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Have you ever gone searching for one ancestor’s story, only to find yourself completely off track? What begins as a simple search can sometimes lead you down unexpected roads, revealing hidden chapters and surprising connections.
That’s exactly what happened when I began researching William Townsend, a soldier in the Ohio 133rd Volunteer Infantry. What started as a single biography quickly grew into a full-scale exploration of an entire military unit—and what I found might just inspire your own genealogical adventures!
From One Man to an Entire Regiment: A Shift in Focus
When I first set out in November 2023, my goal was simple: expand the biography of William James Townsend, a soldier in the Ohio 133rd.
William had served in Company K during the Civil War, and I had some key details:
Enlisted on date 6 May 1864
Hospitalized with mumps and erysipelas (Air - ris - sip - a -lis)
Discharged date of 20 Aug 1864
But as I dug deeper, more questions popped up.
Why did he get sick?
Were others in his unit also affected?
What was his day-to-day experience like?
These questions led me to research not just William, but the men who served alongside him. I discovered that William’s brother, Milby, also served in the same unit. From there, curiosity took over.
Who were the other men in Company K?
Were they neighbors?
Were they related to William in some way?
And just like that, my scope shifted from a single man to an entire group.
Uncovering Hidden Histories in Genealogy Research
At first, I wasn’t ready to commit to researching 90 men. But after reading Sylvester M. Sherman’s History of the 133d Regiment, I realized the magnitude of what William had experienced. His illness wasn’t isolated—many of his comrades had fallen ill, too. And when I learned that he went on a raid with members of Company A, I couldn’t help but want to know more about those soldiers as well.
Suddenly, my project expanded. What began as a simple biography grew into research covering 900 men—and even their wives! I wasn’t just learning about William’s life anymore; I was delving into the social fabric of his military unit.
Were these men lifelong soldiers, or was this their only brush with the battlefield?
How many had survived the war?
What did they go on to do?
In essence, I was building a picture of an entire community in uniform.
This blog post supports the first in a series of videos on YouTube. You can follow along through the blog or via the video series.
The Ohio 133rd Volunteer Infantry: A Snapshot
The 133rd Ohio Infantry Regiment was a short-term unit, serving for 100 days in 1864. More details about the unit included:
The regiment was formed by combining the 58th and 76th Battalions of the Ohio National Guard and the 3rd Regiment of the Ohio National Guard and mustered in on May 6, 1864.
Colonel Gustavus L. Innis commanded the regiment attached to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, X Corps, Army of the James.
May 6 - Moved to Parkersburg, W. Va.,
May 8 - Moved to New Creek May 8. Duty at New Creek until June 7.
June 7 - Moved to Washington, D.C.; then to Bermuda Hundred, Va., arriving June 12.
June 16 - The First Division of the First Brigade, which this unit was assigned to, was ordered to destroy the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad. The 133rd was then assigned to a battery which, with other troops, succeeded in holding the Confederates at bay for five hours.
July 17 - The regiment embarked from Point of Rocks for Fort Powhatan, building fortifications and repairing telephone wires.
August 10 - The regiment returned to Washington, DC, before returning to Camp Chase.
August 20 - Mustered out at Camp Chase, Ohio, as its term of service had expired.
The regiment lost 31 men during service; 1 enlisted men killed, 1 officer and 29 enlisted men due to disease.
By the time they mustered out in August 1864, the regiment had lost 31 men, most due to disease. Their brief but intense service made a lasting impact on the men—and their families—who participated. But what about the stories behind the statistics? What kind of men made up this regiment?
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Digging Deeper: Questions for Further Exploration
When it comes to genealogy, the best research starts with a question. Common inquiries might include details about an ancestor’s birth, marriage, or death. But in this case, my research branched into new territory: “Who were the men William Townsend served with?”
This opened up a whole new set of questions:
How old were these soldiers?
Were they married or single?
Were they immigrants or born in Ohio?
What did they do after the war?
How many applied for pensions?
To answer these questions, I had to expand my toolkit beyond traditional genealogical research methods. I leaned on a mixture of historical records, pension files, and military documentation to piece together their stories.
What’s Next: A Journey Beyond the Family Tree
This project took me far beyond the basic facts of William’s life. By exploring the stories of the men who fought beside him, I gained a deeper understanding of the war’s impact on his life and the lives of those around him. But this journey is far from over.
In future posts, I’ll dive into the tools and techniques I used to expand my research, share the mistakes I made along the way, and explain why many genealogy platforms struggle to support this kind of project. I’ll also explore how you can tackle your own group research—whether it’s a military unit, a town’s worth of residents, or another shared experience.
Share Your Story
Have you ever researched a group of people rather than just a direct ancestor? What surprises did you uncover? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments. And don’t forget to subscribe to my email list so you can follow along with this series and learn new strategies for your own genealogical adventures!
