The HUCKLEBERRY BROTHERS

Bryant Henderson paying the maple wood rhythm bones.
Bryant's Great-great-maternal grandfather, David J. Knowles of the Taylor's Bridge community in southern Sampson County, was Second Lieutenant of Company K, 66th NC Troops, Kirkland's Brigade, Hoke's Division. Hoke's men had been shipped by train from Petersburg,VA to Wilmington, NC on Christmas Eve, 1864. They had fought in the Fort Fisher/Wilmington campaign, at Wyse's Fork, and at Bentonville. The last record that the family has of D.J. Knowles's service is a copy of his letter resigning his commission as a lieutenant days after the Battle of Bentonville. It is not known whether he was still with Johnston's army at the time of the Bennett Place surrender, or, whether, like so many of his comrades, had already drifted away towards home to begin spring plowing.