Sgt. Thomas H. Tinsley, Co. B, 14 VA INF, CSA.  Asbury Cemetery, Calloway County, Kentucky.  You can see the couple’s stone in the background.

Our story of Thomas H. Tinsley begins in Bedford County, Virginia, where he was born September 27, 1836, to Samuel Garnett Tinsley and Mary T. Rosser.  In the 1850 census of the county, Samuel is 44, a farmer; wife Mary is 48.  Children listed are Martha Ann, 16; Samuel B., 14; Thomas Houston H., 13; Jerome, 11; Robert S., 9; Homer, 7; and Mary C., 5.  In 1860 Thomas is living with Uriah C. Cundiff, a merchant, and he is listed as a clerk, 23 years of age.

Everyone’s life was interrupted when the Civil War broke out one year later.  On April 24, 1861, Thomas H. Tinsley joined the Confederate army at Fancy Grove in Richmond, Virginia, Company B, 14 Regiment, Virginia Infantry.  His enlist period was for 12 months.  As with many others, this enlistment continued throughout most of the war.  Although he began his war service as a private, he was made 3rd Sergeant, March 1, 1863.

Thomas fought at the Battle of Gettysburg and was captured July 5, 1863.  He was paroled at Baltimore August 23, 1863, and delivered at City Point, Virginia, August 24, 1863.

During his time as a prisoner he was treated for disease or injury to both feet, July 26, 1863.  It is difficult to read some of the handwriting.

He continued the fight after his recovery only to be wounded in his right eye, May 16, 1864.  He was treated at the General Hospital, Howard’s Grove, Richmond, Virginia, the next day.  At the end of that month he was furloughed for 60 days to recover from his wound.

Thomas H. Tinsley, September 27, 1836 – February 28, 1901.  Mary Nance, his wife, November 1, 1846 – March 18, 1934.

After the war Thomas married Mary Tom Nance, December 21, 1865, in Bedford County, Virginia.  Their children were Betty, Beulah, Cal, Sally and Hallie.  The three oldest children were born in Virginia, but I think the two youngest were born in Kentucky, the family moving about 1870.  I could not find them in census records until 1900, just before Thomas died, the couple, aged 62 and 50.  Mary lived an additional 33 years.  She died at the age of 88 in 1934.