Reminiscences of the Boys in Gray, 1861-1865 Page: 7

Reminiscences of the Boys in Gray, 1861-1865. 7
father of one was English and his mother a German, and the other one
was a Jew. We all spoke German, hence the name "Dutch Company," and
it was the best one that ever came from the "Fadder Land."
THOMAS P. AILLS, Bettie, Texas-Was born Dec. 16, 1832, near
Jacks, Hinds County, Mississippi. Enlisted in the Confederate Army
March, 1861, at Gilmer, Texas, as private in Company H, Fourteenth
Texas Infantry, with T. W. Stephens, first Captain; J. L. Camp, first Colonel,
in Gen. Walker's division, Trans-Mississippi Department. Went first
to Vicksburg, Miss., and served through the siege, then to Corinth, and
later to Nashville, Tenn.
At Vicksburg I was shot in the knee, also wounded in the side in a
battle fourteen miles below Nashville. Was never taken prisoner. Remained
a private all through the war. Was in the battles of Vicksburg,
Corinth, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Pilot Point, Lookout Mountain, Mansfield,
La., and at Appomattox Court House.
E. P. AKINS, Breckenridge, Tex.--Enlisted in the Confederate Army
in October, 1861. Was captured at Fort Donelson in 1862, and exchanged
at Vicksburg, Miss., about August, 1862. We were then sent to Jackson,
Miss., and reorganized and enlisted for the war; sent from there to Holly
Springs, Miss., and from there were ordered on a forced march to reinforce
Gen. Price, but were ordered back. We suffered from heat and lost several
men. We were then sent to Port Hudson, La., and were in several fights
around there and went into winter quarters at Dalton, Ga. We were
on picket duty until spring, 1864. We suffered a great deal for the want
of food and clothing. From there back to Atlanta, I was under Gen.
Wheeler, and his command was sent back to Middle Tennessee. I was
captured there about September, 1864, and carried as far back as Louisville,
Ky., where I made my escape and returned to Columbia, Tenn. I
then fell in with Gen. Hood's army and went South, then on to North
Carolina. We were next sent into Virginia on a raid. The last fight I was
in was the battle at Hanover Court House, Virginia. We then dropped
back to North Carolina and surrendered in May, 1865.
E. T. ALAGOOD, Era, Texas-Was born Dec. 26, 1836, near Dublin,
Laurens County, Georgia, and enlisted in the Confederate Army in April,
1862, as private in Company C, Fifty-Seventh Georgia Regiment, Smith's
brigade, Western Army. My first Captain was Tucker, and first Colonel
was Barkuloo. We enlisted at Savannah, Ga., and were sent to Chattanooga,
Tenn., and from there to Kentucky, then back to Chattanooga,
then to Corinth, Jackson and Vicksburg, Miss. I was wounded just above
the ear at Lovejoy Station, and was sent to the hospital at Cuthbert, Ga.
After the battle at Baker's Creek we went into the works at Vicksburg,
where we fought forty-seven days, finally surrendering to Grant and were
sent home till exchanged. I was not promoted. Was in the battles of
Vicksburg, Atlanta, Savannah, New Hope Church and Jonesborough, Ga.,
where Gen. Hood superseded Gen. Johnston, and when our real slaughter
and trying times began. We were taken out from the front of Sherman
and you might say opened the way to Savannah, Ga. Gen. Hood then went
to Franklin, Tenn., where he lost the greater part of his army and then to
Nashville, where we did not stay long, as the enemy was too strong for us.
We then went to North Carolina and the war soon closed.