Thomas Bandy Fortenberry was the son of Oliver Rice and Nancy Hider Bandy Fortenberry. Thomas` GGrandfather,James Leath Fortenberry, served in the 5th SC Continental Line Am.Rev. His grandparents were Jacob and Nancy Taylor Fortenberry. They were one of the first four families to settle in NE Ark in 1816. On Aug.31,1861 he joined the 14th Ark Inf Regt(McCarvers) at Pocahontas, Ark. The part of the 14th that Thomas was in was sent to Bowling Green, Kentucky under Maj John H. Kelly as the 9th Ark Inf Battalion. They fought in Brownsville,Ky (20Nov1861), Rowletts Station,Ky(17Dec1861)and were with Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston`s retreat from Kentucky. They were then in the Battle of Shiloh April 6-7,1862. Thomas then became a sergeant in the 21st Ark Inf Regt May 14,1862 under Col Jordan E. Cravens at Corinth, MS. They were in the Corinth Campaign in the spring and summer of 1862 and the Battle of Corinth Oct 3-4, 1862. They were at Grand Gulf,Port Gibson,Champion Hill,Black River,and the Seige of Vicksburg. Thomas may have been sent to Fort Delaware Yankee Prison after Vicksburg with the rest of the 21st. Thomas was on detached service at French`s Div. Hospital at Enterprise,MS from Feb 28-June 30, 1863. This may have been when Thomas became a Minister, because he devoted the rest of his life to the preaching of the Gospel. Thomas married Mary Ann Stephens of Springfield, LA March 8,1866. They moved to Denton Co. Texas in 1869 to be near Thomas` family. In 1885 Thomas, Mary Ann and their family moved to Briartown, Indian Terr, Okla. Five of their sons and one daughter became Ministers of the Gospel. They farmed a large acreage of Canadian River bottom in what is called Youngers` Bend. Thomas moved to Seymour, Texas before 1909 because of the Porum Range Wars in Youngers` Bend. Thomas loved to sing. His favorite song was "The Unclouded Day". Thomas and Mary Ann's daughter was Rosa Lee Fortenberry Turnbow FAG# 34954339.