Joseph G. Sanders | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1828[1] Dale County, Alabama |
| Died | Circa 1866 (aged 37–38)[2] DeKalb County, Georgia |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America United States of America |
| Service |  Confederate States Army United States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–64 (CSA) 1864–65 (USA) |
| Rank |  Captain (CSA) Second Lieutenant (US) |
| Unit |  31st Georgia Volunteer Infantry 1st Florida Cavalry (US) |
| Battles / wars | CSA: - Seven Days Battle - Second Battle of Bull Run - Battle of Antietam - Battle of Gettysburg USA: - Battle of Newton (Alabama) |
| Other work | Millwright |
Joseph G. Sanders was a soldier from the U.S. state of Alabama who served as a commissioned officer in both the Confederate and Union armies during the U.S. Civil War. After initially joining the 31st Georgia Infantry Regiment as a private in 1861, he was elected captain of Company C in that regiment a year later, fighting for the South until he resigned his commission in January 1864 and returned to Alabama, claiming ill health.
Once he had returned home, Sanders switched sides and joined the 1st Florida Cavalry Regiment (Union), where he obtained a provisional commission as a Second Lieutenant in F Company of that regiment. While it was not unprecedented for soldiers of one side to enlist in the army of the other, it was virtually unheard-of for an officer of one force to be commissioned in the other, once the war had begun.
Quickly establishing a reputation as a local "bushwacker," Sanders wreaked havoc with local 'Rebel' civilians—many of whom were his own neighbors—who accused him of stealing their horses, cattle and other possessions in contradiction of the laws of war. Sent on a recruiting mission in early 1865 into the Florida interior by his superior Brigadier General Alexander Asboth, Sanders disobeyed his orders and spent four months in the Forks of the Creek Swamp near Campbellton, Florida, from which he emerged on 14 March to attack the southern Alabama town of Newton. Defeated by local militiamen, Sanders returned to Federal lines where he managed to talk his way out of a court-martial and was permitted to resign his commission, after being characterized by Asboth as "grossly negligent" and "incompetent."[3]
After killing a citizen of Newton who was part of a posse sent to arrest him, Sanders fled to DeKalb County, Georgia, where his victim's father is alleged to have hunted him down and killed him.[2]
- ^ Official Confederate Records of Joseph G. Sanders, muster-in roll.
- ^ a b The Raid on Newton.
- ^ Official U.S. Military Record of Joseph G. Sanders, statement by Brigadier General Asboth, indicating that Sanders was not guilty (in his opinion) of any "criminality," but that he was guilty of "gross neglect and incompetency to fill a position as a commissioned officer," and recommended his discharge "for the good of the service."