COLLIER, JAMES B. (1825 ~ 1913). James B. Collier, Confederate veteran, was born and raised in Alabama. On March 15, 1862, Collier joined the 39th Alabama Infantry Regiment Company A which was officially organized in Opelika, Alabama in May of 1862.
The regiment began duty with a long march to Kentucky. The 39th joined the Army of Northern Virginia at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, but was forced to fall back to Chattanooga where Collier's company participated in the Battle of Chickamauga.
After Chickamauga, the company fought at the Battle of Missionary Ridge and from there proceeded to Atlanta to resist Sherman's march. Collier was shot in the hand and suffered from paralysis on the "First Day of Hell" at the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864. Collier traveled with his regiment checking in and out of hospitals until the surrender of the South.
After the war, Collier moved to Texas in 1868 where he resided in Denton as a farmer. He was admitted to the Confederate Men's Home in Austin on December 3, 1907 where he lived until his death on June 19, 1913 at the age of 88.
He was buried at the Texas State Cemetery a short time later.
Information taken from Thirty-Ninth Alabama Infantry Regiment at http://www.archives.state.al.us/referenc/alamilor/39thinf.html, Confederate Home Roster, Confederate Pension Application, Death Certificate and Compiled Military Service Records. |
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