Wiley Hamilton Cunningham (1828 - 1863)

Born 8 Apr 1828 in Blount, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Brakebill) Cunningham — married 17 Jun 1849 in Blount, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 11 Jul 1863 at age 35 in Marion, Indiana, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Pam Schierberg [send private message]

Biography

Wiley Cunningham served in the United States Civil War.
Side: CSA

Wiley was born in Blount County, Tennessee in 1828 to Benjamin A Cunningham Sr (abt.1797-abt.1849) and Sarah (Kirkpatrick) Cunningham (abt.1797-abt.1845), the sixth child born to the couple who would have 12 children in total.

At the age of 21, in 1849, he married Sarah (Brakebill) Cunningham (1827-1920) in Blount County, and it's believed the marriage actually took place in Maryville, Tennessee. He and Sarah had eight children between the years of 1850 - 1861, all linked to their profiles.

The Civil War years were difficult for this family, compounded by several facts that occurred all too quickly: 1 Apr 1863 Wiley enlisted in the Confederate Army, 3 Regiment Mounted Infantry (Lillards) by a Major Peck. On 10 May 1863 Wiley writes two letters from Vicksburg, Mississippi, "Dear Brothers and Sisters" and "Dear Wife and family"; each describing events, lands, "yankee" encounter at Port Gibson, plus his love and appreciation for God, family and home.

It's believed Wiley was captured at Champion Hill, Mississippi, about 23 miles east of Vicksburg on 17 May 1863, then transported with other POWs up the Mississippi River and marched across Illinois to Indiana where he was held at the Confederate Prisoner of War Camp Morton, Indianapolis, Indiana. Less than two months later, 11 Jul 1863, Wiley was dead, possibly due to starvation and/or disease; the Roster of Prison indicates he died from a lung infection.

Wiley and other POWs were originally interred at Green Lawn Cemetery (Confederate Section), but reinterred in 1933 in a mass grave of 1,616 Confederate POW'S at Crown Hill Cemetery, Indiapolis. May they all rest in peace.

Southern Cross of Honor

Private Wiley Cunningham served in the United States Civil War.
Mustered out: Jul 11, 1863
Side: CSA
Regiment(s): Co. K, 3rd Regiment, Tennessee Mounted Infantry (Lillard's)

Wiley Cunningham was a Prisoner of War during the United States Civil War.

Wiley Cunningham Died while a Prisoner of War during the United States Civil War.

Wiley Cunningham Died of Disease during the United States Civil War.

Held captive and died as a POW during the Civil War at Confederate Morton Prison, Marion County, Indiana. Knowing his fate, he sent two letters home to family, available on Ancestry.com.

Military Service

Civil War W. H. Cunningham Private Military Unit: Third (Lillard's) Mounted Infantry Company K Enlisted: April 1, 1863 Where: Knoxville By Whom: Maj. Peck Period: War Remarks: Captured at Bakers Creek.[3]

Roll of Prisoners of War Captured Near Vicksburg Where captured: Champion Hill When captured: May 16, 1863. [4]

Confederate Prisoners of War at Camp Morton, Indianapolis, Indiana. Wiley H. Cunningham Private, Co. K, 3rd Reg. Tenn Remarks: Died July 11, 1863. [5]

Sources

• [1] Ancestry.com:

United States Federal Census 1850 - 1860. Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002. Civil War documentation. FindAGrave ID 7049402.

• [2] Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7049402/wiley-hamilton-cunningham: accessed 03 January 2023), memorial page for Pvt Wiley Hamilton Cunningham (8 Apr 1828–11 Jul 1863), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7049402, citing Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Mark Peebles (contributor 46514135).

• [3] Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Tennessee, The National Archives, Publication Number: M268, page 2. https://www.fold3.com/image/67827706

• [4] Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Tennessee, The National Archives, Publication Number: M268, page 3. https://www.fold3.com/image/67827716

• [5] Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Tennessee, The National Archives, Publication Number: M268, page 5. https://www.fold3.com/image/67827732

• [6] "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCD7-5YX : 23 December 2020), William Cunningham in household of Sarah Cunningham, Blount, Tennessee, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• [7] "Tennessee Marriages, 1796-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X85T-H6D : 27 January 2020), Wiley M. Cunningham, 1849.

• The Blount Journal: A Publication of Blount County Geneological and Historical Society, Maryville, TN; Volume XI, No. 1; Spring 1995; ISSN 1056-6252