Dickson Family History & Genealogy

On 1 June 1861 Absolem Pharoah Burns enlisted in the 21st Tennessee Regiment near Pocahontas, south of Jackson TN. In July 1862 the Company merged with the 2nd Tennessee Regiment to become the 5th Confederate Infantry. This was after the Battle of Shiloh, in which the 2nd TN had lost 235 of 385 men -- almost 65% of the regiment. This combined organization was placed with a brigade from Arkansas and fought at Murfreesboro, TN. Absalom was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant, as stated in the following promotion request:

"HdQrs 5th confed Rgt Infantry near Dalton GA May 5th 1864. Sir... I herewith forward for the consideration of the proper authority of recommendation for Serg A.P. Burns of Co "H" 5th Confed Regt of Infty to be made Ensign of this Regt and his appointment to take effect from the passage of the "Act of Congress" authorizing the appointment of Ensigns in the army. Sergt Burns has borne the colors as Regt'l Color Bearer since the battle of Belmont (Mississippi, on 7th Nov 1861) and upon all occasions has proved himself to be a good, worthy, and gallant soldier. His name is borne upon the "Roll of Honor" for great gallantry displayed at the battle of Murfreesboro. He is more entitled to the position than any other member of the Regt. It is the wish of both officers and men that Sergt Burns should receive the position which he so evidently merits for his good behavior and conspicuous gallantry upon several Battlefields. Segt Burns entered the army in June 1861 and has never been guilty of any conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline. He was born in Henderson County, State of Tennessee, and is now a resident of Tishimingo County, State of Mississippi. ...... Richard J. Person, Maj. Comdr 5th Confed Rgt. (The promotion was granted. The rank of ensign was later changed to that of 1st lieutenant.)
On 22 July 1864 A.P. was captured east of Atlanta and held prisoner at Johnson's Island in Ohio, a Federal prison camp for Confederate officers. He was discharged on 14 June 1865 near Sandusky and took the oath of allegiance to the U.S. upon his release.
In 1922 Joshua Marion Dickson, who had served in G company 21st TN Infantry with A.P. Burns and later became his brother-in-law, wrote of his war experiences and his time in Johnson's Island. Joshua was imprisoned about a year before A.P. Burns and released about the time of A.P.'s capture, but their camp experiences were likely similar. Joshua wrote, "I got wounded the first battle was sent home until I got well. 2nd battle was at Polleyalto, Miss... lasted 6 hours. We got whipt but they had three to our one... I had plenty of clothes the first two years and from then on they were very poor. My father in law loaned me a pair of pants to make a crop in. We slept in tents. 1 Doz. men to a tent, two men to a bed. We had cornbread, molasses pickel beef, coffee and sometimes got a little bacon. We suffered a great deal from exposure dident have enough clothes were not alowed to build fires at night for fear the enemy might find us. the last half of the war I went twenty four hours lots of times with out any thing to eat. Aug 1863 I was captured 8 miles east of Ripley, Miss by Col. Millers Reg. was sent to Johnston Island 1863-64. I was in prison at Indinapolis Ind. We suffered very much there from hunger. For brakefast had one cup of tea and a very small slice of bread. Dinner one tablespoon full of beans and one cup of tea without bread, if you got any of supper you had to save part of your dinner. Some of the prisoners ate rats to keep from starving. One day a fine fat dog came in to camp. it was cooked and eaten."

When in the service, Absalom met Joshua, Gaines and Luther Dickson. After the war, he married their sister, Nancy Carolyn, on 24 January 1867 in Alcorn County, MS. They had 4 children.
Absalom lived on the MS/TN border. At one time he owned 160 acres in TN, across from Wenesoga, MS. He read law, was an educated man for his time, and served several terms as Justice of the Peace in Alcorn County. On one occasion he refused to seek reelection, but was convinced to do so on the morning of the election and was elected by a write-in vote. He was a Republican.
After Nancy's death in 1898, Absolem lived with his children. In 1908 he was living near Chewalla in McNairy County, TN where he made an application for a Confederate pension. He had disabled his left hip, had rheumatism, and walked with a cane. He died 6 March 1912 and is buried beside Nancy in Holly Cemetery, Corinth, Alcorn Co., MS.