James Addison
Curry
by Nick Miller
James Addison Curry was born
in July of 1842 in New California, Ohio, located in southeast Union
County. He spent much of his short life
as many young men of the time would have, caring for the family farm. He also devoted much of his time to his
studies as a student of the Select School.
After graduating from the Select School he planned to attend Otterbein
University. However, when war broke out
in April of 1861, Addison hurriedly volunteered for service in the Union Army,
along with about 26 other classmates.
He mustered in with the 86th Ohio Volunteer Infantry for six
month’s service on June 26th 1863. The
86th OVI devoted much of its efforts to securing the Ohio River
region from Confederate troops, in particular Morgan’s Raiders. Addison spent the summer of 1863 trekking
through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in pursuit of Morgan’s Raiders. The regiment was involved in several small
skirmishes throughout the summer and early fall. However, disease, not Confederate troops would prove to be the 86th
OVI’s greatest enemy. The regiment
would eventually lose 37 men to illness.
Tragically, 21 year old Addison was one of the first to succumb, dying
on October 2, 1863. He was buried at
Crab Orchard, Kentucky. Addison Curry’s
story is one of thousands that will never be heard by most. He was not involved in any large battles
mentioned in most textbooks such as Gettysburg, Antietam or Sherman’s March to
the Sea. However, the war hit home just
as hard. He became one of nearly 3,000
enlisted men from Union County to die in the War.
Bibliography
Curry, W.L.. History of Jerome Township, Union Co.,
Ohio. Columbus, Ohio, 1913.
Union County, Ohio
containing a History of the County, Its Townships, Towns, Churches, Schools,
etc.; General and Local Statistics; Military Records; Portraits of Early
Settlers and Prominent Men; History of the Northwest Territory; History of
Ohio; Miscellaneous Matters, etc. etc. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883.
www.civilwararchive.com/files.htm
www.geocities.com/heartland
www.itd.nps.gov
www.ohiocivilwar.com
www.rootsweb.com/~ohunion
www.sonofthesouth.net