1861 from news article, Beaumont, Texas, November 26, 1920, Vol. XXV, No 91, page 1, His Own Story, "Sometime around May 1st Tom Johnson and myself started for Virginia and on the way we attached ourselves to an independent company we met on the train; when we reached Virginia we were placed under the command of Kirby Smith and orders to Winchester; from there we marched across the Blue Ridge mountains by way of the Manassas Gap railway to the battle of Bull Run, which was fought on July 21, 1861.
"We remained in camp near Centerville that fall and winter. On December 20, 1861, we fought the battle of Drainsville, about 20 miles from Centerville. Being well up in military tactics, I came to Texas in March, 1862 and drilled Carter's Brigade in Arkansas and Louisiana. We did a great deal of scouting and fighting around Helena, Ark.
"In January, 1863, I was transferred to the Rio Grande department. In November of that year I was transferred to Galveston and appointed on the staff of General Wilkie as inspector ordnance light artillery.
"In March 1864, I was ordered with the light artillery to Sabine Pass, Texas and on the 4th day of May we were ordered into Louisiana and with four pieces of artillery, two 12-inch and two 6-inch smooth bore brass guns and about 200 infantry, on May 6 we attached the Federal gunboats, Granite City and Wave, carrying 18 guns, 16 rifles and two pivot guns, besides about 50 marines their whole force amounted to 200 men.
" We opened fire at daylight, the action lasting one hour and 40 minutes, when they ran up the white flag.
"This was the last battle I was engaged in. Soon after this battle was fought, we were ordered back to Galveston where I remained until February 1865, when I was ordered back to my old cavalry regiment, the 25th Texas and immediately after my return, I was elected to the command of my old troop. Troop C. I disbanded my troop on May 18, 1865, on the little Brasos River in Grimes County, Texas, so ended my career as a solider."
"After the close of the war, I taught school in Milam County, Texas, then went to Clarksville, Tenn. and again engaged in teaching school and was elected Justice of the Peace, and constable.
"On the 16th of February, 1869, I married the daughter of John C. Read and returned to Texas. I was elected Justice of the Peace in Coryelle County, removing to Lee County, and there I held the office of Justice of Peace for 4 years. In February 1903 we came to Beaumont where we now reside."
He was a 32nd Degree Mason with the honorary 33rd degree.
Served with Company C, 21st Texas Cavalry for four years during the Civil War. He received a veteran's pension from the state of Texas after the war. His family settled in Beaumont, Texas.
1870 Census Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee, written page 10, August 9, 1870, listed as a farmer
Poem written by JA Brickhouse to his wife, Mary, January 13th, 1911 "Our Journey Through Life"
Come sit down by me Mary, I am thinking of the past,
When first I met and loved you, more than forty years have past;
You hair, then black and shining, your cheeks a peachy hue,
With the liveliest disposition, I remember, don't you?
Today our heads are whitening, our cheeks have lost their hue,
But the love we gave each other then, remains to me and you;
The road over which we've journied, through sometimes hard 'tis true,
Brought us joys as well as sorrows, I think so, don't you?
Our children, grown and married, save two that passed away,
Stand ready now to cheer us, as we journey on our way;
Our grand children too are comeing, yes more than a score, tis true,
Listen, Mary, listen, thats Rob, calling "Gram", I think so, don't you?
They are the priceless jewels, which God hath given us,
Better they than riches, or the silver and gold that rusts;
Hear them clamor as they run, striving whoo'll be first to kiss you,
Thousands would give their all for these, I think so, don't you?
1919 50th Wedding Anniversary news article "for one of Beaumont's (Texas) beloved pioneer couples, Capt. and Mrs. JA Brickhouse of 1412 Sabine Pass Avenue....Capt. Brickhouse, who had served the last two years of the civil war in Texas had grown to love the Lone State State, and in 1872 he persuaded his young wife to leave her Tennessee home and come to Texas. They settled at Rockdale where they remained until 1902 when they came to Beaumont."
1920 news article, Beaumont, Texas, November 26, 1920, Vol. XXV, No 91, page 1, Captain Brickhouse Victim of Pneumonia, died after a brief illness.
