James Riley Medders
Date of birth:	September 13, 1838
Place of birth:	Appling County, Georgia
Death Date:	September 21, 1920
Place of Death:
Burial:	Big Creek Cemetery, Alma, Bacon County, Georgia
Military Service:	US Civil War 1862 to 1865 Confederate States Army
Marriage: 1863	Elizabeth Altman 1841-1909*
Children:	1 Infant Medders 1864* 2 Ardela Medders 1866* 3 William H Medders 1867* 4 Sophronia Medders 1869* 5 Ella O Medders 1873* 6 James M Medders 1875* 7 John B Medders 1878* 8 Jesse E Medders 1880* 9 Charles Medders 1881* 10 Francis M Medders 1885*
Sources:	1 Ancestry.com GEDCOM 2 Biography by, R.M. Medders 11/1/1999 3 Baxley Georgia Chamber of Commerce 4 1850 US Census, Appling County, Georgia 5 1860 Holmesville, Appling County, Georgia 6 1870 US Census, Holmesville, Appling County. Georgia 7 1880 US Census, Appling County, Georgia 8 1900 US Census, Appling County, Georgia 9 1920 USCensus, Appling County, Georgia 10 US Civil War Rosters 11 US Civil War Pension Application Records, Affidavits
Direct Line Paternal Ancestors of Martha P Medders starting with Father;	1 Benj. B Medders 1809 2 William W Medders 1785
Direct Line Maternal Ancestors of Martha P Medders starting with Mother;	1 Nancy C (Tucker)  1811
* Direct ascent to Seth, son of Adam and Eve This page was last updated 02/11/2009
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James Riley Medders, 1838-1920  

¹James Riley MEDDERS, C.S.A, was born ⁹13 Sep 1838 in Appling County, Georgia and died 21 Sep 1920. He was the 4^th child and son of Benjamin Batchelor "Meadows" MEDDERS and Nancy C LNU (TUCKER). He was also the brother of 2 other brothers that fought for the south during the US Civil War. One of his brothers, John Smith "Meadows" MEDDERS, fought and was wounded and the Battle of Jonesboro in 1864.   

Birthplace-Death Place ³History-Future, See Map and Location of Baxley, Appling County, Georgia

Early Life  
²James Riley Medders was living with his parents Benjamin Batchelor “Meadows” Medders and his mother Nancy C (Tucker) in Appling County, Georgia 1840 and ⁴1850. 

His mother Nancy C (Tucker) Medders died in 1849 and is buried in Fellowship Baptist Church, Patterson Cemetery, Patterson-Stewart Settlement, Bacon County, Georgia in an unmarked grave. After his mother died, his father Benjamin married Elizabeth TUCKER his stepdaughter (Nancy's daughter by a previous marriage) in 1850.

James Riley Medders married Elizabeth ALTMAN* about 1865 and they had ⁸(10) ten children all born in Georgia, (1) one of the children is believed to have died at birth or just after. Elizabeth (Altman) Medders was the daughter Jesse M ALTMAN, C.S.A and Nancy Elizabeth CASON. 

James Riley Medders is living in Holmesville, Appling County, Georgia on ⁵21st July 1860 as a farmer with his sister Mary Medders age 25 and her son Benjamin age 1 month old. James is recorded on (page #73, line 9, household #458).

James Riley Medders is living in Holmesville, Appling County, Georgia on 25^th July ⁶1870 with his wife Elizabeth and family. Their children are; Ardela “Dee” and William H, also living in their household is his sister Mary Medders and her son Benjamin, Mary obviously had her child out of wedlock because Benjamin has the same surname. It is believe that Mary never married Benjamin’s father. James Riley Medders is not shown owning any land but has a net worth of $100,00 in personal property. James is recorded on (page #84, line 25, household #20)  

James Riley "Meadows" Medders is living in Appling County, Georgia in July ⁷1880 as a farmer with his wife Elizabeth and family. The children living with them at this time are; Ardelia age 15 - William H age 13 - Sophrony age 11 - Ella age 9? - James age 7? - John age 5? And Jesse E age 3mths. It is noted in this census that James is referred to for the first time as James R "Meadows" not Medders. This is really surprising because it is known that James R Medders can read and write according to Civil War records. It is possible that Sophrony died young, as she does not appear or is mentioned in other census. William H her brother named one of his children Agnes Sophronia and is most likely named after his sister. Elizabeth stated in another census that they had (10) children but only 8 were living. This probably brings to a close the children for James Riley “Meadows” Medders and Elizabeth (Altman) “Meadows” Medders. The only thing missing is the name for the first child, and if it was an infant (only days old) it probably will not be known.

James Riley Medders is living in Appling County, Georgia on 1^st June ⁸1900 with his wife Elizabeth and family. Their children are; John Berry age 21 –Charlie age 18 and Francis Marion age 14. All are shown as being able to read and write. John Riley Medders is recorded on (Page #88, Line 54).

James's wife Elizabeth (Altman) Medders died 23^rd October 1909.

Unable to locate James Riley Medders in 1910?

James Riley Medders is living in Appling County, Georgia on 23rd January ⁹1920, his wife Elizabeth had only died a few years earlier. Living with him is his son John Berry whose wife had also deceased and John Berry's children, Ellie May age 16 - Minnie age 14 - Gracie Pearl age 11 and Nora Lee age 9. James is shown age 82 and is recorded on (page #106, line 58, household #28). James Riley Medders would die later that year on September 21st 1920.

Military Service  

^10,11Private, James Riley Medders fought for the south during the US Civil War as did his brothers John Smith and William Washington Medders. The following is a description of James Riley Medders service record; Muster Roll of Company K, 54^th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry Army of Tennessee C.S.A, Appling County, Georgia. Medders, James R. - private May 5, 1862. Roll for February 28, 1863, last on file, shows him present. Pension records show he was discharged at Tupelo, Mississippi. February 1865. Served under Captain, Richard Bennett's command. (Claimed he served six months in Georgia State Troops, command not given.

Military Engagements of War
Battle of Nashville/Nashville Station

CREATED/PUBLISHED
1864 December 16.

SUMMARY
Photographs of the War in the West, these photographs are of Hood before Nashville. Continuing his policy of the offensive at any cost, General John B. Hood brought his reduced army before the defenses of Nashville, where General George H. Thomas over threw it on December 15-16, in the most complete victory of the war. If the date borne on these photographs are correct, it was taken in the course of the battle.

 

 

 

Picture to left is of the State Capital in Nashville, with covered cannons. (pictures from the Library of Congress).

James Riley Medders fought at the Battle of Nashville sometimes referred to as Nashville Station. Where the confederate forces under General, John Bell Hood were literally decimated. One of the almost totally decimated regiments was the 54^th, which was the unit that James Riley Medders served in. (click link above to view Battle scenario)

Reports of the Battle by; Confederate Generals, General John Bell Hood, Major General, William B Bate, Major General, Nathan B Forrest

Reports of the Battle by; Union Generals, Major General, George H Thomas, Major General. James B Steedman

The Fighting 54^th’s "Long Walk Home"

James Riley Medders civil war history does not appear to have very many successes. But then again “Successes can come in many disguises”. While under the command of 2^nd Lieutenant, Richard Bennett, Bennett had many times tendered his resignation. He was losing not only many minor battles, but was also losing numerous soldiers. 2^nd Lieutenant Bennett’s regiment was constantly being pushed back from all sides. His last recorded tender of resignation was recorded on May 21^st 1863. However there was never any evidence of acceptance of his resignation by higher authorities. He continued in his capacity until Feb 1865, then near the close of the war after his regiment consisting of James Riley Medders, C. C. Byrd, Irvin Bullard and a couple others from Appling County at which point the regiment was near total destruction and with only a few men left (estimated at 50) at Nashville, Tennessee. 2^nd Lieutenant, Richard Bennett decided and took under his own decision to disband his unit. With no hope for reinforcements because General, William T Sherman’s army had literally destroyed all the railways systems during his march to the sea campaign, 2^nd Lieutenant, Richard Bennett Commander of the 54^th Regiment order his men (what was left of them) to return home to their families “any way they could”.

James Riley Medders stated in a sworn affidavit in 1910 and 1^st Sergeant, H. A Bennett in 1915, that of the few men that were left, “were nearly naked and without practically anything to eat”. James began his trek to get back to his family in Appling County, Georgia.

The decisions that 2^nd Lieutenant, Richard Bennett made in Nashville, Tennessee on that fateful day in February of 1865 would have unforeseen implications on the men of the 54^th.

Georgia Civil War Act of 1910 amended 1919

When the state of Georgia created the Civil War Act of 1910 to allot pensions for those who fought for the south it was a long fought battle for some of those involved to get approved for this pension. One of the requirements for approval was they had to account for their whereabouts up to the end of the war and for the 54^th this would be a major issue and would take another 5 years of litigation and many affidavits of other people to “write a wrong”. Without the affidavits of such people as; 1^st Sergeant H. A. Bennett, C. C. Byrd, Irvin Bullard and many others these men of the “Fighting 54^th” would not have only been denied due pensions but would have probably been, publicly humiliated and possibly been called or considered cowards and accused of desertion.

The soldiers of the 54^th were originally denied pensions because it was believed that they could and should have returned to their units even with it being only a couple of months before General, Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, Virginia on April 09 1865. But the expectations could not have been met due to the conditions that they were met with.

 It has never been determined if James Riley Medders Application for pension was ever approved. His final re-submittal was on 14^th October 1919 unfortunately James Riley Medders died the following year. Due to the red tape process (that even existed in those days) the Pensions office on 4^th May 1920 order that he resubmit his original 1916 application. This request was from J. W. Lindsey, Commissioner of Pensions.

“It is a terrible thing for a man to have to die after being ask to do the devil’s work, and those who comes after us forget that they are here and able to enjoy freedom because of those that risk their lives and possibly their souls to see that others can live in peace” How soon we forget! RMM

Quote by General Robert E. Lee, after the civil war:

"My experience of men has neither disposed me to think worse of them, or indisposed me to serve them; nor in spite of failures, which I lament, of errors which I now see and acknowledge; or of the present aspect of affairs; do I despair of the future. The truth is this. The march of Providence is so slow, and our desires so impatient; the work of progress is so immense and our means of aiding it so feeble; the life of humanity is so long and are thus discouraged. It is history that teaches us to hope."