From the Civil War pension record of George Andrew Brooks we learn some marvelous information. "At only 5'8 inches tall he was of average height for his era. He had a fair complexion, dark hair and blue eyes." He was born in Ohio in 1846 and was of the prime age to serve in the Civil War. We also learn that George enlisted in the Union, Ohio Infantry at Camp Chase, Ohio. The history of his regiment is available from the National Park Service Civil War it reads:
UNION OHIO VOLUNTEERS
136th Regiment, Ohio Infantry (National Guard)
Organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, and mustered in May 18, 1864. Left State for Washington, D. C., May 13. Assigned to garrison duty at Forts Ellsworth. Repulse of General Jubal Early's attack on Washington D. C. (Fort Stevens) July 11-12. Mustered out August 30, 1864. Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 23 Enlisted men by disease. Total 25.
Fort Stevens was part of the extensive fortifications built around Washington, D.C., during the American Civil War.
This battle is well known because Abraham Lincoln was at the fort, being the only sitting president ever to be at a battle.
President Lincoln was inside the fort under enemy fire. During the heat of the battle a Union surgeon standing only inches away from the president was shot and wounded. There is a Legend that the future Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes saw Lincoln stand up on the fort to get a better view of the battle and made himself a target, Holmes is said to have yelled to him “Get down, you damn fool!”
The Confederates lost the battle, losing around 500 of their 10,000 men. Early's force withdrew that evening, and headed back across the Potomac River into Virginia, bringing back supplies they got from Maryland. General Early remarked to one of his officers after the battle, "Major, we didn't take Washington, but we scared Abe Lincoln like hell."
It is hard to imagine marching from Ohio to Washington D.C. to fight in a war. The soldiers exhibited profound dedication and determination to the cause of freedom and liberty leaving behind family and loved ones. After the war George returned to Ohio and married Josephine Barrett (1868) They had three sons. He is shown here with his wife during their senior years living in Henry County, Missouri. It is a great honor to have an ancestor numbered among those that fought to preserve our freedom.
father of
Charles Daniel Brooks
father of
Carl McKinley Brooks
father of
Alvin D. Brooks
George Marvin Brooks
Loren William Brooks
Gerald Clarence Brooks
Carl Brooks Jr.
Leonard Herschel Brooks
Herbert Delano Brooks
Shirley Alene Brooks
Donald Lee Brooks
