James F. Brown, Son of
James Henry Harrison Brown
Company K, Oglethorpe Rifles
8th Georgia Infantry
Army of Northern Virginia

Born on March 4, 1841, in Oglethorpe County Ga. James Henry Harrison Brown was but a month shy of his 71st birthday when his son, also named James, was born.

"As young boys, we would gather on the front porch and he would tell us about the war. He told us it was terrible. Food was scarce. There were no shoes in the winter." While the son does recall his father talking about fighting at Manassas, he is not sure if his father participated in both battles.

Two months before the second battle of Manassas, in late June of 1862, Private Brown was wounded near RichmondVa., during the Seven Day Battles. A bloody affair, the battles repulsed Northern forces from taking the city. The 8th Georgia Infantry gave up 28 dead, 63 wounded in those seven days - including young Brown. It was a leg wound, says his son, who is unsure how much time passed before his father returned to the battlefields.

Nevertheless, return he did.

Wounded twice - but still sent back to battle - his father was there until the bitter end: Appomattox April 9, 1865, the day Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered. However, it was not a bitter day for the young foot soldier. "He was happy," says his son. "He was going home."