2nd Lieutenant John Knox Bain
A and B Companies

He was born on 8 February 1827 in DeKalb County, TN, the son of Johnson Bain and Sina Benton.

Raised on an 800 acre farm.

In 1846, when the Mexican War broke out, he joined the Company set up by John H. Savage.

In the March of 1848 he was discharged, while in Mexico, with consumption, and returned home.

In early April 1852 he set off for to California in search of gold.  Here he stayed until 16 December 1863 when he set off for home, and arriving home in February 1854.

Here he took up farming and the owned a dry goods and grocery store 'until the last of 1855'.  He was then a teacher, a clerk, and then an assistant in a dry goods store until the outbreak of war.

Enlisted in the Regiment on the 18 May 1861.

Discharged as non conscript at the reorganization he now joined Colm’s (Comb's) Battalion.  The Battalion was attached to the 50th Tennessee, some time before the 14 March 1863.

Shot in the right hand on the 18th September just before the Battle of Chickamauga, 19-20 September 1863.

Rejoined his Regiment at Dalton, GA, in March 1864 when he was appointed sutler. 

Separated from the Regiment on the retreat from Atlanta, when the horse drawing his wagon died, he then returned home. 

Took the oath of allegiance about the 7 February 1865.

He took up farming and then went into business with a partner in a store and when this burnt down he became a clerk.

In 1870 moved back to DeKalb County, TN, about 12 miles from McMinnville, where he took up farming until 1881 when he sold and moved to Hot Spring, Arkansas, arriving 20 October 1881.

Moving for a short while to Louisiana in 1910 where he lived with his son Hollace Harrison Bain.

He wrote a memoir when he was 86-7 and this was published in the Garland County Arkansas Historical Association publication 'The Record' in 1968.

He met his wife to be Mary Lou Hartsfield while on convalescent leave, about two months after being wounded.

They married on the 3 February 1867 at Griffin, GA.  They had five children, of which two died young.

He died 31 August 1915, his wife had died 12 February 1892.