The official records show him captured on Oct 2, 1863 in the Sequatchie Valley.
However, after the war his Lt. gave the following testimony in support of my g-g-grandmother's widow's pension application:
"I knew John W. Higgins before the war, and he was a
member of the same company and regiment in the war between the states
which was Co H 4th Ga. Cavalry, commanded by Col. I. W. Avery. I was
2nd Lieut. of the company. Said John W. Higgins was enlisted in said
company and regiment at Newnan, Ga. in December 1862, and in March 1863
he came to the command at Fayetteville, Tenn. and entered active ser-
vice, and served continuously until September 1863, when in an engage-
ment near Davis' Gap on Lookout Mountain, he was either killed or cap-
tured by the enemy. In a rout by the enemy while coming down the slope
his horse fell and as the enemy was only a few yards behind I could
give him no assitance, and he was either killed outright or was cap-
tured by the yankees, as he was never seen or heard from afterwards.
I was within fifteen feet of him when his horse fell and saw him
plainly, but going at a rapid pace and all trying to get away I could
not assist him and never saw him or heard from again, and in my offi-
cial report to Col. Avery I reported him as killed or captured, and that
is the last I ever saw or heard of John W. Higgins. This occurrred just
a few days before the battle of Chickamauga."
Does anyone know enough about Co. H to say which account is more likely?
Many thanks.