Stories of Confederate States of America Veterans Submitted by Frann S. Clark ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** STORIES OF CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA VETERANS Stories of veterans from Beauregard and Vernon Parishes, Louisiana Submitted to the archives by Frann S. Clark Information obtained by General Polk Chapter #2252 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Excellent web site for information about Confederate Veterans in Southwest La is www.confederateveterans.com The above listed web site is maintained by the Emma Sansom Chapter of the Order of the Confederate Rose and Jesse M Cooper Camp #1665 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Introduction This site is being established to provide stories about Confederate Veterans from Beauregard and Vernon Parishes, Louisiana. The stories are submitted by family members and friends. If you have a story you would like to share, please e-mail it to frannc@beci.net BEAUREGARD-VERNON CONFEDERATE STORIES Kim Stracener Zapalac provided the following story from the Pension Files--Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge. SPENCER A. PERKINS Company Muster Rolls show that he was Private in Company K, 18th Louisiana Infantry. He joined for duty and enrolled October 25, 1862, at Camp Pratt for Col. Burk. He was last paid by Capt. Grissmore. This was noted June 30, 1863. There is another record dated Jan. & Feb. 1863 before this one and basically noted the same information. Remarks on both included that he was detailed/detached as a Blacksmith at the Foundry at Franklin since Nov 1, 1862. Family tradition says he was a blacksmith, crack shooter, scout and horse herder/trader. Second wife, Nancy E. PHILLIPS MARTIN, in her pension application (Nat'l Archives, no. 602181, can no 2380, bundle no. 21)--War Dept. said Spencer A. PERKINS was in Company B, 1st Reg., La. Cavy Scouts. Enrolled April 22, 1864, and "deserted" May 23, 1864, (they note that the charge of desertion had not been removed and there is no application for its removal finding.) He held the rank of Private. Remarks, also, say he was without leave since May 23, 1864, then later it said deserted at N. O. June 24, 1964. (Would make sense if he was a "prisoner of war" or joined another group--see below) This battalion was originally raised in April 1864 as Companies A, B, C, D of the 1st Regt, La Cav Scouts, but they were assigned to 2nd Regt. La Cavy as Companies H, I (corresponds to family tradition and marker), J, K, & L was subsequently formed into a battalion of 4 companies A, B, C, D, and designated 1st Battalion La Cavy Scouts. Nancy only remembered that he was in Co. B, 1st Regt of U. S. C. Inf. Vols (or La. Vols). Nancy said he died March 1864 from "diarrhea," but did not note where he died or was buried. Additional Information found: S. Perkins from Calcasieu Parish, Private, Company G, 2 Reg't Louisiana Cav on the Roll of Prisoners, commanded by Leiut. D. C. Paul, surrendered at New Orleans, La., by General E. K. Smith, CSA to Maj. Gen. E. R. S. Canby, USA, May 26, 1865, and paroled at Alexandria, LA., June 3, 1865. (Note from Kim: Maybe Nancy had the incorrect date of death. She completed wrong side of application. Nancy sent her original marriage certificate. Applied in Louisiana instead of Texas where she lived. Calcasieu Parish Courthouse burned and all records were lost between 1840 and 1910.) Spencer A./S. Perkins is father of John Perkins. Spencer is not actually buried in New Campground Cemetery. The marker was placed there by his descendants in the early 1960s to honor him. Information was from hearsay and not documented. Actual death of death is 1864 according to his 2nd wife's pension application. Unfortunately, she applied to the wrong group (the Federal Government) and not to the State of Texas or Louisiana where she had lived. Family members think he is buried in a "now" unmarked grave in Old Campground Cemetery with his first wife (also unmarked), Esther "Hetty" Sinclair. Kim Stracener Zapalac provided the following story from the Pension Files--Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge. DANIEL ALEXANDER STRACENER During the first part of the war, he was gathered up with many others, pressed into service near Wiseville or Homer, Claiborne Parish, LA, and was taken to Shreveport where he was sworn into regular service. He remained there for some weeks and then was discharged and sent back home. In a short time, he joined a courier company (owned horse as confirmed below) and was put on duty on first post out northwest (5 miles) from Shreveport. He got sick (fever) and was sent home. His parents at the same time were moving to Winn Parish. He joined another volunteer company when he arrived there. This was the 8th Louisiana Cavalry and stayed with them until the end of the war (except for another "sever seige of sickness where he was given up to die by his physicians." Disbanded at Natchitoches and sent home. Got home on May 22, 1865. Was the last private to leave his company. His officers were Capt. Turner (8th Louisiana Regiment), Col. Clark (1st Batt.), and Lt. Col. Favrot. He says the 1st Battalion was consolidated into the 8th Louisiana Regiment. He, also, says he was in the cavalry at the beginning and ended up in the infantry. The War Deparment records showed "D. A. Stracener, private, Company A, State Army of Louisiana, subsequently Company A, Claiborne Regiment, Louisiana Militia, C. S. A. was enlisted June 1, year not stated. On the company roll covering the period from May 1 to June 21, 1863, only roll on file, he is reported present." The records further show that one D. A. Strackner, private, Company I, 8th Louisiana Dismounted Cavalry, C. S. A., surrendered at New Orleans, Louisiana, May 26, 1865, and was paroled at Alexandria, Louisiana, July 1, 1865. R. H. Turner served as captain of Company C and H. M. Favrot as Lt. Col. of the 2nd Batt. Louisiana State Guard Cavalry, C. S. A. The 1st Batt. and 2nd Batt., Louisiana State Guard Cav., were consolidated October 27, 1864, to form the 8th Louisiana Cav., C. S. A. Other comrades he mentions in his application were Henry/Harvy? Turner, James Tolbert?, and his brother Benjamin Stracener. 1910--His first application was sent in. Many years and applications later, he was finally approved.