Thanks to all of you who replied to my post!!!
Wanted to clear up something about George W. Slade, my grandfather. He was born June 25, 1845 and died by a tree falling on him Jan 2, 1874. He was a lumberman. He was also a school teacher and taught music as a hobby. He was an excellent singer and musician. He is one of the sons of Hezekiah Slade and grandson of Samuel Slade. The Samuel Slade we are talking about here was George's brother. Hezekiah Slade also had a son named after him, Hezekiah F. Slade. Also George W. "was very badly wounded and taken prisoner by the Yanks." This is according to family records and recorded in the book our cousin published based on letters, Bibles, and stories handed down from one generation to another. Any way it goes on to say," The Yankies were very cruel and didn't bother to treat his wounds. His outfit was very bold and counter attacked two days later and over ran the Yank's position and freed George." " He soon married Ann Smith April 12,1864, she is the daughter of Popular Jim Smith of Poplarville, Miss. Poplarville is named after him. I hope to find a picture of him on the site that one of you suggested. Thanks again!

Now I do have a picture of Samuel Slade, it is the same one they have on a different site. In the picture you can see a very deep scar in between his eyes. In the family book it is stated, several of Samuel's brother had volunteered for service. Samuel, George, Benjamin and Calvin were to young for service, they stayed home and tended the farm and cared for their parents.

When Hezekiah, their father, received word that Ebenezer,another son, had been killed, he sent Samuel with a mule to fetch Marilla and bring her back. After his return, young Samuel felt the urge to join the army and fight for what he thought was right. The day he left for service was the day he was suppose to wed .... He latter mentions her in a letter to his sister and apparently she married a Calvin Stewart. It says that he was wounded in battle, when he was shot between the eyes with a Yankie Minnie ball. Note scar on portrait, Charles was with Samuel when he was wounded, and made the remark to drag him over by a tree, he was too busy to stop. His hat is credited with asorbing most of the impact of the minnie ball. When they removed his hat the minnie ball fell out. Excuse the spelling, this is how it was recorded. Charles was another older brother, he was born March 22, 1832. Their is no mention of him deserting or what happened after he was wounded.

According to our family history, a Bible record which was supplied by a cousin whose father Wilmer Cayten had owned, Hezekiah, the father, was born on April 14 1804 and died 1863. Now I guess it is possible that his son Hezekiah F. died the same year as he, but would like to know that as a fact. Again thank you all sooooo much for all your insight and help. I have other letters written by the family who also served in this regiment. That site I referred to is a site dedicated to these men of the Jeff Davis sharpshooters.

Sincerely, Denise, my email address is iwillexalthim@yahoo.com