CAPT. JAMES GOODRUM ADAMS (1903) Lonoke County, Arkansas Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Beverly Walters Bishop E-mail ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ Attached is the Obituary from the Arkansas Gazette, dated January 3, 1903 for Capt. James Goodrum Adams. Capt. Adams was the first Mayor of Cabot, Arkansas. He was my husband's ggg-grandfather. Beverly Walters Bishop DEATH OF AN OLD VETERAN - CAPTAIN J.G. ADAMS Capt. J.G. Adams died very suddenly while seated in a rocking chair, Jan. 2nd, 1903. He was born in Sumner County, Tenn. And was seventy-six years old. Moving to Arkansas in early manhood, the past fifty years of his life has been passed in this state. For one of his age he was a very active man, and was about as usual the day before the summons came. Capt. Adams was not only loved and honored for his brilliant and distinguished military service in the "Lost Cause", but also for his civic virtues. As a citizen and Christian, he was easily the peer of the best, and was honored and loved by all as a venerable patriarch. Of him it might be truthfully said, "He was a knight without fear and without reproach." His sudden demise came as a great shock to our people who could hardly realize that he was truly dead. Captain Adams enlisted in Col. Water’s 4th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, at the age of sixteen years, and served with credit in the gallant army that invaded and conquered Mexico. When the great civil war came he was quietly and peacefully engaged in agriculture, but when the call came for men to defend the South against invasion, he laid aside the plow and took up the sword. He first enlisted as a private in Capt. McCoy’s Company and served three months in the ranks when he was elected Captain. The Company was attached to the 25th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, and was lettered "I". He served with the rank of Captain during the entire war, refusing promotion that he might remain with his neighbors and friends of Co. "I". His regiment was sent east of the Mississippi in the Spring of 1862, going through the Kentucky campaign, participating in the battle of Richmond and Perrysville, KY. In the latter, Capt. Adams was severely wounded in the foot, but soon recovered and was back to duty and took part in the Battle of Murphresboro {sp} or Stone River. Back again to Mississippi, he went through the Jackson campaign under Johnson, after which his regiment was stationed at Brandon, Miss. From here they went to the great Battle of Chickamauga, where for two bloody days the gallant Captain cheered his men on to victory, and, alas, many to death. His company and regiment were actively engaged in both days, the second day capturing a battery of sixteen guns in a brilliant charge; the federals standing by the guns until they were all killed or captured. At Missionary Ridge, and all the battle of the Atlanta Campaign, up to the Battle of Resece, where he was captured, Capt. Adams stood by his colors, conspicuous for gallantry and devotion to duty, among that army of heroes. His capture resulted from his being placed on a skirmish line, to fight until relieved. His gallant command was sacrificed that they army might be withdrawn. He remained in prison the rest of the war. He returned home to find, with thousands of others, want and poverty staring him in the face, with a young family to provide for. How well he succeeded is evidenced by the fact that he not only lived comfortably, but enjoyed a competence of this world’s goods. No kinder or more charitable heart ever beat in human breast and he was every ready to respond to the calls of mercy and charity. It was a citizen and neighbor that his virtues showed at their brightest luster and drew him so near to the hearts of his friends. Always willing to serve his people, he, at the unanimous call of the town, served as mayor. Of an ardent nature, true to the great principles of the Democratic Party, he always took an active interest in political matters, and made it the rule of his life to vote at all elections. Capt. Adams was borne to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church on the 4th by the members of Camp Jas. G. Adams, United Confederate Veterans, where religious exercises were conducted by Rev. A.F. Skinner, his pastor of the Methodist Church and Rev. J.M.D. Sturgis, also Methodist and an old Confederate Veteran. The religious services were touching in the extreme and strong men shed tears of sorrow and grief at the loss of friend and comrade. At the grave the members of Capt. J.G. Adams, U.S. V performed the last sad rites over their beloved comrade, and all that was mortal of the ideal husband, father, citizen, and soldier was laid to rest. Of him, it might be truly said, in the beautiful line of Fitz Green Halleck: "Green be the truf above thee, Friend of our better days, None knew thee but to love thee, None named thee but to praise." Reprint from Arkansas Gazette - January 3, 1903 Prepared by: Beverly Walters Bishop bevbis2@aol.com ************************************************************************