Alabama Confederates

Justinian Washington "J. W." "Jesse" Maddox was the son of John Maddox and Rebecca Teague.  He was a Captain and organized Company C, 55th Alabama Infantry Regiment, Confederate States of America, which was made up of men from around the Oxford, Alabama area. 

In April 1862  he was in the first major battle of the War Between the States, the Battle of Shiloh, TN, where General Albert Sidney Johnston was killed. Afterwards, he received an Honorable Discharge due to ill health.  Justinian's wife Margaret Malissa Hughes, was the daughter of Chesley Hughes, one of the first Coldwater, Alabama settlers.

He is buried in Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, which is on Highway 411 outside of Ashville, Alabama (St. Clair Co., AL).  His tombstone was furnished by the government and has an emblem of a Southern Cross above his name.

Private Augustin C. Maddox, Co. A, 29th Alabama Infantry, CSA.  Enlisted Sep 12, 1861, Shelby Springs, AL.  Appears on a Muster Roll of Officers and Men paroled in accordance with the terms of a Military Convention entered into on the 26th day of April, 1865, between Gen Joseph E Johnston, Commanding Confederate Army and MajG en W.T. Sherman, Commanding US Army in North Carolina.

Webmaster's Notes:  It is not the purpose of this site to list every soldier named Maddox who served or died in the Civil War.  There were likely too many.  Maddoxes no doubt served on both sides of the War.  We have no records yet of Union Maddoxes but we note that there were very large groups of Maddoxes in southern states and because of that, Maddox is considered largely a southern family.  We could suppose from that fact that there were more Maddoxes fighting for the southern cause, but we have no statistical references.

We do intend to list a few Civil War soldiers in order to give you a sense of how Maddoxes served and what can be known about them through research.  Certainly photos during the mid 19th Century were rarel.  Through the courtesy of Dorothy Maddox Bishop, we have two of her kin displayed.  Justinian Maddox was her gr-gr-grandfather.  Wrote Dorothy:

Here is a list of my Maddox Civil War Ancestors that I have proven so far, I am working on another one (Sgt. John Jackson Maddox, Co. B & C, TX Cavalry, 1st Bn, State Troops).  He moved to Sabine Co., TX before 1858.  I sent for his Civil War records from the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Captain Justinian Washington Maddox, Co. A, 55th Infantry, Alabama C.S.A.
Private Chesley Benton Maddox, Co. A, 51st Cavalry, Alabama C.S.A.
Private John Maddox, Co. D, 10th Infantry, Alabama C.S.A.
Private William Teague Maddox, Co. A, 29th Infantry, Alabama C.S.A.
Private Samuel Carroll Maddox, Co. G, 41st Infantry, Alabama C.S.A.

I am a member of the Lizzie Rutherford Chapter #60 of the United Daughters of  the Confederacy (UDC), Columbus, GA.  I have also proved 7 maternal Civil War Ancestors.  I could not submit a supplement on my most famous Civil War ancestor, Edmund Ruffin, as he is not in my direct line.  He is my 3rd cousin, 5 times removed and was given the honor or firing the first shot at Fort Sumter, S.C. thus starting the Civil War.  Also I could not submit a supplemental on Augustine "Gus" Maddox, the son of William Teague Maddox. 

Getting Military Records

The US government has always kept records on all military and civilian workers.  Most of these files have very detailed information,  such as the individual's name, their spouse's name, date of birth, place of residence, which wars the individual served in, their military organization (Navy, marines, or Army), when the individual's service began and ended,  where and when the individual died, and where the individual was buried.  The amount of information you get will depend on the record and the point at which the file began.  The National Archives has the following types of military records:  pension records, bounty land records, service records, personnel records, draft or conscription records, regular military forces records, and burial or cemetery records.  You can get copies of military records through the National Archives and National Personnel Records Center.  The address is:  National Archives and Records Admnistration, Washington, DC  20408.  NOTE:  A NATF Form 80, Veteran's Records (Before WWI only) is required to be ordered from the National Archives and filled out and mailed back to them in order to receive Confederate Military Records.

A good web link on how to Order Military & Pension Records
. Dorothy Maddox Bishop, Fortson, GA

Two Bennett Maddox Soldiers
There is evidence of two 19th century soldiers bearing the same name.  The following was researched by Sharon M Grandle:

Bennett D. Maddox enlisted in 1864 with Keyser's Boys at age 18 in Page County (Luray), VA.  That organization did not last long, ws disbanded, and then he rode with Mosby's Rangers, the 43rd Cavalry..  A document at the Warren County courthouse reports he was killed in action and hs parents are listed there but not available here.

Bennett Maddox reportdly served in the War of 1812.  He resided in Hunley (Flint Hill), VA.  He was the son of Revolutionary War contributor John Maddox, who reportedly was too old to fight but was credited with donating cattle and money to the cause..  John's other son Notley, was in the 43rd Culpeper Minuteman--according to a report in, seen by Grandle.  (More information is desired on these two soldiers)  

For a general overview of the Civil War and it's effects on the South, click to our Southern Section.

Return to Military Maddox Page


Pvt Augustin Maddox


It doesn't matter where you

are from. . . we've all heard this little haunting trumpeted, "Taps." It gives us that lump in our throats and usually creates tears in our eyes. But, do you know the story behind the melody? If not, I think you will be pleased to find 
out about its humble beginnings. 


encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he 



   Day is done. 
   Gone the sun 
   From the Lakes 
   From the hills 
   From the sky. 
   All is well, 
   safely rest. 
   God is nigh. 

   Fading light 
   Dims the sight 
   And a star 
   Gems the sky, 
   Gleaming bright. 
   From afar, 
   Drawing nigh, 
   Falls the night. 

   Thanks and praise, 
   For our days, 
   Neath the sun, 
   Neath the stars, 
   Neath the sky. 
   As we go, 
   This we know, 
   God is nigh.