Francis Marion Mitchell, Union Soldier

Francis Marion Mitchell was a white Southerner from nearby Pikeville,
Marion County, Alabama whose personal convictions against secession led
him to come to Corinth in January 1863 and enlist in the Union Army.
He served in the First Alabama Calvary and died July 31, 1863, at
Glendale, 5 miles East of Corinth from complications of measles.
Francis Marion Mitchell had enlisted along with his uncle, James F.
Glenn (see below).

Newspaper article, National Tribune, Washington, D.C., 14 Dec 1899,
entitled "A Loyal Southron, Troublesome Times in Alabama for Union
Men--How the First Alabama Cavalry Was Made Up, by P. D. Hall", tells
part of the story of these men.

"Winston: An Antebellum and Civil War History of a Hill County of
North Alabama, by Donald B. Dodd and Wynelle S. Dodd", tells more of
the story. The Dodd book and the newspaper article are both reprinted
in "Annals of Northwest Alabama, Vol. IV, compiled by Carl Elliott,
copyright 1972.  Mr. Elliott's book was available at Jasper Book Shop,
Inc. Parkland Shopping City, Jasper, AL.  Phone:  (205) 387-7826

"Tories of the Hills, by Wesley S. Thompson, The Pareil Press,
Winfield, Alabama, and reprinted by Northwest Alabama Publishing
Company, Jasper, AL 35501, copyright 1960",  is an historical novel
about the people in Northwest Alabama during the Civil War.  Forward
in this book is written by Dr. A. B. Moore, Dean of Graduate School,
University of Alabama.  Dr. Moore states in forward, ". . .more often
than not, the names of persons discussed are the real names of active
participants in events described".

Below is the URL for Blount County, AL, that tells a little about the
Alabama Union Regiments.

      http://members.aol.com/egun/Union.html

1.  MILITARY PAPERS

Francis Marion Mitchell's military papers, from National Archives,
lists his place of birth as St. Clair County, AL.  Census records list
his place of birth as South Carolina.  His parents were from South
Carolina.  It may be that someone wrote down SC and since he was in
the First Alabama Cavalry, USA, they just assumed that SC stood for
St. Clair County, AL.  Since Francis' father James does not appear on
the Marion County census records until 1840, I believe that this
family lived in South Carolina when Francis was born, about 1832-34.

Francis Marion Mitchell was a volunteer in the First Alabama Cavalry,
USA.  He was a private in companies A & B.  Cards in his military
papers state the following:

Card #1.  Frank Mitchell (Frank is a nickname for Francis), 1st CAV
  (old) Alabama, Private in Company B.  Age 30 years, Height 5'8",
  complexion light, hair light, eyes light, born St. Clair County, AL,
  occupation farmer, enlistment 13 Jan 1863, Glendale Mississippi, by
  P.A. Stanberg, term 1 year, Transferred to Company A.

Card #2.  Frank Mitchell, Pvt, Co's A&B, 1st Regiment, Alabama
  Cavalry. Appears on returns as follows:  Feb 1863, absent sick in
  hospital at Corinth with Measles.  March 1863, transferred to Co. A, 1
  Alabama Cavalry (old) by order Capt. J. C. Cameron, March 1, at
  Glendale. July 1863, died July 31, 1863, Glendale Mississippi,
  disease.

Card #3.  Francis M. Mitchell, Pvt. Co. A, 1 Regiment, Alabama Cavalry
  (old) Company muster roll for July and August 1863.  Remarks:  Died in
  camp at Glendale, 31 July 1863.  (I guess the paper work took awhile
  to catch up with the incident of his death, and he was still on the
  muster roll for August, even though he died 31 July.)

2.  AFFIDAVIT

James Taylor and Matthew H. Glenn, gave the following affidavit as to
Francis Marion Mitchell's service in the First Alabama Cavalry, USA.
This affidavit is found among  papers that wife Mary K. (Hallmark)
Mitchell filed for a pension:


STATE OF ALABAMA}        On this 21st day of February, A.D. 1870,
MARION COUNTY}           personally appeared before me, John D.
                         Terrell, Judge of Probate Court in and for
said county and state, JAMES TAYLOR and MATTHEW H. GLENN, residents of
said county and to me known as reliable and creditable persons, who
make the following affidavit--both of whom state on their said oaths
that they were personally and well acquainted with Francis M.
Mitchell, Co. A, 1st Regiment, Alabama Cav., Volunteers, before and
during the time he was a federal soldier.  That they served in the
United States Army with him at Glendale, Mississippi, was there at the
time he was taken sick and so continued until he died.  He first was
taken with the measles, lay some days, then relapsed, was visited with
a severe cough, something like pneumony (pneumonia) and died about two
weeks after such relapse.  We know that he the said, Francis M.
Mitchell, died while a soldier and in the service of the United States
as such soldier and died on or about the 25th day of July 1863 at
Glendale, Mississippi.

Affiants state further that they have no interest in the prosecution
of this claim. James Taylor Matthew H. Glenn

NOTE:  Date of death these men remembered is not the same as on
military papers.

Sworn to and subscribed before me on the 21st day of February, A.D.
1870, and I certify that I have no interest direct or indirect in the
prosecution of this claim and that the foregoing affidavit was
carefully read and made known to the parties before signing and
swearing to the same.

Given under my hand and seal. . . . . . this 21st Day of February,
A.D. 1870.

                                          John D. Terrell
                                          Judge of Probate

3.  MARRIAGE RECORD

Marriage record found among the pension papers states the following:


STATE OF ALABAMA}            To any Judge, Minister of the Gospel or
MARION COUNTY}               Justice of the Peace legally authorized--
                             you are hereby authorized and required to
solemnize the rites of matrimony between Francis M. Mitchell and Mary
K. Hallmark, agreeably to the statute made and provided, and a due
return make to the office of the Judge of Probate for the county
aforesaid.  Given under my hand this 28th day of December, in the year
of Our Lord, 1855.

                                          John D. Terrell
                                          Judge Probate

I, Winston Stidham, a Justice of of the Peace, do hereby certify that
I solemnized the rites of matrimony between, F. M. Mitchell and Mary
K. Hallmark on the 30th day of December, 1855.

                                          Winston Stidham, J.P.

(Winston Stidham was elected from Marion County, AL, to go to the
secession convention at Montgomery.  He was against secession.)


FURTHER DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE

STATE OF ALABAMA}          On this 14th day of July, 1868, personally
   MARION COUNTY}          appeared MARY K. MITCHELL, a resident of
                           Pikeville in the County of Marion and State
of Alabama, aged 32 years, who, being duly sworn, makes the following
declaration in order to obtain the Pension privided by the Act of
Congress approved July 14, 1862. That she is the widow of Francis M.
Mitchell, who was a private in Company A, commanded by F. Burdick, in
the 1st Regiment of Alabama Cavalry in the war of 1861; that her
maiden name was Mary K. Hallmark, and that she was married to the said
Francis M. Mitchell, on or about the 30th day of December 1855, at
ROBERT HALLMARK(S) in the County of Marion and State of Alabama, by
Winston Stidham, J.P. and she knows of record of said marriage . . .
herewith attached. . . The following . . . are name(s), date(s) of
birth, and place(es) of residence of all the children of her deceased
husband who were under sixteen years of age at the time of his death:

      1.  Martha Malinda, b. 2nd Oct. 1856, living with mother.
      2.  John Marion, b. 30 March 1858, living with mother.

My post office address is Pikeville, Marion County, AL.

Signature of Claimant:                     Mary K. Mitchell
                                              (her mark)

Witnessed by:                              Benjamin Nichols
                                           John Mitchell


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One other member of the 1st Alabama Calvary who enlisted at Corinth
but died in Illinois gives an interesting side story to some of the
difficulties of those in Alabama who were against secession.

------------------------

James F. Glenn

James F. Glenn was an uncle to Francis Marion Mitchell, both of whom
enlisted in the First Alabama Calvary 13 Jan 1863 at Glendale, 5 miles
East of Corinth, Mississippi.

James Mitchell, father of Francis Marion Mitchell, married Melinda
South of Laurens County, SC.  James and his brother John and sisters,
Nancy Inman and Mary (Polly) Glenn and their familes moved to Marion
County, AL, from Laurens County, SC.  They and their other brothers
and sisters David, William, Catherine, Permelia and Elizabeth Neely
are listed on a deed found in Deed Book O, p67, Laurens County.  Of
course the girls last names are not listed on this deed, I have their
last names thru other sources.  James Mitchell gave his mother Anna
(On Deed referred to as Nancy.  Nancy is a nickname for Anna.)  power
of attorney in 1852 to dispose of his part of father John's property
in Laurens County.  Power of attorney found in loose papers of Laurens
County, South Carolina Archives.  I have copies of other deeds where
John and Anna Mitchell sold property in Laurens County.

Mary (Mitchell) Glenn's husband, James,  died while in First AL CAV.,
Civil War.  Mary received a pension and her pension papers state that
the Glenn family was sent to Illinois during the Civil War.  According
to papers from National Archives, James Glenn served as a Private in
Company B, First Alabama Cavalry, USA.  Company muster roll states he
enrolled on 13 Jan 1863 at Glendale, Mississippi.  Adjutant General's
Office states he died 10 Aug 1863, in Illinois.  Mary's pension papers
state the following:

Claim for Widow's Pension Brief in the Case of Mary Glenn, Widow of
James F. Glenn, Pvt. Co. B, 1st Ala. Cavalry, a  Resident of Jackson
County and State of Illinois.   Post Office Address: Du Quoin, Perry
County, Illinois

Proof exhibited:

Paymaster General reports that soldier was enrolled 13 Jan 1863 and
mustered 22 Jan 1863, a Private.  Died 9 Aug 1863.  Rolls report that
he died in Illinois, 10 Aug 1863.  Affidavits of Milner and Myres show
that "the soldiers, together with about 300 other parties, mostly
families of the Union Men in Alabama, who had joined the Union Army,
sick and convalescent Union Soldiers, were ordered to go to Illinois
by Col. Morrow, who at that time had command.   At that  point James
F. Glenn then very sick with chronic diarrhea was among the members.
No written leaves or furloughs were given.  The sick and convalescent
soldiers were ordered to return to their regiment as soon as they were
able.  One of these affiants (Milner) was detailed to take charge of
this company and both swear that soldier died with chronic diarrhea 10
Aug 1863".  Certificate of attending physician shows that he attended
soldier from time he came to Illinois till he died. . . . believes
disease was contracted in army.

Widow's Declaration for Pension State of Illinois, County of Perry 5
Aug 1864

. . . .personally appeared Mary Glenn, age 40. . . a resident of the
county of Jackson, Illinois, and the widow of James F. Glenn . . .
.that she was married to the said James F. Glenn on the 10 day of
June, 1846 in Lawrence District (Misspelled, should be Laurens) South
Carolina, by one Jefferson Sullivan, a Justice. . . . she further
states that on account of the rebellion, she is unable to obtain a
copy of the public record of her marriage. . . .

After the war was over, Mary and children moved back to Marion County,
Alabama. National Archives record sent to me by Sherranlynn Nichols. I
thought it was interesting that they sent all those people to Illinois
during the Civil War.


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Two other members of the 1st Alabama Calvary who died at Corinth but
are not shown in the Corinth National Cemetary records- possibly among
the many unknown markers.

------------------------

General Morgan Nichols

His papers from the National Archives, include only one card:

"General M. Nichols, Pvt. Co. "D", 1st Reg't Alabama Cavalry (old).
Company muster roll to 30 Apr 1863.  Joined for duty and enrolled, 1
Feb 1863, Glendale for period of 1 year.  Mustered in 4 Feb 1863 at
Corinth, MS. Sick in hospital at Corinth, MS, died 19 Feb 1863."

Adjutant General's Office, memorandum  states the following:

"It appears that the rolls on file in this office that General M.
Nichols was enrolled on the 1st day of February 1863 at Glendale as a
Private in Company D, 1st Regiment of Alabama Cavalry, (old)
Volunteers, to serve one year or during the war . . . .died in
Glendale, Mississippi, 20 Feb 1863".

Casualty Sheet found in papers state the following:

"Morgan Nicholas, Pvt., Company D, Regiment 1st Cavalry, Alabama.
Nature of casulty not stated.  Complaint when admitted to hospital
"Diarrhea".  Date of discharge or death, 3 Apr 1863.  Place of
discharge or death, Post Hospital, Corinth, Mississippi,  Signed 14
May 1885 by James Dodge, Clerk."

I guess they had to issue a discharge, even though he was dead!!

This boy was given the name "General Morgan" Nichols, by his parents.
I believe he was called simply "Morgan".  I wondered and wondered why
a parent would give there child a name like that until I came across
the name of General Daniel Morgan of the American Revolution.  I
believe that someone in the family of  Morgan Nichols must have served
in the Revolution under General Daniel Morgan.  People use to name
their children after their heroes, and I believe this is why Morgan's
parents named him General Morgan.

I know who Morgan Nichols parents were.  His father was William
Hedgepeth Nichols and his mother was Mary (Polly) Claxton Smith.  One
of the census records 1850, 1860 lists William's place of birth as
North Carolina and the other record lists his place of birth as South
Carolina.  This family moved to Alabama sometime before 1850.  They
moved to Marion County, AL, via the Bedford County, Tennessee area.
Several Nichols families moved to Marion County around that time.
William Hedgepeth Nichols was my great-great-grandfather.  According
to bounty land and military papers (War of 1812)  Joshua and Isaac
Nichols, who moved to Marion County, first moved to the Bedford
County, TN, area from Sumter District, SC, sometime between 1820 and
1825.  Sometime between 1840 and 1850 these two men moved to Marion
County, AL.  I have thought that Isaac might be the father of William
Hedgepeth Nichols.  I have no proof.

On one of the censuses, 1850, 1860, Marion County, AL.  Morgan is
referred to as "General M.", on the other he is referred to as
"Morgan".


------------------------

David L. Nichols

Several cards in his papers, summary:

"David L. Nichols, Pvt. Lieutenant Burdick's Company, 1 Reg't Alabama
Cavalry (old), joined for duty and enrolled at Iuka, MS,  8 Sep 1862
for one year. Mustered in 1 Oct 1862 at Corinth, MS.  At the top of
one of the cards states "deserted 23 Jan 1863", and then at bottom of
card states, "absent on recruiting".

Inventory of the effects of David L. Nichols, states the following:

David L. Nichols late a Private of Capt. Burdicts Company A of First
Alabama Cavalry, Volunteers, who was enrolled as a recruit at Glendale
in the state of Mississippi on the 12 day of May 1863, and mustered
into the service of the United States as a Recruit on the 12 day of
May 1863 at Corinth in Company A, First Regiment Alabama Cavalry, was
born in Franklin County in the state of Alabama; he was 30 years of
age, 5 ft., 10 in. in height, light complexion, eyes blue, auburn
hair, and by occupation when enrolled a farmer;  he died in hospital
at Glendale Mississippi on the 2nd day of July 1863, by reason of
diahrrea.

signed by:
            Frank C Burdick, Captain, Commanding the Company


Inventory of the effects of David L. Nichols found in papers from National
Archives:

Enlisted as recruit 12 May 1863, at Glendale, MS (see correction below)
Mustered in 12 May 1863, at Corinth, MS
Company "A" as a Private
Born in Franklin County, AL
30 years of age
5' 10" tall
Light complexion
Blue eyes
Auburn hair
Farmer
Died in Hospital at Glendale MS on the 2 Jul 1863, 
       (one card states 1 Jul 1863)
Cause of death:  Diarrhea
He had one blouse, one cotton shirt, one pair trowsers, 1 Jack Knife.

"I certify on honor that the above inventory comprises all the effects of
Private David L. Nichols, deceased, and that the effects are in the hands of
Lieut. W. T. Gray, RQM at Glendale, MS".

Frank C. Burdick, Captain Commanding the Company
Station:  Glendale, MS
Date:  6 Jul 1863

One Card state's:  Deserted 23 Jan 1863, and the same card at the bottom
state's:  Absent on recruiting.

Another card state's:  In hospital at Glendale, MS of diarrhea. . .
(illegible).  The charge of desertion against Nichols is removed.  Correct
the . . . of the company, so as to show that the names David and David L.
Nichols refer to the same man.  That the record of his enlistment as 12 May
1863 is an error and should read 8 Sep 1862.  Enter his name on the roll for
March and April 1863, with remark "absent on recruiting service under orders
from Head Quarters, District of Corinth", and note  the same remark on the
roll for January and February 1863.  

Another card state's:  Service under orders from Head Quarters District of
Corinth vide nfn 19.1869.  See MOR.


Information courtesy of:

Jimmie Nell Nichols Meadors, Email:cmeadors@sage.net
P. O. Box 204
Salado, TX  76571