JAS. B. THOMASON/Barrett Family Branches

JAMES BURKE THOMASON

James Burke Thomason was the brother of Jabez Thomason and Francis M. Thomason. James was born in 1832 in Lawrence County Alabama, the son of George and Matilda Burke Thomason.
He migrated with his family from Lawrence Co., Alabama to Danville, Montgomery County, Texas, prior to 1850. They are enumerated in the 1850 census after their father's death.
In 1860, J. B. Thomason was age 27, and was listed as a single head of family. His mother had died, and in his household were his brother J. S., age 32, with wife and children.
On the 10th of October, 1861, James enlisted at the town of Montgomery in Captain R. F. Oliver's Company I of the Ninth Texas Infantry (Nichols'). Nichols' was a six-month unit engaged in building fortifications at Galveston for the defense of the coast in case of an invasion by Union forces. James gave his age as twenty-seven. His name is on the muster rolls of December and February, and on the muster-out roll of April 24th, 1862. On the muster-out roll is a notation that James was absent on furlough, having reenlisted.
He had enlisted in the Second Texas Lancers on April 16 while still at Galveston and was enrolled by Lt. Steele of Nichols', who was the enrolling officer for those joining the Lancers.
On April 28, 1862, James was mustered into the Lancers at Hempstead as a private under Captain S. D. Wooldridge. His unit, Company B of the Second Texas Lancers, became part of the 24th Regiment Texas Cavalry. James appears on the company muster rolls through October.
He rode to Arkansas with the rest of his company, where he was dismounted at El Dorado with the others. He spent the fall helping to build winter cabins at Ft. Hindman at Arkansas Post.
According to his Compiled Service Records, James died at the battle of Arkansas Post on 11 January 1863. He was twenty-eight, according to the history of him which appeared in the Montgomery County History (1981.) However, he had given his age as twenty-nine when he enlisted in April, 1862.
You may read Ranger Eric Leonard's Answers to Questions about the burials of the men who died in the battle of Arkansas Post.

Return to History of Co. B 24th Texas Cavalry

© Karen McCann Hett All Rights Reserved 2003-2009
Content Used with Permission on © Barrett Branches

Counter June 23, 2007

"