In a lonely cemetery in the northern part of Escambia County lies the grave of a young man who fought in one of the most horrendous battles in United States history. The Battle of Gettysburg became known in history as the "High Tide of the Confederacy." From that point on in the war, the South was ever on the defense leading to its long descent into defeat! Buried among several other Confederate veterans in Pine Barren Cemetery lies Milledge Leonard Bartley (1846-1928), the son of Nathan L. Bartley (1825-1863) and Rebecca Barrington (1824-1903). He was born in Edgefield, SC where his father was a farmer by trade. However, by 1860 the clouds of war had begun to gather over America and its citizens were forced to chose which side of the conflict they would support. Ironically, the young man's state of South Carolina was the first to succeed from the Union. Like their neighbors, Nathan at 35-years old and his 15-year old son Milledge fell in line and enlisted on August 10, 1861 in Company "D" of the 14th SC Infantry Regiment. They were sent to the adjoining county to Camp Butler that operated a "camp of instruction" i.e. a boot camp. Their company was made up entirely of men from their home county and quickly became known as the Edgefield Rifles.
Over the next four years the 14th SC Regiment fought in some of the bloodiest battles this country has ever seen with the horrific casualties to prove it. Such hallowed names as Gaines’ Mills, Frayser's Farm, Second Battle of Manassas, Antietam, Shepherdstown, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. By this time, casualties were taking their toll among the army's top commanders. The 14th SC were now in Ambrose P. Hill's III Corps, William D. Pender's Division, Abner Monroe Perrin's Brigade, with the regiment commanded by Lt. Colonel Joseph N. Brown. And so far, Nathan Bartley and his son Milledge had survived each of the bloody battles. But sadly, the worst of them all was only a few weeks away and would tear the father and son apart forever. For the second time, General Lee decided to take the fight onto Union soil as he invaded Pennsylvania in June 1863. But Lee had no intention of fighting at Gettysburg however his lead troops ran into some stubborn Union cavalry and against orders sparked an ever increasing confrontation.
At 3:00 PM on July 1, Perrin's Brigade (containing the 14th SC) were ordered forward to assist in the attack. Streaming toward them were numerous wounded from the front, followed by a carpet of gray clad dead before them. At 4:00 PM they were ordered to attack and clear McPherson's Ridge. Their battle line swept over the ridge, past the bodies of hundreds of dead and wounded Union soldiers and then into the open ground extending to Seminary Ridge, about four hundred yards away. Here, hell descended upon the Bartley's and their charging comrades. The Union gunners fired round after round of canister and grape into the advancing line. The length of Seminary Ridge erupted in a solid sheet of flame that swept away all the Southerners to their front. In this man-made hell of shell and musketry, the 14th SC lost 70% of their men. It is here that Nathan was killed and Milledge lay severely wounded.
For Nathan, the war was now over, but Milledge faced a very uncertain future. In the meantime, the survivors of the 14th SC swept Seminary Ridge clear of the enemy but at a costly price. As for Nathan, he lay where he had fallen until he was buried there along with 7,000 others. The Union dead were later disinterred and moved to cemeteries but the fallen Southerners lay discarded for the next nine years. Eventually, over 3,320 Confederate soldiers were later dug up and moved to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond or returned to their families if identified. A memorial marker was placed in the Pine Barren Cemetery in Davisville and one next to his wife at McCormick City Cemetery, McCormick, SC.
As for Milledge, he lay in agony awaiting treatment that was rudimentary at best for the times. Luckily, for the next three days his regiment was only involved in skirmishing along Long Lane that led from Gettysburg to the Bliss house and barn. On the night of July 4th they were ordered pack up and began their march back to Virginia. Their route home took them to Falling Waters, where they were to cross the Potomac River swollen by flood waters. Here they were attacked by Union cavalry where many of the 14th SC were taken prisoner along with Milledge. He was taken and sent to the hell-hole at Ft. Delaware but due to his condition exchanged around January 1864. Upon recovery, he returned to his regiment and served out the war. There, he fought in the carnage of the Wilderness Campaign, Spotsylvania Courthouse and the Bloody Angle, Cold Harbor, Five Forks and surrendered with Lee at Appomattox.
He returned to Edgefield and his waiting family, but three years later he married Susan Julia Barrington (1851–1930), the daughter of John Cogburn Barrington (1821-1906) and Ophelia Sarah Johnson (1830-1903). By 1870, the couple had taken up farming with his in-laws in Orange Springs, Putnam County, Florida. But by 1880, the couple had divorced, with Susan ramining in Orange Springs with two daughters and Milledge in Pensacola married to Ann Giles. By 1900, he was a farmer in Walnut Hill, FL until 1920 when he retired and moved in with he and Annie's son, John A. The old Confederate passed away on April 8, 1926 and according to his wishes he was buried in his military uniform the next day in Pine Barren. Annie would join him two years later.
One grandson, Milledge Leonard "Jim" Bartley was born on April 7, 1917 to Nelson Addison and Mamie B. Bartley of Walnut Hill, FL. He too answered his nation's call to arms and enlisted in the US Army on January 30, 1941. As war clouds gathered over the Pacific, American troops were rushed to beef up the defenses in the Philippines. Jim was part of "E" Battery of the 60th Coast Artillery Anti-aircraft Regiment stationed on the Bataan Peninsula in Manila. After the Japanese invasion, Bataan forces fell and Corregidor was forced to surrender on May 6, 1942. The survivors of both, numbering 80,000 Filipino and Americans, were forced to march 70 miles under harsh conditions and unparalleled brutality. Approximately 18,000 Filipinos and 650 Americans were killed on what became known as the infamous "Bataan Death March." Jim survived the march and became a POW at the horrid Camp Cabanatuan. He was later transferred to Camp Shinjuku in the Tokyo Bay Area. He returned home after his liberation but reentered the Army during the Korean War. He passed away on May 28, 1975 and was buried in the Walnut Baptist Church Cemetery.
14th SC Regiment (bottom of page) attacking the "Seminary Ridge" (upper page) 1863
The situation as it was at 4:00 PM on July 1, 1863. Note Perrin's Brigade's position
The battle for Seminary Ridge on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg
Private Milledge Leonard Bartley, CSA (1846-1926)
Private Milledge Leonard Bartley, CSA, 14th South Carolina Infantry Regiment. Wounded in action Gettysburg 1863, captured and exchanged. Above in his CSA uniform
Gravesite of Milledge Leonard Bartley, CSA, buried
Pine Barren Cemetery, Davisville, FL
Grave of Milledge Leonard Bartley, CSA, buried Pine Barren Cemetery, Davisville, FL
Death headlines of Milledge L. Bartley, Montgomery Advisor 4-12-1926
Memorial marker at Pine Barren Cemetery, Davisville, FL next to his son
Another Memorial Marker in McCormick Cemetery, McCormick, South Carolina
Corporal Milledge Leonard Bartley (1917-1975)
Oddly enough, this article appeared stating that Milledge Leonard "Jim" Bartley was a POW of Italy rather than the Japanese. I found no record as to why this article says what it does. Phillips above was also a Japanese POW in a work camp in Japan as well.
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