Jerome R. Jones

Their Story

Jerome R. Jones was born in Morgan, Alabama.^[1] He was a farmer prior to his enlistment.^[2] Private Jerome R. Jones enlisted in the Confederate Army as part of Company E, 53^rd Alabama Partisan Rangers^[3] when the Regiment was formed. The 53rd Regiment Partisan Rangers was organized at Montgomery, Alabama, November 1,1862.^[4] Two of its companies had seen prior service with the 7th Alabama Infantry Regiment. Men of this command were from the counties of Autauga, Lauderdale, Macon, Pike, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Dallas, Monroe, Wilcox, Lowndes, Dale, Coffee, and Montgomery.^[5] It first served in the District of the Gulf and in December 1862 contained 517 men. The unit was later assigned to Roddey’s and M.W. Hanno’s Brigade, Wheeler’s Corps.

The Regiment saw action at Thompson’s Station, Brentwood, and Town Creek, and was involved in the Atlanta Campaign, then participated in the defense of Savannah and the campaign of the Carolinas. Only a small number surrendered in April 1865. Colonel Moses W. Hannon, Lieutenant Colonel John F. Gaines, and Major Thomas F. Jenkins were in command. Pvt. Jones was captured on May 18, 1864, and sent to Rock Island Prison Barracks, Illinois. 

Conditions at Rock Island were hard. The prisoners were on half rations because of the way Union Prisoners were treated at Andersonville prison. It was much colder in Illinois than the weather in the South, and the Confederate prisoners did not have appropriate clothing.  The water was bad, and the men got sick with dysentery and diarrhea.

The Union offered any man who took the oath of allegiance to the United States, and enlisted in the Union Army or Navy full rations, a Union uniform, (better clothing) and promised to send them where they would not have to fight against the Southern Forces.  These men were referred to as “Galvanized Yankees”. They were segregated into quarters outside the prison, in what was called “the calf pen”. They waited there until they got orders to be transferred to a post out West or to the Navy.

Pvt. Jones took the offer and enlisted in the Union Army on October 15, 1864, and was assigned to Co. K, 3rd Regiment U.S. Volunteer Infantry.^[6] He was taken to the “calf pen” where he died on April 11, 1865.^[7]  The cause of death was not listed in the record.

On the February 28th muster roll and on rolls through March and April, he was listed as being absent without leave; however, he had been transferred and this entry was entered incorrectly.^[8]

The inscription on his Headstone reads U.S. Vol. Inf.

^[1] Page 2 Civil War Service Records (CMSR) – Union – Former Confederate (CSA) – Fold3

^[2] Page 4 Civil War Service Records (CMSR) – Union – Former Confederate (CSA) – Fold3

^[3] U.S., Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 – Ancestry.com

^[4] U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 – Ancestry.com

^[5] 53rd Regiment, Alabama Partisan Rangers • FamilySearch

^[6] Page 3 Civil War Service Records (CMSR) – Union – Former Confederate (CSA) – Fold3

^[7] U.S., Burial Registers, Military Posts and National Cemeteries, 1862-1960 – Ancestry.com

^[8] Page 12 Civil War Service Records (CMSR) – Union – Former Confederate (CSA) – Fold3