CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY: Volume XI, KENTUCKY By Col. J. Stoddard Johnson 1899 ____________________ John Lynch Dismukes, M. D., an eminent physician residing at Mayfield, formerly of the medical service of the Confederate States army, was born near Nashville, Tenn., December 30, 1830. His father, Paul Dismukes, was born in Roanoke County, Va., in 1811, was educated in Tennessee, married in January 1829 to Sabina Bowman, a native of Charleston, S. C., and became a planter in Davidson County. He was a warm sympathizer with the South, and gave three sons to the cause besides Dr. Dismukes-Dr. Thomas Terrill Dismukes, a surgeon; James Henry, of the First Tennessee, who died in hospital at White Sulpher Springs, Va.; and Marcus L., who fought under Morgan and Forrest. Paul Dismukes, grandfather of these Confederates, was a soldier of the Revolution, a native of Virginia, and a pioneer settler of Tennessee. His father, who also bore the name of Paul, came to Virginia from Wales, whither, according to tradition, the family went originally from France, then bearing the title of De ! Meaux, the source of the present name. Dr. Dismukes' mother was a daughter of John Lynch Bowman, of South Carolina, who changed his name to John Bowman Lynch, in order to inherit an estate near Georgetown, S. C., the "Lynch peachtree plantation," from his uncle, Thomas Lynch, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, whose only son was lost at sea. Dr. Dismukes was educated at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, graduating in 1852, in the same class with Senator Zebulon Vance, and with the distinction of being the only graduate without missing a duty of any kind. During 1858 he was in charge of the Manson Spring Academy, near Clarksville, Tenn. He then entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, and was graduated in 1856, after which he began the practice, selecting Mayfield, Ky., as his home. Here he had already gained considerable distinction in his profession when the war broke out, a crisis in which he determined to cast his fortunes w! ith the South. In a medical capacity he was on duty in Confederate camps during the latter part of 1861 and early in 1862, at Fort Donelson, Columbus, Camp Beauregard, and other points, and during the operations of that period was once captured by the enemy, but released through the influence of friends. Early in the fall of 1862 he was assigned to Breckinridge's division, then at Holly Springs, Miss., en route to join Bragg's army, and accompanied the division to Knoxville and toward Cumberland Gap, where the movement was stopped by news of Bragg's retreat. After the return to Murfreesboro Dr. Dismukes was transferred to Cleburne's division, reporting to Dr. John M. Johnson, chief division surgeon, by whom he was given charge of the division hospital at Tullahoma. He continued in charge of Cleburne's division hospital from this time, at the battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga; throughout that famous campaign, one of the ablest recorded in history, from Dalton to Atlanta; d! uring the siege of Atlanta, at the battle of Jonesboro, through Hood's campaign in North Georgia and Tennessee, including the battle of Franklin, where Cleburne was killed, and the siege and battle of Nashville. After the retreat southward Surgeon Dismukes was detached and ordered to report to Gen. N. B. Forrest, whom he found at Verona, Miss. He was then put on duty under orders of Dr. J. B. Cowan, medical director of Forrest's cavalry, as medical inspector of that command. In this duty he continued until the surrender of General Forrest, at Gainesville, Ala., in May 1865, participating in all the campaigns during that period of the matchless cavalry general of the South. In the course of his service for the Confederacy Dr. Dismukes performed his duty fearlessly on the field of battle, and was twice wounded, being shot through the neck at Chickamauga and in the wrist at Franklin. Since the war Dr. Dismukes has continued in the practice of his profession, in which he has won! a very high rank. He is a member of the American Medical Association, was the first vice-president of the Tri-State Medical Association (Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois), was first vice-president of the Kentucky Medical Association, and succeeded to the presidency upon the death of Dr. Yandell; was president of the Southern Medical Association in 1874, and maintains membership in all of these societies, as well as the American Medical Association. He is also a frequent contributor to professional publications. He has served his city as a member of the board of trustees and councilman, and is one of the incorporators and directors of the Cairo, Tennessee River & Cumberland Gap Railroad. Dr. Dismukes was married in 1867 to Imogene E., daughter of Dr. James S. Taylor, of Louisiana, and they have four children: Mary Sabina, wife of H. H. Harris, of Mayfield; James Taylor Dismukes, D. D. S., of Mayfield; Paul Isham and Dr. John L. Dismukes, Jr., of Mayfield.