ONE WHOM WE HONOR !
Submitted by Kevin Dally 2^nd Lt. Commander, Terrys Texas Rangers Camp #1937.

Alexander N. Thornton was born in 1844 in Forsyth Co. Georgia.

He enlisted into the Confederate Infantry on March 10, 1862 in Dalton GA. He, along with other Co. C Volunteers, became the 39^th Georgia Vol. Infantry, and were drilled, and were outfitted and equipped at Camp McDonald, Big Shanty. (Now Kennesaw, GA.) They were formed as part of General Stevenson’s Division, and sent up as far North as Frankfort, Kentucky. They then entrained back to Chattanooga, then went to Nashville, and went into Camp at Murfreesboro. Then the 39^th was assigned to reinforce Pemberton’s Army in Vicksburg, and later became part of Gen. Cumming’s Brigade. The 39^th, along with the 34^th, 36^th, and 56^th GVI then participated in the Battle of Champions Hill, and then retreated back to Vicksburg, where they ultimately were surrendered, and Paroled.

Back at Dalton, GA. The 39^th was declared Exchanged on Sept.12, 1863. Cummings Brigade then reported to Gen. Bragg at the Siege of Chattanooga, and were placed up on Lookout Mountain. After the Battle above the Clouds, they were ordered to the far right and placed at the Rail-Road tunnel, beside Cleburne’s Division. After spirited fighting along side the Cleburne Division, and fighting back Sherman’s Army, Cumming’s Brigade was ordered back to Chickamauga Station, after the Confederate Army was Routed and fell back to Dalton, and Rocky Face Ridge.

Gen. Joe Johnston took over the AOT, and Moral pick up, and Rejuvenation took place in the Ranks, and slowly the Army built itself back up. Along with other Brigades, the 39^th and the rest of Cummings Brigade help beat back a Federal Probe of the Rocky Face defenses in Feb. of 1864. The battle of Dalton began the Atlanta Campaign, with the 39^th, and the rest of the AOT, fought through out the Battles of Resacca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Dallas, Kolb’s Farm, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta-Siege, and Jonesboro.

Afterwards, Alex, and the rest of the 39^th went to NW. Georgia with now AOT commander, John Bell Hood, and crossed over into Alabama ,then up into Tennessee.

Whittled down to about 700 Officers and Men, Stevenson’s Division was late, along with the rest of S.D. Lee’s Corps, in getting into the horrific battle of Franklin, and were halted a distance away. Then they marched into line at Nashville! On Dec. 15^th, the first day of the battle, the 39^th was not engaged, but on the 16^th, in the words of Unit Historian, William Bain, "All Hell broke loose!" The AOT was routed, and the 39^th took heavy losses.

Afterwards, the remnants of the 39^th GVI were ordered to North Carolina, to form up with Forces under Gen. Joe Johnston, to try to check the Northward Advance of Gen. Sherman’s Army. The last Battle that the 39^th was in was at Bentonville, NC. The 140 survivors of the 39th were surrendered at Greensboro, NC. When Gen. Joe Johnston surrendered his Army on April 26^th, 1865.

Alexander Thornton went back home and in 1866, Married Mary Elizabeth Sloan. (Her Brother, Robert B. Sloan, served with Alex in Co. C, 39^th GVI) Alex and Mary left Tunnel Hill, GA. With 35 other Thornton’s in 1867 and moved to Texas. Having 6 children, and lived in several places in Texas, and a time in Montgomery County, Arkansas, Alexander died on Jan.18, 1928, in Shawnee, OK. while living with his son, Charles, and is buried in Memphis, TX.

Note: I had the fortune to locate and talk to a Grandson of Alex and Mary. Ivan Thornton still lives in Ft. Worth, TX and he remembers talking to his Grandfather about the time that Alexander "peeked from behind a tree to take a shot at a Yankee, and a Minie Ball passed thru his hair!" Ivan was gracious enough to give me the above photo of Alexander Thornton, taken in 1907. Alexander was my Great, Great, Uncle!