Tallapoosa-Chambers County AlArchives Biographies.....Simmons, Henry 1839 - July 3, 1863
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
John Simmons http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007486 June 12, 2019, 6:30 am

Source: Personal research of author
Author: John Eady Simmons Jr.

Henry was born about 1839 in Harris County, Georgia, His parents were John 
W. Simmons and Lorena Weldon. His family lived in the northwest corner of 
the county in Georgia Militia District 781 near West Point, Georgia, His 
family relocated about 1842 across the Chattahoochee River to Chambers 
County, Alabama. The land that his father had purchased was near the present 
day county line in Lee County, Alabama. Henry grew up on the farm with his 
family. His father moved the family in 1856 to Tallapoosa County, Alabama. 
In 1860 he was living on the farm with his parents and 11 siblings. War came 
to the south and to Alabama in 1861. On the 7th of April Henry and his 
brother Allen enlisted in Company B of the 47th Alabama Infantry at 
Loachapoka, Alabama. He and his brother both were enlisted as privates.
 Henry was planning for a future and a family. He was married in Tallapoosa 
County on the 29th of September of 1861 to W.A. Finch.
The 47th Alabama was sent to Virginia and were engaged at Cedar Run on 
August 9th 1862. Henry, Allen and their comrades in arms were overwhelmed in 
their first battle encounter. They rallied and returned to the front line 
and exchanged fire with the enemy. The 47th became part of what was known as 
Stonewall Jackson's foot cavalry. The regiment fought at Groveton on August 
28th and experienced terrible close quarters fighting on the 29th and 30th. 
Henry was sick in hospital beginning the end of August. He was promoted by 
election to 2nd Jr Lt on September 2nd of 1862. The 47th continued on and 
fought along the Hagerstown Road at Sharpsburg on the 17th of September. 
When a muster was held the next day there were only twelve privates. Henry 
remained sick in hospital until mid December of 1862. He was back with his 
command in January of 1863.

Henry's regiment was part of Evander Law's Brigade of Hood's Division. They 
were involved in the assault on a hill referred to as Sugar Loaf Mountain. 
This hill would be later known as Little Round Top. He was near the boulders 
of Devil's Den early in the morning on the field of Gettysburg when he was 
killed by a sharpshooter on the 3rd of July. He never saw his parents, his 
siblings, or his wife again, His death and his valor were reported in the 
Montgomery Mail Advertiser in July of 1863, It is unknown where his remains 
were buried. He served the Confederacy and his home of Alabama till the end.

Additional Comments:
Research now indicates that he unlike many other Confederate soldiers at 
Gettysburg may have been buried there near the place of battle. 

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/tallapoosa/bios/simmons1111gbs.txt

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