Was there a James Shirley in the 41st Alabama Infantry? The records indicate that yes, there indeed was a James Shirley on the muster roll. But the James listed has a different middle initial, according to the muster roll and the National Park Service list of Civil War soldiers. The Alabama Department of Archives lists a James Shirley (no middle initial) in Company F of the 41st. The list of pensioners for Alabama Civil War Veterans notes that James W. Shirley was a veteran from Company F of the 41st Alabama Infantry, he served as a Private. It is likely that the person buried here in Dunn’s Creek Cemetery is in fact a Civil War Veteran.
Company F was led by Captain Benjamin Eddins, who gained notoriety as being the only Confederate soldier killed in the invasion and capture of the City of Tuscaloosa. Hey, if you check the downtown area, you will find a cache placed that focuses on Captain Eddins. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery near downtown Tuscaloosa.
James Shirley gave away his sense of humor as he and his wife Queen Ester named their first daughter Allie Bama.
To locate the final, solve:
N 33 22.1AB
W 087 49.5CD
A = The third digit in the year of his death.
B = Add together the third digit in the year of his birth to the first digit in the date of his birth.
C = The fourth digit in the year of his death.
D = The first digit in the date of his birth.