Biography of John L. Sehon

Since John L. Sehon has no biography in the National Archives, below is my biography of the man. 

   John Sehon was born in 1832 in Virginia to Edward and Caroline Sehon. In 1854, the elder Sehon, now Doctor Sehon, was made the Secretary of the Missionary Board of the Southern Missionary Episcopal Church and moved to Nashville from Louisville. He was very active in church and community activities, being mentioned in the newspaper numerous times before the war. After Nashville had fallen, he was one of a group of ministers chastised by the Union Governor (future President Johnson) for not being loyal enough and spreading dissention among their congregations.  All refused to take the loyalty oath and were place in the penitentiary. Dr. Sehon was released in October, 1862 without taking the oath. In February, 1863, he and his family arrived in Atlanta to join son John. He was reported to have been a chaplain in the Confederate Army, but I have found no records to support that. In 1865, he went to Washington to get pardons for himself and son John.
   John attended Shelby College 1852-53 and the University of Virginia in 1854-55. He was first mentioned in the Nashville newspaper in 1858 as part of Ferguson & Sehon. Ferguson died the next year and Sehon partnered with (A. G.?) Merritt. In May, 1861, Sehon was appointed Assistant Quartermaster of the Tennessee Army by the Governor and eventually transferred to Confederate service in the same Department, though suffering a reduction in rank from Major to Captain.
   John worked in Nashville until the city was evacuated. He moved to Atlanta, continuing service in transportation. He was appointed and confirmed Confederate Attorney for Middle District of Tennessee, but never took the office because of loss of the area by the army. Once appointed, he resigned his army commission, though he remained in his position until relieved several months later. For the rest of the war, he used his slaves to make a living, providing fire wood and sand bags to Atlanta.
   Around the fall of Atlanta, he moved to Augusta. There, in August, 1864, his wife, Annie died; Dr. Sehon performed the funeral. They had had two children, both born in Georgia. One of the children, John L., became the 11th mayor of San Diego in 1912.
   In 1867, John and Dr. Sehon were defendants in a case in Tennessee. They lost and had to sell eight lots in Nashville to settle the judgment. John died in Louisville in 1871 and the Doctor died there in 1876.
September 18, 1861 Commissioned Captain in the Confederate Army
November 18, 1861 Submits his bond to QM General
NA, QMR 11-18B-61
January 18, 1862 Recommended for promotion to Major
February, 1862 Worked transportation issues in Nashville
February 16, 1862 Assumes position of senior Quartermaster at Nashville when his superior leaves the city sick
March 15, 1862 Asks to be assigned Post QM at Atlanta
NA, QMR 3-15A-62
April 24, 1862 Reports from Atlanta on efforts to get vouchers for stores from Nashville
NA, QMR 4-24D-62
June 25, 1862 Submits accounts
NA, QMR 6-25-62
October 10, 1862 Asks to be assigned as Transportation Officer in Atlanta, since his Attorney position has been lost
November, 1862 Served as Transportation Officer in Atlanta
March 2,1863 Ordered to audit 4 Georgia RRs
NA, QM 3-2D-63
March 13, 1863 Attempts to forecast transportation needs from Atlanta
NA, RRB 3-13A-63
NA, RRB 3-13B-63
NA, RRB 3-13C-63
April 1, 1863 Reports results of Beauregard's IG.
NA, QMR 4-1A-63
April 2, 1863 Reports RRs in Georgia and will audit all of them
NA, QMR 4-2A-63
NA, QMR 4-15A-63
NA, QMR 4-16B-63
Will forward his bond next week
NA, QMR 4-2B-63
NA, QMR 4-7-63
April 17, 1863 Resigns his commission as Major and QM
NA, RRB 4-17-63
NA, QMR 4-17-63
NA, QMR 4-17A-63
April 18, 1863 Asks instruction on shipping Bibles
NA, QMR 4-18-63
April 20, 1863 QMG asks Sehon who is auditing RRs
NA, QM 4-20B-63
April 22, 1863 QMG informs Sehon of rates to use and how to value losses
NA, QM 4-22B-63
April 23, 1863 Promoted to Major, with date of rank November 1, 1862
May 22, 1863 Lists which QM is auditing which Georgia railroad
NA, QMR 5-22A-63
June 6, 1863 Reports him employees and asks for permission to increase their pay
NA, QMR 6-6B-63
June 10, 1863 Requested by Mallet to return the Central (of Georgia) RR train immediately
NA, ML 6-10-63
June 15, 1863 Explained the use of cars at Atlanta
NA, RRB 6-15-63
June 18, 1863 Sims has instructed Major Sehon as requested regarding rates
June 26, 1863 Mallet wrote for cars to get cut stone at Stone Mountain
NA, ML 6-26A-63
NA, MA 6-29-63
July 2, 1863 Asks who to turn public property over to
NA, QMR 7-2A-63
July 3, 1863 Is reported to be sending cars to Stone Mountain for Macon's needs
NA, ML 7-3-63
July 8, 1863 His relief ordered
NA, QM 7-8-63
July 9, 1863 Resignation became effective
NA, QMR 8-22A-63
July 10, 1863 Relief for Major Sehon ordered
August 3, 1863 Mallet asked for cars to deliver slate and cut stone to Macon
NA, ML 8-3-63
Starting August, 1863 Sold fire wood and sand bags to the Government
August 17, 1863 Was requested by Mallet to get cars for slate shipment to Macon
NA, ML 8-17-63
August 18, 1863 Tries to get back pay authorized
August 20, 1863 Capt. Frizzell has relieved Sehon
NA, MA 8-20-63
August 22, 1863 Gets his resignation date corrected
NA, QMR 8-22A-63
July 24, 1864 Asks for Special Pardon

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