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Descendants of John Messer

Generation No. 2

2. BENJAMIN² MESSER (JOHN¹) was born Abt. 1825 in Fayette Co. Penn. or Ohio, and died April 29, 1863 in Hospital at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He married HANNAH JOHNSON December 31, 1847 in Knox County, Ohio. She was born Abt. 1827 in Ohio.

Notes for BENJAMIN MESSER:
Benjamin Messer had enlisted in the Union Army when the Civil War broke out. He served one tour of duty and then was hired to do a tour for another man. Records show his enlistment as Oct. 11, 1862 and being 31 years of age. We are unsure if this was both tours or only the last one. He was with the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Sharpshooters also known as Sherman's body-guard. It appears that he was most likely with the company at the battle of Stone's River, Tenn. (Dec. 31, 1862 - Jan. 2, 1863). He became ill and was in the hospital in Murfreesboro were he died on April 29, 1863. He is buried in a cemetery that is east of Nashville, Tenn. and 1 mile from Murfreesboro on highway 41.
Benjamin left behind a wife and 3 children. the wife remarried a "Brooks" and lived in or around St. Louis. Mo. and she is buried there. Mr. Brooks wasn't a very good provider and they gave the children away. Louis Jane was given to a family by the name of "Hyde". Louisa was only 6 years old so didn't remember much of her parents. This is from Alma Shultz Myers gg granddaughter of Benjamin. I think the family was actually "Simeon J. Sturlin" from the penison records.

Sherman's Body Guard
Ohio, Civil War

History

Recruited in the summer and fall of 1862 as the 7th Independent Company Sharp-Shooters, it was mustered in on January 27, 1863. It was on duty as Sharp-Shooters under General Rosecrans and then General Thomas. The Captain of the Company, Watson C. Squire, led it at Chickamauga. Squire was promoted and Captain Wm. McCrory led at Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and to the end of the war. During the Chattanooga siege it held a point along the Chattanooga River known as the Little Suck, and kept up a brisk sharp-shooter's duel with a similar Alabama Company. It finally drove the Rebels from that position. On the 20th of May, 1864, the Company was ordered to General William T. Sherman's Headquarters, where it remained on duty, as his Body-Guard, until the close of the war. It mustered out July 17, 1865.

It appears that Benjamin may only be engaged in one battle before his death and that would have been
the battle of Stones River, Tenn. (Dec. 31, 1862- Jan. 2, 1863). This is probably where he took ill. the next battle that the 7th was engaged in was Liberty Gap, Tenn. on June 25, 1863 and Benjamin died in April of 1863.

More About BENJAMIN MESSER:
Cause of Death: Camp Fever
Fact 1: October 11, 1862, Enlisted at Marysville, Ohio for 3 years
Fact 2: occupation listed as farmer
Medical Information: Fair Complexion, blue eyes, dark hair

Children of BENJAMIN MESSER and HANNAH JOHNSON are:

SARAH E.³ MESSER, b. Abt. 1850.

More About SARAH E. MESSER:
Census: 1850, She shows up as 4 months old in census but nothing later on.

3.	ii.	MARGARET A. MESSER, b. October 17, 1852; d. July 01, 1941, Kenton, Hardin, Ohio.
4.	iii.	LOUISA JANE MESSER, b. June 07, 1856, Raymond, Union Co., Ohio; d. March 11, 1938, Buried in Rising Sun, Ohio.
	iv.	FRANCES M. MESSER, b. April 01, 1859.
	v.	MARIETTA MESSER, b. October 01, 1861.

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