There was only one Richard Fowler –born circa 1844 — in Union County, South Carolina that I find who is a “good fit” to have been this soldier. He was the son of Andrew Fowler (1804-aft 1870) and wife Mary Scisson (1821-aft 1870).

Godfrey, Ellis, John, Mark, Thomas, James, Gassaway William, Henry, Gillman, Joseph … these were the names commonly given to the sons of this Fowler line. There was an occasional uncommon name thrown in for good measure — Jasper, Bryant, Shelton, Ephraim, Milligan, even Andrew.

The name Richard was rarely used in these 19th century Union County Fowler families. You would think that would make my research task easier, but it does not. Not unlike all of the children of Andrew Fowler, son Richard seems to disappear of the face of the earth.

Andrew Fowler was a farmer, and he was blind.

Andrew Fowler was married twice. His first wife was Nancy Hames; his second was Mary Scisson. He and his two wives had many children, mostly girls.

Son Richard is shown below in household of his parents in the 1850 census. He was five years old and sandwiched in-between older sisters Jane and Celia. and younger sisters Julia, Helen, and Amanda.

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Sixteen year old Richard Fowler is found in the 1860 household of Andrew and Mary Fowler. Still wedged between a bevy of sisters, his occupation was farm laborer.

Whispers of succession were in the air, and the first shot that would be fired at Fort Sumter was only eight months in the future. Surely young Richard Fowler daydreamed of laying down his pitchfork and picking up a musket, marching off in a smart uniform to fight the Yankees. He would not have to wait long.

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Eighteen-year-old Richard Fowler enlisted in Company F of the 15th South Carolina Infantry on August 29, 1861 at the Union Court House. He was mustered into service on September 7 at Lightwood Knot Springs near Columbia.

His time in the Confederate army was short. Less than eight months later, he was discharged and sent home. The military records show that he was “present” in his company, no injury reported, no “absent without leave” notations.

The official records show his discharge on April 18, 1862, and his final pay given on April 23. I find no reason for his separation from his regiment.

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Two years later, twenty-year-old Richard Fowler enlisted in Company F of the 18th South Carolina Infantry. There are conflicting military records regarding the exact date of his enlistment. After analyzing all documentation, it is my best guess that he rejoined the army on February 1, 1864 in Charleston, SC.

The men of the 18th South Carolina Infantry fought in the Bermuda Hundred campaign during May 1864. These battles were fought in around the town of Bermuda Hundred near Richmond, Virginia:

• Port Walthall Junction (May 6–7)
• Swift Creek (May 9)
• Chester Station (May 10)
• Proctor’s Creek (May 12–16)
• Ware Bottom Church (May 20)

It must be assumed that Richard Fowler was wounded in the battle at Ware Bottom church. He was admitted to the Episcopal Church Hospital in Williamsburg, suffering from a gunshot wound on May 20, 1864. He was transferred to Columbia, South Carolina on June 1, 1864.

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It becomes glaringly obvious why young Richard Fowler was discharged from the 15th Regiment after serving for only a short time. He was also discharged and sent home from the 18th Regiment after four months.

Yes, he had been shot in Virginia. But there was a more serious, underlying reason why he was rejected from military service. According to the Army doctors of the Confederacy, Richard Fowler had a bad heart.

He was brave to enlist — not once –but twice. He served the Southern cause with honor. But Richard Fowler was not well. His complexion was sallow. Army doctors sent him home at a critical time when soldiers were desperately needed on the battlefield.

Richard Fowler went home to take care of the fields of his blind father. His mother and his many sisters would feel relief as they welcomed him home from war.

The three documents below outline his final days as a soldier.

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The Andrew Fowler family was counted in the 1870 census in Union County. Son Richard Fowler was not included in the household.

Where was he? Did he die in the hospital in Columbia from his wounds? Did he make it home and die from heart disease?

Or, like the rest of the Andrew Fowler family, did he disappear off the face of the earth? I find no records — census, death, real estate, equity court, etc — of any of the members of this family after 1870. I will, of course, continue looking for evidence of their existence.

One of my important sources in my research is the book Union County Cemeteries compiled by Mrs. E.D. Whaley, Sr. and published in 1976. It is my “go-to” book to look for headstones that I cannot locate in a graveyard.

Mrs. Whaley has an entry on page 55 for Richard Fowler buried at Gilead Cemetery in Jonesville: died January 1, 1896 (age 65 years).

If the age estimate is correct, the Richard Fowler buried at Gilead would have been born in 1830. Richard Fowler, son of Andrew, was born about 1844. Same Richard Fowler with incorrect age on his headstone? I do not know.

I do know that I will walk every inch of the graveyard looking for that headstone on my next trip to Gilead.

I have too many questions and not enough answers. I welcome any information that will help with my research of Richard Fowler of Union County.