Confederate grave
James Robert Chilcoat on 11 Dec 1856 in Lincoln Co., Tennessee married Susan Flack.
BIOGRAPHY: CONFEDERATE VETERAN MAGAZINE, Vol 21, Page 115. 1913
FATE OF JUDGE JAMES CHILCOAT.
James R Chilcoat was a member of the 41st Tennessee Regiment, CSA.
He was captured at Fort Donelson and taken to Camp Morton with others, remaining in prison from February until September, when he was exchanged. He was then discharged from service on account of his age. Prison aged Mr Chilcoat very rapidly.
He lived peacefully at home until April 1864, at which time a regiment of Federal soldiers, Colonel
Hawley in command, camped at Fayetteville, Mr Chilcoats home. Marching orders were brought to Colonel Hawley by Captain Brixy, who had a group of men tearing up the railroad track from Fayetteville. Sometime after the soldiers left, Mrs Chilcoat discovered that two negro boys had left home riding a favourite mare, with a fine yearling colt following. Mr Chilcoat procured a horse and went after them.
He overtook the Federal at Mulberry, where they had halted. He found the horses and claimed them. The men said they would kill him if he took them.
Mr Chilcoat then went to Colonel Hawley and told him of the threats; but he disbelieved them, saying that they were made merely to frighten Mr Chilcoat from his purpose. The men swore to Mr Hawley that the horses belonged to them. However many of the soldiers had seen a young daughter of Mr Chilcoat's riding the mare and recognised it. Mr Chilcoat called the colt by name, and its actions clearly indicated that he had made a pet of it, teaching it many tricks. A Captain Gardiner said, "Mr Chilcoat, I know they are your property, and I will see you through the picket lines," which he did.
Mr Chilcoat no doubt feared that he would be followed, so he left the pike and went through the woods about 2 miles from Mulberry, where his body was found murdered, also the horses badly wounded. His family, though apprehensive of danger from his long absence, learned nothing of his murder until the following morning. A family that lived near the place heard the shots, but were afraid to investigate that night. Captain Gardiner went to Fayetteville immediately upon learning of Mr Chilcoat's death. There was no evidence as to who had committed the crime, but they were supposed to be members of Brixy's gang.
Mr Chilcoat was a true Southerner, and Colonel Hawleys men, some of whom boarded at his house, were very friendly to him. He was a genial, jolly man, friendly to everyone. He loved music and played a flute which he carried through his service and was permitted to use in prison. Some of his old comrades have said: "Mr Chilcoat kept us alive in prison with his flute. he often brought us to tears with "Home, Sweet Home".
For eight years he was Circuit Court Clerk and afterwards County Judge, known as Judge Chilcoat. He was murdered about the time John Massey and two other Southern soldiers were shot in Fayetteville.
[The editor of the VETERAN was in the same barrack with Mr Chilcoat at Camp Morton and has remembered him these fifty years as a most charming entertainer; hence he gives place to the foregoing story.]
James Robert Chilcoat on 11 Dec 1856 in Lincoln Co., Tennessee married Susan Flack.
BIOGRAPHY: CONFEDERATE VETERAN MAGAZINE, Vol 21, Page 115. 1913
FATE OF JUDGE JAMES CHILCOAT.
James R Chilcoat was a member of the 41st Tennessee Regiment, CSA.
He was captured at Fort Donelson and taken to Camp Morton with others, remaining in prison from February until September, when he was exchanged. He was then discharged from service on account of his age. Prison aged Mr Chilcoat very rapidly.
He lived peacefully at home until April 1864, at which time a regiment of Federal soldiers, Colonel
Hawley in command, camped at Fayetteville, Mr Chilcoats home. Marching orders were brought to Colonel Hawley by Captain Brixy, who had a group of men tearing up the railroad track from Fayetteville. Sometime after the soldiers left, Mrs Chilcoat discovered that two negro boys had left home riding a favourite mare, with a fine yearling colt following. Mr Chilcoat procured a horse and went after them.
He overtook the Federal at Mulberry, where they had halted. He found the horses and claimed them. The men said they would kill him if he took them.
Mr Chilcoat then went to Colonel Hawley and told him of the threats; but he disbelieved them, saying that they were made merely to frighten Mr Chilcoat from his purpose. The men swore to Mr Hawley that the horses belonged to them. However many of the soldiers had seen a young daughter of Mr Chilcoat's riding the mare and recognised it. Mr Chilcoat called the colt by name, and its actions clearly indicated that he had made a pet of it, teaching it many tricks. A Captain Gardiner said, "Mr Chilcoat, I know they are your property, and I will see you through the picket lines," which he did.
Mr Chilcoat no doubt feared that he would be followed, so he left the pike and went through the woods about 2 miles from Mulberry, where his body was found murdered, also the horses badly wounded. His family, though apprehensive of danger from his long absence, learned nothing of his murder until the following morning. A family that lived near the place heard the shots, but were afraid to investigate that night. Captain Gardiner went to Fayetteville immediately upon learning of Mr Chilcoat's death. There was no evidence as to who had committed the crime, but they were supposed to be members of Brixy's gang.
Mr Chilcoat was a true Southerner, and Colonel Hawleys men, some of whom boarded at his house, were very friendly to him. He was a genial, jolly man, friendly to everyone. He loved music and played a flute which he carried through his service and was permitted to use in prison. Some of his old comrades have said: "Mr Chilcoat kept us alive in prison with his flute. he often brought us to tears with "Home, Sweet Home".
For eight years he was Circuit Court Clerk and afterwards County Judge, known as Judge Chilcoat. He was murdered about the time John Massey and two other Southern soldiers were shot in Fayetteville.
[The editor of the VETERAN was in the same barrack with Mr Chilcoat at Camp Morton and has remembered him these fifty years as a most charming entertainer; hence he gives place to the foregoing story.]