Backus, Augustus------- private August 1861. Discharged, disability, April 24, 1862. 

Augustus Backus was born in Georgia about 1833.  He was probably born in Walton Co., but was raised in Haralson Co.  Between 1850-1855, he moved to Greene Co. where he married Mary A. Partee in February of 1855.  They lived and farmed in Scull Shoals.  Augustus and Mary had four children, Martha C., Lucinda J., George and Augustus Barto. 

On Aug. 14, 1861 , Augustus enlisted in the 8th Reg., Co. K, at Maxey, Oglethorpe Co.  He soon was in Virginia and would never return to his home and family.  Augustus fell ill and was in and out of hospitals.  He was first hospitalized at Farmville, VA , but the date and illness were not recorded.  He was returned to duty in Oct., but again hospitalized at Orange Court House from Oct. 6th-30th with Typhoid fever.  By April of 1862, Augustus was again hospitalized, this time in Richmond, but there is no record of this hospitalization.  His only other records are of his discharge from service due to disability, Apr. 24, 1862 , and his death the following day on the 25th. 

In his widow's pension application, she states that her husband died in a hospital in Richmond and that the cause of death was dropsy.  For her application, family friend, Barnabas Maxey, also of Co. K, 8th Reg., testified of Augustus' service and death.  Augustus Backus was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Richmond where soldiers were buried three to a grave with only numbers to mark their burial sites.  Augustus' was burial #134 in Section A, Row I.

[Biography generously provided by Backus' descendant, Darleen Miller, Ga.]