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“On
August 31, 1861, about 31 men left Madison under the command
of J.R. Chowning and J.W. Atterbury. Marching to Middle
Grove, they joined the forces of the Confederacy under Capt.
Frank Davis. Their first actual encounter was at Boonville,
where they had a skirmish with the Union forces. They were
unsuccessful in capturing the position, but they secured the
release of about ten prisoners. J.W. Atterbury Sr. received
a wound in his ankle, having to return to his home.
The
other men proceeded to Lexington, where they fought their
second encounter. They joined a battery under the command of
Capt. Tull, in Springfield, and consolidated with Bledsoe at
Mobile, Ala. For the remainder of the time, the battery was
in the South. The cannon used by Bledsoe’s battery was
called “Old Sacramento.” There was a battle at Paris.
The old Glenn Hotel shows the marks of that battle today.
Some
of the men from this section who served in this famous old
battery were: J.S. Dunaway, Jack Overfelt, J.R. Chowning,
Bill Edwards, Nick and Les Farrell, Joespeh Hersman, Henry
Wade, C.A. Overfelt, D.T.C. Mitchell, J.W. Atterbury, Wes
McKinney, Jim Elsbery, Ed Lynch, Sam Houchins, C.L. Enochs
and G.E. Glenn and Tom Meals.
As the following men: Joe Boulware, Will Klugh, Simp Dry,
Neut Turner, Curt Mitchell, Charles McKinney, Elsea Dry, Bas
Botkins, Adolphus Elsberry, and Henry Clay Bryant were
returning home, four of their comrades were drowned when
“Old Kentucky” their boat, sank on Red River, Louisiana,
(June) 9, 1865. The four were: Mac Wilson, William Baker,
Ben Houchins, who was the father of Frank, Benney, Eddie and
William Houchins, and Mrs. Mary Swindell, and Doc Dry, the
grandfather of John Dry. Capt. George Waller fought with
Gen. Sterling Price, as did William Farrell.”
Compilation
from the files of Neil Block, Commander, William T. Anderson
Camp #1743 SCV; transcribed by Lisa Perry. Information
extracted from files and newspaper articles to include (1)
Excerpt from History of Madison, written in 1948-49 by Mary
Humphrey, daughter of Marie Bassett Humphrey; (2) |
