Chattahoochee-Harris-Stewart County GaArchives Biographies.....Greene, Peter A. 1838 - 1902
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 4, 2004, 11:58 pm

Author: N. K. Rogers
PETER A. GREENE 

Confederate Soldier

    Peter A. Greene, born in Harris County, Georgia, August 8, 1838, moved to
Chattahoochee County, Georgia, when twelve years of age, where he grew to manhood.

    In the fall of 1859 he entered Emory and Henry College, Virginia, choosing
that institution from a sentimental love of his forbears' birth-place. Sussex
County, Virginia, gave to Hancock County, Georgia, a Methodist preacher, poor in
worldly goods but rich in spiritual blessings, Rev. Myles Greene, a descendant
of Henry, Lord Mayor of London in 1258, who was born in Sussex County in 1767.
son of Peter Greene, Sr., who left a large family located in several counties of
Georgia.

    Rev. Myles Greene's grandson, Peter A. Greene, remained at Emory and Henry
College one year; returning home he found his mother fast declining in health,
and in order that he might be near her when the end came, in the fall of 1860,
he entered the East Alabama Male College of the Methodist Church, now Auburn.

    From Auburn, Alabama, Peter A. Greene volunteered for the Confederate Army,
being the second man to do so from his home—Chattahoochee County, Georgia. He
went out with the Loachapoka Alabama Rifles on May 7, 1861, as a private. In
1862, he was transferred and made a non-commissioned officer in. Company G; 31st
Georgia Infantry. He was very soon elected second lieutenant; then promoted to
first lieutenant, and from the early part of 1864 to his surrender on April 7,
1865, commanded his company. His entire service was with the Army of Virginia,
under Jackson, Lee and Gordon—the last mentioned, his personal friend.

    General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia three days after the
capture of the remnant of the 31st Georgia. Lieutenant Peter A. Green was
carried to Washington, confined in Old Capitol Prison, and heard the commotion
incident to President Lincoln's assassination. Looking from the window of the
third story, he saw the ropes with which the mob had prepared to hang the
Confederate prisoners. He watched in the hours of the night an army chaplain
prevail on the mob to desist from carrying out their threats. Thirty-three years
later, by accident, he learned the name of this Baptist minister who had served
with an Ohio Regiment, and wrote to him. Alas! Two days before his letter
reached the little village in that State, his soul has passed on. The good man's
daughter replied that she had often heard her father speak of the incident and
tell how he succeeded in prevailing on the mob to allow the guards to rush the
Confederates into freight cars, for transportation to Johnson's Island Prison,
at Sandusky, Ohio. This chaplain's name was Wharton.

    Lieutenant Greene was wounded twice—in the leg once, but not seriously, the
second time—the side of the neck was taken off just above the ear on the head,
from the effects of which he suffered as long as he lived. He also came near
dying of typhoid fever while in service.

    There was a very patriotic Southerner in Virginia who turned his old mansion
into a home for as many wounded soldiers as could be accommodated, so when Lt.
Greene was seriously wounded a friend carried him there. This old gentleman had
an ox-wagon filled with hay, drawn by four immense oxen to meet the train at a
station not far away. On reaching the home, every room was filled, but, there
was a young lady daughter, who, on seeing him said she would give up her room
and nurse him to health, which she did. This lady, Miss Sallie Wharton, sister
of General Wharton of Virginia, afterwards became the wife of Peter A. Greene.
She, Miss Wharton, had gone, through the lines two or three times for
information for Jackson and Lee, hence had to refugee and came to Opelika,
Alabama, where Lt. Greene married her while on a furlough of a few weeks. He
never saw her again or heard from her while in prison. On reaching home, three
months after the war closed, he found she and his little son had died some weeks
before.

    On April 15, 1866, he married Martha T. Greene, and moved to Stewart County,
Georgia, where he lived two years; he then moved to Russell County, Alabama,
near Seale. Peter Greene was active in church work and all public affairs of his
county. He was Clerk of the Superior Court for about twenty-five years, which
office he held at the time of his death which occurred in Columbus, Georgia.
November 23, 1902. His wife, Martha T. Greene died July 31, 1902.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF CHATTAHOOCHEE COUNTY, GEORGIA
By N. K. Rogers

Dedicated to

KASIHITA CHAPTER U. D. C.

and all worthy descendants of the County's first settlers.

Copyright 1933

by N. K. ROGERS

PRINTED   BY
COLUMBUS  OFFICE  SUPPLY CO. COLUMBUS, GA.




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