Company "H" 7th West Virginia Infantry
Researched & Compiled by Linda Fluharty.
Service Record: At age 44, joined for duty & enrolled Sept. 29, 1861 at Moundsville; mustered in Nov. 5, 1861 at Grafton. On Aug. 7, 1862, sent to General Hospital from Harrison’s Landing. Statement of Surgeon, US Vols., Oct. 29, 1862, at Chester, Pa.: “I certify that I have carefully examined the said Pvt. Cornelius Higgs of Lt. Roberts’ Company, and find him incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of Prolapsus Ani, Debility and old age.” The place where soldier desires to be addressed: “Woodland, P.O. Marshall, Virginia.” Discharge was approved at Philadelphia on Nov. 30, 1862.
W.Va. Adj. Gen. record: “Enrolled at Moundsville; age 44; mustered in at Grafton Nov. 5, 1861. Ship-carpenter, born in Prince William County, Va. Died of disease, date unknown.”
His death is stated in both the 1864 & 1865 W.Va. Adj. Gen. Reports.
Cornelius Higgs, 21, married Lucinda Barnet, 18, in Belmont County, Ohio, on Nov. 6, 1834. Children were Cyrus (b 1838), Leander (b 1840), Jerome (b 1845). Lucinda died in 1851. He might have married Louisa Smith in Tyler County in 1856 but there is not enough information in the record to confirm. Sons, Leander and Cyrus, lived in Marshall County.
No one seems to know for certain what happened to Cornelius, although some relatives speculate about his whereabouts after the war. All we have are the official records of the War Department and the West Virginia Adjutant General that state that he died during the war.
West Virginia Adjutant General's Record