John Leonard Weeks' service in the Confederacy.

Photo # 1: Three documents concerning his treatment for small pox while a prisoner at Alton Prison in Illinois. They are dated from Nov 1863 to Jan 1864.

Photo # 2,: documents indicating his parole from Fort Delaware Prison dated 28 Sep 1864 and his transfer for exchange to Aiken's Landing, VA dated 30 Sep 1864.

John Leonard Weeks enlisted in the 16th Alabama Infantry at Moscow, Alabama as a Private. He was enrolled by Captain J.B. Powers in Company K. Also enlisted in the 16th Alabama Infantry were his uncle, Samuel Weeks (killed at Shiloh), and his cousin, William Burton Weeks (Samuel's son). Seven other of my ancestors were also in the 16th Alabama Infantry. They were Joshua J. Weeks (killed two weeks before Shiloh), William Henry Weeks, Martin Taylor, James H. Butler, Bisha W. Tarwater (wounded at Shiloh), James Bussey, and Zachariah Bussey.

John Leonard Weeks name appeared on muster rolls for 15-31 August 1861 dated 23 Oct 1861. In some other records he was listed as James Leonard Weeks, John Weeks, J. Weeks, and J. Wickes.

On 14 Oct 1863, John Leonard Weeks was wounded in the right arm and leg and captured in Tippah Co., Mississippi (at or near Ripley). He was received at a prisoner of war camp at Alton, Illinois on 24 Oct 1863. The prison was an old civilian penitentiary. He was received in the Alton Prison Hospital on 29 Nov 1863 and diagnosed with Small Pox. He was returned to quarters on 23 Dec 1863. On 02 Jan 1864 he was again received in the Alton Prison Hospital and discharged on 18 Jan 1864 at which time he was returned to duty. He was transferred to a prison camp at Fort Delaware on 4 Apr 1864. Fort Delaware was located in the Del River, about 48 miles from Philadelphia, and was best known as a place of confinement for private soldiers. Small Pox was reported to be high at Ft. Delaware and the transfer of prisoners had been halted 26 Oct 1863. By 1 Mar 1864 (one month before John Leonard Weeks was transferred there) there were no cases reported. Barracks were constructed within a wall surrounding the fort and the number of prisoners was large. The ground was several feet below the level of high water, which was kept out by means of dikes. Barracks were poorly constructed in the shape of a "T" and were often damp and cold during the winter. The commander of the fort was a Hungarian refugee named Gen. A.A. Schoepf and it was the most dreaded northern prison. After more than a year of being held as a Prisoner of War, on 28 Sep 1864 he was listed to be delivered by John E. Mulford, Major and Asst. Agt. for Exchange to Varina, Virginia for exchange on 05 Oct 1864. He was transported to Aiken's Landing, Virginia on 30 Sep 1864. On 09 Oct 1864 he signed (his mark) for clothing. On 10 Oct 1864 he was listed with a detachment of paroled and exchanged prisoners at Camp Lee, near Richmond, Virginia. It was noted that he was last paid by Lt. Malden on 30 Sep 1863. One document listed him as paroled on 14 Oct 1864 due to bad health. Copies of his special orders dated 8 Oct 1864 were obtained from the Alabama Archieves in Montgomery by myself. Also obtained was a furlough for 40 days with instructions to report to Camp of Instruction at Macon, Georgia. A copy of his pass for the Danville Railroad dated 11 Oct 1864 was also obtained. It listed permission to visit Moscow, Alabama.

The next record of service in the Civil War shows he next joined Loy's Company, Alabama 4th (Roddy's) Cavalry, as a Private in Jan 1865 at Henson Springs, Alabama. He fought in Wilson's Raid from 22 Mar 1865 to 24 Apr 1865 while assigned to Roddy's Brigade, Forrest's Cavalry Corps, Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. He next fought various conflicts from Montevallo, Alabama to Selma, Alabama, ending with the Battle of Selma on 02 Apr 1865. He was either captured at Selma on 02 Apr 1865 or surrendered at Pond Spring. The remainder of the unit surrendered at Meridian, Mississippi on 04 May 1865. He was paroled in May 1865 at Henson Springs, Alabama.

Source: http://www.jdweeks.com/civilwar.html

Selected Civil War Documents