James Brown Sr., one of last real sons of Confederate veterans, dies at 99

Via Old Virginia Blog

James Brown Sr., 99, of Tellico Village, one of the last real sons of a Confederate veteran, died Thursday afternoon in a Farragut nursing home, his son, James Brown, said Saturday afternoon.

James Brown Sr.'s father, James H.H. Brown, served in the 8th Georgia Infantry's Company K and fought throughout the Civil War.

Mr. Brown would've turned 100 on Valentines's Day.

Norman Shaw, founder of the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable, recalled meeting Mr. Brown.

"It is definitely a direct connection to the past when you can say this gentleman's father fought in the Civil War," he said. "We call them real sons and real daughters of Confederate veterans."

James Brown said his grandfather was 71 when his father, James Brown Sr., was born in 1912.

"My Dad and I are so lucky to be alive," James Brown recalled.

James H.H. Brown joined the Confederate army at the beginning of the Civil War and fought in 19 major battles, including Manassas, Gettysburg, Chattanooga, Campbell Station and Fort Sanders.

"He made it to the end at Appomattox with the surrender of Lee and then he walked back home," James Brown said. "He was wounded twice and, back then with the medical situation, he could've had a leg lopped off and bled to death."

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