This Memorial Day, I want to share a
little about some of my family members. First is the story about
Thomas Beals and Martha Emeline White (Greene and Hawkins Counties)
who had three sons who served in the Civil War. Allison Woodville
Bailes (1841-1911) served in the Confederate Army Co K 59th TN Mtd
Infantry, Carter Milburn Bailes (1845-1903) served in the Union
Army,1st Tenn Cav. Co. K and John Francis M Bails (1846-1914)
served in the Union Army John Francis M Bails served in the Union
Army 8th Cavalry Regiment Company I. I can only imagine that having
three sons fighting in a war and knowing that they are fighting
against each other is a parent's worst nightmare. All three sons
survived the war and came back home to Hawkins County. Allison
Woodville was paroled at Vicksburg and married Dolly Stacy in 1867.
They remained in Hawkins County and he is buried in her family's
cemetery. Carter Milburn saw a lot of action with the 1st
Tennessee Cavalry, was mustered out in Nashville on 14 June 1865. A
year later he married married Sarah M Myers. The lived in
Missouri and Alabama before settling in Memphis. Cater died on 13
November 1903 and is buried in the National Cemetery in Memphis.
John Bails suffered from permanent kidney damage after being
improperly treated for an illness. He mustered out in Knoxville on
11 September 1865. In 1866, he married Delphia Coldwell. John and
Delphia lived in Green and Hawkins County. John Bails died at
Mountain Home Veterans Hospital and is buried in their cemetery.
They are the parents of James R Bailes who married Martha Elizabeth
White.
Thomas K Coldwell and Mariah Bussell
(Hawkins County)
Thomas K Coldwell was murdered near his
home in November of 1861. Family stories say that he was murdered by
Confederate sympathizers, and although there is no documentation for
this his sons James and Benoni joined the Union Army in March of the
next year. In the same month, James L Coldwell (nephew) appointed
administrator of Thomas K Coldwell's estate. The Civil War forced
many many court case to be put on hold until it was safe to hear
pending cases again. Also, the fate of James and Benoni was not
known. This left his wife at home with the younger daughters and no
means of support. It must have been a struggle, but Mariah and her daughters all survived the war. In 1869, Mariah files a lawsuit to request a
court ordered division of land. The estate was not settled until
1877.
Benoni and James made a journey to
Boston, Kentucky to join the Union Army.
Benoni served in PVT 1ST Cavalry
Regiment CO F. He died on 22 February 186 3 and is buried in the
National Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.
James died a few months later, near
Triune, Tennessee. His burial place is unknown.
