Stephen McClure, Jr.

Stephen McClure, Jr. was born in October 1842, in Hardin Township, near Greenbrier, in Conway County, Arkansas. He was the son of Stephen McClure and Sarah Smith.

In 1849, Stephen's father acquired 160 acres of land near Quitman, in Conway County. He moved his family there from the Greenbrier area where they had lived for a number of years.  The 1850 Conway County census, Benton Township, Quitman Post Office, shows Stephen, age eight, living at home with his parents.

The 1860 Conway County census, Benton Township, Quitman Post Office, shows Stephen, age nineteen, single and still living at home.

Stephen enlisted in Co. A of the 10th Arkansas Infantry on July 15, 1862, at Springfield, in Conway County.  The 10th Arkansas Confederate Infantry was organized at Springfield, in July 1861. Stephen, Jr. was eighteen years old, according to his enlistment papers. He enlisted for a period of one year. The company was then organized into the 10th Arkansas Regiment, Co. K.

Information from the book "Confederate Military History, Louisiana and Arkansas", edited by Gen. Clement A. Evans, states: "The regiment was transferred to Union City, Tennessee, where 150 men died from measles; thence to Columbus, Kentucky, and was in Gen. Polk's reserve there when the battle of Belmont took place. Thence they were marched to Bowling Green, Kentucky, and formed, together with the 9th Arkansas, 5th Missouri, and 10th Mississippi regiments, the brigade commanded by Gen. Bowen, which was part of the rear guard in Bragg's retreat out to Cumberland Gap. Assigned to Hardee's corps, the brigade marched to Corinth, Mississippi. Changed to reserve corps under Gen. Breckinridge at Corinth, they moved with the Army under Gen. Albert S. Johnston to attack the Federal camp at Pittsburg Landing. The Regiment was reorganized after the battle and headed by Capt. Witt. The 10th was brigaded with the 9th and sent to the lower Mississippi under Gen. Thompson "the swamp fox", and took position at Tangipahoa, above New Orleans and spent the winter, protecting the Jackson and Great Northern Railroad, until ordered to the defense of Port Hudson. They took part in the battle of Baton Rouge and Ponchatoula. They defended Port Hudson from Federal gunboats during a siege of several months, when after the fall of Vicksburg, its garrison was compelled to surrender July 9, 1863. Prisoners were paroled and later engaged in the battles and skirmishes of Price's raid in Missouri, in October 1864."

The entire company, including Stephen, was captured and made prisoners of war at the siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana. The officers were sent to Johnson's Island, and the soldiers were paroled. Stephen was paroled in July, 1863. From a statement made by Stephen when he applied for his military pension, we know that he participated in the Missouri Raid of 1864, when Gen. Sterling Price tried to recapture Missouri for the South. Stephen was discharged in November 1864.

Tax records show that Stephen paid a poll tax in White County, Arkansas, in 1869.

Stephen paid taxes in White County in 1872, on a horse valued at $75, 4 cattle valued at $40, 4 sheep valued at $10, and 3 hogs valued at $10.

Records show that Stephen paid a poll tax in East Fork Township of Faulkner County, Arkansas, in 1874.

Stephen married Telitha Stanley on January 2, 1881, in White County. He is listed as 39 years of age and Telitha is listed as 45. The marriage is recorded in White County Marriage Book E, page 434.

We believe Telitha and Stephen separated about 1887. Beginning in 1887, taxes were assessed in White County in the name of Mrs. T. McClure. Telitha paid taxes in Royal Township of White County until 1891, at which time her taxes were listed as being delinquent.

The 1900 Cleburne County, Arkansas, census, Saline Township, shows Stephen living with his niece Rachael A. (Moore) Ramsey and her family, near Higden. Stephen is listed as 51, a widower, born October 1842, in Arkansas.

The 1900 White County census, Kentucky Township, shows Telitha McClure, age 67, born May 1833, in Georgia, a widow, had given birth to 6 children, 3 children were still living, father and mother born in North Carolina. She was boarding with the Hartsfield family.

Stephen applied for his Civil War pension on August 10, 1901, in Cleburne County. He was probably living with Rachael's family at the time he applied for his pension. His application stated that he was "indigent and incapacitated to perform manual labor as a result of paralysis in the right breast from a partial sun stroke which he suffered while in the war." He was allowed $50.

Stephen died prior to 1911. He is buried in Section C, Grave 870, in the Confederate Section of the National Cemetery at Little Rock, Arkansas. We do not believe Stephen had children.

The music you are hearing is Battle Cry Of Freedom.