Notes for Patrick Oneal EADDY

James Eaddy Family JAMES EADDY FAMILY

AND COLLATERAL FAMILIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA

CONTACT US FOR ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS
VERIFY THAT YOUR FAMILY HISTORY IS CORRECTLY RECORDED
See our Recommended Collateral Family Links
Personal Notes and Dates Removed for Living Individuals

Notes for Patrick Oneal EADDY

PATRICK ONEAL EADDY

Patrick Oneal Eaddy was born in 1845 and was the son of Taylor Eaddy and
Margaret Rebecca (Stone) Eaddy. He developed his marksmanship skills
from a very young age while hunting squirrels, rabbits, ducks, turkeys,
and deer in the forests and swamps on The Oak Grove Plantation where he
was reared. Patrick loved to shoot and improve his skill with all
firearms. Patrick shot squirrels and rabbits with the two pistols
carried in his belt when he went hunting. He was known to kill running
squirrels or rabbits with his 38 caliber rifled pistols.

It was said that Patrick could be angered easier than anyone in the
family and that you could not easily tell when Patrick got angry because
he usually smiled when he was furious. His gray eyes seemed to penetrate
into you. Some young men learned that a smile didn't always mean that he
was happy, because his fists were as fast as his guns. This perfect
combination would have been the invitation to a deadly duel; but, he
never did fight one.

Patrick Oneal Eaddy entered the Civil War with two of his brothers. They
were Andrew Jackson Eaddy and William Spious Eaddy. According to "The
Call to Arms by Danny H. Smith", he enlisted as a Private with Company D.
2nd. Regimental Reserves (South Carolina) and was later transferred to
other units. He served in the war from beginning to end. Patrick was
assigned to several units as a sniper, scout, and as a bodyguard to Kirby
Smith and Wade Hampton.

Patrick was known to wait in concealment almost alone in the face of a
tremendous charge of Yankees. When they got close enough he would take
aim with a hair trigger "Kentucky Rifle" which fired a 45 caliber
bullet. He did not use a musket because it was not accurate enough for
him. His strategy was to place the bullet right between the leading
officer's eyes. Sometimes he got two men with one shot when the bullet
passed through the first man and struck the one behind him. As the
charge came closer, he would remove those two 38 caliber rifled pistols
from his belt and shoot two more Yankees before he took cover to reload.
This tactic confused the enemy because the large volume of firepower made
them fear there might be a larger CSA unit waiting nearby.

Patrick was wounded many times and here are a few known examples. His
scalp and knee cap were shot away at Chancellorsville, Virginia. Unable
to fight for many weeks, he was allowed to return home; but, he did not
do that. When he recovered somewhat, he found transportation to North
Carolina and joined with General Johnson to oppose General Sherman. He
was seen sitting on the ground with his Kentucky Rifle and 38 caliber
pistols firing so fast and accurately that all the ground in front of him
was red and wet with blood. Patrick continued to serve with General
Johnson until the end of the war, regardless of the fact that he walked
with crutches and wore a silver-lined plate to protect his brain.

Following the surrender, Patrick returned home to his wife to see a
destroyed homeland and ravaged countryside. It is likely that when
Patrick first saw his home again, he was smiling through his tears; but,
the real story was seen in the burning fire in his eyes. According to
the records of Prospect Methodist Church, Patrick lived only a few years
after the War and died October 15, 1872. He truly was "The Brave One".

| HOME | EMAIL | SURNAMES |
footer

CONTACT US FOR ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS
VERIFY THAT YOUR FAMILY HISTORY IS CORRECTLY RECORDED
This page is dedicated to the men and women who braved great danger to establish and defend the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. To all of them we are deeply indebted and especially those who died for this cause.