A ‘proper goodbye’ given for two Confederate soldiers
by Joyce La Taste
Special to The News
Recently, on a beautiful sunny and windy Saturday morning the Gen. William H. Forney 468, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Anniston, the George “Tige” Anderson SCV Camp #453, Anniston and the Alexandria rifles SCV Camp #2149, Alexandria held a memorial service at Edgemont Cemetery in Anniston to honor the memory of two Confederate ancestors who fought in the War Between the States.
3rd Corp. Henry Augustus Napier and Pvt. John Nevil Seale were honored by several family, friends, SCV members and UDC members. The flags waved so beautifully in the breeze.
The readings by family members, great-great granddaughters Hope Tumlin of Atlanta and Penny La Taste of Rome, Ga., was followed by the UDC’s memorial program. Bidding farewell was the weeping widow who knelt and said her goodbyes as the bagpiper played “Amazing Grace” in the distant background. More than 100 years later, these men who gave their all for our country were given a proper goodbye.
3rd Corp. Napier enlisted in Co. H, 1st Regiment, Florida Infantry as a Private at Gainsville, Fla. on March 24, 1861 by Capt. J. A. McDonnell for 12 months. He was 21 years old. On Jan. 24, 1862, he re-enlisted in the same company, which later became known as Co. K, 1st Regiment, Florida Infantry. He was shot in the right foot. Later, he was shot again, this time in the left shoulder. He was promoted to corporal. 3rd Corp. Napier was discharged May 25, 1865 at the surrender of Johnson.
Pvt. John Nevil Seale enlisted in the War Between the States for three years in the fall of 1861 at St. Clair County, by A. McShelley. This company became Co. H, 30th Regiment, Alabama Infantry. He was a prisoner of war at Vicksburg, Miss. He was paroled July 8, 1863 at Vicksburg and re-enlisted.
Helen Johnson, President of the Gen. William H. Forney 468, was assisted by Chaplin Linda Howard and recorder of Military Service Joyce M. La Taste.
Other family members were Jimmy Tumlin of Atlanta, great-great grandson-in-law of 3D Corp. Napier and Charles La Taste of Oxford, great grandson of Pvt. Seale.
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