The Stanley Farm - Stanley Road, Big Shanty, Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia

"W. P." Stanley

My Great Great Grandfather

Capt. William Pickens Stanley, CSA (R) and his Brother-In-Law Col. Lorenzo Dow Jackson, CSA (L) at The Stanley Farm in Big Shanty, Kennesaw, Cobb County, Georgia - 1915

William Pickens Stanley was born to Ezekiel Isaac and Margaret Anne "Peggy" Holland Stanley on Feb. 28, 1844, in Pendleton District, Pickens County, SC. He died on Mar. 25, 1918 at his farm on Stanley Road in Big Shanty, Cobb County, GA.; W.P. married Fannie Jane Wade in 1861, daughter of Elizabeth Ann Gibson (1824-1902); and grand daughter of Winifred Stanley Gibson and J. W. Wade. (W.P. was 17 and she was 15) . He immediately left home and went off to War after the marriage.

He served in Company A - 18th Georgia Regiment - Civil War... Enlisted Feb. 19, 1861 and on July 31, 1861, a public "Grand Review" of the brigade was held in Big Shanty, GA.. Citizens from Kennesaw, Marietta, Ackworth, Noonday, Blackwells, Cassville and the surrounding communities came to admire the newly trained troops, as they prepared for their departure to Richmond, VA. They departed on August 3, 1861 and arrived in Richmond on August 9, 1861. Here they were mustered into the Army of the Confederate States of America and re-designated as the 18th Georgia Regiment of Volunteer Infantry. W.P. appears on the list of casualties in the engagement at Cold Harbor, VA., June 27, 1862, but was incorrectly pronounced dead.

Remarks: "Severely wounded in the arm. June 30, 1862 transferred to Scottsville Hospital from General Hospital No. 13, Richmond, Va. He appears on records many times, was present and fought at Seven Pines, Gaines Mill, Malvern Hill, Second Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and the Battle of Gettysburg, Pa. He was captured April 7, 1865 near Sailors Creek, VA.,... escaped the next day and made his way to Lynchburg, VA., on foot. After the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, VA., he then walked back to his home in Big Shanty Cobb County, GA. (490 miles), living off the land and any hand outs from the farmers "loyal to the cause" in VA, NC, SC and GA along the way."

Their children:

1. Elva Louella Stanley (McEachern), b Sept. 28, 1867.

2. Margaret Elizabeth Stanley (Pace), b Aug. 3, 1868.

3. Leona Jackson Stanley (Annandale), b Apr. 20, 1873.

4. Isom Leonard Stanley, b Apr. 20, 1873.

5. Thomas Wade Stanley, b. July 1, 1875.

6. Effie Mae Stanley (Runyan), Mar. 8, 1877.

7. John William Stanley, b Apr. 4, 1879.

8. Sara Jane Stanley (Maddox), b Oct. 1, 1882.

9. Robert Franklin Stanley, b Oct. 24, 1884. (my Great Grandfather)

10. George Edgar Stanley, b Aug. 31, 1886.