by Mrs. Charles Alexander, charter member
of the Captain James Madison Sparkman Chapter
of the United Daughters of the Confederacy
When the War Between the States broke out, Capt. Sparkman was engaged in the mercantile business at Santa Fe with his brother John. It was largely through his efforts that Maury County's only artillery company was formed early in 1861.
The Maury Light Artillery was organized at Santa Fe, composed mostly of farmer boys from northwest Maury County, none of whom had any military training. Their few drills before departure were held on the square at Santa Fe.
Frank H. Smith, writing in 1908, said that in some respects this was one of the most interesting organizations of the Civil War, its principal claim to distinction being its achievements at Fort Donelson in February 1862.
With only a few hours drill as heavy artillerists they defeated the newly invented Federal gunboats, at that time considered to be invulnerable, and they let not one succeed in passing the battery.
Captain Sparkman was captured at Fort Donelson on February 16, 1862 and transferred to Johnson's Island; on Sept. 1, 1862 being transferred to Vicksburg, Miss. As he was being herded into a prison compound at Vicksburg a northern officer noting the Shriner's pin which he wore, pulled him out of line and pointing to the pin said, "Masonry is thicker than any blood that has ever flowed." He was kept captive on his honor after that.
Capt. Sparkman lost his life during the seige of Port Hudson, La., the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi.
Though he sleeps in an unmarked soldier's grave, his memory lives on in the hearts of those who admire a life given in devotion to duty.
CAPT. JAMES SPARKMAN ORIGINAL PHOTO RETURNED TO MAURY