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John Jeremiah Gulledge
John J. Gulledge was born in May of 1827 in Chesterfield
County, SC. He was a child of Obidiah Gulledge and Rebecca McLean. I have
yet to determine the exact date of his birth. The record of his life is
still rather sketchy, but hopefully time will serve to rectify this
situation.
The census of 1850 shows John J. Gulledge working as an
overseer near Pageland, SC. On November 16, 1854 he married Nancy Ann
Morris, the daughter of John Morris and Phereby Smith. John and Nancy
had three sons, John A., William, and Charles. Two of these sons
eventually married sisters, and I am descended from the son John A. (Albert)
Gulledge.
John J. Gulledge enlisted in the service of the
Confederacy on May 21, 1863, in Chesterfield County at the then rather ripe
age of 36. It would be interesting to hear the discussions on the
home-front concerning a man, approaching middle age, married, and with 3
young sons, enlisting in the Army. His sentiments must have been rather
strong indeed. John J. Gulledge served as a private in Company H, 1st
(Butler's) Regiment South Carolina Regulars, (Artillery). He was garrisoned
at Charleston and served in the defense of this strategic port city. He
remained in and near Charleston until the evacuation of the City by the
Confederate troops. His assignment was changed to infantry and he marched
into North Carolina and fought with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's Army. There
is some speculation that he may have been wounded either in late 1864, or in
the spring of 1865. Possibly he was wounded at either Averasboro or
Bentonville, but the record is unclear. There is some evidence that he was
on medical leave for at least a month, though the specific dates are unclear
as well. Due to the vagaries of this information at present it is uncertain
whether he was present at the surrender of Gen. Johnston's Army at Bennett
Place, near Durham, NC. It is believed though at any rate that wherever and
whatever his wound, that he never fully recovered and that it was a
contributing factor to his eventual death in 1869 at the age of 42.
Unfortunately, there is no known existing photograph of
John J. Gulledge. Hopefully the passage of time will shed more light as to
his life, and if so, I shall update his record accordingly.
John Jeremiah Gulledge is the maternal Great Great
Grandfather of Secession Camp 4 Compatriot Ray Swagerty.
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