Alexander A. Bethune – Private, Confederate States of America Army

Courtesy of Derick S. Hartshorn: April 2007

BETHUNE, A. A., Private, Company A, 63rd Regiment N.C. Troops (5th Regiment N. C. Cavalry).

Born in Cumberland County where he resided as a farmer and enlisted at age 29, May 14,1862 for the war. Captured near Brandy Station, Virginia, September 23, 1863 and admitted to Staunton Hospital, Washington, D.C., September  25, 1863. Died in hospital of a “gunshot wound, left side” on October 22,  1863. [North Carolina Troops-A Roster 1861-1865, North Carolina Dept. of Archives and History, Vol. 2:375

In doing family genealogy research, I accessed your website for a Confederate Soldier named Alexander A. Bethune who was killed as a result of a wound at Chancellorsville, Virginia. Lo and behold, I found the tombstone of Andrew J. (Jackson) Bethune, my great grandfather, who lived until 25 June 1920 at age 84. Your site requested information on this individual, so I am providing data on several family members. It is obvious that the Confederate Soldier buried in Arlington is NOT Andrew J. Bethune, but IS his brother Alexander A. Bethune. I have much published and unpublished family genealogy information to document this, and can provide more, if you desire. It is my recommendation that the Tombstone at Section 16, Site 126 be changed to the individual’s correct name. It is my understanding that the CSA unit affiliation is the same.

Lauchlin Bethune served in the U. S. Congress from Cumberland County, NC in 1831. He had 5 sons, 4 of whom served in the Civil War. Their names and dates of birth and death were:

Alexander A. Bethune, b. 1834 Cumberland Co. NC, d. 22 October 1863 (Enlisted at age 29 on 14 May 1862 at Cumberland Co., NC, Co. A 63rd NC Troops, (5th Regiment NC Cavalry) Wounded at Battle of Chancellorsville, VA. Captured near Brandy Station, VA, September 23, 1863 and admitted to Staunton Hospital, Washington, D.C. September 25, 1863. Died in hospital of a “gunshot wound left side” on October 22, 1863.

Andrew Jackson Bethune, b. 3 March 1837, d. 25 June 1920 at age 84 at Aberdeen, Moore Co., NC (Enlisted in Cumberland Co. at age 22 on 6 August 1861. Present or accounted for until transferred to Co. A 63rd Regiment NC Troops (5th Regiment NC Cavalry) 3 September 1862. Transferred (to) Co. D NC Troops 19th Regiment N. C. Troops (2nd Regiment N. C. Cavalry)  9 September 1862. Captured at Upperville, VA. 21 June 1863 and confined at Old Capitol Prison, Washington, D C until paroled and exchanged at City Point, VA 30 June 1863. Admitted to hospital at Richmond, VA on 25 May 1864 with a gunshot wound. Captured a second time on the “Walden Railroad” 21 August 1864 and confined at Point Lookout, MD until paroled for exchange on 1 November 1864. Exchanged at Venus Point, Savannah River, GA. 15 November 1864.)

Maximillian D. Bethune, b. 23 April 1842, d. 10 January 1924 at Dillon , SC (transferred from Co. D., 19th Reg. NC Troops to 2nd Reg. NC Cavalry 30 Sep 1862. Present or accounted for through December 1864.)

William James Bethune, b. 16 November 1844, d. 24 September 1932 at Harnett Co., NC. (Enlisted Cumberland Co, NC 11 March 1863. Captured on the “Waldon Railroad” 21 August 1864 and confined at Point Lookout, MD, until paroled on 1 November 1864. Exchanged at Venus Point, Savannah River, GA., 15 November 1864.)

Thank you for the web site listings and tombstone photos,

Joe Richard, September 2006
my Mother was Jessye Lea Bethune, granddaughter of Andrew Jackson Bethune)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806

BETHUNE, ANDREW J

• CO A) 63RD.N.C. INF
• DATE OF DEATH: 10/22/1863
  BURIED AT: SECTION 16  SITE 126

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard