Landmark Baptist

What was J. R. Graves doing during the War Between the United States and Confederate States? I am trying to help someone find information on Graves' activities between 1861-1865. I have not found anything specific -- just that he was a supporter of the Confederacy. Do any of you have information about this or know where such can be obtained? Thanks.

Bro. Vaughn,

Graves evacuated Nashville after Fort Donelson fell to the Yankees on Febuary 16, 1862. He barely made it across the Cumberland River before Nashville was occupied. He traveled south to Alabama or Mississippi (I can't remember which). While there he published an offer to raise a company of pikemen, but I don't believe this took place. He stayed in the deep south until after the war was over, when he pastored and helped reestablish the First Baptist Church of Memphis, TN.

One historian told me that Graves was present at the battle of Shiloh and General Albert Sidney Johnson died in his arms. I have never found proof of this though.

The ABA Bible Institute in Oxford, MS recently published a couple of articles about Graves during the war period in their paper. An ABA preacher in AL researched these. You may want to contact them.

Thanks for the information, Ben.

Bro. Vaughn,

I just remembered another interesting story about Graves and the War Between the States. When Graves fled Nashville, he was forced to leave behind the warehouse where the books he printed where stored as well as the printing plates for these books. The story goes that a Union officer who was a Methodist and hated landmarkism, rounded up a bunch of artillery and destoryed Graves' warehouse and all of his printing plates. This is why Graves was forced to issue "The New Iron Wheel" after the Civil War instead of "The Iron Wheel."