AUTHOR: Deborah Ashe Greene
James Anderson Singleton was my 3rd great-grandfather.
The Three Musketeers of Haywood County North Carolina.
In the hectic days of 1861, when news of the first real battle of the War between the States had trickled through to the Pigeon Valley in Haywood County, North Carolina, three brothers volunteered the same day for service in the Confederate Army for the duration of the war. They were mustered into the same camp, were assigned to the same mess, trained at the same camp, fought elbow to elbow in the same battles, continued together throughout the four years of struggle, and were mustered out together at Appomattox.
Often referred to as “The Three Musketeers of Haywood County.” John, Anderson, and Columbus Singleton heard the roll call for four years around Richmond, Petersburg, and Northern Virginia. John died at age 95 at his home near Bethel School. Anderson died May 12, 1930 at age 90. Columbus lived in East Waynesville. When he was 88 years of age he walked to the Courthouse daily. His long white beard could be seen for blocks.
They were in Company F, 25th North Carolina, under Captain Thomas I. Lenoir. These young men approached him with a salute and signed the dotted line, and fought bravely for four years. John was 28, Anderson 18, and Columbus just past 16.
Being assigned to General Robert Ransom, Columbus would say: “Ransom did not stay behind and say go, but would say come on, boys lets beat the hell out of them damn Yankees.”
