J. K. P. Blackburn

J. K. P. Blackburn of Lynnville, Tenn., was born in Maury county, Feb 20, 1837. He removed with his parents to Fayette county, Texas, in the fall of 1856, where he completed his education. In September 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate army as a private in Co. F., 8th Texas Cavalry, better known as Terry's Texas Rangers. He was in the battles of Woodsonville, Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chicamauga, Farmington, and many minor conflicts. In the last named battle he was wounded in both thighs, and the following day was captured by the Federal forces and remained a prisoner on parole for more than a year. He rejoined his regiment in South Carolina and later was at Bentonville and was in Greensboro, N. C., when the armistice was proclaimed. With other Texas Rangers he attempted to reach Gen. Dick Taylor at Mobile but he surrendered before they could join him, and a similar attempt to reach Gen. Kirby Smith failed for like cause, and so the little squad of Texans proceeded to their homes with arms, horses, etc., without paroles and are still "soldiers of the Confederacy, without orders and without a government!" Mr. Blackburn was married to Miss Mary M. Laird, in the brick church in Giles county, Tenn., Feb. 10, 1867. They reared a family of nine children-two girls and seven boys. The elder daughter died a year or so after her marriage. The younger daughter and six of the sons reside in Giles county, Tenn., and the other son is a physician in Lewisburg. Mrs. Blackburn died in June, 1901.

Johnson, Sidney S. Texans Who Wore the Gray. Tyler, Texas, 1907.