THEIR COUNTRY
REVOLUTIONARY WAR 4 November 2001
Godbold, John enlisted in the 2d South Carolina Regiment in 1779. Lt. Col. Francis Marion commanded the Unit. The first major engagement after his enlistment was at Spring Hill Redoubt in the Siege of Savannah on October 9, 1779. During this battle several hundred Americans were killed and buried in mass graves on the battlefield. It is likely that John Godbolt (as his name was listed on pay records) died in this battle because his compiled service record card states that he died 9 October 1779. The name of his parents is not known. (1)
Godbold, Zachariah Captain served with General Francis Marion in 1780. Son of John Godbold, Jr. and Priscilla Jones (2)
Godbold, John Lieutenant. Born about 1761. Died after 1800. Served in American Revolution. Son of James Godbold (born about 1741) and Mourning Elizabeth Baker Johnson (3)
Godbold, James Lieutenant. Born about 1763. Served in the American Revolution under General Francis Marion. Son of James Godbold (born about 1741) and Mourning Elizabeth Baker Johnson (4)
Godbold, Zachariah Lieutenant. Born 3 April 1763. Served in American Revolution. Son of James Godbold (born about 1741) and Mourning Elizabeth Baker Johnson (5)
ALABAMA
Godbold, S. C. served as a Private in Company C, 3rd Alabama Volunteers Militia
Godbold, James P. served as a Private in Company A, 4th Alabama Volunteers Militia
Godbold, J. L. served as a Corporal in Company H, 38th Alabama Infantry (this is possibly Jefferson Lafayette Godbold who later served in the 7th Mississippi Infantry). He only showed up in early muster rolls at Fort Gaines.
Godbold, Henry served as a Private in Company E, 2nd Battalion Alabama Light Artillery
Godbold, Gabriel M. served as a Private and then as a Sergeant in Company K, 38th Alabama Infantry.
Godbold, Charles S. served as a Private in Company C, 3rd Alabama Cavalry. Charles Stuart Godbold was born 1839 in Allenton, Alabama and died 3 January 1862. He was the son of Robert Christopher Godbold, a riverboat Captain.
Godbold, Cade M. was Quartermaster Sergeant(Assistant Commissary Sergeant) in Company K, 38th Alabama Infantry Volunteers. He was dropped from the rolls in February, 1863. (6) Cade was the son of Lt. Zachariah Nathaniel Godbold.
Godbold, Benjamin Frank enlisted in Company G, 6th Arkansas Infantry. He was promoted to 2nd Corporal and then to Sergeant. He later served as a 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant and then as a Captain in Company B, 19th (Dockery’s) Arkansas Infantry. He was sent in 1862 to recover the bodies of Confederate soldiers killed at Corinth and found that one of them was his brother, William Johnson Godbold. An article in the “Confederate Veteran” by Private A. H. Reynolds, Camden, Arkansas written years after the war stated “When I returned to my command I found Colonel Dockery promoted to brigadier general, promoted for bravery at Champion Hill, Farmington, Corinth, Hatchey Bridge, Iuka, all of which battles were inscribed on our battle flag. It found a watery grave in the hands of Captain Godbold, who perished with it in the Big Black River on the morning of May 17, 1863, as our command was falling back into Vicksburg. No officer was truer or braver than Captain Godbold, and he sacrificed his life rather than see his colors in the hands of the enemy. Heaven bless that noble soldier!” Captain Godbold was the son of Samuel Annanias Godbold
Godbold, William Johnson served as a 2nd lieutenant and then a Captain in Company C, 19th (Dockery’s) Arkansas Infantry. He was killed at Corinth in 1862. He was a son of Samuel Annanias Godbold.
Godbold, Fabius Chapman served as a Private in Company P (or B) 1st Louisiana Cavalry, Baton Rouge Rangers. He enlisted September 5, 1861. He was the son of Gabriel Pickering Godbold.
2nd Mississippi Infantry Regiment Quinn’s State Troops
Godbold, Levi Right enlisted as a Private in the 2nd Mississippi Infantry Regiment, Company E, (Quinn’s State Troops) commanded by Colonel D. H. Quinn. This unit was organized for 6 months in late 1862 and was mustered out in mid 1863. Levi was the son of James Godbold and Elizabeth Kendall Wright.
4th Mississippi Cavalry
Godbold, Blueford Diffinsworth (Blue) enlisted as a Private in Hughes’ Battalion, Mississippi Cavalry, Company E. It was organized in early 1862. In November 1863, the 4th Mississippi Cavalry was formed by consolidation of Hughes’ Cavalry Battalion, the Partisan Rangers and Stockdale’s Cavalry Battalion. Private Godbold was placed in Company F. The 4th was commanded by Colonel E. S. Fisher at that time. The 4th was surrendered by Colonel Christopher C. Wilbourn on May 4, 1865.B. D. Godbold was the son of James Godbold and Elizabeth Kendall Wright, the half brother of Reason Erwin Godbold and the brother of Levi Right Godbold. His great nephew, Lewis Henry Godbold, remembered him telling stories of his exploits in the War. “Uncle Blue would get very excited as he told his stories and he would pat his foot vigorously on the floor. By the end of his tales, his pants cuff would be above his knee”.
Wright, Levi Marshall served in Company E, Hughes Battalion. He was killed at Port Hudson. He was the son of Levi Wright and Eliza Hutchins. Nephew of Elizabeth Kendall Wright Godbold.
7th Mississippi Infantry Regiment
Godbold, Jefferson Lafayette served in Company A as a Corporal. The “Partial Genealogy of John Godbold of South Carolina” (hereafter “PG”) states “was lost on an island during the war; his family did not know what became of him”. He is on a list of Mississippi men who died in prison at Rock Island, Illinois. He was the grandson of Rowan Godbold, son of Rowan’s oldest son John Foster Godbold and Caroline Cloy.
Godbold, Thomas Jefferson served in Company K as a Lieutenant. According to the “PG” he died in 1863 while home on leave from the War. He was the grandson of Levi Godbold and Winnifred Knighton, son of James R. Godbold and Virginia Boone Sessions.
Godbold, William L. is listed on the roster of Company K as a Sergeant. It also shows an M. Roddy as his substitute. He became a physician and a state legislator. He was the son of James R. Godbold.
Godbold, Thomas W. served in Company E as a Private. This could be Thomas Whitfield Godbold who would have been twenty-two years old in 1862. He was the son of James Godbold and Elizabeth Kendall Wright, half brother of Reason Erwin Godbold and brother of Levi Right Godbold.
Godbold, J. F. served in Company E as a Private. This was probably James Francis Godbold, born 1836 in Franklin County Mississippi. His father was John Ellis Godbold who came to Franklin County after 1832.
Godbold, James H. served in Company E. I have been unable to identify this person.
Rawls, Robert A. served in Company A as a Private. This is probably Robert Arthur Rawls, Jr., brother of Sarah Jane Rawls who married Levi Right Godbold. He was born in 1841 in Franklin County.
Tarver, Reason Erwin
served in Company E as a Private.
Tarver, Dempsey served in Company E as a Private. I believe, but have no proof, that these individuals are related in some way to James Godbold’s first wife, Unknown Tarver. There is a Dempsey Tarver listed in the household of Reason Erwin Godbold in the 1850 census.
Hunt, Henderson served in Company A as a Private. He was wounded at Murfreesboro, Tennessee on December 31, 1862. During the Battle of Missionary Ridge he was shot in the neck and captured. He spent the rest of the war at Rock Island Prison, Illinois. He was the grandson of Rowan Godbold, and son of Elizabeth Pickett Godbold and Moses Hunt.
Hunt, Thomas served in Company A as a Corporal. He was killed in action during the Battle of Missionary Ridge on November 25, 1863. He was the grandson of Rowan Godbold, and son of Elizabeth Pickett Godbold and Moses Hunt.
Wright, Thomas Anthony served in Company E. He died at Beauvoir Veterans Home in Biloxi, Mississippi and is buried in Grave #641. He was the son of Levi Wright and Eliza Hutchins, nephew of Elizabeth Kendall Wright Godbold.
12th Mississippi Infantry Regiment
Knapp, Samuel D. enlisted in Company K, March 20th 1861 when he was 16 years old. The unit was known as The Lawrence County Rifles. He was wounded at the battle of Seven Pines on May 31, 1862 and discharged in the Richmond area on September 7, 1862. He was given a per diem and mileage allowance and returned to Brookhaven. When he recovered he re-enlisted in John Cameron’s Company, Powers Regiment of Cavalry, Southwest Mississippi and East Louisiana Army along with his younger brother James Winston Knapp who had just turned sixteen. They served in this Unit until the end of the War when they were paroled at Meridian, Mississippi in April 1865. (7) He was the son of Ezra Knapp and Martha Jane Godbold, grandson of James Godbold and Elizabeth K. Wright.
14th Confederate Cavalry
Hunt, Gabriel served in this Unit, which was organized in the fall of 1862. It was not considered a Mississippi Unit but was a Confederate Government Unit. He was the grandson of Rowan Godbold, and son of Elizabeth Pickett Godbold and Moses Hunt.
Hunt, James served in this Unit, which was organized in the fall of 1862. It was not considered a Mississippi Unit but was a Confederate Government Unit. He was the grandson of Rowan Godbold, and son of Elizabeth Pickett Godbold and Moses Hunt.
33rd Mississippi Infantry Regiment
Godbold, William S. enlisted April 1, 1862 in the “Franklin Guards” of Franklin County. This unit later became Company D of the 33rd Mississippi Infantry Regiment. He served in Company D as a Private and then as 5th Sergeant. (*In October and November 1862 he served as a nurse in the University Hospital at Oxford, Mississippi. On January 3, 1863 he was appointed 5th Sergeant. He was captured at Champion Hill and admitted to the hospital due to being “burned in the face and hands by the premature explosion of a shell. He returned to Franklin County, never married, and is buried in Wright’s Cemetery*) (8) He was the son of James Godbold and Elizabeth Kendall Wright, half brother of Reason Erwin Godbold and brother of Levi Right Godbold.
Cupit, Eli served in Company D. (*In 1863 he was wounded at Jackson during General Sherman’s second attack on the city. He was a cook. Albert Quincy Porter records in his diary for June 5, 1864, “We have not devoured anything to eat since day before yesterday. We are now near the wagons where they cook for the souldiers (sic) where Ely has been assisting in cooking. I saw him this morning and got something to eat from him.” Following the war, Eli returned to Mississippi and married Nancy Erwin who died some months later*) (9) He would marry on February 5, 1872, Orpha Elizabeth Godbold, daughter of Levi Right Godbold and Sarah Jane Rawls. Eli and “Lizzie” had eleven children.
Knapp, Ezra served in Company D. He was the husband of Martha Jane Godbold. She was the daughter of James Godbold and Elizabeth Kendall Wright, half sister of Reason Erwin Godbold and sister of Levi Right Godbold.
Lazarus, Nicholas served in Company D. A Nicholas Lazarus was a substitute for James Godbold in the War of 1812. This could be Nicholas Jr.
Dean, T. J. was discharged by substitute James Tarver. A James Tarver was listed in the household of Reason Erwin Godbold in the 1850 census.
Wright, James Ferdinand served in Company D. He was the son of Levi Wright and Eliza Hutchins, nephew of Elizabeth Kendall Wright Godbold.
36th Mississippi Infantry Regiment
McIntosh, Griffin G. served as a Private in Company G. He was the first husband of Mariah Catherine Godbold, daughter of Reason Erwin Godbold and Sarah Ann McLaurin.
Godbold, T. L. served as a Private in Company A. I have been unable to identify this individual.
Mcree, William J. served as a Private in Captain Robert’s Battery. He was the husband of Samantha Jane Godbold, daughter of Reason and Sarah Ann Godbold.
Van Dorn, Earl served as a Major General, CSA. He was the first husband of Martha Caroline Godbold who was the daughter of James D. Godbold of Alabama.
Godbold, Annias R. served in the 3rd Texas Cavalry. He was the son of Nathaniel Godbold. The South-Western”, Shreveport, Louisiana, January 13, 1864. Died at the residence of William Mobley, in Kemper County, Mississippi on the 24th of September, 1863, Annias R., son of Nathan and Harriet Godbold, of dropsy of the heart and chest, aged 27 years. Early in the spring of 1861 he volunteered in “The Texas Hunters”, a company raised near Jonesville, afterwards attached to Colonel Green’s 3rd Texas Cavalry, to go and defend his country in her hour of great peril. A more gallant, brave and intrepid defender has never done battle for our cause. Naturally modest, he made no vain boasting of his principles-having a strong mind and quick natural perception he was from the inception of the present difficulties cognizant of the foul injustice being palmed upon us, and avowed his determination to be among the first in the ranks, to wring from the grasp of our inhuman oppressors that justice due a brave people, capable of appreciating and enjoying liberty to its utmost extent. True to his word, true to his principles, and true to all he esteemed sacred, he redeemed his vow, he went upon his high and important errand, and none more nobly did their part; even when disease had marked him her own, his faithful comrades all but failed to persuade him to quit his place by them and seek a harbor of rest, he persisted in his ability to go on, that he was yet strong-but alas my lost friend, disease conquers the strongest wills, you had to yield to his strong grasp. He was left fortunately, among friends, who endeavored to supply his every want. For three long months he lay wracked with pain. Father, mother, brothers nor sisters were there. Oh, that one or all could have been with him-how different would those sluggish hours have passed away. Time would have pressed more lightly upon his diseased breast. But ‘tis done. He bore all as a brave soldier, committing himself to the care of God. In his last moments he was calm and resigned. The fortitude which had sustained him upon many hard fought battlefields wrapped him like a mantle in this his great and final conflict. He spoke tenderly of his absent family and desired that his triumph should be written them, and begged them to meet him in that better land. Farewell, my beloved friend, thy name will ever live fresh and green in my memory. Your tender mother, fond father, affectionate sisters, and beloved brothers may well weep, for in thee they have lost a treasure-and , when we are all called upon to resign our lives, may we feel sustained by the same God influencing spirit which supported thee in thy happy and triumphal exit from this sinful world. S. E. W. (11)
Godbold, N. W. served as a Private in Company B, 14th Texas Infantry. Nathan Wilber Godbold was born 1843 in Connecuh County, Alabama and went to Harrison County, Texas in 1858. He was the son of Nathaniel Godbold.
Godbold, James Franklin served as a Private in Company A, 3rd Texas Cavalry. He was the son of Thomas Evans Godbold.
Godbold, Thomas Jefferson served in the Cavalry.He was the son of Thomas Evans Godbold
Godbold, Richard J. served as a Private in Company A, 3rd Texas Cavalry. He was the son of Wyatt Godbold.
Godbold, Ransom Levi served as a Private then a Sergeant in Company A, 3rd Texas Cavalry. He was the son of Nathaniel Godbold.
Godbold, W. E. served as a Private in Company A, 3rd Texas Cavalry. William E. Godbold born in 1833 was the son of Nathaniel Godbold.
Assembled by Edward L. Godbold 25 June 2000 Revised
4 November 2001.
This information was compiled from family history, the 33rd Mississippi Infantry Regiment web site hosted by David E. Godbold, <davidg@c-gate.net>, the 7th Mississippi Infantry Memorial Site hosted by LTC R.W.P. Patterson, USA Ret.<rwpp@cbcag.edu>, Ron Skellie<rskellie@mindspring.com>, the Godbold family Register report by D’Auan McNeal<DAUN@AOL>COM>, “Elijah (Right) Wright and his Descendants” by Bob Kendall Wright<bkwright@home.net>, the “Partial Genealogy of John Godbold of South Carolina”, Eugene W. Helms<ehelms@airmail.net>, information from Ancestry.com, the Franklin County web site and the Mississippi Genweb site.
(1) Melba Godbold Preece copy of compiled service record card.
Dan Elliott, Southern Research, Ellersie, Georgia http://members.tripod.com/leomcdowell/id29.htm
(2)(3)(4)(5)(10) A Partial Genealogy of John Godbold of South Carolina by Colonel John Mesick and Bessie Mavis Godbold Published 1966
(6) “Soldiers at War” by Art Green.
(7) Provided by Eugene W. Helms
(8) (9) Provided by David E. Godbold
(11) Provided by D’Auan McNeal.