Our Ancestors

Past Commander Ron Abner

George Washington Abner Sr. (3rd Great Grandfather)

1820-1870

Pvt, Co. B, 46th Alabama Infantry.

The Forty-sixth was organized at Loach Poka, in the spring of 1862. Shortly after, it was sent to east Tennessee and had several casualties in the fight at Tazewell. The regiment suffered severely. A few days later it was engaged at Baker's Creek, where its casualties were numerous, and where half the regiment was captured, including the field officers. The remainder were besieged in Vicksburg, suffering severely, and were captured with the fortress. Reorganized at Demopolis, with Gen. Pettus in command of the brigade, the Forty-sixth rejoined the Army of Tennessee. It lost considerably at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge and made its winter quarters at Dalton. At Crow's Valley it was engaged, with several casualties. In the almost constant fighting from Dalton to Atlanta, the ranks of the Forty-sixth were thinned and at Jonesboro. Marching with Hood into Tennessee was one of the three regiments that made the brilliant fight at Columbia, where its loss was considerable. The Forty-sixth lost several killed and wounded at Nashville, and quite a number captured. It was the rear guard on the retreat, and the brigade was complimented by Gen. Hood in special orders for its services there. Transferred to North Carolina, the Forty-sixth was engaged at Kinston and Bentonville, with severe loss in the latter. Consolidated with the Twenty-third Alabama, the Forty-sixth was surrendered at Salisbury by Capt. Brewer, who had commanded it for two years.

George Thomas Brown (3rd Great Grandfather)

1840-1908

Pvt, Co. B, 2nd Texas Cavalry

On May 29, 1862, Lt. Col. John Robert Baylor received authorization from the Confederate War Department to raise "five battalions of Partisan Rangers of six companies each" for what would become known as the Arizona Brigade. The government would pay volunteers a bounty but expected them to furnish their own arms, equipment, and horses. The purpose of the brigade would be to retake the southwestern territories for the Confederacy, and its ranks would be made up of Texans recently returned from fighting in Arizona. Fifty-yer-old John W. Mullen of Williamson County began mustering another battalion in November 1862. He completed only two companies, one from Williamson County and the second under Robert B. Halley, sheriff of Bell County.

The Second Texas Cavalry, Arizona Brigade, consisted of George Baylor's Battalion and Mullen's Battalion . George Baylor assumed command of the regiment, and in April 1863 they marched to the defense of Louisiana. Baylor's regiment saw its first action in the capture of Brashear City where they seized large quantities of quartermaster, commissary, medical, and ordnance stores. After patrolling the bayous for several months, they joined James Major's Second Texas Cavalry Brigade in July. Through the fall, they continued to operate in the bayou country and took part in battles at Stirling's Plantation, Carrion Crow Bayou, and Bayou Bourbeau. In December they returned to Texas and made camp at Galveston to defend against a Union expedition advancing up the coast from Brownsville. They remained in Galveston until March 1864, when the Second Texas Cavalry, Arizona Brigade, again marched into Louisiana to take part in the Red River campaign. During the campaign, they fought in battles at Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Monett's Ferry, and Yellow Bayou. In September 1864 the regiment marched to Arkansas with the cavalry brigade and returned to Texas in December. While camping in the Houston area, the Second Texas Cavalry, Arizona Brigade, received orders to be dismounted. The frontier horsemen loudly protested this order. Colonel Baylor took it as a personal affront from Maj. Gen. John Wharton, the officer he still blamed for the defeat at Yellow Bayou. Baylor confronted Wharton in Houston and in the ensuing argument killed him. The regiment did dismount and remained in the Houston area until the surrender of the Trans-Mississippi Department on May 26, 1865. They assembled and mustered out of service at Hempstead.

James Franklin Cowen (3rd Great Grandfather)

1841-1899

Pvt, 24th Arkansas Infantry

The 24th Arkansas Infantry unit began its service in the Department of the Trans-Mississippi, but the bulk of the unit was captured at the Battle of Arkansas Post and shipped to Northern prison camps. The unit was exchanged in Virginia and shipped to Tennessee and joined the Army of Tennessee in time for the Chattanooga Campaign and remained with the army through the Atlanta Campaign, the Franklin-Nashville Campaign and ended the war in North Carolina.

Joseph Cowen (3rd Great Grandfather)

1824-

Pvt, 55th Tennessee Infantry

The 55th Infantry Regiment was organized at Columbus, Kentucky, in February, 1862. It’s companies were recruited in Benton, Carroll, Gibson, Madison, and Henderson counties. The unit was ordered to Missouri and in March reported 327 present for duty. Eight of the ten companies were captured at Island No. 10 on April 8. Exchanged and reorganized it was assigned to Maxey's and Quarles' Brigade, and during January, 1863, consolidated with the 46th Regiment. After serving at Port Hudson and Jackson, the regiment was ordered to Mobile. In May, 1864, it moved north and participated in many battles of the Army of Tennessee from Atlanta to Bentonville. The 46th/55th totalled 270 men and 230 arms in December, 1863, and lost sixty percent of the 250 engaged at Lickskillet Road on July 28, 1864. Only a handful surrendered in April, 1865.

William Mason Roberson (3rd Great Grandfather)

1829-1909

Pvt, Co. B, 25th Alabama Infantry

He was severely wounded. Rumor has it that he was shot in the mouth and forever after wore a beard. The 25th Alabama Infantry Regiment was organized at Mobile in December 1861 by the consolidation of McClellan's 1st and 6th Alabama Infantry Battalions [smaller than the normal regiment's 1,000 men]. The men were from the counties of Calhoun, Coffee, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Saint Clair, Shelby, and Talladega. It remained in that vicinity 2-3 months, then went to TN. Brigaded under Gen'l Adley Gladden, the regiment (numbering 305 effectives, because of illness) fought at Shiloh (casualties: 15 k, 75w). Placed under Gen'l Gardner, with the 19th, 22nd, 39th, and 26-50th, the 25th Regiment met with trifling loss at Framington. It moved into KY with Gen'l Braxton Bragg's Army of the Tennessee from the Chattanooga base but was not engaged in any action. It came back, and participated at Murfreesboro -- Col. Loomis commanding the brigade (casualties: 13k, 88w, 16m, out of about 250 present for duty. The regiment -- Gen'l Zachariah Deas in command of the brigade -- fell back with the army and was in the forward movement at Chickamauga (casualties: 33% of 330 engaged). Total strength, December 1863: 304 men and 174 arms. It again suffered severely at Missionary Ridge, but wintered and recruited at Dalton, GA. All along the bloody track of the hostile armies through north GA, the 25th left a record, especially at New Hope. At Atlanta, 22 July, the regiment lost 49% of its force but captured two stands of colors, and more prisoners than it numbered. Six days later, near the same spot, the 25th again lost very heavily. It was engaged at Jonesboro without severe loss, but suffered considerably at Columbia, on Hood's arrival in middle Tennessee. At Franklin, the regiment again lost largely, and at Nashville, its loss was not light, but it preserved its organization on the retreat. Proceeding to the Carolinas, the 25th was in Sherman's front, with some casualties at Columbia and Kinston, and with large loss at Bentonville. Consolidated with the 19th, 22nd, 39th, and 26-50th, the regiment was shortly after surrendered at Goldsboro, having about 75 men of the old 25th present for duty.

Past Commander Stu Carter, Compatriot Stan Carter and Compatriot Travis Carter

General Wayne Carter (2nd Great Grandfather)

1819-1879

Pvt, Co,. B, 24th Tennessee Sharpshooter Battallion

The 24th Battalion Sharpshooters was formed in May, 1863, with three companies. The men were from Humphreys County and included F. Maney's Artillery Battery. It was assigned to G.E. Maney's and Palmer's Brigade, and in April, 1864, it consolidated with the 34th Regiment. The unit participated in the various campaigns of the Army of Tennessee from Chickamauga to Atlanta, moved with Hood into Tennessee, and was active in North Carolina. It reported 22 casualties of the 39 engaged at Chickamauga, and totalled 48 men and 22 arms in December, 1863. The battalion was included in the surrender on April 26, 1865. Major Frank Maney was in command. Buried unknown in Henderson, TN.

David Epply (2nd Great Grandfather)

1822-1899

Sgt, Co, H, 18th Tennessee Infantry

The 18th organized in 1861, and was captured in February 1862 at Ft, Donelson, and later exchanged. In 1863 it was consolisted with the 26th and saw action at: Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Atlanta Canpaign, and North Crolina Campaign where it was surrendered in 1865.

John A. Hunt (2nd Great Grandfather)

1840-1915

Pvt, Co, D, 11th Missouri Infantry

The 11th Infantry Regiment [also called 2nd Regiment], formerly Burns' 8th Regiment, which fought at Pra Ridge/Elkhorn Tavern. Reorganized during the winter of 1863-1864. The unit served in Parson's and S.P. Burns' Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department, and fought in Arkansas and Louisiana. It lost 5 killed and 44 wounded at Pleasant Hill and 2 killed and 15 wounded at Jenkins' Ferry. Early in 1865 it disbanded. The (His Father Thomas Hunt served in Union Army Captain Bragg's Co., (B). Webster County Regiment Missouri). Hunt is buried at Buffalo Cemetery in Norman, Oklahoma.

John Houston Jacobs (2nd Great Grandfather)

1823-1880

Pvt, 22nd Texas Infantry

The 22nd Infantry Regiment was organized during the early summer of 1862 using the 5th (Hubbard's) Texas Infantry Battalion as its nucleus. Many of its members were from Palestine, Quitman, Livingston, Mason, and Tyler. The 22nd was attached to O. Young's and Waul's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department, and fought in Louisiana and Arkansas including the conflicts at Young's Point and Jenkins' Ferry. Later it moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, then Hempstead, Texas. Here the regiment disbanded before the surrender in June, 1865 Served in Mexican-American War in 1st Mounted Infantry. Jacobs is buried at Union Chapel Cemetery, Smith, Texas and has a CSA marker.

Albert Ambrose Kelly (2nd Great Grandfather)

1831-1870

4th Sgt, Co. E, 30th Tennessee Infantry

Kelly was captured at Fort Donelson, Tennessee and moved to POW Camp Butler, Springfield IL,. After his exchange, he was assigned to Gregg's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, and saw action at Chickasaw Bayou, Raymond, and Jackson. He was captured at Yazoo City, Mississippi in June 1863 and was paroled after taking the Oath and went home. Kelly is buried at Kelley Family Cemetery, Hardin,Tennessee and has a CSA Marker.

William R. Mitchum (3rd Great Grandfather)

1815-1862

Pvt, Co. K, 13th Alabama Infantry

Mitchum joined July 4, 1861 with his three Sons. He was killed at Malvernn Hill July 11, 1862. The 13th participated in many conflicts from Williamsburg to Cold Harbor, then fought in the long Petersburg siege south of the James River and the campaign that ended at Appomattox. This regiment reported 52 casualties at Seven Pines, 101 during the Seven Days' Battles, and 140 at Chancellorsville. Of the 308 engaged at Gettysburg, over half were disabled. It surrendered with 6 officers and 85 men on April 9, 1865.

Thomas Presley Rawlings (2nd Great Grandfather)

1842-1896

Pvt, 16th Texas Infantry

The 16th Infantry was organized by Colonel G. Flournoy during the summer of 1862. Many of its members were from Belton and Austin, and Washington and Upshur counties. The unit was assigned to Flournoy's, Waterhouse's, and Scurry's Brigade in the Trans-Mississippi Department. It fought in Louisiana and Arkansas, and lost 2 killed and 5 wounded at Milliken’s Bend, had 3 officers and 30 men captured during Banks' Red River Campaign, and was active at Jenkins’ Ferry. Later it moved to Hempstead and disbanded prior to the surrender in June. Rawlings is buried at Old Cottonwood Cemetery, Callahan County Texas.

Jeremiah Stone (3rd Great Grandfather)

1827-1862

Pvt, Co. A, 29th Alabama Infantry

Stone died March 4th, 1862 at Greenville, Alabama. Cause of death unknown. The regiment remained at Pensacola until it was evacuated, suffering much from diseases that usually afflicts raw troops.

Pierre Philemon Bertrand (3rd Great Grandfather)

Private, 7th Co., 1st Regiment, French Brigade, Louisiana Militia

Compatriots Michael Cooper and James Cooper

Chaplain Dave Crowder

William Martin Gaines (2nd Great Grandfather)

1826-1911

Private, Company B, 5th Alabama Infantry Regiment.

The 5th Alabama Infantry Battalion organized with three companies near Dumfries, VA, in December 1861 with men from Calhoun, Mobile, and Sumter counties. The unit was designated the 5th Infantry Battalion on 22 October 1862; it was attached to Whiting's Division then was soon transferred to John Bell Hood's. Sent to Richmond, the battalion was placed under the command of Brig. Gen'l James J. Archer and fought at Mechanicsville, 1st Cold Harbor, and Frazier's Farm, with heavy loss. It was engaged at 2nd Manassas with loss, and with like result at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Reduced to only three companies, the battalion was placed on provost duty in A. P. Hill's 3rd Corps. It remained in Virginia until the end, losing several on the march to Appomattox, where it surrendered 125 men.

William John Gaither (Great Grandfather)

1845–1924

Private, 8th Arkansas Infantry. It served throughout the war in the western theater, seeing action in the Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia campaigns. Following its depletion in numbers the regiment was consolidated several times with other Arkansas regiments, finally merging in 1865 into the 1st Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment.

Johnathan David Jennings (2nd Great Uncle)

1843–1920.

Private, Company B, 22nd Texas Cavalry

The 22nd Cavalry Regiment, also called 1st Indian-Texas Regiment, was formed by Colonel R. H. Taylor during the spring of 1862 with 873 men. The regiment was assigned to W.R. Bradfute's, Flournoy's, W.H. King's, and J.E. Harrison's Brigade in the Trans-Mississippi Department. In May, 1862, its force was down to 20 officers and 315 men, and it lost 1 killed, 9 wounded, and 1 missing at Newtonia. Later it was dismounted, saw action in Arkansas and Louisiana, and in March, 1865, contained 14 officers and 167 men. It was included in the surrender on June 2.

William Nichols (2nd Great Grandfather)

1840-1908

Private, 14th Arkansas Infantry

The 14th Arkansas Regiment has been described as the regiment that barely was, since it existed only briefly as a full regiment. McCarver's regiment had barely received its designation when it was placed in danger of losing it. In January 1862 Brigadier General William J. Hardee made a decision to detach four of the regiment's best armed and equipped companies (Companies A, B, E & H) and designate them as the 9th Arkansas Infantry Battalion. The 9th Infantry Regiment was organized at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in July 1861, and was known as the "Parson's Regiment" because it contained forty-two ministers. Its companies were recruited in Jefferson, Union, Drew, Bradley, and Ashley counties. The 9th fought at Belmont, moved east of the Mississippi River, then took an active part in the conflicts at Shiloh,Corinth, and Coffeeville. It served under Generals Rust, Buford, and Beall in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, and saw action at Champion's Hill, Jackson, and Port Hudson where it was captured on July 9, 1863. After being exchanged and assigned to General D. H. Reynold's Brigade, the unit participated in the campaigns of the Army of Tennessee from Kennesaw Mountain to Bentonville. It reported 17 killed and 115 wounded at Shiloh and 16 casualties at Coffeeville. Many were disabled at Ashville and Bentonville, and on April 26, 1865, the regiment surrendered.