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The Confederate States of America
The Lowery's and The War Between The States
(Referred to as the "Civil War", and the "Second American Revolution")
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The Confederate States of America
The War Between the States resulted in the highest loss of life that this nation has ever experienced. To make matters worse, the soldiers on each side were often related. The Lowery's suffered many losses in this conflict. In our branch alone Thomas Lowery (our Great Great Grandfather) lost two of his four sons that were in the Confederate service. This page does not show all of the related Lowery's that were in the war. By 1860, the Lowery's had migrated to many other counties in Alabama, and to other states. Andrew Madison Lowery (our Great Grandfather) had migrated to Covington County Alabama in 1855. He took his family to Georgia during the war, and returned to Escambia County Alabama after the war. His brothers remained in Alabama until the war. They enlisted in Shelby County Alabama, along with other related Lowery's and cousins from Shelby and Jefferson county.
Lowery's from Shelby and near by Counties
Confederate Battle Flag
LOWERY, C. W. - Private, Co C 62nd Infantry
LOWERY, D. L. - Private, Co D 30th Infantry
LOWERY, D. L. - Private, Co C 62nd Infantry
LOWERY, DAVID - Private, Co B 23rd Infantry
LOWERY, DAVID - Private, Co C 18th Infantry
LOWERY, JOHN - Private, Co D 30th Infantry
LOWERY, JOSEPH W. - Private, Co C 62nd Infantry
LOWERY, NEWTON R. - Private, Co D 30th Infantry
LOWERY, RICHARD H. - Private, Co D 30th Infantry
LOWERY, W. J. - Private, Co C 62nd Infantry
LOWERY, WILLIAM RICHARD - Private, Co B 23rd Infantry
Thomas Lowery's sons in CSA:
David Lowery,
Newton R. Lowery, Co. D 30th Alabama Infantry CSA - died, dysentery, at
Camp
Morton Indiana, 25 August 1864.
Andrew Madison Lowery, Co. B, G 55th Georgia Infantry, Enlisted Sept.
26, 1861.
Detached October 1864. Moved to Escambia County Alabama.
Richard H. Lowery, Co. D 30th Ala Inf CSA - died, disease, 6 January 1863.
George Lowery's (brother of Thomas) sons in CSA
William Lowery Co. B 23rd Alabama Infantry CSA
David Lowery Co. B 23rd Alabama Infantry CSA
Related
AVERY, ISAAC N. - Co D 30th Infantry
AVERY, ROBERT - Co D 30th Infantry
AVERY, LEVY - Co C 10th Infantry
CAMERON, JOHN S. - Co E 44th Infantry
CSA LOWERY's from Shelby County Alabama (and near)
Co D 30th Ala Inf
D. L. Lowery born in Shelby Co.
under 18 years of age 1862
John Lowery born Shelby Co. 37
years of age in 1862
Co C 18th Ala Inf
David Lowery - enlisted 24 July
1861 at Cedar Grove (Leeds).
Captured at Cassville, Ga 19 May
1864. Died of congestion of Brain 24 July
1864 at Rock Island, Ill. Buried
in grave # 1338.
Co B 23rd Ala Inf
Companies of Alabama Confederate units organized
in or near Shelby County, Alabama
ARTILLERY
Gid Nelson Light Artillery
(Selden - Lovelace Battery)
CAVALRY
Company "B" 2nd Alabama Cavalry
Organized 1862 at Montevallo.
Company "E" 7th Alabama Cavalry
Organized 1862.
INFANTRY
Company "C" 10th Alabama Infantry -
"Cahaba Valley Boys"
Organized June 4, 1861 at Montevallo.
Company "C" 18th Alabama Infantry -
"Cahaba Valley Rangers"
Organized July 24, 1861 at Cedar Grove (Leeds). Men
from
Shelby, St. Clair, Jefferson, Autauga
Company "I" 18th Alabama Infantry -
"Curry Guards"
("Shelby Invincibles") Organized August 19, 1861
at
Harpersville. Men from Shelby and St. Clair.
Company "G" 20th Alabama Infantry -
"Cahaba Valley Guards"
Organized September 9, 1861 at Montevallo.
Ben Sawyer's Company
Sawyer's Company, Blythe's Mississippi Regiment (later
Company "I" 44th Mississippi Infantry) and
Company "K" 24th
Alabama Infantry Organized August 12, 1861 in Talladega
County. Assigned to Blythe's Mississippi Regiment. Was at
Shiloh and in Kentucky with this regiment. In 1862, it
combined with Falkner's Company to form Company
"K" of the
24th. All of Company "K" was recognized for
gallantry at
Chickamauga. Men from Shelby, Talladega, and Autauga.
Records of this company are shown in the National Archives
microfilm under Company "I" 44th Mississippi
Infantry and
Company "K" 24th Alabama Infantry.
Company "C" 25th Alabama Infantry -
"Shelby Confederates"
Organized September 1, 1861 at Columbiana. It was accepted
in Confederate service on September 9, 1861. It later
became
Company "C" of Loomis's 1st Alabama Infantry
Battalion. On
January 8, 1862, the 1st Alabama Infantry Battalion and
McClellan's 6th Alabama Infantry Battalion combined to
form the 25th Alabama Infantry Regiment.
Company "E" 29th Alabama Infantry
Organized October 7, 1861 at Wilsonville.
Company "D" 30th Alabama Infantry
Organized March 10, 1862 at Talladega.
Company "K" 30th Alabama Infantry
Organized March 10, 1862 at Talladega.
Company "G" 31st Alabama Infantry
Organized March 22, 1862 at Mimms Crossroads as Company K
28th Infantry. Originally known as Company "E".
Shown in
some documents as Company "C".
Company "K" 31st Alabama Infantry
Organized March 20, 1862 at Wilsonville. Originally known
as Company "C".
Company "D" 44th Alabama Infantry
Organized April 7, 1862 at Limekilns (Calera).
Company "E" 44th Alabama Infantry -
"Sallie Ratcliffe Guards"
Organized April 5, 1862 at Montevallo.
Company "C" 62 Alabama Infantry
Organized December 7, 1863 at Wilsonville.
Company "B" 3rd Reserves
Organized April 15, 1864 at Columbiana.
Company "K" 3rd Reserves
Organized April 21, 1864 at Columbiana.
Company "I" 2nd Reserves
Organized September 17, 1864 from various companies of
the 3rd Reserves. Later designated Company
"I" 63rd Infantry.
History of Units concerned with the Lowery's
The 18th Alabama Infantry Regiment was organized at Auburn, 4 Sept 1861, with men recruited from Butler, Coffee, Coosa, Covington, Jefferson, Pike, Shelby, and Tuscaloosa counties, and the field officers were appointed by President Jefferson Davis. A few weeks later, it went to Mobile, by way of Huntsville, and was there brigaded under Gen'l Adley Hogan Gladden of Louisiana, with the 19th, 20th, 22nd, and 25th AL regiments, Jones Mitchell Withers' Division. Ordered to Corinth in March 1862, the regiment was there brigaded under Gen'l J. K. Jackson of Georgia, with the 17th and 19th AL regiments. The 18th fought the first day at Shiloh and was detailed to escort the brigade of USA Gen'l Benjamin Mayberry Prentiss, which it had largely aided to capture, to the rear, and it did not take part the second day. After the battle, the regiment being without field officers and was for a short time under officers detailed for the purpose. It was under fire at Blackland, and soon after was sent to Mobile under the command of Gen'ls James Edwin Slaughter and Alfred Cumming. There the 18th remained until April 1863, when it rejoined the Army of Tennessee, in a brigade with the 36th and 38th AL regiments, and the 9th AL Battalion (the latter being soon after raised to the 58th AL regiment, and consolidated subsequently with the 32nd AL), commanded successively by Gen'ls Henry DeLamar Clayton of Barbour, James Thadeus Holtzclaw of Montgomery, and Col. Bushrod Jones of Perry. At Chickamauga, the 18th lost 22 out of 36 officers, and 300 out of 500 men, killed and wounded. At Missionary Ridge, the 18th was engaged, and lost about 90 men, principally captured. Having wintered at Dalton, it began the Dalton-Atlanta campaign with 500 effective men, and fought all the way down to Jonesboro, losing constantly in killed and wounded, but with no severe loss at any one place. It lost very nearly half its number during the campaign, and rendered effective service. The regiment went with Gen'l John Bell Hood into Tennessee, and lost about 100 at Franklin, principally captured. When the army moved to the Carolinas in February 1865, the regiment was ordered to Mobile, and placed in the field works at Spanish Fort. It participated prominently in the siege of that place several weeks later, with some loss and escaped when the defenses were evacuated. It surrendered at Meridian, MS, 4 May 1865, with the military department. The army numbered 858 men in January 1861; it lost 20 k and 80 w at Shiloh, and 56% of the 527 engaged at Chickamauga. It had 209 casualties in Chattanooga and was reduced to 275 effectives in November 1864.
23rd Alabama Infantry
The 23rd Alabama Infantry Regiment was organized at Montgomery on 19 November 1861, with companies recruited in Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe and Wilcox counties. It was ordered to Mobile shortly after that and attached to Gen'l Adley H. Gladden's Brigade, remaining there until the following February. During the stay there of two months, the regiment lost 82 men by disease. It then moved into East Tennessee and was brigaded under Gen'l Danville Leadbetter of Mobile and then under Gen'l Seth Barton of Tennessee, and in June 1862, under Col. Thomas Hart Taylor of Kentucky. The 23rd performed much arduous duty in East Tennessee and formed part of Carter Stevenson's Division, Kirby Smith's Corps, in the Kentucky campaign. When the army returned to Tennessee, a brigade was formed of the 20th, 23rd, 30th, 31st, and 46th Alabama regiments and placed under Gen'l Edward D. Tracy of Madison. In December 1862, with Stephenson's Division, the 23rd was moved to Vicksburg, and a few days later was present at the fight at Chickasaw Bayou. It was engaged at Port Gibson where the brigade commander fell, and it lost heavily there in killed, wounded, and captured. Gen'l Stephen D. Lee then took command of the brigade. At Baker's Creek, the 23rd was engaged and lost a number captured. The next day, it was in the fight at Big Black Bridge. When the army fell back, the regiment was left, by oversight, and for 12 hours resisted the whole federal army, without severe loss. Retiring into Vicksburg, the regiment shared in that siege, fighting day and night, but without many casualties. Paroled immediately, the regiment was soon exchanged and joined the Army of Tennessee just after the Battle of Chickamauga., Gen'l Edmund Pettus of Dallas commanding the brigade. The 23rd took part at Missionary Ridge with light loss and wintered at Dalton, Georgia. At the beginning of the campaign, it suffered heavy losses at Resaca, but it was constantly in front of Union Gen'l William T. Sherman all the way to Atlanta and Jonesboro, suffering very severely in the latter fight. The regiment marched with Gen'l John Bell Hood into Tennessee, was engaged at Columbia with considerable loss, and at Nashville, where many of the men were captured. It guarded the rear of the retreating army and moved into the Carolinas. From Branchville to Bentonville, it fought Sherman and was consolidated with the 31st and 46th Alabama, with J. B. Bibb as colonel, Osceola Kyle of Coosa at Lt. Col., and J. T. Hester as Major, and sufrrendered at Salisbury, NC. Nearly 1200 names were on the rolls of the 23rd; it had 435 muskets at Rocky-face, and 76 surrendered at Salisbury, under Col. Bibb. Near the close of the war, the 23rd was consolidated with the 31st and 46th Infantry at Smithfield, 9 April 1865.
30th Alabama Infantry
The 30th Alabama Infantry Regiment was organized at Talladega, 16 April 1862, with men recruited from Calhoun, Clay, Coosa, Franklin, Jefferson, Randolph, St. Clair, Shelby, and Talladega counties. It reported for duty at once to Chattanooga. Sent further into East Tennessee, it was brigaded under Gen'l Alexander W. Reynolds of Tennessee, then under Gen'l Carter L. Stevenson. The regiment skirmished at Tazewell and Cumberland Gap, and moved into Kentucky, but it was not engaged there. On the return to Tennessee, the 30th was brigaded with the 20th, 23rd, 31st, and 46th Alabama regiments, under Gen'l Edward D. Tracy of Madison, and in December, it was sent to Vicksburg with the other portions of Stevenson's Division. In the spring, the regiment fought with few casualties at Port Gibson; but, it saw heavy losses at Champion's Hill where 229 men were put out of action - half the regimental strength. In addition, four ensigns were killed, and the colors were penetrated by 63 balls and 16 shell fragments. At Vicksburg, the 30th suffered severely in casualties during the siege and was captured with the fortress. Paroled, the regiment recruited at Demopolis and proceeded with other portions of the brigade, now under Gen'l Edmund W. Pettus of Dallas, to the main army near Chattanooga. The regiment was engaged without loss at Missionary Ridge, then wintered at Dalton. At Rocky Face Ridge, the 30th suffered severely, but lightly at Resaca. In the Atlanta Campaign, the regiment was engaged in several battles. It lost heavily at New Hope, Atlanta, and Jonesboro. It proceeded into Tennessee and was engaged at Nashville, losing heavily again, and was part of the rear guard on the movement to Duck River. Transferred to North Carolina, the regiment fought at Kinston and Bentonville, with high casualties. The 30th surrendered with the army at Greensboro, North Carolina, about 100 men present for duty. Toward the close of the war, the 30th was consolidated with the 20th Infantry and redesignated the 20th Consolidated Infantry Regiment, at Smithfield, 9 April 1865.
62nd Alabama Infantry
The 62nd Alabama Infantry Regiment was organized at Mobile in March, 1865, having
changed designation from the 1st Regiment of Reserves, and using Lockhart's
Battalion as a nucleus (Lockhart's Battalion was organized in Selma, January 1864.)
The new regiment was first stationed at Fort Gaines and was in the bombardment of that
place, losing several killed and wounded, and the remainder captured. Prisoners were
taken to New Orleans and to Ship Island. They were exchanged in Mobile Bay, 4 Jan
1865 and placed in the garrison of Spanish Fort as part of Thomas' Brigade (along with the
63rd Alabama). They then withstood the siege there for six days with some loss until
relieved by Holtzclaw's Brigade. The regiment continued to serve throughout the siege and
following bombardment of Fort Blakely, losing a number killed and wounded, until it was
captured in the final assault. Taken to Ship Island, the men were exchanged in time to be
surrendered with the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana, 4 May 1865.
The regiment was composed wholly of young men, and they were complimented in special
orders by Gen'l St. John Lidell for their conduct at Spanish Fort.
Andrew Madison Lowery, Son of Thomas
Lowery
Andrew Madison Lowery was a son of Thomas Lowery of Shelby County
Alabama. Andrew and his wife Kesiah Jane Mathis were in Covington
county Alabama when the War Between the States began. He moved his
family to Georgia during the war and his daughter Victoria was born
there.
From the book "History
of Escambia County Alabama".
"Andrew Madison Lowery was born of Scottish Immigrant parents in
1833,
probably in Laurens County, Georgia. He served in Finnegan's Florida
Regiment in the Civil War. He was living in Georgia when the war
ended and migrated by oxcart to Evansville, Alabama. A man named
Franklin
shot and killed Andrew, alleging that Andrew's dog was killing his
sheep."
From the book "Roster of
Confederate Soldiers of Georgia" : "A. M. Lowery -
Co. B, G 55th Georgia Infantry. Enlisted as a private in Co H 1st
Regiment,
1st Brigade, Ga. State Troops, Sept 26, 1861. Mustered out May 5, 1862.
Enlisted as a private in Co G 55th Regiment Ga Infantry May 5, 1862. On
detached service at Andersonville, Ga. with Co B, Detached this regiment
October 1864." Co G was from Randolph County Georgia.
Thomas T. Lowery Jr. is an active Civil War
researcher, and is active
in Civil War reenactments. He has pieced together
the following possible
scenario of Andrew Madision Lowery's involvement in the
Civil War. Because
of the difficulty in obtaining data in this area, some
of the data is "best guess"
quality. He continues to refine this work.
Working Paper of Thomas T. Lowery Jr.,
.........................................
Pvt. A. M. LOWERY
1833-1871
Confederate States of America
SERVICE HISTORY (CSA): 26 SEPT. 1861-OCT 1864
Ref: (a) Service Records,
(b) Living Under the Stars And
Bars
(c) Confederate Military History
(c) Service documents of 55th
Ga. Infantry, Andersonville Ga.
(d) Family Bible
(e) Andersonville: The
Southern Perspective
A. M. Lowery enlisted as a private in Co. H, 1st Regiment,
1st Brigade,
Ga. State Volunteer Troops on September 26, 1861 (age 28, Coleman, Randolph
County., GA.).
Background (Ref b): On April 3rd 1961 the First Volunteer Regiment
of Ga.
was organized (Macon GA.), and enlistment records dated March, 18 1861
reflect the regiment was composed of the following Companies:
Co.
A. Newman Guards, Capt. Geo. M. Hanvey
B. Southern Guards, Capt. F. S. Wilkins.
C. Southern Right Guards, Capt. Jno. A. Hauser.
D. Oglethorpe Infantry, Capt. Horton B. Adams.
E. Washington Rifles, Capt. S. A. Jones.
F. Gate City Guards, Capt. W. L. Ezzard.
G. Bainbridge Independents Capt. Jno. W. Evans
H. Dahonega Volunteers, Capt. Alfred Harris.
I. Walker Light Infantry, Capt. S. H. Crump
K. Quitman Guards, Capt. J. S. Pinkard
HISTORY OF THE 1st GA
a. 5-9 April 1861- 1st Ga. left Macon Ga. for Pensacola,
Fl., via
Montgomery, Al. taking the "peoples route" between Garland and
Evergreen
Al. where there was a sixteen mile gap in the railroad connection.
Estimated date of arrival at Pensacola is 15 April 1861.
b. 15 April-30 May 1861- Encamped at Ft. Barrancus the 1st Ga.
reinforced
gun positions opposing Ft. Pickins, across the bay, that was maintained by
Federal troops. The 1st Ga. received orders in late May to transfer
to
Virginia, and left a few days later.
c. Mid June 1861- From Richmond, VA "off to Strunton, Va. by rail,
stopping
at Waynesboro to partake in a "bountiful feast". Left
Strunton a few days
later (on the march) to re-enforce Gen. Garnett at Laurel Hill. By
1July
the 1st Ga. had Joined Garnetts army of 4.500 opposed to 20,00 Federal
forces lead by Gen. McCellian at Laurel Hill, Va.. On July 7th
Gen.
Morris (Fed.) took position in the front (lines) with 8,000 men, while
McCellan, with the remainder of his force (12,000) advanced on Richeptember
an advanced guard of ninety men from the 1st and 12th Ga., lead by Lieut.
Dawson, formed to flank the Federal pickets, by night march, to secure a
position in their rear. The following morning resulted in an skirmish
with
a sister confederate unit that resulted in three men killed and many
wounded in a mutual and unfortunate error (friendly fire). The
planned
attack on Federal forces failed to materialize.
Mountain, held by Col. Pegram with 1,300 of Garnetts command.
d. 8 July 1861- 1st Ga. moved out in front of Laurel Hill to feel
the
enemy's position, and skirmished with Federal troops through 11 July until
Garnett learned that Rich Mountain had been captured by Rosecranz.
With
the capture of Pegram's position, and a large portion of his force
necessitated the evacuation of Laurel Hill towards Beverly, sixteen miles
distant. During the retreat and rear guard action, the larger part of
six
companies of the 1st Ga. were cut off from the main body (escaping
capture), and wandered three days (in the pathless mountains) before
"fortunately" meeting a mountain man that killed a number of
beavers to feed
the famished men, and planned their escape route through federal held
terrain to rejoin the Confederate Army.
e. 7 September 1861- the 1st Ga. was ordered to march out
10-12 Miles
northwest from Green Briar River to Cleat Mountain that was manned by 5,000
Federals under Gen. Reynolds. On the evening of 11S
(for eleven months)
IT IS ASSUMED THAT PVT. LOWERY JOINED THE 1ST GA. BY
OCT. 1, 1861 AND WAS INVOLVED IN ALL ACTIVITIES HENCEFORTH.
f. 3 October 1861 (First major Battle of the 1st GA)- 8:00 a. m. 5,000
Union force under Gen. Reynolds attacked the position of the confederates
at Green Briar River, defended by only a squad of fifty
pickets. The
position was quickly re-enforced and joined by Gen. Jackson, and his
son
Harry Jackson. After the cannonade had lasted several hours a Federal
infantry attack was made on the left flank and was repulsed.
Then Gen.
Reynolds ordered and assault to the right and was met with a rain of
grapeshot from Shoemaker's Va. Battery, and the men of the union force
refused to cross the shallow Green Briar (river) and retreated. By
1:00 p.
m. the entire union force retreated back to Cheat Mountain.
h. 21 November 1861- Orders came to break camp and bid farewell to
Northwest Va. to return to Georgia, but were redirected northward, to join
the "Tramp with Stonewall Jackson", reaching Winchester, Va. Dec.
8, 1961.
i. 1 January 1962- The 1st Ga. with Ashby's cavalry began
the march to
attack federal forces on the morning of 4 January at Bath. The
Federals
retired without resistance to Hancock, Md., six miles away, with the
confederates in pursuit. The pursuit was halted when the regiment
struck a
masked (confederate) battery throwing grapeshot into the woods in front of
their path. After a standoff lasting to the morning of 7 January the
regiment withdrew "to operate against Union forces at Romney, WV.
j. 8 January 1862- the regiment reached "Cross Roads"
and was inspected by
the surgeons with many pronounced as unfit for further winter service and
were returned to Winchester, while the rest of the regiment continued to
Romney.
k. By mid March 1862- Stonewall Jackson decided to evacuate Winchester
and
ordered all convalescent sick to be moved (south), and the 1st Ga. Regiment
was ordered to report to Gen. Johnson in North Carolina. A few weeks
later, the 1st Ga. returned to Augusta, Ga. to be mustered out.
l. 5 May 1862- The 1st Ga. Regiment was the only infantry
organization
from the state that was mustered out at the expiration of its first years
service. The majority of the 1st Ga. volunteers enlisted to
other
regiments to include the 12th, and 55th on the same day that they were
released from the 1st GA.
j. 5 May 1862- Pvt. A. M. Lowery mustered out of 1st Ga., Co. H, and
enlisted for three years/end of war, as a private in Co. L, 55th
Regiment
Georgia Volunteers at Augusta, Ga. Shortly thereafter Co. L was
reorganized to Co. G, under Capt. R. L. Mitchell, under Brig. Gen. Henry
Heath's division.
The Fifty-Fifth regiment, Georgia Volunteers was organized with
the
following field Officers: Col. C. B. Harkie, Lieut.-Col. A. W.
Persons,
Maj./Col. D. S. Printup Adjt. R. C. Saxon. The Captains are as
follows:
Co.
A. Capt. Turner J. Ball
B. Capt. James M. Griffin
C. Capt. William J. Collins
D. Capt. John G. Lester
E. Capt. Ben R. Kendrick
F. Capt. H. W. Baker
G. Capt. R. L. Mitchell (later detached to Co. B at
Andersonville)
H. Capt. J. P. Allen
I Capt. D. A. Lee
(died)
K. Capt. M. P. Tucker
L. Capt. E. M. Westbrook
July 5, 1862 - Based on the alarming messages, of mid June, from
Gen. E.
Kirby Smith, President Jefferson Advise ordered up reinforcements to
eastern Tennessee, that included Heaths division with 6,000 troops
consisting of 12th Ga. and 55th Ga. infantry.
Leaving Augusta in two special trains they were detained at Ringold,
Ga.
for a couple of days by a collision with a freight train, killing ten or
twelve men, and fifteen or twenty horses, with injuries more or less
serious to a larger number. Reaching Chattanooga, Ten. July 8
they
remained there 10 days before being transferred by N. & C. R. R. to a
point
near Shell Mound, Al. Picketing here for two weeks in front of
the army
of Gen. Buell's (Fed) army they returned to Chattanooga Aug. 1, and left
the next day to Knoxville with the intention of accompanying Kirby Smiths
army into Kentucky.
August 10, 1862 - Gen. E. Kirby Smith ordered assault on Fort Clift,
TN.
near Huntsville, TN., which was held by Tennessee Unionist. On the
morning
of Aug. 13, Under the command of Col. Archibald Graicie forces, that
included Heath's division assaulted the fort "scattering the Unionist
in
every direction". Accounts of the assault on Ft. Clift
refer to the
skirmish as almost bloodless with W. W. Bussey of 12th Ga. (Olgelthorpes),
and Garyhan (Crumps Co.) being slightly wounded. The only other
casualty
(killed) was the "nice" horse of Col. Gracie. The
Unionist troops,
apparently surprised by the attack, left in such a hurry that
breakfast
was found in the camp cooking on the fire, for the victorious and hungry
confederate troops.
The attack on Ft. Clift scattered the defending union force and
gave
unmolested passage for the wagon trains of Heaths division through Big
Creek Gap into Kentucky. Three companies of the 12th Ga. battalion
were
left in camp at Jacksburo, Tenn. to picket Big Creek Gap, and guard Bragg's
line of communications. The 12th Ga. remained, at Jacksburo
(without
event) until Oct. 9, 1862 and moved out to Charleston, NC, to
be later
reassigned to the 63rd Ga.
Aug. 14, 1862 - The Army of Gen. Kirby Smith continued into
Kentucky, and
was made of the following three Divisions;
1. Heath's Division: (Known as Smiths legion) included the 55th
Ga. and
Newman's artillery from the 12th battalion (the only artillery battery with
guns after the train wreck, Ringold, GA).
2. Stevenson Division: included the 34th Ga. reg., 36th Ga.
reg., 39th
Ga. reg., 40th Ga. reg., 42th Ga. reg., 52th Ga. reg., 57th Ga. reg., 3rd
&
9th Ga. battalions, and the gunless Cherokee artillery (lost
artillery and
horses in train wreck of July 5, Ringold, Ga.)
3. McCown's Division: was the 43th Ga.
General E. Kirby Smith assembled his men and marched into Kentucky.
After sweeping aside some green Federal troops near Richmond, KY, the
aggressive 38-year-old Smith moved headquarters to Lexington, and sent a
cavalry force to occupy the state capital at Frankfort, Ky. The army
of
Gen. Kirby Smith also engaged Federal forces at Mill Springs, Durtons Hill,
Perryville, Muford, Harrisburg, Lawranceburg, also occupied
Louisville and
the heart of Kentucky. Smith had established a stronghold in
Kentucky (at
last), then going on the defensive, waited to see what Gen. Bragg and
Gen.
Buell were going to do.
(NOTE: FURTHER RESEARCHING KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN FOR
ACTUAL ENGAGEMENTS OF 55TH)
During this era, Pvt. A. M. Lowery was wounded, injured, or fell
ill, and
was evacuated to a hospital in Knoxville, TN. to recover. Co.
Muster
records indicate he was paid in the hospital on Oct. 2, 1862, and returned
to his unit (somewhere in Kentucky) Nov. 1862.
By early summer 1863 - Heath's division had returned to Tennessee
to
reinforce the garrison at Cumberland Gap.
June 2, 1863 - According to Co. G records Pvt. Lowery was reported
as
"absent without leave" returning eleven months later to
what was left of
the 55th Ga. Infantry on April 30 1864, at Camp Sumter, Andersonville, Ga.,
May 1863 - Reference (e), page 149; The first two
reserve units
arrived to relieve the veterans of the 25th Alabama Infantry, and the 46th,
47th, and 55th Georgia Infantry. These shock troops were needed in
Virginia, where (Gen.) Grant was on the "road to Richmond"
opening with
the Wilderness Campaign (5-7 May 1864) , or defend north Georgia from the
advance of the army of Gen. Sherman to Atlanta (5 May -8 Sep 1864).
(NOTE: FURTHER RESEARCHING DISPOSITION OF 55TH GA.)
Conclusively, Pvt. A. M. Lowery was at Camp Sumter (Andersonville)
for
only a brief period, not exceeding two weeks, to be ordered into
Virginia
or north Georgia.
RESEARCHING: Reference (b), page 135, June 26,1863, The Battle of
Kenesaw
Mountain, Ga.- Palmers Corps (Federal) had attacked Cleburne's and
Cheatham's divisions and were met with a bloody repulse and" as the
Union
line retired, exploding wrapping from the rifle cartridges, fired the woods
where the Federal dead and wounded lay. "Cease firing,"
rang out from
brave Pat Cleburne's lips, and the rugged heroes of Grandbury, Govan and
Lowery, dropped their arms and leaping the breastworks they hurried out
under the summer sun and the fiercer heat of the blazing woods to rescue
and save their fallen and helpless foes."
June 1984 - May 1864: Records of the 55th GA indicate A. M.
Lowery was
"Absent With out Leave" (AWOL) . Family records
indicated A. M. Lowery
served in north east Florida, participated in the battle of Olustee Fl
(February 20, 1864), and fought under the command of Brig Gen., Joseph
Finegan during the same period he was listed as AWOL from the 55th
GA.
(RESEARCHING;)
August 1863 - (while listed as AWOL from the 55th GA)
Clothing allowance
records reflect A. M. Lowery drew allowance for clothing., and indicate he
was attached to another Confederate unit .
September 9, 1863, The garrison at Cumberland Gap
surrendered to Federal
troops, most of the 55th were held at Federal prison at Camp
Douglas,
Ill. There is indication some prisoners were exchanged, but
records
reflect that many of the 55th Ga. Infantry were held to the end of the war,
and released June 24, 1965, or died while captive.
September 17, 1863 - The surviving confederates, not
captured, at
Cumberland Gap evacuated the area.
February 24, 1864- That part of the 55th Regiment Georgia Infantry
which
was not captured at Cumberland Gap, TN, on September 9, 1863 or
returned
through exchange were consolidated into a Detachment of three
companies by
the Secretary of War. The 55th Ga. was then ordered to report
to detached
guard service at Andersonville, Ga. and Salisbury NC.
Recap of confederate Service records for A. M. Lowery, 55th Ga. Infantry
are as follows:
DATE
TYPE RECD.
FOR
DUE REMARKS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. May 18, 1862 Pay
Roll not
stated
$50.00 Co. L
2.
Co. (G) Muster Nov. & Dec. 62 Rec'd twenty-five dol-
lars commutation
Paid at Hospital.
Co. G.
3.
Regimental Dec.,
1862 Hosp Knoxville Nov. 2/62
Return
4. Co. (G) Muster Jan & Feb. 63 Present
5. Co. (G) Muster Mar & Apr. 63 Present
6.
Co. (G) Muster May & Jun. 63 Absent without leave
since June 2, 1863
7. August 14,
63 Receipt
Roll
For clothing (while absent)
8.
Co. (B) Muster June 30/63 to Absent without leave
April 30/64
9. August 26,
64 Receipt
Roll
For clothing
(While absent from 55th GA)
10.
Co. (B) Muster Sept. & Oct. 64 Present (Co. B)
Absent without pay
14 days Oct. 64.
ORIGINS OF THE CIVIL WAR CONFLICT
After the Constitution was adopted by all of the States in 1789, uniting the States
into one nation,
differences between the States had been worked out through compromises. By 1861 these
differences
between the Northern States (which included the Mid-Western and Western States) and the
Southern
States had become so great that compromise would no longer work. Thus, a conflict started
within our
nation that was called the Civil War.
For more than 30 years arguments between the North and South had been growing. One of
these quarrels
was about taxes paid on goods brought into this country from foreign countries. This kind
of tax is called
a tariff. In 1828 Northern businessmen helped get the "Tariff Act" passed. It
raised the prices of
manufactured products from Europe which were sold mainly in the South. The purpose of the
law was to
encourage the South to buy the North's products. It angered the Southern people to have to
pay more for
the goods they wanted from Europe or pay more to get goods from the North. Either way the
Southern
people were forced to pay more because of the efforts of Northern businessmen. Though most
of tariff
laws had been changed by the time of the Civil War, the Southern people still remembered
how they were
treated by the Northern people.
In the years before the Civil War the political power in the Federal Government,
centered in Washington
D.C., was changing. The Northern and Mid-Western States were becoming more and more
powerful as
the populations increased. The Southern States were losing political power. Just as the
original thirteen
colonies fought for their independence almost 100 years earlier, the Southern States felt
a growing need
for freedom from the central Federal authority in Washington D.C. They felt that each
State should make
its own laws. This issue was called "State's Rights". Some Southern States
wanted to secede, or break
away from the United States of America and govern themselves.
Another quarrel between the North and South, and perhaps the most emotional one, was
over the issue of
slavery. Farming was the South's main industry and cotton was the primary farm product.
Not having the
use of machines, it took a great amount of human labor to pick cotton. A large number of
slaves were
used in the South to provide the labor. Many slaves were also used to provide labor for
the various
household chores that needed to be done. Many Northerners thought that owning slaves was
wrong, for
any reason. Some of those Northerners loudly disagreed with the South's laws and beliefs
concerning
slavery. Yet slavery had been a part of the Southern way of life for well over 200 years.
The Constitution
of the United States guaranteed the right to own property and protected against seizure of
property. A
slave was property. The people of the Southern States did not like the Northern people
telling them that
owning slaves was a great wrong. A person either believes that slavery is right or that
slavery is wrong, so
how can two people arguing over such an issue compromise?
Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States in 1860. He vowed to keep
the country
united and the new western territories free from slavery. Many Southerners were afraid
that he was not
sympathetic to their way of life and would not treat them fairly. South Carolina was the
first State to
secede from the United States soon after the election of Abraham Lincoln. Six other
Southern States
quickly followed and also seceded. These States joined together and formed a new nation
which they
named the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis was elected their first
president. On April 12,
1861 the Confederate States of America attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina, which was
held by
Federal (Union) troops and flew the United States flag. As open conflict increased, other
United States
seceded and joined the Confederacy. The fighting of the Civil War would take four long
years to end.
This country would remain united and slavery would come to an end.
(Courtesy of U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service)
Visit the Shelby County Alabama CSA site: Civil War -
Shelby County.
