BRASHIER, JAMES THOMAS (1833 ~ 1917). James Thomas Brashier, Confederate veteran, was born in South Carolina in 1833. After moving to Alabama, Brashier enlisted in the Confederate Army on July 9, 1862.
He was mustered into Captain Taylor's Company, Russell's Battalion of Partisan Rangers, which became Company D, 4th Regiment (Russell's) Alabama Cavalry.
Russell's Cavalry was formed in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in December of 1862 when six companies from the 4th Alabama Battalion were combined with four companies from Nathan B. Forrest's Old Tennessee Cavalry Regiment.
Forrest's troops were already well seasoned in battle, having fought in numerous engagements, including Fort Donelson and Shiloh. When the Alabama regiments joined Forrest, they raided western Tennessee and took part in the battles of Lexington, Trenton, Jackson, and Parker's Cross Road.
At the Battle of Parker's Crossroad, Brashier was taken prisoner and held at Camp Douglas in Chicago, Illinois on December 31, 1862. He was supposed to have been paroled on March 30, 1863, but, according to his military records, was in the hospital and could not be moved.
On April 3, 1863, Brashier appears on another parole card, this time stating that he was moved from the hospital and taken to City Point, Virginia on April 10.
After being released at City Point, Brashier appears to have re-joined his unit and continued fighting until the 4th Alabama Cavalry surrender on May 4, 1865.
In 1875, Brashier immigrated to Texas and settled in Brazos County, where on January 22, 1879, he married his wife Sallie. They had at least two children, James W., who lived in Sabinal, Uvalde County, and a daughter, Ruby Brashier Black, who lived in Fort Worth.
Working as a farmer, Brashier and his family moved around quite a bit. In 1906, he applied for a Confederate Pension while living in Tahoka, Lynn County. In 1917, he and his wife lived in Sabinal, Uvalde County.
On April 18, 1917, both James and Sallie Brashier moved to Austin to live in the Confederate Men's Home. James Brashier only lived in the Home for a short while, as he died on October 15, 1917. Brashier was buried at the Texas State Cemetery a short time later.
After her husband's death, Sallie Brashier moved to Fort Worth to live with her daughter Ruby. She died in Ft. Worth on January 29, 1927.
Information taken from: Brashier, James T., Compiled Military Service Record; 4th Alabama (Russell's) Cavalry Regiment Website at http://americancivilwar.50megs.com/4thAlaCav.html; Confederate Pension Application # 12036; Confederate Home Roster; Death Certificate # 29552; and Widow's Application For A Pension # 34848. |
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