Burgess Lawrence French
Burgess Lawrence French
was born January 1838
in the state of Tennessee. He moved with his parents to the state of Mississippi between 1842 and 1844. He was a son of John Morgan French and a Miss Bird.
He married Elizabeth E. Higgins on February 22, 1859. They were married by Hugh M. Millstead, Justice of the Peace in Yalobusha County, Mississippi.
Burgess L. French died in 1912 in Yalobusha County, Mississippi and is buried in the New Hope Baptist Church cemetery.
Elizabeth Higgins was born in 1841 and died in 1909, she is buried in New Hope Baptist Church cemetery.
At the age of 24 years, Burgess L. French was mustered in to Captain John Powell's company "H" of the 42nd Regiment of the Confederate Army.
He enlisted at Grenada, Mississippi on May 14, 1862, for 3 years or the duration of the War. At company muster of November 10, 1862 he was listed
as "in the Richmond Hospital". On the "Morning Report" at the General Hospital at Camp Winder, Richmond, Virginia he was listed as having Fibris Typhoid
(typhoid fever) and was transfered on December 28, 1862 to Danville. He is listed as wounded at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. He is listed as wounded
furlough through December 1863, and was paroled at the end of the War.
GETTYSBURG, July 1, 1863.....
Burgess French's regiment was assigned to Davis' Brigade which was a part of Heths' Division at
the beginning of the "Battle of Gettysburg". Henry Heth decided to lead his division into Gettysburg in order to find shoes and supplies for his men.
Little did he know at the time that Union Soldiers were so close, and that this move would be the start of the 3 day battle that would decimate
Robert E. Lees' gray-clad Army. Burgess L. French was wounded in the left hand at the "railroad cut". He stated that he "hid out for three days in an
outhouse, soaking his hand in a tin of cool water to stop the bleeding and ease the pain. He was able to find his way back to his regiment and participate
in the retreat to safer territory.
From this marriage the following children were born:
From this marriage the following children were born: