Pvt. John Hamilton Gunn
Civil War Biography
1st Tennessee Infantry Co. A
Submitted by Greg Curtis
He was son of Thomas L. GUNN and Sarah REYNOLDS.
*He was born 5 April 1843 near Hillsboro; residence Coffee County, fair complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes, 5’7 1/2″. Enlisted 21 Sept 61 at Camp Fisher, VA; discharged 20 Dec 61. Re-enlisted 9 Mar 63 at Winchester; captured 2 Apr 65 at Hatcher’s Run, VA, sent to City Point, VA, 4 Apr 65; released from Point Lookout, MD, 27 June 65 when he signed the oath; transportation furnished to Winchester. He was the smallest boy in the regiment with the exception of Ltn. William DONALDSON of Company E. He participated in the battles of Seven Pines, the Seven Days around Richmond, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and many others. Latter part of the war, he served in a corps of sharpshooters, where he was taken prisoner at Petersburg but was soon exchanged. He served until the surrender at Appomattox Court House, VA, 9 April 1865. In 1890 he was elected to the Tennessee State Legislature as a representative from Grundy and Marion Counties, and in 1896 was elected to the State Senate.* He is buried at the Patton Cemetery.