AUTHOR: James Franklin
Macon County resident Daniel J. Nichols was only 18 years old when he joined the Confederate army. He was enlisted on March 25, 1862 in Company I of the 39th NC Infantry. Family legend has it that Daniel was captured around the battle of Atlanta. He was placed on a steamship for transfer to a prisoner-of-war camp. While being transported up the Mississippi River, the steamship exploded, and Daniel was killed in the explosion.