SANDERS, Harvey - C.S.A.

HARVEY C SANDERS
Last of Body Guard of Jeff Davis Dead

Death Came Peacefully at Home of His Son near New Boston

The death of Harvey C. Sanders at the home of his son, Thomas A. Sanders, last Wednesday evening, closes the history of the living memebers of the body guard of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, and ends the earthly toil of one of the substantial citizens of Bowie county.

For the past two years Mr Sanders had been afflicted with a heart trouble, but had been active the greater portion of the time. The spells had become more numerous the past year, but principally were of short duration.

On Friday before his death the following Wednesday, he complained of feeling bad. In the afternoon, his son, Tom, with whom he had made his home for the past 25 years, sent for a doctor who advised getting a nurse. Miss Sallie Mae Davis, a professional nurse was secured at once. Mr Sanders appeared to rally, but was unable to be up and about as usual after one of his spells. Treatment was continued until Wednesday when it appeared he was much better, he talked to the nurse and members of the family in his usual manner. After supper while Miss Davis and Mrs Sanders were sitting with the patient, Mr Sanders went out on the front gallery just outside the door, while the patient was a sleep. In a few minutes, Mrs. Sanders called her husband in the room and as he walked to the bedside his father breathed his last.

Passed out while sleeping quietly and without any apparent struggle. The remains were laid to rest in Red Bayou cemetery Thursday under auspices of the Odd Fellows lodge having been amember of this order for more the 50 years and was past Grand Religous services were held by Rev. Reed of the Christian church of which he had been a member for more than sixty.

Harvey C. Sanders were born in Trigg County, Ky., Nov 24, 1837, and had he lived until this coming November would have been 88 years old.

At the breaking out of the war between the States he joined Co Bo. 2nd Ky. Vol. Cav., C.S.A. and served under General Forest until he was transferred to the west, and was them attached to Gen. Joe Wheeler's command and remained with him until the close of the war. He was in many important battles, among them being Chicamaugua, Missionary Ride, Shiloh, Vickburg, Lookout Mountain, Petersburg, Fort Doneldson, Perryville, Murfrusboro, and others.

He was twice wounded, once by a sabre thrust and one by a gun shot wound. At the close of the war Mr. Sanders was one of the ten men President Davis selected to go with him south from Richmond. An escort of several hundred men started with the fleeing President, but so close were they persued by the Federals that gradually he let his escort dwindled in number in order that less atttention would be attracted as they passed through the country. The number was reduced to ten.

Mr. Sanders being one of the ten chosen to continue the journey with him. They were captured in Washington County, Ga. Following are the names of the ten men in the last escort of President Davis; together with the place of their birth: Lieutenant Hazard P. Baker, Trigg county, Ky., James T. Walbert, McCracken county, Ky. ; W.N. Ingram; Trigg county, Ky, Tom S. McSwain, Henry county, Ten., W.L. Heath, Corbin county, Ky. W.A. Howard, Trigg county, Ky., Harrison Smith of Lyon county, and Cap. Givan A. Campbell of McCracken county. Captain Campbell, Parsley, McSwain and Howard, were the four absent at the time of the capture and made their escape.

After serving more than a year in prison, Mr. Sanders returned to his home in Trigg county, Ky., and on December 26, 1867, married Miss Alice Baker of that place. One son, Robert Lee Sanders, was born to this union, Nov 20, 1868, and died July 9, 1894. Mrs Alice Sanders died May 21, 1869.

He married Miss Elizabeth J. Jones, of Caldwell county, Ky., August 17, 1872. To this union five children were born, four of them living; Thomas A. Sanders, Mrs Claudei A. Sanders, Osceola Porter and Walbert E; one dead Sidney U; born Oct 6, 1873, died September 1874. One brother survives him, Joshua Sanders of Trigg county, Ky.

Mr Sanders came to Texas in January,1882, locating in Coryell county, where he lived until 1887 when he moved his family to Bowie county and has made his home ever since. The past twenty five years making his home with his son Thomas A. Sanders of near town. The Bowie County,New Boxton, Texas, Friday October 2, 1925