No. 17 Four Brothers in the Civil War: David Coile - Union Soldier

David Coile was a brother to Lafayette and Martin Coile. David was the third of the four brothers who fought in the Civil War. He was also a Union soldier from East Tennessee. We have very little information about David. Everything comes from the military records and widow's pension provided by the Government Services Administration. Some records indicate that his middle initial was "N", others indicate "M". I believe that his middle name was Nelson.

According to the census records David was born about 1842. He was married to Mary A. Lyle on 19 November 1861 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. According to her widow's pension declaration she was born about 1844.

He enlisted in Battery E, 1st Battalion, Tennessee Light Artillery, Tennessee Volunteers in the Union Army. According to muster roles and his widow's pension declaration he enlisted 23 November 1863 and held the rank of Private. November was the month the unit formed so David served in the unit from its beginning to the date it disbanded after the war ended. This puts him at about 21 years of age when he enlisted. The unit saw its first mission in the District of North Central Kentucky. On the last day of 1863 the battery is reported at Camp Nelson, Kentucky. The next day they marched as a larger force towards Knoxville. They were assigned to Nashville from April to August 1864. Governor Andrew Johnson ordered a larger Union force, including this regiment, to pursue Confederate raiders who were harrassing East Tennessee. This resulted in the regiment participating in fights with Confederate General John Morgan at Greenville, Tennessee and eventually in their participation in Stonemen's raid into North Carolina. Muster roll records indicate that David was hospitalized on 12 August 1864 in Kingston, Tennessee. We do not know for how long. The 1st Battalion of Tennessee Light Artillery participated in the battle to take Salisbury, NC. Read next weeks blog entry to learn more about this unit as we tell the story of David's younger brother, Martin Coile. He was also part of the same unit. Little more is known about David Coile, He was honorably discharged 1 August 1865. I suspect that David returned to Jefferson County and his family and farm work. David died 30 August 1895.