A tribute to Veterans from a Different Era.

My husband is a Desert Storm veteran.

His father and all three of his father’s brothers served during World War II.

Until recently, my husband did not know much about his past beyond his grandfather because both his mother and father died when he was young.

I began to research both of our families a little over a year ago, and it seems I’ve done more on his side than mine of late, but that’s okay.  I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, and we’ve met some wonderful family we didn’t know existed, along the way.

This tribute is to three of his great-great-grandfathers.  All were Civil War veterans, all Confederate.

Hamilton W. Brown was born April 1842 somewhere in South Carolina.  He married his beloved, Mary, in February 1858 and they had six children, including my husband’s great grandfather.  Hamilton was a farmer, and worked in a glass factory in Possum Snout, Georgia.

March of 1862, Hamilton joined the 40^th Regiment, Georgia Infantry, CSA (http://www.colquitt.k12.ga.us/gspurloc/Cobbslegion/gasca/units/40th_gvi.htm) and went off to war, leaving Mary and the children who were born at that time, alone. 

Hamilton served in the following battles:  Cumberland Gap, TN, Chickasaw Bayou and Vicksburg, MS, Chattanooga, TN, Kennesaw Mt, and all the area battles during the battle for Atlanta.  He was captured near Franklin, Tennessee some time November of 1864 as best we can tell (haven’t received his military records to verify yet) and was eventually sent to the Union prison camp, Camp Morton in Indianapolis, Indiana, (http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~indiana42nd/campmorton.htm) where he stayed for the rest of the war.  

Like many other soldiers on both sides during that war, he endured many hardships, including the freezing cold with little to keep warm, not enough food to go around, the various diseases that killed more men than battles themselves, and violence at the hands of men who were not worthy of the dirt on the shoes of the men they held captive (NOTE: I am speaking of BOTH sides here, not just one side). He was one of the fortunate ones who managed to endure the hardships and survive, and was released at the end of the war, and allowed to return home to Georgia and his family.

Upon his return home to Possum Snout, Hamilton became a preacher at a local Baptist church, where he remained such for many years along with working at both a glass factory and a lumber mill, until his death of a heart attack in 1901.

According to family stories, he was a kind, sweet man who was much loved and very much missed by those he left behind.

Here is a photo of Hamilton and Mary.

We do not yet know much about Lewis Ezzell.  We do know that he served as a Confederate soldier although we have not verified which unit yet.   One story that a family member has told us about Lewis  (again, unverified, but you know how family stories go) is that he had come home on a furlough due to someone (his mother I believe) being very ill. They were nearby because of the impending battle for Atlanta, and he was given 48 hours to return home and say his goodbyes to whoever was dying.  Well, during his visit, Union troops traveled through the area and overheard some talk about Lewis being home to visit his mother (apparently overheard in town somewhere) and they decided they were going to capture them a Reb.  Well, Lewis, knowing the area the way he did, having grown up in the Possum Snout area, ran and hid.  Apparently he hid out in a hollow log in the forest for two days with the Yanks circling the area a dozen or so times during their hunt for him, but they never found him. Eventually they gave up and he rejoined his unit.  Or so the story goes.

This is a photo of Lewis and Sarah, his wife.

I do not have any photos of Tryon Patterson.  We have not yet located family on that side, but the search continues.  Tryon was born around 1832-1833 in Georgia, and was possibly married twice.

Tryon enlisted with the 56^th Regiment, Georgia Infantry on 5 May 1862. (http://www.nwinfo.net/~jagriffin/56th.htm) We have received copies of his military records beginning with his enlistment and ending with his release at the end of the war.  My husband was more excited than I can even describe when the envelope came in the mail that day.  A piece of his family puzzle had not only been solved, but verified.  Being a civil war reenactor, it was as if someone had mailed him an envelope full of gold.

Tryon served in a number of battles during his service.  He was at Vicksburg around May 1863, where he was captured, held for four days, and then was released in a prisoner swap. His unit put up a strong defense at Vicksburg, and only lost one man. The Union lost many. He returned to his unit and fought in a number of battles after, including at Cumberland Gap,  Davis’ Cross Roads, and Kennesaw Mountain which led up to the battle for Atlanta 

He was captured a final time somewhere outside of Atlanta (and only about 40 miles from his own home) and eventually sent to the Camp Chase, Ohio Union prison camp (http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/quarters/5109/) where he remained for the duration of the war. Upon his release he returned to his wife and family near Carroll, Georgia.

Tryon died on October 27, 1917 as best we can tell, and that’s where his story ends.  One day, I hope to find the family members who may be able to fill in the missing pieces.

Being born and raised in the south and having my southern roots run very deep, I will always remain a Confederate sympathizer.  But don’t ever mistake me or my husband for people who believe that racism in any fashion is right.  I won’t debate here the reasons for fighting for either side.  I have recently found evidence that someone from my mother’s side fought for the Union, though I haven’t received verifiable proof yet. 

This tribute is about three specific soldiers, but in truth, it is in honor of all who have served before these three and after them, for both sides of that war, and every war that an American has died since.

God bless our Veterans of all wars.