On the 1860 census the age of John F. Burke of Walker County GA is given as nineteen. John F. Burk of Co. "E", 3rd Confederate Cavalry was twenty-eight when enlisted in May 1862; John F. Burk of 2nd Co. "H" reported his age as twenty-three when enlisted on July 8, 1861.

Capt. John D. Pope of Co. "E", 3rd Confederate Cavalry recruited his company from Whitfield County and Murray County GA, with some members from Walker and Catoosa. The 1860 census schedule for Catoosa County GA reports a man named J. F. Burk, age 26. He should match the record for the soldier mentioned, but John F. Burk of Walker County GA is too young.

Capt. James Clark Gordon of Snow Hill, Walker County GA, recruited his company from Walker and adjacent areas. John F. Burk lived near Chattanooga in a community called Eagle Cliff. It still appears on the map for Walker County. Here are map references, the first being an 1855 map showing Snow Hill --
http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/histcountymaps/walker1855map.htm
http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/walkercopn.htm

The service record for John F. Burk with the 26th Tennessee Regiment lists him as exchanged near Vicksburg MS, Sept. 23, 1862. Apparently he was sick during the trip from prison, the note beside his name being "on H.B." (on hospital boat). It's not surprising that he would have been forwarded to Montgomery, presumably on the route to Atlanta and thence to his home near Chattanooga. Prisoners were routinely furloughed after being released. He's present on the next roll, so this isn't critical to our understanding of the soldier's record.

The 1st Confederate Regiment was assigned to duty in one of the bay forts south of Mobile AL, Fort Gaines. On April 15, 1863, the 2nd Battalion of this regiment Cos. C, D, G, I and K) was ordered to the Army of Tennessee at Tullahoma TN. The battalion was assigned to Gen. John K. Jackson's Brigade, Cheatham's Division. It fought at Brock's Field in the Battle of Chickamauga TN Sept. 19, 1863. Since Burk isn't listed on the next roll, it's possible he was killed or mortally wounded there.

Jackson's report lists 194 officers and men present in these five companies to begin the battle. Of these, ten were reported killed and seventy-three wounded. Major Gordon's report lists nine killed, twenty-six severely wounded, thirty-one slightly wounded on the first day; one killed, four severely wounded, twelve slightly wounded on the second day. Reports are found in the Official Records, Series I, volume 30, part 2, pages 83-88.