Aaron Plyler, (1841 ~ 1928), my great great grand father on my mother's side, was born in 1841, to Isom and Elizabeth Plyler, non-slave holding farmers. Aaron volunteered for service on April 13th , 1861 at Chesterfield district courthouse enlisting in Company "D", 8th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. This was the day after S.C. started shooting at the Yankees in Charleston harbor. Companies B and D of the 8th S. C. were made up of almost totally Chesterfield County men.

Aaron had an older brother, John who was born in 1839. John Plyler volunteered for Confederate service on January 16th, 1862, also at Chesterfield district courthouse. John Plyler was in Co. "B" of the 26th infantry. He died in a hospital in Summerville SC, (another story for another time).

Aaron’s earliest muster records show that he joined for 12 months. The roll of July/August 1861 shows that Aaron was sick in the hospital. Aaron rejoined his regiment and according to the roll dated November/December 1861, he was “detailed for wagon service. (Extra on daily duty).” Aaron’s pay receipt dated July 30th, 1862 shows he was making $13.06 a month. He also received $25.00 for clothing. This leads me to believe that he was dressed in clothing sent from home per the commutation system.

He must have been pretty good at his job, because on the roll of September/October 1862, Aaron is listed as a regimental teamster.

Some time before Gettysburg, Aaron joined the 8th’s color guard. By this time, Aaron had been promoted to Corporal. Aaron became acting Color Sgt. during the battle of Gettysburg, when the Color Sgt. was killed.

Aaron was badly wounded at Bean’s Station, Tennessee on December 14th or 15th 1863. He received a 40 day furlough to recover from his wounds. Soldiers were usually given 10 days for a minor wound or 30 days for something more serious. Aaron must have been really bad to receive 40 days. Aaron’s son, Hugh, said all Aaron would ever say about his wounds was that “he got shot all to hell.” After Aaron’s 40 days were up, he got on his mule and rode back to rejoin his unit.

In a letter dated July 22nd, 1864, Lt. Colonel Eli Stackhouse of the 8th S.C. recommended Aaron be appointed Ensign of the regiment. Col. Stackhouse stated that Aaron had been acting Color Sgt. since the battle of Gettysburg. The War Department approved Col. Stackhouse’s request and promoted Aaron by appointment on August 19th, 1864.

He was again wounded at Berryville, Virginia on September 3rd or 4th 1864. The flag was in Aaron’s hands when a Yankee shot broke his wrist, but the flag did not fall. Just as it was halfway down, John W. Threatt caught it, and rushed up to where the shot was raining down like hail stones, and shouted, “Rally to your flag, boys, follow your colors!” I believe Aaron was spared by being wounded on this occasion, because a few days later, on the 13th of September, all but 2 companies of the 8th were captured along with their colors.

Aaron was again driving a wagon in February of 1865 when he was given a sum of gold to evacuate north from Columbia, S.C. ahead of Sherman’s advance. When he arrived at the Lynches River he found it to be too swollen from rain to cross. He was so close to home that he unhitched his mules and rode home, leaving the wagon to whomever found it.

Aaron had a son named Hugh John Plyler. I assume he was named after Aaron's brother John. Aaron's second wife's name was Harriet. Aaron was said by Hugh to be "the same height as me (6ft) and straight as a stick." In a world where the average man was 5' 7", it's not hard to figure how Aaron got in the color guard. After the war Aaron was known for his long, snow white beard and the fact that he never got any of his tobacco juice in it. Aaron died in 1928 and is buried at Midway Methodist Church in Union County, N.C. just outside Monroe.