Co. H, 8th Georgia
Volunteer Infantry

John P. Duke Biography:
by Gloria Ramsaur, great-granddaughter of John P. Duke, and UDC member

John Paulden Duke - Co. H, 8th Regiment GA Volunteer Infantry - 2nd Corporal May 13, 1861; elected 2nd Lieutenant Sept. 29, 1862; 1st Lieutenant July 2, 1863; Captain. Captured at Richmond, VA April 3, 1865. Paroled April 20, 1865.

John Paulden was born in Randolph County, Alabama in 1838, and moved with his parents to Floyd County in 1847. He was their second oldest son, and at age twenty-two was among the first to enlist in Captain Fred Cooper's "Floyd Infantry." This unit left Rome on May 23, 1861, with forty-six men, and went directly to Richmond.

In old letters John Paulden relates how he was in every battle except the first battle of Manassas. At that time he was "in hospital sick from measles." The 8th Georgia was involved in all campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia, and according to him, "we had a great many hard fought battles... the most important battle fought was the battle of Gettysburg, PA - July 1, 2, and 3, 1863. Nine-tenths of my company fell and on the second day of battle I was among the wounded." After recovering, Duke "commanded the company (as captain) until the surrender of Lee at Appomattox," because the three senior officers had either been killed or captured at Gettysburg.

During the War, John Paulden had met Irene Isabella Orrill, a Virginia girl from King and Queen County, and they were married on March 2, 1865, just before the end of the War. He applied for and received his Southern Cross of Honor from Rome Chapter #28, UDC in 1906, and was very active in Camp #368 UCV.

"A Little Sketch as I Remember For Fifty," written by one of John P. Duke's nephews in Rome, Georgia, as he interviewed Capt. Duke, April 1911.

Capt. John P. Duke, a veteran of The Late War was born in Randolph County Va. May 20, 1838, he having moved with his father's family to Floyd County, Ga 1847. And was raised on a farm near Rome Ga & when the first call was made early in May he enlisted in Capt. Fred Cooper's Co H and attached to that famous old 8 Ga commanded by Col. F. S. Bartow who was killed in battle, the first great Battle of Manassas July 1861.

His company left Rome Ga on the 23 day of May and went direct to Richmond Va and first moved to Harper's Ferry & was there attached to the Army of Northern Va.

Moved to Yorktown and was engaged with enemy at Dam No. 1, and after leaving there we marched to near Richmond and was in the hottest of the 7 Days fighting around Richmond. After that was with the army that invaded Maryland & fought the Battle of Sharpsburg, Md. and after recrossing the Potomac River back into Va 1862.

Had been serving the company as First Sergeant & was elected 2 Lieutenant June and at the Battle of Gettysburg Pa. Capt G. N. Yarborough was killed, Lieut. Jack Echols was also killed and Lieut. Wm. H. Henderson was made a prisoner. The balance of the war the command of the company was allotted to Lieut. J. P. Duke until the close of the war but late in the last year Lieut. Duke was promoted to the Captain's and commanded the company from the Battle of Gettysburg after having [recovered] sufficiently from the wound received in Battle of Gettysburg which has been omitted and was in all battles and skirmishes and oftimes commanding the skirmish lines of Anderson's Brigade until the army surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Va 1865 April 9.

Capt. Duke is now 73 years old & very feeble & cannot stay here a great while now. So bless the Lord our God in Heaven I pray.