Georgia: Coweta County: Biography of CAPT. THOS. LEIGH ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT 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 Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Nel Rocklein TAROCKLEIN@aol.com ==================================================================== CAPT. THOS. LEIGH is the son of Anselm B. and Eleanor (Drane) Leigh, and was born in Wilkes county, Ga., on May 15, 1832. His father was a son of Anselm Leigh, who came from Maryland to Georgia some time in 1700. Mrs. Leigh, a daughter of Col. Wm. and Cassandra (Magruder) Drane, was born in Columbia county, Ga. Mr. Leigh, the father of Thomas Leigh, was born in Georgia in 1794, and served in the war of 1812, slipping off with his brother Thomas, who was killed by the Indians and his head placed upon a pole, which the Indians placed in the ground as a warning to others. On Feb. 14, 1861, he married Mary Brewster, daughter of James and Jeannett (Ferguson) Brewster, both natives of South Carolina. To them six children were born, only three of whom are living: Walter, James, and Bessie. Mrs. Leigh was born and reared in Campbell county, Ga. March 11, 1862, Mr. Leigh enlisted in Company D, Forty-first Georgia regiment, under Capt. J. W. Powell, who upon resigning in June was succeeded by Mr. Leigh. He was with Gen. Joe Johnston at Bentonville and Kingston, in North Carolina, and on March 19 was shot through the right shoulder, fracturing the collar bone. He was engaged in some of the hardest conflicts of the war: Perryville, Atlanta, Baker's creek, siege of Vicksburg, Missionary ridge, Resaca, Jonesboro, Palmetto, and Nashville. He was with and in command of his company in all its engagements, and is known by all the old soldiers as being the captain who never said "Go, boys," but is was always "Come, boys." During the war he lost all he had except one horse and some land, with which he commenced again and is now quite well-to-do. He has been engaged several years in the sawmill, shingle-making and cotton-gin business. Both Mr. and Mrs. Leigh are members of the M. E. church. His occupation now is farming. Transcribed from MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA published by the Southern Historical Association, 1895.