A little Googling tells me it might be Abner Doubleday who, as a Confederate Major General (I Corps) was on the field at Gettysburg when Heth's Division marched on Gettysburg to secure what was said to be a large supply of shoes since so many of the CSA soldiers had lost their shoes and were fighting barefooted.
(See,http://www.historynet.com/historical_conflicts/3032276.html) Elsewhere I have seen Abner Doubleday referred to as "Old Abner."

Then again, it could be brake shoes on that Georgia train named "Abner ???."

Interesting question, Mike.

I'm not convinced it's Abner Doubleday, but, if Old Abner were a slave, Jamie, why would a Yank try to steal a slave's shoes?

Mike, why did you start this one? You got me thinking about Lum and Abner, L'il Abner of dogpatch fame - but they were not around during the CW