The Conecuh Guards, CSA - Conecuh Co., AL ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. ALGenWeb File Manager - Lygia Dawkins Cutts ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Contributed By Mary Ann Nichols JAN 1999 The Conecuh Guards, CSA - Conecuh Co., AL Newspaper article from The Evergreen Courant, Evergreen, Alabama; December 14, 1912 ORGANIZATION 52 YEARS AGO OF CONECUH GUARDS Roster of Company Organized at Sparta in April 1861---Some Unwritten History Officers P. D. Bowles, captain Wm Lee, first lieutenant *J. G. Gulce, second lieutenant M. B. Travis, third lieutenant I. C. Gatch, first sergeant *W. I. Stallworth, second sergeant J. B. Bonnette, third sergeant J. F. Cotton, fourth sergeant W. C. Morrow, color sergeant W. F. Thomas, first corporal W. M. Green, second corporal Jno. S. Stearns, third corporal *W. S. Crosby, fourth corporal A. Christian, quartermaster C. T. Taliafero, company surgeon Privates W. F. Anderson M. L. Mosely *J. T. Andrews S. D. Nash Blake Beard W. H. H. Nichols E. Betts Jas. Perryman G. W. Blakely E. F. Powell *G. R. Boulware D. T. Pulliam J. S. Riley J. J. Ritchie W. J. Booker J. R. Ritchie H. H. Colemean J. D. Robbins M. A. Cooper T. E. Robbins P. A. Cooper Jas M. Robinson J. W. Darby J. Mat Robinson T. S. Dyas T. J. Robinson W. R. Douglas R. H. Rose G. H. Downs *M. B. Salter J. J. Downs F. M. Sampey J. B. Dubose E. Sheffield J. Q. Dunham N. Snowden C. Floyd N. Stallworth R. H. Fortner L. Stahl Q. Goldstein J. H. Stallworth W. M. Henderson H. C. Stearns J. Hirschfelder J. V. Stinson E. C. Hodges J. M. Strickland C. W. Horton *J. M. Stuckey D. Hayes M. Stuckey W. W. Johnson Jos. A. Thomas J. L. Lamkin Jas. C. Thomas J. S. Little Jas. H. Thomas W. C. Long T. W. Turk J. H. Mason F. Perry W. M. Matthews O. Perry C. C. McMillan P. S. Whelan A. D. McInnis T. Wilkinson *E. McIver S. H. Wimberly A. J. Mosely G. W. Wilson Names of those now living are indicated by a star. If there are others living we were unable to learn their names. Nearly fifty-two years have passed since the first roll call when the brave boys composing the above roster, with light hearts and bouyand spirits, bade farewell to home and loved ones, and set out on their journey for Virginia to do service for their country. The names printed herewith were written on the back of a chimney of what is known as the Hawthorn place, now owned and occupied by W. B. Heaton. Nestling in a beautiful grove of great oaks stands this stately old mansion. It was erected only a few years before the breaking out of the war by John D. Carey, one of the prominent and influential citizens of the day, and for these many years has been the object of admiration of all who has ever beheld it. It is one of the most picturesque spots to be found in all the country. The house has wide verandas and spacious halls and rooms, and has been the scene of many a social function at which very many who have now passed the meridian of life were honored guests. At the south end of the building is a large chimney which was plastered and kalsomined when built. On this smooth white surface is registered the names of those who composed the Conecuh Guards when they started out on their journey for Virginia. The names were written with lead pencil, and have withstood the cold and dampness of more than fifty years and are today almost as legible as they were the day they were placed there. They have not been defaced or mutilated in any manner although children have been on the premises much of the time. We are told that a few years ago a family from north of the line that separates the North from the South lived at this place a few years ago, and he respected those whose memory is here perpetuated sufficiently not to permit the names to be defaced, and every family who has occupied the home has protected it as a sacred memory. These brave, chivalrous boys, doubtless with light hearts, little thought of the hardships and privations they would soon be called upon to endure. Many of them perhaps were fearful that the war would end before they reached "the front." On that memorable April day when they were even ready to start on the march for Virginia the wives, children, mothers, fathers, and sweethearts gathered to bed many of them a last farewell, giving them a last fond embrace, planting a kiss moistened with tears on their checks, their ardor even then was probably not dampened. They went with a cheerful determination. But after four years of struggles, hardships, privatlens, separations from home and loved ones and all that was sweet to contemplate around the fireside and in the home life, the little remnant spared from shot and shell and the ravages of disease brought on by exposure, once more return to their homes to find everything except perhaps here and there an unbroken family or a mother or father or sweetheart spared to them as their richest possession. Only a few whose names are inscribed on this historic chimney were permitted to return to their loved ones; and when the great struggle was over perhaps the same hand that inscribed the names on this tablet, penned these sad lines beside them for future generations to read and ponder and profit by. There is a tone of sorrow, sadness, and regret in them that the writer must have keenly felt when he wrote them. Here they are: "May 1, 1865. All but few of those here registered have been slain in battle or died of disease. The war is ended and the world is now no better than before. If these penciled lines should outlive the one who traces them, let those who read them know that my advice is go not to war until the burdens of Government or grievances complained of become of a certainty greater than the evil of war and blood-----J.D.C." It would be fitting and appropriate that a reunion for the survivors who formed this company be held in the grove at the Heaton home to celebrate the fifty-second anniversary of the organization of this noted company with appropriate ceremonies. The Courant suggests that such a celebration he head at an early date, say about the first of April next. We are sure Mr. Heaton would gladly tender the use of his premised for this purpose.