VISITING THE MCGAVOCK CONFEDERATE CEMETERY Lesson Plan e McGavock Confederate Cemetery was established in 1866 and is the resting place to 1,496 Confederate soldiers. Most of the men died during the ve hours of the Battle of Franklin. e soldiers are buried according to states. Each state section has a large stone with name of the state. Each soldier has a small stone with his plot number and his initials if they are known. Below is a story of a soldier who fought and died on November 30, 1864. Find his grave, read his story, and write a letter home based on the information given. Some soldiers do not have graves. ey are buried in one of the unknown graves. Others have personalized stones set up by their family or friends. How To Find A Grave 1. Find the state the grave is located in. 2. Find the plot number of the grave on the stone. Glossary Muster Roll a list of ocers or men in a military unit Muster assemble troops, usually in preparation for battle or inspection Census an ocial count of a population Enlist to join the army CSA/C.S. an abbreviation for the Confederate States of America Furlough a temporary leave of absence from the army Convalescent recovering from an illness or operation Captain John B. Allen, Co. I, 29th AL Infantry, CSA 1826 • February 17: John was born in North Carolina to Bryan and Susanna Wood Allen. 1847 • December 30: John married Nancy Telghman in Fayette County, GA. 1850 • October 20: The U.S. Federal Census from Fayette County, GA showed John, a farmer, living with his wife and their son. 1860 • March 4: The U.S. Federal Census from Covington County, AL showed John, a farmer, living with his wife and their children. John owned six slaves. 1862 • March 4: John enlisted in the C.S. Army and mustered into Co. I 29 AL Infantry in Covington County, AL. 1864 • November2: John was promoted to Captain. • November 30: John was killed in action at the Battle of Franklin. He was buried at the McGavock Confederate Cemetery in Franklin, TN. Grave: Alabama Section 76, Grave Number 127. Sergeant John Anderson, Co. K, 33rd Mississippi Infantry, CSA ABOUT 1824 • John Anderson was born to Benjamin and Jane Anderson. 1850 • October 7: The U.S. Federal Census from Amite County, MS showed 26-year-old John living with his widowed mother and siblings. His mother Jane owned 2 slaves. 1860 • July 14: The U.S. Federal Census from Amite County, MS showed John as a planter. He owned 2 slaves. 1862 • March 10: John enlisted in the C.S. Army in Amite County, MS. • John, his brother J.J. Anderson and nephew, Robert Capell were all enlisted by Col. D.W. Hurst within 5 days of each other. • March 10 – August 31: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. Remarks “Private apptd 3 corp 12 May.” • November & December: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. 1863 • March & April: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. Remarks “apptd 2nd sgt from Corpl apl 1 1863.” • July & August: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. 1864 • March & April: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. • November 30: John Anderson is killed in action at the Battle of Franklin. He was buried in the McGavock Confederate Cemetery. • John’s nephew Robert Capell also died at Franklin. Grave: Unknown Private Joseph L. Bethune, Co. I, 46th Georgia Infantry, CSA 1844 • Joseph Leonidas Bethune was born in Talbot County, GA to Marion and Frances Jane Bethune. 1850 • September 10: The U.S. Federal Census from Talbotton, Talbot County, GA showed 6-year- old Joseph living with his parents and siblings. His father, Marion, was a Lawyer. 1860 • July 7: The U.S. Federal Census from Talbotton, Talbot County, GA showed 15-year-old Joseph living with his parents and siblings. His father, Marion, was an Ordinary and a prominent local politician. He served as a probate judge from 1852-1868 and in the U.S. Congress after the war. 1862 • December 5: Joseph enlisted in the C.S. Army. He mustered into Co. I 46th GA Infantry in Charleston, SC. 1863 • December 31 to August 3: Company Muster Roll marks him as Absent. It says he was “sick in hospital Macon, GA.” 1864 • November 30: Private Joseph Bethune was killed while fighting in the Battle of Franklin. He was buried in the McGavock Cemetery Grave: Georgia Section 77, Grave Number 15. Sergeant Meriwether Black, Co. E, 3rd Missouri Infantry, CSA 1836 • January 26: Meriwether Green Black was born in Kentucky to parents Charles and Martha Green Black. 1840 • U.S. Federal Census showed Charles Black, head of household, living in Knox County, KY. There was a male child under the age of 5 living in the household, which was Meriwether. 1850 • September 27: U.S. Federal Census taken in Daviess County, MO showed 15-year-old Meriwether living with his parents and siblings. His father had no occupation listed but lived in a farming district. 1858 • February 21: Meriwether married Rachel Payne in Daviess County, MO. 1860 • August 20: U.S. Federal Census taken in Gallatin, Daviess County, MO showed Meriwether, a farmer, living with his wife Rachel and their son, Thomas. 1861 • December 28: Meriwether Black enlisted in the Confederate Army, He mustered into Co. E, 3rd MO Infantry. 1862 • March to June: Company Muster Roll marks him as Absent. It says he was performing “detached service” • July to December: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. 1864 • November 30: Meriwether was wounded while fighting in the Battle of Franklin. He was captured by U.S. troops on December 17th while convalescing in a makeshift hospital in Franklin. He died on December 28 in Franklin. During re-interment he was buried at the McGavock Confederate Cemetery. Grave: Missouri Section 14, Grave Number 110. His grave is carved with the wrong initials it says “W.G.B.” rather than “M.G.B.” Private Mills C. Brinson, Co. K, 25th Georgia Infantry, CSA 1841 • Mills Cornelius Brinson was born in Georgia to Adam and Cynthia Brinson. 1850 • September 5: The U.S. Federal Census showed 9-year-old Mills living with his parents and siblings in Screven County, GA. His father was a farmer. 1860 • June 26: The U.S. Federal Census taken in Screven County, GA showed 18-year-old Mills, a student, living with a Burke family and all of his siblings. 1861 • August 4: Mills Brinson married Mary Ingram. 1862 • May 12: Mills enlisted in the C.S. Army. • May and June: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. • July and August: Company Muster Roll marks him as Absent. Remarks “Absent at convalescent camp at Springfield.” • September and October: Company Muster Roll marks him as Absent. Remarks “Absent sick.” 1863 • August 31: Attached to Walkers division hospital Lauderdale, MS. By this point Mills has been promoted to Corporal. 1864 • November 30: Mills fought with his regiment in the Battle of Franklin. He was fighting near the Southwest flank near the current Carter House parking lot. He was wounded. • December 15: Mills C. Brinson died in Franklin, TN from the wounds he received fighting on November 30th. Mills was eventually buried at the McGavock Confederate Cemetery. Grave: Georgia Section 79, Grave Number 45 Corporal Robert S. Capell, Co. K, 33rd Mississippi Infantry, CSA 1841 • Robert Capell was born to Eli and Margaret Capell in Amite County, MS. 1850 • October 12: The U.S. Federal Census from Amite County, MS showed 9-year-old Robert living with his parents and siblings. His father Eli was a prosperous farmer and owned 56 slaves. 1860 • June 27: The U.S. Federal Census from Amite County, MS showed 19-year-old Robert living with his parents and siblings. Eli was quite successful. He was listed as a planter and he owned 85 slaves. • July 2: Robert attended La Grange college. 1862 • March 15: Robert enlisted in the C.S. in Amite County, MS. • March 15 – August 31: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. • May: Robert was given a furlough pass to go home for 10 days. • November & December: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. 1863 • March to December: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. 1864 • July & August: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. Remarks “Promoted Aug 15 1864” • November 30: Robert was wounded at the Battle of Franklin and died from his wounds. He was buried in the McGavock Confederate Cemetery. Grave: Mississippi Section 46, Grave Number 374. Sergeant Owen L. Conerly, Co. E, 33rd Mississippi Infantry, CSA 1830 • September 15: Owen Lewis Conerly was born in Pike County, MS to Cullen and Lavisa Conerly. 1850 • August 31: The U.S. Federal Census from Pike County, MS showed 19-year-old Owen, a student, living with his parents and siblings. His father Cullen was a prosperous farmer and owned 17 slaves. Cullen Conerly also owned a sawmill, a grist mill and a cotton gin. (Between 1850-60) Owen married Saleta Warner. 1860 • July 11: The U.S. Federal Census from Washington Parish, LA showed Owen as a farmer living with his wife and children. 1862 • May 4: Owen L. Conerly enlisted in the C.S. Army in Holmesville, Amite County, MS. • March 10 – August 31: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. Remarks “Bounty due.” • November & December: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. 1863 • March & April: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. • May & June: Company Muster Roll marks him as Present. • July & August: Company Muster Roll marks him as Absent.