The War of 1812

In January of 1815, Andrew Jackson led US forces to a remarkable victory at the Battle of New Orleans, making him a famous man and a national hero.  It was the last major battle of the war, fought, in fact, after the peace treaty had already been finalized in Europe.

Two month later, my fifth great grandparents William Gunter and Nancy Ann Williams named their new son Andrew Jackson Gunter, a clear ode to the famous general after his great victory.

This William Gunter may be, although I am not certain, the same listed in this document, granted a land warrant for 160 acres for his service in the 7th infantry regiment commanded by George Birch in the War of 1812.

William Gunter would have been an old private at 50 something, but there is another piece of evidence that supports the idea that he might be one and the same William Gunter.  The 7th infantry regiment served in the Battle of New Orleans.  Which would certainly explain why he felt strongly enough about Andrew Jackson to name his son after him. Alternately, he has a son named William Gunter, my fifth great uncle.  Maybe he named his new son Andrew Jackson after hearing about the battle from his older son.  It's also possible that there is no connection here, as I cannot find any confirmation that the 7th regiment took soldiers from Norther Carolina.  See a history of the regiment here. 

This is the first Civil War soldier I've found in my family tree for either North or South.  My third great grandfather George Marion Gunter seems to have been a sergeant in the Confederate Army.  He was part of a regiment with a lot of Cherokee Indian members called Thomas' Legion.  "George was a 4th Sgt.in the G,Infantry Regiment of the Thomas Legion during the Civil War,he enlisted on July 19,1862."-per this source.

For context on this regiment see:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas%27_Legion. Here's his tombstone, note the inscription "A Rebel Soldier."