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 First
Kentucky "Orphan" Brigade 
JAMES
THOMAS GUILLIAM
MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER
James Thomas Guilliam was born on July 16, 1836 in Russellville, Logan
Co., Kentucky. He was the son of James Edgar Guilliam and Francis (Cushingberry)
Guilliam. The 1860 census of Logan Co., KY. Shows him to be 24 years old and a
carpenter. He signed up to join the Confederate Army on July 17, 1861 at
Russellville, KY. , by Capt. Thompson for 3 years service. He was mustered into
service by Lieut. McCall on July 24, 1861 at Camp Boone, TN. and was transferred
to Camp Burnett , TN. On Aug. 30, 1861. He became a member of Co. I, 4th Regt.
1st KY. Inf. Bde., to be later known as "Orphan" Brigade. He fought in
all engagements that the "Orphan Brigade" were involved in, up to and
in the Atlanta Campaign. During the Atlanta Campaign, at the battle of Resaca,
GA., he was acting as a "sharpshooter,"
and was wounded in the right arm. The wound was so severe that his right arm had
to be amputated. This happened on 14 May 1864. He missed the rest of the Atlanta
Campaign, but returned to his company after his furlough was up on 12 Sept.
1864. After the Atlanta Campaign, The 1st KY. Inf., was changed to Mounted Inf.
With the loss of his right arm, and being unable to return home, he was given
the job of providing mounts for his company. According to the stories I've been
told, he became one of the best horse thief's in the brigade. His favorite
targets were Yankee Cavalry Units. He said they had better horses. He served
with his unit, the 4th Regt., for the rest of the war. His brother, Edward B.
Guilliam, also served in the same Co. I. His unit opposed Gen. Sherman's march
to the sea and last fought battles in South Carolina. He surrendered, with the
rest of what was left of his unit, on 06 May 1865 at Washington, GA. He
subscribed to oath on 21 May 1865.
After the war he returned home to Russellville, KY. On Oct. 06, 1867 he married
my g-grandmother, Mary Ann Elizabeth Robinson, they soon moved to Dunklin, Co.,
Missouri where their first child was born on 04 Dec. 1869. Their other two
children were born there also, my grandmother being the last one on 08 June
1878. In 1879 or early 1880, they moved to Searcy Co., Arkansas. The 1880 census
of Searcy Co., AR.; shows them living in Calf Creek, Township. On 05 Jan. 1882
his first wife, Mary Ann, died. She is buried in the Dongola Cemetery at
Dongola, Searcy County, Arkansas. On 23 May 1883, he married Margaret Ann Pate,
his second wife. By this time he had moved about 20 miles south into the
northern edge of Van Buren County, near the community of Chimes. He and Margaret
had 7 more children and lived there until his death on 28 July 1916. He and
Margaret are buried in the Liberty Cemetery, near Chimes, in Van Buren Co.,
Arkansas. J.T., or Jim, as most people called him, applied for a Confederate
Pension on 25 June 1901. The amount was $75.00. On 09 March 1907, it was
increased to $ 100.00. After his death, wife Margaret, applied for a widows
pension which she drew until her death on 31 Dec. 1947.
To the best of my knowledge, on this
date, 03 Aug. 2007, he still has two grandchildren living in north central
Arkansas and dozens of g-grandchildren that live there also. Many more
elsewhere.
Ret. MSG. Robert B. Ruff
113 Oak Drive
Harrison, Arkansas 72601
Member Gen. J 0 Shelby Camp # 1414
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Harrison, Arkansas 72601
Tel. (870) 743-4351
[email protected]
Information obtained from these
sources:
1860 Census Logan Co., KY.
1870 Census Dunklin Co., MO.
1880 Census Searcy Co. AR.
1867 Marriage Licenses Logan Co., KY.
1890 & 1900 Census Van Buren Co., AR.
1883 Marriage Licenses Searcy Co., AR.
sites.rootsweb.com/~orphanhm/index.htm
Military Service Records/ National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Confederate Pension Application/ AR. History Commission, One Capital Mall ,
Little Rock, AR. 72201
James T. "Jim" Guilliam and
his second wife Margaret (Pate) Guilliam, ca. 1910
Notes Jim's empty right sleeve, as he lost his arm at the battle of
Resaca, May 1864.
courtesy Robert Ruff
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