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While looking for something else, I ran across this article and found it interesting, so I did some quick look-ups to provide the background and additional info. Article below.
Colonel John Calvin Fizer
(spelled Fiser prior to 1866)
Background
Born May 4, 1838 in Dyersburg, Dyer County, TN. Near the time of the Mexican War, the family removed to Panola, MS. After his father's death in 1852, John Calvin lived with his uncle who was a prominent citizen of Panola. By 1856, John Calvin moved to Memphis, where he engaged in cotton trade and mercantile business.
Enlistment
Shortly after the firing on Fort Sumter, Fizer returned to Panola, MS where he helped organize the 17th Mississippi Infantry Regiment. He was elected 1st Lieutenant of Company H, the "Panola Vindicators." At Corinth, before the regiment departed for Virginia, he was appointed Adjutant of the Regiment. In Virginia, the 17th Mississippi Infantry was initially assigned to D R Jones' brigade for 1st Manassas and Fizer served as Brigade Adjutant.
Service
Shortly after 1st Manassas, the army was reorganized and Fizer was elected Lt Colonel of the 17th MS. The regiment would serve in the Army of Northern Virginia, brigaded under Generals Howell Cobb, Griffith, Barksdale, and Humphreys. At Malvern Hill, Colonel Holder was wounded and command of the regiment fell to Fizer. He would serve as Lt Col at Harpers Ferry & Sharpsburg (listed as commanding regiment), Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, where he was wounded. Just after Gettysburg, he was promoted to Colonel and the 17th MS traveled with Longstreet to Chattanooga and western TN. Fizer would be badly wounded in the Assault on Fort Sanders, Nov 29, 1863, resulting in the loss of his arm.
I ran across this article on the National Park Service history site, entitled "Gettysburg Seminar Papers: Unsung Heroes of Gettysburg" by Edward F. Guy. (The web address is numbered as essay 8 so I assume there are more of these out there?)
http://npshistory.com/series/symposia/gettysburg_seminars/5/essay8.htm#12
Fizer returned to Memphis and married Minerva Hays Dunn on November 7 1866. (Shortly afterwards, he changed the spelling of his last name from Fiser to Fizer.) The couple would have three daughters. Fizer became quite a successful businessman, serving as President of the Office Security Building and Loan Association. In 1871, he was elected President of the Confederate Historical and Relief Association. He died in Memphis in 1876 at the young age of 38 years from dysentery. He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, TN.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8578789
Colonel John Calvin Fizer
(spelled Fiser prior to 1866)
Background
Born May 4, 1838 in Dyersburg, Dyer County, TN. Near the time of the Mexican War, the family removed to Panola, MS. After his father's death in 1852, John Calvin lived with his uncle who was a prominent citizen of Panola. By 1856, John Calvin moved to Memphis, where he engaged in cotton trade and mercantile business.
Enlistment
Shortly after the firing on Fort Sumter, Fizer returned to Panola, MS where he helped organize the 17th Mississippi Infantry Regiment. He was elected 1st Lieutenant of Company H, the "Panola Vindicators." At Corinth, before the regiment departed for Virginia, he was appointed Adjutant of the Regiment. In Virginia, the 17th Mississippi Infantry was initially assigned to D R Jones' brigade for 1st Manassas and Fizer served as Brigade Adjutant.
Service
Shortly after 1st Manassas, the army was reorganized and Fizer was elected Lt Colonel of the 17th MS. The regiment would serve in the Army of Northern Virginia, brigaded under Generals Howell Cobb, Griffith, Barksdale, and Humphreys. At Malvern Hill, Colonel Holder was wounded and command of the regiment fell to Fizer. He would serve as Lt Col at Harpers Ferry & Sharpsburg (listed as commanding regiment), Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, where he was wounded. Just after Gettysburg, he was promoted to Colonel and the 17th MS traveled with Longstreet to Chattanooga and western TN. Fizer would be badly wounded in the Assault on Fort Sanders, Nov 29, 1863, resulting in the loss of his arm.
I ran across this article on the National Park Service history site, entitled "Gettysburg Seminar Papers: Unsung Heroes of Gettysburg" by Edward F. Guy. (The web address is numbered as essay 8 so I assume there are more of these out there?)
http://npshistory.com/series/symposia/gettysburg_seminars/5/essay8.htm#12
"Lt. Col. John C. Fizer (17th Miss.), of Barksdale's brigade, was known as "a great favorite with the soldiers. [sic.]" He was still concerned about being overrun at Fredericksburg on May 3, 1863, and losing the guns of the celebrated Washington Artillery. As the Mississippi troops prepared for action July 2 at Gettysburg, a member of the Washington Artillery, Capt. Charles W. Squires, rode up to Lt. Col. Fizer. Fizer made the comment to Squires that they would soon recover the lost guns. Fizer was later carried to the rear, wounded. Passing Squires he said that they had gotten the guns, as promised. Fizer did not realize that most of the cannons overrun that day would be lost in Union counterattacks. Fizer later lost an arm at Knoxville, Tenn. November 29, 1863. He was shot while climbing the enemy parapet with a hatchet attached to his sword belt. He had planned to personally chop down the U. S. flag inside Ft. Sanders. [11]"
11. Charles W. Squires, "My Artillery Fire Was Very Destructive: The Charles W. Squires Memoir" (Conclusion),Civil War Times Illustrated,XIV, No. 3 (June 1975), 19;Confederate Veteran,I, 335; CSR, 109M269R253NA. http://npshistory.com/series/symposia/gettysburg_seminars/5/essay8.htm#12
After the War11. Charles W. Squires, "My Artillery Fire Was Very Destructive: The Charles W. Squires Memoir" (Conclusion),Civil War Times Illustrated,XIV, No. 3 (June 1975), 19;Confederate Veteran,I, 335; CSR, 109M269R253NA. http://npshistory.com/series/symposia/gettysburg_seminars/5/essay8.htm#12
Fizer returned to Memphis and married Minerva Hays Dunn on November 7 1866. (Shortly afterwards, he changed the spelling of his last name from Fiser to Fizer.) The couple would have three daughters. Fizer became quite a successful businessman, serving as President of the Office Security Building and Loan Association. In 1871, he was elected President of the Confederate Historical and Relief Association. He died in Memphis in 1876 at the young age of 38 years from dysentery. He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, TN.
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