Samuel Gann of Winchester Va Family

Sherry Hildreth, 1309 Chipwood Dr, Knoxville, TN 37932 9/27/97

Based on the Confederate Army muster rolls for Anderson Leamon and A. Lemon, who is assumed to be Anderson Leamon, the following can be assumed: 1) He was a private in the Confederate Army, 12th Georgia, Company G. 2) He was held prisoner of war by the Union Army in the military prison at Louisville, KY and released on Christmas eve, Dec. 24, 1863. 3) He was listed as a deserter from the Confederacy. 4) The last military notes of him were dated Oct. 25, 1867.

Based on legend passed down by word of mouth through the grandchildren of his grandson, William Hamilton Leamon: 1) He was crippled. 2) He was sympathetic to the Union Army. 3) He served as a scout or guide to aid the Union troops as they came through Tennessee. 4) He was later killed by an ex-Confederate officer named Bill Snow.

The most likely story is a combination of this information. Since the census records show that he moved back and forth across the Tennessee-Georgia state line with children alternately born in both states, he did join the Confederate Army in Georgia early in the War, i.e. about 1861 at approximately the age of 35. Sometime later he was "left home sick in Hamilton County, TN" by the Confederate Army and their rolls noted that he was "heard from last in November 1863." It appears that after being left at home he was somehow captured by the Union Army and sent to the military prison at Louisville, KY until being released Christmas Eve, December 24, 1863. Often the Confederate prisoners were made to sign a loyalty pledge to the Union in order to obtain their release from prison and hence were referred to as galvanized Yankees. Either his unknown absence, or such a loyalty pledge, would explain why the Confederate Army may have listed him as a deserter. After 2 1/2 years of war, Anderson probably viewed it as being less glamorous (having been a prisoner and possibly injured to the extent of being crippled). Also, given the fact Union sympathy was high in the East Tennessee area, he probably did act as a guide for Union troops as they moved through the area on their way to join Gen. Sherman's army which was in route to Atlanta. Given this possibility, that he unofficially served the Union Army after being enlisted in the Confederate Army, it would explain why the fanatic ex-Confederate office, Bill Snow, may have murdered him at Apison, Hamilton Co, TN.

Anderson died without a will so his property (180 acres) was sold at public auction for $251 with the children each getting about $8 after his estate was settled. The attorney who was assigned by the State as administrator of his estate actually was the purchaser of the land at the public auction under court order.