CONFEDERATE
Noteworthy Confederate ancestors and cousins.
Jacob Rufus Bailey, (Elbert County, GA), Maternal great-grandfather
Pvt., 9th Bat, Company D, GA 37th Volunteer Infantry, Army of Tennessee, Elbert County Guards, muster March 4, 1862. Merged with 37th GA Regt, Co. G, May 6, 1863 and surrendered at Greensboro, NC April 26, 1865
William C. Blair, (Pickens District, SC & Greene County, AL), Maternal 2nd great-grandfather
AL 4th Volunteers Company H. (Note: Strong possibility that after leaving the AL 4th Volunteers, he joined up with the AL 12th Co C Mobile Independent Rifles and was captured outside of DC and died at the Elmira, NY POW Camp)
Dempsey C. Colley, (Wilkes County, GA) Paternal 1st cousin
Lieutenant, GA 61st Infantry, Company G, Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862
Frank G. Colley, (Wilkes County, GA) Paternal 2nd great-grandfather
Private, GA 61st Infantry, Company G, wounded in head (gunshot wound) taken POW late in war at City Point, VA and taken to Point Lookout MD. Released after surrender of CSA forces.
Gabriel Colley, (Wilkes County, GA) Paternal 2nd great-granduncle
Corporal, GA 61st Infantry, Company G, Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va. December 13, 1862. Surrendered at Appomattox, Va. April 1865
Henry Colley, (Wilkes County, GA) Paternal 2nd great-granduncle
Private, GA 61st Infantry, Company G. Wounded and captured at Fredericksburg, Va. December 13, 1862. Captured at Wilderness, Va. May 5, 1864. Released at Washington, D. C. in 1865
Henry Francis Colley, (Wilkes County, GA) Paternal 1st cousin
Captain, GA 61st Infantry, Company G, Wounded through left lung at Cold Harbor, Va. June 27, 1862. Died of wounds at Richmond, Va. August 20, 1862.
Note about the 61st: The most striking statistic in the regimental history is that it started in 1862 with 1,000 soldiers and officers and ended with only 81 enlisted men, 32 of whom had no weapons at war's end - My 2nd great-grandfather (Frank G. Colley) was one of those that survived! Company D was formed by Henry Francis Colley in Wilkes County, GA.
James McKensie Dorris, (Carroll County, GA), Paternal 2nd great-granduncle
2nd Lieutenant, 56 GA Infantry, Company I. Captured at the Battle of Resaca Georgia, May 15, 1864 and sent to a Union Military Prison in Louisville, Kentucky (via Nashville) where he was then sent to Johnson's Island prison (near Sandusky, OH) on May 21 where he was held until May 13, 1865 when he was released after taking an oath of amnesty. At least 15,000 prisoners passed through Johnson's Island but it never held more than 3,200 men at any particular time. The prison had one of the lowest mortality rates of the war.
Richard Lane Miller, (Franklin/Banks County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-granduncle
A marker on his grave indicates that he served with the 16th Georgia Cavalry (State Guards), Company D. Unknown rank. Survived the war and died in 1915.
Robert F. Miller, (Franklin/Banks County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-granduncle
Luke Turner Talbot, (Chambers County, AL) Paternal 1st cousin
Pvt., 9th Bat, Company D, GA 37th Volunteer Infantry, Army of Tennessee, Elbert County Guards, muster March 4, 1862. Merged with 37th GA Regt, Co. G, May 6, 1863 and surrendered at Greensboro, NC April 26, 1865
William C. Blair, (Pickens District, SC & Greene County, AL), Maternal 2nd great-grandfather
AL 4th Volunteers Company H. (Note: Strong possibility that after leaving the AL 4th Volunteers, he joined up with the AL 12th Co C Mobile Independent Rifles and was captured outside of DC and died at the Elmira, NY POW Camp)
Dempsey C. Colley, (Wilkes County, GA) Paternal 1st cousin
Lieutenant, GA 61st Infantry, Company G, Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862
Frank G. Colley, (Wilkes County, GA) Paternal 2nd great-grandfather
Private, GA 61st Infantry, Company G, wounded in head (gunshot wound) taken POW late in war at City Point, VA and taken to Point Lookout MD. Released after surrender of CSA forces.
Gabriel Colley, (Wilkes County, GA) Paternal 2nd great-granduncle
Corporal, GA 61st Infantry, Company G, Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va. December 13, 1862. Surrendered at Appomattox, Va. April 1865
Henry Colley, (Wilkes County, GA) Paternal 2nd great-granduncle
Private, GA 61st Infantry, Company G. Wounded and captured at Fredericksburg, Va. December 13, 1862. Captured at Wilderness, Va. May 5, 1864. Released at Washington, D. C. in 1865
Henry Francis Colley, (Wilkes County, GA) Paternal 1st cousin
Captain, GA 61st Infantry, Company G, Wounded through left lung at Cold Harbor, Va. June 27, 1862. Died of wounds at Richmond, Va. August 20, 1862.
Note about the 61st: The most striking statistic in the regimental history is that it started in 1862 with 1,000 soldiers and officers and ended with only 81 enlisted men, 32 of whom had no weapons at war's end - My 2nd great-grandfather (Frank G. Colley) was one of those that survived! Company D was formed by Henry Francis Colley in Wilkes County, GA.
Conner, Wesley Olin, (Floyd County, GA) Maternal 2nd cousin
Private, 3rd Battalion, GA Infantry, Company A; Corporal, Captain Van Den Corput's Company, Cherokee Artillery, It appears he may have been captured twice: In 1863 at Vicksburg but released on parole and then again in 1865 where he was sent to Camp Chase in Ohio and he also spent time at the military prison in Louisville. After the war he became the principal for the "Georgia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb".
Milton L. Davis, (Paulding County, GA), Paternal 2nd great-grandfather
Corporal, Company L, 4th/12th Regiment Georgia Cavalry. Died April 18, 1863 at McMinnville, TN.
Corporal, Company L, 4th/12th Regiment Georgia Cavalry. Died April 18, 1863 at McMinnville, TN.
Warren R. Davis, (North and South Carolina), Paternal 1st Cousin
Private, Company H, 1st Regiment South Carolina Artillery. It appears that he was stationed on a gunboat operating off of RIPLEY'S DEPOT or FORT RIPLEY in the Charleston Harbor when he was taken prisoner in September 1863 (Likely taken prisoner during the battle now known as FORT SUMTER II). He was transferred at least one time and ultimately wound up at the Point Lookout POW Camp in Maryland where he died of disease on September 14, 1864. He was originally buried in the cemetery near the POW camp but it appears that his grave, along with thousands of others, was moved to a mass grave now marked with a large obelisk monument near the entrance to the present day state park that occupies the grounds. Warren is the grandson of the Presbyterian minister Rev. Samuel Davis of Brevard, NC.
Private, Company H, 1st Regiment South Carolina Artillery. It appears that he was stationed on a gunboat operating off of RIPLEY'S DEPOT or FORT RIPLEY in the Charleston Harbor when he was taken prisoner in September 1863 (Likely taken prisoner during the battle now known as FORT SUMTER II). He was transferred at least one time and ultimately wound up at the Point Lookout POW Camp in Maryland where he died of disease on September 14, 1864. He was originally buried in the cemetery near the POW camp but it appears that his grave, along with thousands of others, was moved to a mass grave now marked with a large obelisk monument near the entrance to the present day state park that occupies the grounds. Warren is the grandson of the Presbyterian minister Rev. Samuel Davis of Brevard, NC.
James McKensie Dorris, (Carroll County, GA), Paternal 2nd great-granduncle
2nd Lieutenant, 56 GA Infantry, Company I. Captured at the Battle of Resaca Georgia, May 15, 1864 and sent to a Union Military Prison in Louisville, Kentucky (via Nashville) where he was then sent to Johnson's Island prison (near Sandusky, OH) on May 21 where he was held until May 13, 1865 when he was released after taking an oath of amnesty. At least 15,000 prisoners passed through Johnson's Island but it never held more than 3,200 men at any particular time. The prison had one of the lowest mortality rates of the war.
Jasper Newton Dorris, (Milton County, GA), Paternal 1st Cousin
Corporal, 22nd GA Infantry, Company A. Captured at Deep Bottom Virginia on August 17, 1864 and send to Point Lookout Maryland POW prison. Released on September 30th in a prisoner exchange.
William Clements Dorris, (Campbell County, GA), Paternal 2nd great-granduncle
William Clements Dorris, (Campbell County, GA), Paternal 2nd great-granduncle
1st Lieutenant, 56 GA Infantry, Company I
William C. Dorris, (Cherokee County, GA), Paternal 1st Cousin
William C. Dorris, (Cherokee County, GA), Paternal 1st Cousin
2nd Lieutenant, 8th Georgia Infantry, Company F
John M. Jackson, (Oglethorpe County, GA), Paternal great-granduncle
Company E, GA 38th, wounded and/or sick and left at Gettysburg battlefield and later died at Chambersburg, PA as a POW.
Philip T. Jackson, (Oglethorpe County, GA) Paternal great-granduncle
Company K, GA 6th Infantry died Dec. 8, 1861. Probably died during training or marching in and around Yorktown as the unit was garrisoned in Yorktown from June 1861 until the spring of 1862.. No Battles for this unit until Yorktown in 1862. This unit was immortalized as one of the units defending Battery Wagner in the film GLORY.
William Barnett Jackson, (Oglethorpe County, GA) Paternal great-grandfather
Corporal, 64th Regiment, Co A, Georgia Volunteer Infantry, Army of N. Virginia, Corp. Captured at Deep Bottom, VA, Aug. 16, 1864 (2nd battle?). Paroled at Point Lookout, MD, and exchanged at Boulware and Cox's Wharves, James River, VA, March 19, 1865.
James Lile Lemon, (Cobb County, GA) Paternal 1st cousin
Captain, Company A, 18th Georgia Infantry Regiment, Captured at Knoxville November 29, 1863 and was held as a POW in what has become known as the IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED incident at Fort Pulaski, Savannah, GA where he was one of 600 Confederate officers that were starved, mistreated and subject to cannon fire by their own Confederate artillery. Participated in almost all of the critical battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia and also fought with the Army of Tennessee in the defense of Chattanooga, Knoxville and Atlanta. Received the Confederate Medal of Honor for his bravery in action on November 29, 1863 at Fort Sanders, TN. His home in Acworth, Georgia (which is still owned and occupied by his descendants) was the living quarters and field office for General Sherman while he was in Acworth during the Battle of Atlanta.
Colonel James Hamilton Mayson - (Mississippi) Maternal 5th great grand-uncle
Captain, Lt. Colonel and Colonel of Company D, 7th Mississippi Infantry. (This unit may have also been known as the 7th Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers - see Fold3.com for Hamilton Mayson); This unit saw action as part of the Army of Tennessee and known battles were Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Atlanta, Missionary Ridge and others; He was in command at Shiloh and improperly dismissed after that conflict by General Braxton Bragg; Later he became a Mississippi State Senator.
Company E, GA 38th, wounded and/or sick and left at Gettysburg battlefield and later died at Chambersburg, PA as a POW.
Philip T. Jackson, (Oglethorpe County, GA) Paternal great-granduncle
Company K, GA 6th Infantry died Dec. 8, 1861. Probably died during training or marching in and around Yorktown as the unit was garrisoned in Yorktown from June 1861 until the spring of 1862.. No Battles for this unit until Yorktown in 1862. This unit was immortalized as one of the units defending Battery Wagner in the film GLORY.
William Barnett Jackson, (Oglethorpe County, GA) Paternal great-grandfather
Corporal, 64th Regiment, Co A, Georgia Volunteer Infantry, Army of N. Virginia, Corp. Captured at Deep Bottom, VA, Aug. 16, 1864 (2nd battle?). Paroled at Point Lookout, MD, and exchanged at Boulware and Cox's Wharves, James River, VA, March 19, 1865.
James Lile Lemon, (Cobb County, GA) Paternal 1st cousin
Captain, Company A, 18th Georgia Infantry Regiment, Captured at Knoxville November 29, 1863 and was held as a POW in what has become known as the IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED incident at Fort Pulaski, Savannah, GA where he was one of 600 Confederate officers that were starved, mistreated and subject to cannon fire by their own Confederate artillery. Participated in almost all of the critical battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia and also fought with the Army of Tennessee in the defense of Chattanooga, Knoxville and Atlanta. Received the Confederate Medal of Honor for his bravery in action on November 29, 1863 at Fort Sanders, TN. His home in Acworth, Georgia (which is still owned and occupied by his descendants) was the living quarters and field office for General Sherman while he was in Acworth during the Battle of Atlanta.
Colonel James Hamilton Mayson - (Mississippi) Maternal 5th great grand-uncle
Captain, Lt. Colonel and Colonel of Company D, 7th Mississippi Infantry. (This unit may have also been known as the 7th Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers - see Fold3.com for Hamilton Mayson); This unit saw action as part of the Army of Tennessee and known battles were Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Atlanta, Missionary Ridge and others; He was in command at Shiloh and improperly dismissed after that conflict by General Braxton Bragg; Later he became a Mississippi State Senator.
James M. Miller, (Franklin/Banks County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-granduncle
Private, 43rd Infantry Regiment, Company D. Enlisted at Atlanta on August 18, 1862 and died at Chattanooga December 17, 1862.
Richard Lane Miller, (Franklin/Banks County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-granduncle
A marker on his grave indicates that he served with the 16th Georgia Cavalry (State Guards), Company D. Unknown rank. Survived the war and died in 1915.
Robert F. Miller, (Franklin/Banks County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-granduncle
Private, 43rd Infantry Regiment, Company D. Enlisted at Atlanta on May 8, 1862 and died at the home of his father while on sick furlough July 6, 1862.
Brigadier General James Johnston Pettigrew, (Tyrrell County, NC) Maternal 2nd cousin
Civil War General who died as a result of wounds received at the Battle of Gettysburg (Pickett's Charge, aka, Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble Assault); Member of the South Carolina Legislature.
Captain James Anthony Talbot, (Chambers County, AL) Paternal 2nd cousin
Captain, Company J, 37th Alabama; resigned due to health issues in 1862 but apparently reenlisted since his name can be found in later records.
Luke Turner Talbot, (Chambers County, AL) Paternal 1st cousin
Company J, 37th Alabama Volunteers; He was at the Battle of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863 when the Confederates surrendered, and he was part of the legion of those Confederate soldiers who were paroled by the Union Army and released a few days later. Brother of Sanders/Saunders. Interestingly, Luke and his brother Sanders/Saunders served under Captain James Anthony Talbot who is the son of Green Berry Talbot who, like Luke and Sanders/Saunders, is a descendant of the Rev. War soldier Captain Mathew Talbot II and Mary Hale/Haile Day. Thus, these Talbots are all distant cousins; Luke and Sanders/Saunders are descendants of Mathew Talbot II's son Mathew Talbot III (also a Rev. War soldier) and James Anthony Talbot is a descendant of Mathew Talbot II's son William Talbot (also a Rev. War soldier). The fact that they wound up in Chambers County, Alabama serving in the same Civil War unit is extremely interesting since it may indicate a close familial relationship that existing over several generations of Talbots.
Sanders/Saunders W. Talbot (Chambers County, AL) Paternal 1st cousin
Company J, 37th Alabama Volunteers; died of measles 2 months after enlisting in 1862. Brother of Luke.
Francis Marion Verner, (Franklin County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-granduncle
Private, Georgia 37th, Company F. Captured at Andersonville (Anderson, SC?) on May 3, 1865. His service card reads that he appeared on a roll of POWs under Brevet Brigadier General S.B. Brown who was probably Simeon Batcheldor Brown of the 11th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. According to that regiment's history, they were as far south as Pickensville, South Carolina which is present day Anderson County (Easley area) and not too far from Francis M. Verner's home in Franklin County, Georgia; However, the service record indicates that he was captured on May 3, 1865 and then paroled at Hartwell, Georgia. Hartwell is near his home and Anderson, South Carolina.
George Edwin Verner, (Franklin County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-grandfather
3rd GA Cavalry, State Guards, Co E Franklin GA (May be listed as VARNER). Commanded by Col. Robert Toombs. (Third Cavalry Regiment, GA State Guard).
James Jasper Verner, (Franklin County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-granduncle
George Edwin Verner, (Franklin County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-grandfather
3rd GA Cavalry, State Guards, Co E Franklin GA (May be listed as VARNER). Commanded by Col. Robert Toombs. (Third Cavalry Regiment, GA State Guard).
James Jasper Verner, (Franklin County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-granduncle
Sergeant, Georgia 37th, Company F. Captured at the Battle of Nashville, December 16, 1864. Sent to Louisville, KY and then to Camp Chase POW prison in Columbus, Ohio where he took an Oath of Allegiance and was released (date not known).
Samuel H. Verner, (Franklin County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-granduncle
Samuel H. Verner, (Franklin County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-granduncle
Sergeant, 9th Battalion, Company H. Probably died at the Battle of Fredericksburg, VA on November 12th.
Major General William Henry Talbot Walker, (Augusta, GA) Paternal 3rd Cousin
West Point graduate and later Commandant of Cadets at USMA 1854-1856; Walker's Brigade at Vicksburg; Killed at the Battle of Atlanta while commanding a Division of Hardee's Corps.; Fort Walker in Atlanta's Grant Park is named after him. Note that during the Battle of Atlanta, Union General McPherson and Confederate General Walker were killed on the same day (July 22, 1864) within 2 hours of one another. Both men have memorials that mark the locations where they died - located fairly close to one another.
Thomas Nathaniel Wansley, (Elbert County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-granduncle
Private, 38th GA Regiment, Co. F, GA Volunteer Infantry
William Jackson Wansley, (Elbert County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-granduncle
Private, 15th GA Regiment, Co. I Volunteer Infantry, Captured near Fredericksburg, VA May 1864 and sent to Point Lookout Maryland POW camp where he was later released in March 1865.
West Point graduate and later Commandant of Cadets at USMA 1854-1856; Walker's Brigade at Vicksburg; Killed at the Battle of Atlanta while commanding a Division of Hardee's Corps.; Fort Walker in Atlanta's Grant Park is named after him. Note that during the Battle of Atlanta, Union General McPherson and Confederate General Walker were killed on the same day (July 22, 1864) within 2 hours of one another. Both men have memorials that mark the locations where they died - located fairly close to one another.
Thomas Nathaniel Wansley, (Elbert County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-granduncle
Private, 38th GA Regiment, Co. F, GA Volunteer Infantry
William Jackson Wansley, (Elbert County, GA) Maternal 2nd great-granduncle
Private, 15th GA Regiment, Co. I Volunteer Infantry, Captured near Fredericksburg, VA May 1864 and sent to Point Lookout Maryland POW camp where he was later released in March 1865.
(Updated August 20, 2023)