Cherokee County AlArchives Military Records.....Leath, John A. Civilwar - Pension 19th AL Vols Company G ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Cal Leath Jr. Alexleath@aol.com and Andy Leath February 18, 2005, 9:20 am Georgia Civil War Pension Files (microfilm, Dallas Public Library) John A. Leath, Menlo, GA, applied 28 May 1907 for a pension under the Act of 1907. He was born 6 Aug 1843, lived in GA since 18 Dec 1905, enlisted 14 Aug 1861 in Co. G, 19th AL Vols., wounded in GA 20 Sep 1863, grape shot took off his right arm. His father came and carried him home by permission of the army surgeon. When his arm was healed, he returned to the army, but no duty was required of him and he was allowed to go where he pleased. At the time of the surrender, he was on a plantation in Green Co., AL, overseeing negroes. Includes a statement by W. L. Thomas who was with him in the army. Application disapproved, he did not reside in the state of GA by 26 Oct 1888. John A. Leath, Menlo, GA, applied 14 Oct 1910 for a pension under the Act of 1910. He has lived in Menlo since 1905. He enlisted 17 Aug 1861 at Huntsville, AL, in Co. G, 19th AL. Property: house & lot $600, household and kitchen furniture $100. Occupation: night watchman, earns $330 yearly. Includes a statement by W. L. Thomas who has known him 50 years and was in the same regiment. Leath lost his arm at Chickamauga. Application approved. Leath died 23 Mar 1924. Lousinda Leath, Chattooga Co., widow of J. A. Leath, applied 15 May 1924 for a widow’s pension. They were married 10 Oct 1864 in Cherokee Co., AL. He died March 1924. They lived in GA since 25 Dec 1904. Includes a statement by W. J. Leath proving their marriage and the death of J. A. Leath. The file for J. A. Leath also includes a newspaper clipping, no name or date of paper SARGEANT LEATH OF THE 19TH ALA Our longtime friend, Mr. J. A. Leath, of Loop, is serving his county as a juryman this week. We never see the empty sleeve of this battle scarred hero but we are reminded of an incident of the battle of Chickamauga that the late Chancellor McSpadden used to relate with appreciation. It was the third day of that bloodiest conflict of the war. The 19th Ala., of which the Chancellor was Colonel, was in the thickest of the fray, when suddenly a bugle sounded and the gallant boys of Cherokee paused and stood leaning on their guns and wiping their grimy, perspiring faces. Alex. Leath was then a gay, dashing youth in his teens, “one of the finest soldiers in the army,” as his Colonel used to say, and a special favorite with the entire command. As they rested thus a moment suddenly the shrill order, “CHARGE!” resounded, echoed and rebounded over that field of blood. The long line of infantry standing at ease underwent a sudden movement, the gallant 19th sprang forward, up a slight incline, over the tumbled, silent form of comrades and “into the jaws of death.” Oh how fast our brave boys fell, but faster fell the foe. Suddenly young Leath’s gun went flying in a thousand splinters over the heads of his comrades and with it his strong right arm. Dazed, blinded with the spilling of his life blood Alec started to run, Col. McSpadden called to him. “Stop, Alec! Alec, stop!” But Alec heeded not. Then sternly, “Sergeant Leath, your Colonel commands you to halt!” Instinctively the soldier paused and glancing over his shoulder said in words that crackled in the air like shattered glass, “Sergeant Leath’s Colonel can go to h--ll” When the storm of battle was over the Colonel sought his young friend and bending tenderly over him said, “Alec, did you know that you ordered me to Hades?” “No, Colonel,” Alec weakly replied, “but judging from your looks you obeyed the order?” Chancellor McSpadden and Alec Leath were close friends as long as the former lived. They lived to vote for each other and the Chancellor said, “If Alec cast his ballot for me with half the pleasure that I did mine for him, I am more than gratified.” File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/cherokee/military/civilwar/pensions/mt177leath.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb