AN UNNECESSARY KILLING. Pt. 2

My 3x great grandfather, Rev. Ryan Frier, a native of south Georgia, had migrated to the central Florida area before the war. It is important to note that he and his nuclear family had always possessed pro-Union sentiments, in spite of their having owned one or more slaves; (an abhorrent practice to this writer, I assure you).

However, be that as it may, the good minister’s sons were, due to geography and reputation, constrained to throw themselves in with the southern cause. There was little choice at the time, except to uproot themselves from their land, and ‘throw in their lot’ with a garrison of like-minded pro-Union sympathizers living near Cedar Key; (and who, you might imagine, donated an ongoing bounty of young men to the Union Army). 

Joshua Frier, Ryan’s son, enlisted in the Confederate militia, and in spite of his union leanings ‘gave honor to whom honor was due’ and served admirably throughout the course of the conflict. One page of his manuscript is especially poignant, as he speaks of the circumstance which befell his brother, Samuel.

Following is a narrative I have written on this theme; interspersing his and my account of the event. Errors in spelling and punctuation have been left intact. Many men and women of the era were illiterate. Joshua, it might be said, possessed significant literary skills; at least for that time period.


“My (next) youngest brother fourteen years older than my self was an age that rendered him liable to the (Conscript) Act. Various ways and means was presented and discussed by the family, but there seemed no relief except by substitute and the price of this commodity was so high until it was a luxury only for the rich. 


Ultimately it was decided the onely thing that could be done under the circumstances was for him (Samuel) and a nephew who was also of the proper age to enlist which they reluctantly did in the 8th Fla. Infantry. Shortly afterwards that organization was ordered to Virginia. Our nephew went and shortly after yielded up his life at Antitem.”

I can tell you that the idea of leaving home and family was nothing less than reprehensible to young Samuel, and as a result he made the only decision that he felt he was capable of making at the time.

He deserted

(to be continued) 

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 48. Copyright pending

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