Montgomery County AlArchives Biographies.....Sanford, John William Augustine November 29, 1825 - August 7, 1913 ************************************************ 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: Ronald Bridges bridgesrd@knology.net March 9, 2008, 12:06 pm Author: W. Brewer, Thomas McAdory Owen, William Garrett " Head Quarters, Montgomery, June 1st, 1836 Gentlemen, Hopothlo Yoholo was here from Saturday evening till Monday forenoon, with twelve of his chiefs. I had several talks with them, and amongst other things, learned from them that a large number of the upper towns are anxious to emigrate, and that many of them would immediately encamp, for that purpose, if they could be supplied with provisions. I am of opinion, this is a most favorable moment to accomplish the business of emmigration. The Indians complain that they are suffering for the means of subsistence. I trust you will make speedy arrangements to supply them. Let me hear from you in reply, at an early moment. Very respectfully Messrs J. W. A. Sanford & Co. Your obt. svt. Tuskegee C. C. Clay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Source: Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery, Alabama. Governor C.C. Clay administrative records, SG6239 folder 6" "John William Augustus Sanford has resided in Montgomery since 1852. Born at Milledgeville, Georgia, about the year 1830, he is the son of Gen. John W. A. Sanford of that State. He was graduated at Oglethorpe University, took his law course at Harvard College, and was admitted to the bar in 1851. He at once came to this State, and located in Montgomery. He was an elector for Buchanan in 1856, and entered the military service as a private in the Third Alabama in 1861. He soon became quartermaster of it, and in 1862 was chosen lieutenant colonel of the third battalion of Hilliards's Legion. He served in Tennessee, and fought at Chicamauga. When the legion was divided into regiments, he became colonel of the Sixtieth Alabama. He led the regiment at Beane's Station, Drury's Bluff, White Oak, Hatcher's Run, &c., and surrendered it at Appomattox. In 1865 he was elected attorney general of the State for four years, but was expelled from office by the act of congress in 1868. In 1870 he as again elected, and now holds the position. Col. Sanford is handsome in person, with courtly manners, and easy address. He scholarly in his attainments, graceful as a speaker, and is a gentlemen without reproach, as he was a soldier without fear. He married a daughter of Col. Wm. H. Taylor of this county." (1) (1) Alabama: Her History, Resources, War Records, and Public Men: From 1540 to 1872. By W. Brewer in 1872. Page 473. John William Augustine Sanford Attorney General: 1865-1868, 1870-1872, 1874-1878 Sanford, John William Augustine, colonel 60th Alabama infantry regiment, C.S. Army, attorney general of Alabama, lawyer, clerk of State supreme court, was born November 3, 1825, in Milledgeville, Ga., and died August 7, 1913, in Montgomery; son of John William Augustine and Marianne Ridley (Blount) Sanford, of Milledgeville, Ga., the former was born about 1798 in Hancock County, where he received his early education, afterwards completed a course of instruction in Yale college, was aide-de-camp to General Floyd in the celebrated controversy between that officer and President Adams in 1827, in 1832 was elected major-general by the legislature of Georgia, and as such commanded the Georgia troops in the Creek War of 1836, prior to this war had been elected a member of the Federal congress but resigned without taking his seat, at the earnest request of President Andrew Jackson, in order that he might serve the government as certifying agent of the sale of the Creek lands, was afterwards secretary of state of Georgia, in 1861 was the commissioner of Georgia to Alabama and Texas, at the commencement of the war resigned his office of major-general, volunteered as a private in the "Baldwin Blues" which formed a part of the 4th Georgia infantry regiment, and went with that organization to Virginia, was offered the command of the post of honor, but as he was well known to many of the officers of the regiment at Norfolk he was made aide-de-camp to Major-General Huger; grandson of captain Jesse and Martha Goodwyn (Mitchell) Sanford, the former a civil engineer by profession, and an officer in the Revolutionary Army under Washington. After the revolution he emigrated with his family to Hancock County, Ga., and of Col. Richard Augustus Blount of Southampton, Va.; great-grandson of William and Rachel (Medford) Sanford, of Loudoun County, Virginia. John William Augustine Sanford, jr. received his early education in the schools of Milledgeville and in Midway, near that city. He then attended Oglethorpe university, from which he was graduated November 13, 1844, with the degree of B. A. In July 1851, he was graduated from Harvard university with the degree of B. L. and in July, 1878, received from the University of Alabama, the degree of LL.D. He was admitted to the bar, October 19, 1852, and located, for the practice of his profession in Montgomery, which was thenceforth his home. He built up a lucrative practice in Montgomery and in the adjoining counties, in the Federal courts and in the supreme court of Alabama. In 1856 he was an elector on the Buchanan and Breckenridge ticket and as such he thoroughly canvassed the third congressional ticket. A States Rights Democrat of the strictest sect, four years later, he used every exertion to secure the election of Breckenridge and Lane and on the election of Mr. Lincoln he advocated secession as the only resort left to Alabama to protect her rights. He was elected attorney general of the state in November, 1865. In 1868 he and others were displaced by General Meade, the commander of the military district, to make room for others under the reconstruction government established by Congress. Upon his removal, General Sanford wrote a letter to General Meade, asserting the right of Alabama to establish a government for herself, commenting on the iniquity of the reconstruction laws, and protesting against the tyranny and usurpation of the Federal authorities. This letter was widely published and everywhere met the approval of the people with the result that in 1870, he was renominated for attorney general and in the following November was elected by a large popular vote. He was re-elected in 1874 and again in 1876, but in 1878 he declined another nomination. December 1, 1880, he was tendered the clerkship of the supreme court, which he accepted and held until his resignation, November 5, 1892. In 1896 he was elector for the State at large on the Bryan and Sewell ticket, and on April 23, 1901, was elected delegate from Montgomery County to the constitutional convention. This was his last public service extending over a period of near fifty years. On April 2, 1861, he joined as a private, Co. F, 3rd Alabama infantry regiment, but was soon promoted to assistant quartermaster with the rank of captain on the staff of Col. J. M. Withers and later on the staff of Col. Tennant Lomax of the same regiment. He served in this capacity until March, 1862, when he was authorized by the secretary of war to return to Alabama and raise a regiment. He was elected lieutenant colonel of the 3rd battalion, Hilliard's Legion, on June 25, 1862, and on November 25, 1863 was promoted colonel of the 60th Alabama infantry regiment, which formed a part of Gracie's brigade. He served through the East Tennessee campaign,and was with the brigade in the engagements around Richmond and Drury's Bluff and in all the engagements prior to the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. He was an Episcopalian. Author: compiled the code of the city of Montgomery in 1860, 1861, and reported the 59th volume of the sessions of the supreme court of Alabama in 1879 and left numerous manuscripts of addresses before colleges, academies, and Confederate camps, all of high literary merit, and well worthy of publication. Married: March 7, 1860, in Montgomery to Sallie Maria, daughter of Col. William H. Taylor. Children: 1. John W. A. Sanford, III, who married Minnie Smoot, of Mobile, and died, leaving a family of several children. Last residence: Montgomery. From: Thomas McAdory Owen. History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. (Spartanburg: The Reprint Company Publishers, 1978, reprint 1921), iv, 1500- 1501. The attorney general acknowledged this designer's intent, although not attributing the design to Oates. The opinion says that "Representative John W. A. Sanford, Jr., the sponsor of the bill served in the 60th Alabama Infantry Regiment in the Civil War and modeled the flag after the Regiment's battle flag." But if I understand the reasoning, and I think I do, the Attorney General held that because any intention to have a square flag was not enacted into law, it was irrelevant to a determination of the proper shape of the actual state flag, which was fixed in practice as oblong within a year of the enactment. Joe McMillan, 8 November 2001. Note: the present Alabama State Flag was adopted on 1895. February 16, 1895: Alabama formally adopts a state flag for the first time. The legislature dictated "a crimson cross of St. Andrew upon a field of white," which was the design submitted by John W. A. Sanford, Jr., who also sponsored the bill. This flag remains Alabama's flag today. " John William Augustine Sanford, the present Attorney-General of Alabama, is a native of Georgia. He was educated at Oglethorpe University, where he received a diploma of graduation, and subsequently entered Dane Law College of Harvard University, at Cambridge, Massachusetts. After completing his course of study at this institution, he came to Montgomery, Alabama, where he read law in the office of Nathan Harris, Esq., and in due time was admitted to the bar. He has since continued to reside in that city, engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1866, Mr. Sanford was an Elector on the Buchanan and Breckinridge ticket, and thoroughly canvassed the Third Congressional District. In 1860, he married Miss Sallie M. Taylor, the youngest of Co. William H. Taylor, of Montgomery. Being a Democrat of the State Rights school, Mr. Sanford made every exertion to secure the election of Breckinridge and Lane in 1860. And after the election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency, advocated the secession of Alabama as the most effective mode of protecting her people, and vindicating her rights. At the commencement of the war, in April, 1861, he volunteered in the Third Alabama Regiment, the first that left the State to form the Northern Army of Virginia. He was appointed Quartermaster of the regiment of Col. Lomax, and served in the capacity until the Winter of 1862, when he resigned, and returned to Alabama., where he succeeded in raising a regiment, under authority of the Secretary of War. He was chosen Lieutenant-Colonel of the Third Battalion of Hilliard's Legion. Subsequently, these battalions were formed into a brigade, commanded by Gen. Gracie. Col. Sanford participated in the battles; and when the legion was consolidated into regiments, he was promoted to the command of the Sixtieth Alabama Regiment. He served through the campaign of East-Tennessee, and, being ordered to Virginia, he was in the engagements around Richmond and Petersburg, and Drury's Bluff, and shared in the battles preceding the surrender of Gen. Lee at Appomattox, April 9, 1865. Returning to the home in Alabama, Col. Sanford resumed the practice of his profession; and in November, 1865, was elected Attorney-General. In July, 1868, he and others were displaced by Gen. Meade, the District Commander, to make room for officers under the Government established by Congress for Alabama. Union his expulsion, he addressed a letter to Gen. Meade, asserting the right of Alabama to establish a Government for herself - commenting on the iniquity of the Reconstruction laws, and protesting against the tyranny and usurpation of the Federal authorities. This letter was generally published, and met the approbation of the our people, so far as public opinion could be inferred by his nomination in September, 1870, by a large State Convention, and by his election by a large popular vote in November in that year. Such is the honorable record of the distinguished Attorney-General of Alabama. Amid the great rush on the public treasury for high salaries, and still increasing compensation, which of late years has been made by office-seekers and office-holders, without regard to any fixed principles in the contract, it is refreshing to witness an honorable exception, as in the following letter: State of Alabama, Office of Attorney-General} Montgomery, February 16, 1872} Hon. Jon P. Hubbard, Speaker of the House of Representatives: SIR - During its last session the General Assembly appropriated twenty- eight hundred dollars to pay the salary of the Attorney-General. This action was induced by its knowledge and jus appreciation of the labors, the duties and responsibility that devolve on that officer; and also, by the desire that the compensation of the subordinate officials of the Executive Department of the State should approach equality. This sum was allowed for the services of the late Attorney-General, for the fiscal years ending, respectively, on the 30th of September, 1869, and on the 30th day of September, 1870, and was paid to him. The present Constitution of the State went into operation on the 13th day of July, 1868. It provides that the salaries of certain officers "shall neither be increased nor diminished during the period for which they shall have been elected." Among them is the Attorney-General. His salary was fixed by section 109 of the Revised Code, at the sum of two thousand dollars. This section has not been amended. An as the salary of the Attorney-General could not be increased, under the Constitution by the mere act of appropriation, approved since my induction into office, I have declined to receive the additional eight hundred dollars. As the House of Representatives is about to consider the "bill of appropriations for the fiscal year ending on the 30th September, 1872," I deem it proper to make this statement. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN W. A. SANFORD" (1) (1) Reminiscences of Public Men in Alabama, For Thirty Year, with An Appendix, by William Garrett, Late Secretary of State. (Atlanta, Georgia: Plantation Publishing Company Press, 1872. Pages 726-729. "Last Name: Sanford First Name: Jno MI: Wm. Augustine (One record has Augustus) Date of Birth: 1830 Birth Information: GA. Date of Death: None Provided Death Information: None Provided Discharge Date: None Provided Discharge Information: None Provided Branch: Infantry Regimental Unit: 3rd Alabama Regiment. 60th Alabama Regiment. Company Unit: Metropolitan Guards as a private for one day 27 Arp 1861. Company F Co. Unit Name: Metropolitan Guards - Capt. F. W. Hunter Pension Rec: Authority: Original muster, Montgomery, Jul 1862. Historical record Field and Staff, 60th AL Infantry Regiment. Sketch of, In Brewer's Alabama (1872), p. 473. Compiled roll by Thomas Caffey, Verbena, AL, 30 Mar 1903. Personal statement, Census Tax Assessor, Montgomery Co., AL 1907. Marital Status: Married Occupation: Lawyer Enlistment Date: 25 Jun 1862. Enlistment Information: Private Promoted To Colonel, 60th Alabama Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel. Colonel. Engagements: Present: Battle of Chickamauga, 20 Sep 1863; Knoxville, 29 Nov 1863; Beaus Station, 14 Dec 1863; Drewrys Bluff, 9-10 May 1864; Richmond, 12 May 1864; Drewrys Bluff, 16 May 1864; Trenchs before Petersburgh. Remarks: Lawyer at Montgomery, AL. Continued until 12 Mary 1862; came home to assist in the organizing of Hilliard's Legion. Elected Lt. Colonel, 3rd Batn. Hilliards Legion, 25 Jun 1862; promoted to Colonel, 60th AL Inf. Regt. at Charleston, TN, 25 Nov 1863. Lieutenant Colonel, 3rd Battalion Infantry, Hilliard's Alabama Legion. 60th Alabama Infantry formed from 10 cos. of 1st and 3rd Infantry Battalions, Hilliard's Legion. Continued until 24 Nov 1863; was Colonel of the 60th AL Inf. Gracies Brigade; surrendered at Appomattox Court House, 9 Apr 1865. " (1) (1) Alabama Civil War Service Cards File located in Alabama Department of Archives and History. Researched by Ron Bridges on 7 Mar 2008. 60th Alabama Infantry Regiment The 60th Alabama Regiment was formed by consolidating four companies of the First Battalion of Hilliard's Legion with six companies of the Third Battalion. The First Battalion, seven companies, went out with Jack Thorington of Montgomery as lieutenant colonel, and John H. Holt of Montgomery as major [Thorington succeeded Hilliard as colonel of the Legion, and Holt was thereupon promoted, but he was killed at Chickamauga]; and the Third Battalion, six companies, went out with John W. A. Sanford of Montgomery as lieutenant colonel, and Hatch Cook of Georgia as major. The operations of the Hilliard Legion are given in the memoranda of the 59th Alabama. At Chickamauga, the First Battalion lost 168 killed and wounded of 230 engaged, and the Third Battalion lost 50 killed and wounded of 219 engaged. Organized at Charleston, Tennessee, 25 November 1863, the 60th passed through the winter campaign in East Tennessee. In the spring, it reached Richmond and lost heavily at Drewry's Bluff, where the regiment was complimented on the field by Gen'l Archibald Gracie, as the Third Battalion had been at Chickamauga by Gen'l William Preston of Kentucky. The regiment was in the trenches at Petersburg for eight months, and lost continually by the almost incessant shelling. At White Oak Road and Hatcher's Run, the 60th was fully engaged with many casualties. At Appomattox, the regiment had captured a Union battery when word of the surrender came to them. Their number at that time was 14 officers and 170 men. Field and Staff Officers: Col. John William Augustine Sanford (Montgomery); Lt. Col. Daniel Shipman Troy (Montgomery; wounded, Drewry's Bluff, Hatcher's Run (where captured)); Major Hatch Cook (Georgia; KIA, White Oak Road); and Adjutant James N. Gilmer (Montgomery) Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/montgomery/photos/bios/sanford764gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/montgomery/bios/sanford764gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 19.1 Kb