lelliott19
Brigadier General
★ Moderator
* OFFICIAL *
CWT PRESENTER
CWT PRESENTER
Forum Host
Silver Patron
Regtl. Staff Chickamauga 2018
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2013
Samuel B. Sanders married Anne Skelton on January 24, 1828 in Franklin County, GA. Samuel and Anne had 3 daughters and 8 sons. At the outbreak of the war, THREE of the boys were of age and enlisted into Company C "Hartwell Infantry" 16th Georgia Volunteer Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia.
Their younger borther, Thomas, came of age in Dec 1864 and was also enlisted into Co C 16th GA. The Captain of "Hartwell Infantry" was John H. Skelton, their uncle.
James (left) was killed at Antietam. Swanson (middle) was wounded FIVE times, captured, held as a POW at Elmira and lived to tell the tale. Benjamin (right) served through the war but was captured at Front Royal (the same day as Swanson) and died whilst imprisoned at Elmira, NY. Thomas (not pictured) was home on sick furlough at the time of the surrender of the ANV.
The photo from 1862 includes L to R:
James M Sanders (b. May 25, 1836 Hart County, GA) enlisted on July 13, 1861 and was killed Sept 17, 1862 at Antietam, Sharpsburg, MD. According to the report of his brother, who was marching alongside of him at the time, James was "hit in the head with a mini ball and his head just exploded." His brother had to walk off and leave him lying on the battlefield. He was 25 years old.
Swanson Hardin Sanders (b. July 12, 1841 in Elbert County, GA) enlisted July 13, 1861 as 2nd corporal. At that time he was twenty years old. Wounded in side at Crampton's Gap, Md. Sept. 14, 1862; Wounded in foot at Fredericksburg, Va. Dec. 13, 1862; Wounded in shoulder at Chancellorsville, Va. May 3, 1863; Wounded in elbow at Wilderness, Va. May 6, 1864; Wounded and captured at Deep Bottom, Va. Aug 16, 1864; Released at Elmira, N. Y. June 19, 1865. He returned to GA married Elizabeth Rebecca Bailey and they had five children. According to his granddaughter, Clarice Sanders Morris, "In his later years, as a result of the wounds he received, you could hear him coming for over an eighth of a mile away because of his gasping for breath."
Benjamin Thornton Sanders (b. January 1, 1844 Franklin County, GA) enlisted Sept 5, 1861, was captured at Front Royal, Virginia, August 16, 1864 and died in 1865 whist imprisoned at Elmira, New York, of fever.
Not pictured, Thomas H Sanders (b. December 10, 1846 Hart County, GA) enlisted April 10, 1864 soon after his 18th birthday. Home on sick furlough April 1865 at the time of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. Died Dec 31 1924 in Hart County, GA.
I posted this here because we all assume that medical care during the CW was primitive and not very effective. Apparently, the surgeons who attended young Swan were highly skilled because, being wounded FIVE times, we certainly can't attribute his survival to good luck.
Last edited: