I just read the Old Settler's bio of Lt/Sheriff Atkinson (Atkison/Atkeson) and the info that Atkison was part of 7th Cav MSM was really interesting. He commanded Company H of the 7th MSM and was injured at Lone Jack. Within Company H were corporal Giles Harvey and Private Reuben Harvey. Giles was killed at Lone Jack. The genealogy databases show that Giles and Reuben were uncles of George Washington Harvey. James Harvey of Pleasant Gap Bates County was George "Wash" Harvey's father. The 1860 Census for Bates County James and son George Harvey on page 120 at Pleasant Gap.
The Atkison bio in Old Settler's also revealed that Atkison organized a Home Guard that was based in Germantown prior to the war's end. Do you know more about this group? I have tried Mo SOS for both spellings for Atkinson and searched for an appropriate EMM, PEMM, or Henry County Home Guard without luck. George Washington Harvey's bio state that his father James Monroe Harvey was a member of the Germantown Home Guard. Seems like it might be the same group but I can't find a roster. Suggestions?
George Washington Harvey's 1920s bio also included "He went to work, but for four years he was also in the ranks as a soldier. Much of his service was in scouting; he was made a prisoner but was never wounded. " The Atkinson's Bates County VMM accounts for a portion of the four years. I wonder about the other years. What other groups could he have scouted for? Maybe the Germantown Home Guard?
Could young George have accompanied his uncles and their 7th MSM and been used as a "scout?" In 1863, the 4th reg cav MSM chased Bushwhackers through Bates County. Could they have "hired" a scout? Would there be records of this?
For a portion of the war, First Iowa was based at Butler, Bates County. This is very close to Pleasant Gap, Bates County. Could George W. Harvey have been a scout for them? Where might that be documented? Where could I look?
Any suggestions you might have will be gratefully mined.
Thank-you!
--Jean Dresden