John Filo Fairchild (1828 - 1863)

Born 1828 in Panola, Texas, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Martha Ann (Morgan) Nichols — married 9 Feb 1851 in Panola, Texas

Descendants

Died May 1863 at about age 35 in Bryan, Oklahoma, United States

Biography

John Filo Fairchild enlisted in Martins 5th Partisan Rangers Militia on July 19, 1862 in Greenville, Texas. John later mustered in at Fort Washita in OK on Aug 28, 1862 and died May, 1863, according to our documentation, while serving at Fort Washita, which had become the southern post headquarters for the Confederates Army on May 1, 1861.

The 5th Texas Partisan Rangers had no uniforms and furnished their own arms and mounts but were reimbursed upon enlistment. Our documents show John was to be paid 115.00 for his horse and 20.00 for his long rifle, saddle, and canteen.

The 5th Texas Partisan Rangers were never dismounted which indicates they were a good cavalry unit. They flew the standard Confederate Flag with a slight modification. The white edging of the blue bars was removed to stand for the Texas/Mississippi Department.

Col. Leonidas Martin's 5th Texas Partisan Rangers were first raised with recruits from Collin, Hunt and Fannin County as served one year as Texas State Troops (militia). After the Partisan Ranger Act was approved, Col. Martin's 5th Partisan Rangers Militia Company was combined with Randolph's 9th Texas Cavalry Battalion and Martin's10th Texas Cavalry Battalions at Fort Washita, Indian Territory (Oklahoma) on Feb 5, 1863 as the 12th Calvary, Company H, according to Civil War History.

The 12th Calvary, Company H, fought in several battles that I could document,and probally more that I have not listed. The official death date of John F. Fairchild in May, 1863, would indicate that he proballyt died in the Fort Gibson skirmish as follows:

(1) Fort Gibson, Indian Territory May 1863

• In May 1863, the 5th Texas Partisan Rangers of the 12th Calvary, engaged in a skirmish near Fort Gibson, Indian Territory. They unsuccessfully attacked a Union supply train five miles from Fort Gibson. Many Confederate soldiers were killed in the raid

(2) Honey Springs, Indian Territory, July 17, 1863

(3) Perryville, Indian Teritory, August 26, 1863

(4) Massard Prairie, near Fort Smith, Arkansas July 27, 1864

(5) Cabin Creek, Indian Territory September 19, 1864

There were no fast and accurate reporting of wounded and casualties during the Civil War which was consistent for that time period. I'm not sure of the final resting place of my GG Grandfather since men were buried where they fell or taken back to Fort Washita and buried as one of the 200 unknown Confederate Troops.

As recorded, the last official order the 5th Partisan Rangers had before leaving Fort Washita was to burn the fort to the ground. The 5th Partisan Rangers were dismounted near Houston on May 15, 1865. Surrendered by General E.K. Smith, commanding Trans-Mississippi Department, on May 26, 1865.

Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81129250/john-filo-fairchild

"Texas Marriages, 1837-1973," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2M2-56X : 11 February 2018), John Fairchild and Martha Ann Morgan, 09 Feb 1851; citing , Panola, Texas, , reference ; FHL microfilm 1,004,575.

"Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB9W-4KZ : 23 July 2017), John Fairchild, 1856.

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLK-RQ8 : 12 April 2016), John Fairchilds in household of Levy Morgan, Grimes county, Grimes, Texas, United States; citing family 308, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFY-8HZ : 12 December 2017), John Fairchild, 1860.

Texas, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZH9-DF9 : 5 December 2014), John F Fairchild, 1862; from "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Texas," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing military unit Martin's Cavalry (Fifth Partisan Rangers), NARA microfilm publication M323 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1961), roll 202.

http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_descendants/?action=list&MyPrimary_Seqn=371466&MyLineageCount=1&Control_Min_Seqn=371466