Person:John Lavender (5)

Listed in the 1850 Wilkinson County, Georgia Census as John Lavender, 8 years old. This is where I am getting the information on his parents.

There are records for a John T. Lavender who served in G Co., 4th Arkansas Cavalry (Union) during the Civil War. He was a Private. Matilda E. Lavender applied for his pension.

From www.couchgenweb.com: Lavender, John T Private?Enlisted at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, May 12, 1862; deserted and took oath of allegiance at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, January 1, 1864.

The story, as told by George William Lavender to George Michael Davis, is that John was in the Confederate Army. His father Daniel was the only male left in the community during the war, so Daniel would help out by bringing food to the women and children. One day during the winter, he was surrounded by Union soldiers, stripped of everything including wagon and clothes, and left to the elements. He made it home, but died shortly thereafter of pneumonia. John was given a furlough to return home and take care of family matters, but never quite made it back to the Army. One day, as John was returning home, he saw a squad of Confederate soldiers at his house. Knowing they were there to bring him back into the war, he took off through the woods, hanging his hat on one of the branches. Moments later, shots rang out--apparently the Confederate soldiers had seen his hat and thought it was him. John continued to run, and eventually came upon a group of Union soldiers. Knowing he could not return home, he joined the Union instead.

Enlisted May 12, 1862 at Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas into Company C, 26th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Confederate) as a private. Absent sick at hospital October 31, 1862. Granted disability furlough for pneumonia November 21, 1862 from St. John's College Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. Present February to August, 1863. Granted 30 day sick furlough August 28, 1863. Did not report back. Took Oath of Allegiance at Pine Bluff, January 1, 1864, listing home as Miller, Bradley County, Arkansas. Age 21, eyes grey, hair light, complexion fair, heigh 5'7", occupation farmer. Enlisted February 6, 1864 Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Company G, 4th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment (Union).

There are records of a J. T. Lavender who served with C Co., 1 Louisiana Cavalry (Confederate), 1 Field Battery, Louisiana Artillery. Not sure if this is the same person or not, because the following information is listed on him:

Lavender, J. T.,Pvt. Co. C, 1st La. Cav. Federal Rolls of Prisoners of War, Captured Red River, La., Dec. 11, 1863. Recd. at Camp Morton, Ind., Feb. 4, 1864. Forwd. to Fort Delaware, Del., March 22, 1864. On Roll of Prisoners of War, at Fort Delaware, Del., who desire to take the Oath of Allegiance Dec., 1864, name appears as signature to Oath of Allegiance, subscribed and sworn to at Fort Delaware, Del., May 5, 1865, order of War Dept. Res. West Feliciana Par., La., complexion light, hair light, eyes grey, height 5 ft. 10 in