Oak Grove Cemetery 31709

05/24/2026

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05/21/2026

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05/08/2026

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04/28/2026

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Our daily tribute to a Confederate veteran of Sumter County Georgia during Confederate History & Heritage Month. Be sure to LIKE, SHARE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE to see more stories on our Southern heroes!

Major Henry Kelso Daniel

Henry Kelso Daniel was born in Baldwin County, Ga. in 1838. He was the son of James Kelso Daniel, Jr and Sara Gibson Daniel Duncan. Henry was baptized at eight years of age on Sept 6, 1846 at First Presbyterian Church in Americus, Ga.

On March 4, 1857 he married Miss Mary Elizabeth Myrick in Baldwin, County. Mary was the daughter of Elizabeth Peeples and Stith Parham Myrick of Baldwin County. Mary was a 1853 graduate of Wesleyan Women’s College in Macon, Ga. She was one of three co-founders of Phi Mu women’s fraternity. The couple had four children.

In April 27, 1861 Henry Daniel enlisted as a Private in the Sumter Light Guard. This local company was the first to leave Americus for the front lines in Virginia. The company was mustered into Confederate service on May 2, 1861 in Augusta Ga., as Co K, 4th Reg’t Ga Volunteer Infantry. He was transferred on special duty on May 10, 1861 as Acting Assistant Quartermaster by General George Doles. On July 19, 1861 Daniel was commissioned as the 4th Ga Regimental Assistant Quartermaster with rank of Captain. On April 30, 1863 he was promoted to Brigade Quartermaster for the Doles-Cook Brigade with rank of Major dating to Dec 1, 1862. In this position Major Daniel was responsible for the acquisition and distribution of all the supplies that the Brigade of 1,300 soldiers would need. The records show that on Jan 1, 1865 he was on duty in Americus and collecting and forwarding forage for the Army of Northern Virginia. When the war ended Henry returned to Baldwin County and worked as a plasterer. On a trip to visit his plantation in Sumter County he suddenly died on Sept 9, 1870 at the age of 32. He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Americus, Ga. Mary lived until 1881 and died at the age of 46. She was buried by her husband at Oak Grove Cemetery.

- John Carroll



Sources:
1. Compiled Military Service Records, Fold3.com
2. Portraits of Conflict, Georgia (image)
3. Personal genealogy, Fed. Census Records, Marriage Records, via ancestry.com
4. History of Sumter County, Jack Cox, 1982

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04/26/2026

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Our daily tribute to a Confederate veteran of Sumter County Georgia during Confederate History & Heritage Month.
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UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERANS, Camp Sumter #642

The post today on Confederate Memorial Day will feature not one veteran as usual, but the thirty-one Confederate veterans who posed for a group image in front of the Victorian era Sumter County court house in Americus, Georgia.

This fine photo was made on Memorial Day, April 26th, 1909, as the “Old Guard" was about to begin the march to Oakgrove Cemetery, where peacefully sleep hundreds of their former brave comrades who wore the gray through the four years of civil strife in the sixties.
Nothing like the full strength of the camp is shown here—in fact, only about one sixth of the membership.
The camp had an enrollment of 209 veterans, but many of the old heroes, due to physical infirmities, could not march on Memorial Day.
The old battle flag of the Confederacy stands out proudly in the photo. Camp Commander H. T. Davenport, who likewise commanded the Western Brigade of Georgia, U. C. V., is fifth in line though not in uniform upon this occasion. To his untiring efforts was due in large measure the success in building up and maintaining the camp The veterans shown in the picture as as follows:

Those standing, reading from left to right, are T. J. Singletary, P. R. Stanfield, Thos. J. Morgan, J. A. Wil-son, Commander H. T. Davenport, Color Bearer Clinton Bray, P. H. Williams, Robt. Arrington, W. E. Felts,
J. S. Bolton, Roland Cheek, W. P.
Persons, James H. Rogers, Williams, Henry Mashburn, J. P. Britton, J. P.
Mask, Chas. Williams, W. S. Moore.
Those sitting, from left to right, are J. H. Daniel, J. Z. Carey, H. D.
Watts, T. B. Joiner, Gates, G. B.
Suggs, James Alexander, J. D. Nich-olson, Stafford Stephens, J. M. Hansford. John Statham, Toole.

More information on unit served and burial location below.

1. Thomas J. Singletary, Pvt Co H, 2nd Ga State Troops, buried at Oak Grove Cemetery
2. P. R. Stanfield, Pvt Co D, 1st Ga Vols, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
3. Thomas J Morgan, Pvt 11th Btn Ga Artillery, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
4. James A Wilson, Pvt, Co D, 3rd Ga Vol Infantry, buried Newport Cemetery, Sumter County
5. Henry T Davenport, Pvt Co A, 12th Reg’t Ga Infantry, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
6. Jarrett Clinton Bray - (holding camp flag) Pvt, Co K, 9th Reg’t Ga Infantry, buried Autry Cemetery.
7. P. H. Williams (UCV uniform), unit & rank unknown, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
8. Robert R. Arrington, Pvt, Co D, 5th Ga Reserve Infantry
9. William E Felts, Pvt, Co B, 11th Btn Ga Artillery, buried Old City Cemetery, Jacksonville, Fla.
10. James Sims Bolton, Pvt, Co C, 10th Ga Btn Infantry, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
11. Roland Cheek, Pvt, Co A, 11th Battalion
Georgia Volunteer Artillery, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
12. William Pickney Persons, Pvt, Co C, 37th Regiment Ga Infantry buried at Oak Grove Cemetery
13. James H Rogers (Rodgers) Pvt, Co E, Beall’s Btn Ga Cavalry (State Guards) burial detail unknown.
14. Williams
15. Henry Mashburn, Pvt, 11th Btn Ga Artillery, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
16. J. P. Britton, Pvt, Co I, 45th Regiment Ga Infantry buried Oak Grove Cemetery
17. John H Mask, Pvt, Co B, 11th Btn Ga Artillery buried Harmony Smyrna Cemetery, Dooly Co.
18. Charles Williams. Pvt, Co. E, Phillips Legion Ga Cavalry, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
19. W S Moore. Pvt, Co A. 11th Batn Ga Artillery, ANV, buried Lebanon Cemetery, Plains Ga
(Those sitting, L-R)
20. J H Daniel
21. J Z Carey, Co A, 3rd Ga Reserve Infsntry, buried at Oak Grove Cemetey
22. H D Watts, Pvt , Co K. 9th Regt Ga Infantry buried Oak Grove Cemetery (grave unmarked)
23. Thomas Eli Jefferson Joiner. Sgt, Co K 41st Reg’t Ga Infantry, buried Oak Grove Cemetery (grave unmarked)
24. Seth H. Gates, Capt, Co 59th Reg’t Ga infantry, buried Woodlawn Park North Cemetery, Section 9A, Miami Fla
25. Green Berry Suggs, Pvt, Co I, 10th Reg’t, Ga Infantry, buried Pleasant Grove Cemetery (unmarked grave)
26. James Alexander, Pvt, Co A/B, 11th Btn Ga Artillery, buried Oak Grove Cemetery (unmarked grave)
27. John B Nicholson, Pvt, Co B, 2nd Ga State Troops, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
28. Jacob Stafford Stephens, Pvt Co B, 11th Btn Ga Artillery buried Oak Grove
29. James Madison Hansford, Pvt 11th Btn Ga Artillery, buried at Friendship Church Cemetery
30. John Statum (Statham), Pvt 11th Btn Ga Artillery, buried at Oak Grove Cemetery
31. William Thomas Toole, 2nd Lt, Co K, 4th Regt Ga Infantry, later. Colonel Ga Militia, buried at Oak Grove Cemetery

-John Carroll



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04/22/2026

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Our daily tribute to a Confederate veteran of Sumter County Georgia during Confederate History & Heritage Month.
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2nd Lt William Hance Turpin

William Hance Turpin was born 21 June, 1829 in Richmond County, Ga. He was the son of Heloise Theresa Bouyer and George P Turpin. On Dec 19, 1852 he married Miss Amy Caroline “Carrie” Moody in Macon County, Ga. The couple had two children; George born in 1854 and Mary Louisa born in 1860.

When the war clouds gathered over the Southland William enlisted on June 15, 1861 as Jr. 2nd Lt in the Muckalee Guards in Sumter County, Ga. This company was mustered into Confederate service as Co A, 12th Ga Volunteer Infantry Regiment. On Feb 6th, 1862 he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.
The Georgians from the 12th Infantry Regiment were soon sent to the Shenandoah Valley with General Thomas J. Jackson. Their first battle with the Federal troops occurred on May 8, 1862 at McDowell, Va. The 12th Ga Regiment held the center of the Confederate line against repeated assaults from the Federal troops. They took their position on Sitlington’s Hill east of McDowell. Being posted slightly forward of the main line the men of the 12th were exposed and suffered heavy casualties. They refused to fall back to a safer position even after several orders from the Regimental commander Colonel Conner. One young Georgian was quoted as saying, "we did not come all this way to Virginia to run before Yankees". The Muckalee Guards from Sumter County were commanded by Captain Sam Dawson, a 52 year old farmer and the 32 year old 2nd Lt William Hance Turpin. The Confederate line held that day due to the tenacity and fighting spirit of the 12th Ga Infantry. The victory at the Battle of McDowell was a costly one however and the 12th Ga Infantry suffered 175 casualties. Sadly Lt William H. Turpin was among those casualties.

After the battle three of the 12th Ga officer's bodies killed during the battle were brought home to Sumter County by a black servant of Lt Col Timothy M Furlow named Pete. Col Furlow's oldest son, Capt Wm L Furlow of the Calhoun Rifles, and Capt Sam Dawson and Lt WH Turpin of the Muckalee Guard were all buried within a stones throw of each other in Oak Grove Cemetery in Americus. His beautiful tombstone is inscribed, “He fell gallantly in the Battle of McDowell Virginia, May 8, 1862”.

Other members of the Muckalee Guard killed in action that day were 4th Sgt Wm H Guice, 4th Cpl Allen W Ray, Pvt Benjamin F Chapell, Pvt MB Grice, Pvt James T Kitchens, and Pvt Thomas M McClain. About 20 more men of the Muckalee Guard were wounded.

1st Lt Shepperd Pryor of the Muckalee Guards wrote to his wife following the battle on May 18th; "I felt quite small in that fight the other day when the musket balls and cannon balls was flying around me thick as hail and my best friends were falling on both sides, dead & mortally wounded. Oh, Dear, it is impossible for me to express my feelings. When the fight is over and I saw what was done, the tears came then free. Oh, that I never behold such a sight again. To think of it among civilized people: killing one another like beast. One would think the Supreme Ruler would put a stop to it, but we've sined as a nation and must suffer in the flesh as well as spiritually: those things wee cant account for."

Carrie Turpin never remarried and was left to raise her young children alone. She lived until 1895, having sacrificed a loving husband in the war for Southern Independence. She was buried next to her Southern hero.

-John Carroll



Sources:
1) Compiled Military Service Records, 12th Ga Reg't via Fold3.com
2) History of Doles-Cook Brigade, Thomas, 1903
3) Roster of Confederate Soldiers from Georgia 1861-1865, Henderson, 1954
4) A Post of Honor; The Pryor Letters
1861-63, edited Charles R. Adams, 1989
5) Personal family genealogy, Federal Census records 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, marriage records, image, via ancestry.com
6) History of Sumter County, Jack Cox, 1983

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04/22/2026

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04/21/2026

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Our daily tribute to a Confederate veteran of Sumter County Georgia during Confederate History & Heritage Month. Be sure to LIKE, SHARE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE to see more stories on our Southern heroes!

Pvt Simeon Auswell Walters
Pvt Seaborn Jeremiah Walters

Brothers Simeon and Seaborn Walters were the sons of Sarah Elizabeth Pullen and Seaborn Walters. The older brother Seaborn (pictured on right) was born March 23, 1843 and Simeon (pictured on left) was born August 16, 1844 in Sumter County, Ga.

Captain Allen Sherrod Cutts of Americus Georgia organized the Sumter Flying Artillery as a single battery in July 1861. The unit grew to a five battery battalion of over 800 men. It became the largest battalion in Lee’s army. The men of the original Sumter Flying Artillery (Co A.) received their rather harrowing baptism by fire at the Battle of Dranesville, Va on Dec. 20, 1861. After nine months of service in Virginia, Cutts returned to Sumter in Feb ’62 to enlist new recruits. By March 1st he had enough men to form two more batteries.

Enlisting as a Private on March 1st, Seaborn Walters was one of these new recruits and by the first week of April the 187 men of the new Company B were on their way to Virginia. Pvt Seaborn Walters participated in the Peninsula Campaign at Yorktown and Williamsburg and Seven Days battles near Richmond. The five battery battalion was officially formed by Special Order No. 118 on May 23, 1862 during the Peninsula Campaign forming the 11th Battalion Ga Light Artillery.
In early September the men of the Sumter Flying Artillery marched with Lee’s
army into Maryland. On September 17th the two armies met near Sharpsburg and by sunset the nation had seen its deadliest day in American history. Company B, now commanded by Capt George Patterson, set up his guns on the Hagerstown Pike just north of Dunker Church. There they provided fire to cover Jackson’s troops as they advanced north toward Miller farm. At one point two of Patterson’s guns were moved to a low knoll to fire directly into the Federals advancing in the Miller Cornfield. They also received counter battery fire from the Federal guns positioned north of the cornfield. Patterson was compelled to move his guns south and they assumed a new position near the Sunken Road and assisted Hill’s Division in holding the center for the line for the remainder of the day. During the battle Company B lost two men killed and two wounded.

On Dec. 1st 1862 Seaborn’s younger brother Simeon also enlisted as a Private in Company B, 11th Btn Ga Artillery. He likely arrived just in time for the Battle of Fredericksburg, Va. on Dec. 13th. The men of Company B occupied a position near the center of the Confederate line and with their accurate deadly fire helped to repel repeated failed Federal assaults on Lee’s strong position.
The Walters brothers participated in the 1863 battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, the Overland Campaign and the Petersburg seige of ‘64, and the final surrender at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. At wars end Company B of Cutt’s Artillery Battalion had lost ten men killed, twenty wounded and thirty-six dead from disease. Seaborn and Simeon had both been fortunate to survive without being killed, wounded or stricken with deadly illness.

Seaborn returned home to Sumter and farmed the land. On Oct 29, 1877 he married Miss Mariah Davenport in Oconee County. The couple had one child named Caroline. Seaborn lived until May 16, 1894. He is buried in Lebanon Cemetery near Plains, Ga.

Simeon also made it back home and farmed. On March 14, 1869 he married Miss Lucy Douglas Jones in Sumter County. The couple had three children. Simeon died on Aug 1, 1903 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Americus.

- John Carroll



Sources:
1. Compiled Military Service Records, 11th Btn Ga Arty via Fold3.com
2. The Sumter Flying Artillery, James Speicher, 2009
3. Personal genealogy, Fed. Census Records, Marriage Records, image via ancestry.com
4. History of Sumter County, Jack Cox, 1982

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04/12/2026

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04/08/2026

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Our daily tribute to a Confederate veteran of Sumter County Georgia during
Confederate History & Heritage Month.

Major John Emory Rylander

John Emory Rylander was born September 15, 1836, in Macon, Georgia. He was the son of Mathew Edmund Rylander and Nancy Ann Gamble. Mathew Rylander was a Methodist Circuit Rider and formed Rylander Methodist Church in rural Sumter County south of Plains. Nancy died in 1838 and John Emory was their only child. He was a graduate of Emory at Oxford College class of 1855. He established Rylander Academy in Americus, located at Rees Park, on the north side of Elm St and College St. He was a speaker of note in college and carried on in his father’s footsteps as a minister of the faith because he is referred to as “reverend” in many of the correspondence of the day.
John married Ann E. Mathis in Marion County on May 1st, 1855. The couple raised four children; Emma, Carrie, Arthur and Walter. The last being born in January 1863.

On June 15, 1861, Rylander joined the Muckalee Guards from Sumter County, Georgia (Company A, 12th Georgia Infantry) as a first sergeant. He was soon sent home to recruit and raise another company, and on March 4th 1862 was elected Captain of the “Zollicoffer Rifles”. On March 17th at Camp Stephens Georgia, it was designated Company C and organized with three other Companies which became the 10th Battalion Georgia Infantry It was here that John Rylander was promoted to rank of Major commanding the battalion. In July a fifth Company E, from Americus was added, the “Grandbury Guards” commanded by Captain John L. Adderton. The 10th Ga Battalion first saw service guarding federal prisoners at Camp Oglethorpe in Macon. On December 15th 1862 the Battalion received orders to go to Virginia to join General Lee’s army then at Fredericksburg. Arriving there the 27th the Rylander’s Battalion was attached to General George “Tige” Anderson’s Brigade, Hood’s Division, Longstreet’s Corps. The Batallion then participated in the grueling winter march with the Army of Northern Virginia back to Richmond. Its next operation was the campaign against Suffolk and was then ordered to Fort Powhatan on the James River. The battalion held the fort for two months and was then ordered to fall back to Petersburg. About the middle of August they were ordered to Franklin and held this line for eight months. In late April 1864 the battalion was ordered to meet Gen Lee at Orange County House, and was immediately assigned to Gen. Ambrose R. Wright, Anderson’s Division, A.P. Hill’s Corps. With Wright’s Brigade the battalion fought in all the battles of the 1864 Overland Campaign, including the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna and Cold Harbor. It was there at Cold Harbor on June 3rd 1864 that the 27 year old Major John E. Rylander was shot in the head and killed. “He was one of Georgia’s most noble and worthy sons, and in his fall the battalion has sustained a most serious loss”.

The Southern Christian Advocate printed this obituary:
Rev. John Emory Rylander, Major 10th GA Batt, was born Sept 15th, 1836--was converted when a small boy--afterwards, at Emory College, he was greatly revived and blessed with a deeper work of grace in his soul. There he was licensed to exhort. After finishing his College course, he felt it to be his duty to preach the gospel as an itinerant; but feeble health and other considerations induced him to teach and preach as a local minister. He was studious, industrious and zealous in him ministrations. He was shot in the head at Gaines' Mills, Va., and only awoke to consciousness enough to ask, "Where am I? have I any friends here?" and he say "Take care of me." He expired on the litter they bore him to the hospital 3rd June, 1864. He was a dutiful son, affectionate brother, devoted husband, tender father, humane master, a warm friend--a useful preacher and teacher of youth, both in day and Sabbath Schools. We are bereaved, but we bow submissively to the Divine will and strive to feel, that the "Judge of the earth will do right." S. Anthony.

Major Rylander was initially buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, but his remains were moved to Americus where they rest today at Oak Grove cemetery, along with his younger half-brother Joseph who was killed in August 1864 outside Richmond.

In 1919 Major John Rylander’s grandson, Walter Rylander, built the Rylander Theater in downtown Americus, which we all enjoy to this day. Walter also is said to have modeled for the “American Doughboy” WWI monument of E.M. Viquesney, one of which stands in Rees Park.

-John Carroll

Sources:
1) Georgia’s Record in the Revolution 1861: Heroes and Martyrs of Georgia by James M. Folsom, 1864
2) History of Macon County, by J E Hays, 1933
3) History of Sumter County, by Jack F Cox, 1983
4) Southern Christian Advocate Obituaries, 1867-1878, Vol XXVII. No. 31
5) Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865 by Lillian Henderson, 1961

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04/05/2026

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Our daily tribute to a Confederate veteran of Sumter County Georgia during
Confederate History & Heritage Month.

1st Lt. Lucius Gibson Rees

Lucius Rees was born in Americus Ga, in 1841. He was the son of Lucy Ann Gibson and Dr. Albert Rees.

In 1860 Lucius was working as a bank teller in Newbury, S.C. with W. H. C. Dudley also from Americus. In the months leading up to the Southern states secession he frequently corresponded with his good friend Nathaniel Macon “Make” Dudley. Fortunately through those surviving letters we can see the excited anticipation of the times and Lucius’s eagerness for Southern Independence.

On January 4, 1861 just two weeks before Georgia’s secession vote, he writes to his friend Make;
“Give yourself no uneasiness as to the course Georgia will pursue in the present crisis. She is just as certain for immediate secession as the sun rises on the morning of the 16th. Sumter County has elected the Secession ticket composed of Tim Furlow, Hawkins, and Henry Davenport. The news by this afternoon's mail is very encouraging, as far as heard from, there are elected (135) immediate Secession delegates to 43 co-op.”
In his subsequent letter dated February 22nd 1861 he expresses to Make his satisfaction with the outcome of the Georgia and Montgomery conventions which he personally attended; “My visits to the Georgia Convention and the Southern Congress now convened at Montgomery were agreeable, entertaining, and instructive. I am happy to say that I was present at the election of President and Vice President of the Confederate States of America, a fact in which I contemplate a great deal of pleasure in relating hereafter to my posterity as we are gathered around the family circle.”
“As a Southerner I am proud of our Executives and Congress. As a Georgian, I am equally proud of our delegation to said Congress. Our delegation is the delegation "par excellence." Does the appointment of Davis and Stephens give satisfaction to the people of your portion of our Great Confederacy? I hope so. With us it is universally and most heartily endorsed. Entire satisfaction is expressed in every Southern Journal that I see. I am glad of it for, above all things, we should have unanimity in such a crisis as is about to open upon us.”

Lucius travelled by train from Columbia SC to Richmond, Va. arriving there in June 23, 1861. Having not yet enlisted in a unit, Lucius set about visiting all his Sumter County friends and acquaintances which were encamped around Richmond. He wrote again to Make; “I think I can form my own observation report between 15 and 20 thousand encamped in the suburbs of Richmond. The finest sight I have seen since my arrival is a company of about 250 of the Richmond young ladies assembled in a house engaged in making musket cartridges. No man stands any chance here with the ladies, unless he can support a coat with brass buttons.”

In July Lucius enlisted as a Private in the “Sumter Flying Artillery” which became Company A, 11th Battalion Georgia Light Artillery. He served as an ensign or color bearer and was elected to 1st Lieutenant on Jan. 1, 1862. The 11th Ga. Btn Arty was formed as a single battery, and grew into a full five battery battalion of 849 men in the Army of Northern Virginia. The unit was organized by Sumter County planter, Capt. Allen S. Cutts of Americus, Ga, a Mexican War veteran and was commonly called “Cutts’ Battalion. The battalion was engaged in most of the major battles of Virginia. Lucius writes Make again on August 10th 1861 from Manassass Junction; “I have been here with the Sumter Flying Artillery since about two days after the great battle of the 21st July. We are encamped about a mile below the Junction and about three miles off the battle ground.
“Our battery consists of six of the captured Yankee Generals and two Howitzers from Richmond. We have not received our complement of horses yet, but are expecting them every day. We have over 170 men and Capt. Cutts has sent home for ten or twelve more recruits. John Wheatley was up to see us the other day and has now gone to Portsmouth to see the SLGs. I was in Richmond last week and on some business for Capt. Cutts and was so fortunate as to meet up with Silas Johnstone. He will be up here tomorrow and I expect to go with him up to Vienna, where the 3rd S. Co. Regiment is now encamped to see Dr. Ewart. I saw Mr. John Coate in Richmond. He is there sick. Terrell Crawford is also in Richmond, Capt. of a company in Ectors Regiment. The truth of the matter is that nearly every other man you meet in Virginia is from Georgia.”

Lt. Rees was cited for “good conduct and skill” in an after action report from the Battle of Spotsylvania by General Pendleton, the Chief of Lee’s Artillery for saving four pieces of the battalion’s artillery.
Fortunes turned for Lt Rees on July 8, 1864 when a 30lb Federal Blakey shell exploded in their earth works killing Lt. Rees and Pvt Mathew Hollis. The same artillery shell wounded three other men. Lt. Coker described the deadly scene in an letter to his wife the next day;

“…we have had bad luck again and lost two of the best men in this Batt. Lieut Rees and M. H. Hollis. Also wounded several splendid men among them Felix Callaway, A. J. Giles, T. P. Royal, and Hardy Scarborough. Lt Rees and Hollis were killed and Gallaway, Giles and Royal wounded all by the same shell. This occurred about 3 oclock yesterday evening. The wounded are all slightly wounded and will soon be well-being mostly bruises. Sergeant Scarborough's wound is also a bruise on the shoulder, not at all dangerous, or even very serious. Lt Rees and Hollis were shockingly mutilated. Rees' bowels were torn out and foot torn. Hollis was torn in several places, the largest being near the heart. I would not shock you by describing their wounds but some of their friends, having rcv’d no earlier intelligence, it may help if they wish to know the facts. Rees lived only 15 minutes & Hollis died immediately. I shall telegraph their relations this morning. Being unable to get them home they will be buried here in private ground. Oh! the horrors of this war. They grow greater and greater as it progresses.!"

Lt Coker helped to ensure that Lt Rees’s remains were returned home to his family. A week later Lt Coker received this note from Dr Rees.

“Dear Sir.
In our grief & sorrow for our dear departed Son, permit us to tender you our sincere & heartfelt thanks for the interest you bestowed on his loved remains. We are heart-stricken & bound down with grief.
May God in his infinite wisdom keep you safe & protect you from all harm is the sincere prayer of
Ys Vry T
Albert Rees”

Dr. Rees had given the citizens of Americus a beautiful park in 1846. After the death of his son the park was named in honor.

Lt. Lucius Gibson Rees remains were laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery just a few hundred yards from the city park that bears his name. He represents one young life among many that was given up in defense of family, home and country.

-John Carroll

Sources:
1) The Sumter Flying Artillery: A Civil War History of the Eleventh Battalion Georgia Light Artillery by James Speicher.
2) A Histroy of Rees Park by Alan Anderson.
3) Fatal Wound; A Collection of Civil War Letters, edited by Gatewood Dudley

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