Military Records: W. P. Odom, 1926, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: April 8, 1926 Winn Parish Enterprise

Confederate Veteran Fired First Shot In Battle 64 Years Ago Today

From Tuesday's Daily Town Talk the following interesting writeup of Mr. W. P.
Odom appeared.  Mr. Odom for a number of years was a resident of Winnfield and
Adjutant of David Pierson Camp, United Confederate Veterans of Winnfield:

"Today is the anniversary of the battle of Shiloh, which occurred on April 6
and 7, 1862.  The editor of the Daily Town Talk had the pleasure of grasping
the hand today of one of the Confederate veterans who fired his first shot in
defense of his country in that battle.  He is Mr. W. P. Odom, who resides at
1706 Front Street, this city, and who is 82 years old.  Mr. Odom looks like a
man in his sixties, he is so well preserved.  He has never used eye glasses
and reads the smallest print with the greatest ease.  He is double blessed in
having his life's consort still with him.  He was married on December 10, 1863
to Miss Bellmira E. Jones who is now 80 years of age.  He said in a little
aside to the editor that his wife has been using eye glasses for forty years. 
They are the parents of seven children, three of whom are living.  They reside
with their son, Mr. J. P. Odom and family at 1706 Front Street.  Mr. Odom
showed the editor his marriage license which was issued in 1863 and which
though worn, is legible.  He also brought with him to the Town Talk office his
cartridge box, a leather concern in which a tin receptacle held the
cartridges.  He also had a worn leather pocket book with $25 in Confederate
money which was paid him for service when he left the army at the close of the
war.  He also had with this money one of the famous "shin plasters,' as the
fifty cent bill was termed.

"Mr. Odom was captured at the siege of Vicksburg and held a prisoner for
twelve months, finally being exchanged and given his liberty in Pineville, La.
He is a native of Louisiana, being the son of John Odom of Union Parish.  He
has lived here for the past four years.  He received his discharge from the
Confederate army at Mansfield in 1865.  He wears his bronze Confederate medal
in a prominent place on his lapel.

"Mr. Odom showed an old daguerreotype which was taken in May, 1861 and which
shows him and two of his brothers and their lieutenants.  He was 17 years old
when the picture was taken.

"Mr. Odom had with him three interesting old parchment land grants dated July
5, 1849, in which were recorded the sale of lands to his father, John Odom of
Union Parish, Louisiana.  One of the deeds was for 319 acres of land in east
half, section 22, township 22, north or range west.  The deeds were signed by
Zachary Taylor, President of the United States in 1849.