Charles L. Lankford

Charles L. Lankford, born August 25, 1842 in Greene County, Georgia, was the son of William A. Lankford and Nancy Goodman. He lived in Georgia his entire life and was a farmer.

He enlisted as a private in Company C (Dawson Grays) of the 3rd Georgia Infantry, Confederate States Army, on September 1, 1861. He claimed residence in Greene Co., GA and was enrolled by Capt. McWhorter for a period of one year. The engagements at which he was present include Second Manassas, Malvern Hill, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Virginia, the siege around Richmond, and Petersburg, Virginia.

Charles appears on a register of the Episcopal Church Hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1862. He was admitted with Ty Fever on May 10, 1862 and returned to duty on June 26, 1862. On July 15, 1862, Charles was discharged as over age, but reenlisted. Charles was paid by Capt. Philips on October 31, 1862. He appears as present on a Company Muster Roll for November and December 1862. Charles appears on a Register of Receiving and Wayside Hospital, or General Hospital No. 9, Richmond, Virginia, on February 8, 1864. He then appears on a Company Muster Roll for April 30 to August 31, 1864. Charles was again paid by Capt. Philips on April 30, 1864. He was paid by Capt. Keith on June 30, 1864. He appears as present on a Company Muster Roll for the period September and October 1864. Charles was paid by Capt. Stone on October 31, 1864. He last appears on a Company Muster Roll for the period January and February 1865. On April 10, 1865, Charles appears on a "List of Prisoners of War belonging to the Army of Northern Virginia, who have been this day surrendered by General Robert E. Lee, C.S.A., commanding said Army, to Lieut. Genl. U.S. Grant, commanding Armies of the United States. Done at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, April 9, 1865."

Charles filed for a confederate pension in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. A 1894 pension application states that "applicant aluminous nephritis, suffered all the time with his kidneys, in almost continuous pain in his back day and night or ("chronic lumbago,") which disqualifies him for all manual labor by which he can earn a support.

A record dated September 17, 1901 shows that he was admitted to the Confederate Soldiers' Home of Georgia. He died in October 1901.