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Private John Cornett
Co B, 13th Cavalry, CSA
-1904


John Cornett was born in Kentucky, the son of John and Rachel Smith Kelly Cornett. He enrolled for three years in the 13th Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry with many of his kin, including his brother Russell Cornett, on September 7, 1862. The enrollment was administered by our cousin: Captain David Jesse Caudill. He was mustered with Company B of the 13th by another Cousin: Benjamin Everage Caudill, at Whitesburg. The 13th was known as Caudill's Army, and its Regimental Flag carried that name on a white cross in a field of light blue.

John appeared on the musters for September 9, 1862 - April 30, 1863. He was at the Battle of Leatherwood (Perry County) in October of 1862. He also participated in the Battle of Mill Cliff, Battle of Poor Fork and Battle of Whitesburg in the Fall of 1862.

In 1863 John Cornett became ill with pleurisy was discharged by Colonel Ben Caudill at Gladeville, Virginia (now known as Wise, Virginia) on June 5, 1863. This turned out to be fortunate in the long run for John Cornett. Just over a month later, while stationed at Gladeville, Virginia, Caudill's 13th KY. was attacked by a large Union force and a good number of the men were taken prisoner. This included Colonel Caudill, Sergeant Sparkman, and a large number of officers in Caudill's command.


Instead, John Amburgey recovered from his illness, survived the war, and in 1870 he and his wife - Nancy Combs - moved to Dutton, Arkansas (Madison County) where he raised a family of ten children. John Cornett died in 1904 and was buried at the Dutton Cemetery, off Highway 16 across the White River (Mile Marker 111) Dutton, Arkansas with a nice Confederate tombstone.

Mark's Great Granduncle

Source: Microfilm of the Consolidated Service Records of Volunteer Confederate Soldiers in Kentucky and family history.

Faron Sparkman, email 7 Jan 1999