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m. 6 Sep 1832
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Facts and Events
The grandson of a Virginia frontiersman, Henry Montgomery is thought to have been born in either Rockbridge or Botetourt County Virginia in 1837. Traditional family history claims this branch of the Montgomery family may have common ancestors among the Monacan or Cherokee native American Indian tribes. Henry and his wife, Rebecca Ann Sorrell Montgomery, were married in Rockbridge County on February 18, 1861 just prior to the beginning of the American Civil War. They raised a family of twelve children in what was at that time a very sparsely populated Allegheny Mountains area of western Virginia. Henry is consistently listed on United States census records as a farmer. Details of Henry's family connection with other more well known Montgomery families in the Rockbridge – Botetourt vicinity of Virginia has not currently been well documented. Henry Montgomery died in 1895 from complications of an eye injury he received during his military service. Henry's wife Rebecca passed from this life on June 19, 1929 in Botetourt County, Virginia not far from the place where she was born. Henry is buried at Mount Joy Cemetery in Botetourt. Rebecca is buried at Wesley Chapel Cemetery, also in Botetourt. Henry Montgomery enlisted with Confederate States of America forces on August 7th 1861 as a Private in the 11th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, Company D, also known as the Fincastle Rifles. He later enlisted in the 19th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry commanded by Colonel William L. Jackson and Lieutenant Colonel William P. Thompson. Henry was arrested by federal forces on March 9, 1864 and confined in military prison until March 24th, 1864 at Atheneum Prison, Wheeling, West Virginia. Described upon his release as a gentleman farmer of Virginia with black hair and blue eyes, Henry was given a horse and, upon signing an Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America and agreeing to never again take up arms against the United States, was ordered to return home and discontinue any involvement in the war. The 11th Virginia Infantry Regiment was organized for State service in May 1861, and was accepted into Confederate States service on July 1, 1861. It was reorganized on April 26, 1862. Commanded by Col. Samuel Garland, Jr., 1861-1862 (promoted to Brig. Gen. May 1862) Col. David Funsten, 1862-1863 (wounded; resigned) Col. Maurice Scatsbrooke Langhorne, 1863-1864 (retired Dec. 25, 1864) Col. Kirkwood Otey, 1864-1865 Company D – Fincastle Rifles, Botetourt County, Virginia; existed in December 1859; enlistments began April 23, 1861, for one year; reorganized April 26, 1862. Captains: William H. Anthony, Robert K. Thompson (elected May 16, 1861; resigned July 1861). David Gardiner Houston, Jr. (killed in action July 3, 1863), John Thomas James. The Atheneum Union Prison, also known as the "Lincoln Bastille", was a federal military prison in Wheeling, West Virginia located at the southeast corner of John (now 16th) and Market streets. The four-story building was constructed in 1853–54 as a warehouse for Crescent Manufacturing Company, a railway iron works. The first and second floors were used by the company while the third and fourth floors were outfitted as a theater, which opened in January 1855. A troupe presented "Uncle Tom’s Cabin" there in 1856. The prison took its name from this theater, the Atheneum. After the Civil War began in 1861, two large rooms on the second floor were rented by the government for use as winter quarters for secessionist prisoners held at Camp Carlile on Wheeling Island. The theater portion of the building was effectively closed by this action. From October 1863 to October 1865, the entire building was rented for use as a military prison, barracks, and hospital. The Atheneum held Confederate prisoners captured in battle, arrested civilians who refused to take the oath of allegiance, rebel spies, courts-martial soldiers, and those guilty of various other offenses of military and civilian intrigue. Most of the prisoners were eventually transferred to Camp Chase near Columbus, Ohio. The number of people confined at any given time fluctuated from well over 100 to as few as 50 or 60. After the war, the building contained a malt business and agriculture store. It burned down in October 1868. The Pythian Building occupied the site most recently but was demolished for a private park. Image Gallery
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