Pvt. Thomas S. Harkins

Pvt. in the Alleghany Rangers

Enlisted: April 13 1862

Burial: Family Farm in Choestow Section, Union Co., GA.

Note:
In the 1860 Census for Union Co., GA,
Thomas was living next door to his brother; William Barton Harkins.

He and his cousins, Thomas McKinley Harkins, James S. Harkins (killed at Baker's Creek on May 16, 1863), and Spencer G. Harkins, all enlisted in the 52nd Georgia Regiment, Co. G, known as The Allegheny Rangers. His uncle; Benjamin Austin Harkins, was a staunch Unionist who left Georgia from 1864 until after the war had ended.

An account of Thomas' death by his by his great-great-grandaughter; Lois D. Davis:

"I had read several accounts that Thomas S. Harkins was a Union Soldier. I doubted this information. I wrote the Georgia Archives and received a copy of his military service records, and this is the information I received:

Military service records for Thomas S. Harkins of Blairsville, Union Co., Georgia: Volunteered on March 4, 1862, for 3 years or for the duration of the war, in the Confederate Army.

On April 13,1862, he received a bounty of $50.00 for joining the service.

He served as a private in Company "G" (known as The Alleghany Rangers), 52nd Regiment, Georgia Infantry, Stovall's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. The 52nd Georgia Regiment was engaged in several battles during 1862 and the early part of 1863.

On May 2,1863, he was listed as sick.

On July 4,1863, the entire Confederate force of almost 29,000 men that had been defending the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, surrended to Union forces. Included was the 52nd GA Regiment and Thomas Harkins. Vicksburg had been under siege for 45 days.

Thomas S. Harkins died July 17th or 18th 1863. Cause of death is not recorded.

Note: This information was compiled from Confederate Pension Records and Compiled Service Records including Pay Roll, Company Muster Roll, Roll of Prisoners of War, Prisioner of War Record, Adjutant and Inspector General's Office records state he died July 17, 1863. The Confederate Register states he died July 18, 1863."

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Children of Thomas S. Harkins & Nancy Taylor:
William W. Harkins
Mary Elizabeth Harkins
David Thomas Harkins
Newton Tillman Harkins
Harriet Lucinda Harkins
Thomas Jasper Harkins
John S. Harkins

https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/a/r/Thomas-Larry-Harkins/WEBSITE-00...

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http://www.ranger95.com/civil_war/georgia/infantry/52inf_rgt/52nd_i...

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https://www.fold3.com/memorial/636685999/thomas-s-harkins

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90413332/thomas-s-harkins