BARNES, ROBERT T. (1842 ~ 1923). Confederate veteran Robert T. Barnes was born in Russell County Alabama in 1842, the son of John W. S. Barnes and Sarah Ann Owens.
Barnes enlisted in the Confederate Army on June 1,1861 as a private. He was part of Hardaway's and Hurt's Battery, McIntosh's Brigade, Alabama Light Artillery. Hardaway's (Hurt's) Battery was organized on June 1, 1861 by Robert A. Hardaway who provided his company with tents, side-arms, and camp equipment at his own private expense.
The company was stationed in Manassas until March 1862. From that time on, the battery was part of the Army of Northern Virginia. The unit served at Seven Pines, Sharpsburg, Upperville, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Bristoe Station, Appomattox, and numerous other conflicts. The unit surrendered with General Robert E. Lee in 1865 at Appomattox.
Barnes moved to Texas around 1870. According the 1880 Census, Barnes, his wife, and two children were living in Queen City, Cass County, Texas. His wife's initials were L.V., and his children were Grace C., a daughter, and C.D., a son. His daughter was born in Virginia and his son was born in Texas. The census lists Barnes' occupation as a teamster.
In 1896 Robert Barnes moved to Hillsboro, Texas, where he was a shoemaker. He applied for, and was granted a Confederate Pension in 1902.
Barnes entered the Texas Confederate Men's Home for the first of four times on October 22, 1914, when he was already a widower. He was released upon his own request each time. When Barnes left the Home the first time he went to live with his daughter in Ellis County, where he hoped to recover from an illness. He was readmitted for the last time on September 24, 1922, and died July 15, 1923. He was buried at the Texas State Cemetery the next day.
Information taken from Barnes' Confederate Home Roster records, death certificate, Confederate pension application, familysearch.org, the National Park Service website at itd.nps.gov, and www.tarleton.edu/~kjones/alarty.html. |