Confederate Brooks of Union Co, NC

Disclaimer: The following is not intended in any way to show disregard or disrespect to any racial groups. It is entirely in celebration of the patriotism shown by those who fought for their country (at the time it was the Confederate States of America) and for their families. We honor them and the history that followed them.

Company B, 15th Regiment NC Infantry

(Fifth Cavalry)

Officers of this company included two Cuthbertsons of the Union County area: Green B. Cuthbertson, 2nd Lieutenant and David G. Cuthbertson, 2nd Lieutenant. David began his career as 3rd Sergeant when he enlisted 1 May 1861. He was promoted to 1st Sergeant on 2 May 1862 and then to 2nd Lieutenant; he was killed 14 Oct 1863 at Bristoe Station alongside his brother Green.

Cullen C. Brooks, private

enlisted 1 May 1861 at age 16 - served in this company until discharged 20 Aug 1862

Calvin H. Brooks, private

enlisted 1 May 1861 at age 17 - date of discharge not known

Cullen and Calvin were both sons of Davidson and Keziah Melinda Tarlton Polk Brooks… and they both survived the Civil War. Keziah was the widow of Col. Thomas Polk. Davidson married twice more to (2nd) Nancy Anjeline Pyron and (3rd) Nancy Griffin. He was the son of William Brooks II. Davidson lived in Olive Branch most of his life and is buried in the Old Brooks Cemetery behind the New Hope Baptist Church.

Cullen Cyprus Brooks married prior to 1868 to Tabitha E. Simpson. They lived in both Olive Branch and in New Salem, Union County, NC. Cullen passed away in 1885. Cullen and Tabitha produced eight children. The picture to left may have been taken about the time he entered the army.

Calvin married in 1866 to Jane E. Dry. On 22 Nov 1878, Calvin H. Brooks attended the reunion of Co. B, 15th Reg at Monroe in the Union Co. Courthouse - he is listed as having donated 25 cents for charity to W.B. McCain (who had since lost his eyesight). The family moved from Union County to Stanly County, settling in New London. Jane died in 1910 and Calvin followed in 1916. His death certificate indicates "pulmonary tuberculosus" as cause. Calvin and Jane had twelve children.

Company I, 53rd Regiment NC Troops

This Company was raised in Union Co., NC and enlisted there from March through April 1862. They fought at Martinsburg, Gettysburg, PA, Bristoe Campaign, Mine Run Campaign, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Lynchburg Campaign, Monocacy, Sniker's Ford, 3rd Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Petersburg Siege, Fort Stedman, Sayler's Creek, Farmville, and Appomattox Court House (Manassas). They served in Daniel's Brigade and Grime's Brigade.

Cuthbertsons again were officers in this company. John D. Cuthbertson commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on 20 Mar 1862 in Union county, promoted to 1st Lieutenant 12 June 1862.

Thomas H. Brooks

enlisted 3 May 1862 at age 31 (this may have been Thomas "Henry" Brooks from Anson Co, NC)

Cornelius B. Brooks

25 Mar 1862 - enl. as pvt. in Co. I 53rd Reg NCTroops

17 Dec 1862 - wounded at Goldsboro, NC

22 Dec 1862 - died from wounds received at Goldsboro, NC and probably buried there at the memorial.

Thomas and Susannah are found in Anson County, NC after the war and moved around in that county a few times. In 1870, they're found in Wadesboro, then in 1880, they're in Lilesville and finally in 1900, they're found in Gulledge. Thomas died there in 1905. He is likely Thomas "Henry" Brooks, son of Asa Brooks

Cornelius B. Brooks was a son of Alexander and Cornelia Borgan Brooks. Unfortunately, he did not survive the war, having died at the Battle of Goldsboro from wounds that he received there. He never married.

Battle of Goldsboro Bridge Dec.17, 1862

Commanders: Brig. Gen. John G. Foster [US]; Brig. Gen. Thomas Clingman [CS]

Summary: On December 17, Foster’s expedition reached the railroad near Everettsville and began destroying the tracks north toward the Goldsborough Bridge. Clingman’s Confederate brigade delayed the advance but was unable to prevent the destruction of the bridge. His mission accomplished, Foster returned to New Berne where he arrived on the 20th.

Co. F, 5th Regiment NC Troops

James G. Brooks

enlisted 8 Aug 1862 at age 34 in Northampton Co, NC (may have been in another unit prior to this enlistment.. possibly with his brothers in Co. I, 53rd Reg.). Wounded at Spotsylvania Courthouse (ironically, the area where the Brooks supposedly came from in the 18th century) on 12 May 1864 and died there in VA from his wounds on the 15th.

James G. Brooks is another son of Alexander and Cornelia Borgan Brooks. Although he was a resident of Stanly county, NC at the time the war began, it seemed appropriate to include him with his family south of the Rocky River. (Actually, they lived in Anson, but not far over the Union Co, NC line.) James married Mary Randle and had three children before his death in the Civil War.

The eldest son of Alexander and Cornelia Borgan Brooks was William Alexander Brooks, b.1829. He, too served in the Civil War in the Quartermaster Corps in Savannah, GA. William survived the war and married Sarah Griffin, moving with her family to North Georgia and finally settling in Chattooga County, GA in Farmersville.

That's not all the sons of Alexander Brooks that were lost in the Civil War. While William Alexander Brooks was living in Lee Co, GA, his brother, Thomas Hampton Brooks moved there as well after his marriage to Lucy Ellen Snuggs. He joined Co. G of the 2nd Ga Cavalry. He was wounded twice and was killed defending Atlanta in 1864! That's Thomas in the picture here. His uniform was on display at the Atlanta Museum of History for awhile… at least back in the sixties when some of his descendants visited there.

Alexander Brooks had lost his wife Cornelia in 1843 and had passed away in 1854. Then he had lost three of his sons in the Civil War. William Alexander Brooks was the only son of Alexander Brooks to survive the Civil War. With William living now in GA, it’s not hard to imagine how my grandfather would mention at an early Brooks family reunion that there were none of Alexander’s family still around bearing the name of Brooks.

Company C, 7th Battalion

Calvin Brooks

Calvin was 35 years old when the Civil War began. He was present at the first Brooks family reunion, having hosted it at his home in Union County! Rev. E. M. Brooks refers to him as the oldest living Brooks at the time, being about 84 years old. Calvin was a son of William Brooks II and grandson of William Brooks I. He also served on the family history committee formed in 1909 at the first family reunion.

Obviously, Calvin survived the war to marry twice; first to Mary Melissa Smith and 2nd to Sarah Tanner. Mary gave Calvin many children, among them Dr. James Hiram M. Brooks, a physician of Olive Branch community.