Death Found Pvt. Alex J. Johnson 23-July-1863

Alex J. Johnson entered the Union Camp near Corinth, Mississippi on 1-July-1863 and enlisted in “D” Company, 1^st Alabama U.S. cavalry. He was mustered into service as a private the same day. A few weeks later while posted as a picket he deserted along with pvt. William Brown. He took with him his horse and all accouterments that had been issued to him. Nothing else was heard of him until 19-July-1863, when a Union scouting party captured a band of guerrillas about 8 miles outside of Corinth. Alex Johnson was among the guerrillas captured.

  A drumhead court was called upon on 21-July-1863 and Johnson was found guilty of desertion and other offences. He was sentenced to be executed by firing squad on 23-July-1863. On a hot dry July morning around 8 o’clock the Union Army began to assemble on the south-east parade ground. The entire military force was in place by 9:30 forming three sides of a hollow square. This would stretch about half a mile long on each side.

  The men would observe a slow moving procession coming from town. A band marched in front of a wagon playing the “dead march”. Alex Johnson sat on top of his coffin with his face in a handkerchief sobbing. Finally the procession reached the south-west corner of the square and stopped. The band marched forward playing the “Dead March” followed by four soldiers carrying his coffin, next walked Alex Johnson followed by 16 soldiers carrying reverse arms. This procession would march slowly up and down each line of the square until they had passed each Regiment. The procession would halt in the center where the execution was to be performed. The coffin was sat down, and Alex Johnson was left there with the Chaplin. The other soldiers took 20 paces from the coffin and prepared for the deadly volley. The Chaplin offered a prayer then each charge was read aloud. A picture was taken at this time. He was told it would be sent to his wife. The Officer in charge stepped forward, placing a blindfold around his head, asking him to sit or kneel on his coffin. Alex Johnson instead stood and begged for his life! He finally yielded and sat on top of his coffin. A few seconds later the command of fire was giving. Seven minie balls took effect, striking him in numerous vital parts of his body. Alex Johnson’s lifeless body fell to the hot parched earth never to breath again. A second picture was taken of Pvt. Alex Johnson in death. Death found Pvt. Alex J. Johnson on 23-July-1863 in the form of a deadly volley fired by a firing squad. He was survived by his wife, family, and friends. May Pvt. Alex J. Johnson RIP!

Death Found 2nd Corporal John Brooks

  John Brooks was born on 22-April-1830 in Wilkinson County, Georgia. He would grow up there on the family farm until he married. He married Martha Ann Mercer on 27-April-1848 in Wilkinson Co., Georgia. The couple would live on a small farm there until the late 1850's. Sometime in the late 1850's the couple moved along with many other friends and family into Randolph County, Alabama. They were listed there in the 1860 census living on  a small farm. Just after the 1860 census they returned home  to Wilkinson Co., Georgia.
   John would be called to war and enlisted on 3-May-1862 in "D" Company, 57th Georgia Infantry CSA. He was mustered into service as a Private a short time later. He was appointed as a 2nd Corporal sometime before May of 1863. John would find himself laying wounded in agony on the battlefield of Bakers Creek (Champion Hills) in Mississippi on 16-May-1863. He would be left behind and captured by Union Forces. He was admitted to the Prison Hospital in Champion Hills, Mississippi on 17-May-1863. He was wounded in the right knee joint by a conical musket ball. The ball had fractured the condyles beyond repair. His leg was amputated above the knee taken a third of the thigh with it.This would prove to be a mortal wound as he died on 29-May-1863. He was buried in the west end of the Vicksburg City Cemetery in a mass grave with many other Confederate soldiers.
    Death found 33 year old 2nd Corporal John Brooks on 29-May-1863. He was survived by his wife, 5 sons, 3 daughters, 3 brothers, 4 sisters, family, and friends. May 2nd Cpl. John Brooks RIP!