Merrill Thomas Castleberry

A former Atlanta builder and City Councilman, most recently a partner in a new grocery business there, he enrolled in Atlanta as First Lieutenant of Company C, 21st Georgia Infantry on 26 June 1861. He was wounded at Ellison's Mill, VA on 26 June 1862 and again at 2nd Manassas, VA on 28 August. He was promoted to Captain on that date when Captain J.F. Waddail was killed.

He was wounded in action along the Smoketown Road at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862 by a gunshot through his mouth "passing though his jaw and neck" and out the back of his head.

He was initially left for dead, but later taken to a hospital in Shepherdstown, VA. He was sent on to a hospital in Staunton, VA on 27 September and was still recovering, in Port Royal, VA, in December 1862. He resigned his commission on 22 February 1863 due to his incapacitating wound.

He returned to the grocery business and was a contractor in Atlanta. He was elected City Councilman there in 1867-68, 1870, and 1872. He was a furniture dealer with a factory and showrooms in Atlanta by 1874 and to at least 1880. He was elected Atlanta Alderman in 1879 and Tax Collector in 1886.

His service from Henderson1 and his Compiled Service Record, online via fold3. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860 - 1880. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Martha Richards (1832-1900) in 1858 and they had 9 children, only 4 of whom survived to adulthood.

See more about the history [pdf] of he Castleberry Hill neighborhood of Atlanta, where he had considerable property holdings, named for him; online from the Castleberry Hill Historic Arts District.

04/23/1830 in GA

08/05/1890; Atlanta, GA; burial in Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, GA