Person:Tristam Burch (3)

From Bart Morgan: They had nine children.

Confederate Veteran Crosses Over River Special to the State Chesterfield, July 31, 1927

Tristram Thomas Burch died at his home, near Chesterfield, Wednesday evening, July 20. Mr. Burch had been in bad health for years, in bed for about a year and practically helpless for months. He was 83 years of age July 4 of this year. He was the youngest of a family of 12 children and the last to pass away, was a great grandson of Gen. Tristram Thomas, of Revolutionary fame, for whom he was named. (Gen. Thomas is buried a few miles east of Cheraw.)

At the time of the Confederate war Mr. Burch was one of the first volunteers from Chesterfield County. He and his brother, Jess Burch, went to Camden in September, 1861, and joined the Sixth Cavalry Regiment of Kirkwood Rangers and were in the troop of Capt. William Shannon. They marched directly to Richmond, where they remained two or three weeks and were sent on to Manassasor Bull Run, arriving there just after the first battle. The Rangers were sent there to join a Georgia regiment but on account of being so well trained and equipped were chosen by General Whiting as body guards. They were changed after a short time and became General Longstreet's body guards.

From Manassas they marched down upon the peninsula between James and Potomac rivers. They had no regular engagements here but engaged in many skirmishes. It was at New Kent Court House that Mr. Burch saw his first man killed in action.

They were with Johnston when near the close of May, 1862, he deserted Yorktown and attached McClellan as he attempted to cross Chickahominy river. Some of Mr. Burch's company carried Johnston from the field after he was wounded during the battle of Seven Pines.

Longstreet fought under Lee during the Seven Days' Battles beginning June 21 and ending at Malvern Hill when the Federals escaped the fleet upon James River. During this time Mr. Burch was made Gen. R. E. Lee's courier.

Lee next marched upon Pope at Manassas. Mr. Burch's troops had only enlisted for 12 months. While here they reinlisted and elected Jim Daby captain. Mr. Burch's horse was water-founded during the Second Battle of Manassas and he was sent back to a rest camp while Lee went on into Maryland. He rejoined him on his retreat and was present at the Battle of Fredericksburg on the hill with Lee and Longstreet when "Second Land Tom" broke into three pieces. That night Mr. Burch was placed as courier with a signal corps. He caught cold and become very ill, was sent to a hospital in Richmond. Smallpox broke out here and he was sent over James river to a hospital at Manchester, remained there about a week and then joined the Army at Fredericksburg. They engaged in several skirmishes before his company was sent across James river where Mr. Burch did picket duty.

While out on a scouting expedition with Colonel Haskell Mr. Burch was sent with a dispatch for General Chilters. On the way he captured three Federals.

He next joined Lee on the northern side of James river and was sent with the supply wagons of Longstreet near Winchester while Lee marched into Pennsylvania during the Battle of Gettysburg. He rejoined Lee when he retreated into Virginia and was on the northern side of James river and heard the blow-up at Petersburg.

When Longstreet was sent west in the autumn of '63 Mr. Burch's company was annexed to the Seventh regiment, but he was only with them a short time, being in the hospital most of the time suffering with infected toes acquired when the doctor attempted to cut out ingrowing nails, until he ______ one of 100 men _______ was sent home for horses. He was at home when Lee surrendered. Sherman marched through Friday and Saturday and he reached home Sunday.

During the days of Reconstruction Mr. Burch was captain of a Red Shirt company and was instrumental in the election of Wade Hampton as governor and the routing of the carpetbaggers and the Negro units(?) and officers in South Carolina.

Mr. Burch married Miss Adella L. Sellers in September, 1866, and is survived by his widow and seven children: H.S. Burch of Royston, Ga., T.H. Burch and Mrs. W.T. Edgeworth of Ruby, Miss Mary Burch, Miss Linnie Burch and Mrs. G.L. Moore of Chesterfield and J.S. Burch of Cheraw.

He was laid to rest at 5 o'clock Thursday afternoon, July 21, in the Sellers family Cemetery near Ruby. The Rev. A.B. Smith, a lifelong friend and neighbor of the family conducted the funeral services.

The above was hand copied by Laverne Moore and given to her niece, Barbara Burch James, who shared with Elizabeth Ratliff Goins, October, 2006.

Source: Kathy Burch William Research

1. ↑ Find A Grave
   Memorial# 40379631.

   Dates from photo of gravestone.

2.   Research of Bart Morgan, Frances Burch Steel and Diane Burch Arnold ( n248b at yahoo dot com ).
3.   United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432)
   Chesterfield District, South Carolina.
4.   United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M653)
   Chesterfield District, South Carolina.
5.   Burch, W. Bernette. Burch Family and Hollendsworth, Thomas, Meadow, Jackson No.1, Jackson No.2, Blakeney, Timmons etc
   3, 6.
6.   United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T9)
   Mount Croghan, Chesterfield Co., South Carolina.
7.   Research of Kathy Burch Williams kb-smwilliams addtheAT sbcglobal addthedot net.