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Welcome to the Loftus Blog
My name is William Bernard Allen and John T Loftus is one of my third great grandfathers. I have been researching his family and have met many of my Loftus cousins over the past year. We sent a series of emails back and fourth discussing family history,swapping pictures and stories over several months. When we had finished I realised we had quite a bit of information within the emails. I wanted to get this information out on the web to help others in our family that descend from the Loftus family. So here I will post various things we discussed along with stories and pictures. I don't really have a format for what I will post, but I hope you will find the bits and pieces useful in your research. If you have anything else to add to the blog, email me and I will be happy to add it.
Mary Sullivan
Mary Loftus née Sullivan was married to John T. Loftus and was my third Great grandmother. She was born in County Kerry Ireland.
The picture of Mary below was sent to me by Leonard L.Loftus. Leonard writes:
"This picture of Mary (Sullivan) Loftus has her handwriting on the back as
follows: "Mrs. Mary Loftus, March 29th, 1902, To Maggie from Grandma"
Obviously she sent this copy to Margret Loftus who would have been about age 6 at the time."
Story submitted by Marilyn Glazier
Here is a bit of information about the Loftus family that I put on my other blog. Instead of reposting it all, I'll just supply the link: http://salabencher.blogspot.com/2010/06/john-t-loftus-and-mary-sullivan.html
It has pictures of the Loftus' along with a story submitted by a cousin Marilyn Glazier.
It has pictures of the Loftus' along with a story submitted by a cousin Marilyn Glazier.
Loftus Family Pictures
Here is a picture from John T. Loftus. John, can you provide the full names and I'll edit this post?
"Millard Turner is the tall guy on the left, John Irvin Loftus my granddad "Bub",Uncle Ed, Brother to John T. Jr
Leonard S. Loftus."
This photo also provided by John T. Loftus. This one seems to have the whole clan.
"Millard Turner is the tall guy on the left, John Irvin Loftus my granddad "Bub",Uncle Ed, Brother to John T. Jr
Leonard S. Loftus."
This photo also provided by John T. Loftus. This one seems to have the whole clan.
Stories of John Thomas Loftus and Mary (Sullivan) Loftus
Leonard Loftus sends these stories:
Attached are a couple stories my grandfather, John T. Loftus Jr, told to me about 1953.
John’s Hogs
John T. Loftus had a habit of not listening whenever anyone was talking about something he did not want to hear. He always told Mary that he was just hard of hearing. Mary knew he was just playing a game and could hear as well as anyone else.
John raised hogs and one year he had about 25 or 30 piglets that were often getting out of the hog confinement. That would mean he, Mary, and the kids would have to chase, round them up, and get them back in the confinement. As anyone who has had to round up loose hogs knows this is a job! When the piglets are about to be herded into the pen if any one of the bunch gets away there is no point in trying to get the rest into the pen. The entire operation must be started over! This chore of rounding up the pigs would often take an hour or more. As a result John bought the highest hog wire he could find plus barb wire and tall fence posts. He and his sons put up the higher hog wire with barb wire on top and staked the bottom every five feet or so.
One evening, a couple days later, Mary was knitting and John T. was snoozing in a chair nearby. Mary, in a very low voice said, “Dad those hogs are out again.” John T. leaped to his feet and ran out the door yelling and cussing. As the story goes old John never again said he was hard of hearing.
Mary’s Holidays
Mary liked beer. Every Thanksgiving John T. would buy Mary a keg of beer and keep it in the vegetable cellar. That keg would last until after New Year's. Many years later the story was confirmed by Ellen (Loftus) Meade – Mary’s granddaughter. Ellen said the family was embarrassed about this story and seldom mentioned it. Today this is a charming, cute, story and is an indicator of John’s love for Mary.
Wedding picture of John T. Loftus Jr and Ellen
Wedding picture of John T. Loftus Jr and Ellen (Pollard) Loftus on July 14th, 1894.
This photo was supplied by Leonard L. Loftus
Faheys Civil War History
From Leonard Loftus some Fahey history. There is a lot of information here, so I will just post it all.
Leonard says "The Faheys were related through John T. Jr’s leg of the family."
Regiment State Illinois
Illinois
Regiment State Illinois
PO Box 35
Duxbury , MA
June 24, 1863 the Twentieth Corps moved by the Shelbyville pike, toward Liberty Gap. On the 25th, the Second Brigade was ordered forward, and advanced across an open cornfield, eighty rods in width, lately plowed and softened by the rains which fell the day and night before, until the men sunk half way to the knee in mud at every step. Without help, and in the face of a rebel Brigade advantageously posted, they drove the enemy from his position--the Second Arkansas infantry leaving their battle flag on the bill, where they fought in front of the Thirty- fourth. The Regiment losing 3 killed and 26 wounded.
Leonard says "The Faheys were related through John T. Jr’s leg of the family."
Record of Family Members from the Civil War
Ellen, John, and Patrick Fahey came to Fulton , Illinois County Kerry , Ireland
Ellen married James Pollard. James came to Fulton Kilkenny , Ireland
Ellen had a daughter also named Ellen. She married John Thomas Loftus Jr in 1894.
Ellen (Pollard) Loftus, (John and Patrick Fahey were her uncles)
Ellen’s brothers enlisted in the 34th Illinois Infantry Regiment at Sterling Illinois 15th of October 1861 . John died on April 15th, 1862 , at Mound City Illinois Shiloh , Tenn. Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma
John Fahey
Residence: Sterling , Illinois
Enlistment Date: 15 Oct 1861
Side Served: Union
State Served: Illinois
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 15 October 1861 .
Enlisted in Company C, 34th Infantry Regiment Illinois 15 Oct 1861 .
Died from wounds Company C, 34th Infantry Regiment Illinois 15 Apr 1862 at Mound City , IL
Patrick Fahey
Residence: Sterling , Illinois
Enlistment Date: 15 Oct 1861
Side Served: Union
State Served: Illinois
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 15 October 1861 .
Enlisted in Company C, 34th Infantry Regiment Illinois 15 Oct 1861 .
American Civil War Regiments <blockedhttp://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3866&enc=1>
Regiment: 34th Infantry Regiment Illinois
Date of Organization: 7 Sep 1861
Muster Date: 12 Jul 1865
Regiment Type: Infantry
Regiment Number: 34th
Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded: 11
Officers Died of Disease or Accident: 2
Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded: 129
Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident: 119
Regimental Soldiers and History: List of Soldiers <blockedhttp://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=hdssoldiers&ti=0&F11=357&F9=Union>
Regimental History
THIRTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.
(Three years )
The Thirty-fourth Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Camp Butler , Illinois September 7, 1861 , by Colonel E. N. Kirk.
Page 1 of 7
Source: Official Records
CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONE'S RIVER CAMPAIGN. PAGE 325-29 [Series I.
Battles Fought
Fought on 6 Apr 1862 at Shiloh , TN. <blockedhttp://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?&ti=0&db=hdsbattle&f0=4430>
Fought on 7 Apr 1862 at Shiloh , TN. <blockedhttp://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?&ti=0&db=hdsbattle&f0=4430>
Fought on 20 Apr 1862 at Paducah , KY.
Fought on 29 May 1862 at Corinth , MS
Fought on 30 Dec 1862 at Stones River , TN.
Fought on 31 Dec 1862 at Stones River
Fought on 1 Jan 1863 at Stones River
Fought on 26 Jun 1863 .
Fought on 14 May 1864 at Resaca , GA.
Fought on 15 Jun 1864 at Kenesaw Mountain , GA.
Fought on 24 Jun 1864 at Dallas , GA.
Fought on 27 Jun 1864 at Kenesaw Mountain , GA.
Fought on 6 Aug 1864 at Atlanta , GA.
Fought on 1 Sep 1864 at Jonesboro , GA.
Fought on 16 Mar 1865 at Averysboro , NC
Fought on 19 Mar 1865 at Bentonville , NC
Fought on 15 Apr 1865 .
American Civil War Regiments <blockedhttp://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3866&enc=1>
Regiment: 34th Infantry Regiment Illinois
Date of Organization: 7 Sep 1861
Muster Date: 12 Jul 1865
Regiment Type: Infantry
Regiment Number: 34th
Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded: 11
Officers Died of Disease or Accident: 2
Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded: 129
Source Information:
Historical Data Systems, comp.. American Civil War Regiments [database on-line]. Provo , UT , USA
Original data: Data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA from the following list of works <blockedhttp://search.ancestry.com/handler/domainrd.ashx?domain=AncestryDomain&url=/search/rectype/military/cwrd/db.htm> . Copyright 1997-2000 Historical Data Systems, Inc.
Page 2 of 7
Civil War Record of the Illinois
The Thirty-fourth Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, September 7, 1861, by Colonel E. N. Kirk. Moved, October 2, to Lexington, Kentucky, and from thence to Louisville and thence to Camp Nevin, Kentucky, where it remained until February 14, 1862. Marched to Bowling Green Nashville Franklin Columbia Savannah Tennessee River . Arrived at Pittsburg Landing, April 7, 1862 , and was hotly engaged in that battle, losing Major Levanway and 15 men killed, and 112 wounded. From thence moved to Corinth Corinth Florence , Alabama Battle Creek
October 1, 1862, left Louisville for Frankfort. Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel H. W. Bristol, Brigade by Colonel E. N. Kirk, and Division by Brigadier General Still.
October 4, was engaged in a skirmish at Clayville, Kentucky.
From Frankfort Danville Lebanon Bowling Green Nashville
November 27, had a skirmish at Lavergne. Regiment remained in camp five miles southeast of Nashville until December 26, 1862.
Second Brigade, Brigadier General E. N. Kirk commanding; Second Division, Brigadier General Pt. W. Johnson commanding. Right Wing of Fourteenth Army Corps, Major General Alexander McD.
McCook commanding.
December 27, Right Wing moved toward Triune, the Thirty- fourth in advance, encountered the enemy commanding the approaches to Triune; drove him till noon, when he formed in the town. The nature of the ground preventing the use of the artillery, the infantry was advanced, and after a sharp fight, drove the enemy from the town--the enemy taking his artillery with him. 29th, moved via Independence Hill, toward Murfreesboro
Loss--killed 21, wounded 93, missing 66. General Kirk was mortally wounded. During the three following days, the Thirty-fourth did guard duty.
While at Murfreesboro, the Right Wing, Fourteenth Army Corps, was organized into the Twentieth Army Corps, and Major General McCook assigned to command.
Moved, on 26th, via Beech Grove, to Manchester, entering Tullahoma on the morning of July 1.
August 7, Colonel A. P. Dysart resigned, leaving the Regiment under command of Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Van Tassell.
August 16, moved via Larkin's Valley, to BelleFonte, Alabama. The Thirty fourth was here detailed as Provost Guard.
30th, moved to Caperton's Ferry, on Tennessee River . Here the Regiment was left to guard the pontoon bridge.
September 18, moved the boats to Battle Creek.
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October 20, 1863, moved, under command of Brigadier General J. D. Morgan, to Anderson's Cross Roads, in Sequatchie Valley.
November 8, moved to Harrison's Landing, on Tennessee River.
November 14, ordered to report to Brigadier General John Beatty, commanding Second Brigade, Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, Jeff. C. Davis commanding Division. Arrived at Chattanooga 15th, and camped on Moccasin Point.
November 28, ordered to join the Brigade on the battle field of Chattanooga. Arrived 11 o'clock P. M. Moved at 1 o'clock A. M. of the 26th, via Chickamauga Station--met the retreating enemy near Graysville, and was engaged about half an hour.
November 28, moved back to Chattanooga, where those unable to march were put in camp. The remainder of the Regiment moved on the expedition into East Tennessee as far as London, where the Thirty-fourth was detained to run a grist mill, grinding corn and wheat for the Division. Returned to Chattanooga, arriving December 19,1863.
December 22, the Thirty-fourth was mustered as a veteran organization, and January 8, 1864, started for Springfield, Illinois, for veteran furlough.
Received veteran furlough and rendezvoused at Dixon, Illinois. February 28, moved via Chicago, Louisville and Nashville, arriving at Chattanooga March 7, 1864, and moved out to join the Second Brigade, Colonel John G. Mitchell, One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio, commanding, in camp near Roseville, Georgia.
Went into camp at Roseville , Ga. March 7, 1864 . Assigned to Second Brigade, Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. Left Roseville May 5, for Ringgold, arriving same day. May 9, took a prominent part in the engagement at Rocky Face Ridge, in which the Regiment had one man killed and ten men wounded.
May 14, charged the enemy at Resaca , Ga.
Left Rome May 24, passed through Dallas , Ga.
After skirmishing almost every day arrived at Big Shanty where on June 15, the Regiment charged the enemy who were behind barricades of railroad ties, capturing the works and taking more prisoners than the Thirty-fourth Infantry had men in line.
Loss one man killed and seven wounded.
On June 27 1864 , led the Brigade in the charge on Kenesaw Mountain
September 4, 1864, led the Brigade and Division in the charge on the enemy's works at Jonesboro, Ga., being the first soldiers in the rebel fort taking artillery captured from the Army of Tennessee on July 22, 1864, together with a number of prisoners. The regiment had about sixty men killed and wounded.
September 29, left Atlanta with Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corps for the purpose of driving Forrest from Tennessee; pursued him to Florence, Alabama, driving him across the Tennessee River, after which the Regiment rejoined Sherman's Army south of Chattanooga in Northern Alabama. Returned with army to Atlanta and went with Sherman to the Sea, and on the Campaign through the Carolinas. In a light engagement at Averysboro, N. C., on March 16,1865, had three men killed and five wounded.
March 19, 1865, took part in the battle of Bentonville, N. C., in which the Regiment was attacked from both the front and rear but stubbornly held the ground and repulsed the enemy.
Loss eight killed and twenty-two wounded.
Page 4 of 7
After lying at Goldsboro, N. C., until April 10, left for Raleigh, N. C., reaching there on the 13th, and on the 14th started with the Fourteenth Army Corps for Cape Fear River to intercept General Jos. E. Johnston's retreat. On the 15th, had one man killed and one wounded by rebel cavalry.
After the surrender of Johnston the Regiment went with Sherman's Army to Washington, D. C., and took part in the grand review May 24, 1866.
Left Washington June 12. and arrived at Louisville, Ky., June 18, where the Regiment was mustered out on July 12, and was discharged and paid at Chicago, Ill., on July 17, 1865.
Page 5 of 7
Various Battle reports from 34th Regiment officers
Stone's River after battle report:
Report of Maj. Alexander P. Dysart, Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry.
HDQRS. THIRTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, Camp near Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 7, 1863.
SIR: In compliance with circular, dated January 7, 1863, from Hdqrs. Second Division, requiring a minute statement of regimental commanders of the operations and casualties of their respective regiments from the time of leaving camp, near Nashville, Tenn., up to the expiration of the battle at Murfreesborough, I have the honor to submit the following report:
On Friday, December 26, 1862, this regiment, under command of Lieut. Col. H. W. Bristol, left camp, near Nashville, Tenn., and marched that day to one-half mile south of Nolensville, where we encamped for the night.
Next day, December 27, 1862, the Second Brigade being in advance, the Thirty--fourth Illinois was in advance of the brigade. After advancing nearly three-quarters of a mile, Gen. Kirk ordered Col.
Bristol to throw forward four companies of his regiment on the left of the pike as skirmishers. Companies A, F, G, and B were detailed for that purpose, and placed under command of myself and Capt. Van Tassel.
We moved forward, the remaining companies of the regiment marching immediately in the rear of the skirmish line, as a support, the skirmish line advancing, driving the enemy through Triune, and halting about 1 mile south of that place near dark. The distance skirmished over that day was nearly 5 miles. Although exposed to the enemy's fire from their artillery and musketry nearly all day, we had no one killed, wounded, or missing. We went into camp that night a short distance to the rear of where we had advanced with our skirmish line, and remained in camp at that place the next day [being Sunday] without performing any duties only those required on that day.
On the morning of December 29, 1862, we were ordered back toward Nashville 2 1/2 miles, and turned off the pike on a dirt road to the right, leading in the direction of Murfreesborough, and, after marching 6 miles, went into camp between 10 and 11 o'clock that night. The Thirty-fourth Illinois was rear guard for the brigade teams that day.
On the morning of the 30th, about 10 a.m., we moved forward in the direction of Murfreesborough 3 miles, when we were ordered to the right. The Thirty-fourth Illinois was ordered to support Capt.
Edgarton's battery, which was moved to the extreme right of our lines, and opened fire on a rebel battery that was firing into the right flank of Davis' division. Gen. Kirk ordered two companies of this regiment to be thrown out as skirmishers [A and B], under the command of Capt. Van Tassel, extending the line across an open field to a piece of woods, about 100 rods farther to the right than our troops occupied.
Capt. Edgarton's battery soon silenced the rebel battery, and it was now near dark.
Col. Bristol, being unwell, was compelled to leave the regiment, and the command then fell upon myself. I received orders that I was to picket immediately in my front, and that Gen. Willich would join his pickets on the right. This was done shortly after dark. I was then ordered to encamp the remainder of my regiment in the rear of the left of my picket line, and within 30 rods of the same. Everything was quiet through the night.
Just before daylight I had my regiment under arms, and moved it forward some 4 rods in advance of where I was encamped, so that I could more conveniently deploy into line, as I had my regiment in double column. A few minutes after daylight one of where I was encamped, so that I could more conveniently deploy into line, as I had my regiment in double column. A few minutes after daylight one of my lookouts reported to me that the enemy was moving down on us with an overwhelming force. I immediately sent word to Gen. Kirk, and rode immediately myself to find Gen. Willich, who was encamped in my rear not more than 30 rods. I failed to find the general; they told me he had gone to see Gen. Johnson. I informed some of the officers of his brigade that the enemy was advancing. I hurried back to my regiment, and I then received an order to advance my regiment and try to hold the enemy in check, which was done.
Page 6 of 7
After advancing out in the open field about 15 rods, the enemy opened upon us, my men returning the fire. They were now exposed to the fire of nearly five times their number, as I only had 354 men, including the officers. Ten or twelve of my men were killed, and some 60 odd wounded, before I received an order to fall back in support of the battery. I gave the order for them to fall back. Not one of my men or officers left their post before I gave them the order. When we returned to the battery everything was confusion; the First Brigade was not in position; were engaged, many of them, cooking their breakfast. I endeavored to hold the battery with what few men I had, but it was of no use; the enemy were fast surrounding us, and the only alternative was to retreat or be taken prisoners. I gave the order for them to retreat, and would, I think, have been able to keep them together, but they got mixed up with the First Brigade, and were carried too far to the left, where many of them were taken prisoners.
I rallied some 50 of my men, and made a stand behind a rail fence, about three-quarters of a mile from where I formed my first line, and opened a destructive fire on a regiment of cavalry that was bearing down upon us, but, finding it impossible to hold that position, I had to fall back to near the pike, when I was ordered to assist our train with what few men I had left.
January 1, what was left of my regiment was put in with the Thirtieth Indiana, and took part with that regiment, under the command of Capt. Hostetter, Company I, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteers, I being sick and unfit for duty. They were engaged in skirmishing from behind breastworks that were erected.
January 2, they were engaged the same as on the 1st, and on the 3d the same routine of duty. The Thirty-fourth Illinois lost no one killed or wounded after the battle of December 31, 1862.
I need not particularize the services of any officers under my command, for both officers and men did their duty nobly; although being compelled to retreat, they stood firm till we were overwhelmed by superior numbers.
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