Capt. Oliver B. Gaston
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Prominent citizen of Madison County.
Notes:
• The in Huntsville City Directory for 1850-60, he appears to be boarding with Wm. Echols. We are not sure if this is Wm IV or V. He married a daughter of Wm. IV. - City Directory 1859-60
• Farris & Gaston, Dealers in Staple and Fancy Dry Goods, Hats, Caps, Boots, Shoes, Etc., No. 3 Commercial Row (between Madison and Franklin), Huntsville, Alabama. - City Directory 1859-60
• Listed with Madison Rifles Organized November, 1855 (parade third Saturday in every month) 1st Lieutenant. - City Directory 1859-60
• As captain of Co. "F" from Madison County, AL Co. "F" (Madison) -- Oliver B. Gaston was captured and died as POW. (Some of this company previously served in Co. "D", 7th AL Infantry). - American Civil War
• "Confederate Army units from Madison County: The Madison Rifles, Company D, 7th Alabama Infantry Regiment. A prewar militia unit, the Madison Rifles were the first troops from Huntsville to leave for the war, departing on March 26, 1861. The company served at Mobile and Pensacola, and later was sent to East Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and finally Mississippi. The Madison Rifles ended their service when the 7th Regiment disbanded at Corinth after its one year's enlistment, shortly before the Battle of Shiloh. Most of the men then joined other units. John Gordon Coltart was the original captain. He was replaced by Oliver B. Gaston when the regiment was formed and Coltart elected lieutenant colonel." - ALGenWeb
• In telling the story of Samuel Browning and his role in the American Civil War, the author says: "Samuel enlisted at the age of 23 in Company F. 4th Regiment, Russell's Alabama Cavalry at Huntsville, AL on 8 September 1863. He was enlisted by Captain O. B. Gaston for a period of three years or the duration of the war, was mustered into service on 11 September 1862 at Taylor's Store, TN. He was captured at Parker's Cross Roads, Murfreesboro, TN on 31 December 1862, and sent to the Prison Camp at Camp Douglas, IL. On 27 January 1863 Samuel was admitted to the post hospital with measles and died three days later on 30 January 1863. According to his military pension records, he was buried in a Confederate Mound in Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago, IL. The History of Russell's Fourth Alabama Cavalry, published in the Alabama Civil War Centennial Commission 1962, Brief Historical Sketches of Military Organizations Raised in Alabama During the Civil War, states that Captain O.B. Gaston, Samuel's enlistment officer in Huntsville, AL was also captured and died in the prison." - Heritage
• "Russell's Fourth Alabama cavalry was organized at Murfreesboro, Tenn., in December, 1862, by the union of General Forrest's original battalion with six companies of the Fourth Alabama battalion and the Russell Rangers, or Fifteenth battalion Tennessee cavalry. It was in the attack on Fort Donelson and was attached, consecutively, to Russell's and Morgan's brigades, serving in the cavalry of the army of Tennessee. It was warmly engaged at Chickamauga, and bore a full share in the operations of Longstreet's campaign in east Tennessee. It took a brilliant part in the Sequatchie raid with four other Alabama regiments of cavalry; was in the Dalton-Atlanta campaign and assisted in the capture of Stoneman's column. When Hood moved into Tennessee, the Fourth was employed for some time in the Tennessee valley. After the battle of Nashville it was assigned to Forrest's corps, and surrendered with his troops at Gainesville. Col. A. A. Russell was twice wounded; he was early placed in command of a brigade, and the regiment was for a long time under command of Lieut.-Col. Jos. M. Hambrick, who was wounded at Calhoun, Ga.; Capt. Thomas W. Hampton was killed at Mossy Creek; Capt. Oliver B. Gaston was captured, and died in prison; Capts? Henry F. Smith, W. C. Bacot, Flavius J. Graham and David Davidson were wounded?" - 4th Alabama Cavalry
Related Links:
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• City Directory 1859-60
• Owen
| Died: | Camp Douglas, Illinois |
Notes:
• The in Huntsville City Directory for 1850-60, he appears to be boarding with Wm. Echols. We are not sure if this is Wm IV or V. He married a daughter of Wm. IV. - City Directory 1859-60
• Farris & Gaston, Dealers in Staple and Fancy Dry Goods, Hats, Caps, Boots, Shoes, Etc., No. 3 Commercial Row (between Madison and Franklin), Huntsville, Alabama. - City Directory 1859-60
• Listed with Madison Rifles Organized November, 1855 (parade third Saturday in every month) 1st Lieutenant. - City Directory 1859-60
• As captain of Co. "F" from Madison County, AL Co. "F" (Madison) -- Oliver B. Gaston was captured and died as POW. (Some of this company previously served in Co. "D", 7th AL Infantry). - American Civil War
• "Confederate Army units from Madison County: The Madison Rifles, Company D, 7th Alabama Infantry Regiment. A prewar militia unit, the Madison Rifles were the first troops from Huntsville to leave for the war, departing on March 26, 1861. The company served at Mobile and Pensacola, and later was sent to East Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and finally Mississippi. The Madison Rifles ended their service when the 7th Regiment disbanded at Corinth after its one year's enlistment, shortly before the Battle of Shiloh. Most of the men then joined other units. John Gordon Coltart was the original captain. He was replaced by Oliver B. Gaston when the regiment was formed and Coltart elected lieutenant colonel." - ALGenWeb
• In telling the story of Samuel Browning and his role in the American Civil War, the author says: "Samuel enlisted at the age of 23 in Company F. 4th Regiment, Russell's Alabama Cavalry at Huntsville, AL on 8 September 1863. He was enlisted by Captain O. B. Gaston for a period of three years or the duration of the war, was mustered into service on 11 September 1862 at Taylor's Store, TN. He was captured at Parker's Cross Roads, Murfreesboro, TN on 31 December 1862, and sent to the Prison Camp at Camp Douglas, IL. On 27 January 1863 Samuel was admitted to the post hospital with measles and died three days later on 30 January 1863. According to his military pension records, he was buried in a Confederate Mound in Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago, IL. The History of Russell's Fourth Alabama Cavalry, published in the Alabama Civil War Centennial Commission 1962, Brief Historical Sketches of Military Organizations Raised in Alabama During the Civil War, states that Captain O.B. Gaston, Samuel's enlistment officer in Huntsville, AL was also captured and died in the prison." - Heritage
• "Russell's Fourth Alabama cavalry was organized at Murfreesboro, Tenn., in December, 1862, by the union of General Forrest's original battalion with six companies of the Fourth Alabama battalion and the Russell Rangers, or Fifteenth battalion Tennessee cavalry. It was in the attack on Fort Donelson and was attached, consecutively, to Russell's and Morgan's brigades, serving in the cavalry of the army of Tennessee. It was warmly engaged at Chickamauga, and bore a full share in the operations of Longstreet's campaign in east Tennessee. It took a brilliant part in the Sequatchie raid with four other Alabama regiments of cavalry; was in the Dalton-Atlanta campaign and assisted in the capture of Stoneman's column. When Hood moved into Tennessee, the Fourth was employed for some time in the Tennessee valley. After the battle of Nashville it was assigned to Forrest's corps, and surrendered with his troops at Gainesville. Col. A. A. Russell was twice wounded; he was early placed in command of a brigade, and the regiment was for a long time under command of Lieut.-Col. Jos. M. Hambrick, who was wounded at Calhoun, Ga.; Capt. Thomas W. Hampton was killed at Mossy Creek; Capt. Oliver B. Gaston was captured, and died in prison; Capts? Henry F. Smith, W. C. Bacot, Flavius J. Graham and David Davidson were wounded?" - 4th Alabama Cavalry
Related Links:
• 4th Alabama Cavalry - Page created by Scott Williams.
• ALGenWeb - Mentions Oliver B. Gaston as captain of a Confederate Unit. (Originally found at http://www.algw.org/madison/confunit.htm.)
• American Civil War - 4th Alabama (Russell's) Cavalry Regiment. (Originally found at http://americancivilwar.50megs.com/4thAlaCav.htm.)
• City Directory 1859-60 - Huntsville Directory, City Guide and Business Mirror. Volume 1. 1859-'60, by Reprinted by The Strode Publishers, pages 3, 40, 55, 57.
• Heritage - The Heritage of Madison County, Alabama, by The Madison County Heritage Book Committee, John P. Rankin, Chairman pages 119 & 120.
• Owen - History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, Volume 3 By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen p. 645.
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• City Directory 1859-60
• Owen