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Civil War Veteran
Josephus was born January 27, 1830 in Hawkingsville, Pulaski County, Georgia. Possibly the son of James Bracewell (1794 - 1875) and Elizabeth B Butler (1803-1862). In 1850 Josephus was living in Pulaski County, Georgia where, on February 26th, 1850, he married his first wife, Martha Mullis (1833-?). It's unknown what happed to Martha, but the couple may have had a daughter, Cemantha (Samantha?) Bracewell (b. 1851 GA). In the winter of 1854 Josephus moves to Florida and on January 28th, 1856, he marries Amanda Walden in Quincy. They have 3 children before the outbreak of the Civil war (James, Franklin and Calidonia).
On May 9th, 1862, Josephus joins Company A, 6th Infantry Regiment (Florida) in Bristol (Rico's Bluff) as a Private. The 6th Infantry Regiment was formed in March 1862 in Chattahoochee and contained men from Liberty, Gadsden, Jackson, Union, Collier, and Washington counties. The unit soon moved to East Tennesee and was assigned to Colonel R.C. Trigg's, and General Finley's and J.A. Smith's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. It served on many battlefields from Chickamauga to Atlanta, was active in Tennessee with Hoods, and ended the war in North Carolina. The field officers were Colonels Jesse J. Finley, Daniel L. Kenan, and Angus D. McLean, and Lieutenant Colonel Robert H.M. Davidson.
The Battle of Atlanta was a battle of the Atlanta Campaign fought on July 22, 1864, just southeast of Atlanta, Georgia (the city would not fall for another six weeks). During the battle Josephus was severely wounded, taking 3 rifle shots, one to his jaw which pierced his tongue and knocked out some teeth (he had difficulty eating for the rest of his life), one to his right shoulder which left him unable to lift that arm, and a shot to his left arm. Due to his injuries he was discharged from the service and returned home. Despite his injuries he worked his farm and in 1880 was working at the sawmill.
He and Amanda went on to have at least six more children (Arabia, Charles, Vivian, Everett, Bethsheba and Moses), and many of their descendants still live in Liberty County. A large number of them are buried at Mitchem Cemetery in Bristol. Amanda died on May 2, 1910 and Josephus left this earth on January 27, 1930.
Pension Application Nr. A06043 (Click to search and view at the Florida Memory Project)
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