The Felix Reid Story

The Felix Reid Story

The Resolution of a Mystery

The picture of a Civil War Confederate soldier, which is in our possession, has always been stated to be that of Felix the oldest child of Archibald McCoy and Elizabeth Herbert Reid of Greenville, Butler County, Alabama. Archibald and Elizabeth were the parents of Virginia Reid Powell, our grandmother and great-grandmother on Rebecca Powell Dowdle’s side of the Ruble C. Dowdle family.

The origin of the identification of the individual in the picture as Felix Reid has its beginning with Grandmother Powell, who was born in August 1862, a year after the beginning of the Civil War. She was definitely too young to remember anything of the conflict nor were there any battles fought in and around Greenville, Alabama that would have made a lasting impression on such a young child. However, Grandmother Powell did state to some of us (her grandchildren) that she remembered Yankee soldiers in Greenville sometime after the War. This could have been as late as 1867 when she was five years old. Therefore, no first hand information was available from Grandmother Powell other than her remembering the soldiers. All other stories relating to the War and family members during that time period, were by word of mouth or based on bits of information she picked up as time progressed.

The Reid Family

Archibald and Elizabeth Reid married in 1835 at the ages of 24 and 17 respectively. He died in 1883 and Elizabeth died in 1881. They had eleven children as best can be derived, as two of them died either early in life or at childbirth. These were Anna and William. The remaining children were Felix (1836), Abigail (1838), Hillory (sometimes spelled Hillary) Herbert (1840), Mary (1842), Frances (1846), James (1850), Lucanida (1852), George (1854), and Virginia (1862). We know the birth sequence for Frances, James, Lucanida and George, but their exact birth dates have not been determined; however, the others are in accordance with census records. Therefore, the two older boys, Felix and Hillory Herbert were 25 and 21 years of age respectively when the Civil War started. Since both boys could have been in the War, they would not have been in Greenville at the time of Virginia Reid’s birth, nor during her early years. Thus, it is possible that due to them being gone during the War years and the differences in ages, she really had no fist-hand knowledge of their lives or their service records if any.

In our research into Felix it was found that he married Cornelia Coleman in either 1856 or 57. They had five children; Archer (1858), Daniel (1863), Hillary (son, 1865), Anna (1867), and Lula (1870). These facts alone would indicate that Felix was in and around Greenville throughout the War years, and creates some doubt as to the validity of the following story.

Oral Tradition

Oral tradition has it that Felix was in the Civil War, and during one of the battles either in Northern Virginia or at the Battle of Gettysburg he was wounded and ended up in a prisoner of war camp somewhere up north. It was determined that his wounds were of such an extent that he could be released to his family for care, and that after recovery he would not be available for additional military action. As such, his father was contacted to come get his son and take him home. It is our understanding that this was done quite often with enlisted men, but not with officers. Therefore, Archibald and others went north and returned Felix to Greenville. The extent of his injuries were not know nor the date of this journey.

Finally Success

Based on this story, some of us have for a number of years been searching Civil War archives for any record of Felix’s military records yet none have ever been found. Recently, I was able to tap into some very reputable sources in Virginia who have direct access to Civil War data not available to those outside of certain foundations. None of these individuals could find any record of Felix ever having been in the Civil War. Since this is highly unusual for military archives not to have any trace of one who served, it occurred to us that the person in the picture in question may not be Felix, but his brother Hillory Herbert. As stated earlier, Felix appeared to be in and around Greenville during the War years as he had two children born in 1863 and 1865.

In subsequent conversations with Mother (Rebecca Dowdle) I was able to piece together the following story regarding Felix. During the later years of Grandmother Powell’s life, she frequently called out in her sleep, “Come quickly Mother Felix is sick again.” And according to Mother (Rebecca) Grandmother Powell frequently indicated that Felix was sick during the years after the War. Remember, Grandmother Powell was only four years old when the war ended, and if Felix was sick during these subsequent years she may have assumed his illness was related to the War.

An associated story about Felix is that Great Grandfather Reid dreamed that Felix was either sick or hurt. He found where he was and via horse and buggy returned him to their Greenville home and attended to him for some time. It is not known when this occurred, but it is my analysis that it may have been in and around 1861 or 1862, as there are no records of Felix ever responding to the draft of 1862 for men between the ages of 18 and 35. Therefore, it’s my opinion that Felix’s health prevented him from being in the War. It is not known at this time when he died, but Mother (Rebecca) said that Grandmother always indicated that Felix died at an early age.

Hillory Reid

So, what do we know about Hillory Herbert Reid? He was born in 1840 as the third child of Archibald and Elizabeth Reid in Greenville, Butler County, Alabama. He is identified in the 1850 census as ten years old. And in 1861, at the age of 21 he is listed as the “bondsman” in his sister Mary’s wedding at the home of their father Archibald Reid. It is not fully understood what a “bondsman” is in this case except that he may have been the one to give the bride away, since his father, a pastor, could have conducted the wedding. Hillory Herbert is again found in the 1866 census as being in Butler County. He later married Laura Z. Blalock in 1869 and had two children in the year 1870. The 1880 census of Butler County does not list Hillary Herbert, but he is found in the Conecuh County census, which is Evergreen, Alabama, the next county and city south of Greenville. Later, Hillory Herbert and his son Charles owned and operated a drug store in Evergreen. He is also found there in the census of 1910.

So, naturally after all this research the question was posed, “Is the person in the subject photograph Felix or Hillory Herbert? At this point in the research we were convinced that the person could not be Felix based on the lack of military records, family development, and stories of his illnesses. So, we focused on Hillory Herbert, and found him listed in the 17th Alabama Infantry Regiment in a Butler County unit. The Regiment was formed in Montgomery, Alabama in August 1861.

An Overview

To aid in reading the details of Hillory’s time with the 17th Alabama a list of the dates and locations are provided.

Montgomery, AL: August 1861 – November 1861
Pensacola, FL: November 1862 – March 1862
Shiloh, MS: March 1862 – August 1862
Mobile, AL: August 1862 – April 1864
Atlanta, GA: April 1864 – October 1864
Franklin, TN: October 1864 – December 1864
Nashville, TN: December 1864 – January 1865
Greensboro, NC: January 1865 – April 1865
Surrender at Greensboro, NC: April 26, 1865
Began journey home to Greenville, AL: May 1865

Montgomery

Hillory joined the 17th Alabama in Montgomery, AL on September 9, 1861. He was 21 years old. His initial assignment, which would last through the War, was as a medical steward in company K. It appears that a number of men from each company within the regiment were assigned to support the regimental hospital staff to which two surgeons were attached. It is not known exactly the details of their duties. After the formation of the 17th Alabama at Montgomery, the regiment contained a roster of 900 men and officers. From there they moved approximately 13 miles east to a training camp near Cross Keys and Shorter’s Depot in Macon County. Regimental training lasted only nine weeks before being called to Pensacola, FL.

Pensacola

On November 15, 1861 the regiment arrived in Pensacola, and there became engaged in what was called the Battle of Pensacola even though it was fought approximately five miles east. Due to the swampy area east of Pensacola sickness was frequent, thus a number of problems due to epidemics and various disease claimed an “untold number of men.” Also, many men resigned or were discharged, as they were not suited for military life. Remember, there was no draft until 1862; therefore, men could resign for it was at this time an all volunteer army.

Corinth

The regiment departed Pensacola on March 7,1862 for Corinth, MS then on to the Battle of Shiloh in April. From regimental records it appears that much of the 17th Alabama was kept in reserve or they were assigned to other duties since only 300 men from the regiment were actually in the Battle of Shiloh. Of this complement 143 were killed, wounded or captured. However, due to the weather conditions many fell ill to disease and died. According to the 17th’s history, as many men died of disease as did in battle. The muster rolls indicate that 25 to 30 died each day from disease and wounds during the period of July and August 1862.

Mobile

The regiment departed for Mobile on August 1, 1862 remaining there until April 1864. However, living conditions in the Mobile area were not much better than in northern Mississippi due to the low swampy areas. Although Mobile was not very comfortable it was safe since it was under Confederate control until March 1865.

Since Hillory was assigned as a medical steward it seems appropriate to address some the issues faced by the medical care units of that time. As indicated by unit medical records, malaria and other types of fever took its toll on all members of the 17th Alabama. The Mobile City Hospital (later became known as the Mobile Infirmary) was used to house the sick as well as the Army General Hospital in Greenville, Alabama. Hillory worked at the company level; however, those who were the most ill were transferred to one of the two hospitals. It was during the 17th’s stay in Mobile that Hillory became ill and diagnosed with debilitas and granted a 15-day medical leave. It is not exactly known what dibilitas was in current medical terms, but then it was classified as a condition of the body in which there is a weakening of the vital signs. Since it appears not to be a serious, long-term condition, it may have been due to exhaustion, poor living conditions, poor diet, etc. Based on Hillory’s work through the War it is a miracle he survived at all. Anyway, it is assumed he returned home to Greenville during these 15 days then back to Mobile.

The trains were running quite frequently between Mobile and Greenville as the Army General Hospital was in Greenville and this was the major route for the military to points north. During the War this route was called the Mobile and Great Northern Railroad, which after the war merged with other railroads and became known as the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N). I traveled this route many times as a young child visiting the younger sisters of Hillory and Felix in Greenville.

Atlanta

On April 20,1864 the regiment left the safety of Mobile for northwest Georgia to join the Army of Tennessee. Known as the Atlanta Campaign, the battles lasted until October 1864. Again, due to inadequate diet and unsanitary conditions the level of illness was very high. The regimental muster indicates 63 killed or wounded in May 1864 while 360 were reported too sick to fight.

Another element that needs addressing, especially with the Alabama 17th joining the Atlanta Campaign, that being the leadership on the part of the commanders of the Army of Tennessee. For example, at the Battle of Ezra Church in west Atlanta the Confederates lost 5,000 men while the Union lost only 600. The leadership under General John Bell Hood decimated morale to the point that in July 1864 approximately 20 percent of the Army of Tennessee deserted. At this point, July 1864, the 17th Alabama lost 180 men out of the remaining 300. In total, the Confederates lost 35,000 men killed, wounded and captured in the Atlanta Campaign.

Franklin

After the Battle of Atlanta, the Army of Tennessee, still under the command of General Hood, headed northwest to Tennessee. They marched over 700 miles in six weeks reaching Florence, AL in October 1864. By this time the Army of Tennessee’s strength had dwindled from a high of over 60,000 when entering the Atlanta Campaign to less than 30,000. The march from Georgia to Tennessee began on November 19,1864, and due to winter weather, no winter clothes, very little food, and a long march, upon arriving in Florence, AL the men had little strength not the will to fight. However, the Army of Tennessee, of which the 17th Alabama was a part, marched on to Franklin, TN and engaged the Union Army “with unexampled fury.”

As one officer of the 17th Alabama stated, “The Battle of Franklin will live in history! It is a monument as induring as time to Southern valor. It was the most magnificent display of gallantry in the record of military annals since the empire and the consulate.”

After this battle, the Union Army moved north to Nashville with the Confederates in hot pursuit. However, Hood’s army was in no position to take on the Federals, but did with devastating consequences. Finally, the Army of Tennessee retreated back through Franklin to Tupelo, MS on December 25,1864.

Greensboro

After gathering their remaining force, the Army of Tennessee, including the 17th Alabama, headed to South Carolina to join General Joseph Johnston. The trip was made by marching, train and boat. At this point in the War only 18,000 men were left in General Hood’s army. From Newberg, SC they went to Smithfield, NC and joined General Johnston at Bentonville engaging General Sherman’s Federals. The Confederates were outnumbered 4 to1 and retreated to Greensboro, NC. This was the 17th Alabama’s last engagement.

Surrender

The surrender of General Johnston’s army was made to General Sherman on April 26,1865. The original muster of the 17th Alabama in August 1861 was in excess of 900 officers and men. Upon surrender at Greensboro, NC the muster listed 270 officers and men. Hillory Reid was one of the original complement in August 1861, and was listed as one of only 22 remaining in Company K at the surrender. However, only six of these were members of the original 17th Alabama Company K when formed in Montgomery, AL in August 1861. Hillory was one of the six.

In May 1865 the 17th Alabama began their long march home to their respective locations in central Alabama. Some took a month or more under extreme hardship due to wounds and physical devastation caused by the hardships of the War and lack of adequate transportation. Conditions were not much better for many upon arriving home as the Southern economy had all but collapsed. But, Hillory was fortunate as Greenville, AL was free of any battles, and his home was much as he had left it.

I believe the stress of war coupled with inadequate diet, disease, and unhealthy living conditions, attests to the physical stamina and personal commitment of Hillory Reid in this conflict. For to remain in the 17th Alabama Regiment throughout the war years under these conditions was truly a demonstration of his true character!

Acknowledgement

In May of 2007, my son-in-law, Dr. Jon Lovelady and I went to a re-enactment of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in Gettysburg, PA. While there, we conversed with Dr. Jim Gillespe on our search for the military records of Felix Reid. Since Dr. Gillespe is a member of the Gettysburg Historical Society, he has access to Civil War archives not available to the general public. He and others in the Society made searches for us, but nothing was found regarding Felix Reid.

Subsequent to this dead end Jon began to search the Reid family records and census data for Greenville, AL. These records revealed Felix’s had a younger brother named Hillory Herbert. None of us knew about Hillory as we had relied on some family history created by Grandmother Powell’s first cousin Jimmy Glenn wherein Hillory’s name was missing. This is quite understandable as Jimmy Glenn was only interested in the accuracy of his lineage and did not validate that of the parallel Reid line. Anyway, upon finding Hillory’s name in the Reid line, Jon suggested the picture in question could be that of Hillory as opposed to Felix. The rest is history herein.

I wish to thank Dr. Jon Lovelady for all the time he spent searching for this data, and to Dr. Jim Gillespe and the Gettysburg Historical Society for their effort in locating Hillory’ military records. And finally I want give credit to the authors of The Seventeenth Alabama Infantry – A Regimental History and Roster(Heritage Books Inc., published 2001). Without this book much of what I have pieced together would not have been possible.

Carleton Dowdle, 1-25-08