John Franklin Rogers was born on November 23, 1843 in Mt. Meigs, Montgomery County, AL to Robert David and Margaret Ann Rogers. Eventually, the family made its way to Milton where they settled for a time. Robert had real estate valued at $300 and personal estate at $20,000 with no listed employment. His son was working as a "sawyer" and John as a "sculler." When the storm between the North and South finally broke, John enlisted in Captain Norvelle Robertson Leigh's Company "E" of the 15th Confederate Cavalry known as the Simpson Mounted Rangers. Formed and equipped by Bagdad lumber entrepreneur Ezekiel E. Simpson, the company took its place with the 3rd Florida Cavalry that later merged with the 15th Confederate Regiment. Already in the company was John's older brother William David Rogers who had been wounded at the Battle of Shiloh and had transferred from Company "K" of the 1st Florida Infantry Regiment. William had spent much of the year 1863 in various hospitals, suffering from an unspecified illness. So in early 1864, Rogers was transferred to the 15th Cavalry to be with his brother John. He switched positions with G. W. West of the 15th, who had been unable to obtain a mount.
But in the early morning hours of November 18, 1864, John and William were part of a detachment guarding the Pine Barren Creek Bridge (off today's Highway 29. Not realizing that their sentries had been captured, the detachment was suddenly overwhelmed by members of the 2nd Maine Cavalry of 450 enemy troopers. In all 38 prisoners were taken plus 47 horses, 3 mules, and 75 stands of arms. As the Union soldiers prepared to rejoin the main force, they burned the Confederate camp's barracks, stables, and shelters plus all of the quartermaster stores. Among those southerners captured at Pine Barren Bridge were 3rd Lt. William Townsend and his 4th Sergeant Joseph William Amos, the son of Captain Erasmus Amos, and grandson of Dr. Milton Amos. There was also Private Rowland Dagg Rugley who was a neighbor of the Amos family and would go on to become a lawyer and judge in Santa Rosa County. Also joining the long line into captivity was the William and John Rogers. Unfortunately, they were both at the wrong place and the wrong time and were marched off to Ship Island where William developed dysentery then pneumonia only weeks before the end of the war and died on March 28, 1865. The fact that 105 of the 153 deaths on Ship Island were caused by diarrhea and dysentery points to the horrendous unsanitary food and water situation that existed. The water supply came from surface springs near the open latrines and the lack of any housing facilities caused food to spoil rapidly in the southern heat. Other leading causes of death were tuberculosis and pneumonia. These conditions were aggravated by the complete lack of tents and clothing that rotted off the prisoners. Regardless, William was buried in the Ship Island Cemetery then transferred after the war to the family's Oakey Streak Cemetery in Butler County, AL.
In the meantime, John remained in the POW camp and survived until his parole in Vicksburg, Mississippi on May 6, 1865. After the war, John married and had four children living most of his remaining life in Butler County, Alabama as a farmer. Eventually, his wife passed away and by 1910 he was living in Oakey Streak with his two sisters Sarah Louise (1846-1928) and Mary Elizabeth Rogers (1848-1932). By 1921, he was being cared for by his daughter in nearby Pigeon Creek. On August 8, 1925, the old Confederate fought his final battle before breathing his last and passing away. He joined his brother William in the Oakey Streak Cemetery and together they waited for their sisters Mary and Sarah.
John Franklin Rogers CSA, Company "E" 15th Confederate Cavalry
William David Rogers Company "E" 15th Confederate
Cavalry 1864, Died as Prisoner of War
Ezekial E. Simpson, Bagdad, Florida
Company "E" benefactor
Ship Island today off the coast of Gulfport, Mississippi
Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island as it appears today. (Photo by By Edibobb)