Private Williams Jehu Ledbetter,
Co. L 4th Alabama Cavalry CSA
"A story handed down by Williams J. Ledbetter's descendants is the limestone
rock in the area of the battle of Day's
Gap near Cullman, Alabama was so close to the surface of the ground
the Confederate soldiers couldn't bury the dead. The dead were rolled
down into a steep ravine. A soldier preparing to roll William J.
Ledbetter down into the ravine noticed he was wearing a Masonic emblem
around his neck. Being a Mason himself, he examined Williams more
closely and determined he was alive. At this soldier's insistence,
Williams was taken back with the wounded and after weeks of suffering,
subsequently recovered from his wounds with the exception of the total
loss of sight in both eyes. He was 38 years of age at the time."
Military records document Williams Jehu Ledbetter enlisted in the service
of the Confederate States as a Private in Company L, 4th Regiment, Alabama
Volunteers on the 6th day of August, 1862 at Courtland in the State of
Alabama and he was honorably discharged from the service on the 30th day
of April 1864. shot through both eyes during the Battle of Days Gap
on the 30th day of April, 1863. The document with this information
on it was dated 22 April 1899.
Pension records concerning Private Ledbetter are "Application
for relief by maimed soldiers, under act approved February 23, 1883 by
the State of Alabama. This application was filled out for Williams
J. Ledbetter, signed and dated 16 May 1883. The witnessing physician
was W. M. Drake, M. D. The application was approved by A. L. Woods,
Judge of Probate of Franklin County, Alabama.
Application for relief by blind soldiers, under act approved February
25, 1887 by the State of Alabama. This application is filled out
for Mr. Williams J. Ledbetter and dated 11 April 1887. It was approved
20 April 1877 by James M. Jordan, Judge of Probate of Franklin County,
Alabama.
"The Virtual CSA Purple Heart Award"
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Issued to: Pvt. Williams J. Ledbetter of the
Co L 4th Alabama "Roddey's" Cavalry, who was wounded in the
service of the
Confederate States of America at the Battle of Days Gap.
(How To receive this award,
Get your own medal, or Confederate POW medal
visit the "Virtual
CSA Purple Heart Award" Website.)
Typewritten copy of the obituary
of Williams Jayhew (Jehu) Ledbetter which was in the Franklin Times
on February 18, 1904, page one.
Genealogy information about Williams J. Ledbetter is available on
Rick
Parker's Ledbetter web site . A paper compiled by Rick Parker
titled "Williams Jayhew Ledbetter Confederate Cavalryman" contains information
about Roddy's Cavalry.
Williams J. Ledbetter was married to a Minerva L. Kuykendall.
One of their children was name Brice." It is likely that Brice Kuykendall
list in the following Company L muster is a brother of Minerva Kuykendall,
but this is not confirmed.Please contact Dick
Ledbetter, (ldledbet@ionet.netaa) great great grandson of Pvt.
Ledbetter, if you have information or are researching the same families.
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