He had red hair, blue eyes, and a “high” complexion. He stood five feet, ten inches tall, and he was a farmer before he became a soldier in the Confederate Army.

His name was Thomas J. Fowler.

He was a son of Thomas Gillman Fowler (1798–1880), son of Godfrey Fowler (1773-1850), son of Henry Ellis Fowler (1746-1808).

His maternal lineage was also solid; his mother was Susannah Hames (1804–1863), daughter of Charles Hames (1767–1844), son of Charles Hames (1732–1807) and Catherine Krugg (1735–1835).

There are two file folders for Thomas J. Fowler in Confederate Army records. At first glance, one would think there were two different men with the same name. Comparing the information in both folders, it is apparent that there was only one Thomas J. Fowler, double folders being a clerical error in the past.

I have combined and included information for Thomas J. Fowler #1 and Thomas J. Fowler #2 in this article.

Born on December 27, 1836, Thomas J. Fowler was twenty-four years old when he joined Captain W. J. T. Glenn’s Company 5th Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers at the Union Court House on April 13, 1861.

He was in good company: his cousins, Elias Fowler, Godfrey B. Fowler, Simeon Fowler, and Thomas W. “Bunker” Fowler, had also enlisted in Captain Glenn’s Regiment. He was mustered into service on June 4, 1861 at Orangeburg, SC.

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The Company Muster Rolls for April 13-May 31, May 31-June 30, and July/August 1861 stated that Thomas J. Fowler was present in his military unit. He became ill with typhoid fever and was “absent, in hospital by order of surgeon” for the September/October roll call.

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It must be rightfully assumed that Thomas J. Fowler fought in battle with his comrades in arms until his illness took him out of action. He would have been on the battlefield at First Manassas — and unlike his cousin Thomas W. “Bunker” Fowler who died there — Thomas J. Fowler lived to fight another day.

Brave and courageous nevertheless, typhoid fever would be his undoing. It was decided during his hospital stay at the camp in Centreville, Fairfax County Virginia, that he had not recovered from typhoid fever, and that he was too debilitated for duty as a soldier.

A surgeon, WT Thomason, signed papers t0 this effect and Thomas J. Fowler was sent home.

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Documents related to the Discharge and pay owed to Thomas J. Fowler:

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Thomas J. Fowler was officially discharged from the Confederate Army on December 12, 1861. He was paid $51.03 the next day and sent home:

• $37.76 was pay due for service from September 1 until December 13;
• $4.95 for travel: 600 miles from Centreville to the Union SC Court House ;
• $8.32 was for clothing.

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After the war, Thomas J. Fowler married Mary, born in 1843, a daughter of Reuben Coleman (1802-1859).

Thomas J. Fowler and Mary S. Coleman had four sons and five daughters:

• Charles R. Fowler (1867–1926)
• John R Fowler (1868–1910)
• Emma S. Fowler (1870–1909)
• Thomas W. Fowler (1873–1889)
• Sallie Fowler (1875–1889)
• Addie Fowler (1878–1914)
• Robert Joseph Fowler (1879–1953)
• Annie Fowler (1882–1952)
• Etta Carrie Fowler (1883–1935)

Most of their children lived long and prosperous lives, with the exception of Thomas and his sister Sallie. These two children died in September 1889, likely from the same illness.

Mary Coleman Fowler died September 29, 1885. Thomas J. Fowler died on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1892. Their graves are marked by a single headstone at Gilead Baptist Church Cemetery in Jonesville.

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“Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them.”

— George Eliot, English author.