Nathaniel Thomas Francis

From a long line of farmers (1790 or earlier) in Southampton County, in 1861 Nathaniel helped organize an infantry company called the Rough and Ready Guard. The family farm at that time was of 739 acres and he owned 4 slaves. He enrolled as Second Lieutenant, Company G of the 3rd Virginia Infantry Regiment on 11 May. They reported for State service later that month to Isle of Wight County and were there until 1 April 1862. At that time they were sent to Yorktown and mustered into Confederate service.

He was sick with "intermittent fever" at General Hospital No. 4, Richmond in September 1863, and was promoted Captain of his Company that same month. He was captured in action at Five Forks, Virginia on 1 April 1865 and a prisoner at Washington DC and Johnson's Island before release on 18 June 1865.

He returned to the family farm, and died there only 10 years later at about age 42.

Basic military information from Wallace1. Some bio dates from UDC/SCV research via RootsWeb, with additional data from the Southampton County Historical Society and the Park Service's Soldiers and Sailors System. Thanks to descendant Keith T. Francis - who's family still owns the same farm - for pointing us to the Francis brothers at Sharpsburg, and for a scan of a somewhat damaged photograph of the Captain seen above.

12/18/1833; Southampton County, VA

1875; Southampton County, VA; burial in Family cemetery near Adams Grove, VA