UP^     Mary "Etta" [Martin] White w/o John W Jr - Death Certificate     UP^

Photo by John Coggins

Three days after the massive Union attack at Fort Wagner on Morris Island,
John died, it is thought he was buried on the Beach, the same area that the
Confederate soldiers buried the Federal soldiers killed in that battle, after many
years of Storms & Hurricanes, it is a known fact that the bodies that were
buried on the beaches were washed out to sea, we believe John's was also.

1850 Spartanburg SC Census Page 201:

1643 - 1643 
White, Robert 66 w m Farmer  NC  Real Estate value 1200
Susan             50  w f              SC
Charles H.       21 w m Farmer SC - all children
Robert            17  w mFarmer
John               15  w m
Levi                14  w m
 

**Note: After the Civil War & John W's death:
1870 Spartanburg Co Census Page 404b Court House Township 
               ED 9 Aug 1870 PO Glenn Springs 
46 - 46
Cooper, Lucy 73  F W  Farmer 700 250  SC  (2nd wife of James Cooper, decd.)
Mary              42 F W  household born   SC   (Wife of John Willis White - dau of Lucy Cooper)
King, Mary     76 F  W                                 (aunt of Mary Cooper White, sister of Lucy [King] Cooper)
White, James  11 M W                                  (Son of John W White - CSA)
Henrrietta       08 F  W                                  (Dau of John W White - CSA)
John               06 M W                                 (Son  of John W White - CSA)
Nessi? Jones   33 F B Domestic Labor 
 

 Civil War Service of

John Willis White (CSA)

Co. I - 13th South Carolina Infantry Regiment

Co. G - 20th South Carolina Infantry Regiment

"The Southern Cross of Honor"
                          

Husband: John Willis WHITE Born: 27 FEB 1832, Married: 10 FEB 1857, 
Died: 21 JUL 1863 at: In the Civil War. Wife: Mary Cooper Born: 2 Jun 1827 
Died: 24 Jan 1887.

Three Records on John; Civil War, Obituary/Memoriam & Children

Civil War  (Two Enlistments for our John W White)

Died as a confederate soldier at Morris Island SC (Fort Wagner), 1863.

Military service: 2nd/3rd Lt. -- War of Secession. Resigned, joined 
                        20th Reg SCV, died on coast of SC July 21 1863.

**John's memorium verifies the units he served.

Confederate Abstract's of John W's Service:

John's death is recorded in the Minutes of the Cedar Springs Baptist
Church, also read his Memoriam below, to understand his service records.
There is no doubt about John W's untiring devotion, to the Souths cause. 

Note: Below you will see that John W White was a Third Lieutenant/Second Lt.
         in the 13th SC Inf. who resigned in late 1861, & 2nd Joined the 20th SC inf., 
         he last served, in this unit prior to his death, on Morris Island SC.  John's 
         memorium verifies, his service, in the above units.          

Civil War Records of John Willis White

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Roster of Co. I - 13th South Carolina Infantry Regiment - Spartanburg
COMPANY I Abernathy, Lucius Allen, John Allen, W.C. Allen, Willis Bagwell, Hiram J. Bagwell, James W. Bagwell, John J. Bagwell, Josiah Bagwell, Jus Bagwell, Samuel Ballenger, Larkin Barnett, J. Monroe, Sgt. Barnett, M. Cicero, 2nd Sgt. Barnett, Thomas K. Bice, W.A. Bryson, M.S. Byce, Pinkney Byce, W. Alberry Carlisle, William Coggin, William Franklin Coggins, D.M. Coggins, J.L. Coggins, R.H. Coggins, William F., Cpl. Crocker, A.C. Crocker, J.M. Crocker, R.M., 1st Lt. Crocker, W.W. Currant, A.W. Deen, J.A. Elanthy, L. Elders, Ephriam Elmore, William R, Cpl. Emory, Fowler Finch, J.L. Finch, J.M. Finley, Madison Forrest, T.A. French, J.F.	Gossett, A.C. Gossett, E.M. Gossett, R.W.P. Griffin, Drury Griffin, John Griffin, John L. Griffin, Landrum Hammett, B.F. Harman, Andrew Harman, Samuel Harmon, Eliphas R. Harmon, Thomas C., Cpl. Hembrey, Robert Hembrey, Russell Henderson, Thomas Henley, E. Albery Henly, E. McDuffie Hewitt, Giles Hewitt, Ransom Hutchins, W.J. Jefferson, George Jenkins, Pleas J. Johnson, Peter Kirby, Andrew Kirby, Calvin Kirby, F.A. Kirby, Henry Kirby, Jasper Kirby, L.C. Kirby, Marshall Kirby, T.J. Kirby, William Lamaster, Thomas Linder, Lee, 2nd Lt. Linder, Willis Lipscomb, J.C. Lipscomb, John H. Lipscomb, Nathan Lipscomb, T.H. Lipscomb, William, Sgt. Littlejohn, Thomas M., Cpl Low, J.H.		Malcomson, Issac, Sgt. Mattheus, John McAbee, John McAbee, Elisha McAbee, James H. McAbee, W.A. McBride, Thomas W. Millwood, William Morris, G.R. Morris, J.R. Morris, Miles Morris, Robert Murph, H.R. Neighbors, B.F., 1st Lt. Neighbors, David C. Neighbors, Isaac Parks, S. Patterson, John Petree, John Petree, L.H. Petree, Pink C., Sgt. Poole, J. Rufus, 2nd Lt. Quinn, W.B. Reaves, Barram Reaves, Isham W. Reaves, John A. Reaves, W.R. Reeves, G.B. Reeves, Morgan Reeves, T.J. Reeves, William J. Richards, Daniel M. Robbs, James Roddy, Nathaniel anders, James E. Sanders, John Sanders, Simpson Satterfield, Jefferson Satterfield, William Seay, Wilson, Cpl. Simpson, Bagwell Slavin, Robert C. Smith, A.K., Captain		Smith, J.H. Smith, Levi Smith, P.L. Smith, S.F., Captain Sparks, Stewart Sparks, William Sprouse, James Stone, James Tanner, F.M. Thomas, J.A. Thomas, William Thompson, Elijah Thompson, J. Alexander Thompson, John C. Thompson, Michael Thompson, William T. Tolleson, William D. Trimmier, Frank M., Captain Turner, F.H., Captain Turner, Fielden M. Turner Lee L. Turner, T.H., 2nd Lt. Turner, T.J. Vaughn, W.C. Vincent, William Waldrip, J.L. Waters, Abner S. Waters, T.H., 2nd Lt. Waters, William, Sgt. Wethers, Simpson White, J.W., 2nd Lt. Wilkins, Thomas L., 1st Sgt. Willis, Almarine W., Sgt. Willis, D.T. Willis, Holman J., Cpl. Willis, James Willis, Wilie Wood, Drury H. Wood, Oliver Zimmerman, F.A. Zimmerman, J.N., Cpl.
TOP    Civil War Service Records      TOP 2nd Lt John W White - Co I - 13th South Carolina Infantry

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The 20th South Carolina Infantry Regiment ' G ' Company John Willis White (CSA) Enlisted: Sullivans Island, SC, March 1, 1863 Killed:  Morris Island, SC, July 20, 1863 This is only a short History covering the period John Willis White was with them, the unit suffered massively after they left SC and Joined the Army Of Northern Virginia.  Of course J. W. had already died...       During the fall of 1861 the men of what would become Company H, 20th SCVI were drilling at Hampton's Plantation in Diamond Hill, SC. As the Regiment formation order was issued, the Company was ordered to Charleston with the rest of the elements forming the new Regiment 20th South Carolina.      As in every unit in the south, communities and families joined up together, and the 20th would be no exception. Company I of the 20th, had 28 members by the name of Gunter. The Captain, all three Lieutenants and seven NCOs all held the name, which it was, needless to say from that point on called the Gunter Company.      After several months of drill and instruction at the racecourse in Charleston, the 20th, in February of '62, was transferred to the west end of James Island near the little town of Secessionville for Guard and Picket duty. In the fall of that year they were thereafter transferred to Sullivans Island, where most of their tour of duty in the Charleston area was served. They were housed in the old Moultrie House and its adjacent cottages & buildings charged with garrisoning the surrounding forts.      As the 20th was being formed in North Charleston, on November 7th , 1861, Port Royal finally fell to the Federal forces, which gave them a permanent base of operations to assault the South Carolina coastal fortifications. General Robert E. Lee, then commanding the Department of South Carolina - Georgia - Florida, ordered the coastal defense forces to "abandoning all exposed points" within the reach of the "those peoples'" gunboats. The redeployment was to relocate the Confederate forces to interior positions were the enemy could be meet on more equal terms. In addition every effort was to be made to strengthen and secure the defenses of Charleston. As the re-deployment of the defenses took place, the Federals moved to occupy the abandoned Edisto Island in February 1862. In March of 1862 General Lee was recalled to Richmond, leaving General John C. Pemberton to assume command of the Department. By June the Federals occupied Folly Island and made preparations to press onto Morris Island. On July 10th , 1862 the Federals obtained their initial foothold on the southern tip of Morris Island. Confederate reinforcements were rushed to James Island anticipating further assaults. The Federals advanced up Morris Island and begin a series of costly assaults on Battery Wagner, including the famous charge of the 54th Massachusetts. As the Federal assaults failed to directly take Wagner, they settled into a 58-day siege of the Fort. Here is where the 20th SC received their initiation to battle. On the 16th of July, under the command of Gen. Taliaferro assault force, with elements of the 20th SC, was sent forward to make an advance on the Federal forces building in front of Battery Wagner. The raid resulted in the discovery of a well-fortified rifle pit along the entire Federal front. In the engagement that ensued, 40 Federals were killed, 2 captured, to one casualty for the 20th SC of which the intent of the Federals was brought to light. Over the next two-months, the 20th would be one of the Regiments, which were to be shuttled into and out of the fort every two days. With only a brackish water supply and constant bombardment by the Federals, the defending Regiment had to endure stifling days in the hot cramped bombproofs to hold the fort.      During one of the exchanges of the fort's garrison, 600 men of the 20th SC and 23rd Ga. boarded the steamer Sumter after being relieved. The tide was low and the Steamer had to take the alternate route through the deep-water channel entering Charleston harbor. As the steamer passed Cumming point, the sentries at Fort Sumter failed to launch the proper identification flares, causing Fort Moultrie to open fire on her and subsequently sinking her. The captain of the steamer seeing the pending doom, quickly redirected the steamer's direction so a to beach her, thereby helping to reduce the loss of life. The steamer's compliment abandoned ship and waited in chest deep water until dawn for rescue boats to arrive. 16 men of the 20th SC did not return.       On August 21st , 1862, Lt.Col. Dansler led two companies of men from the 20th in successfully retaking the rifle pits before Battery Wagner, taken the previous night by the Federals. Its veterans thought of the Battery Wagner tour of duty as the most trying condition men had to fight under during the war. And to close out this engagement, the 20th was assigned the unsavory duty of being the last Confederate force to hold the Fort before its abandonment.       By September 6th , 1862, Colonel Keitt commanding Battery Wagner, determined the fort was no longer maintainable, thereby ordered its evacuation. Embarkation of the troops began a 9pm and continued until 11pm. With only the rear guard remaining in Wagner they spiked the three remaining serviceable guns and finished the evacuation by 1:30am, thereby concluding the Confederate presence on Morris Island. During their service on Morris Island, the 20th lost 11 men killed and 39 wounded. Due to the deplorable conditions the men were fighting in, after the 58-day siege only 307 men and officers out of the 1100 plus contingency was still fit for duty.      Over the winter of 1862-63 the Regiment was refitted and drilled. During this time the Regiment's health and strength was restored to a fighting force. They quickly became known for their precise mastery of the drill. Over the next year the Regiment saw action in and around Charleston on various coastal duties in and around the forts and batteries defending the area. The Units history continues into Northern Virginia They fought in major battles; North Anna River, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, 20th arrived Peterburg just in time to save a small force from sure defeat, they commented that the morning sun was just rising and they saw the glimmering bayonets of the 20th approaching, many soldiers cried and some cheered as they thought their death was certain... the 20th also fought at the Battle of Crater, Shenandoah Valley, and many other battles, of 1200 men in the unit only 230, were at the Surrender in North Carolina. The unit was impressive in battle, and well disciplined, known for their devotion and courage, John Willis White is a example of the soldiers of the 20th South Carolina  Infantry regiment.
Civil War Service Records Pvt John W White - Co G - 20th South Carolina Infantry

James W Cooper's Bible record published 
in SC Bible Records by Dorothy Harris Phifer, 
is the source of marriage date, Married by 
Rev Drury Scruggs
Feb. 10, 1857 - at Spartanburg SC

1.  John died without a Will.
2.  John Simpson is the Administrator of the Estate.
3.  John Simpson is the husband to Minerva Cooper, Mary's Sister.
4.  The Estate is small, as John W White, was a young man.
5.   It appears there wasn't enough to pay outstanding Bills.
6.   What few Goods/Chattels there were, were appraised by,
      Elijah Barnett, Pleasant Golighly & Edward W Parker. 
      The first two were members of Cedar Springs, as John W was,
      they most certainly knew John W White.
7.   J B Tollison is made Guardian of John's three Children;
      Jas Eugene White, Mary Henrietta White & John Willis White Jr.
      JB was a Clerk & Magistrate for Spartanburg Co SC. 
8.   Mary White signs her approval of the courts citation...
9.   Estate was settled Mar 5, 1864. 
 

Feb 22, 1840 (Page 38)  ...Received Mary Cooper (now White) by Experience.  died: Jan 24, 1887
Oct 01, 1856 (Page 147) ..Received John W White by Experience.                       died: Jul 21, 1863
Apr 25, 1857 (Page 151) ..J W White elected Music Clerk.
Apr 25, 1857 (Page 151)..Robert White (Jr), J W Cooper, & W Allen elected Superintendents 
                                          to organize a Sunday School.
Apr 25, 1857 (Page 151)..Appointed C. H. White, John Simpson, John W. White, and J W Barnett,
                                          Mary White, Martha Jane Barnett, Louisa Wingo and Elizabeth Moss
                                          Teachers for the new Sunday School. 
Jul xx, 1863 (Roll Call)..  John's death is recorded in the Church Roll Calls.

**I have not found a dismissal Date for John W White yet, though judging by his first enlistment, I would guess prior to Apr 1861. John's death is recorded in the Church roll calls, but not the weekly minutes, a memorium was submitted, this was usually done by the Church. 

**Mary Cooper's arrival is questionable, there is a Marah Cooper who was arrived Feb 22, 1840, I suspect this is our Mary, she is arrived with Wm Cooper, possibly brother Wm King Cooper.  

NOTE:  It is refreshing to see John & wife Mary teaching Sunday School together, and father Robort as its Superintendent.  I am sure he was proud to see his young son involved in the church and with his wife. 

(Newspaper: The Carolina Spartan - Thursday, October 1, 1863 - Col. 1, paragraph 6)

ARTICLE : Carolina Spartan dated 10 - 1 - 1863 Page 2

IN MEMORIAM

Mr. Editor: Grant me space in your column to record the name of another martyr to the cause of our afflicted and bleeding county. 

John W. White, son of Robert and Mary White, was a native of Spartanburg District born Feb. 27th, 1832. In his early manhood he made profession of Christianity, and, in October 1856 connected himself with the Baptist Church, at Cedar Springs of which he lived an accepted and exemplary member. He was a kind son, and affectionate husband, a tender and loving father a pure patriot and a true Christian. In the year 1857, he was married to Miss Mary Cooper, daughter of the late James W. Cooper and Lucy Cooper. 

Since the beginning of this cruel war, I have witnessed many touching scenes, but nothing has more elicited my sympathies than the condition of this bereaved family. If there be a Christian in all the war party of the North, who are rampant for our blood and the complete demolition of all the rights and institutions of the South. I should desire that he should have behold with me, that Jesolate home, heard the primitive expression of a mournful widow, and seen the group of precious little ones, one of whom may never be held its father's face: but to whom he has left an invaluable legacy in a spotless name and unflinching patriotism. If there be a sentiment of humanity left in such a heart, I am sure it would have been touched by this pathetic scene. To him who hath promised to be a husband to the widow and a father to the fatherless, we command the disconsolate mother and her tender orphan babes.

Mr. White assisted in the organization of the 13th Regiment, Col. Edwards, in September, 1861, in which he was a Lieutenant in Captain A. K. Smith's Company. A campaign of three months on the coast of this State, resulted to him, in the complete prostration of health from which he never fully recovered. After a violent and protracted illness, which commenced with measles and terminated in a most dangerous type pneumonia, he so far recovered his strength to induce the belief that he might again, though in feeble health, be of some service in that cause so dear to his heart, the independence of his native land.  In March 1863 he joined the 20th regiment which was stationed near Charleston.  When on the 19th of July, the battle order was given to his Regiment, he was advised by several of his companions to remain behind, as he was quite unwell, but to this he objected, saying that as long as he had any strength he was ready to do battle for his country.  He worked laboriously during that night throwing up breast works behind which they my during the following day exposed in the searching rays of the sun which greatly enhanced his suffering.  In the afternoon he was taken to  the bombproof hospital, where he spent the night in great agony, which was augmented by the continuous and heavy discharge of artillery.  On the next morning, July 21st, It was necessary to remove him about a mile distance to Cumming's Point.  The  fatigue incident to his removal was more than his exhausted frame could support, and he rapidly sank into the quiet and peaceful embrace of death, comforted and solaced, as we joyfully believe in his last hours, by the great and exceeding precious truths of the Gospel, and accompanied through the dark valley and shadow of death by the blessed Saviour who he had so faithfully served for many years.

"Hark they whisper; angels any
Sister spirit, come away;
The world recedes -- it disappears;
Heaven opens on my eyes! my ears!
With sounds seraphic ring,
Lend, lend your wings! I mount, I Fly!
Oh grave! where is thy victory!
Oh death! where is my sting".
                                           J. S, H, 

NOTE from Mike:
This Obit. tells us much, that his parents were Robert & Mary, he was married to Mary Cooper, daughter of James W & Lucy Cooper, James a life long neighbor and friend of Robert White Jr.  James sister Mary Cooper White was the wife of Robert White Jr.  This making John W. White's wife Mary her niece. It further says they had three children. The Obit, tells us John W was killed along the SC Coast, from another source, I believe this was Charleston.   Further states he was only married about seven years.

Provide by descendant: Jeanie Russell   

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