The Leon Hunters organized on July 17, 1864, eighty-six in numbers
at the Centerville Courthouse marched off to Richmond, Virginia. A second
expedition of forty more men enlisted of the Texas Hunters, and marched off to
Richmond. These two groups of soldiers were in number of the beginning of the
foundation of the Leon County Hunters, these dedicated boys from 12 to 16 and
men up to the age of 35 were proud to be confederate soldiers. They joined
eight companies of Texas.
Co. C. Hood's Brigade, Co D. Gould's Battalion, Co E Gould's Battalion,
Co A J. N. Black's Dismounted Calvary, Co E Baylor's Regiment, Co D 26th Texas
Colonel Debray's Regiment, Co E Waul's Legion, and Co B Hubbard's Regiment,
these soldiers with their Captains, Lieutenants, and Generals, and the many
others who enlisted and served of the Confederacy were 700 and maybe more in
number. Even before the Leon County Confederate organization was formed some of
the boys and younger men joined other surrounding community and state regiments.
In 1861 there being 1300 men and boys between the ages 12-55 living in
Leon County. 700 and probably more served of the Confederate War. All families
suffered the older men, women watching their sons go off to fight, some were
fortunate enough to see their loved ones return home, most of them with severe
wounds, some devastated with the scars of diseases. Others, who lost their
lives of disease and killed in battle, were buried where they lost their lives.
Their loved ones at home never were able to give them a proper burial.
The men and women of Leon County left at home did the best they could
to take care of the children, the home front and the animals. The men, under
the leadership of William Keigwin, who helped to establish our Leon County and
Major LaSere who was commissioner of Subsidence for the Confederate Army
delivered twenty thousand pounds of bacon, hams, shoulders, and sides of hogs
and several of the men leased and sold their property for funds to benefit the
soldiers. William Keigwin and John Clark each gave $5,000. The women wove many
pieces of cloth and knitted many pairs of socks to be sent to the army and the
women tending to their children. The elderly family members, their homes,
crops, property suffered severely and after the war was over the families were
hit with the reality of the reconstruction of Leon County. Hard work brought
survival back to Leon County and through their efforts the homeland was
rebuilt. Educational programs for adults and children provided beneficial needs
of the workforce.
Confederate heritage of the Confederate soldiers and sites are marks
of our history that has lived on from one generation to another since 1861. The
Southern Motto: Love, Live, Pray, Think, Dare, which includes all the southern
states of the confederate days is still carried on with the same strong
dedication for our today, to our Leon County People. All of our confederate
families are heroes who made it possible for us to have the precious freedoms we
have today.
Our Leon County men and women have always answered the call to arms of
every war our America has been involved in. Old Glory our United States Flag
being the one to follow.
In WWI, 500 rave men went off to battle and do their part while the
women and the remaining able men at home formed a Red Cross. They raised money
and made every attempt to help the War effort.
At least 24 men of Leon County lost their lives in WWII, the Korea,
Vietnam wars, Desert Storm was and now the Iraqi war. Our Leon County men and
women have always answered the call to war duty with each one. Our men and
women of great number have stood proud to serve and again our Leon County
families have suffered death and heartaches. Yet all through history our Leon
County people stand strong of patriotic character being their best, trusting in
God and facing the tasks of battle for our American freedom. |