Source: Confederate Veteran, Vol XII, May 1904, No. 5, page 234 Maj. R. A. Burford Maj. R. A. Burford was born at Dixon Springs, Tenn., February 23, 1827; and died at Troy, Ala., January 28. He married Miss Mary E. Lowe, of Hartsville, Tenn. Maj. Burford was a veteran of two wars, having served in our war with Mexico. In the War between the States he participated with distinction. He entered the army at the beginning of the struggle as first lieutenant in Heyner's Company of the Twenty-Third Tennessee Infantry. At the battle of Shiloh every superior officer of his regiment was killed, and Lieut. Burford having been placed in command, led the regiment back into action and participated with the entire corps till the end of the battle. Honorable mention was made of Lieut. Burford's bravery, and he was advanced to the rank of captain, but he was stricken with typhoid fever, which greatly enfeebled his constitution. When he recovered he again applied for service and received letters from his brigadier general, also from Gen. Cleburne. Capt. Burford reentered service under Gen. Donelson, where he was soon advanced to the rank of major. At the battle of Murfreesboro he was dangerously wounded in the head. Gen. Donelson, in writing to Gen. Cleburne, said: "It affords me the greatest pleasure to say to you, knowing that Capt. Burford. up to the time of reorganization, was under your command, that he conducted himself most nobly and gallantly until he was thrown from his horse by the bursting of a shell, a portion of which struck him and disabled him to such an extent that the surgeon would not permit him to take any further part in the action." After the conclusion of the war Maj. Burford took a manful part in the upbuilding of the South.