The Steele Families and The Civil War

The Steele families of Henry County deeply felt the effects of the Civil War.  Their men joined the Georgia Militia very early, went off to fight in Virginia and other locations, leaving their families home alone to fend for themselves.   Many lost their lives and many came home after the war to find their farms, homes and crop land destroyed.

The Steele families of the Mount Camel were very close to the battles of Lovejoy Station and Sherman's March to the Sea.  (See Posts:  "Sherman Slept Here" and "Nash Farm Battlefield". 

Walter Simeon Steele told his granddaughter, Dorothy, Morton Steele's oldest daughter, the story of how he was playing in the yard and a Yankee rode up on his horse and yelled at his Ma, Mary Ann Steele, and said, "Woman, you had better get that boy in the house or the Yankees will get him".  He ran in the house and hid, scared to death. 

His father, Robert Steele, had already died as a result of illness or injury from serving in the 85th GA Militia.   The family resided in the Mount Carmel area near the battlegrounds.

1864 Map by Edgar Rugar and reproduced in 1895
The "Still" Steele home site can be seen just under the words 'Old Mill'
These battle lines are just a few of many battles fought in this area

Please refer to other post regarding the Civil War

Georgia Civil War Soldiers Index - 

Soldiers named Steele