THE HONOR ROLL OF CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS

From time to time, I will add family histories and stories about the soldiers that have so Honorably served our   GREAT COUNTRY.  If you have information that you would like to add, just let me know.   GBM

Pension # 16240

Benjamin Clay Chamness,Sr.,Co.D 28th TX Cavalry Reg.CSA,    son of James   Madison and Mary Ann Chamness, married Amanda Adams in Panola Co.TX .  Benjamin  enlisted in Carthage TX. He was captured 14 Mar 1864  and  held prisoner until 22  July 1864 when he was exchanged at Red River Landing in a prisoner exchange.  He was home on furlough when the war ended , he served from 1 May 1862  until Nov 1865. He applied for Confederate Pension 3 July 1909, the
application witnessed by Henry T. Chamness , and is on file in the Texas  State Archives Austin Pension # 16240 . 

This  information was from a review of his records by Benjamin H. Chamness Jr. in May 1997

Pension # 20291

Stephen Matthew Chamness, Co. G 4th TX Cavalry , son of James   Madison and Mary Ann Chamness, m. Laura J. Jones, Panola Co. TX. He    applied for pension on 8 Feb 1911, but no record of service could be found ,   therefore he was required to submit affidavit of service from several people    knowledgeable of his service and it contains the names of several men from the   Carthage area ,but I failed to copy them, but am sure Henry T. Chamness was  one. He contracted measles which resulted in permanent disability . Stephen   was   also home on furlough when the war ended . His application indicated he  arrived   in Texas 10 Nov 1850, information not previously known , his Pension # 20291  and lived in Shelby Co TX at that time.

The above information was from a  review   of his records in the Texas State Archives , Austin TX , by Benjamin H. Chamness, Jr. in May 1997.

Pension # 32116. In 1863 Absalum Lawhorn  enlisted in the 10th Texas Militia Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel J.C. Jemison. Absalum was assigned to Renfros' Company, Co. E.....Jemisons' Regiment served as prison guards at Camp Ford, located in Tyler, Texas. Camp Ford was the largest POW camp west of the Mississippi. The camp was named after the famous Texas Ranger, Colonel (Rip) Ford who also served  there as the commander for a period of time. Some Historians have estimated that the population of the camp exceeded 8,000 people at one time. Absalum returned home in 1865 after the end of the war. The following year on January 25, 1866 he married Melissa C. Johnson in Panola Co. On Sept. 25th, Melissa applied for a Confederate widows Pension. Two of the witnesses, whose signatures are on the affidavit concerning this application for pension, were W.R. Page and J. L. Cox. these gentlemen said that they served with my ggrandfather Absalum Lawhorn in the same unit at Camp Ford, Texas. They stated that he was an honorable soldier and served in and around the Tyler, Texas area.........The above information was Asia Lawhorn    lahon@earthlink.net

Marshall Thomas Lawrence

Marshall Thomas Lawrence enlisted April 7, 1862 at Clay Hill Alabama with a grade of 3rd Sergeant. He was in Company B, 3rd Battalion, Hilliards Legion which later became Company A, 60th Alabama Infantry Regiment, C.S.A. He was promoted to 2nd Sergeant January 1, 1863. He took part in several battles, including the Battle of Chicamauga, Georgia, and the Battle of Knoxville, Tennessee. He was wounded slightly in the leg in the trenches at the Battle of Petersburg, Virginia. He was captured at Hatchers Run, South of Petersburg on March 25, 1865 and sent to City Point, Virginia, March 27, 1865, and then to the Union prison at Point Lookout, Maryland. He took the oath of allegiance and was released June 14, 1865. Marshall arrived in Panola County in the fall of 1866 and lived in Clayton and Carthage until his death in 1932. (Marshall's military records are from the Alabama Department of Archives and Records)    Submitted by James R. Lawrence

David N. Walker

David Newton Walker was born in 1883 in Upson, GA.  He came to Texas in 1854.  He died Aug 4, 1884.  He is the son of James F. Walker.   He was related to  various other Walkers buried at Oddfellow Cemetery, Carthage, Texas.

From David N. Walker's military papers:
No. 239:   I, the undersigned, Prisoner of War, belonging to the Army of the Trans-Mississippi Department, having been surrendered by General E. Kirby Smith, C.S.A., Commanding said Department, to Major General E.R.S. Canby, U.S.A., Commanding Army and Division of West Mississippi do hereby give my solemn PAROLE OF HONOR, that I will not hereafter serve in the Armies of the Confederate States, or in any military capacity whatever, against the United States of America, or render said aid to the enemies of the latter, until properly exchanged in such manner as shall be mutually approved by the respective authorities.

Residence:  Panola County, Texas
Done at:  Marshall, Texas            (signed)  David N. Walker, 1st Lt. Co. C
this 14th day of July 1865                        28th Texas Cav

Approved:  by C.S.A. Commissioners
The above named officer will not be disturbed by the United States
Authorities, as long as he observes his parole and the laws in force where he
resides.             Geo. L. Andrews,
                     Brig. Gen. U.S.A. and Provost Marshal General

From obituary of Lieutenant David N. Walker:
Died at his residence near Carthage, Panola County, Texas, after a short illness, on the evening of the 4th day of August, 1884, at 7 o'clock p.m. Lieut. David N. Walker, Company C (Capt. DeBerry's) 28th Regiment, Texas dismounted cavalry.  Lieut. Walker was a native of Georgia; came to Texas in 1854 when a young man, and located at Carthage, married here in September 1856, Miss H. Wilson a much, respected and accomplished young lady.  Entered the Confederate States army as a volunteer near the beginning of the war, was elected First Lieut. of his company and served in that capacity till the close
of the war and was surrendered with the trans-Mississippi department.  As a soldier he was prompt and faithful in the discharge of every duty.  To superior officers, courteous and respected.  To subordinates and privates kind and obliging in the camp; on the toilsome march and on the sanguinary field he was ever at his post; went forth to the performance of all the onerous duties
of soldier life with an elastic step, a light heart and a smiling face,
{article torn at this point}

He was for many years a consistent member of the Methodist Church, a kind husband an affectionate father, a useful and respected citizen.  But in the midst of life and of usefulness, "the pale messenger with the inverted torch beckoned him away"--and he has gone to "the undiscovered country."  And of all the gallant soldier of the "Lost Cause", it must soon be written--
     "The muffled drum's sad roll has beat
      The soldier's last tattoo;
      No more on life's parade shall meet
      The brave and daring few,
      On fame's eternal camping ground
      Their silent tents are spread,
      And glory guards with solemn round
      The bivouac of the dead"
      Carthage, Aug, 7th, 1884.
With sad feelings do we publish the foregoing obituary.  For over twenty years we have been intimate with Lieut. Walker--went with him throughout the Confederate War.   We commanded our companies and marched and charged together
in some of the bloodiest battles of said conflict; and we can truthfully say that during all this time we never saw one act in our deceased friend to condemn--but on the contrary much to admire and praise.  He was one of our first subscribers.  He was a brave and true soldier and we can say as much for him in civil as in military life.  We truly sympathize with his orphan children and will tender our humble assistance to them at any time needed through life.Submitted by   JoanR@aol.com

Adaline Burton

Adaline Burton moved to Panola county after her husband was died.   She is buried in Woods Cemetery, Panola County, TX.  Her son, Thomas Cobb Burton married  Amanda Wilkinson and later, Mary Louisa Holly.  Mary was the widow of W. T. Pou.  Adaline's daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Burton married Walter Wesley Rider.  Adaline's daughter, Eliza Burton married Giles Bowers.  Adaline's son, Tollie A. Burton, married Alice Morris and then Emma McClelland.  All of the above were buried at Woods Cemetery.
From the Confederate Pension Application -- "Application of Indigent widow of Soldier or Sailor of the late Confederacy for pension under the Act of May 12, 1899":
August 11, 1899 - application
August 12, 1899 - heard by County Judge, J. H. Long, Panola County, TX
August 14, 1899 - Submitted to Commissioners Court of Panola County, TX
August 18, 1899 - Approved by Pension Clerk, Wm. J. Swain
October 13, 1899 - Approved by Comptroller

Application information:
Adaline's age is stated as: 66 yrs old. on the 18th day of Sept 1899. She is stated to have resided in Woods Post Office, Panola County, for 29 years.  Her occupation was housekeeper, and her physical condition is poor. Her deceased husband was Thomas A. Burton.  They were married 15 January, 1852.  He enlisted in the Confederate Army on March 4, 1862, and died May 15, 1862 in Virginia.  He was in Co. G, 15th Alabama Regiment Infantry.

Tollie A. Burton, S. E. Rider, and W. W. Rider appeared before J. H. Long, county Judge, on behalf of Adaline.  As stated by J. H. Long in regards to the statements of W. W. Rider:  "He personally knows Mrs. Adaline Burton, and he also knows her physical and financial condition.  He further states, that Mrs. Adaline Burton is in very feeble health, that she is not really able to
wait on herself.  Her mind is bad and requires some one to look after her all the time.  She broke up housekeeping 10 or 12 years ago, and really has nothing or no income, from any source and is unable to make a support by her own labor in any manner, and cannot go to the county judge, to sign and swear to any papers in her application for pension."
Tollie A. Burton stated that: "He also knows she is in very feeble health and not able to wait on herself, and requires the constant attention of her daughter, Mrs. S. E. Rider, one of the witnesses to her application and that Mrs. Burton requires all of the time of the said Mrs. S. E. Rider to look after and care for her.  Hence she could not come before the judge."

According to a letter by Thomas F. Hull, Attorney at Law, Land Agent and Notary Public, Carthage, Texas, October 13, 1899:  "...Mrs. Adaline Burton died on the 6th or 7th of Oct.  Can her afflicted daughter who has had the care of Mrs. Burton for years receive at least the 1st quarter of her pension? She is in great need of it."    Submitted by   JoanR@aol.com