Private Joseph C. Bailey

Joseph Bailey enlisted in Company E, Wyly's Battery, of the 9th Artillery Battalion on 14 May 1862 in Atlanta, Georgia.  By trade he was a shoemaker and preacher and is on record as making shoes at .35 cents a pair.  By the war's end he was charging $1.00 a pair.  According to his pension records he was wounded in his left arm.  

The 9th Artillery's first duty was to guard the government stores in Atlanta.  In August it was attached to General Humphrey Marshall's command in Abingdon, Virginia and would later move to Saltville.  In September of 1863 the 9th Artillery was sent with Gen. James Longstreet to assist the Army of Tennessee in its fall offensive.  On the 19th and 20th of it participated in the Battle of Chickamauga  by protecting a ridge near the Chickamauga Creek.  Eventually in 1864 the battalion was ordered to Richmond for the duration of the war.  In November it was placed under Gen. Richard Ewell at Petersburg, Virginia.  During the Appomattox Campaign the unit served as infantry Gen. C.A. Evens brigade and would participate in the final assault under Gen. Gordon that initially led to success and almost opened a route of escape for Gen. Lee.  Later that day they would surrender with Gen. Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865.

After the war Private Bailey returned to Randolph County to his wife Polly Ann and continued farming.  He raised six kids, continued preaching and started the Union Hill Baptist Church.  Passing quietly into eternity on 28 September 1897, he was interred in the church cemetery that he had helped started years before.

Private Wiley T. Henry

Wiley T. Henry left his wife and three children to serve with Company. A, 2nd Battalion of Hilliard's Legion.  He enlisted on May 5, 1862 and was discharged November 10, 1863 after being disabled by deafness.  He returned home to Randolph County, Alabama and on October 22, 1864 enlisted in the Alabama Home Guard in B.H. Ford's Company of Falkner's Battalion.  His muster roll in  information says he had blue eyes, was five foot seven, and had light hair and complexion.

Hilliard's Legion operated in Tennessee and Kentucky under Gen. Braxton Bragg.  It was present at the Battle of Perryville, but did not participate although it would serve as the regard during the retreat. Later the Legion would arrive at Chickamauga on Septemberer 18, 1863.  It wasn't until the second day that the Legion advanced with the army at 3:30 under the orders of Gen. Gracie against a Union log fortification.  It was during these next few moment the it would earn an excellent reputation losing 45% of the 902 men engaged.  Hilliard's Legion claimed to have been the first of Gracie's Brigade to place its color in the Union work--the flag was shot through by 83 bullets.

After the war Wiley returned to farming and raising his twelve children. On February 25, 1890, Henry was in the process of hitching a mule to a wagon for a trip to town, when the mule kicked him in the head, killing him instantly.  

Private John M. Freeman

John Freeman was born a twin on 13 June 1822 in Blount County, Alabama.  The  probate minutes of Blout County show that John Freeman was licensed to perform marriages 18 February 1853. He was pastor of the Siloam Baptist Church east of Blountsville six miles and north of Asid City.   During the War he served as a private with Captain Fennel Partisan Rangers for four months (July to November of 1862).  According the Alabama archives he received  $12 per month for himself and $12. per month for his horse. 

John McKnight Freeman would later migrate to Texas where he and his wife Sarah would die 8  October 1882.

Lieutenant John T. Allen

John T. Allen was born in Lowndes County, Georgia on 25 October 1833.  After his marriage to Emily Zeigler in 1856, he made his home in Clinch County, Georgia. There he operated a small county store and served as a Justice of the Peace and Justice of the Inferior Court.

On 28 June 1862 John Allen received a commission as Second Lieutenant in the 11th Georgia Calvary in Company G.  In 1864 his unit was part of the First Division that fought with distinction in the Battle of Atlanta.  His unit would continue the struggle at battle of Griswoldville a few months later  For the remainder of the war his unit continued harassing actions against Sherman's destructive columns.  According to his granddaughter John Allen was sent home at the close of the war due to illness.

After the war he prospered in business, and helped build the Lakeview Baptist Church. Mrs. Allen was among the charter members, and later, John T. Allen also became a member on profession of faith and baptism.  Mr. Allen passed away on 11 June 1911. After almost 54 years together together as man and wife, their earthly remains rest side-by-side in Lakeview Baptist Church Cemetery. 

Private James M. Bledsoe

Mr. Bledsoe was born in 1812 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia.  He eventually made his home in Jackson, Georgia.  There he served as pastor of Old Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, the oldest church in Butts county.  He was also a man of considerable means as the 1860 census said his net value was 20,000 dollars.  On 25 September 1861, as a 49 year old man, he enlisted in Company C, of the 30th Georgia.  Apparently, the harsh conditions of 19th century military life were to much for him and by December of 1863 he was back home and enlisted in the Butts County militia.  There he lived  until the close of the war, seeing the harsh realities of Yankee occupation and reconstruction.  He would die November of 1869.

Private  James Henry Buckner

James Buckner was born 15 December 1844 in Sparta, Hancock County, Georgia.  He enlisted as an 18 year old on  3 August 1862 in Opelika as a private in Company B of the 45th Alabama.   In May 1862 his regiment proceeded to Corinth where many suffered from sickness.  In the fall of 1862 it charged a battery at Perryville and suffered severe casualties.  It engaged in the battle of Murfreesboro.  Later it was listed as part of Gen. Cleburne's division and passed the first half of the year 1863 at Tullahoma.    It fount at Chickamauga.  The regiment was at Missionary Ridge and Ringgold Gap with slight loss.

It was during the Atlanta Campaign it fought against Logan's corps at Resaca, and New Hope.  On 22 July during the battle of Atlanta much of the regiment was lost and James Buckner was captured like many of his comrades.  He was sent to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois.  There he remained the duration of the war until he was discharged 17 June 1865.  He would return to Alabama, and marry Nancy McCoy in April 1866.  He passed away 1 February 1909 in Huntsville, Alabama and is buried in the Maple Hill Cemetery there in Madison County.

Private Jasper N. Buckner

Jasper Buckner the older brother of James Henry was born in 1842.  He too enlisted in Company B, "Dixie Sledge Guards" of the 45th Alabama.  Unlike his younger bother he survived the decimation of his regiment on 22nd July.  Six weeks later the 45th Alabama fought for Gen. Cleburne at Jonesboro once again with considerable loss.  With the loss of Atlanta the regiment marched back into Tennessee where it opened the battle at Franklin following the brilliant fight at Springhill the previous evening.  During this desperate assault of Cleburne's division the 45th was almost annihilated around the corpse of its heroic division commander. Jasper Buckner was taken prisoner. He was received at Camp Douglas, Illinois on 5 December 1864.  There he remained for the duration of the war.  He was released 18 June 1865.

Jasper Bucker died in 1913 and is buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Prattville, Alabama.

Corporal Edward B. McCluskey

Edward B. Mc Cluskey was born in Hall County, Georgia.  According to the 1860 he was in Columbus, Georgia, newly married to Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth and working in local factory.  As the war began he was a farmer in Tallapoosa County, Alabama.  On 19 May 1863, at the age of 22, with one child at home he enlisted in Captain Thomas Barnett's, Tallassee Guards.  

After the war he continued farming and worked in a cotton mill.  He would die in May of 1906 at the age of 67.  

Lieutenant  Nathaniel T. McCluskey

Nathaniel Turk McCluskey was born in Hall County, Georgia and migrated to Marshall County, Alabama where he took up the peaceful occupation of farmer.  When Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 troops to invade the South, Nathaniel was 36 years old and had six children.  In February of 1862 he enlisted in Company B, of the 28th Alabama Infantry as a private.  The 28th Alabama barely missed the battle of Shiloh but did have its first skirmish in nearby Farmington, Mississippi.  On August 30th the 28th Alabama marched with Gen. Braxton Bragg into Kentucky. By September 16th the 28th Alabama was engaged with Union skirmishers near Munfordville Road forcing the Union commander to surrender unconditionally.  It's Colonel said that it, "gratifies the commanding officer to be able to say that the men and officers were calm, cool and cheerful during the entire day and obeyed every command with great accuracy and promptness".

On October 19th the 28th assisted Gen. Joseph Wheeler in a retrograde movement Little Rock Castle Creek (Wildcat Gap), Kentucky.  The regiment successfully withstood the assault and held the position for the entire day.  Finally,on November 22 the army arrived at Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  It was here on December 1862, worn down with sickness and fatigue that Nathaniel was discharged from service as was witnessed by Lt. Pleasant G. Wood of Company I.

Nathaniel T. McCluskey would return home for healing; however, in the spring of 1864 a new cavalry regiment was formed in Gadsden, Alabama.  He joined Livingstone's Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment as a first lieutenant. In July it reported to General Pillow at Blue Mountain with about 250 men. Later the unit was assigned to General Clanton's Brigade, Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. It was engaged at Ten Islands, served in Western Florida, then sustained heavy losses in the conflict at Bluff Spring. By February, 1865, its strength had grown to 600, but after skirmishing in Alabama, few were present when the regiment surrendered at Gainesville in May.

After the war Nathaniel Turk moved to Texas where he later died in 1894.  A Mason lodge in Lipan, Texas possesses a Model 1862 cavalry staff officer's saber that Nathaniel gave to the lodge in 1880. It was said that he "relieved a Union officer of it."  He had the saber inscribed with his name, date, name of the lodge.  The scabbard itself has an indention towards the tip that was obviously made by a saddle stirrup when a horse fell upon it. 

Sergeant Leory G. Collins

Leroy George Collins, originally born in North Carolina, eventually made his way to Neshaboa County, Mississippi. He joined Company B, the "Bogue Chitto Rangers" of the 5th Mississippi in August of 1861 leaving behind a wife and two year old son.   His unit was attached to Chalmers' Brigade and his first baptism of fire was at Shiloh.  In May of 1862 his unit was brigaded under John K. Jackson and marched with the Army of Mississippi in to Kentucky.  It was present, but did not participated in the Battle of Perryville.

On 31 December, 1862 it was part of Gen. Breckinridge's Division at the Battle of Stones River.  There Gen. Leonidas Polk reported that Jackson's Brigade assailed the enemy's line with "energy" and after as severe contest was compelled to yield and fall back." The Fifth Mississippi was engaged for three hours of fighting.

On 19 September of 1863 the Fifth Mississippi was attacked by Union forces at Chickamauga.  The entire brigade pressed forward and pushed the Federal line back for nearly a mile.   It was on the last day in battle against they confronted Union Gen. Thomas behind a suborn line of log breastworks.  It was because of Leroy's actions in this battle that his comrades elected him to the Roll of Honour.

The 5th would was present at the Battle of Lookout Mountain, but did not participate.  Although initially overwhelmed at Missionary Ridge the Fifth finished the day fighting feverously against great odds for Gen. Cheatham.  During the Atlanta campaign it fought all the major clashes:  Resaca, Turner's Ferry, Cassville, Etowah, Dallas, New Hope Church, Pine Mountain, and finally Kennesaw Mountain.  On July the 22th they found themselves part of the blood affair called Peachtree Creek.  The regiment was then moved south of town to Jonesboro.  On September 1  they charged some Federal works and drove the Yankees across the Flint River.  Their Colonel reported that "the men were so eager in the pursuit that they could not be haled till they had gained a second line of works about 300 yards west of the river."  This unit would also participate in the Battle of Lovejoy Station on September 2. The battle was the conclusion of four straight months of unrelenting conflict.

The 5th Mississippi would participate in the misery and disaster of the last Tennessee campaign.  It would charge with Gen. Cheatham at Franklin and would lose its commander along with 60 other brigade and regimental commanders killed or wounded on that day.  On December 15 it gallantly repulsed both flank and front attacks at Nashville on the Granny White Pike.  The regiment would finally continue into the Carolina's and Surrender to Sherman in Greensboro, 26 April 1865.

Private Patrick G. Bailey

Born in Gwinnett County, Georgia and fourth of fourteen children he would later remove to Randolph County, Alabama.  On 9 September 1862 Patrick enlisted in Company E of the 17th Alabama Infantry Regiment.  His unit would see fierce action at Shiloh on 6-7 of April.  His regiment was part of Bragg's furious charge that pushed the Federals into a position called the sunken road.  It was there that the 17th Alabama continuously pounded the Union center that would later be called the "hornets nest."

His unit was later removed to Mobile, Alabama where it was relatively quite.  In early 1864 it was ordered to join the Army of Tennessee, and would fight during the Atlanta Campaign.  The regiment was engaged at the Oostenaula bridge and in the three day battle of Resaca, with severe loss. The 17th had its full share of the campaigning from Dalton to Jonesboro, fighting almost daily, especially at Cassville, New Hope, Kennesaw, Lost Mountain, and Atlanta.  Private Bailey was wounded in Dalton and was later wounded in the Battle of Atlanta, losing two fingers.  The regiment moved into Tennessee with General John Bell Hood and lost two-thirds of its force at Franklin; a number were captured at Nashville. He and a remnant of the regiment moved into North Carolina and fought at Bentonville where they later surrendered.

He would return to Haywood, Alabama to his wife Dorothy Ann.  They later had eleven children, began a general store, flourmill, and a church.  He died 26 March 1917.

Private Jonathan M. Bailey

Born and raised in Forsyth County, Georgia, Jonathan moved between 1850 and 1860 to Randolph County, Alabama.  Sometime in March 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company B of the 5th Battalion of Hilliard's Legion.  His unit was separated from the rest of Hillard's Legion and was reorganized in November 1862 into the 10th Confederate Cavalry in Murfreesboro.

The 10th Confederate Cavalry was brigaded to General John Pegram.  Gen. Pegram led his new brigade in the Battle of Stones River.  Later, after operating in east Tennessee, the regiment raided into Kentucky, and fought in a half dozen severe conflicts, losing 160 men in all. Surprised at Jimtown, the regiment lost about 50 men, mostly captured. The unit was to be scheduled to be transferred to the Army of Northern Virginia in October; however, in September it was temporarily assigned to General Nathan B. Forrest and fought at Chickamauga where it was decimated.  It was there that Private Bailey was wounded and later transported to Atlanta for medical treatment.  On 7 November 1863 he passed away and was buried at the Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta. 

David Bailey was born in Lexington, Oglethorpe County, Georgia in 11 March 1812.  He would later move to Jackson, Butts County, Georgia and in 1831 was admitted to the bar and practiced law.   He also served as a captain in the Seminole and Creek Wars. He was elected as a member of Georgia state house of representatives in 1835 and 1847; as a Georgia state senator in 1838,1849-50, 1855-56; and a United States Representative from the Georgia 3rd district from 1851-1855.  He voted for secession as delegate to the Georgia's convention in 1861.  That same year he moved to Griffin, Georgia.  

In September 1861 he established Camp Bailey with the permission of Governor Joseph E. Brown.  Camp Bailey was located between Fairburn and Palmetto, Georgia along the railroad track. The actual location of this site is not known today, but is believed to be under the Owens Corning Plant. Bailey recruited men of Campbell and Carroll Counties along the Chattahoochee River for the Confederacy. Company K was joined at Camp Bailey by ten other Companies that were organized from Georgia counties. On December 16, 1861, the 30th Georgia moved to Griswoldsville in Jones County, Georgia. By the 23rd, it was encamped just below Savannah, Georgia. While under Col. Bailey's command the 30th Georgia was involved in several engagements near Savannah.

He died in his Griffin home 14 June 1897 and is buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery.

Here is a letter addressed to Col. David J. Bailey, Commanding ‘Bailey’s Regiment’, Camp Bartow, near "Savannah, Geo.” The stamp is a CSA #1, 5¢ green with incomplete design at right.

*  I would like to express gratitude to Mr. Al Medcalf for much of the research regarding Lewis T. Steed.  Also Mrs. Linda Murphy for information and pictures regarding:  J.C. Bailey, D.J. Bailey, P. G. Bailey, W.T. Henry, and J. M. Bledsoe.

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