WASHINGTON COUNTY, GA -Obit  Capt Benjamin Sessions Boatright

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CAPT. BENJAMIN SESSIONS BOATRIGHT 

Seldom have I ever felt so called upon to pay a tribute to a
loved and honored comrade as had come to me by the death of
Capt. B. S. Boatright, who died on December 20, 1920, at his
home in Tennille, Washington County, Ga., at the age of
seventy-eight years. He was the eldest son of George E. and
Elizabeth Sessions Boatright, born on July 20, 1842.  He
joined the Baptist Church in September, 1859, and lived a
consistent member all his life. His ideals of citizenship
were of the highest order: he was generous to a fault and
always looked on the bright side of life. 

When the tocsin of war sounded in 1861, he volunteered his
service as a private in Company E, 1st Georgia Regiment,
which was mustered into the Confederate army on March 18,
1861, for twelve months. The regiment was sent to Virginia
and stationed at Greenbriar, now West Virginia, under
General Garnett until its time expired. In May, 1862, six
companies of the old regiment met in Savannah, Ga., and the
12th Georgia Battalion was organized, and Comrade Boatright
was elected sergeant in Company B. He was elected lieutenant
in March, 1863, and captain in November, 1864. 

He was wounded in the battle of Hatcher’s Run in February,
1865, and sent to Camp Winder Hospital, at Richmond, Va.,
where he remained until June, 1865, when he was paroled and
sent home. Captain Boatright chose farming as his calling in
life and made a success of it. He was married to Miss
Malissa Veal in November, 1866. To them were born two sons
and seven daughters, who, with his wife, are left to mourn
their loss. 

In 1875 Comrade Boatright was elected captain of the
Governor’s Horse Guards and commissioned by Gov. James  M.
Smith. When Camp Graybill no. 1534, U. C. V., was organized
he was elected Commander, which office he held until his
death. 

A braver soldier never went to the firing line. 

[M. G. Murchison, Adjutant of Camp Graybill, U. C. V.] 
Confederate Veteran,
Vol. XXIX,  pg 186.

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His record, as given in “The Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia” 
gives a slightly different, but no less distinguished  record: 

Co,E, 1st Georgia Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry (Ramsey’s) CSA; 
“Washington Rifles”; Private, Mar. 18, 1861. Mustered out at Augusta, 
Ga., March 18, 1862. Appointed 3rd Sergeant of  2nd Co. C, 12th Battn. 
Ga. Ligt Artillery, may 1, 1862, Transferred to 3rd Company E, Dec. 28, 
1862. Elected Jr. 2nd Lieutenant; Lieutenant commanding 3rd Company B, 
in 1864. Wounded Nov. 1864; at Hatcher’s Run, Va. Feb. 7, 1865. Captured 
in Jackson Hospital at Richmond, Va. Apr. 3, 1865 and escaped therefrom 
Apr. 25, 1865.