Private Conrad H. Messer, CSA

One of the two sons of Federick Messer who served in the Confederate Army.

He was killed at the Battle of Camp Wildcat.  I never heard of it before so had to look it up.

Wikipedia had an entry about it, but said the battle took place on October 21, 1861.  The Find A Grave entry on him had him dying on October  18, 1862.  There is a mistake somewhere.  Most likely it was Find A Grave with both the day and the year written incorrectly, unless he was wounded in the battle and received medical attention with the Feltner family in Laurel County, Kentucky and died a year later.

The 29th N.C., had troops from Conrad's Haywood County and had just organized in September of 1861, so this most likely was their first engagement.  Though small by later standards for the war, it had to be quite an experience for the men of the 29th N.C..

So, Private Messer was killed in his first action of the war.

I found a list of Confederate regiments at this battle and there wasn't a 29th North Carolina listed at the battle.  There was a 29th Tennessee there, however.

--Old Secesh