John Henry Holdridge was born in Alabama on July 19^th, 1842, the eldest child of John & Edie Holdridge. The Holdridge’s were Farmers.

John Henry Holdridge joined the Confederate Army on July 24^th, 1861 at Hackneyville, Alabama for the duration of the war. He was mustered into service in Co.G, 14th Alabama Infantry, as a Drummer.

John Henry was severely wounded on May 3^rd, 1863 at the Battle of Salem Church. He was listed as having a gunshot wound to the right hip, and was attended to at the Chimborazo Hospital #4 at Richmond, Virginia. He returned to duty on the 16^th of June 1863. John Henry was again wounded

severely on Feb.10^th, 1865, with a Minnie Ball to the right Lung and was attended to at the General Hospital, Howard’s Grove, Richmond Virginia.

He returned to duty just 4 days before the Appomattox Campaign. John Henry is listed as on the Roll of Prisoners of War, belonging to the Army of Northern Virginia, who was surrendered by General Robert E. Lee- C.S.A., Commanding said Army, to Lt. General U.S. Grant, Commanding the United States Army.

Only 193 men remained of the 14^th Alabama Inf, Regiment. Of these were only 3 Musicians! The 14^th Alabama was organized at Auburn, Alabama during July 1861. During the war they were attached to Longstreet’s Div.,

R.H. Andersons Division and Mahone’s Division, in the Army of Northern Virginia. The 14^th Alabama participated in more than 45 various engagements during its career. These include the Siege of Yorktown, Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, Mechanicsville, Gains Mill, Cold Harbor, New Market Crossroads, Second Bull Run, Manassas, Harpers Ferry, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Plank Road, and Appomattox Campaign, where they laid down their arms and surrendered their Colors.

Having survived some of the most vicious battles and suffered through many hardships, John Henry returned home to Alabama. He served with honor, pride, courage, and loyalty to the South. John Henry married Martha Adlade Jackson in 1865 and raised 7 children! They moved to Texas in 1902, and settled in Comanche Co.

They are both buried in DeLeon Cemetery.

John Henry Holdridge was a Great Grandfather to Melvin H. Burt, Commander of Terry’s Texas Rangers, SCV. Camp # 1937, Cleburne, TX.