SS Gen. Lyon Disaster-- Part 9: Barnet Losey of the 5th West Virginia

At this point, I am sure that Barney Losey must have been a member of the 5th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment, not the 5th Virginia.

The 5th West Virginia Regiment was organized at Ceredo, West Virginia and mustered in October 18, 1861.

Veterans of the 5th who chose to reenlist were almagamated with the 1st West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment on November 9, 1864, to form the 2nd West Virginia Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

However, I have seen another source that said the 2nd West Virginia Veteran Volunteer Regiment was a combination of the 1st and 7th West Virginia.  The 1st West Virginia Veteran Infantry Regiment was made of of the 5th and 9th West Virginia Volunteer Regiments.

Either way, it appears that Barney Losey did not re-enlist as both regiments served the remainder of the war in West Virginia.  How Mr. Losey came to be in Wilmington, North Carolina, is anybody's guess.

I have been unable to find out anything about Barney Losey after his survival of the SS General Lyon Disaster.  

--Old Secesh

The SS Gen. Lyon Disaster-- Part 8: Who Was Barney Losey?

Again, Barney Losey was listed as being a member of the 5th Virginia Infantry regiment.  there was also a 5th West Virginia Infantry regiment, this one in Union service.  It was mustered into the Army in 1861, while still a part of Virginia, which may have had something to do with his being listed as being in the 5th Virginia.

I came across a full roster of men serving in the 5th West Virginia and there was a Barnett Losey listed as a private in Co. G.  Was this the Barney Losey in the New York Times article?  It said he was discharged as a private

Joining the regiment might also have been a family affair as there was also a John P. Losey in Co. D of the regiment listed as being a corporal, but discharged as a private.  Joshua P.Losey was also a corporal in Co. D, discharged as a private.  William S. Losey was a private in Co. D.

I have to wonder why Barnett Losey wasn't in Company D with his relatives, if that was the case.

So, Most Likely Barney Losey was Barnett Losey of the 5th West Virginia Infantry regiment.

--Old Secesh

The SS Gen. Lyon Disaster-- Part 7: Who Was Barney Losey?

Thta last entry was a bit short as I was going through the list of survivors and right off the bat, there was a Barney Losey of the 5th Virginia.  he survived, but I'd have to think the 5th Virginia would have been a Confederate unit.  There was a 5th Virginia Confederate regiment.  Was he a prisoner on his way north that had been captured in Wilmington or at Fort Fisher?

There were also regiments in the southern states who were organized to fight for the Union.  Was this 5th Virginia a Union regiment?

I then came across a 5th West Virginia Infantry Regiment.  If he was a Union soldier that would make for a better answer.  Perhaps the 5th Virginia was a mistake.  Maybe it should have read 5th West Virginia.

Looking up the regiment, I found that it was mustered in at Ceredo, West Virginia in 1861.  However, at the time, West Virginia was a part of Virginia and continued to be until 1863.  Maybe this is where the confusion set in?

Wikll the Real Barney Losey Stand Up?  --Old Secesh