Bios: Robert James "Bob" Faulk; Tift County, GA
Copyright © 2004 by Dot Goodman Sims. This copy contributed for use in
the USGenWeb Archives. Jsimsfam@aol.com
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Robert James “Bob” Faulk
(1838 – 1917)
Our Faulk line came into central
James was the son of Thomas Faulk, a Revolutionary Soldier,
and Mary Hinnant of
In 1820, James and Sarah is found in the Wilkinson County
Census, won land in the lottery and appeared on the Georgia Tax List. He was again shown on the Georgia Tax List in
1824. Then, he had two draws in the land
lottery of 1832 (limited to Revolutionary Soldiers). He also appears in
Porter Faulk (father of our Robert James Faulk) was
born in
Robert James Faulk was known as “Bob”. In 1860, at age 21, he was living in
While we have not yet found very many family documents that
can re-create the life of Bob Faulk, much can be gathered from the known
history of the places where he lived during his life… the causes in which he
was involved… and the recalled memories and mentions of those who did know
him. Through the study of Civil War
history, one can find enough accounts and photographs that it is possible to
almost “relive” those times. And, we
know our Bob was there… with the 54th Regiment… from 1862 until the
close of the war. During the earlier
months of Bob’s enlistment, he was stationed around
CONFEDERATE
54th
54th Infantry Regiment, organized at Savannah,
Georgia, during the summer of 1862, contained men recruited in the counties of
Lamar, Appling, Harris, Muscogee, Bartow, Bibb, Chatham, and Barrow. The unit
moved to the
GRIMBALL’S
LANDING,
Other
Names:
Secessionville,
Location: City of
Campaign: Operations against Defenses of
Date(s):
Principal
Commanders: Brig.
Gen. Alfred H. Terry [US]; Brig. Gen. Johnson Hagood [CS]
Forces
Engaged: 6,800
total (US 3,800; CS 3,000)
Estimated
Casualties: Total
unknown (US unknown; CS 18)
Description: To divert Confederate
reinforcements from a renewed attack on
Result(s): Inconclusive
Other
Names:
Location:
Campaign: Operations against Defenses of
Date(s):
Principal
Commanders: Maj.
Gen. Quincy Gillmore [US]; Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard [CS]
Forces
Engaged:
Regiments: total unknown (US 413; CS unknown)
Estimated
Casualties: (US
117; CS unknown)
Description: During the night of September
6-7, Confederate forces evacuated
Result(s): Confederate victory
Other
Names: None
Location:
Campaign:
Date(s):
Principal
Commanders: Maj.
Gen. William T. Sherman [US]; Gen. Joseph E. Johnston [CS]
Forces
Engaged: Military
Division of the
Estimated
Casualties: 4,000
total (US 3,000; CS 1,000)
Description: On the night of June 18-19, Gen.
Joseph E. Johnston, fearing envelopment, withdrew his army to a new, previously
selected position astride
Result(s): Confederate victory
Other
Names: None
Location:
Campaign:
Date(s):
Principal
Commanders: Maj.
Gen. William T. Sherman [US]; Gen. John Bell Hood [CS]
Forces
Engaged: Military
Division of the
Estimated
Casualties:
12,140 total (US 3,641; CS 8,499)
Description: Following the Battle of Peachtree
Creek, Hood determined to attack Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson’s Army of the
Result(s): Union victory
Other
Names: None
Location:
Campaign:
Date(s): August 31–
Principal
Commanders: Maj.
Gen. William T. Sherman [US]; Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee [CS]
Forces
Engaged: Six
corps [US]; two corps [CS]
Estimated
Casualties: 3,149
total (US 1,149; CS 2,000)
Description:
Result(s): Union victory
Other
Names: None
Location:
Campaign: Franklin-Nashville Campaign
(1864)
Date(s):
Principal
Commanders: Maj.
Gen. John M. Schofield [US]; Gen. John B. Hood [CS]
Forces
Engaged: IV and
XXIII Army Corps (Army of the
Estimated
Casualties: 8,587
total (US 2,326; CS 6,261)
Description: Having lost a good opportunity at
Spring Hill to hurt significantly the Union Army, Gen. John B. Hood marched in
rapid pursuit of Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield’s retreating Union army.
Schofield’s advance reached
Result(s): Union victory
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
Other
Names: None
Location: Davidson County
Campaign: Franklin-Nashville Campaign
(1864)
Date(s): December 15-16, 1864
Principal
Commanders: Maj.
Gen. George H. Thomas [US]; Gen. John Bell Hood [CS]
Forces
Engaged: IV Army
Corps, XXIII Army Corps, Detachment of Army of the Tennessee, provisional
detachment, and cavalry corps [US]; Army of Tennessee [CS]
Estimated
Casualties: 88
total (US 23; CS 65)
Description: In a last desperate attempt to
force Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman’s army out of Georgia, Gen. John Bell Hood
led the Army of Tennessee north toward Nashville in November 1864.
Although he suffered terrible losses at Franklin on November 30, he
continued toward Nashville. By the next day, the various elements of Maj. Gen.
George H. Thomas’s army had reached Nashville. Hood reached the outskirts of
Nashville on December 2, occupied positions on a line of hills parallel to
those of the Union and began erecting fieldworks. Union Army Engineer, Brig.
Gen. James St. Clair Morton, had overseen the construction of sophisticated
fortifications at Nashville in 1862-63, strengthened by others, which would soon
see use. From the 1st through the 14th, Thomas made preparations for the Battle
of Nashville in which he intended to destroy Hood’s army. On the night of
December 14, Thomas informed Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck, acting as Maj. Gen.
Ulysses S. Grant’s chief of staff, that he would attack the next day. Thomas
planned to strike both of Hood’s flanks. Before daylight on the 15th, the first
of the Union troops, led by Maj. Gen. James Steedman, set out to hit the
Confederate right. The attack was made and the Union forces held down one Rebel
corps there for the rest of the day. Attack on the Confederate left did not
begin until after noon when a charge commenced on Montgomery Hill. With this
classic charge’s success, attacks on other parts of the Confederate left
commenced, all eventually successful. By this time it was dark and fighting
stopped for the day. Although battered and with a much smaller battle line,
Gen. Hood was still confident. He established a main line of resistance along
the base of a ridge about two miles south of the former location, throwing up
new works and fortifying Shy’s and Overton’s hills on their flanks. The IV Army
Corps marched out to within 250 yards, in some places, of the Confederate’s new
line and began constructing fieldworks. During the rest of the morning, other
Union troops moved out toward the new Confederate line and took up positions
opposite it. The Union attack began against Hood’s strong right flank on
Overton’s Hill. The same brigade that had taken Montgomery Hill the day before
received the nod for the charge up Overton’s Hill. This charge, although
gallantly conducted, failed, but other troops (Maj. Gen. A.J. Smith’s
“Israelites”) successfully assaulted Shy’s Hill in their fronts. Seeing the
success along the line, other Union troops charged up Overton’s Hill and took
it. Hood’s army fled. Thomas had left one escape route open but the Union army
set off in pursuit. For ten days, the pursuit continued until the beaten and
battered Army of Tennessee recrossed the Tennessee River. Hood’s army was
stalled at Columbia, beaten at Franklin, and routed at Nashville. Hood
retreated to Tupelo and resigned his command.
Result(s): Union victory
BENTONVILLE,
NORTH CAROLINA
Other
Names:
Bentonsville
Location: Johnston County
Campaign: Campaign of the Carolinas
(February-April 1865)
Date(s): March 19-21, 1865
Principal
Commanders: Maj.
Gen. William T. Sherman and Maj. Gen. Henry Slocum [US]; Gen. Joseph E.
Johnston [CS]
Forces
Engaged:
Sherman’s Right Wing (XX and XIV Corps) [US]; Johnston's Army [CS]
Estimated
Casualties: 4,738
total (US 1,646; CS 3,092)
Description: While Slocum’s advance was
stalled at Averasborough by Hardee’s troops, the right wing of Sherman’s army
under command of Maj. Gen. O.O. Howard marched toward Goldsborough. On
March 19, Slocum encountered the entrenched Confederates of Gen. Joseph E.
Johnston who had concentrated to meet his advance at Bentonville. Late
afternoon, Johnston attacked, crushing the line of the XIV Corps. Only strong
counterattacks and desperate fighting south of the Goldsborough Road blunted
the Confederate offensive. Elements of the XX Corps were thrown into the action
as they arrived on the field. Five Confederate attacks failed to dislodge the
Federal defenders and darkness ended the first day’s fighting. During the
night, Johnston contracted his line into a “V” to protect his flanks with Mill
Creek to his rear. On March 20, Slocum was heavily reinforced, but fighting was
sporadic. Sherman was inclined to let Johnston retreat. On the 21st, however,
Johnston remained in position while he removed his wounded. Skirmishing heated
up along the entire front. In the afternoon, Maj. Gen. Joseph Mower led his
Union division along a narrow trace that carried it across Mill Creek into
Johnston’s rear. Confederate counterattacks stopped Mower’s advance, saving the
army’s only line of communication and retreat. Mower withdrew, ending fighting
for the day. During the night, Johnston retreated across the bridge at
Bentonville. Union forces pursued at first light, driving back Wheeler’s
rearguard and saving the bridge. Federal pursuit was halted at Hannah’s Creek
after a severe skirmish. Sherman, after regrouping at Goldsborough, pursued
Johnston toward Raleigh. On April 18, Johnston signed an armistice with Sherman
at the Bennett House, and on April 26, formally surrendered his army.
Result(s): Union victory
After the War was over, Bob Faulk, having witnessed and survived some of the most horrific events in our history, returned to the war-torn state of Georgia to pick up the pieces and raise a family. He went back to farming, and became a Baptist preacher. He and Sarah Jane Martin had four more children together – Nancy J. “Fannie”, born 1869, Elizabeth “Sallie” Faulk, born 1873; Laura J. Faulk, born October 26, 1877 and Robert Faulk, Jr., born December, 1879 in Pulaski County, Georgia
It is believed that Sarah Jane died around 1880… and Bob was then married to Sarah Jane Arnold Howell. Sarah Jane Arnold Howell already had three children from her previous husband Daniel Howell (who had died) -- Linda, Matilda and William “Bud” Howell. Bob and Sarah Jane had two children together – John Faulk, born May 1883 and Edna Jane Faulk, born November 2, 1889.
A document from 1895 was located in the Civil War Archives in which our Robert “Bob” Faulk attested to a pension application for James M. Garland. His responses to the witness questions give us a little insight into his directness and honesty.
STATE OF GEORGIA
PULASKI COUNTY
Robt. J. Faulk, of said State
and County, having been presented as a witness in support of the application of
James W. Garland for pension under the Act approved December 15th,
1894, and after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following
questions, deposes and answers as follows:
1. What is
your name and where to you reside? Robt.
J. Faulk. Pulaski County, Ga.
2. Are you
acquainted with James W. Garland, the applicant, if so how long have you known
him? I am, and have known him 30
years.
3. Where
does he reside, and how long has he been a resident of this State? Hancock County, Ga. And has lived in this
State ever since I have known him.
4. Do you
know of his having served in the Confederate Army or the Georgia militia? How do you know this? I know he served in the Confederate
Army. I was with him.
5. When,
where and in what company and regiment did he enlist? Milledgeville, Ga. 54th Regt.
Co. A.
6. Were you
a member of the same company and regiment?
I was.
7. How long
did he perform regular military duty, and what do you know of his service as a
Confederate soldier, and the time and circumstances of his discharge from the
service? From 1862 until the close of
the was in 1865. Was a good soldier and
always done his duty.
8. What
property, effects or income has the applicant?
(Give your means of knowledge) Nothing.
9. What
property, effects or income did the applicant possess in 1893 and 1894, and
what disposition, if any, did he make of same?
Don’t know but I don’t think he had anything.
10. What is
the applicant’s occupation and physical condition? He is unable to do anything. He is very feeble – I can’t say what his
disease is.
11. Is the
applicant unable to support himself by labor of any sort. If so, why?
He is. On account of his very
feeble condition as above stated. I do
not know his disease.
12. How was
he supported during the years 1893 and 1894?
I don’t know.
13. What
portion of his support for these two years was derived from his own labor or
income? I don’t know.
14. Give a
full and complete statement of the applicant’s physical condition that entitles
him to a pension under the Act of December 15th, 1894? I know he was a good Soldier. And the scars on his body and limbs show that
he was. I only know that he is feeble,
his looks show that. He is unable to
work.
15. What interest have you in the recovery of a pension by this applicant? None at all.
Around 1898, the family moved from Pulaski County to Irwin County, Georgia and lived near where Liberty Baptist Church is today… where records show the Faulk family attended church and Bob Faulk donated money toward a new church building in 1906. It is not known if Bob preached at Liberty Baptist or another area church… but we do know that he was a preacher.
On November 9, 1916, Robert Faulk applied for his military pension.
Robert Faulk’s grandson, Robert Goodman (named after his grandfather), recalls stories told to him by his grandmother Faulk:
During the Civil War, a bandit
broke into camp one night and stole the food money. Robert, along with several other soldiers,
jumped on horseback and rode through the night chasing the thief. They were so happy when they apprehended the
thief, they rejoiced by pulling up an apple tree.
Robert was shot in the back
during the Civil War... and never had the bullet removed... on the account he
would have to swear to have it taken out... and he did not swear.
An Account by Dot Goodman Sims:
Daddy proudly showed John and me a shotgun that appeared to be unique. The hunting gun, from the Civil War Era, had belonged to his Grandfather (Robert Faulk) and protruded a very long barrel (already sawed off 6 inches by Daddy’s father) and a "ring" near the breach lock trigger. Daddy told us that when Grandma Faulk heard the gun go off in the "head" (swamp head), she'd go ahead and get the grease hot -- Grandpa Faulk didn't miss.
Robert Faulk was a good man… and lived a good
life. He taught his children well and
set the example for them. We only have
to look around us to see some of the effect of Robert’s life… for much of who
he was… has been passed down to many of us through the generations.
Written and compiled by
Dot Goodman Sims