My Great Uncle 'Jesse James Blakeley,' born 1842 in Daviess Co., Missouri, was a Sharpshooter with the 9th. Missouri Sharpshooter Battalion under Maj. L.A. Pindall.

Jesse was killed in the Battle of Helena, Arkansas, July 4, 1863. He was with Gen Sterling Price's Division. He is buried at Helena, Arkansas.

Some in the family 'thought' Jesse deserted; however, at the Library at St. Louis, Missouri, I found Jesse James Blakeley's name listed in a book called the "Honor Roll of the Confederate Soldiers." His service record was recorded:
Pvt. Jesse J. Blakeley, c., 9th Batt, (Missouri Sharp Shooters) K.I.A.
at Helena, Arkansas.
Jesse J. Blakeley, Co. I., 16th. Missouri Infantry.
Jesse J. Blakeley, Co., C., 1st. Missouri Calvary.

He was not married. His older brother Green Berry Blakeley (my Great Grandfather) was also in the Battle of Helena, Arkansas. Green Berry was in the Cavalry before the Civil War began. He crossed the plains as far west as Kansas with Major Russell and Waddle.

When the war began he went south and served 4 years in the Confederate Army. He also served in Co. C., 9th Batt.
Green Berry's record is:
Company H., 11th. Missouri Infantry
Company C., 1st. Missouri Cavalry,-'Battle at Helena, AR' under Maj. B. Elliott
Company K., 46th Georgia Infantry
Company H., 30th. Alabama Infantry
Some of the battles he was in: Sugar Creek; Bentonville; Elk Horn; Helena, AR.
(Civil War Records from St. Louis Missouri)
(It must have been very hard for Green and his brother to fight on after Jesse was left behind at Helena.)

Jesse and Green Berry's brother, Henry C. Blakeley, also older than Jesse, was also with them at Helena, AR.. Another brother Charles Preston Blakeley also was in the war, but was not with his three brothers at Helena.

I'm planning a trip to Helena, Arkansas in October to see the battle field and also to see if I can find the burial place of my Great Uncle Jesse.

Cheeta Ellison