Biography of Christopher Pulaski Columbus McKnight (aaa) - Jefferson County OK Submitted by Sherry Bob Merritt 27 Feb 2000 Return to Jefferson County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/jefferson/jefferson.htm ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== Christopher Pusilamus Columbus McKnight GA>Chambers Co. AL>Cass Co. TX>Hunt Co. TX>Waurika, Jefferson Co., OK Christopher Pulaski Columbus McKnight was born the 12th of 13 children on November 25, 1833, in Coweta County, Georgia. He was the son of John and Martha Sims McKnight. The family moved to Chambers County Alabama before1835 where his father farmed and operated a mill and ferry. Columbus, as he was known, married Martha Alsobrook September 9, 1858 in Chambers County He operated a small farm and listed his post office as being Milltown, Alabama. He enlisted May 5, 1862, at Cusseta Alabama in Company H of the 47th Alabama Infantry. Shortly after being mustered in as 1st Sergeant, the unit was assigned to the Third Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia under the command of General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. He witnessed the repulse of Burnside at Fredricksburg and wintered on the Rappahannock. In January 1863, the 47th along with the 4th, 15th, 44th, and 48th were placed in the Alabama Brigade under Brigadier General Evander Law, (Texas) General John Bell Hood's Division, General James Longstreet's Corps. They took part in the devastating fights at Devil's Den and Little Roundtop during the battle of Gettysburg. Two months later the 47th was sent to northern Georgia and Tennessee to join forces with Gen. Braxton Bragg's command of the Western Army. In the spring of 1864, they rejoined the Army of Northern Virginia and took part in the Wilderness Campaign where McKnight was severely wounded May 8. By November 1864, he had returned to his division. In the spring, they took part in the defense of Petersburg and were present at Appomattox when Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865, as part of Perry's Brigade. He would later tell his children that he stood within arms reach of Robert E. Lee as he announced the surrender to his troops. Struggling to survive the privations of war and reconstruction, the McKnight family sought to improve their circumstances by going west. In the late fall of 1870, they traveled by covered wagon to Queen City, in Cass County, Texas. Settling there, they purchased some land and built a one-room log house. Columbus farmed and acted as Justice of the Peace for many years. Tragedy struck again in the summer of 1876 when his wife, Martha, fell ill. On August 3, after begging Columbus to keep the family together, she died. She was buried in the Courtland Cemetery. Her grave is marked with a simple fieldstone faintly engraved with the letters M.M. Two children, Martha Elizabeth and William Henry, followed her in death and are buried nearby in unmarked graves. By 1899, Columbus resided in Collin County, Texas where he received his Confederate Pension. He was disabled and unable to support himself. In 1902, he moved with his son, John Wesley Lafayette "Bud" McKnight, to the Waurika, Oklahoma area. He departed this life on January 1, 1904 and was laid to rest in the Sugden Cemetery. For more information about the McKnight family contact Sherry Bob Merritt -------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Jefferson County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/jefferson/jefferson.htm