CSA 46th / 55th Tennessee Infantry

Taken from the website:

Civil War Soldiers and Sailor System



46th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry

"46th Infantry Regiment completed its organization at Paris, Tennessee, in November, 1861, and went into camp at Union City during December. Later it moved to Island No. 10 where many of its members suffered from an outbreak of measles. In March, 1862, it reported 374 present for duty, but only 160 were armed. Then on April 8, nine of the ten companies were captured.

After being exchanged and reorganized, the unit was assigned to S.B. Maxey's and later Quarles' Brigade. During January, 1863, it was consolidated with the 55th (Brown's) Regiment. The 46th went to Port Hudson and to Jackson, then was stationed at Mobile until November, 1863. It now joined the Army of Tennessee, fought in the Atlanta Campaign, was with Hood in Tennessee, and ended the war in North Carolina.

The 46th/55th contained 270 men and 230 arms in December, 1863, and lost sixty percent of the 250 engaged at Lickskillet Road on July 28, 1864. It was reported that Companies D and E entered the Atlanta Campaign with 72 men but after the Battle of Nashville had only 1 officer and 2 men. The regiment was included in the surrender on April 26, 1865.

Its commanders were Colonels John M. Clark, Jonathan S. Dawson, and R.A. Owens; Lieutenant Colonels John W. Johnson and Joseph D. Wilson; and Majors James S. Brown and Sylvester C. Cooper. "

DR J.D. BLEDSOE - CSA 55TH TENNESSEE INFANTRY

CSA of McCurtain County, Oklahoma - Dr. J.D. Bledsoe

Taken from a CD version of the book:
McCurtain County & Southeast Oklahoma
by W.A. Carter
1923, Idabel, OK



Dr. J.D. Bledsoe.

"Dr. J.D. Bledsoe, Idabel, born in Carroll County, May 31st, 1838, educated in the common schools and had one year in college.

He enlisted in the Confederate army in Anderson County, Tenn., in June, 1861, Company G, 55th Tennessee Regiment under command of Gen. Joseph E. Johnson, and served during the war east of the Mississippi River.

At the battle of Atlanta, he was wounded in the right hand, resulting in the loss of the thumb and index finger. Was taken as a prisoner at Tiptonville, He was discharged at Nashville in 1865.

Dr. Bledsoe is still active but his eyesight has failed to such an extent that he cannot read very well even with a reading glass. He has not practiced his profession since coming to Oklahoma in 1907."

CSA 21st Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry

Taken from the website:

Civil War Soldiers and Sailor System

21st Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (Wilson's)

21st (Wilson's) Cavalry Regiment [also called 16th Regiment] was organized in February, 1864, with eleven companies. It was formed by consolidating various irregular organizations from the counties of Hardin, Chester, Henderson, Madison, McNairy, and Carroll. It was assigned to T.H. Bell's Brigade, fought at Brice's Cross Roads as dismounted skirmishers, then was active at Harrisburg and Athens. Later it moved back to Tennessee with Hood and in November and December reported 42 casualties. During February, 1865, the unit was consolidated with Barteau's 22nd Cavalry, and this command totalled 31 officers and 317 men on May 3. The next day it was included in the surrender of the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. The field officers were Colonel Andrew N. Wilson, Lieutenant Colonel Jesse A. Forrest, and Majors William T. Parham and M.G. Stegall.

CSA 15th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry

Taken from the website:
Civil War Soldiers and Sailor System

15th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry

15th Infantry Regiment was organized at Jackson, Tennessee, in June, 1861 and in July totalled 744 men. Its members were from Memphis and the counties of Weakley, Lake, Madison, and Shelby. Company G contained men from Kentucky and Southern Illinois. After fighting at Belmont, Shiloh, and Perryville, the unit was assigned to Bate's, Tyler's, and Palmer's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. During June, 1863, it was consolidated with the 37th Regiment. It was active at Hoover's Gap, then participated in the campaigns of the army from Chickamauga to Atlanta, returned to Tennessee with Hood, and saw action in North Carolina. This regiment reported 200 casualties at Shiloh and had 34 disabled at Perryville. The 15th/37th lost fifty-eight percent of the 202 engaged at Chickamauga and in December, 1863, totalled 234 men and 148 arms. Only a handful surrendered on April 26, 1865. The field officers were Colonels Charles M. Carroll and Robert C. Tyler; Lieutenant Colonels Thorndike Brooks and James H.R. Taylor; and Majors John W. Hambleton, John F. Hearn, and John M. Wall.

CSA of McCurtain County, Oklahoma - Capt W.S. WRAY / RAY

Taken from a CD version of the book:
McCurtain County & Southeast Oklahoma
by W.A. Carter
1923, Idabel, OK

CAPT. W.S. WRAY / RAY

* This man's name was spelled Wray and Ray in different locations. A W.S. Ray was found in the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System Website


"Capt. W.S. Wray was born in Orange County, North Carolina in 1844,
and while a boy his family moved to Tennessee and settled near the old
Shiloh Church, afterwards made famous by the battle of Shiloh, fought
between the armies of the Civil War. Capt. Ray left McNairy County, Tenn.,
with the first Confederate company organized there, while he was not yet 17.
His command was the 15th Tennessee Regiment Infantry. His first service
was in Tennessee, Missouri, and Kentucky, engaged in battles of Belmont
and Shiloh.

Later, he was placed under Capt. Smith as a scout, and served with that officer in West Tennessee for more than a year, and while in this service was in the battles of Okolona, Paducah, and Fort Pillow. In 1864 Capt. Ray was Transferred, with others, to Johnson's army which was then near Dalton, Ga., and had part in all the battles of the Georgia campaign from Dalton to Lovejoy Station. After Hood's return from Tennessee, he rejoined the 16th Tennessee Cavalry, where he served until he was parolled at Corinth, May 15th 1865.

In 1908, he moved to Idabel, this county, and lived here until his death in October, 1920. Capt. Ray was a man whom to know was to love, and the State and county lost a good citizen and a Christian gentleman, at his death. His descendants are today among the best citizens of McCurtain County"

Col Eli E. Dodson 14 ARK INF CSA

Yellville, Arkansas
Eli Dodson Cemetery

May 22 1828
Feb 26 1921

Photo taken: Aug 2003
by Renee Cone Pero 

Colonel Eli Dodson Jr and Mary Catherine Cantrell

This is a photo of Eli with his 3rd Wife - Mary Catherine Cantrell 

Colonel Eli Dodson Jr

This is a photo of Colonel Eli Dodson Jr of the Confederate 14th Arkansas Infantry Regiment. 

CSA 14th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry Confederate

I've recently discovered a new website that is a terrific source of genealogical information.

The following was taken from Civil War Soldiers and Sailor System Website




"CONFEDERATE ARKANSAS TROOPS14th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Powers')
14th (Mitchell's-Powers') Infantry Regiment was organized during the fall of 1861 with 939 officers and men recruited in the northwestern region of the state. It fought at Elkhorn Tavern and later moved east of the Mississippi River . The regiment reported 17 casualties out of the 116 engaged at Iuka, and there were 12 wounded and 2 missing at Corinth. It was then assigned to Beall's Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, and in April, 1863, united with Crockett's 18th and Lyles' 23rd Arkansas Regiments. This command was captured at Port Hudson on July 9. After being exchanged, the 14th was not reorganized. Its commanders were Colonel Eli Dodson, Colonels M. C. Mitchell, and Frank P. Powers; Lieutenant Colonel Pleasant Fowler; and Majors John Allen, E. H. Messick, and J. H. Messick."