USA > Georgia > Irwin County > History of Irwin county > Part 10
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HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
Group of Confederate Veterans of Irwin County, Georgia. Bottom row -left to right: Daniel Tucker, T. J. Stapleton, W. J. Philips, Rev. W. H. Harden, S. J. Bruce, William Henderson, W. M. Seymore, Peter Solomon, William Henderson, Jr., (in uniform). Top row-left to right: J. W. Kendrick, Daniel Purvis, Wiley Whitley, Godfrey Purvis, F. T. Smoot, T. A. Owens.
OFFICERS.
O. H. Cook, Captain; R W. Clements, First Lieutenant ; Richard Tucker, Second Lieutenant; L. G. Young, Third Lieu- tenant; Isaac M. Young, First Sergeant; George S. Hamon, Second Sergeant ; Joseph Walker, Third Sergeant; James W. Walker, Fourth Sergeant; E. Simpson, First Corporal; J. Z. Sutton, Second Corporal; George W. Walker, Third Corporal ; William Branch, Fourth Corporal.
PRIVATES.
James Arrington, A. J. Barton, C. J. Butts, David Branch, James T. Branch, A. G. Brooks, Malangton Clements, T. J. Combass, William Combass, Augusta Dixon, James Dorminy, John J. Dorminy, Wesley Dorminy, J. Dunnigan, David Fletcher, John Fletcher Joseph Fletcher, William Fletcher,
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CIVIL WAR HEROES
Perry Fitzgerald, B. W. Fussell, Mathews Fussell, Daniel D. Grantham, John Grantham, William Hall, M. M. Hansell, W. S. Hansell, M. D. Hobby, William Hobby, George W. Horton, Joseph Horton, Lamuel Horton, David Hunter, J. C. B. Hunter, John Jernigan, Joseph Jernigan, Leoninells Lewis, Thomas Long, G. A. Luke, G. W. Luke, James Luke, William Luke, John Lyons, Jacob R. McCook, W. H. McCook, J. J. Mathews, Thomas J. Merchant, Joshua Newell, John Odom, John Omans, Robert Parson, Thomas Parsons, Daniel Paulk, George R. Paulk, Alonza Paulk, Jacob H. Paulk, James Paulk, Micajah Paulk, Daniel Purvis, Jacob Purvis, James Petty, John Pipkins, W. W. Pridgen, John Purvis, B. G. Rigdon, Thomas S. Rydon, John G. Roberts, James Royell, Abram Sapp, Alexandra Seago, Elijah E. Simpson, Lennord Slaughter, B. E. Smith, David Smith, J. A. Smith, Richard H. Smith, W. J. Stapleton, J. Z. Studstill, J. R. Sumner, J. C. Sumner, B. B. Sumner, Wesley Sumner, A. J. Sutton, J. Z. Sutton, Asa R. Tanner, L. D. Taylor, Lemuel Taylor, Dennis Taylor, H. S. Townsend, S. B. F. Town- send, Peter Troup, Elijah Tucker, Frederick Tucker, Jacob Tucker, James Tucker, Mathews Tucker, Solomon Tucker, Dennis M. Turner, William R. Turner, Jacob Troup, A. P. Walker, Daniel Walker, Green Walker, W. R. Wade, Samuel Walker, G. W. Walker, F. E. Walters, Benjamin Watson, J. W. Whiddon, George Whitley, Jacob Whitley, Micajah Whitley, Wiley Whitley, John D. Willcox, Thomas D. Willcox, Wilson W. Lawson, Jacob N. Young, Martin B. Young, Thomas Young, Wesley Young.
COMPANY H, 4TH GEORGIA CAVALRY. OFFICERS.
T. S. Wiley, Captain; James H. Carroll, First Lieutenant ; Thomas S. Wiley, First Lieutenant, elected Captain ; James W. Howell, Second Lieutenant; James H. Dasher, Third Lieuten- ant; Thomas F. Morgan, First Sergeant; Charles S. Touch- stone, Second Sergeant; Richard Tucker, Sergeant; Robert Chisholm, Sergeant; E. A. Carter, Sergeant; Perry Zergier, Sergeant ; Burrell Bailey, Corporal; Jesse W. Carter, Corporal ; John L. Tyson, Corporal; William Martin, Corporal.
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HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
PRIVATES.
Richard Alderman, H. D. Allen, Joseph Ansley, C. W. Arnold, William Baker, Jackson Bassent, Granvil Bevel, J. E. Bryant, William Byrd, J. J. Carter, Moses Carter, N. A. Carter, John Chandler, James Chisholm, Alfred Clayton, Malidge Clayton, David Clements, R. W. Clements, Henry Collier, Charles Cook, Thomas Dasher, William Davis, Isaac Dees, Michael Duff, Arch Duggen, A. B. Fendley, Gerry Fletcher, Samuel Fletcher, Byrd Frazier, John Futch, Reubin Futch, Henry Gray, Jack Gray, William Griffin, Jackson Harper, Charles Herrien, John Hewett, Byrd Hightower, W. T. Howell, Dan Hurst, J. S. Johnson, Dr. Jones, John Jones, Thomas Jones, James Kinnard, John W. Knight, George Lightsy, Samuel Lightsy, John Locke, J. L. Lovejoy, David Mahon, James Martin, W. F. Miley, J. A. Money, Thomas Mudy, Levi Moore, Tige Moreland, David Morgan, E. C. Morgan, Isaac McFadden, John McMillan, John Nix, Alex Palmer, William Palmer, Babe (Godfrey) Purvis, Edd Purvis Artemus Rentz, William Roberts, James Ross, Hardman Sirmans, Harris Sirmans, Winfield Sirmans, Thomas Stuart, Isom Swilley, George J. Tayler, Seaborn Tyson, Samuel Tyson, William Tyson, James Tomlinson, Charles S. Touch-
This picture was made on day Confederate Soldiers Monument was unveiled in Ocilla, Irwin County, Georgia,
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CIVIL WAR HEROES
stone, William Touchstone, Richard Tucker, Samuel Varnes, Jesse Vinning, John Vinning, L. O. G. Waldron, Jacob Watson, J. W. Watson, A. D. Wisonbaker, J. S. Wisonbaker, Robert Youles.
FIRST COMPANY, 15THI MILITARY DISTRICT OF IRWIN COUNTY.
OFFICERS.
M. G. Faulkner, Captain, March 21, 1864; E. D. Whiddon, First Lieutenant, March 21, 1864; Lewis Willcox, Second Lieu- tenant, March 21, 1864; D. Branch, Third Lieutenant, March 21, 1864; Moses Peterson, Fourth Lieutenant, March 5, 1864.
LIST OF WORLD WAR VETERANS-IRWIN COUNTY.
WHITE.
Knox E. Akins, Wray ; Joe Allen, Ocilla ; William S. Armour; William J. Arnold, Wray; Fitzhugh L. Ashley, Ocilla; John M. Ashley, Ocilla; John C. Avery, Sycamore.
Seaborn Bailey; Charlie R. Barrineau, Frank; Grover C. Barrs, Ocilla; William Gordon Batts; F. C. Bartlett, Ocilla ; Linton Beckham, Mystic; Grover C. Bostwick, Irwinville; Laurance V. Bruce, Ocilla; Lester T. Bruce, Ocilla; Arthur Bryant, Ocilla; James Edward Bryant, Ocilla; Claude E. Bullard, Ocilla; Dock C. Bussell, Mystic; George L. Bussell, Mystic; Leonard L. Bush, Wray.
Senate Lee Campbell, Irwinville ; Allen L. Castellaw, Ocilla ; William M. Cofield; Lewis F. Coleman, Abba; Albert L. Com- mander, Ocilla; Dewey Cribb, Ocilla; George D. Cribb, Ocilla ; Lee R. Cribb, Ocilla; John G. Cross, Ocilla.
Henry M. Daniel, Ocilla; Solomon Dean, Mystic; Walter C. Dean, Ocilla; Matellus G. Dismuke, Ocilla; Griffin W. Dormi- ney, Wray; Anthony Duncan, Wray; George Douglas; Ira Dobbs; Broadus T. Dye, Abba; Jesse R. Dykes, Chula ; Robert Dykes, Wray.
Earnest W. Ellis; John H. Ellis, Irwinville; William J. Evers, Ocilla.
Hilton Faulkner, Osierfield; Mitchell Faulkner, Ocilla ; Joseph W. Fendley, Ocilla; Warren D. Fletcher, Mystic ;
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HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
Willis H. Fletcher, Irwinville; Allen W. Flowers; Rufus M. Fletcher, Irwinville; G. B. Freeman, Osierfield.
Jeff Gaines; James L. Gaskins; John B. Gaskins, Ocilla ; Samuel Carl Gentry; Hiram F. Gentry, Abba; Albert Gibbs, Abba; Arthur P. Gibbs, Ocilla; Dewey Gibbs, Arp; Alvin Giddens, Ocilla; Grady Giddens, Ocilla ; Ottis Giddens, Hugh J. Goodwin, Abba; George Gray ; Charles Green, Abba ; Frederick Griffin; Horace R. Griffin, Ocilla; James S. Griffin, Ocilla ; James W. Griffin, Ocilla; Paul H. Grubbs, Ocilla; Marshall W. Gunn.
Marion J. Hall; Robert F. Hammond, Ocilla; Marion Ham- monds; Horace Harden; Osierfield; Will Hargrove, Ocilla ; Charlie Harper, Ocilla ; Harvey Harper, Wray ; Joel E. Harper, Osierfield; Monsie Harper, Osierfield, Richard Harper, Wray ; Thomas Harper, Ocilla; William R. Harper, Ocilla; Lorenza William John Harper, Baxley, R. 3; Percy Harrell; Clayton O. Henderson, Ocilla; Emmett C. Henderson, Ocilla; John Henderson, Ocilla; John H. Henderson, Ocilla; Waldo Hender- son, Ocilla; Jesse E. Hester, Osierfield ; John Z. Hester, Osier- field ; Oswin R. Hilton, Ocilla; Alter Ralph Hobbs; Ralph R. Hobbs, Ocilla; * Rube Hobby, Wray ; John F. Hodnett, Ocilla ; David Sam Hogan; Samuel Hogan; Luther Lee Hogan; Delma Howard; Walter James Howard, Osierfield; Cleon W. Howell, Ocilla; Robert B. Hunt, Abba; Lee C. Hunter, Irwinville ; Richard Hutto.
Caesar Jackson, Osierfield; John H. Jackson, Mystic ; Free- man A. Johnson, Ocilla; John O. Jones, Mystic.
Herbert S. Kennington, Ocilla; Hilton M. Kinard, Ocilla; Frank L. King, Ocilla; John M. Kirkland, Wray; Simeon L. Kitchens, Arp.
Joe Ledford, Ocilla; Walter B. Lisenby, Ocilla; James F. Livingston, Abba; Daniel D. Lott; Clayburne N. Lowe, Ocilla ; Willie L. Lowe, Ocilla; Willie L. Luke; Arthur Thomas Luke; Nell Clifton Lupo, Irwinville
Allen McArthur, Ocilla; Walter H. McCall, Ocilla; John Daniel McInnis, Ocilla; Ashley McMillan, Wray; David J. McMillan, Ocilla ; James M. McNeese, Ocilla ; Jerry F. McNeill,
*Deserter.
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CIVIL WAR HEROES
Ocilla ; Lovick G. Maddox, Osierfield; Edward Mansel, Wray; Warren Mansel; James W. Marks, Abba; Charlie May ; Lonnie Mathis; Roy R. Mason, Ocilla; Benjamin L. Mathis, Ocilla; Robert Hugh Milby, Ocilla ; John E. Miller, Toomsboro, Rt. 2; John F. Milner; Franklin C. Mims, Ocilla ; James P. Minshew, Abba; Christopher C. Mixon, Ocilla; Thomas Henry Tallie Moore, Ocilla ; Joseph G. Morris, Wray ; Joseph W. Murchison, Ocilla.
Jake R. Nasworthy, Wray; John H. Newsom, Abba. Tillman J. Oxford, Ocilla.
James Clark Parham ; Pearlie Parker; Joseph Paulk; Albert Warren Paulk, Ocilla; Claude J. Paulk, Ocilla; Clark Paulk, Ocilla ; James M. Paulk, Wray; Lott G. Paulk, Ocilla; Robert Lee Paulk, Fitzgerald; William HI. Paulk, Wray; Wilburn Perry, Ocilla; Ben Phenious, Wray; James R. Player, Abba; James M. Pollock, Ocilla; John W. Poole, Mystic; Daniel F. Pope, Mystic ; James F. Posey, Ocilla; O. B. Powell; William F. Powell, Ocilla; Porter V. Pridgen, Osierfield; John E. Pridgen, Wray; Albert Purvis.
Thomas J. Register, Mystic; John Furman Reese; Wyatt S. Reeves, Abba ; John E. Revels; Wray ; Freddie W. Richardson, Wray; Ellis B. Roberts, Ocilla; George W. Roberts, Ocilla; James C. Roberts, Mystic ; John L. Roberts, Ocilla; Benjamin F. Robitzsch, Wray; William L. Robitzsch, Wray; Hugh Den- nard Rodgers, Ocilla ; Jake Rowell, Osierfield; Watson Rousey.
Sam Scott, Mystic; Willie Sheffield, Irwinville; Louis Albert Shiver ; James T. Simmons, Ocilla; Robert Smith, Wray ; Earl Thomas Steed; Malcolm Stewart; Clem R. Steed; William Sumler, Arp; Willam D. Sweatman, Ocilla; George L. Sweatt, Arp; Walter Anderson Sweat.
Columbus Tatum; Herbert Thomas, Ocilla; Hanson Towson, Mystic ; Elzie Tucker, Ocilla; James Clarence Trulove; Jacob Tueker, Ocilla; Charlie S. Tucker; Gordy Troup.
William B. Underwood, Mystic.
David Jonathan Walker, Irwinville; Robert Walker, Ocilla ; James Wash, Osierfield; William Wash, Osierfield; Oscar D. Watson; John A. Watts, Abba; Nevel P. Webb, Ocilla; James L. Wells, Wray; Sam Whittington, Ocilla; Eugene B. White, Ocilla; Henry B. Whitley, Ocilla; Jimmie Whitley, Ocilla;
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HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
John W. Whitley, Ocilla; Luther W. Wiggins, Wray; James Wilcox, Ocilla; Warren F. Williams; Willis Williams, Osier- field; Charles C. Williamson, Abba; James W. Williamson, Abba; Arthur Thomas Willis; William E. Willis, Mystic; Aurelius F. Woolsey, Ocilla; John Thomas Wynn.
DECEASED.
Charlie L. Allison, Wray; John V. Burns, Ocilla; Willie Grantham, Ocilla; Milburn M. Perry, Ocilla; William B. Rowell, Mystic; George J. Tucker, Ocilla.
OFFICERS.
Emory P. Bass, Ocilla; Otis Lennington Heath, Ocilla; Emmett C. Henderson, Ocilla; John G. Henderson, Ocilla ; Young Cleveland Lott, Ocilla; Henry Paden Lyon, Mystic ; Pulaski Sikes Smith, Ocilla; Thomas Watson Smith, Ocilla; Jesse Lee Thompson, Wray; Y. S. Hogg, Ocilla.
NAVY.
William Nathaniel Ashley, Ocilla; Willie Vines Brown, Wray; John Joseph Dill, Ocilla; Claude Reese Forbes, Ocilla ; Charles Clement Gaughf, Ocilla; Christopher Columbus Henderson, Ocilla; John Daniel Henderson, Ocilla; Ralph Estalee Jowers, Wray; Colonel David Kirkland, Wray; John Clarke Luke, Jr., Ocilla; William Hudson Maddox, Osierfield ; Rufus Gerard Mathews, Wray; Perry Earl Murray, Abba; Lawrence A. McAllister, Ocilla; Pearley Parker, Wray ; Robert Clayton Paulk, Ocilla; Elbert Lee Perry, Ocilla ; Malloy Purvis, Ocilla ; Henry Levy Rogers, Ocilla ; William Archie Tankersley, Jr., Ocilla; Warren Hubert Tucker, Ocilla.
COLORED.
Charlie Adams, Ocilla ; George Adams, Ocilla ; * Henry Allen, Ocilla; Lewis Arline, Ocilla; Charlie Avery.
Dock Bailey, Ocilla ; Trueluck Ball; * Alonzo Barnes, Ocilla ; James Barton, Ocilla; John Belcher, Ocilla; John Bell; Henry
*Deserters.
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CIVIL WAR HEROES
Bell, Ocilla; Frank W. Bennett, Ocilla; Oscar Bennett, Ocilla ; Sam Bennett, Jr., Ocilla; James Bivins; Nerrol Blackshear, Abba; Vinyard (Solomon) Bowen. Ocilla; Braddy E. Boyn- ton, Ocilla; William Brooks; Henry Brown, Osierfield; James Brown, Wray ; John C. Brown, Wray ; John W. Brown, Wray ; *Lewis Brown, Ocilla; Starling Brown, Osierfield; Samuel Brown; Hester Bryant, Ocilla; John Bryant, Ocilla; Richard Butts.
Asa Campbell, Abba; Enoch Campbell, Arp; Birl Canady, Ocilla ; John A. Carethers, Osierfield; Calvin Carrothers, Osier- field; Frank Carswell, Ocilla .; Oscar Carswell, Arp; James Chinn, Ocilla; Eddie L. Clark, Ocilla; Johnnie Clark; Homer Clowers, Ocilla; John Coats; Columbus Cook; Jacob Esau Cook, Osierfield; James Cook, Wray; Clarence Crosbey ; Lige Crumedy.
Russell Daniel, Osierfield; Aubry Davis, Ocilla; Charles Davis, Ocilla; Charley Davis, Ocilla; George W. Davis, Ocilla ; James A. Davis, Ocilla; Epsom Davis; Percy Davis; Walter Derrisaw, Ocilla; Doctor Deshazor, Arp; Jack Doberson, Mystic; Sidney Drummer.
Tommie Exum, Osierfield.
Russell M. Fagan, Ocilla; Dave Felton, Arp; Arthur Flem- ing; Steve Florence, Ocilla; Earlie Ford, Arp; John Foster, Ocilla ; Isaiah Fuller ; John Franklin, Mystic ; Emmett Freeman, Ocilla; * David Funderburk, Ocilla.
Charles M. Gamble, Wray; George Gaskins, Ocilla; Jack Gaskins, Ocilla ; Ellis Gervin, Ocilla ; Obie Gibson, Arp; * Glover Givins, Ocilla; Frank Goolsby; Cornelius Graham, Ocilla ; John D. Graham, Wray; Rich Graham, Arp; Henry L. Green, Osierfied.
Henry Hall, Ocilla; Walter Hall, Ocilla ; H. Hammond ; Sam C. Harden, Abba; Tom Harris, Ocilla; Daniel L. Henderson, Ocilla; Willis Hill, Ocilla; Kary Hines, Mystic; Glover Hogan; Will Holoman, Wray; John Henry Hollingshed, Ocilla; Everett Hughes, Irwinville.
Alexander Jackson, Mystic; Charlie Jackson, Mystic ; James Jackson, Ocilla ; Walter Jackson, Ocilla ; Robert Jacobs, Ocilla ; Frank Jenkins, Ocilla; Hardie Johnson, Ocilla; Neal Johnson,
*Deserters.
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HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
Mystic ; * Willie Johnson, Ocilla; Walter Jolly ; Daniel Jones, Osierfield ; * Monroe Jones, Ocilla; Peter Jones, Ocilla ; Rufus Jones, Irwinville ; Will Jones, Osierfield.
Nathaniel Key, Mystic; Tobie King, Ocilla.
Waldon Langston, Ocilla; Thomas J. Lanier, Jr .; * Thomas Leach, Ocilla; Tonny LeGrier, Ocilla; Tommie Lester, Wray ; Andrew Lewis, Mystic; Tom Lewis, Ocilla; Primus Lightsey ; Charley Love, Abba.
*Charlie R. McAllister, Ocilla; Reeves McBride, Jr., Ocilla ; *Gus McCormick, Ocilla ; James McCray, Ocilla; Oscar William McCrae; James Arthur McIver, Ocilla; * George McKeiver, Ocilla.
George Magwood, Osierfield; Jesse Mahoney, Ocilla ; Charles Martin, Ocilla; Charlie Martin, Wray; Larnie Martin, Ocilla ; Lloyd Melvin, Osierfield; Albert Mathis; Walter Miller, Mystic ; Charlie Mitchell; Jacob Mitchell, Ocilla; Date Mobley, Ocilla; Felix Morgan; Lee Moore, Ocilla; * Eddie Morns, Ocilla.
Bob Lee Newman.
Henry Owens, Ocilla.
Jesse Petties, Ocilla ; Lonnie Phillips ; Andrew Pitts; Charlie Player, Arp; William Porter, Mystic.
Tom Raughlin, Ocilla; Bennie Reed, Ocilla ; Thomas J. Reed, Ocilla ; * Steadman Richards, Ocilla; Van Rickerson, Ocilla; Earnest C. Ridley, Wray ; Allen Riley ; Dennie Roberson, Osier- field; Sam Roberson, Ocilla; Charles Roberts, Ocilla; James Robinson, Irwinville; William Ross, Ocilla; Bennie Rozier; Sam Russell.
*Christopher C. Sellars, Ocilla; Henry Simmons, Wray; Lee Simmons, Wray; Willie Simms, Pinetta ; Henry Singleterry, Ocilla; Azie Simpson ; Tip Smith, Wray ; Henry Stanley, Ocilla ; John Stanley, Ocilla ; James Stewart, Ocilla. .
Aaron Thomas; Charley Tarver, Ocilla; Marven Tatum, Ocilla; Ed Thomas; Effort Thomas, Ocilla; Ishmell Thomas, Ocilla; LeRoy Thomas, Ocilla; Willie Thomas, Ocilla; Nelson Towns; * Joe Tucker, Ocilla; Wiley A. Tucker, Osierfield ; Willie Tucker, Ocilla.
Handy Vickers, Ocilla ; Melvin Vickers.
Floyd Walker, Mystic; Thomas Watson; Enoch Watts;
* Deserters.
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CIVIL WAR HEROES
Edward West, Ocilla; James White; John White; Charles White, Ocilla; Mency White, Mystic ; Albert Whitehead, Osier- field; Duright Wilcox; Alex Williams, Wray; David J. Wil- liams, Ocilla; Robert Williams, Ocilla; Charlie Wilson, Wray ; Willie Wingate, Mystic; George Woodall, Ocilla; Corry Wright, Ocilla; Tom Wynn, Ocilla; Cain Wynn.
DECEASED.
Obie Bryant, Abba ; Shafter Gaskins, Ocilla ; George Graham, Ocilla.
COPY OF LETTER FROM R. W. CLEMENTS, A CONFED- ERATE SOLDIER, TO HIS OLD FRIEND JEHU FLETCHER, WRITTEN FROM THE CON- FEDERATE CAMP, MAY 16, 1862.
Goldborough, N. C. May 16, 1862.
Mr. Jehu Fletcher,
Dear Friend :
I, this evening avail myself of the opportunity of writing you a few lines which leaves me in the enjoyment of better health than I've enjoyed since I've been in camp. I have not been able to drill five days since I've been in camp. I received your very kind letter of April 9, today and was glad to hear that you were still improving in health and glad to hear that your family was well, but I was sorry to hear of the hard times in old Irwin but it has turned out about as I expected so far. Isaac M. Young, Joseph R. Sumner, William Fletcher, George A. Luke and your son, Joseph, arrived here today about 12 o'clock. I went to Col. Manning as he is the commander-in- chief of the Regiment at this time. Col. Lane left here yester- day on furlough to go home for ten days. I went to him and done all I could to get Joseph in your place, but it was all in vain, he informed me that Joseph could join this company or else bear his expenses home and be subject to the conscript law but he told me if you would send a man that was exempt from the conscript law that was sound, he could take your place, if not you would have to come yourself immediately. I think if you are not able to do military duty if you will come
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HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
and undergo an examination you will get a discharge, as they have discharged several men from this regiment and some men have come here since the conscription law became en- forced and brought substitutes and paid them as high as $500 to take their places.
I will now tell you something about the condition of our company. We have four men in Augusta. Benjamine Watson died in Augusta a few days ago and we have some sick at a place called Wilson in this state and several in the hospital in Goldborough and 12 sick in camp, they have not recovered from the measles and mumps. John Roberts is sent to the hospital and says he has the rheumatism, he limps very bad in walking. G. W. Haymans was sent to the hospital this morn- ing, he has disease of the liver so the Dr. says. There is 200 returned sick in the Regiment every morning upon an aver- age so the Adjutant told me this morning, our men are not dangerous but it appears they can not get hearty. Twelve or fifteen of them has been in the hospital over a month and I can not tell how much longer they may remain there. Give my respects to all inquiring friends. Please say to Mr. Fenn to write me if his bond is for P. M. yet or not, I wrote him today but forgot to mention it. Tell Jacob to write me as I am going to write hin a long letter in a few days. Believe me to still remain yours as ever,
Signed, R. W. Clements.
Joseph has concluded to join this company.
CHAPTER 6. INDIAN TRAILS.
Early Roads Through Irwin County.
. One of the oldest trails or roads through originally Irwin County was the Thigpen Trail. This trail is located in what is now Worth, Colquitt and Thomas counties, which was originally Irwin County. It crosses the public road leading from Sylvester to Albany, Georgia. At this point, Bernard Trail Chapter, D. A. R., Sylvester, Georgia, have erected a beautiful marble marker. This road was built by James Thig- pen, of North Carolina, who was overseer of highways in 1704 and it traversed North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida and made a direct route to Pensacola, Florida. Its principal object when first opend up was for military purposes. Troups used this road from North Carolina to Georgia during the Revolutionary War. It was later used as a stage road from Albany, Georgia, to Tallahassee, Florida, and also for the few settlers to transport salt to different points in South Georgia. An old friend and neighbor of mine, Mr. Joel Cul- pepper, has a stick of pine timber upon which is one of the original axe blazes, made in the growing pine tree, when this road was first marked out over 200 years ago.
In these early days the historical spots were located around Indian mounds, trading posts, ancient relics and wars.
According to Jones' history of Georgia, DeSoto spent the winter of 1539 and 1540 near where present city of Tallahassee is now located. In the early Spring of 1840, he crossed the Ochlochnee River near Hadleys Ferry in Grady County, origi- nally Irwin, and marching on in a northerly direction on left side of Ochlochnee River, in the latter part of March, 1540, reached Irwin County, passing through to the northern part of the state stopping at an Indian camp on the Ocmulgee River and passing on and crossing the Ocmulgee River near Abbe- ville at another Indian camp which was in Irwin County.
When the bill to create Early, Irwin and Appling counties was pending in the legislature, certain gentlemen in the legis- lature opposed the creation of these counties for the reason
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HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
that they were opposed to building roads therein for the cause that they objected to spending the state's money trying to develop a country which God Almighty had left in an un- finished condition.
It is regretted that these gentlemen could not be here at this time to see the country they alleged was left in an unfin- ished condition by the Almighty, if they were they would be compelled to admit that it was finished and that it is the garden spot of Georgia.
In the early days there were various Indian trails through Irwin County. There was one trail leading from the Kennard settlement on Flint River near Albany and near the western line of Irwin County leading to the Ocmulgee River which passed through Irwin County crossing the Alapaha River near what is known as the Ten Mile Trail.
CHAPTER 7. FREAKS OF NATURE IN IRWIN COUNTY.
Capture of Jeff Davis.
The Bostwick Case, etc. The Ross Lake.
On the western side of the Alapaha River in Turner County, origin- ally Irwin, near where Deep Creek flows into the Alapaha River, is a large lake, probably be- ing three-fourths of a mile long and one-fourth Ross Lake When Water Goes Out. of a mile wide, abound- ing with all kinds of fresh-water fish. At the eastern extremity of this lake is a high bluff, probably 150 feet high, and at the foot of this bluff is an underground waterway which continu- ally flows; this waterway is probably twelve feet square at top but much smaller where the water enters the rock passage-way. When an extremely dry season occurs, sufficient to keep Deep Creek from flowing water into this large lake, it naturally be- comes gradually lower in depth and if the dry season continues long enough all the water in the lake disappears and the lake bed becomes perfectly dry. So soon as the lake becomes low enough to warrant it, the people gather and catch the fish with
Ross Lake When Lake is Full of Water.
seines and nets and other devices. I have wit- nessed the catching of the greatest quantity of fish at this place of any and the catch would con- tinue for a week, each day, before all the water would disappear, fur-
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HISTORY OF IRWIN COUNTY
nishing great sport for all who would attend.
Mr. Joseph Fletcher, one of the pioneer set- tlers of Irwin County, be- ing a stock raiser, on one of his cow hunts was in the neighborhood of this Coleman Pond. lake hunting cows and he discovered any quantity of buzzards and upon going to in- vestigate what these buzzards were after he discovered this lake. It was a dry season and the water had all disappeared from the lake leaving quantities of fish on dry land which were decaying and it was for the decayed fish the buzzards had gath- ered. It is called the Ross Lake and is on lot of land number 121 in second district, Irwin County, Georgia, and is named for Mr. W. D. Ross, one of the pioneer settlers, who owned the lot of land upon which the lake is located. At present time it is owned by Mr. Daniel Davis of Ashburn, Georgia.
Coleman Pond.
There is a similar lake only not quite so large upon lot of land number 107 in third district, Irwin County, owned by the writer of this sketch, called Coleman Pond, named for a man by that name who in the early days owned it. This lake has an underground outlet similar to that of Ross Lake but much smaller which allows the water to leave it when the seasons are dry. These lakes go dry at intervals from three to seven years. This lake, like the Ross Lake, abounds with quantities of fresh- water fish, and when it becomes low enough to fish, furnishes great sport and plenty of good eat- ing for those who are fond of fish.
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