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Company I,40th Alabama Infantry Regiment

Puzzling Evidence

Free range human living on a tax farm.
Found some more info on my ancestor in old pension records. He died in 1916 and he received a military pension for his Confederate service from 1905 until he died. In 1936,one of his sons applied for a military gravestone. He had to get a letter from the Alabama Pension Commission about his service and pension. I got a copy of it. In it,it states that he was discharged in April 1865. That is the first record I have found of his discharge.
Confederate soldiers were hardly considered "traitors" as our Liberal brethren would try and convince us, au contrare, they were honored members of our military and often drew soldiers pensions.
 
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bdtex

Administrator
Staff member
Hey, I didn't have to really look up too much about my great great grandfather, my grandad told me all about him.

Pvt. James Winchester Bowyer served in the 4th Virginia Heavy Artillery and then the 34th Virginia Infantry. He is the great-grandfather of Stafford County resident Samba "Sam" Bowyer Lougheed, president of the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

He was wounded at the battle of seven pines and was captured at the Battle of Hatcher's Run, Oct. 27, 1864.

Bowyer was sent to prison at Point Lookout, Md., where he languished until exchanged in January 1865.







He went back into the trenches with the brigade, and served until the end of the war, when he surrendered at Appomattox.

Two of James Bowyer's brothers, William and John, also served with the 34th Virginia Infantry, and their father, Thomas, fought for the Confederacy as well.

James returned home to Bedford County and became a farmer. He married Margaret Frances Orange on Feb. 3, 1867, in Bristol, Tenn.; they had nine children. He later applied for and received a pension for his war service. Bowyer lived until Oct. 28, 1929, when he died in Bedford. He was buried near Union Methodist Church in his hometown.

https://www.fredericksburg.com/featurestown_and_county/soldier-helped-defend-richmond/article_bd4b0c96-2855-531a-81ee-161b386fd995.html
That is good stuff there. Way cool to me that his descendant,your ancestor,was so involved in the UDC. They did and do so many wonderful things to honor Confederate soldiers.
 

Puzzling Evidence

Free range human living on a tax farm.
That is good stuff there. Way cool to me that his descendant,your ancestor,was so involved in the UDC. They did and do so many wonderful things to honor Confederate soldiers.
Union soldiers were important too, but our Confederate ancestors are now being dishonored. Thank you for your kind words, sir. I feel blessed that I was close to my grandfather who lived to be 106 and had a memory like a steel trap. He related second-hand accounts of the civil war directly to me. I'm one of the few people on earth who can say that.
 

bdtex

Administrator
Staff member
I feel blessed that I was close to my grandfather who lived to be 106 and had a memory like a steel trap. He related second-hand accounts of the civil war directly to me. I'm one of the few people on earth who can say that.
You are blessed. The only grandparents I had who might have had such second-hand accounts both died while I was still too young to know what I didn't know. Me and a distant aunt and 2nd cousin seem to be the only ones interested in our family Civil War history. In my direct family,that interest is probably gonna die with me. Hope not.
 

Puzzling Evidence

Free range human living on a tax farm.
You are blessed. The only grandparents I had who might have had such second-hand accounts both died while I was still too young to know what I didn't know. Me and a distant aunt and 2nd cousin seem to be the only ones interested in our family Civil War history. In my direct family,that interest is probably gonna die with me. Hope not.
Keep them alive for right now.
 

Puzzling Evidence

Free range human living on a tax farm.
Here is a narrative from a collection of first-hand accounts found in “Civil War Treasury” edited by B.A. Botkin that speaks volumes to General Lee’s character. It also speaks to me about the ...power behind that greatest commandment… Love One Another.

“I was at the battle of Gettysburg myself, and an incident occurred there which largely changed my views of the Southern people. I had been a most bitter anti-Southman, and fought and cursed the Confederates desperately. I could see nothing good in any of them. The last day of the fight I was badly wounded. A ball had shattered my left leg. I lay on the ground not far from Cemetery Ridge, and as General Lee ordered his retreat, he and his officers rode near me. As they came along, I recognized him and, though faint from exposure and loss of blood, I raised up my hands, looked Lee in the face, and shouted as loud as I could, ‘Hurrah for the Union!’

The General heard me, looked, stopped his horse, dismounted and came toward me. I confess that I at first thought he meant to kill me. But as he came up he looked down at me with such a sad expression upon his face that all fear left me, and I wondered what he was about. He extended his hand to me, and grasping mine firmly and looking right into my eyes said, “My son, I hope you will soon be well.”

If I live a thousand years I shall never forget the expression on General Lee’s face. There he was, defeated, retiring from a field that had cost him and his cause almost their last hope, and yet he stopped to say words like those to a wounded soldier of the opposition who had taunted him as he passed by! As soon as the General had left me, I cried myself to sleep there upon the bloody ground.”

-Marcus J Wright
 

Puzzling Evidence

Free range human living on a tax farm.
I hate to say this, but to me, Grant was the superior General in as he was extremely studious and able to take in large amounts of information and from that, formulate a battle plan.

Robert E Lee was a great man, but his uprightness was his undoing. His men loved him and willingly died for him, but he was very meek in asking for supplies. He did not wish to ask for taxes to be collected as this was an infringement upon personal liberty!

I remember both as great men. Grant could have been a better president with a bit of help from Congress.
 

voyager

4Q2247365
I hate to say this, but to me, Grant was the superior General
Maybe, maybe not. Grant had an unlimited supply of fodder to throw into the grinder. Also Lee was sick on and off fighting Grant all the way to Richmond. Lee had also lost Stonewall Jackson, Jeb Stewart, and even Longstreet for a time.
The Victor writes the History.​
 

JackDallas

Senator
Supporting Member
I hate to say this, but to me, Grant was the superior General in as he was extremely studious and able to take in large amounts of information and from that, formulate a battle plan.

Robert E Lee was a great man, but his uprightness was his undoing. His men loved him and willingly died for him, but he was very meek in asking for supplies. He did not wish to ask for taxes to be collected as this was an infringement upon personal liberty!

I remember both as great men. Grant could have been a better president with a bit of help from Congress.
Lee was an elitist and while he was a brilliant tactician and strategist, he was more than willing to waste the lives of his troops to achieve even a futile objective.
At the Battle of Saylor's Creek, while trying to out run Grant into Western Virginia, Lee, knowing the war was lost ordered an attack attempting a breakout through the union line in an attemp to continue the fight. Many Confederate lives were lost for absolutely no good reason.
Lee surrendered at Appomattox a few days later.
 

voyager

4Q2247365
Lee was an elitist and while he was a brilliant tactician and strategist, he was more than willing to waste the lives of his troops to achieve even a futile objective.
At the Battle of Saylor's Creek, while trying to out run Grant into Western Virginia, Lee, knowing the war was lost ordered an attack attempting a breakout through the union line in an attemp to continue the fight. Many Confederate lives were lost for absolutely no good reason.
Lee surrendered at Appomattox a few days later.

wrong... the whole thing.

Read some Shelby Foote Vol. 3 the Civil War at least the end starting from page 915. The Troops at the REAR of the column at Saylors Creek had gotten cut off and were fighting for their lives. Lee was WAY up ahead and when he heard about it and came back in time to see the end.

after that...

Lee sent Gen. Gordon and was left of his Corp. to see if it was only Cavalry blocking his way forward or if Grant had gotten infantry in front of him. After dispersing the Cavalry they found 30,000 Union Troops lined up to meet them.

And That was the end of the war for the Army of Northern Virginia..
 
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JackDallas

Senator
Supporting Member
wrong... the whole thing.

Read some Shelby Foote Vol. 3 the Civil War at least the end starting from page 915. The Troops at the REAR of the column at Saylors Creek had gotten cut off and were fighting for their lives. Lee was WAY up ahead and when he heard about it and came back in time to see the end.

after that...

Lee sent Gen. Gordon and was left of his Corp. to see if it was only Cavalry blocking his way forward or if Grant had gotten infantry in front of him. After dispersing the Cavalry they found 30,000 Union Troops lined up to meet them.

And That was the end of the war for the Army of Northern Virginia..
This link goes to information that speaks to my reason for claiming that Lee was an Elitist,
https://www.historyonthenet.com/grants-war-strategy-that-made-3-confederate-armies-surrender
 

bdtex

Administrator
Staff member
Several of my ancestors are veterans of the 26th North Carolina. Planted their flag on the wall at the Angle at Gettysburg on the third day. Fought the Iron brigade on the first day.

Salute !

http://26nc.org/History/history.html
Go visit the places you know they fought at. I got to do that last year at Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Resaca. Might get to do it in October at a place north of Vicksburg.
 

voyager

4Q2247365
I have been to Chickamauga and was at a reenactment at Resaca. You need to get to Gettsyburg, Antietam, Spotsylvania (the Mule Shoe), Fredricksburg... There are driving tours available with sound at some. At Fredricksburg there are homes on one side of the road and Confederate trenches on the other.
 

JackDallas

Senator
Supporting Member
Sharpsburg is in next year's travel plans. Planning 2-3 days there in June.
Sharpsburg/Antietam is my favorite Civil War battlefield. Three distinct engagements, The Cornfield (West Woods/Dunker Church; The Sunken Road; and Burnside's bridge are truly awesome. I've been there at least 10 times (Lived in Maryland for 7 years). I wrote a poem about it:

ANTIETAM

I walked today on hallowed ground

Reclaimed by passing years

Where shot and shell and musket round

Cut trees and corn and heroes down

And summoned mother's tears


I lingered near the old west wood

Where the Dunker Church still stands

There Jackson's army turned and stood

Relinquished precious southern blood

And challenged patriot's hands


When Hooker's men, before he fell

In double line array

Charged like demons o'er the swell

Rushing headlong into hell

They sought to win the day


But Jackson braced and held the line

Then called on rebel zeal

Hood's Texans ran into the whine

Where stands today their noble shrine

And died there on that field


The battle shifted, as did I

To the center of Lee's line

Where D.H. Hill blocked passage by

New Yorkers there, prepared to die

For recompense Divine


At the sunken road, McClellan thought

Swift victory might be won

But Gordon's Alabamans fought,

And havoc on the Union wrought

Beneath the midday sun


A haunting peace pervades that lane

And makes one stop and pause

Belies the suffering and the pain

Brings tears that fall like summer rain

For Country, Home and Cause


I lost myself, and wept inside

Within that furrowed way

Where ghosts in butternut abide

With honored Union, side by side,

And pass the time of day


'Neath Burnside's bridge

Still runs the flood

None left now can remember

Whoever shed such noble blood

As those brave souls who on it stood

That day in mid September


Determined Federal flesh and steel

Disdainful of defeat

Crossed the span by utter will

Drove the Georgians from the hill

And threatened Lee's retreat


But Little Mac on a distant lea

Still plagued by cautious doubt

Failed to give his troops decree

To take the fight to Bobby Lee

And denied to them the rout


Virginia's gallant sons subside

Through Sharpsburg, west, and then

Across Potomac, swift and wide

To sanctuary on the other side

And form to fight again


A stillness there invades the soul

And makes the senses weak

The guns are silent on the knoll

The drums have ceased their martial roll

Along Antietam Creek


I sat in silence, grieved, alone

I heard the soldiers speak

And welcome me as one they've known

No seeds of hatred there are sown

Beside Antietam Creek


When I return, as I'm wont to do

They greet me through the pall.

And every heart is brave and true

My brothers now in gray and blue

And God reigns o'er us all


Yes, God reigns over all


[c 1994 Jack Dallas 2-1-94]
 

JackDallas

Senator
Supporting Member
I have been to Chickamauga and was at a reenactment at Resaca. You need to get to Gettsyburg, Antietam, Spotsylvania (the Mule Shoe), Fredricksburg... There are driving tours available with sound at some. At Fredricksburg there are homes on one side of the road and Confederate trenches on the other.
I am fortunate to have lived in Maryland for a number of years back in the 90s. I ve been to a few CW battlefields.

Gettysburg
Antietam
First Manassas (Bull Run)
Second Manassas
Petersburg
Lookout Mountain
Pea Ridge (Ak)
Wilson's Creek (Mo)
Fredericksburg
The Wilderness
Vicksburg
Shenandoah Valley

I regret not visiting them all but don't expect i ever will.
 

bdtex

Administrator
Staff member
Sharpsburg/Antietam is my favorite Civil War battlefield. Three distinct engagements, The Cornfield (West Woods/Dunker Church; The Sunken Road; and Burnside's bridge are truly awesome. I've been there at least 10 times (Lived in Maryland for 7 years). I wrote a poem about it:

ANTIETAM

I walked today on hallowed ground

Reclaimed by passing years

Where shot and shell and musket round

Cut trees and corn and heroes down

And summoned mother's tears


I lingered near the old west wood

Where the Dunker Church still stands

There Jackson's army turned and stood

Relinquished precious southern blood

And challenged patriot's hands


When Hooker's men, before he fell

In double line array

Charged like demons o'er the swell

Rushing headlong into hell

They sought to win the day


But Jackson braced and held the line

Then called on rebel zeal

Hood's Texans ran into the whine

Where stands today their noble shrine

And died there on that field


The battle shifted, as did I

To the center of Lee's line

Where D.H. Hill blocked passage by

New Yorkers there, prepared to die

For recompense Divine


At the sunken road, McClellan thought

Swift victory might be won

But Gordon's Alabamans fought,

And havoc on the Union wrought

Beneath the midday sun


A haunting peace pervades that lane

And makes one stop and pause

Belies the suffering and the pain

Brings tears that fall like summer rain

For Country, Home and Cause


I lost myself, and wept inside

Within that furrowed way

Where ghosts in butternut abide

With honored Union, side by side,

And pass the time of day


'Neath Burnside's bridge

Still runs the flood

None left now can remember

Whoever shed such noble blood

As those brave souls who on it stood

That day in mid September


Determined Federal flesh and steel

Disdainful of defeat

Crossed the span by utter will

Drove the Georgians from the hill

And threatened Lee's retreat


But Little Mac on a distant lea

Still plagued by cautious doubt

Failed to give his troops decree

To take the fight to Bobby Lee

And denied to them the rout


Virginia's gallant sons subside

Through Sharpsburg, west, and then

Across Potomac, swift and wide

To sanctuary on the other side

And form to fight again


A stillness there invades the soul

And makes the senses weak

The guns are silent on the knoll

The drums have ceased their martial roll

Along Antietam Creek


I sat in silence, grieved, alone

I heard the soldiers speak

And welcome me as one they've known

No seeds of hatred there are sown

Beside Antietam Creek


When I return, as I'm wont to do

They greet me through the pall.

And every heart is brave and true

My brothers now in gray and blue

And God reigns o'er us all


Yes, God reigns over all


[c 1994 Jack Dallas 2-1-94]
I believe I have seen that before,but it's always good. Can't wait to walk that hallowed ground. Got chill bumps just thinking about it.
 
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