 1835-1922 Ephraim Park served in the Confederate Army Company F., 53rd Infantry 1861-1865 Officially formed at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, on January 7,1862, the 53rd Tennessee Infantry was composed primarily of men from Giles and Marshall Counties, Tennessee. Giles Countian Alfred Harris Abernathy was elected Colonel of the Regiment. The mission of Fort Donelson was to watch over the Cumberland River and stop any Union gunboats or troops that might be trying to reach Nashville. The original garrison was small, but was soon increased to approximately 15,000 as Confederate troops poured in from Tennessee and Kentucky. Union General Grant attacked the fort with 27,000 men and six gunboats on February 14. The 53rd Tennessee was part of Heiman's Brigade, along with the 10th Tennessee, the 48th Tennessee, and the 27th Alabama Infantry Regiments. Heiman's Brigade took part in some of the heavest fighting. After several days fighting the fort was surrendered on February 16,1862, and the men of the 53rd were part of more than 11,000 Confederate soldiers that were taken to northern prisons.Ephraim Park was slightly wounded at Fort Donelson, when a finger was injured and a lock of hair cut from his head by a Minieball. After seven months'imprisonment he was exchanged with others at Vicksburg,Miss. He was elected orderly sergeant for a term then, after serving as wagonmaster for a while, he was recalled to his command and participated in many battles. He passed through Tennessee with Hood's command, also through Mississippi, Georgia, North and South Carolina.He remained in active service until the close of the war.On March 31,1865, The 53rd Tennessee was reported as part of Quarles Brigade at Smithfield, North Carolina. The men of the 53rd surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina, as part of the 4th Consolidated Tennessee Infantry.  Ephraim and Martha Orr Park |