| Frederick F. Kiner
was born in Landisburg, PA. (Perry County) on November 17, 1833. He moved to
Iowa in 1847, and settled in Mt. Pleasant (Henry County). In 1854 he married
Eliza Ann Nicodemus. He was a minister with the Churches of God in Iowa.
Basing his decision on strong political and religious beliefs, Frederick
enlisted with the 14th Iowa Infantry
Co. I, on October 5, 1861 as a private and then received the position of
first sergeant.
The unit moved from Camp McClellan in Davenport, Iowa
to Benton Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri where they drilled in
preparation for the forthcoming battles of Fort Donelson, and Shiloh. It
was at the battle of Shiloh, on April 6, 1862, in the midst of the
"Hornets Nest", that he was captured with over 200 others from the
regiment. The next 6 1/2 months were spent as a prisoner of war at Camp
Oglethorpe in Macon, Georgia until their parole at Aikens Landing on
October 17, 1862. It was the horrible treatment and living condition
endured as a prisoner (conditions which were just as terrible in
northern prisons) which prompted him to write the book "One Year’s
Soldiering" in 1863.
Other involvements Frederick was a part of included
being stationed at Columbus, Kentucky, Sherman’s Meridian campaign,
Bank’s Red River expedition, the battle of Pleasant Hill, serving under
General Canby at Fort Fisher and Blakely, and the "March to Montgomery"
at the wars end.
On April 30, 1863 he was discharged for promotion to
Chaplain of the same unit. He was mustered out of the 14th on November
16, 1864. On January 21, 1865 he was mustered to the Field and Staff of
the 27th Iowa as the Regimental Chaplain and served in this capacity
until being mustered out with his unit on August 8, 1865 - end of the
war.
Pension records show that Frederick suffered as a
result of the war from serious back injuries and "a nervous system a
good deal broken down." The family moved to Ida Grove, Iowa sometime
after the war where Frederick practiced law. His children were:
Frederick C. born 1855 - my line
Emma born 1857
Myra born 1859
Hamilton born 1864
Stephen born 1866
Jessie born 1868
Frederick was admitted to the Iowa State Soldiers Home
(now known as the Iowa Veterans Home) Marshalltown, Iowa in 1900. He
died on April 15, 1901 and is buried in the cemetery at the Veterans
Home. If anyone has any information on Frederick F. Kiner’s family or
military history please contact me at skiner@pioneerplanet.infi.net.
I would love to hear from you.
Steve Kiner (great-great grandson)
-When my liberties are buried, lay me by their side.
F. F. Kiner - One Year’s Soldiering
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