He left Brookhaven in 1861 with 100 men and fought the Yankeeson land and sea, but the Confederate captain never got his honor indeath, lying in an unmarked grave for more than a century.

Recently, Capt. Robert James Bowen’s 116-year companionship withanonymity ended when a veterans’ headstone was erected over hisfinal resting place in Jackson’s notable Greenwood Cemetery onApril 4. Placing the 215-pound marble marker in time forConfederate History Month required time, research and muscle from alocal member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

“It’s a part of our history and I think it should be remembered,”said Monticello’s Wilson Farnham, 55. “We should remember the pastand learn from it.”

Farnham, a member of the Lincoln County Historical and GenealogicalSociety, began seeking out local veterans and placing markers ontheir graves in 2001 and has succeeded in procuring 12 militaryheadstones so far.

He is planning to research and procure more markers in the futurefor Brookhaven’s Capt. A. Odom Cox, a military commander, railroadagent and county sheriff; and Pharaoh Oatis, a black servant in theConfederate army.

Being an observer of history and embracing his Confederateheritage, such projects come naturally to Farnham.

“Being in Sons of Confederate Veterans, you just want to research alittle about the local soldiers,” he said.

Farnham made contact with James Beverly Bowen, of Plano, Texas, whois a direct descendant of the Civil War captain. With genealogyprovided by the descendant, he next turned to the MississippiDepartment of Archives and History to obtain the captain’s militaryrecords, later locating Bowen’s burial site by researching at theLawrence County Public Library.

With all the pieces falling into place, Farnham next turned toGreenwood Cemetery’s historian, Peter Miazza, to locate Bowen’sexact burial site and obtain permission to place the marker fromthe cemetery association. When everything was ready, he applied forthe marker through the Veterans Administration.

Now, the captain can be remembered and properly honored for hisservice.

Capt. Robert James Bowen was born in Lawrence County in 1834 andwas pursuing a military career early in his life. He entered theUnited States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1850 and served aboardthe U.S.S. Portsmouth in the Pacific. He resigned from the Navy in1855 and attended law school, eventually practicing law in LawrenceCounty with his father, Edward L. Bowen, Sr.

When the South seceded and the Civil War began, Bowen was ready tofight for the Confederate States of America. He formed the LawrenceRifles in Brookhaven on May 10, 1861, and was named the company’scaptain. It was soon designated Company C, 12th Regiment,Mississippi Volunteers.

Bowen led the Lawrence Rifles to Camp Clark in Corinth, and fromthere was ordered to Union City, Tenn., to participate in thecampaign against St. Louis. The rifles didn’t get a chance tocommit to the fight before new orders had them marching forLynchburg, Va., to fight in the First Battle of Manassas, known inthe North as the First Battle of Bull Run. The company didn’t makeit in time for the battle, but fought several engagement againstUnion troops over the next six months.

In February, 1862, petitioned the Confederacy for reassignment tothe navy, feeling his prior naval skills would allow him to betterserve the South on one of the new iron gunboats being built in NewOrleans. His request was approved, and on April 5 Lt. Robert JamesBowen was assigned to the C.S.S. Louisiana.

The Louisiana fired on Bowen’s first ship – the U.S.S. Portsmouth -but soon the poorly-crafted vessel began breaking down with Unionstrength in the area growing. Bowen was ordered to Charleston,S.C., for service aboard the C.S.S. Palmetto State, and theLouisiana was blown up to keep it out of Union hands.

Bowen served aboard the Palmetto State until early 1865 when theship was wrecked. He and other sailors and marines formed aninfantry unit and fought at Sayler’s Creek on April 6, 1865, in oneof the last engagements before Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered hisArmy of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House on April 9,ending the Civil War.

At Sayler’s Creek, Bowen and his comrades engaged Union troops insavage, hand-to-hand fighting beginning around 5:30 p.m. The Rebelsfought off several Union charges and held out in the woods untilafter dark, but the rest of the Confederate corps was overrun andsurrendered. Bowen’s stubborn naval detachment finally surrenderedlater that night once it learned it was surrounded and withoutbackup.

Bowen was released from captivity on June 18, 1865, and returned toBrookhaven to resume practicing law. On March 21, 1867, he marriedVirginia Marie Garland in Hinds County.

He died in 1894.