Served in Gid Nelson's Light Artillery, Confederate States Army, Private

FROM COMPENDIUM OF THE CONFEDERATE ARMIES-ALABAMA BY STEWART SIFAKIS, PUBLISHED BY FACTS ON FILE, NEW YORK

p. 15-23. ALABAMA GID. NELSON ARTILLERY BATTERY

ORGANIZATION: Organized at Uniontown on 2 May 1862. Armed with four 20 pound Parrotts and four 12 pound Howitzers on 11 January 1864. Surrendered by Lieutenant Richard Taylor, commanding the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana, at Citronelle, Alabama, 4 May 1865.

FIRST COMMANDER: Joseph J. Selden (Captain)

CAPTAIN: Charles W. Lovelace

ASSIGNMENTS: Army of Mobile, District of the Gulf, Department #2 (October 1862-April 1863)

Slaughter's-Cantey's Brigade, Western Division, Department of the Gulf (April-August 1863)

Eastern Division, Department of the Gulf (one section) (June-August 1863)

Amerine's Brigade, Department of the Gulf (one section) (August-September 1863)

Truehart's Artillery Battalion, Cantey's Brigade, Department of the Gulf (August 1863-January 1864)

Truehart's Artillery Battalion, Shoup's-Fuller's Artillery Brigade, Department of the Gulf (February-April 1864)

Truehart's Artillery Battalion, Fuller's Artillery Brigade, District of the Gulf, Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana (April-May 1864)

Artillery Battalion, Cantey's-Walthall's Division, Army of Mississippi (May-July 1864)

Preston's-Truehart's Battalion, Artillery, Army of Mississippi (July 1864)

Truehart's Battalion, 3rd Corps, Army of Tennessee (July 1864-January 1865)

Truehart's Artillery Battalion, Right Wing, Defenses of Mobile, Artillery Reserves, etc., Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana (March-April 1865)

Truehart's Artillery Battalion, Smith's Regiment, Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana (April-May 1865)

BATTLES: Atlanta Campaign (May-September 1864)

Kennesaw Mountain (27 June 1864)

Peach Tree Creek (20 July 1864)

Atlanta Siege (July-September 1864)

Tilton (13 October 1864)

Nashville (15-16 December 1864)

Mobile (17 March-12 April 1865)

APPLIED FOR CONFEDERATE PENSION BUT WAS DISAPPROVED SEPTEMBER 28, 1907-AFFIDAVITS WERE GIVEN BY SECOND WIFE, MRS. S.L. RAGSDALE AND J.W. THOMPSON AND ARE AS FOLLOWS:

In the matter of the application of S.A. Ragsdale for pension under act of May 12, 1899.

Mrs. S.L. Ragsdale, being duly sworn upon her oath deposes and says:

My name is Mrs. S.L. Ragsdale, age 63 years. My present post office address is Collinsville. I personally know S.A. Ragsdale, applicant herein, and have known him ever since I was a child. He is my husband. I first knew him about 60 years ago in Shelby County. I personally know that he enlisted in the service of the Confederacy and performed the duties of a soldier. He enlisted in Seldon's Battery, Gid Nelson's Artillery in Shelby County, Alabama. I cannot recall the date, but it was toward the early part of the war. He served until discharged on account of disability. He was discharged about the fall of 1864. I personally know that the applicant is unable to earn a support by his own labor. I never knew any other soldier of his name serving in the same company or in the same Battery with him. I am positively certain that the said S.A. Ragsdale, applicant, is the identical person about whom I have testified. I know applicant is unable to earn a living by being associated with him constantly, practically all of my life and know of his physical condition. I know that the applicant never deserted the Confederacy.

In the matter of the application of S.A. Ragsdale for pension under the Act of May 12, 1899.

J.W. Thompson being duly sworn in the above matter deposes and says:

My name is J.W. Thompson, age 64 years. I live near Collinsville, but my post office address is Whitesboro, Route 4. I personally know the applicant, S.A. Ragsdale and have known him nearly all my life. I first knew him in Shelby County, Alabama. I personally know that the said S.A. Ragsdale, applicant enlisted in the service of the Confederacy and performed the duties of a soldier. He belonged to Seldon's Battery and Gid Nelson's Artillery. I don't know the exact date of his enlistment, but I saw him in the army in 1862 and was with and near and served with him about six months. This was at Mobile, Alabama. I was captured in 1863 at Missionary Ridge and remained in prison until the end of the war and do not, of my own knowledge, know further of the service of applicant. I personally knew that the applicant is unable by his own labor to earn a support for himself. I never knew any other soldier of the name of applicant serving in the same company with the applicant, or in the same command. I am positively certain that the applicant is the identical person about whom I have testified. I know of the truth of the statement made by me in reference to his inability to earn a support for himself by living near him and observing him for many years. I do not, of my own knowledge, know whether or not the applicant ever deserted the Confederacy, but I never heard of any such thing being charged against him.

FROM JANE DOUGLAS CHAPTER, D.A.R.-EARLY GRAYSON COUNTY PROBATE RECORDS DONE MAY 26, 1962

WARRENTY DEED. Dated Nov. 18, 1872, recorded in Vol. Z, page 543, Chas. C. Collins to Saml. A. Ragsdale. Acknowledgment taken by S. Shannon, J.P. & Ex Officio Notary Public, N.P. Grayson Co. Texas Nov. 18, 1874.

DEED RECORDS - GRAYSON COUNTY, TEXAS

Vol. 256, p. 506

"I H.L. Ragsdale, do solemnly swear that S.A. Ragsdale, the grantee in the Deed made by Charles C. Collins to Samuel A. Ragsdale, dated November 18, 1872, was my grandfather; the said Samuel A. Ragsdale was married twice; his first wife's name was Jane C. Ragsdale, and his second wife's name was Sarah Ragsdale. My grandfather, and his first wife, had the following children and no others:

E.R. Ragsdale, Seldon Ragsdale, R.E. Ragsdale, and M.F. Ragsdale. All sons.

The said M.F. Ragsdale died prior to the year, 1901, and left surviving him, as heirs, the following persons, and no others:

Mrs. Nannie J. Ragsdale, his wife, C.T. Ragsdale, a son, Estella Ragsdale, a daughter, W.F. Ragsdale, a son and Edna Ragsdale, a daughter. Florence Modrall, Notary Public, M.A. Cox, Clerk."

DEED RECORDS, GRAYSON COUNTY, TEXAS, VOLUME 261, p. 414

Statement of B.F. Mitchell - regarding Samuel A. Ragsdale, he died intestate in Grayson County, Texas on Mar. 20, 1912. Jane C. Ragsdale, wife of S.A. Ragsdale, who died intestate in Grayson County, Texas on October 26, 1893, that of the marriage of S.A. Ragsdale and Jane C. Ragsdale, there were born the following children:

E.R. Ragsdale, a son, Seldon Ragsdale, a son, R.E. Ragsdale, a son and M.F. Ragsdale, a son.

Affidavit further says that M.F. Ragsdale, a son of S.A. Ragsdale and Jane C. Ragsdale died, intestate in Grayson County, Texas on 6th day of March, 1895 and left surviving him as his heirs the following named persons:

Mrs. Nannie J. Ragsdale, his wife and four children, namely: C.T. Ragsdale, a son, Estella Kight, a daughter, now wife of H.H. Kight, W.D. Ragsdale, a son and Edna Barnett, a daughter, now the wife of W.D. Barnett. M.T. Brigham, Notary Public.

INVENTORY AND APPRAISEMENT: VOL. 13, PAGE 100 PROBATE COURT, GRAYSON COUNTY, TEXAS, JANUARY 31, 1901

Estate of C.T. Ragsdale, et al minors. Nannie J. Ragsdale, Guardian.

Appraisers: J.H. Hayes, J.G. Smitzer, T.T. Rogers, P.T. Shores, Notary Public. W.S. Farrer, J.P.

GUARDIAN'S DEED. MARCH 19, 1901; filed Dec. 16, 1905, recorded Vol. 164, page 518. Nannie J. Ragsdale, guardian to A.T. Pelphrey and F.P. Varley.

Moulder Ragsdale married Nancy Hudspeth when she was 16. Moulder was a mail carrier working under postmaster Carl Collins. He carried the first mail route from Whitesboro to Collinsville. Moulder was also the first mayor of Collinsville.

According to my uncle Carl, Moulder was deaf and while crossing the railroad tracks in Collinsville was struck and killed by a train at the age of 39.

Grayson County, Texas Probate Court records state Moulder died March 6, not May 6. He also appears in court records as a notary public and once as a justice of the peace.

FROM COLLINSVILLE TIMES – GOVERNOR BILL MURRAY EDITION-February 18, 1932" by Ruth Brown Henry, 1966.

"Known as Nannie to all, Nancy Hudspeth Ragsdale Sanders was an accomplished poet to all. She was a Collinsville native. The Hudspeth family moved from Tennessee to Texas around 1859, living first in Greenville and later moving to Collinsville.

Nannie attended the first free school built at Collinsville which was taught by Mrs. Lodoweska Baker Collins (a widow who moved to the area to open a school) for whom the town was later named. Nannie describes the school as being a one room log construction, the holes of which were filled with clay. It had puncheon floors and split logs with improvised legs were used for both benches and desks. This school later became inadequate for the growing community and a new two story wooden building was erected, the upper story of which was used as a Masonic Hall.

At 16, Nannie married Moulder Ragsdale. They had five children, one of whom died at 11 months of age. In March of 1895, Moulder died and after the death of her husband she became associated in the millinery business and home dressmaking. She married William Joseph Sanders in 1928. Nannie has been active in religious work and in the Rebecks. She was known locally as a public speaker and her poetry has been read by folks all over this area. She has written eulogies for her friends by the score."

In a letter written to my father, Bill, during World War II - Nancy tells of family history in a round about way as follows:

November 24, 1945 - written in Bill's hand, this must have been when he received the letter. It was written not long before both she and her daughter, Estella (Bill's mother) had just died in September of 1945.

Ardmore, Oklahoma - 709 - 1st Nov.

My very dear Grandson, I was so glad to get your letter and the kisses and the bouquet of words. Yes, Richard' coming by with his family was a pleasure I never expected to have and Sallie & Nancy added pleasure. I hope the pictures Richard made was good-and I have been twice honored by the name of Nancy-being named for my G.mother Nancy Hudspeth. I was not the oldest daughter Dad had-but was supposed to be the most like G.mother and she was a live in Ky with one of Dad wealthy brothers, Uncle Jim. G.mother was left a widow with 6 boys to raise. and Dad was the younges, and was born 6 days after his father died. June said she had been already teasing her & Sallie. Richard had come by the Hermative (Hermitage) in Tenn. and notised how well they were keeping up the place, but did not know G.mother's uncle was buried their and my G.mother had gone up those noted stairways that was papered with paper that came from Pares (Paris). Well sweetheart honey I guess this enough of family history - Edna has just had her hous papered by a good paperhanger she is very proud of it and we hope when you get out of the Army you will come to see us. I wonder what you think of doing when you have your discharge" I guess Ralph will go to school; it is a bit cool here now Edna and Carl havent been to Collinsville to sell the place and dispose of my house-hold goods I cant live in Texas any more and want to get the OAA but Billy I still have $90 besides the spending purse.

Hoping this finds you well and will write again so will know where you are and what you are doing.

excuse mistakes

and here come back your kisses loving yours

++++G.mother Sanders

Nancy