3rd Battalion, South Carolina Light Artillery (Palmetto Battalion) - Co. E
John Drura Askins enlisted in the Confederate Army 1 April 1862 along with two of his brothers: William P. and Robert Evander. He served as a private in Company E of the Third (Palmetto) Battalion of South Carolina Light Artillery under Lt Colonel E.B. White. The unit was assigned to Battery Wagner on Morris Island off the Charleston harbor, and remained on that island until it was evacuated in 1864, during which John D. Askins was wounded slightly in the head. [The bombardment of Morris Island by the Union Army was, up to that time, the heaviest in history. For 58 days, fewer than 1,000 Confederates held off more than 11,000 Union troops and artillery, and the Union fleet.] His unit moved to Aresenal Hill in Columbia, South Carolina where he was reported present in December 1864. He is my Great Grandfather
1st Lieut. Co K 34th NC Infantry. born 2 March 1820 in Montgomery Co. NC. He has 41 items in his archival file. He enlisted at Troy, Montgomery Co. NC as 1st Sgt in Co K. mustered at Camp Fisher near High Point, NC 25 Oct. He was 41 years old and the name of his company was [Montgomery Boys]. On 18 April 1862 he re-enlisted and was elected to 1st Lieut. He was shot in the leg during the 7 days battle leading a charge on 30 June 1862 at Frayser's Farm. The record of his hospitalization and recuperation is not documented. However, he remained in his company and was in the fight for 2 more years. This while he served in Pender's Brigade A.P. Hill's Light Division. In Aug 1862 Penders Brigade is now under the command of Stonewall Jackson's command. With his bad leg he fought in the battles of Cedar Mountain, Sharpsburg/Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Falling Waters, Bristo Station & Mine Run. on 7 July 1864 unable to stand the pain and in failing health he tendered his request for resignation. Arriving home, he is soon asked to rejoin the fight. The South in desperate need of troops was forming Junior and Senior Regiments of troops. On 15 Aug 1864 at the age of 45 years, 5 months & 13 days with a bad leg he enlisted at Troy, NC as Captain Commanding Officer of Co A 6th Regiment Senior Reserves. Sworn in by Lt. J.H. Haughton. He has 5 archival items in this file. He is described as being 5 feet 9 in, grey hair with dark complexion and grey eyes. He was the father-in-law of my 2nd cousin 2 x removed.
Oliver Reams Williams was born 1840 in Orange, Orange county Texas. He enlisted at 22 y/o 1 Mar 1862 at Crockett, Houston Co. Tx. by Capt. S.M. Drake in Capt. Samuel A Fairchild's [Burnett's] Mounted Vol's. He has 9 cards in his archival file. His horse is valued at $200 and equipment at $30. It is 181 miles to rendezvous. 14 July 1862 he is promoted from the ranks as 1st Corporal. He died 11 Nov 1862 from disease at Camp Bay, near Pine Bluff Ark. An outbreak of Measels and Typhoid Fever ravaged the unit, he was 23 years old and newly married. His wife Emily Mae Day married my cousin Stephen Richardson.
Stephen was born 6 Nov 1843 in Jasper, Jasper Co. Texas. He a total of 15 cards in his archival file. He first enlisted on 12 Oct 1861 at age 18 at Sabin Pass, Tx. in Capt. J.M. Blair's Co. A Likens 11th Battalion Texas Vol's. [Spaight's] He saw action at Sabine Pass and in the Red River Campaign. The 11th had components of Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery. In mid 1864 the 11th Battalion was consolidated and became Co A 21st Texas Infantry. 25 Feb 1864 he was assigned as a nurse. 29 June he is assigned as provost guard to guard and hunt down escaped prisoners. On 30 March he is a guard on a train to Galveston. He died 26 June 1926 at Buna, Antioch, Jasper Co. Texas and is buried in the town cemetery. He is the cousin of my distant cousin.
Born in Nelson Co. Va. Married the former Sarah Lawhorne . Tobacco farmer . Enlisted May 1 , 1861 at Massies Mill age 27 . Present at Manassas , Peninsula . Taken prisoner South Mt . Sept. 14 1862 . Sent to Ft. Delaware . Exchanged Aiken's Landing Nov. 10 , 1862 . In the center of the line at Fredericksburg and not engaged . Sent to North Carolina with Longstreet March 1863 , then to Suffolk . Recalled by Lee for Chancellorsville , got as far as Richmond to escort Jackson's remains through the city . Marched to Pennsylvania , arrived at Chambersburg June 27 , 1863 . Arrived Gettysburg July 2 . Participated in Pickett's Charge July 3 . Taken prisoner with his Captain and many of his company . Sent to Ft. Delaware . Took oath and released June 20 , 1865 . Returned to Nelson Co . Member of United Confederate Veterans . Buried at Jonesboro Cemetery .
Zeb was born in 1839 in Wolf Pit Twp. Richmond County, N C. His date of death is uncertain but about 1865/66. He enlisted 5 Fen 1862 in Major George C Gibbs Battalion of Prison Guards at Salisbury, NC. enlisted by Capt. C.W. Bradshaw. The Prison Guards were disbanded 22 April 1862, and the troops were merged with the 42nd Regiment NC Infantry. Battles: Bermuda Hundred, Cold Harbor, Siege of Petersburg, Battle of the Crater, Fort Fisher, Ware Bottom, Sugar loaf and Bentonville. The Regiment surrendered at Durham Station NC on 26 April 1865. He was the father-in-law of my 1st cousin 3 x removed.
Madison was born 28 July 1820 in Pekin, Montgomery Co. NC. He has 8 items in his archival file. He enlisted at age 46 per the revised CSA Conscription law of 17 Feb. 1864. The South was running out of men and was now having to conscript the very young and old men to fill the ranks. He enlisted 10 June 1864 at Troy, NC by Lt. Col. Haughton. into Co A 6th Senior Reserves. aka 75th NC Militia. The Senior Reserves was commanded by Col. A.A. Moss. The reserves were used primarily in the defense of the forts along the NC Coast. Battles: The Kautz - Wilson Raid, Kinston, & Fort Fisher. 20 Nov 1864 he is found in the hospital at Salisbury as a POW with Remitted Fever. He was the husband of my 2nd grandaunt. He died 3 Apr 1889 at Cheeks Creek, Montgomery Co. NC and buried in the Baldwin Family Cem. in Pekin, Montgomery Co. NC.
Davis was born in 1844 in Montgomery County, NC. he has 8 cards in his archival file. He was 18 years old when he enlisted at Fort Branch, NC on 20 July 1863. Co G. 3rd Heavy Artillery. He saw action at Forts, Holmes, Caswell, Campbell, Anderson & Fisher. When the forts were evacuated he was transferred to infantry and fought in the Carolina Campaign. The roster for this unit contained the names of 2008 men. He died 25 May 1917 and is buried in Chandlers Grove UMC Cem. in Montgomery Co. NC. He is my distant cousin.
Martin was born in 1839 in Montgomery County, NC. He has 7 items in his archival file. He enlisted at Troy, NC on 1 March 1862 in Co H [ Montgomery Guards] Mustered at Camp Mangum near Raleigh, NC on 3 April. While in training at camp she suffered an accidental gunshot wound and was taken to the Pettigrew Gen. Hosp # 13 at Raleigh where he died of his wounds on 31 May 1861. He had been transferred from Capt. D.D. DeBerry's Co. to that of Capt. Moffet's. He was my distant cousin.
The book, “A SCYTHE OF FIRE” gives the history of the Eight Georgia Regiment assigned to the Army of Northern Virginia in 1861. My grandfather, Vardy Prichard Sisson, served the entire four years- first as a private with company F of the Atlanta Gray’s and later as a staff office with Tige Anderson’s brigade. He endured battles from Manassas to Appomattox. His Civil War mementos describes his battle involvements, the surrender at Appomattox and riding his horse back home to Athens, Georgia.
Petty was born 20 Aug 1832 in Greene Co. Alabama. He has 12 items in his archival file. He enlisted 1 May 1862 at Monroe, Louisiana for 3 years in Capt. Baucum's Co. Sworn in by S W Odell for 3 years. Taken as POW at Vicksburg and exchanged 29 Mar. 1864 at Shreveport. After Vicksburg the 31st became attached to General Allen Thomas's command [ which is my ancestor on my direct Thomas line] Supported the defense of forts Buelow and Randolph near Pineville. He died 3 April 1915 at Grand Cane, De Sota Parish La. He is my cousin on my Gandy line.
Marmaduke was born 24 Mar 1828 in Greene Co. Alabama. He has 12 cards in his archival file. He enlisted as Henderson, Tx. on 8 May 1862 in Capt. Smith's Co. for 3 years. He was detailed several times on detached duty to secure arms and clothing by both, General Herbert and Major Caraway.25 July 1863 he is granted a 25-day furlough. On detached duty carrying mail in Jan - Feb 1864 and April 1869. He was engaged in the Red River Campaign including the fight at Mansfield [ which was his hometown] and Jenkin's Ferry. After the war he build a very successful health spa business at Rick's Well's, in De Soto Parish. La. He died in Dec 1911 and is buried in that town. He was my 2nd cousin 5 x removed.