Brown County Gleanings: Brownwood Confederate Veterans – 1912

Written by Clay Riley – In 1910, a Miss Mamie Yeary of McGregor, Texas, set out to record the recollections of the old Confederate veterans living in Texas at that time. Through UCV rosters and other means, she obtained mailing addresses of these men and sent them a questionnaire. The questionnaire asked for their names, where born, when and where they joined the Confederate Army, what units they served in, the officers they served under, their starting and ending rank and whether they were captured or wounded and the battles they participated in.

 

 

The individuals listed below, were living in Brownwood at the time they received the questionnaire. The first individual on the list is George Adams, brother-in-law to Texas Ranger Captain and early Brown County pioneer, Brooks W. Lee. His service summary was brief and to the point, while others told of their service in great detail.

The list is not long, but gives us great insight into their lives. You may find an ancestor in this list and learn new details of their lives. There were many others living in other areas of the county and other surrounding counties. – C.R.

 

GEORGE H. ADAMS, of Brownwood, Texas – Was born in Humphreys County, Tennessee. Enlisted in the Confederate Army Aug. 7. 1862, at Houston. Texas, as a private. in Company A., J. J. Cook’s heavy artillery, Army of Trans-Mississippi Department; J. T. Riley, first Captain, and J. J. Cook. first Colonel.

‘My rank was never changed, I was not wounded, captured nor promoted. I was in the battle of Galveston in January, 1863.

ANDREW JACKSON BRUMLEY, Brownwood, Texas. – Born April 17, 1830, in Carroll County, Ga., and enlisted in the Confederate Army in April, 1862, in Calhoun County, Miss., as private in Company K, Forty-Fourth Alabama Infantry, Gen. Law’s Brigade, Gen. Hood’s Division, Gen. Longstreet’s Corps, Army of Virginia.

My first Captain was Patrick Riddle, but he died before reaching Richmond, and was succeeded by First Lieutenant Teague. I remained in the same command during the entire war.

During the second day’s fighting at the Wilderness was slightly wounded in the left hand and arm, both at almost the same instant.

Was taken prisoner just about the close of the war, after Richmond had fallen, but before Gen. Lee had surrendered. Was put in prison at Richmond, Va. I was in the battles of the Wilderness, Chickamauga and Fredericksburg, besides a number of small engagements.

I was in the hospital during the battle of Gettysburg. Our company and regiment was in that battle and we lost our Captain, John Teague. I tried to do my duty as a soldier.

W. H. CLARK, Brownwood, Texas – Born May 23, 1830, in Rutherford County, Tenn. Enlisted in the Confederate Army March 30, 1862, as an Orderly Sergeant, in Company I. Fifteenth Tennessee Regiment, Polignac’s, Brigade, Gen. Houston’s Division, Kirby Smith’s Corp” Trans-Mississippi Army. G. B. Erath, first Captain, and J. W. Speight, first Colonel.

My rank was never changed. I was wounded at Mansfield. La. twice. Was never captured nor promoted. I was in the battles of Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Opelousas, La., Fourche Burba, Yellow Bayou and in many slight engagements.

JOHN WESLEY DAVIS, Brownwood, Texas – Born July 26, 1833, near Aberdeen, Miss. Enlisted in the Confederate Army in December, 1861, at Henderson, Rusk County, Texas, as private in Company E, known as “Bully Rock Company,” Tenth Texas Cavalry.

I was dismounted and served in Ector’s Brigade, Polk’s Corps, Army of Tennessee.

We were sent from Batesville, Ark., in time for the battle of Corinth. Was sent from Tupelo, Miss., to Chattanooga, and from there we went east and crossed the Cumberland Mountains at Roger’s Gap. This was our first experience of marching on foot.

I was wounded at Chickamauga in the right thigh, and the surgeon pronounced the wound very dangerous, as the bone was broken. This occurred on the morning of Sept. 11, 1863, while charging and retaking a battery.

I was there taken prisoner and taken to Chattanooga to a hospital, where I lay for some time, and then through the kindness of the hospital chaplain and steward was sent back through the lines.

I was not promoted. I was in the battles of Richmond and Perryville, Ky. Was at Murfreesboro and Chickamauga, the nine days’ fight at Jackson, Miss., as well as the siege of Spanish Fort in front of Mobile. I was in Montgomery nursing my wound during the Georgia campaign, but was doing some duty there.

Most of our men were armed with shotguns and squirrel rifles. I had traded for a Mississippi rifle, and when the Colonel called for two men from each company who were well armed, John McNelson and I were sent from our company.

We reported to headquarters and found about a hundred men. Col. Young of the Ninth Texas, was in command. We “put out” I didn’t know where, but when daylight came we were on a little stream called Stinking River and the Bushwhackers were shooting at us from the cliffs above us.

We picked up a negro who told us where ninety-six mules and twenty-four wagons were. and we started up the river to get them. The wagon, were loaded with all kinds of provisions and were guarded by 400 Yankees who were trying to get to Burnside at Cumberland Gap. We soon found the object of our pursuit and the battle opened. When the smoke had cleared away we had the ninety-six mules and twenty-four wagons, and the boys said, 300 dead Yankees. I did not count them. Such was our life for three months in Kentucky.

SAM J. DOWTY, Brownwood, Texas – Born near Fort Adams, Tenn. I enlisted in the Confederate Army Sept. 14, 1861, as private at Baton Rouge, La ., in Company D, First Louisiana Cavalry, Scott’s Brigade, Buckner ‘s Corps ; John R. Williams, was my first Captain ; John S. Scott, first Colonel.

Served the last eight months in mounted artillery in Department E, in Louisiana and Western Mississippi, Wm. Barlow, Captain. Our regiment was about depleted and most of us were transferred to mounted artillery; previous to that, served as part of Bragg’s bodyguard at Chickamauga. I was captured in Kentucky, paroled and afterwards exchanged.

Was again taken prisoner and was kept in prison on the Mississippi River in gunboats, and was then sent North just about the end of the War.

W. H. DUDLEY, SR., Brownwood, Tex.- Born Dec. 6, 1837, near Oceola, Mo. I enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1862, at Austin, Tex., as private in Company K Allen’s regiment, McCulloch’s brigade, Walker’s division, Trans-Mississippi Department, with McDowell, first Captain, and Allen first Colonel.

My rank was never changed, I was not wounded nor captured. Was promoted to blacksmith. Was in the battles of Milliken’s Bend, Perkins’ Landing, Negro Hill, Mansfield and Pleasant Hill in the State of Louisiana, and the battle of Camden, Arkansas.

JOHN B. GILBERT, Brownwood, Texas. – Born Jan. 19, 1819, at Charleston, S. C. Enlisted in the Confederate Army in June, 1861, at LaGrange, Fayette County, Texas, as private in Company F, Bate’s regiment. My first Captain was “Cub” Hines and first Colonel Bates, Second Colonel was Casey Ford was first Major.

We were stationed at the mouth of the Brazos River all during the war. I was never promoted. I was in no battles of interest, but had small fights with gunboats occasionally.

W. MELTON, Brownwood, Texas – Born in Washington Parish, La. I enlisted in the Confederate Army on May 1, I861, as a Third Lieutenant, Company A, ninth Louisiana Infantry, Dick Taylor’s Brigade, Jackson’s Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. My first Captain was Walker and first Colonel was Dick Taylor.

I was sick after the first battle of Manassas, and was honorably discharged but re-enlisted early in 1862 for three years, or duration the war. I was never wounded nor taken prisoner.

I re-enlisted in Company A, Twenty-Eighth Louisiana, and was elected Captain, and was promoted to Colonel. I was in the battles of Franklin, La., Mansfield and many other engagements.

I will be 89 years old on Sept. 20, 1910. I am in reasonably good health and can walk three-quarter of a. mile to a meeting of the camp.

R. C. MOORE, Brownwood, Texas, – Born in 1835 near Independence, Tex. I enlisted in the Confederate Army in March, 1862, in Freestone County, Tex., as a private in Company C, Waal’s Texas Legion, Trans. Mississippi Department.

My first Captain was D. Bradley, and I belonged to the second battalion.

After having been taken prisoner, I could not get to my command and joined the Seventh Texas. I was wounded in the right eye at Chattanooga, Tenn. I was taken prisoner in 1864 and sent to Alton, Ill. I was in the battles of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Dalton, Vicksburg, New Hope Church, and Tallahatchie, Miss. I cannot give you a full history of my war life, but you can see from the battles in which I took part that I was there.

O. H. NICHOLS, Brownwood, Texas. – Born Dec. 16, 1843, near Columbia, Mo. I enlisted in the Confederate Army October, 1861, at Springfield, Mo., as private in Company I, Second Missouri Infantry, Little’s Brigade, Price’s Division, Army of the Trans-Mississippi Department. Dick Carter was my first Captain, and Richard Burbrage, was my first Colonel.

After the fall of Vicksburg, I joined the Second Missouri Cavalry, Company B. I was wounded at the battle of Colliersville. I was never captured nor promoted. I was in the battles of Lexington, Mo.; Elkhorn, Ark.; Iuka, Miss.; Corinth and in the ditches at Grand Gulf under the fire of Farragut’s guns as they passed. I was also in the battles of Salem and Colliersville, where I was wounded.

IRBIN H. PARKER, Brownwood, Texas – Born Jan. 28, 1843, near Pisga, a country village in Missouri. I enlisted in the Confederate Army May 21, 1861, at Versailles, Morgan County, Mo., as a private in Capt. Samuel Livingston’s Company, Col. Kelly’s Regiment, M. M. Parson’s Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department.

I was never changed to any other part of the army, but after the time for which I had enlisted (six months), had expired, I was in and out of the army, fighting here and there, trying to get back to the regular army, but never succeeded in doing so.

I was wounded in a little skirmish, shot in the right leg between the knee and ankle, both bones being broken which rendered me a cripple for life. I was taken prisoner several times by the “Home Guards” and kept in guard house in Tipton and Syracuse, sometimes being detained only a few days, sometimes a month, I don’t remember the dates but it was during 1862 and 1863.

I was never promoted. The battles fought during my enlistment were Boonville, Carthage, Wilson Creek, Dry Branch, Lexington, and Tipton, where I was wounded.

I was in two battles at Lexington, Mo., in September, 1862, which were pretty severe engagements. The Federals were entrenched about a large college building and we failed to dislodge them and fell back a short distance where we camped and remained from the 13th to the 20^th, when the battle was opened up again. This time we fought three days and nights when the Federals surrendered, and we captured the whole outfit. They were commanded by Col Mulligan and the Confederates by Gen. Price.

Many were killed and wounded.

FIRMAN R, SMITH, Brownwood, Texas – Born June 21, 1845, near Hillman’s

Rolling Mill, Ky. I enlisted in the Confederate Army June 21, 1861, at Princeton, Ky., as private in Company C, Third Kentucky Infantry, S. B. Buckner’s Brigade, Albert Sidney Johnston’s Division, and was stationed at Bowling Green, Ky. James M. Pearce was my first Captain, and Lloyd Tilghman, first Colonel.

In October, 1862, I was transferred to Company B, Eighth Kentucky Infantry, Capt. James Brown’s Company. The regiment was commanded at that time by Col. H. B. Lyon. In March, 1864, our regiment was mounted and we were transferred to Forrest’s Cavalry where we remained until the close of the war.

I was never wounded but hit once by a piece of shell and slightly bruised on the arm. This occurred at the battle of Brice’s Cross Roads in Mississippi, June, 1864. I was captured on Gen. Lyon’s raid into Kentucky about Nov. 17, 1864, and later on paroled, but was never exchanged.

I was at the battles of Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Bombardment of Vicksburg, Coffeeville, Fort Pemberton. Baker’s Creek, Big Black River. Siege at Vicksburg, battle of Jackson, two small fights at Paducah, Brice’s Cross Roads, and all the fighting around Oxford, Abbeville, Holly Springs, Miss., and a number of small engagements at other places at different dates. The losses of our company at Shiloh and Jackson was heavy. There are but a few, of my old company still living.

G. W. SPECK, Brownwood, Texas – Born May 8, 1844, near Lexington, Tenn. I enlisted in the Confederate Army in the latter part of 1861 at Livingston, Tenn., as a private in Company I, Twenty-fifth Tennessee Infantry, Zollicoffer’s Brigade, Crittendon’s Division. My first Captain’s name was Read and my first Colonel was Stanton. I served twelve months in the Twenty-fifth Tennessee Infantry and was in the battle of Fishing Creek where Zollicoffer was killed. This was in the spring of 1862. He was killed through mistake. The enemy had surrendered but before we had chance to take charge of them they received reinforcements and Zollicoffer rode in front of them and was shot from his horse. It was raining and very foggy and you could see hut a little way. After this we fell back to where we had breastworks. Here in the evening late the enemy moved on our works and planted their cannon and the music opened. Our battery returning the fire but with little effect.

I was in the battle of Farmington five miles from Corinth, and was in the battle of Corinth. I was discharged at Tupelo. From there I went home and re-enlisted in Company A. Eighth Alabama Cavalry. Dibrell’s Regiment and was with Forrest two years. The biggest fight I was in was Parker’s Cross Roads. Then around Nashville, Tenn.

H. S. TARVER, Brownwood, Texas – Born in 1831, near Lebanon, Tenn. Enlisted in the Confederate Army in September, 1861, at Independence, Washington County, Tex. as a Second Sergeant in Company I, Fifth Texas Infantry, Hood’s Brigade, Longstreet’s Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Dr. J. B. Robinson, first Captain, and Archer, first Colonel.

I was wounded severely at the battle of Gettysburg. I was taken prisoner July 5, 1863, and sent to Point Lookout, Md., and was never exchanged, but remained a prisoner until the close of the war. Became First Sergeant after the battle of Shepardstown.

Was in the battles of Gettysburg, Shepardstown and numerous others.

ISAAC TURNER, Brownwood, Tex. – Born in Opolousas, Ind. I enlisted in the Confederate Army in the spring of l862 at San Marcos, Tex., as a private in Company J, Thirty-second Texas Cavalry, under Gen. Magruder, Army of Trans-Mississippi Department. Ed Stevens was my first captain, and P. Woods, first Colonel.

Received a slight wound at Blair’s Landing, La., in the left side. I was in the battle of Blair’s Landing, Old Caney River, where I captured a Yankee flag. La.; Marksville, la, Yellow Bayou, in which battle Capt. Stephens was killed. At Blair’s Landing we lost about seventy men killed and wounded out of our regiment.

RUFUS K. WILLIS, Brownwood, Texas – Born Oct. 9, 1847, near Grenada, Miss. Enlisted in the Confederate Army on April I, 1863, at that place, as a private in Company C, Third Mississippi Cavalry, Clough’s Brigade, Chalmer’s Division, Forrest’s Corps, Army of Tennessee.

My first Captain was Thomas Lyle. and first Colonel, McGirk. I transferred from the Mississippi Army to Atlanta, Ga., in the latter part of the war under the command of Gen. Gholson. cavalry commander, at the Siege of Atlanta. I was never wounded nor captured. I was at one time Third Corporal. I was in two battles at Colliersville, and was at Moscow, Tenn. Harrisburg, Germantown, Hudsonville, Fort Pillow, Jackson, Miss.; Tullahoma, Miss., and Salem, Tenn.

P. M. WOODALL, Brownwood, Texas – Born Jan. 20, 1837, near Tuscaloosa,

Ala. Enlisted in the Confederate Army Sept. 1, 1861, at Galveston, Tex., as Third Lieutenant in Company C, Second Texas Infantry, Jackson’s Brigade, Cheatham’s Division, Army of Tennessee. Ashbel Smith, Captain, and J. C. Moore, first Colonel.

After the siege of Vicksburg – I came to Texas with others of the regiment. I received a slight wound at the battle of Corinth. I was captured at the siege of Vicksburg and paroled. I was promoted to Second Lieutenant and then to First Lieutenant, then to Captain, which position I held until the c1ose of the war. I was in the battles of Shiloh on 6th and 7th of April 1862, Iuka, Corinth, Hatcher’s Bridge, Water Valley, Greenwood, Chickasaw Bayou and the siege of Vicksburg and several other skirmishes.

Excerpts from: REMINISCENCES of the BOYS IN GRAY 1861-1865

Compiled by, Miss MAMIE YEARY © 1912

Photos – Brownwood Public Library, Local History & Genealogy Branch

This and many other stories are available at the Brownwood Public Library – Genealogy & Local History Branch at 213 S. Broadway.

Volunteers from the Pecan Valley Genealogical Society are there to assist you in your family history research.

Clay Riley is a local historian and retired Aerospace Engineer that has been involved in the Historical and Genealogical Community of Brown County for over 20 years. 

Should you have a comment, or a question that he may be able to answer in future columns, he can be reached at; pvgsbwd@gmail.com.