by J. Kevin McCulloch
All Rights Reserved
Elias M. Burgess and his family moved from Franklyn County, Georgia to Randolph County, AL around 1848. They lived in the Lamar community. Elias was born around 1814 in Tennessee; his wife, Mary P. Mitchell was born around 1817 in South Carolina.
Elias was a well-educated man who was patriotic and civic minded. The father of eight children, a democrat, schoolteacher, farmer, county tax assessor and justice of the peace, Elias contributed a great deal to the growth and development of his community.
Shortly after war was declared, Elias and a Mr. E. B. Smith formed a company of about 40 men at Lamar on 4 July 1861. Smith was elected captain and Burgess was elected 2nd junior lieutenant. After a rousing send-off by the people of Lamar, Smith and Burgess took their men to Montgomery where they were mustered into the service of Co. K. of the 13th Alabama Infantry on 26 July. Lt. Burgess took a great deal of pride in drill and other duties, and at the Seven Pines battle distinguished himself for bravery, courage and leadership.
In April 1862 shortly before the siege at Yorktown, Burgess and twelve other men gathered at Captain Smith’s tent. The men talked among other things about their chances of getting home alive and all the other places they had rather be right then. It was when several of the men were saying they wouldn’t mind being wounded just so they could go home that Lt. Burgess (placing his index finger on his forehead) said: "I want to be hit right here and where killed be buried." It was on the morning of 27 June near Richmond, VA while Burgess was cautioning his men of some nearby Yankees that he was struck by a mini ball in the forehead and died instantly. Later that day, his son Henry came upon his father’s body and pinned Elias’ name on his corpse. As he wished, Burgess was buried near where he fell in an unmarked grave.
Back home, life was very difficult during the war. It was late in the war when the Union army came upon the Burgess home wanting to destroy it and steal their horses. Mary, being ill and confined to bed, asked to be taken to the front door where she made the Masonic sign of distress to the commanding Union officer. He must have likewise been a Mason because they spared the Burgess home. Mary died 15 October 1885.
Elias and Mary’s children were:
Ann Hasentine (Burgess) Rampy
Elizabeth (Burgess) Parnell
Howell Cobb Burgess
Elias Mitchell Burgess, Jr.
Rolan Pinkney Burgess.