I apologize for the lack of flow and consistency in this. It's a lot of "cut-and-paste" from some other work I'm doing.But, it does provide basic info on my Confederate ancestors from the Hickox/Thrift lines. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------- Hickox Ancestors in The Civil War- BENNETT, John R. (1831 - 11/19/1915) HICKOX, Jonathan David (3/15/1839 - 10/25/1909) HENDERSON, Lewis Jerrold (4/15/1828/31? - 11/25/1868) THRIFT, Robert Thomas (5/8/1833 - 3/3/1915) Preface- Georgia Ancestors Most of our Georgia Confederate ancestors, specifically John R. BENNETT, Lewis Jerrold HENDERSON, and Jonathan David HICKOX, plus four of Jonathan's brothers, served in either of three Confederate Army units, the 26th GA Volunteer Infantry, and its off-spring, the 4th GA Volunteer Cavalry, which in turn spawned CAPT Clinch's Artillery Company. For the edification of the readers who may not be familiar with the exploits of these units, a brief summary of their history is presented, followed by a summary of the service of our ancestors and their brothers who also served in those units. The 26th GA Volunteer Infantry The 26th GA Volunteer Infantry was formed in Southeast Georgia during the very early days of the Civil War. Over the first few months of its life, it transitioned from a loosely allied group of militia-minded patriots to a well-trained and effective fighting unit ready for the immense trials to which it would eventually be exposed. When it left South Georgia in the late Spring of 1862, it was under the command of the man whose stamp it would wear for its entire existence, COL Edmund N. Atkinson, a son of South Georgia. The 26th GA would play, for the bulk of its life, an extensive involvement in almost all the operations of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under the command of GEN Robert E. Lee. It was assigned to the Corps commanded by LGEN Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson until his death at the battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863, and comprised a significant element in the Georgia Brigade commanded by BGENs Lawton, Gordon, and Evans. Arriving in Northern Virginia in early June 1862, it was just in time to join Stonewall's Corps at the end of his historic Shenandoah Valley campaign and to participate in the Seven Days' Battle around Richmond, which brought GEN Lee to command of the Army of Northern Virginia. From there, they went on to Second Manassas and Chantilly, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg (again), Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, LGEN Early's 1864 Shenandoah Valley and Washington campaign, to the long and debilitating siege at Petersburg and, finally, to Appomattox. Beginning with a strength of over a thousand men and commanded by a full Colonel, the regiment surrendered at Appomattox only seventy eight men under the command of a Captain. While some of the missing were deserters, this incredible diminution was primarily the result of the death, wounding and sickness incurred in almost three years of hard and constant campaigning under some of the most demanding and trying circumstances encountered by any army in history. This regiment, by its sacrifice and devotion, gave its full measure to the Southern Cause, and it established an outstanding reputation as one of the most effective fighting units in the Confederate Army, an army whose fighting skills have been held in awe by its students around the world for over a hundred years. An excellent history of the 26th GA , "South Georgia Rebels", written by our kinsman, Alton J. Murray of St. Marys Georgia, is filled with many interesting details which corroborate the above observations by your compiler. Those Hickox ancestors serving in the 26th GA- BENNETT, John R. (1831-11/1895) Wife: Sarah Wilson Source: Military Service Record (MSR) National Archives - Enlisted as a Private in the 26th GA Volunteer Infantry, Co. D, Seaboard Guards (Old Co. F), CAPT Nicholls, Aug 23, 1861 at Brunswick, GA., for 12 months. - No muster record Mar 1862- Apr 1864 - Transferred to Lynchburg (Hospital in VA ?) Jul 1, 1861 (probably an incorrect entry?). - Admitted to Chimbarazo Hospital Richmond,VA. Jul 3, 1862 for "Disability". - Captured Sept 12, 1862 at Frederick, MD. Admitted to U.S.General Hospital #1 at Frederick, transferred to Ft. Delaware Sept 19, 1862, exchanged at Aiken's Landing,VA Oct 2, 1862. - Deserted (?) Nov 4, 1862 - Admitted to Chimbarazo Hospital Richmond,VA. Apr 3, 1863 to Apr 12, 1863 for Diarrhoea - Statement of Present from May 1, 1863 thru Aug 1864 @ Nov 4, 1864 - No further record Source: South Georgia Rebels (Murray) - Exchanged Nov 1862 (Probably reported to his unit in Nov after the exchange from Federal to Confederate authority in early October) - Roll for Dec 31, 1864, last on file, shows him Absent Sick - No further record Source: Family Oral History (O.J. Hickox, Jr. -the compiler-in conversations with subject's daughter, the compiler's G GM, Nancy Ann Bennett Henderson, in the 1950s) - Reported missing, presumed Killed in Action at one point in the war. - Wife and family went into mourning. - His unannounced return, many months after above event was literally a return from the dead to his family,and one which Grannie Nan never forgot. Notes: 1.The FOH info is difficult to corroborate with that of the MSR in that no time has been identified in which he would have been away from communications with Confederate authority and presumed dead, yet been able to return home unannounced, unless it involved the Dec 1864 sickness or the period involving his capture in Sept 1862. Even those seem unlikely since, presumably, he would have been under control of the Confederate authorities and presumably in touch with his family for some portion of those situations. However, I have learned not to discount info gained from the family's oral history, and some light may be shed on the matter yet. 2. On Sep 12, 1862, the regiment was participating in GEN Jackson's efforts to surround and capture the Union forces at Harper's Ferry, VA as part of GEN Lee's strategy for the Sharpsburg/Antietam campaign, and, while not yet generally engaged with the enemy, was marching in the vicinity of Frederick where some stragglers were captured by the Federals. This is probably where and when he was captured. HENDERSON, Lewis Jerrold (4/15/1828- 11/25/1868) Wife: Martha Ann Miller Source: MSR National Archives -Enlisted as a Private Oct 1, 1861 in the 26th GA Volunteer Infantry at Waresboro for six months in CAPT William A. Mc Donald's Co. "Forest Rangers", Co K (Old Co. H) - Present to Mar 31, 1862 Source: "South Georgia Rebels" (Murray) - Private Oct 1, 1861 - Appears last on rolls for Mar 31,1862 Source: Family Oral History (OJH,Jr-OJH,Sr. in 1960s) - Contracted one of the nominally childhood diseases (Rheumatic Fever or Measles) that were running rampant thru the Confederate camps at the time. His health permanently damaged, he was released from the Army and died of cardiovascular failure shortly after the war. Note: Such diseases decimated some Confederate units at that time due to the low level of immunity to these diseases that the average Confederate soldier had by virtue of his country origins, and due to the paucity of tents and blankets available to protect them from the elements, and the totally inappropriate sanitary conditions prevalent in that era. HICKOX, David Jonathan (3/15/1839- 7/18/1864) Wife: Catherine Crawford Source: MSR National Archives - Enlisted as a Private Apr 10,1861 in the 26th GA Volunteer Infantry, for the war in "Forest Rangers", Co K (Old Co. H) at Waynesville - Hospitalized in Winder Hospital Nov 4, 1862 - Killed in battle Jul 18, 1864 Source: South Georgia Rebels (Murray) - Under Co. K-Private Mar 1, 1862. - Under Co. D ( Seaboard Guards)-Private Apr 10, 1863 - Transferred to Co. K. - Wounded at Spottsylvania (May 1864) - Killed Jul 18, 1864 Note: On July 18,1864, The 26th GA Infantry regiment was acting as part of the rear guard to the Confederate forces under LGEN Early which was retreating from a campaign to attempt to run the Federals out of the Shenandoah Valley and had just been to the outskirts of Washington, DC where they had threatened the Federal Capital. After concluding that the Federals were too heavy in numbers and arms to attempt an assault on the Capital, GEN Early withdrew to the Northwest, retreating into the Valley via Snicker's Gap, which pierces the Blue Ridge Mountains near Berryville, between Winchester and Leesburg, VA. At the Shenandoah River, just to the west of the gap, the Confederate rear guard was attacked by the Federal forces, but drove them off, thereby protecting the Confederate rear. It appears that David was killed in that engagement. He is buried in the national cemetery at Winchester, VA in one of the few marked Confederate graves. His was originally marked "Hecox", but reportedly has since been marked correctly by a descendent. HICKOX, Perry (9/22/1837- ? ) Wife: Arcadia Harris Source: MSR National Archives - Enlisted as a Private Jul 29, 1861 in Company "D" (Seaborn Guards) at Satilla GA for 12 months - Hospitalized at Winder (Georgia-run hospital in VA?) Oct 9 to 26, 1862 (Sharpsburg campaign) - Hospitalized at Hugeunot Springs VA to Dec 31,1862 (Fredericksburg campaign) - Wounded at Fredericksburg, Hamilton's Crossing (Chancellorsville campaign) May 3, 1863, sent to Chimbarazo Hospital (Richmond) May 9, granted 40 day furlough @ Jun 25, 1863. - Received Commuted Rations from 24 June to 4 Aug 1864, signing on 25 June 1864. - Captured at Petersburg Mar 25, 1865 (Fort Steadman) - Released at Point Lookout, MD Jun 28, 1865 Source: South Georgia Rebels (Murray) - Wounded in left thigh at Second Manassas ( Actually, believed to be at Chantilly, a following action fought on Sep 1, 1862) - Wounded at Fredericksburg (Marye's Heights) May 22, 1863 - Captured at Petersburg Mar 25, 1865 - Released at Point Lookout, MD Jun 28, 1865 Note: It would appear that Perry endured the most hard fighting, and the increasingly extreme privations that went with service in the Confederate Army, of the five HICKOX brothers who served the Confederacy. His capture was in the battle for Fort Steadman, a desperate, last-ditch attempt by the Confederates to break the siege of Petersburg. Clearly seeing that conditions were rapidly approaching the point at which the Confederate Army eventually would be out-flanked and overwhelmed, and after consultations with President Davis, Lee summoned MGEN John B. Gordon, formerly commander of the Georgia Brigade and now the commander of the remnants of the old Corps of "Stonewall" Jackson. Recognizing that they were probably just grasping for a means to forestall the inevitable, the two examined the options available, and decided upon an attempt to break through the Federal Lines at one of the Federal redoubts across the lines from the Georgia troops, referred to as Fort Steadman. The plan was a good one, and it came close to achieving its goals. The attempt involved sending a group of specially picked men in the early AM hours to stealthily clear the innumerable and devilish obstacles placed in front of the Federal lines and to follow quickly with a concentration of three companies to capture the fort, turn its guns on the other smaller Federal forts to the rear, and, hopefully, to allow other larger groups of Confederates to pour through the break. The attack succeeded in that Fort Steadman was captured, but the attempt to exploit that success fell victim to the Confederates' inability to find and secure the other smaller forts behind it and affect a break-through of the Federal lines. Those who had arrived in the fort were quickly surrounded by rallying Federals and compelled to surrender, Perry among them. So, Perry's long, dangerous and devoted service to the Confederate cause came to an end. He and his brother Benjamin, who had been captured the previous December at Fort McAllister near Savannah, were reunited at the Federal prison camp at Point Lookout, MD, and released on June 28, 1865 with all the other prisoners after the cessation of hostilities, and returned home to resume their lives. Given the abominable conditions prevalent in that prison camp at that time, which rivaled those of the infamous Confederate prison camp at Andersonville, GA, and were typical of POW camps, both North and South, they were fortunate to have survived. Their brother David, who was killed in July 1864 and was therefore spared the awful experiences of late 1864 and early 1865, clearly was next among the brothers in terms of exposure to danger and privation on behalf of the Southern Cause, and perhaps he can even be given first honors, in that he paid the ultimate price for his devotion. The 4th GA Volunteer Cavalry and CAPT Clinch's Artillery Company. The formation of the 26th GA Infantry resulted in so many volunteers that thirteen companies were filled. Since the standard Infantry Regiment had only ten companies, three of the 26th's companies were spun off in the early Summer of 1862. These companies were combined with others, notably the 3rd GA Battalion of Cavalry, which previously had been operating in various forms, but was formally organized 31 July 1862 under MAJ (then LCOL, and finally COL) Duncan L. Clinch, Jr., a son and namesake of the prominent South Georgian BGEN Duncan L. Clinch, Sr. The new unit which combined these various antecedents to form a full cavalry Regiment was the 4th GA Volunteer Cavalry, commanded by COL Clinch. For the majority of its life, the 4th GA primarily provided scouting and courier service to the Confederate Army in the coastal regions of South Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. It was hard, unglamorous work and it took its toll in the health of men and animals, as well as on the condition of equipment and on morale, as the war progressed and as it became clear to those who could see the decline of Confederate fortunes as they progressed toward the inevitable outcome. While there was some skirmishing, including a confrontation with Federal forces at Brunswick 8 June 1863, in general, until late in the war, there were few opportunities for the 4th GA to show its mettle in battle. Exceptions include a deployment to Jacksonville FL in March 1863, and the battle of Olustee, Florida, in which a poorly-conceived Federal attempt to wrest control of North Florida from Confederate authority in February 1864 was defeated by a hastily-assembled army of Confederate units available in the general vicinity. COL Clinch was badly wounded in that fray, but fortunately survived. While the 4th GA performed well in this one big chance, we will not go into the matter because we don't think our ancestors and their close relatives covered by this dissertation participated in that battle. For those who wish to learn more about the battle we recommend the book "Confederate Florida" by William H. Nulty. Clinch's 4th GA Cavalry also participated in the Atlanta Campaign and Sherman's March to the Sea from August 1864 to Dec1864, and a large detachment of the regiment participated in the Battle of Burden's Causeway, or Bloody Bridge, on Johns Island near Charleston SC on 9 July 1864, but none of our ancestors listed above particpated with them. Of interest to us at this point, however, is the birth of CAPT Clinch's Artillery Company. This company was raised and organized by authority of the Secretary of War from the dismounted men of the 4th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Cavalry. It had been manned by details from the regiment since February 1863, but the organization was not completed until the election of officers Dec 1, 1863.Their pay remained the same as if they were a cavalry unit, which members were compensated for furnishing their own horses and "gear". It appears that CAPT Clinch (b. 1832) was a younger brother of the 4TH GA's commander, COL Clinch (b. 1826). Source-"Aristocrat in Uniform" by Rembert W. Patrick, a biography of BGEN Duncan L. Clinch, Sr., an Indian fighter and planter from Camden County Georgia who, incidentally, was the father-in-law of MAJ Robert Anderson, the Kentucky-born commander of Ft. Sumter who remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War. CAPT Clinch's Artillery Company saw service primarily in defense of established fortifications around Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA. A summary of its principal engagements, all involving defensive efforts against aggressive Union operations, REPORTEDLY (unverified by OJH !!!!) includes: - Siege Operations on Morris Island, Forts Gregg, Wagner, and Sumter in the vicinity of Charleston, SC July 10 to Sep 7, 1863. - Assault on Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863, which was featured in the movie "Glory". - Night attack on Fort Sumter, Sep 8 1863 (A detachment of the company participated) - Siege and Bombardment of Fort Sumter and Charleston Aug 31 to Dec 21 1864 - Siege of Savannah, Dec10 to 21, 1864 - Capture of Fort McAllister, GA Dec 13, 1864 With the fall of Fort McAllister, the majority of the members of the unit were captured or killed, and it essentially ceased to be an effective operational force. It is worthy of note that in this battle, in which GEN Sherman's soldiers stormed the fort after an extensive artillery bombardment which disabled the fort's own artillery and breached its earthern and log walls, CAPT Clinch received nine wounds; one from a gunshot, one from a bayonet, and seven from sabers. Clearly the hand-to-hand fighting, 'tho short lived, was intense and vicious. CAPT Clinch was captured and survived.(Source: CAPT Clinch's MSR) Those serving in the 4th GA and/or CAPT Clinch's Artillery Company- HICKOX, Isaac (1844- 5/20/1863) Wife: None Source: MSR National Archives -Enlisted as a Private Oct 20, 1862I Co. "K" 4th GA Cavalry -Present thru Apr 1863 -Died at Waynesville May 20, 1863, no cause given. HICKOX, Benjamin (1837- ?) Wife: Elizabeth Crews Source: MSR National Archives -Enlisted Mar 1,1862 in a company nicknamed the "Wayne Rangers", CAPT T.S.Hopkins, a unit of the 4th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Cavalry - 3rd Corporal Dec 1863 - Last muster record shows present Sept 1864 - AWOL Oct 29, 1864 - SGT Dec 1864 - Captured Dec 13, 1864 at Ft. McAllister GA - Transferred to Hilton Head Feb 1, 1865 - Released at Point Lookout MD June 28, 1865 Notes: 1.It would appear that he was transferred to CAPT Nicholas Bayard Clinch's Artillery Company sometime in 1863. 2.The notation of his being AWOL in late Oct 1864 followed by his promotion to SGT in Dec is an indication that this instance of AWOL was not considered a serious offense. This is reflective of the fact that many Confederate soldiers took periodic "French Leave", or Leave without authority, to attend to pressing personal business at home (Remember that most of them were yeoman farmers without slaves to carry on the laborious tasks of farming) and then returned to their units to continue their service in the cause to which they adhered at such risk to live and limb. The HICKOX family certainly fell into this category of Southerner. HICKOX, Jonathan David (3/15/1839- 10/25/1909) Wife: Loucinda Jones/Green Source: MSR National Archives -Enlisted as a Private June 21, 1862 for the war at Waynesville, GA in Company "E", the "Camden Mounted Rifles", CAPT Nathan Atkinson Brown, a unit of the Cavalry Command south of the Altamaha River. This company subsequently became Co. "C" of the 4th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Cavalry (COL Duncan L. Clinch). - Absent on furlough in Ware County GA from Aug 23 to Sep 1,1862 - Present thru Jun 19,1862, AWOL June 20 to (NLT Jun 30) - Present Jun 30 to Dec1, 1863 - Transferred to CAPT Nicholas Bayard Clinch's Artillery Company Dec1, 1863 (See note below) - Present thru Sep 15,1864 - AWOL Sep 16, 1864 - Last paid Mar 1, 1864 - No further record Note: Since, according to muster records, both Benjamin and Jonathan were present with this unit during all of 1863 and up to Jonathan's AWOL on Sep 16, 1864, it is probable that both were involved in all the listed actions of the unit (including the Jul 1863 attempt by the Federals to take Fort Wagner, of "Glory" fame) except, of course, the siege of Savannah and the Fort McAllister battle during which it appears that Jonathan was not present. At present, we have no information on the degree of Jonathan's participation in the war subsequent to Sep 16,1864. Perhaps he returned from his AWOL status and served on and the records are just incomplete, or he may have been wounded, sick, or captured. Even more likely, having suffered the loss of two brothers, one not yet twenty and the other his twin and with whom it is expected he had been very close, and perhaps under pressure from a young wife and family at home and a farm in sore need of attention, it is also possible that he had come to see the futility and the awful cost of the struggle, and, not having been paid for six months, just went home as did so many other thousands who had fought the good fight, but were ready to accept the inevitable in late 1864 and early 1865. At any rate, he left his brother Benjamin still in the fight for Savannah and his brother Perry in Northern Virginia carrying on the struggle there until both were captured and, ironically, reunited at the Federal Prison camp at Point Lookout MD. Thankfully, we do know that he and both his brothers Benjamin and Perry survived the war and he lived to the then ripe old age of seventy plus. The Partisan Ranger- One final Georgia Confederate Ancestor, Robert Thomas THRIFT, served in what was probably a Partisan Ranger unit, the 24th Battalion GA Volunteer Cavalry. This unit was officially recognized as a unit of the Confederate Army and, if it was a Partisan Ranger unit, its mission was Irregular Service. By this term it is meant that Partisan Rangers worked mostly at night, and often behind enemy lines. Appearing to be ordinary citizens by day, they were often able to conduct their business surreptitiously at night by donning hidden uniforms and weapons and proceeding about their mission of scouting, destroying enemy materiel and supplies, and capturing especially useful prisoners. While some of these units were no more than lawless groups of brigands using the war as an excuse to kill and plunder for purely personal gain, most were formed in an attempt to disrupt enemy lines of communications and logistics. Unfortunately, these units were largely ineffective and, at best, enjoyed a rather bland reputation, both within and outside Army circles. However, a very few of them were very successful, the best known of which was the 43rd VA Battalion Volunteer Cavalry lead by COL John S. Mosby, known as the "Gray Ghost". Publicly at least, all such units coveted the reputation and performance of Mosby's and attempted to emulate them. The 24th GA Battalion originally comprised four companies; "A", which was known as the Wayne and Mercer Rangers, "B", the Randolph Rangers, "C", the Hopkins Partisan Rangers, and "D", the nom-de-guerre of which had not been determined. Unfortunately, the records of the Partisan Ranger units seem to have been kept very nominally and little of their service has been documented. The 24th GA Battalion is representative, and nothing of note is known of its exploits. What is known is that in mid--Feb 1864, it was combined with the four companies of the 21st GA Battalion and the two of the Hardwick Mounted Rifles and turned into the 7th GA Volunteer Cavalry, thereby becoming a regular unit of the Confederate Army. Soon sent North to serve as a part of the Army of Northern Virginia under GEN Robert E. Lee, it gave valiant service to the very end of the war, surrendering some 50 odd officers and men at Appomattox. Our man RTF didn't make this trip, he had other fish to fry, mostly catfish, while he was hiding out in the Okefinokee Swamp and waiting for things to settle down. THRIFT, Robert Thomas ( 5/8/1833-3/3/1916) Wife: Alice V. Allbritton Source: MSR National Archives -Enlisted Sep 22, 1862 at Camp Fort as a Private in the 24th Battalion GA Volunteer Cavalry, Co. "C", Mercer Partisans, CAPT Hopkins. - Present thru Jun1863, except AWOL 18 days in May and Jun. - Deserted Jul 19, 1863 - Sep and Oct 1863, Deserted and dropped from Rolls by commanding MAJ E.G.Anderson, Jr. - Nov and Dec 1863, Present, joined by Desertion (?). Has know (no?) Horse. - 24 Jan 1864, Deserted and dropped from Rolls - Last paid Dec31, 1863 - Notation @ Nov 24, 1863 indicating that he had been a prisoner, no further info Source: "The Thrifts of Okefinokee" by our kinsman, J.L.Thrift - Served in Co. "A", Hopkins Mounted Partisan Rangers, and in Co. "C", Anderson's Battalion. Source: Family Oral History 1. (O.J. Hickox, Jr. -the compiler-in conversations with his father, O.J.Hickox,Sr, in the 1960s) - Subject used to hide out in the Okefinokee Swamp from both the Yankees and the Confederates, Granny Allie would bring him food and clothes. 2. (Conversation with Nan Hickox Walker, the compiler's Paternal aunt.) - Subject went to FL to avoid Confederate authority, came back at close of hostilities "with some money, which was used to buy a home-place". Note: The notation concerning his being captured offers an enticing opportunity to corroborate the period of confinement with the periods of "Desertion". It was not uncommon for a soldier to have been captured without the knowledge of his unit, and to therefore be carried in the muster records as AWOL or as a deserter. This opportunity notwithstanding, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, it appears that Robert spent a great deal of time in the status of deserter or, at the very least, AWOL, and accordingly seems to have supported The Cause with something less than nominal gusto. The information from the FOH would seem to corroborate this view. At any rate, it appears that his active service to the Southern Cause terminated prior to his unit's movement north in early 1864 and its rendezvous with the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. There's also a juicy little story from Aunt Nan that he deserted when Grannie Allie (and other women in the area) were solicited for sexual favors by the local Confederate Tithe-Collector incidental to drawing their ration of government supplies (mostly salt) due them as wives and widows of Confederate soldiers. I have verified the report of an incident about the Tithe-Collector being threatened by a group of women and deserters, but have nothing to document RTF's role in it, nor the allegations of impropriety. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------- For those who are interested, I am writing a definitive history of Clinch's 4th GA Cavalry and Clinch's Artillery Company, which I hope to have ready to publish within about a year. I expect it will be of interest to most of the descendants of the "Wiregrass Pioneers", and will let you know when it's done.