B. F. Weathers Commands Fourth Alabama Brigade, UCV, Randolph, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/newspapers/bfw4albde.txt ============================================= USGENWEB PROJECT 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 for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Project Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file is copyrighted and contributed by: William Fischer, Jr. ============================================= July 2002 GENERAL B. F. WEATHERS IS CHOSEN COMMANDER FOURTH [ALABAMA] BRIGADE U.C.V. ------------------------------ The citizens of Roanoke and Randolph county, and especially the members of Camp Aiken-Smith, No. 293, U.C.V., feel highly honored in the election of Col. Benjamin Franklin WEATHERS, of Roanoke, at the State Reunion in Montgomery Nov. 7th and 8th, as commander of the Fourth Brigade, Alabama Division, U.C.V., with the rank of Brigadier General. All who know this modest old hero of kindly mien and military bearing, realize that the honor has been well bestowed. This distinguished gentleman began his career in Fayetteville, Ga., Nov. 8, 1839. When a small child his parents moved to Randolph county, Ala., and the years of his life since then, except during the period of the Civil War, have been spent in and near Roanoke. He was the oldest of twelve children, all but one of whom are now living. Of the nine brothers in this family, the five oldest saw service in the Confederate army, yet none were wounded, and all are still alive. They come of an ancestry that fought in the Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Indian Wars. The record of this family in peace has been no less honorable than in war. B. F. WEATHERS left school in Roanoke Sept. 9, 1861, and enlisted in Company E, 17th Alabama, as first lieutenant. As the company was on the eve of marching off to war, a niece of the Captain, in the person of Miss [Mary Francis “Fannie”] WHITE, now Mrs. W. H. POOL, presented the company, through Mrs. John A. MOORE, the wife of the village school teacher, a large cake which she had baked. The presentation was made from the steps of the old MANLEY store building, which is still standing as a solitary landmark of those martial days. It fell to the lot of Lieutenant WEATHERS to respond to the speech of presentation. At the battle of Shiloh Company E went into the charge which resulted in the capture of the famous “Hornets’ Nest” (Gen. [B. M.] PRENTISS’ Brigade) with 47 men. At the close of the engagement only Lieutenant WEATHERS and seven of his comrades reported unharmed. Gen. [Braxton] BRAGG then promoted the young lieutenant to the rank of Captain, “for gallantry,” as the commission stated. However, the command of the entire regiment fell upon Captain WEATHERS after this sanguinary struggle until a regular commander was named. Captain Peter MASTIN, of Montgomery, was associated with Captain WEATHERS as second in command. At the bloody battle of Franklin, on the 30th of November, 1864, Captain WEATHERS was in the first line of battle that charged the breastworks in front of his company, and when he reached the top he found himself alone, all his comrades having fallen in the attempt to take the stronghold. He was ordered by the Yankees, with an oath, to surrender and jump inside at once, but before complying he unbuckled his sword and flung it and his payroll as far as he could towards his own ranks. The charging was continued for hours with great slaughter before the position was taken. The daring captive was taken to Johnson’s Island [in Lake Erie, off the coast of Ohio], where he was associated with 3100 captured Confederate officers, and he remained till the close of the war. Among his comrades in prison life was Major W. W. SCREWS, of Montgomery. After the surrender Captain WEATHERS engaged in teaching school for a while and afterwards entered the mercantile business. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1875. In June, 1893, he assisted the late Captain W. A. HANDLEY in organizing in Roanoke Camp Aiken-Smith, No. 293, U.C.V., which has the distinction of being the largest camp in the state. Captain WEATHERS was elected at that time first lieutenant commander of this camp and served in this capacity until he was elected commander to succeed the lamented Captain HANDLEY after the latter’s death four years ago, and which position the former still holds. The members of this camp, tho’ the strongest in the state, have never sought for honors at the hands of their comrades, and it is all the more gratifying, therefore, that the election of General WEATHERS to the command of the Fourth Brigade should be made unanimously and voluntarily upon the part of his comrades of the brigade, which includes such prominent camps as those in Birmingham, Bessemer, Gadsden, Anniston, Jacksonville, Talladega and others. In retiring from the command after two years of service Gen. OXFORD, of Birmingham, very graciously recommended Col. WEATHERS as his successor. He will most worthily wear the “wreath and stars.” The new commanding general will announce his staff in due time. He himself is a member of Gen. HARRISON’s staff with the rank of Colonel. [From The Roanoke Leader (Randolph County, Alabama), 15 Nov 1911, p.1] ---------- Benjamin Franklin WEATHERS, 8 Nov 1839--18 Mar 1932, Interred in Cedarwood Cemetery, Roanoke, Randolph Co., Alabama.