Another interesting thing I learned that day was about my 4th great grandfather, Samuel Columbus Perkins who was born in 1839. Later in life he enlisted for the 21st regiment Alabama infantry in the civil war. He became a private in that regiment and was stationed at Fort Gaines, which guarded the entrance to Mobile Bay. Mobile Bay was a very important port for the confederate (southern) army. Fort Gaines fell union (northern) army in 1865 at which time Samuel was taken as a union P.O.W. (prisoner of war or someone who is captured by the rival army and kept by that army). He was later released to return home to his wife. He also had 7 kids throughout his life time. He died at 66 years old in 1906. I found it interesting that a member of my family had been captured by another army. That's not something every one can say about their 4th great grandfather. I was sad that I was unable to visit his grave due to it's location in Birmingham, Alabama. Maybe someday my family and I can travel there and visit his grave.
~Alyssa Walker