Jessee Family Civil War Page

Here's a video from a few years ago when I fire my flint lock rifle...

My name is Lukas J. Jessie.  I have been interested in American history since I was seven years old.  My interests began with the American Revolutionary War and the war of 1812.  My Dad and brothers and I had been interested in and studied our family history which I also became quite interested in.  Our study of our family went along very well with my interest in American History.  My GGGGG Grandfather served during the Revolutionary War and I had many many relatives that fought and died in the Civil War for the Confederate States of America - hailing from the great state of Virginia.

My collection of civil war items that I've collected for the past six years include shell jacket, sky blue infantry trousers, cotton checked shirt, leather infantry belt, original c.s. belt plate, cap pouch, original Enfield bayonet and cartridge box, wood drum canteen, canvas haversack, tin cup, Virginia state seal breast plate, double bag knapsack, slouch hat, confederate kepi, Confederate States of America bowie knife and, last but certainly not least, my favorite possession: 1853 Three Band .58 caliber Enfield rifle.

                                                          - Lukas J. Jessie

                               Adam Jessie                        Lukas Jessie                Lukas and Dylan Jessie

Private Stanford Jessee of the 29th Virginia Infantry, C.S.A.
Jessee was one of the ten Confederate soldiers killed during the Battle of Middle Creek. Courtesy of Gordon B. Jessee of Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Please see the following information about Stanford Lea Jessee:

Source: 1860 Russell Co., VA Census, pg. 28.
They lived on a farm near Carterton (later called the Sam Jessee place). He joined the Confederate Army, serving in Capt. William Jessee's Company. At the battle of Middle Creek, KY, he was stationed with the commissary wagon; but when the battle began, he seized his gun, rushed into the action and was killed by a minnie ball. The Castlewood Baptist Church adopted this tribute:

"It has pleased an all-wise providence to remove from our midst our much beloved brother, Stanford L. Jessee, in the thirtieth year of his age, who was killed in the battle of Middle Creek, Ky, on the 10th day of Januray 1862. he became a member of our church at the early age of ten years from which time to the time of his death he was an exemplary and consistent Christian. In his last moments, having fallen in the midst of battle at the hand of an invading foe, he still trusted in that God he was accustomed to serve as was evidenced from the last words that fell from his lips, which were: "Tell all my friends I died a soldier and died at my post. I have done all I can do and will soon be in a better world than this.'...Or church has lost a useful member. He was a regular attendant of our church meetings, and his deportment as clerk of the church was at all times that of a Christian."

Standford and Sarah are buried on their homeplace:

Here is the link in our family tree for Private Stanford Lea Jessee, CSA
 

Some of the greatest generals from the American Civil War:

General Robert E. Lee Commander of The Army of Northern Virginia - Confederate	General Nathan Bedford Forrest Various Calvary Assignments for the Confederate States of America	General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson 1st Brigade of the Army of Northern Virginia - Confederate
General Joshua Chamberlain Commander of the 20th Maine - Union	General George Pickett Pickett's Division of the Army of Northern Virginia - Confederate	General Lou Armistead Commander of the 9th and 14th Virginia - Confederate

The Battle of Franklin

November 30, 1864

This year, my family and I went to the 140th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin, TN (just south of Nashville) which was an incredible event.  Thousands of Johnnie Rebs and Billy Yanks goin' at each other... It was actually a battle which made Pickett's Charge seem like a walk in the park for the Rebs.  Rather than saying this battle was the "beginning of the end" for the Confederates, it was more like the "end of the end"...

By the way, that's Lukas learning a little something from the embalmer...  I had to convince him not to volunteer for this demonstration...

Lukas J. Jessie

Some of my relatives which fought in the civil war.  Some of their stories and information:

One of my favorite cousins - Jim Jessee, who is responsible for most of the work that's been done to research our wonderful Jessee Family - Please click here - A great quote from this page is:  "...Dozens of Jessee family members fought throughout the Civil War under Robert E. Lee in various Virginia regiments, and many gave their lives. The family reverence for him is unquestioned..."

From information provided by Marshall Jefferson Jessee in his book,  The Jessees of Russell County, Virginia, and additional information by Roger Owens and Roy and his sister, we know that Jefferson was in Co. E, 37th Virginia Infantry. He was engaged in battle at Gettysburg all three days, July 1, 2, 3, 1863, in the area of Culp's Hill. On July 3rd he and his Regiment were beside the 1st Maryland when an assault was made that morning to try and turn the Union flank.  As the 8th flag carrier in Pickett's famous charge up Little Round Top, he was shot down, got up, advanced with the flag flying and was shot down again.  When his comrade, Henry Steele, reached him, he found Jefferson shot through both thighs.  Seven men had already been killed carrying this flag on that fatal day.  Soon the retreat was ordered and the tide of battle poured back over the slopes littered with the dead and dying.  Jefferson was never again seen by his comrades.

Please click here to see Jefferson Jessee's place in our FAMILY TREE!

Here is more info on the death of Jefferson Jessee at the battle of Gettysburg:

On July 1, 1863 at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the Northern Army of 90,000 met General Lee's army of 75,000. The battle ended July 3 and "an indeterminate number of Russell County soldiers fought and died during those three days. Captain Henry Hopkins Dickenson's company was included in General Pickett's division. William Jessee was under Captain Dickenson's command ... On July 3 Jefferson B. Jessee was General Pickett's eighth flag bearer up Little Round Top, the battle where men and officers fell by the scores. When a flag bearer fell, another leaped forward to hold the Stars and Bars aloft.

"Jessee was soon shot down, but he managed to get up and advance a short distance with the flag flying proudly in a hailstorm of bullets. He was shot again and again. Henry Steele, Russell Countian who survived, said when he last saw Jessee on the field he had seven bullet holes in his thighs. His body was not recognized after the battle."

There is so much information available concerning the Jessee's that fought in the civil war.  Below is an excerpt from The Jessee Family Newsletter from Winter and Spring of 1997:

Marshall Jefferson Jessee provides another interesting article on "The Battle of Middle Creek, KY" in which his great-grandfather, Stanford Lea Jessee (Pictured Above) was killed. Stanford Lea Jessee was in the 29th Virginia Volunteers, along with at least a dozen other Jessees, including my own great-grandfather, John Tivis Jessee. The article is an excerpt from From Sumter to Shiloh, Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.

David A. JESSEE was born 1835 in Reeds Valley, Russell Co., VA, and died JUL 1863 in Gettysburg, , PA, Civil War.  Click on David's name to read a letter he wrote from the battlefield!

Please click here to see A.J. Jessee's Obituary from May 26, 1922: "...The deceased fought on the Confederate side during the Civil War and was a fine soldier, participating in many battles...".
 

There was no shortage of Jessee's in this unit, the 29th Virginia Infantry!

29th Virginia Infantry
Soldiers recruited in Russell County

There is plenty of information on Lieutenant Colonel George M. Jessee of the Confederate Calvary:

Additional Information on George M. Jessee before his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel:

Civil War Actions
County: Henry
Location: 1 mi. N. of New Castle, US 421

Description: On Sept. 21, 1862 cavalry men under Maj. George M. Jessee, a native here, attacked provost marshal Robert Morris' home guard. Guards surrendered men, horses, and 300 stand of arms. Dec. 13, 1864, Maj. Jessee and Confederate forces were defeated here after a spirited skirmish with state troops and home guards led by Capt. Jas. H. Bridgewater.
 

"...The Civil War disrupted the lives of Gallatin Countians. There were skirmishes in the county and some of its citizens were arrested for treason. In September 1864, George M. Jessee and his Confederate forces reportedly were in control of Gallatin and several other Kentucky counties. The report went on to state that the Confederates forces were rapidly recruiting volunteers in the area..."

Click Here For George M. Jessee's Spot In The Family!!

A Cool Person that I like that represents the wonders of the Southern States of America...
 

The Late Mr. Ronnie VanZant

Click his pic to see MY favorite band (besides my Dad, that is...)

My favorite Links

Civil War Sutlers

Sharpsburg Arsenal

42nd Virginia Infantry Regiment

R. Lee Ermey's Website

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Email us at

Lukas@mitchelljessie.com

Dylan@mitchelljessie.com

and

Adam@mitchelljessie.com

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