I'm sure the Civil War is on the list somewhere. MOD saved me from posting a long tale about a great grandfather which would have bored the hell out of everybody.
I'll go. I have a GGG uncle, who migrated from New Brunswick Canada, with his older brother and wife, in 1856. Settled near Minneapolis.
Went to Wisconsin or Michigan, joined Union forces. His Baptistt faith opposed slavery.
He was blinded in battle, held POW, exchanged and returned home, to marry his fiancée and live out his days in Anoka Minn.
"Samuel Patterson Starrett
Source: History of Anoka County and the Towns of Champlin and Dayton in Hennepin County, Minnesota, by Albert M. Goodrich (1905) Transcribed by A. Newell.
Samuel Patterson S..... was born Sept. 27, 1835, at Caledonia, N. B., and came to Minnesota in 1856, settling at Monticello, where he farmed for four years, and went to the copper country at Lake Superior. He enlisted for the Civil War in the First Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and served thirteen months. He was shot through the head and lost his eyesight in battle, was taken prisoner and retained at Libby Prison for a time. He was soon after exchanged and discharged and returned to Michigan, where he was nursed back to health and strength. Again he returned to Monticello, where he was married June 2, 1863, to Jane L. J.... of that place, the girl who remained faithful to vows made before the sad affliction. The couple spent three years in Michigan, but removed to Anoka in 1866. Mr. S.... was appointed postmaster Feb. 4, 1868, and served nearly five years. Children: Fannie A., Carrie L. (Mrs. F. A. Piper, Minneapolis), and Alice M. "
http://genealogytrails.com/minn/anoka/bios-p.html