Solon Borland's Second Son:
"Solon Borland & FAMILY"
Chapter 3: "Solon's Children"
(Harold "Little Solon" BORLAND)
(11-09-08)
Solon BORLAND (1811VA-1864TX) reportedly had seven children. Thomas &
Harold ("Little Solon") with first wife Huldah, possibly one with second
wife Elizabeth, rumored to have had one by creole lady friend, George
Godwin, Fanny Green & Mary Melbourne with third and last wife Mary.
We find documentation that the five known children, Thomas, Harold
("Little Solon"), George Godwin, Fanny Green, Mary Melbourne plus
Solon's two granddaughters Grace M and Mary Borland Clarke-BEATTIE,
lived lives any parent should be most proud about. We were unable to
trace his four grandsons, Russell & Charles BORLAND, Godwin Borland
MOORES, or George M BEATTIE, --- hopefully they too led good lives.
Some material used herein is from; United States Military Academy, War
Department's, Record of Pension Office and that of The College of
William & Mary archives so noted with (WM).
3B HAROLD (Little Solon) BORLAND (1835NC-1921AR):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAROLD BORLAND was second known born to Solon and first wife Huldah
G(Godwin?) WRIGHT (1809VA-1837TN), 18 September 1835 in North Carolina
after father's graduation from University of Pennsylvania with medical
degree, raised until 1854 as "Little Solon", following mother's death in
1837 till 1845 raised by his youngest uncle, Euclid BORLAND (1809VA-
1881VA), in Marshall county, Mississippi, attended United States
Military Academy (1854-1860), married twice, had two sons, died 20 July
1921 at Confederate Home, Sweet Home, Pulaski county, Arkansas, buried
in Confederate section at Little Rock National Cemetery, #1001.
www.webofroots.com/washington/misc/obits/bormajharold.html
(WM) 30 May 1837 letter from Euclid in Holly Springs to uncle George
GODWIN (1787VA-1866VA) at Suffolk, Virginia mentions Solon, Huldah,
Thomas (who looked "delicate") and Solon (Little) had visited him.
(WM) 16 May 1838 letter from Euclid, near Holly Springs, to George
GODWIN said no sign of Solon since January wrote Solon's Thomas is in
fine health, "Little Solon", looked "delicate".
It appears from (WM) letters, following mother Huldah's death, 25
August 1837, www.rootsweb.com/~tnnews/shelby.htm Harold and brother
Thomas were with uncle Euclid in Augustus MOORE's (1778VA- 1843MS)
household at Mississippi, Harold staying till 1845, Thomas, until 1845,
to George and Fanny (Green) GODWIN's, born 1785, at Suffolk, VA. In 1840
census it appears Thomas is being raised by Solon's uncle George and
aunt Fanny (Green) GODWIN in Nansemond County, Virginia, listed; 1 male
5 and under10, with Harold at uncle Euclid's in Mississippi also with
unknown male 5 and under 10. "Little Solon", 14 y/o, is in Hot Springs,
Arkansas for the 1850 census, then at 18, 1 July 1854, is documented as
Harold at the United States Military Academy with records showing he
enrolled while Robert E LEE (1807VA-1887VA) was Superintendent,
1852-1855, who also served in Mexican war with Solon. General "Fighting"
Joe WHEELER, a classmate, graduating 1859, sending December 1901 letter
of support found in Harold's pension file.
Blue eyed Harold gained nickname of "Ginger", because of his hair
color, www.farmlib.org/mrrt/0804.pdf .
Cadets from the South tended to lag behind Northerners at this time.
There were a lot more prep schools in the North where students could
learn French and advanced math, the two subjects that tripped up the
most cadets, according to historian, Bruce S ALLARDICE, author of "More
Generals in Gray", "Confederate Colonels: A Biographical Register"(Solon
included) and other works. Harold was the 1887th graduate on 1 July
1860, at age 24, ranking 41st in class of 41 cadets. Also consider, if
you would, General Ulysses S. GRANT (1822-1885), (also serving with
Solon BORLAND at end of Mexican War), the 21st in his class of 39, but
became president, then General "Fighting Joe" WHEELER Class of 1859, in
1901 sending letter of support for his pension, and General George
Armstrong CUSTER (1839-1876) also graduated last, the following year,
Class of 1861.
Harold was commissioned a Brevet Second Lieutenant of Infantry,
stationed at Newport Barracks, Kentucky until resigning the 5th Army
Infantry 31 March 1861.
One story is: to enlist with Jefferson DAVIS (1808KY-1889LA) (served
with Solon in the Mexican war and the United States Senate), at age 25,
who appointed him a Major in the Confederate Army. He served in Engineer
and Quartermaster Departments and for a spell was Adjutant General on
staff of General SLAUGHTER.
West Point records show Major BORLAND;
"...was, August 16 1863, captured aboard the Alice Vivian" which was
endeavoring to run the blockade from Mobile to Havana with 550 bales of
cotton. He was held prisoner at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor [6th from
left, top row in photo], until exchanged October 1 1864."
www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h52000/h52793l.htm (Major Boland)
http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/records/ (search, "Borland" or
"Circassian") last viewed 21st February 2007. (Page 867 CORRESPONDENCE,
ETC. - UNION AND CONFEDERATE.)
(partial message)
"NAVY DEPARTMENT, September 24, 1864.
"Rear-Admiral JOHN A. DEHLGREN, Commanding South Atlantic Blockading
Squadron, off Charleston:
"SIR: On the 7th instant I advised you of the intention of the
Department to send to you by the Circassian on her next trip all the
officers and seamen of the so-called Confederate Navy now imprisoned in
the North, with a view to their exchange for our Navy officers in the
South. (partially complete)
"In addition to the Navy officers sent down, there are two officers of
the so-called Confederate Army, viz, Major Harold Borland and Major G A
Preston. The former can be offered in exchange for Major Forbes, of
Boston, who was captured near Aldie Gap.
"The Department, in a letter to Major Borland, has informed him that he
could remain in the Department of the South until an answer is received
in reply to the offer, or until Major Forbes should be delivered to you.
"It will not be necessary to detain the Circassian at Port Royal. The
prisoners can be transferred to some other vessel or to some place on
shore for safe custody should there be delay in effecting the exchange.
The Circassian must return without any delay to resume her regular
trips.
"Very respectfully, &c.,
GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Navy.
~~~~~~~~
His Pension records (6 pages, obtained Februaru 2007) say: After
resigning U S Army, he was appointed second lieutenant March 16, 1861,
reporting to General BRAGG in Pennsacola, Florida. He applied for rank
of captain January 13, 1863 approved by Generals SLAUGHTER & BRAGG, then
February 23, 1863 applied for rank of major which he says in letter to
the Inspector General October 22, 1864, he received his rank of major
May 19, 1863! The capture is as above noted. He was transferred for
exchanged October 1, 1864 for union Major Forbes, and on October 24,
1863 was ordered to report to General E K (Kirby) SMITH, commanding
Trans-Mississippi Department.
Bruce ALLARDICE and B HOLT's research revealed Harold married 16/17
y/o Katie DAVIS, 21 April 1871 in Johnson county, Arkansas, in 1880
census they had half-sister Fanny's orphaned son, George Borland MOORES,
at Cadron, Faulkner county Arkansas. Later he married Janie FRITH, 26
April 1891 in Prairie county, Arkansas, who died ca 1902, most likely
mother of the two known sons.
Bruce found he was a civil engineer and
http://books.google.com/books?id=Yk1DUhnG_LkC... (search "Borland"), has
him trying his father's shoes in 1868, with a newspaper for 16 months,
at Clarksville, Johnson county, Arkansas later a bookkeeper in Faulkner
county.
United States Military Academy records say Harold taught school for a
while and then worked for United States Revenue Service. We have
provided USMA documented corrections concerning Solon BORLAND for which
they say will be incorporated in their files, and will forward a copy of
this for their records.
The pension office letter was to U S Senator John Henderson BERRY
(1841AL-1913AR), a civil war veteran who lost a leg, ---- following The
Brooks-Baxter War of 1874, became speaker of the state house, then
governor 1883-1885, then filling Augustus H GARLAND's (1832TN-1899AR)
senate seat in 1885-1899 when GARLAND was appointed U S Attorney
General.
With the above said, we found:
a)- Harold BORLAND's 22 July 1921, obituary in The Arkansas Gazette,
p.7,c.3, states he was captured by the Fed's and imprisoned at Fortress
Monroe, Virginia exchanged prior to war ending, promoted to rank of
major near end of war.
b)- West Point records show Major Borland rejoined his group serving
until end of war, then with General SLAUGHTER, went to Matamoris,
Mexico,
c)- Major Harold BORLAND is noted in Virginia Davis GRAY's
(Mrs O C GRAY), 1863-1865 diary, published by Dr. Carl H MONEYHON in
Arkansas Historical Quarterly of 1983, Part II, page162.
"...one of the persons not expected but most welcome, came. Mollie and
Fannie are in a blissful state of mind."
this in Princeton, Dallas county, Arkansas, Friday morning, 30 December
1864, nearly a year after father's death. He was mentioned five times
during ensuing eight months, moving in and out of Princeton, lastly, Dr.
MEADOR of Little Rock and Colonel KYLE of Arkadelphia, in diary entry 18
August 1865, reporting he had;
"... gone to Mexico."
Arkansas' Hempstead County Probate Court appointed Harold BORLAND
administrator for his father's estate, 21 April 1865, for will signed
31 December 1863 near Houston, Texas, --- court papers "fictitiously"
established Solon's death date as 15 December 1864, when in fact it
unquestionably occurred nearly one year earlier, as recorded in afore
said published diary's entry of 4 March 1864 --- nine and one half
months before the date established by Hempstead county, to wit:
"...near Houston, Texas,---the first day of 64."
Solon's estate was probated in Pulaski county, Arkansas, 24 July
1866, signed by 31 y/o son, Harold BORLAND, merchant, Sterling H.
TUCKER, and 34 y/o Augustus Hill GARLAND, Esq (married Hempstead County
Clerk's, Simon T. SANDERS, oldest daughter in 1853, then in 1885 to '89
appointed United States Attorney General),--- Solon leaving estate to
daughters, Poetess Fanny Green BORLAND, then age 18 & Mary Melbourne
BORLAND, age 16, for their education etc., with explanation for not
including Harold. Sons Thomas and George were dead.
November 1867 Major Harold BORLAND assisted Virginia Davis GRAY
(1832ME-1886AR) (Mrs O C GRAY) and her new born son, Carl Raymond GRAY
(1867AR-1939DC), on an overnight stage coach trip to Little Rock from
Princeton, where Colonel GRAY was newly employed to re-open and teach at
Masonic's prestigious St Johns' College of Arkansas
www.arkansasties.com/Pulaski/OldLittleRock/StJohnsCollege.htm , first
created institution for higher learning.
Harold broke in the door the evening of arrival, after having waited
all day, to gain entry, now from the cold evening air. Colonel GRAY
arrived home about nine.
Strangely and questioningly, Solon's will was entered in probate
court of Shelby county, Tennessee, 23 June 1876. Both daughters were
then at home in Memphis.
Harold applied for pension so allowed under state's act of March
11,1901. His pension papers show he and wife living in Nashville, Howard
county, Arkansas June 22, 1902, he destitute and ill, seeking an Army
pension. An amount of $50.00 was authorized to draw such 12th day
August1902.
Major Harold BORLAND, following death of wife, resided in Confederate
Veterans' Home at Sweet Home, Pulaski county, Arkansas, on top Granite
Mountain reportedly, with first hard-surfaced rural Arkansas road
passing by, starting 3 January 1908 for 13½ years, reportedly built in
1892, remodeled 1911, housed 130 by 1915, when abandoned in 1955 land
became a baxuite mine, ~ ~ ~ but where he died Wednesday, 20 July 1921.
Major Harold BORLAND was buried in Confederate section of Little Rock
National Cemetery, #1001, with a white marble headstone (see above),
questioningly, as "LIEUT" (his U.S. Army rank inscribed, when he's
documented as a Confederate Major by USMA, Union's Secretary of Navy and
pension records), with "ARK. INF.C. S. A." inscribed on lower half.
http://www.usgwarchives.org/nc/hertford/photos/tombstones/haroldborland.jpg
His obituary stated,
www.webofroots.com/washington/misc/obits/bormajharold.html
"...wife died about 20 years ago."
Its unclear to us who mothered Harold's two known surviving sons but
reasoned it may have been his 2nd wife. USMA says both sons served in
World War I, one Navy, other a machine gunner, from 18 July to 11
November 1918 on France's Western Front.
3B-a. RUSSELL BORLAND, (189xAR-19xx)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Birth likely of second wife, Jane (Firth) BORLAND, assumed oldest from
father's obituary. Served in World War I, in Little Rock at father's
death.
3B-b. CHARLES BORLAND, (189xAR-19xx)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Birth likely of second wife, Jane (Firth) BORLAND, served during World
War I, where-abouts unknown at father's death.
Harold's sons, and nephews history and where-abouts are unknown to us.