga to Pledge an Oath of Allegience to the US. A type of Underground Railroad was formed to get the deserters through the lines to Chattanooga. By early spring, 2/3rds of his regiment had deserted. He was one of the last remaining and was the last NCO. The ones who went to Chattanooga to pledge the oath were given 2 options. They could go North to Ohio and work in Union labor camps until the war ended or they could join newly formed Union regiments with the guarantee that they would not see front line combat. These new regiments of former Confederate soldiers would be tasked with guarding the Union supply lines as Grant moved to Atlanta. Most of them opted for this option because they would be within 100 miles of their farms and family.

My GF was one of them who opted to join the newly formed 5th Tenn Mounted Infantry. He joined as a 1st SGT in April of 64. He saw no combat and his regiment was somewhere in North Carolina when Lee surrendered. I have copies of both his Confederate and Union enlistments as well as his Union pension granted to his widow in 1888.

Nope, all gray here.

Had a great great great grandpappy that smoked a few northern invaders that were trying to free his property and had a great great great great great grandpappy who blew holes in our cousins from across the pond.

I am related to a love child born as a result of a relationship between General Lee and Grant.