CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: J. A. TEMPLETON - Smith County, TX

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Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
20 August 2001
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson

J. A. TEMPLETON.

John Allen Templeton of Jack­sonville, Texas, a veteran of Ector's 
Brigade of the Army of Tennessee.  Born  in  Benton County Ark., Dec., 
15, 1844. His father's family moved to Texas in June 1846, and settled 
in Cherokee County near what became the site of Jacksonville in 1848.  
Comrade Templeton was reared upon the farm until the beginning of the 
war be­tween the States. Enlisted as a private in Capt. R. B. Martin's
ompany, "The Cherokee Cavalry," in September 1861, which was designated 
as company "I" 10th Texas Cavalry, C.S.A., Col. M. F. Locke commanding.  
Saw service specially in Northeast Arkansas until March 1862 when the 
regiment was dismounted and crossed the Mississippi river with the 
armies of Generals Price and Van Dorn.  Reached Corinth, Miss., in 
April 1862. Participated in the battle of Farmington and other army 
movements around Corinth until the evacuation by Gen. Beauregard May 29,
1862. Army fell back to Tupelo, the new base of operations, as 
transferred to the department of East Tennessee at Chattanooga; was 
with Gen. E. Kirby Smith in the famous campaign in Kentucky in the 
Fall of 1862.  Participated in the various battles and skirmishes, 
including the battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8,1862. Was with 
Douglas' Texas Battery as a detail during the battle of Murfresboro, 
Tenn. Later in the campaign around Vicksburg, Big Black and Jackson
Miss., under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston in June and July 1863. Thence 
with the re-inforcements to Gen. Bragg Chattanooga, Tenn. Was captured 
at the battle of Chicka­auga, Ga., with four other members of company I, 
10th Texas, John H. Burk, C. C. Odom, Geo. Egbert and Moses ralters.  
Taken North to prison, was in the Zollicoffer house disaster at 
Nashville about the first of October 1863, which about fourteen 
prisoners lost their lives outright, and near one hundred wounded. 
Reached Camp Douglas, Ill., October 4, 1863, and endured the hardships 
of prison life in Camp Douglas nineteen months until the 4th of May 
1865, when bidding prison farewell, was exchanged at the mouth of Red 
River May 26, 1865, the last personal exchange between the U. S. and 
Confederate States.  Reached home June 5,1865.

Comrade Templeton married Miss Adelia Fuller, daugh­ter of Dr. J. B. 
Fuller, of Jacksonuille, Texas, January 20, 1876.  He is on the 
staff of Gen. Sid S. Johnson, command­ing the Texas brigade, 
Forrest's Cavalry Corps, U. C. V., with of rank of major, and also 
secretary of Ector's Brigade of 1st Division of Texas U. C. V. 
A gallant Confederate soldier, a leading business man of Texas, he 
has fulfilled the duties of life in all lines.