JONATHAN T. McGARY

Jonathan T. McGary was born in Texas in about 1839.

Jonathan was probably the John enumerated as the son of widow, Mary McGary, in Walker County in 1850. Mary was the widow of Warrick McGary, who was a brother of Daniel McGary and Jonathan A. McGary. Mary was a daughter of John Tolbert and Margaret Collard and was born on May 22, 1821, in Lincoln County, Missouri. John was eleven in 1850. In the household were Jonathan Talbot (Tolbert) and Elijah Tolbert, brothers of Mary. Both of them were occupied as Rangers.

Jonathan T. enlisted in the Second Texas Lancers at Danville on March 29, 1862. He was enrolled by John E. George. He was twenty-two years old, his horse was worth seventy-five dollars, his equipment worth twenty-five dollars, and his home was fifty miles from place of rendezvous. The Second Texas Lancers was to become 24th Regiment Texas Cavalry, and J. T. was Second Corporal of Company B.

He rode to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, with his regiment, where he was dismounted with the other soldiers in the summer of 1862. It was at this time that the Second Lancers were absorbed into the Confederate States Army, and were designated 24th Texas Cavalry (Dismounted.)

Jonathan was then assigned to Garland's Brigade and after infantry training near Pine Bluff, was sent to Ft. Hindman at Arkansas Post.

He fought in the Battle of Arkansas Post on January 11, 1863, where he was severely wounded.

He was captured and transported to Gratiot Street Prison in St. Louis, Missouri. Here is where the most severely ill and wounded Confederate soldiers were incarcerated.

Gratiot Street Prison

There, on January 22, Jonathan was admitted to City U. S. A. General Hospital with “shell wound of the breast and back.” He was placed in Ward Four, and another notation shows that he also had a gun shot wound in his thigh.

Jonathan died January 23, and the official Undertaker�s Certificate is included in his file.

He is buried in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, in Plot #25 0 5514.

Michael Pierce, Jefferson Barracks researcher, stated in an e-mail on October 1, 2006, that Jonathan McGary was “incorrectly buried under a Yankee stone..”

Michael offered to order a Confederate stone and have it placed on Jonathan's grave.

J. T. McGary marker in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
”...incorrectly buried under a Yankee stone.“

Courtesy of Michael Pierce

After the Texans were paroled in April and exchanged at City Point, Virginia, a final notation appears on the muster roll: “Died at St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 23, 1863.”

This information was compiled from census and the Compiled Service Records, which are on file at the National Archives, Washington, D. C. Thanks to Elsa Vorwek for identifying the parents of Jonathan T. McGary. Thanks to Michael Pierce for locating Jonathan's grave.

For further information and records of all Confederate soldiers of Montgomery County, Texas, as well as histories of the regiments they served in, see Montgomery County, Texas, CSA by Frank M. Johnson. The book may be purchased by visiting Frank's website at frankmjohnson.net or by contacting Frank at [email protected].

Return to History of Co. B 24th Texas Cavalry

© Karen McCann Hett  All Rights Reserved 2003-2014
Content Used with Permission on © Barrett Branches

E-mail me at
Karen McCann Hett



Counter June 19, 2007