Elkanah Burson

Son of wealthy planter Joseph Jackson Burson, he was an unmarried 30 year old merchant at Snow Hill in Wilcox County, AL when he enlisted for 12 months at Allenton, AL on 12 February 1861 in the Wilcox True Blues - afterward Company K (later B) of the First Alabama Infantry. He probably served his term in garrison at Pensacola, FL.

He enlisted again, on 24 April 1862, and mustered as 2nd Sergeant of Company C, 44th Alabama Infantry.

He was wounded by a gunshot to his chest in action at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862. Acting assistant Surgeon Tom Lee described it:

E Burson shot across the breast from one nipple to the other only skin deep ...

He was admitted to Chimborazo Hospital #1 in Richmond, VA on 4 October, transferred to the 3rd Alabama Hospital there on the 17th, and was furloughed home on 22 October. He returned to duty on 6 January 1863. He was elected Junior 2nd Lieutenant on 10 February 1863 and promoted to (Senior) 2nd Lieutenant on 8 November. He was wounded again, by a gunshot to his right hand and arm in the Wilderness, VA on 6 May 1864, was in the CS Army General Hospital in Danville, VA by 12 May, and furloughed on 18 May 1864 for 60 days. He was surrendered and paroled at Appomattox Court House, VA on 9 April 1865, and later said he'd carried the "surrender papers" from Lee to Grant.

By 1880 he was a farmer at Snow Hill, AL and also served a term in the Alabama House of Representatives. In 1900 he was listed as a "Landlord" at Snow Hill and he had retired there by 1910.

His service from the State of Alabama1 and his Compiled Service Records,2 online from fold3. He's also on a Sharpsburg casualty list in the Richmond (VA) Enquirer of 17 October 1862. The quote above from a letter Lee wrote Dr William Gully in Wilcox County from Winchester, VA on 12 October 1862; transcribed online by Sharman Burson Ramsey. Personal details from family genealogists and US Census of 1880-1910. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married the "girl next door" Elefare Christiana Barge (1848-1930) in January 1876 and they had 3 children.

01/23/1832; Snow Hill, AL

02/11/1915; Wilcox County, AL; burial in Palmer Cemetery, Furman, AL