John N. McBrayer (CSA)

On July 24th, 1861, at the age of 24, John answered the call of his beloved Alabama and enlisted in the 18th Alabama Infantry at Cedar Grove, Alabama, and was assigned to Company C. His enlisting officer was James M. Oliver, Captain of the Confederate States Army and his term of enlistment was listed as 3 years.

The 18ths first assignment was to Mobile, Alabama where it was brigaded under the command of General Adley Hogan Gladden of Louisiana, with the 19th, 20th, 22nd, and the 25th Alabama regiments. During this period in Mobile John was detailed as a hospital nurse.

In March of 1862 John's Regiment was sent to Corinth, Mississippi. Corinth is located about two miles from where the bloodiest battle of the war would be fought. A battle that would be known as Shiloh.

On Sunday morning, April 6, 1862 the 18th would be engaged in battle. The 18th was lucky in that it did not have to engage the enemy in battle on the second day. Instead they were detailed to escort the brigade of USA General Benjamin Mayberry Prentiss to the rear. The 18th had been largely responsible for capturing this brigade and was given the honor of escort duty.

After another fight called Blackbird the 18th was sent to Mobile, Alabama. They would remain there until April 1863. The next battle listed for the 18th was Chickamauga, where they lost 22 of 36 officers and 300 out of 500 men, killed and wounded.

At the battle of Missionary Ridge, the 18th lost another 90 men mainly captured. Subsequent battles for the 18th were the Dalton-Atlanta campaign, Spanish Fort in Mobile, and eventually surrendered on 4 May 1865 at Meridian, Mississippi. John is listed as a prisoner of war on May 12th, 1865.

The 18th numbered 858 men in January 1861 and had been reduced to 275 effectives in November 1864.

Knowing the battles that John was involved in it was very lucky that he survived and was able to continue with his life after the war. According to his military records he only entered the hospital one time, that was November 5th, 1864 and he stayed there for at least 10 days.

During the war, John served honorably and was present at all listed muster roll calls. His rank was private during his entire enlistment.

Once the war was over John returned home and on 1 November 1866 he married Nancy Jane Wharton in St. Clair County, Alabama. Together they started raising a family. Their children were, William, Mary, Ida, Ollie, Laura, John, Philip and Sarah Jane Rosalvia. All born from 1867 to 1886. A total of eight children.

John and his family left Alabama in 1887 and headed West. Their final destination was Mesa, Arizona. The family is listed as having arrived in Mesa on January 1st, 1888.

After their arrival they once again started farming and raising their children. John was just an ordinary citizen of that time period...

(Camp 1708, Confederate Memorial Day Observance, April 29, 2000 "Tribute Dedication to John N. McBrayer" by Wayne E. Tatum) Also special thanks to my cousin Richard McBride for his corrections.

The following article appeared in the Arizona Gazette on December 15th, 1909 under the title of "Early Settler Dies in Mesa City"

"Mesa. Dec. 15 – (Special to the Gazette,) John McBrayer, one of the first settlers of Mesa, died here at 3:25 this morning, aged 73. His wife and six grown children were with him at the time of his death. The deceased was born in Jefferson County, Alabama, in 1837. In 1861 he enlisted in the Eighteenth Alabama volunteers and fought for the confederacy throughout the civil war. In 1888 he came to Mesa and was a continuous resident of this place up to the time of his death.

Five of Mr. McBrayer's children live in Mesa an one in Tempe. The seventh, a daughter, is in Globe. The funeral will be held from the Tabernacle tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock."

Source: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9365433

18th Alabama Infantry, Company C, "Cahaba Valley Rangers"

Confederate States Army- July 24, 1861 to May 12, 1865

Enlisted at Cedar Grove, Alabama.

Prisoner of War at Meridian, Mississippi.

Battles engaged in:

Shiloh- Blackland- Chickamauga- Chattanooga- Missionary Ridge- Dalton- Atlanta Campaign- Franklin, Tennessee- Spanish Fort, Alabama

Surrendered at Meridian, Mississippi, May 4, 1865.

Birth: Mar. 5, 1837 Jefferson County Alabama, USA Death: Dec. 15, 1909 Mesa Maricopa County Arizona, USA

18th Alabama Infantry, Company C, "Cahaba Valley Rangers" Confederate States Army- July 24, 1861 to May 12, 1865 Enlisted at Cedar Grove, Alabama. Prisoner of War at Meridian, Mississippi.

Battles engaged in:

Shiloh- Blackland- Chickamauga- Chattanooga- Missionary Ridge- Dalton- Atlanta Campaign- Franklin, Tennessee- Spanish Fort, Alabama

Surrendered at Meridian, Mississippi, May 4, 1865.

___________________________________________________________

On July 24th, 1861, at the age of 24, John answered the call of his beloved Alabama and enlisted in the 18th Alabama Infantry at Cedar Grove, Alabama, and was assigned to Company C. His enlisting officer was James M. Oliver, Captain of the Confederate States Army and his term of enlistment was listed as 3 years.

The 18th s first assignment was to Mobile, Alabama where it was brigaded under the command of General Adley Hogan Gladden of Louisiana, with the 19th, 20th, 22nd, and the 25th Alabama regiments. During this period in Mobile John was detailed as a hospital nurse.

In March of 1862 John's Regiment was sent to Corinth, Mississippi. Corinth is located about two miles from where the bloodiest battle of the war would be fought. A battle that would be known as Shiloh.

On Sunday morning, April 6, 1862 the 18th would be engaged in battle. The 18th was lucky in that it did not have to engage the enemy in battle on the second day. Instead they were detailed to escort the brigade of USA General Benjamin Mayberry Prentiss to the rear. The 18th had been largely responsible for capturing this brigade and was given the honor of escort duty.

After another fight called Blackbird the 18th was sent to Mobile, Alabama. They would remain there until April 1863. The next battle listed for the 18th was Chickamauga, where they lost 22 of 36 officers and 300 out of 500 men, killed and wounded.

At the battle of Missionary Ridge, the 18th lost another 90 men mainly captured. Subsequent battles for the 18th were the Dalton-Atlanta campaign, Spanish Fort in Mobile, and eventually surrendered on 4 May 1865 at Meridian, Mississippi. John is listed as a prisoner of war on May 12th, 1865.

The 18th numbered 858 men in January 1861 and had been reduced to 275 effectives in November 1864.

Knowing the battles that John was involved in it was very lucky that he survived and was able to continue with his life after the war. According to his military records he only entered the hospital one time, that was November 5th, 1864 and he stayed there for at least 10 days.

During the war, John served honorably and was present at all listed muster roll calls. His rank was private during his entire enlistment.

Once the war was over John returned home and on 1 November 1866 he married Nancy Jane Wharton in St. Clair County, Alabama. Together they started raising a family. Their children were, William, Mary, Ida, Ollie, Laura, John, Philip and Sarah Jane Rosalvia. All born from 1867 to 1886. A total of eight children.

John and his family left Alabama in 1887 and headed West. Their final destination was Mesa, Arizona. The family is listed as having arrived in Mesa on January 1st, 1888.

After their arrival they once again started farming and raising their children. John was just an ordinary citizen of that time period...

(Camp 1708, Confederate Memorial Day Observance, April 29, 2000 "Tribute Dedication to John N. McBrayer" by Wayne E. Tatum) Also special thanks to my cousin Richard McBride for his corrections.

The following article appeared in the Arizona Gazette on December 15th, 1909 under the title of "Early Settler Dies in Mesa City" "Mesa. Dec. 15 – (Special to the Gazette,) John McBrayer, one of the first settlers of Mesa, died here at 3:25 this morning, aged 73. His wife and six grown children were with him at the time of his death. The deceased was born in Jefferson County, Alabama, in 1837. In 1861 he enlisted in the Eighteenth Alabama volunteers and fought for the confederacy throughout the civil war. In 1888 he came to Mesa and was a continuous resident of this place up to the time of his death. Five of Mr. McBrayer's children live in Mesa an one in Tempe. The seventh, a daughter, is in Globe. The funeral will be held from the Tabernacle tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock."

Family links:

Spouse:

 Nancy Jane Wharton McBrayer (1844 - 1930)*

Children:

 William David McBrayer (1867 - 1933)*

 John Young McBrayer (1880 - 1957)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: City of Mesa Cemetery Mesa Maricopa County Arizona, USA