Cabell

SKETCH OF JUDGE ROGERS AND FAMILY, OF FORT SMITH

John Henry Rogers, soldier, lawyer, Congressman, and jurist, was born on a plantation near Roxobel, Bertie County, N.C., October 9, 1845, the third child of Absolom and Harriet Rogers, and grandson of William Rogers, a farmer and mechanic, who lived and reared a family of twelve children in Pitt County, N.C. His father was a wealthy planter before the war, but, being deprived of his slaves and everything but his land, was reduced to poverty by that disaster.

In March, 1862, he was mustered into the Ninth Regiment, Mississippi Infantry, at Canton, Miss., as a private. In the battle of Munfordville (Green River) Ky., he was wounded while charging the enemy's breastworks. He was subsequently in the battle of Murfreesboro (Stone River) Tenn., Chickamauga, Ga., Mission Ridge, near Chattanooga, Tenn., and Resaca, Ga. He was in the engagements, before Atlanta, July 26 and 28, 1864, and was wounded at Jonesboro, Ga., in September, 1864. He fought at Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864, and at Nashville, Tenn., December 15, 1864. In April, 1865, although but nineteen years of age, he was promoted by special order of General Johnston to rank of first lieutenant, and he commanded Company F of the Ninth Mississippi Regiment until the capitulation of Johnston's army.

His address before the general reunion of United Confederate Veterans at New Orleans, May, 1903, is considered the best one ever given before that body. Several thousand copies were distributed.

Judge Rogers was married October 9, 1873, to Mary Gray, only daughter of Dr. Theodore Dunlap and Elizabeth Gray, of Danville, Ky. Four sons and one daughter are living, their first child, Theodora, having died at the age of two years. Miss Bessie Rogers was married October 24, 1905, to Mr. Ray Meredith Johnston, of Fort Smith, Ark. Both mother and daughter have taken great interest in all that relates to the Lost Cause, and are entitled to very much consideration by the old veterans. Modesty has prevented them from giving a sketch of their many good acts.