According to records, his service began in 1862. He is listed as serving under R.B. Simons, who started out the war as a private in Buist’s Company of the 17th S.C Militia, before taking on other assignments, including in Company A of 18 Battalion, S.C. Artillery, often referred to as the Siege Train Artillery Battalion. Neither Middleton’s age nor middle name were listed in the application.
Randy Burbage, a local re-enactor and national officer in the Sons of Confederate Veterans, said Middleton’s role during the war would have been of high value.
“A cook is pretty important member,” he said. “He still had to feed the soldiers,” and that “this is his home too.”