Thomas J. Spear

SPEAR, THOMAS J. (1843~1934) Thomas J. Spear, Confederate Veteran, was born February 1, 1843, in Pike County, Alabama to William L. Spear and Mary A. Nelson of North Carolina.

When the Civil War began, he mustered into Co. C, of the 46th Alabama Infantry. The 46th Alabama Infantry was organized in Loachapoka, Alabama in May of 1862, and then transferred to Tennessee under Brigadier-General Danville Leadbetter. In July of 1862, the unit was transferred to Brigadier-General Edward Dorr Tracy's command where they fought in the battle at Tazewell.

They soon joined with the Twentieth, Twenty-third, Thirtieth, and Thirty-first Alabama under Tracy. Moving with a division to Mississippi, they fought at Port Gibson where Tracy died. The Infantry then fought at Baker's Creek, where half the command and field officers were captured. The rest of the infantry participated in the battle of Vicksburg where they were captured. They were exchanged for Union troops on July 10, 1863. Under General Robert E. Lee and Brigadier-General Edmund Winston Pettus, the unit joined the army of Tennessee. The unit fought in the Carolinas at Kinston and Bentonville, until they were consolidated with the Twenty-third at Salisbury on April 26th. In April of 1865, the unit surrendered with no more than seventy-five men.

When the war was over, Spear returned to Alabama where he lived until 1875, when he moved to Texas. He married his wife, Hannah J. (maiden name unknown), on January 7, 1885. They had two known children: a Mrs. W.B. Cooper and a G.L. Spear.

On September 17, 1928, the Spears were admitted to the Confederate Men's Home in Austin, Texas. They were discharged from the home on April 14, 1930 at their own request, and returned on October 16, 1930. Thomas Spear died on April 11, 1934, at the Home and was buried at the Texas State Cemetery. Hannah Spear moved to the Confederate Women's Home on April 11, 1934. She was later discharged from the home on April 5, 1945 when she moved to Shreveport, Louisiana to live with her daughter. Spear died in Louisiana on March 16, 1952.

Sources include Confederate Home Rosters 154-9; 154-10; Pension Applications #51398; 23805; 1860 US Census Series M653 Roll: 106 Page: 464; US Census 1930 Travis County Texas; ; Death Certificate 10770; "Confederate Military History." Extended Ed. Vol. VIII. Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot, 1987. 17 vols.