Christopher was born Feb 22, 1843 in Bossier Parrish, Red Land,
Louisiana -- the second of seven children born to his father Caleb
Swindle and his second wife Elizabeth.
In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private in Company
D, 9th Loisiana Infantry Regiment called "Bossier Volunteers"
-- the 9th Louisiana Infantry Regiment was assigned to the Army
of Northern Virginia (ANV). He later was transferred to Company
F, 9th Louisiana Infantry Regiment, known as the "Desoto
Blues." The 9th Louisiana Infantry was a regiment in Brig
Gen Harry B. Hayes "Louisiana Tigers" brigade. The Louisiana
Tigers were in Jubal Early's "Old Jube" division, Ewell's
2nd corps, ANV. Gen Ewell was promoted to Lt Gen and assigned
to command Gen Stonewall Jackson's corp after Gen Jackson's death.
Pvt Swindle served under Stonewall Jackson who commanded the Army
in the Shenandoah Valley. He was in two battles at Winchester
and Front Royal during Stonewall Jackson's 1862 Shenandoah Valley
campaign. He also was in the Battles of Antietam, Frederickburg,
Chancellersville, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness.
Pvt Swindle was shot in the elbow of his right arm while on picket-duty,
and was captured by the Yankees. He was roughly treated at the
first yankee hospital, was transferred to another yankee hospital
where he received good treatment. He later was exchanged and returned
to duty with the ANV and was in several skirmishes.
On Jan 30, 1865 Pvt Swindle received a 30 day prized furlough
for being prompt to duty and stacking arms on all marches. He
arrived home (Red Land, LA) a few days after the furlough had
expired. He went to the Army of the Trans-Mississippi headquarters
at Shreveport, LA and received a 15 day extension and started
his journey back to the ANV. Reaching Mansfield, LA he learned
that the Confederate armies were breaking up, so he returned to
Shreveport, LA where he received his honorable discharge.
Christopher C. Swindle married Miss Maria Louiese Edens at Red
Land, LA on June 13, 1865 and in Dec 1866 moved to Houston County,
TX. In 1869 he moved to Grayson County, TX. He was a member of
the Missionary Baptist Church and a member of the Masonic Order.
During the reign of the carpetbaggers in the South, he joined
the Order of the K-K-K in Louisiana owing to the uprising of the
Negro population under carpetbagger influence.
Christopher Swindle died in Texas Aug 11, 1933 at the age of 90.
Pvt Swindle is a collateral ancestor of Larry Pope, Rebels on
the Rio Grande, Camp 1826, Las Cruces, NM, and is the great grandfather
of Larry's mother's stepfather.
To learn more of the history of the 9th Louisiana Infantry --
click here. Note: In the records
on the 9th Louisiana Infantry web site, Christopher Columbus Swindle
appears as Charles C. Swindle and shows he was wounded on July
2, 1863 at Gettysburg, PA. He does not show up on the muster rolls
of Co D. It does show that he was captured/paroled at Shreveport,
LA on 6-21-65.