Samuel Childers enrolled in Company C of the 1st Alabama Cavalry, USV as a private on December 1, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. He was enrolled by Captain John Latty for a term of 1 year. The Regimental Descriptive Book shows him to have been 27 years of age, 6’-2” tall, having a fair complexion, dark eyes, dark hair, born in Greenville, South Carolina, and a farmer by occupation. The September and October 1863 Muster Roll listed him as being absent, on detached service with the surgeon. A Notation found in his records from the Adjutant General’s Office of the War Department in Washington, DC, dated August 9, 1870, stated the following: Investigation fails to elicit any further information relative to this soldier. Samuel Childers’ name appeared on the Returns as follows: May 1863 – October 1863, detailed as nurse in hospital since May 18, 1863; November 1863 through December 1863, prisoner of war in the hands of the enemy since October 26, 1863, which would have been during the Battle of Vincent’s Crossroads, near Bay Springs, Mississippi. After Samuel Childers was captured, he was held prisoner at Cahaba Prison in Alabama and then in Andersonville Prison in Georgia, then Charleston, South Carolina. He died October 13, 1864, of chronic diarrhea at Charleston, South Carolina. His grave is marked as W. Childness. Samuel was buried in Charleston Race Course - "Potter's Field" Cemetery in South Carolina and then later reinterred in the Beaufort National Cemetery." He is buried as an unknown soldier but his name is listed on a large marble tablet: Potter Monument – In section 64 of the Beaufort National Cemetery is an unfinished marble tablet on a brick base erected by Mrs. Potter on which are inscribed names of nearly 175 soldiers from nearly every state in the Union, but largely from Massachusetts (where the monument was made) whom Mrs. Potter and her husband had personally served. The soldiers are not identified by other than unknown markers. The potters devoted their time and means in a most heroic manner, often risking their lives to serve the suffering. The war continued for so long, and Mrs. Potter's means were greatly exhausted. She only received $1,300 from Reverend H.W. Beecher's church to aid her in this work. Inscribed on the marker are the names of 175 soldiers from 18 states.
(Submitted by JanB & GMT)