Harbin David Hicks Biography

Submitted by: Steve Smith

Fought with Irwin Invincibles, Henry County, Alabama, 3rd Company "E" 25th Georgia Volunteer Infantry & Company "K" 61st Alabama Infantry Regiment.

Harbin Hicks was born September 26, 1842 in Alabama (possibly Henry County) and died December 26, 1914 and buried in Otter Creek Cemetery, Holmes County Florida. The son of William Hicks (Born: March 26, 1805 - Died: February 19, 1887, Buried: Friendship Primitive Baptist Cemetery, Houston County, Alabama) and Mother not yet known.

Military Record (Per Pension Application):
Joined Confederate Army, April 1, 1862 at Eufaula Alabama in Irwin Invincibles. A private company which had returned from a year at the front in Virginia and which on May 2, 1862 became 3rd Company E of the 25th Georgia Volunteer Infantry. Many members of Companies E, and K, were transferred to form 2nd Company I, 38th Regiment Georgia Infantry, which became 2nd Company A, 60th Regiment Georgia Infantry on February 28/ March 1, 1863, and Company K, 61st Regiment Alabama Infantry on April 11, 1864.

While serving with the 61st Alabama Regiment, K Company under Captain John D. Grantham (Also of Henry County, Alabama). The regiment was first brigaded under General Clanton, but in January 1864 was ordered to Virginia. Reaching Orange Court House, the regiment took the place of the Twenty-sixth Alabama in Battle's brigade, Rodes' division. The Sixty-first was first under fire at the Wilderness May 5, 1864, where its loss was severe, but it captured a battery, killed General Jenkins, and almost annihilated his New York Zouave brigade.

Harbin Hicks "Received a gun shot wound on right hip bone." At Spottsylvania, the Sixty-first lost heavily in casualties and prisoners during the several days' fighting. Its loss was not severe at the second Cold Harbor, and it soon after moved into the Shenandoah Valley with Early, and crossed into Maryland. At Snicker's Gap and Winchester the loss of the Sixty-first was severe, and even larger at Fisher's Hill. Rejoining the main army, the regiment took its place in the trenches at Petersburg, and lost continually, especially in prisoners at Hare's Hill.

On the retreat to Appomattox the Sixty-first fought much of the time and surrendered there with 27 men under Captain A. B. Fannin. Harbin Hicks was captured at Petersburg, Virginia on March 25, 1865 and imprisoned at Point Lookout, Maryland. Released from Point Lookout prison on June 13, 1865 when war was over.

After the war, Harbin married November 11, 1866 in Henry County, Alabama to Cynthia Ann Sumalin (Born: May 1849-Died: July 19, 1924) Known Children are: 1) Joseph Hicks b. August 9, 1874 d. June 14, 1954; 2) Henry David Hicks b. June 18, 1869 d. June 03,1926; 3) William Hicks; 4) Ida B. Hicks; 5) Susan E. Hicks (Susan Mozelle Hicks b. January 19, 1867 - d. February 4, 1932; 6) Annie B. Hicks.

Harbin Hicks settled with his family in the panhandle area of North Florida (Holmes County). Received 160 acres of land in north Florida from federal government, October 16, 1895.