from Confederate Veteran XXX:67
Sergt. G.R. Boulware answered the last call to taps at his home in Conecuh County, Ala. September 28, 1922, at the age of eighty years.Born August 15, 1842 at Brooklyn, Conecuh County, Ala., [see family info] he spent his entire life, with the exception of the years of his military service, in his native county, his death occurring within a mile of the place of his birth.
Mr. Boulware enlisted for military service in the cause of the Confederacy in the Conecuh Guards at Old Sparta, Ala., April 1, 1861, and leaves a war record of honor and distinction. He was wounded in action at Fredericksburg, Va., in September, 1862. This wound might have proved fatal had it not been for an ambrotype of his sweetheart, which he always carried in the left pocket of his jacket. The enemy bullet was directed at his heart, but struck the ambrotype, glanced off, and penetrated the lung, inflicting a serious but not fatal wound. His gallant conduct in this battle earned for him the promotion to color sergeant.
Sergeant Boulware was slightly wounded at the battle of Malvern Hill, and was severely wounded at the battle of Chickamauga in September, 1863, losing his left arm at the shoulder as a result of this last injury.
After this Sergeant Boulware was retired from active field service, but was retained in the secret service of the Confederate army, in which activity he served as faithfully and well as he had fought on the battle fields.
He followed General Lee through the entire conflict, and after Appomattox returned, broken in body but strong in spirit to the village where he had been born, there to gather up the broken threads and begin life anew; there to try and help restore by peaceful means what war had so ruthlessly destroyed--the prosperity and happiness of his people and State.
Sergeant Boulware was married to Miss Margaret Strange (whose ambrotype had likely saved his life at the battle of Fredericksburg) on March 24, 1865, and they lived happily together until his death, more than fifty-six years later.
Sergeant Boulware was a member of the Masonic fraternity, having been initiated, passed, and raised to the high estate of Master Mason by the Dean Lodge in 1865.
He was a member of the Baptist Church, having united therewith at Brooklyn, Ala., in 1873.
A Confederate veteran of the highest type, he remained until the end a firm believer in the true Southern chivalry that characterized the days of his youth.
A successful planter, though handicapped by the loss of his left arm at Chickamauga; he also took a lively interest in all matters political and others, that pertained to the welfare of his town, county, and State, being several times honored by election to civil office.
A gentleman of the old school, with firm conviction and the courage thereof, being successively honored therefor, Sergeant Boulware has gone to his reward with the full knowledge of a life well spent. And in his passing Conecuh County lost one of its oldest and best citizens.
Interment was in the family burying plot at Brooklyn, Ala.
Requiescat in pace.
(M.A. Bodenhamer)
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