722
PRIVATE JOHN J. BAZELL (BAZIL)
FREE MULATTO
COMPANY E 26TH TENNESSEE INFANTRY
Sgt John J. Basil, Company K, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, USA. Enlisted August 11, 1863 at age 36 and mustered in January 26, 1864. Appointed sergeant December 31, 1863.
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Name:
John Bazell
Event Type:
Census
Event Date:
1860
Event Place:
5th District, Cumberland, Tennessee, United States
Gender:
Male
Age:
31
Race:
Mulatto
Race (Original):
Mulatto
Birth Year (Estimated):
1829
Birthplace:
Tennessee
Page:
45
John's record indicates he enlisted for 12 months into Company E, Confederate 26th TN Infantry at Camp Cummings, Knoxville, Tennessee on August 5, 1861. John was born in Roane County in East Tennessee. At Fort Donelson, the regiment had 96 killed and wounded out of 400 engaged. Most of the regiment was surrendered, and the enlisted men sent to Camp Morton, Indiana. His name is on a roll of rebel prisoners captured at Fort Donelson dated August 27, 1862. A good many escaped and were consolidated with men from the regiment in hospitals at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee. John was apparently one of these, as there is no record of a prisoner exchange. He was discharged for "overage", Oct.12, 1862 at the expiration of his original enlistment.
He was captured by Kentucky Union Homeguard at Tompkinsville, Kentucky August 3, 1863, expressing a desire to take the Oath Of Allegiance and join the 37th Kentucky that had just begun recruiting and organizing. He told the Yankees he had been "pressed" into Confederate service. He was released on August 11, 1863, and joined Company K, Union 13th Tennessee Cavalry. By March 1864 he had attained the rank of 2nd Sergeant. He mustered out at Knoxville, Tennessee, September 5, 1865. He filed for a Federal Pension on July 23, 1881. He died on March 21, 1913, in Kentucky.