Into the Jaws of Death

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July 3rd, 1863:

An eventful day on both the Western and Eastern fronts during the Civil War. At Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Pickett’s Charge had left the Confederate force in shambles. At Vicksburg, Mississippi, the continued siege from a massive Union army was taking it’s toll on the war-weary Confederate troops behind the siege walls. The tide now turned against the Confederates, who for two years had enjoyed many decisive victories despite being vastly outnumbered in most cases, but who were now on the defensive as the weight of the colossal Union force bore down on them. The shear Union numbers were now becoming a distinct advantage.


Somewhere on the battlefields of Mississippi lay two men, two Confederate privates: Jourdan Garrett, and Joel Garrett. Both were in the 30th Alabama Infantry Regiment, Company H, commanded by Capt William Hughson Burr (pictured above). The details of the two private's deaths, and their relation to each other, are largely obscured by history. But their gravestone, near Pell City, Alabama, gives us some clues. A little research showed that the 30th Alabama was mustered in the area near where their gravestone sits. Joel was born in 1818, making him 45 at the time of his death, and Jourdan was born in 1844, making him 19. Both names reside on the same gravestone, and the dates of their birth and death indicate that Joel Garrett is likely the father of Jourdan. All that it says of their death is “died in battle in Miss”… a vague and mysterious epitaph to these brave soldiers.

Given the preface at the top of the stone, “In Memory of”, it is possible that this is not the place where their mortal remains were interred. I assume it is likely that they were buried on the site they died, or at least nearby, and their bodies likely lie side by side there, just as their names do on this stone.

It is almost certain that father and son died in the same engagement, probably very close to each other, perhaps even from the same artillery shell. What kind of family did they have? And what would cause a son to follow his father into battle, to defend their home and family? These men obviously loved their family and their home enough to leave that which they held so dear to fight a much larger invading army. They died together, doing so. But the fact that the son followed his father into the jaws of death shows that the late Private Joel Garrett instilled in his son those principles: a love for his family, his home, and a manly courage to fight for justice and right which carried them to the battlefield. Those things don’t just grow overnight, they must be engrained from a young age.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

“As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127:4-5

These two verses are quoted quite commonly, especially among home schooling families. But as I sat there looking at that gravestone, their fate seemed such a sad one. As I pondered that day 147 years ago, and all the little details of their lives that are now forever lost, the very concept seems to be an awesome example of these two verses. I pray God will bless me with the strength to lead my family, disciple them in His ways and in His principles, and that whatever trials may face my family, whether the battle be real or figurative, that I will be a strong and godly leader to them always.

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