The 1850 Census indicates Paul's mother, he and two of his sisters lived with Rachael Terry Burgess' parents, William & Elizabeth Terry (both from Virginia), in Logan County, KY at the time of the Census on September 10, 1850.

The following information is from Paul Burgess' military service record:

Paul enlisted into Captain George A. King's Company, 5th Regiment Kentucky Infantry, (Confederate) at Russellville, KY on October 17, 1861; the regiment having been organized in Bowling Green, Kentucky in September 1861. King's company was merged into Company G, 5th Regiment on April 25, 1862 when the 5th was part of the 1st Kentucky Brigade, Reserve Corps, Army of Mississippi. The regiment number designation was changed from 5th to 9th Kentucky Infantry Regiment on October 4, 1862. Although the word "Mounted" follows Kentucky in most listings regarding the 9th Kentucky, the regiment fought as infantry.

Shortly after enlistment, Paul was captured at Whipporwill Bridge (Logan County, KY) on December 5, 1861. He was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio as a POW until August 25, 1862. On September 11, 1862, he was on board the steamer, the "Jno. H. Done" near Vicksburg, MS. He, along with 1,020 prisoners of war, were exchanged at Aiken's Landing on November 10, 1862.

Paul is reported as "sick in hospital at Columbus, Mississippi. In consequence of the loss of King's muster roll, the issue when Burgess was sent to hospital cannot be ascertained." The records also show him "sick" and "sick in Southern Hospital" in April and May 1862, and "sick at Columbus, Miss." in July and August 1862 (although he is also listed as a POW during this time). He was apparently present for duty during the latter part of 1862 until the end of the war. It is unknown at this time if he participated in the Battle of Murfreesboro (Stones River) in December 31, 1862 - January 2, 1863. His brigade, the 1st Kentucky, earned its name "The Orphan Brigade" during this battle.

Paul received a "slight" wound during the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863. He was lucky to survive at all. His brigade encountered devastating resistance in an attack on the Union line during the morning of September 20, 1863. The brigade commander, Brigadier General Benjamin Helm (brother-in-law to President Abraham Lincoln), was killed during the attack.

Although it was previously thought that Paul Burgess fought in Kershaw's South Carolina Brigade, there is no evidence to support that belief at this time. How he found his way to and settled in South Carolina after the war is unknown at this time.

Paul and Mary Burgess are buried in Horeb Baptist Church Cemetery on Red Lane Road near Dalzell, SC. His tombstone lists "9th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, CSA".

James and Clara Ann are buried in Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery at Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter County, South Carolina.

According to Michael Burgess, "Dewey Burgess is listed as having been born in 1888 on the published transcription of his tombstone record, but I strongly suspect that is an error, and that he was named for Admiral Dewey, who took Manila during the Spanish-American War in early May of 1898. The name 'Dewey' became popular at this time. Dewey Burgess was born May 20, which would fit."

Moseley's The Terrible Cleveland Fire, pages 31-32, states that "Mrs. T. L. Dixon and two children" lost their lives "and now "Lem is left with only one child." Apparently Lem finished raising Theron. The bronze plaques at both the school site and the cemetery list her name and the three children's names. Theron died at Fort Myers, Florida.

The following information was received September 18, 2006:

Hello,

I've been reading your info on the net about the Cleveland school fire. Thank you for providing it. I thought you might be interested in knowing something about Charles Lemuell (Lem) Dixon and his son Theron who both survived the fire. Mr. Dixon later remarried and had two more sons. His new wife raised Theron along with their two new sons, Charles Lemuell Dixon Jr. (although they never tacked the junior onto the end of his name and he was known, and still is called, Charlie) and Leland Dixon.

Theron wanted to be buried at the site of the school inside the fence with the school graves, but that wasn't possible, so he is buried just outside the fence. Theron was a twin to Theda.

Lucas Dixon, age 42 that perished in the fire, was a brother to Lem Dixon. Lucas never married (due to health problems I think), he walked with a cane and he always carried a revolver. When the fire reached Lucas, Lem knew his brother was burning because he heard all six shots of the revolver go off one by one.

I know this history because the son, Charles Dixon, that Lem had with his second wife is my uncle. He married my daddy's sister. My Uncle Charlie is almost 82, and resides in Aiken, SC.

Sincerely,
Penny Hartzog Creech (penny_poker1@yahoo.com)

Information courtesy of Pam Gaylord Clarkson (4/12/2005).

According to Michael Burgess (page 388, The House of the Burgesses): Celia D. "Her name is spelled Sealia in the 1880 census. Born June 1874 (or 1879) in Sumter County, SC. Listed with her father in the 1900 census, but is married and living elsewhere by 1910."

On May 17, 1923, The Cleveland School near Camden, SC was destroyed by fire on graduation night. Seventy-seven persons perished in the fire including both Wesley Hendrix and his daughter, Bertie. Both are buried in a massive grave located in Beulah United Methodist Church & Cemetery. A monument now marks the site of the school about 1 mile from the church.

On May 17, 1923, The Cleveland School near Camden, SC was destroyed by fire on graduation night. Seventy-seven persons perished in the fire including 16-year old Bertie Hendrix and her father, Wesley E. Hendrix. Both are buried in a massive grave located in Beulah United Methodist Church & Cemetery. A monument now marks the site of the school about 1 mile from the church.

Photo of Bertie Hendrix, date unknown.