|
Joseph
Francis Sonnanstine was born in Columbiana County,
O., Sept. 9, 1830. In March of 1850 he started for
California by the overland route, and after a perilous
journey of one hundred and fifty-eight days arrived at
Ringgold, Cal., on the 16th of August of that year.
In July 9f 1852 he returned, and in 1858 came to
McConnelsville, where he has since resided. At the
breaking out of the war he was engaged in the oil
business in West Virginia. He closed up his
affairs and came to McConnelsville, where
Colonel Pond and Judge Hanna
Page 222 -
were at the time organizing a company. He joined
the organization; but there being more men enlisted than
required for one company, it was reduced by throwing out
men of families. In June of 1861, he enlisted in a
company being recruited for the 32d O. V. I., which
afterward became Company C of the 65th. From a
private he rose by successive promotions to
first-lieutenant of Company K, 65th O. V. I. he filled
all the intermediate positions, and each promotion was
earned and not obtained, as was often the case, through
outside influence.
At the battle of Mission Ridge he had command of the
company, and was seriously wounded. in the Atlanta
campaign he was promoted for meritorious services to the
captaincy of Company E, 65th O. V. I. While
engaged in the construction of earthworks in front of
Atlanta he was attacked with fever, and was sent to
officer’s hospital. After his recovery he was
detailed as assistant provost-marshal of Chattanooga,
Tenn., where he had charge of all trains coming in or
leaving the city, and of the refugees, of which there
was at one time about 4,000. His duties in
connection with these unfortunates he says, “ were the
saddest of all his earthly experiences.” After the
battle of Nashville, Captain Sonnanstine
rejoined his regiment, which moved to East Tennessee, to
intercept Lee’s army. From thence the
company was ordered to New Orleans, where they arrived
on the 27th of June. In August they were ordered
to Indianola, Texas, where they were engaged in
rebuilding a railroad. In this labor they were
employed until Dec. 10, 1865, when orders were received
for them to make out the muster out rolls - a duty, it
is needless to say, they cheerfully performed.
They then marched to Indianola, when Captain
Sonnanstine embarked with his company for New
Orleans, and from thence to Columbus via Cairo, where
the company was mustered out Dec. 25, 1865. Nov.
25, 1865, he was promoted to major of the 65th, but
being disabled by sickness refused to muster. He
was in the battle of Pittsburg Landing; theadvance on
Corinth; the march to Iuka, Tuscumbia, Decatur,
Huntsville and Bridgeport. From the latter place
he was sent home on recruiting service,and rejoined his
regiment after the battle of Stone River; was in all
engagements preceding the evacuation of Chattanooga and
the final capture of Atlanta. Jan. 13, 1853 he was
married to Miss Julia C. Hackett. Seven
children were the result of this union - Ada,
Edward, Edwin, Anna, Emmet,
Ernest and Grosvenor. |
.