Joseph H. Bozarth

Born: 9 Jan 1845 in DeKalb County, Tennessee

Died: 18 Feb 1930 in the 8th District of DeKalb County, Tennessee

Company A, 16th Tennessee Infantry, CSA

8 Jan 1863-Deserted 10 Aug 1863

Company C, 1st Tennessee Mounted Infantry, USA

21 Oct 1863-13 Dec 1864

Joseph was the son of William Bozarth and Nancy Allen Burton.  He married Martha Puckett, daughter of Henry Lyda Pucket and Margaret Love. They supposedly had eight children but I am only able to identify four. The four idenified children were born between 1868 and 1888.

Joseph first enlisted on the Confederate side with Company A, 16th Tennessee Infantry at Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee 8 Jan 1863. However, something caused him to change his allegiance as he deserted Company A on 10 Aug 1863.

It should be noted that Joseph and his two brothers, James and Finis, were in the same unit and deserted on the same day. All three joined the Union forces later that year.

The following excerpt from "Campaigns & Battles of the 16th Tennessee Infantry" pages 114 and 115 describe the conditions and morale that prevailed in the Unit at this time in history.

"The Confederates continued their retreat across the Tennessee river, and arrived at Chattanooga early in July. During this retreat Vicksburg had fallen into the hands of the enemy, by which the whole Mississippi river was now open to the enemy from its source to the Gulf. Other points had fallen into the enemy's hands. The Confederate soldiers began to grow dejected at the loss of so many strongholds, especially when they realized that a place once in the hands of the Federals was permanently lost. It seemed that Confederate history at this time was fast becoming a catalogue of reverses, and the Confederate soldier was growing weary of the many and prominent additions that were being constantly made to the list. Beset with these feelings, the Confederates upon their arrival at Chattanooga encamped upon the same ground which they occupied the year before on the eve of their campaign into Kentucky. The men, discouraged by so many reverses, had begun to desert the Confederate ranks, and General Bragg had been punishing the evil with the severest penalties known to the Army Regulations. Quite a number of soldier, had been court-martialed and shot while the army was at Tullahoma and Shelbyville. These victims were principally from the Gulf States, though a few were from the border States. When the army arrived at Chattanooga there were quite a number under sentence and awaiting the day set for their execution.

General Bragg rested his army at Chattanooga during the months of July and August, during which time he strengthened the fortifications about the place. As important military movements were expected in the near future, the Confederate leader issued orders to liberate all who had charges preferred against them, except those under sentence of death, and recommended Executive clemency in their behalf. The Confederate authorities heeded his recommendation in general, and the sentence of death was revoked in many instances on the very eve of the hour set for the execution of the sentence, and the culprits were restored to their respective companies."

After deserting his Confederate unit, he made his way safely home and, along with his father-in-law and other family and friends, joined the Union Army on 21 Oct 1863 at Carthage, Smith County, Tennessee. He was present for duty on all muster rolls until he was mustered out on 13 Dec 1864.

I have found no record of Joseph applying for an invalid pension.

In the 1920s the government sent questionaires to all the veterans of the Civil War. Joseph completed and returned his questionaire. Very interesting reading and is attached below.

Both Joseph and wife, Martha, are buried in the Mount Holly Cemetery in Smithville, DeKalb County, Tennessee. Originally buried in the "Bozarth Burial Ground" on the Falling Water River, they were reinterned into the Mount Holly Cemetery as a result of the building of Center Hill Lake.