USA > Mississippi > Official and statistical register of the state of Mississippi, 1908 v. 3 > Part 2
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At Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Tuesday afternoon, December 30, 1862, General Stewart was asked for artillery to support Manigault's Brigade. "Knowing that Stanford, his officers and men, were always ready to go wherever needed, two pieces were promptly dispatched in charge of Lieut. A. A. Hardin. On their return I was informed that they were not properly supported; that they were required to engage, at a distance not exceeding 600 yards, guns that were throwing shell, canister and spherical case; that they accomplished no useful purpose but sustained some loss, one or two men being wounded, and Lieut. A. A. Hardin, a most estimable and gallant young officer, being killed." Stanford reported that Hardin had performed the object of his mission and was returning to the battery when he was killed by a cannon shot. In the great battle of the 31st Stanford was employed under the immediate , orders of General Polk. He fought effectively from the old field on the right of the Wilkinson pike, replying to the fire of the Federal artillery, protected the Confederate columns when repulsed, and checked the Federal advances. Advancing as far as the Cowan house on the Nash- ville pike, later he gave material aid to the Confederate advance, though exposed to a galling fire, which killed two of his gunners. January I, the batteries of Stanford, Carnes and Smith were posted near the rail- road, where they were in action on the 2d. To assist the attack by General Breckenridge, at four in the evening, Stanford was instructed to open on the left of the woods to draw their fire from our right. "This I evidently succeeded in doing," Stanford reported. "They turned all their batteries on me, producing a concentration of shot and shell such as I never before witnessed." This artillery force that Rosecrans massed to repel the attack by Breckenridge was the greatest known to that time during the war in the west, and was only equalled by the artillery battle in the same month at Fredericksburg, Va. Stanford cared for his men so well that in the battle only 3 were killed and 4 wounded, and 7 horses killed. He complimented the conduct of Lieutenants McSwine and McCall. "The whole company acted bravely, doing no discredit to
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their reputation gained at Shiloh and Perryville." Private Richard H. Elliott was chosen to represent this command on the Roll of Honor for this battle.
May 5, 1863, Brig .- Gen. A. P. Stewart recommended the promotion of Captain Stanford to a majority. "Were I permanently in command of a division he would be my choice as a Chief of Artillery."
Capt. Melancthon Smith was promoted to command of the artillery battalion of Cheatham's Division, to which Stanford's Battery was assigned during the Chickamauga campaign of September, 1863. The battery was attached to Strahl's Tennessee Brigade, which suffered heavily in the battle of the 19th against Thomas' wing of the Union army. The forest did not permit much use of Stanford's four 3-inch rifles, and they were not engaged until Strahl had been driven back. Strahl wrote: "My battery was at all times immediately in my rear and ready at a moment's notice to go into position had an opportunity offered where it could have been used with effect."
After the siege of Chattanooga and battle of Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863, the company was transferred to Stewart's Division, Captain Stanford commanding the battery, 116 present, four 12-pounder Napoleon guns. The winter was spent in camp near Dalton, Ga. In March, 1864, the company had 125 men present and absent .. In the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, 39 men had been killed and II horses. Major Eldridge, com- manding the battalion, wrote at this date: "Captain Stanford is one of the eldest Captains of Artillery in this army; has seen much service and been in all the important battles fought. He is, therefore, respectfully recommended for promotion."
During Atlanta campaign, in Eldridge's Battalion, Stewart's Division, Hoods' Corps. In his report of the battle of Resaca, May 15, Gen. A. P. Stewart wrote: "During the advance Stanford's Battery was of material assistance, and I deeply regret the loss of that skilful and brave officer, Capt. T. J. Stanford, with whom it has been my good fortune to be associated with little interruption since March, 1862." Stanford's Battery was posted along the line of Gen. H. D. Clayton, who also mentioned the Captain's death. The gunners of the gun at which he fell having been ordered to bear his body to the rear, Private John S. McMath continued to serve the gun alone until the brigade had returned from a charge. In the battle of New Hope Church, May 25, Eldridge's Battalion of three batteries, Stanford's, Oliver's and Fenners', "was admirably posted, well served and did great execution. They had 43 men and 44 horses killed and wounded." They repulsed, during nearly three hours, an attack by Federal infantry. "No more persistent attack or determined resistance has anywhere been made," said Stewart. Stanford's Battery had 2 killed and 13 wounded. Lieutenant McCall was commanding the battery in June, July and August.
In the final campaign of the army under General Hood the battery was commanded by Lieutenant McCall, Fenner of Louisiana commanding
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the battalion, attached to S. D. Lee's Corps. Colonel Hoxton, Chief of Artillery, reported that eight guns of the battalion (which included McCall's four) were posted on the hill near Nashville to the right of the Franklin pike on General Clayton's line, on the morning of December 16. When the Federal charge was made Fenner's guns "did most splendid execution upon them with canister." During the whole day the bat- teries were subjected to a terrible artillery fire, which killed many horses, and exploded two limber chests. When the infantry gave way, the artil- lerymen did their best to save their guns, and succeeded in limbering up nearly all of them, but the horses were shot down before they could get away. The Stanford Battery was unable to attempt to save any- thing. General Holtzclaw reported that the battery "was so badly crippled as to be immovable, scarce a whole wheel remaining in its carriages, sustaining, without works, a fire from eighteen of the enemy's guns for seven hours." McCall lost his four guns. The loss of men in - the artillery of the army was small, said Hoxton, "except in Stanford's Battery, which lost 12 men killed and wounded."
Capt. A. P. Baldwin, Sixth Ohio Battery, reported: "December 16, battery was placed in position to the left of the Franklin pike, fronting Overton Hill, which was held by the enemy's infantry and Stanford's Mississippi Battery. Battery opened fire and expended 696 rounds of ammunition. During the firing two of enemy's limbers exploded with shells. This line of works was carried with the capture of Stanford's battery about 4 P. M."
A history of this battery was published by B. W. L. Butt, in a news- paper in 1866; not available.
WATSON BATTERY.
This artillery company, organized at New Orleans about July 1, 1861, of men from various States, largely Irish, and equipped through the - generosity of Lewis and James Watson, and others of Rodney, included twelve men from Jefferson and Claiborne Counties. D. Beltzhoover was the first Captain, and Albert Cage, of Wilkinson County, a Lieutenant. The second Captain was E. A. Toledano. The battery was distinguished in the actions of Belmont, Mo .; Shiloh, Baton Rouge, Corinth, Tuscumbia Bridge, Farmington, Vicksburg, 1862; Sandy Creek, La., and finally in defense of Port Hudson, where many were killed, including two from Jefferson County.
FOURTH LOUISIANA BATTERY.
Captain-Archibald J. Cameron.
Lieutenants-T. Jefferson Key, R. H. Truly, George M. Brown.
Captain Cameron, Second Lieutenant of the Jefferson Flying Artillery, returned home after the battle of Shiloh, and was commissioned by the
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War Department to raise a battery to operate on the west coast of the river. He enlisted 140 in Jefferson County and Tensas Parish. They took part in the engagements at Choctaw Bayou, Yellow Bayou, on the Red River with the Banks expedition, at Ashton with the Marine Brigade, at fortifications below G. Lake, Ark. The strength of the company was 138 in April, 1865. Captain Cameron writes: "I can say I surrendered the last organized battery in the Confederate army."
VICKSBURG LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Captains-Francis S. Tull, Isaac N. Edwards.
First Lieutenant-William R. Spears. Second Lieutenant-John W. Bell. Third Lieutenant-John D. Rine.
Enrolled, 64; Adjutant-General's report, 90; Warren County roll.
The officers above named were commissioned of date February 9, 1861. April 8, the Secretary of War asked that the company be sent to Pensacola. April 20, the company having been reorganized at Pensa- cola, was received in the Confederate service. It was attached to the Ninth Regiment, June 30, at Camp Magnolia.
WARREN LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Of Warren County, organized May 1, 1861; in service August 9, 1861. Captain-Charles Swett.
First Lieutenants-James M. Oslin, H. Shannon.
Junior First Lieutenant-H. Shannon.
Second Lieutenants-Thomas Havern, Joseph Ashton, H. N. Steele, F. M. Williams.
Total, of Warren County, 116; county enrollment, 1863.
October 23, 1861, Major-General Hardee reported that his command at Cave City, Ky., was four regiments infantry, three battalions cavalry, and one section of artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Oslin. One of Hardee's regiments was commanded by Col. T. C. Hindman, in 1847 a Lieutenant in the Second Mississippi Rifles. He was General in com- mand of the Arkansas Brigade at Bell's Station in December, and reported Swett's Battery in action near Woodsonville, December 17. The company continued in his command after the retreat to Tennessee and fought at Shiloh April 6-7 in the division which was under his command after General Hardee was wounded, and after Hindman was disabled they were under Gen. A. P. Stewart. The official reports indicate that the service of the battery was of the most important character, and dangerous. At one moment they were saved from a destructive fire by a charge made by Hindman's Brigade, which resulted in the capture of the camp of
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Peabody's Federal Brigade. Swett's Battery was among those massed to defeat the reinforcement of General Prentiss, causing the surrender of that General and a large part of his division.
The battery was on duty during the siege of Corinth, May, 1862, and the battle of Farmington. Attached to Hardee's wing of the army in the Kentucky campaign, and participated in the battle of Perryville, October 8, 1862.
Under the command of Lieut. H. Shannon, with Liddell's Arkansas Brigade of Cleburne's Division, Hardee's Corps, participated in the battle of Murfreesboro, beginning at dawn, December 31, 1862. In Cleburne's resistless charge, two rifled cannon and ammunition were captured, which Shannon added to his battery and used at subsequent periods of the battle. General Liddell reported: "The battery under command of Lieutenant Shannon was of infinite service to me throughout the action, the men behaving with the greatest bravery, having the battery always ready, and, oftentimes, at the right place at the right time without receiving or awaiting orders, for which I am indebted to the good judg- ment and coolness of Lieutenant Shannon." Colonel Kelly, Eighth Arkansas, reported that he was saved from a flank attack by "the timely arrival of Swett's Battery." The guns taken, after the battery had been silenced by Shannon, were a brass 6-pounder rifle and a 10-pounder Parrott gun, and as one of Shannon's howitzers was disabled, the rifle gun was at once substituted. In this fight Corporal Martin Green was killed, Sergeant John McMullen and Charles McDermitt, Peter Hogan, Frank Bonengal and E. H. Duggar, wounded. In the battle that followed, the battery was in action near the Federal hospitals, com- manded the Nashville pike, driving the Federal trains from the road, and on January I was in action against the Federal cavalry on Overall's Creek. They fought over about four miles of ground, took fourteen different positions, and fired 153 rounds to the piece, making a total of 612 rounds. Sergt. William P. McDonald commanded one section and rendered valuable service. Lieut. Thomas Havern had his horse killed under him by a cannon shot. Seven men in all were wounded and II horses killed and disabled.
At Liberty Gap, June 24-26, the battery fired 136 rounds, the section under Lieut. W. P. McDonald, including the Napoleon gun, first meeting the Federal attack, supported soon by Shannon and Swett with the other sections. After this engagement the retreat of Bragg's army to Chat- tanooga was begun.
In defense of Rocky Face Mt., Ga., February 25, 1864, and at some loss compelled withdrawal of a rifle battery, about one mile distance.
In the Chickamauga campaign the battery, Lieutenant Shannon commanding, two 12-pounder Napoleons and two 6-pounder rifles, served under Captain Charles Swett, acting Chief of Artillery for Liddell's Division, which included Walthall's Brigade. They were in action October 18th with Federal batteries at Alexander's Bridge on Chicka- mauga Creek, and that evening crossed the creek with Walthall's Brigade
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at- Byram's Ford. In the dense woods Shannon could not do much but take a position from which he checked pursuit of the brigade when it · was outflanked and driven back. Later, taking another position while Cleburne advanced, Shannon shelled the Federal rear for half an hour, and brought off the field some captured artillery and ammunition. Sep- tember 20 they fought on the northern extremity of Bragg's line, support- ing Breckenridge, taking position in an orchard near McDonald's house. When Shannon opened upon the one battery visible he was answered by that and four others that had been masked, and he retired "as expeditiously as possible." In this movement the Federal skirmishers caused the upsetting of one of the guns and captured Lieut. W. P. McDonald, who was mortally wounded, and several other wounded men, also Corporal Joseph Ashton, who, however, made his escape when part of the Arkansas Brigade came to their help and rescued the gun and the wounded. Colonel Govan, commanding this brigade, reported that Shannon handled his battery with distinguished skill and gallantry and most effectively. The casualties were 2 killed and 2 wounded. Lieutenant Shannon and Corporal Warren Huffman were mentioned in the Roll of Honor.
After Chickamauga the battery was included with Key's Helena Battery and Semple's Alabama Battery in Hotchkiss' Battalion, the artillery of Cleburne's Division. Major T. R. Hotchkiss, commanding the battalion, entered the service in July, 1861, from Mississippi, as a private of artillery.
In his telegrams to Stanton, United States Secretary of War, during the battle of Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863, Charles A. Dana .. said of the fight on the extreme north of the line: "Sherman undertook to take by storm a battery which the rebels obstinately maintained upon the hill above the tunnel. I saw the column sent up for this purpose twice repulsed, falling back the first time in disorder." General Cleburne, who defeated Sherman on this field, said in his report: "On the top of Tunnel Hill a space was left clear of infantry, and Swett's battery of four Napoleon guns, commanded by Lieut. H. Shannon, was posted on it so as to sweep north," in the direction of the ridge that Sherman occupied. . When the serious fight of the day began about II o'clock a heavy charge was made on Swett's Battery at the apex of the hill. "The artillerymen stood bravely by their guns under a terrible crossfire, and replied with canister at short range, but still the enemy advanced." When within fifty paces of the guns a charge by Smith's Texans drove back the Federal line, though Smith and Mills fell wounded. A second assault was made, which Lowrey's Mississippians aided the battery in repelling. "In these attacks Lieutenant Shannon, commanding Swett's Battery, was wounded. The command devolved on Lieut. Joseph Ashton; in a few minutes he was mortally wounded. The command then fell on Corporal F. M. Williams. So many non-commissioned officers and men had been killed and disabled in the battery that Colonel Granbury was forced to make a detail from the infantry to work the guns." (Cleburne). A lull coming in the battle, two of the guns were sent to take the place of others found
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inefficient, and Lieutenant Key with his battery came up and took com- mand on Tunnel Hill, after which another attack was repulsed. Swett's Battery was bravely fought, said Cleburne in conclusion, "was hotly engaged all day and lost some noble officers and men."
December, 1863, near Dalton, Ga., four Napoleon guns, 107 men, Captain Swett commanding. When Sherman advanced from Chatta- nooga, the battery served in defense of Rocky Face Ridge, February 25, 1864, and at some loss compelled the withdrawal of a battery about one mile distant.
Up to 1864 the losses in killed had been 5 at Shiloh, 2 at Farmington, 2 at Perryville, I at Murfreesboro, I Lieutenant and 4 men at Chicka- mauga, I Lieutenant and 6 men at Tunnel Hill. Horses killed in the same battles, 33.
In the Atlanta campaign, 1864, at the battle of Resaca, May 14-15, Swett's Battery was one of those planted on the commanding hill, with Walthall's and Tucker's Brigades in support, forming a memorable feature of the conflict. General Walthall, in his report, gave "special commendation to Lieut. H. Shannon, the efficient officer commanding Swett's Battery, for his repeated acts of signal gallantry."
A newspaper account up to July 4 says: "The company threw up fourteen different breastworks from Dalton to the Chattahoochee and fought twenty days, firing 1,708 rounds of canister. At Resaca they wounded Brigadier-General Willich and killed or wounded three of his staff with one charge of canister. At Rocky Ridge a prominent gun was disabled by this battery, at New Hope good work was done and at Kene- saw Mountain four guns were disabled and an ammunition chest blown up." Casualties: Killed, at Resaca 2, at Rocky Ridge I, at Kenesaw 1; wounded, at Resaca 12, at Calhoun I, at New Hope 2, at Gilgal Church 4, at Kenesaw 8. Lieutenant Shannon is counted twice, with slight wounds, and Lieut. H. N. Steele was also slightly wounded. The killed were Sergeants William Fowler and W. Huffman, Privates C. C. Smith, F. B. Culbertson; P. Hogan mortally wounded.
Under Lieutenant-General Hood, Captain Swett was Inspector- General of Artillery, Army of Tennessee.
July 21, near Atlanta, Lieutenant Shannon was severely wounded, Lieutenant Williams slightly, Corporal Eckles and M. Kirmin and J. C. Mitchell killed, and 5 wounded. August 18, W. F. Johnson killed August 20 and 25, 5 wounded. At the battle of Jonesboro, September I, the men stood by their guns until the Sixteenth Illinois made a bayonet charge through the battery, capturing the colors and 16 of the men, including Lieut. F. M. Williams, who was severely wounded. Five of the company were killed, 14 wounded. Two of the guns were turned against the Confederate line; but they were not the only ones lost that day. This was the end of the campaign that began at Dalton. The company casualties had been to killed, 40 wounded.
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The remnant of the company was left at Macon, Ga., when General Hood moved on his last campaign, and it served in the campaign of the
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Carolinas with the army of General Johnston, Lieut. H. Shannon com- manding. Captain Swett continued on the staff of General Hood as Inspector-General of Artillery, through the Tennessee campaign.
The gallantry of Mississippi soldiers enlisted in the Army of Tennessee was not surpassed by those of any other army in the service of the Con- federate States. At Shiloh, Franklin, Chickamauga, Atlanta and Vicks- burg they displayed the same heroic qualities that marked the service of their brothers in the Army of Northern Virginia. The men under Johns- ton, Bragg and Hood sustained the cause of the Confederacy with the same steadfast devotion that characterized the soldiers of Lee, Jackson and Longstreet. The Army of Tennessee developed such Mississ ppi commanders as E. C. Walthall, Earl VanDorn, James R. Chalmers and M. P. Lowrey, who were gallant leaders on every hard-fought field from Shiloh to Bentonville.
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MILITARY HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
TROOPS 1862-65.
MINUTE MEN AND GHOLSON'S CAVALRY BRIGADE.
ALSO VARIOUS COMMANDS OF PARTISAN RANGERS.
The Minute Men were organized under the order of Maj .- Gen. H. C. Tupper, commanding State troops, dated May, 1862, in accordance with which the Colonels of Militia in each county made up the companies required of them severally from the militia companies. The term of enlistment was six months. The troops were not mustered into the Confederate States service, but were subject to the orders of Confederate officers. According to the report of Adjutant-General Jones S. Hamilton, bearing date. November 1, 1863, but apparently of earlier date in fact, "there were at first seventy companies of infantry and thirteen companies of cavalry, from which there were organized five regiments and four battalions of infantry and one battalion of cavalry. The remaining cavalry companies were unattached and operated in the northern and northwestern part of the State. The cavalry battalion is now filled to a regiment and the unattached companies have entered other cavalry organizations since formed. Most of the infantry served out their term of enlistment in that arm of the service, but cavalry being greatly needed in April last, many were permitted to change their service, upon condition that they were to re-volunteer for twelve months. By this means nearly two regiments were formed of men whose term of enlistment had nearly expired."
The organization of Minute Men then were:
First Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Lawhorn, disbanded. Second Regiment, Colonel Quin, now being reorganized.
Third Regiment, Col. W. J. Owens, disbanded.
Fourth Regiment, Col. W. C. Bromley, disbanded.
Fifth Regiment, Col. H. C. Robinson, Vicksburg.
First Battalion, Major Harper,"disbanded. Second Battalion, Major Cook,' disbanded.
Third Battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Burgin, Vicksburg.
Fourth Battalion, Major Fairley, being reorganized.
First Battalion Cavalry, Major G. L: Blythe.
As a result of the reorganization mentioned by the Adjutant-General the following commands were formed :
First Regiment Cavalry, Colonel Blythe." Second Regiment Cavalry, Colonel Smith. Third Regiment Cavalry, Colonel McGuirk. Ham's Battalion Cavalry. Davenport's Battalion Cavalry. Perrin's Battalion Cavalry.
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There were also unattached companies in North Mississippi, in the fall of 1863, being organized into a regiment by General George.
Charles E. Smedes was Brigadier-General commanding Third Brigade, Camp Tupper, at Bolton, August, 1862.
Reuben Davis commanded one brigade.
In September, 1863, Gen. S. D. Lee listed the following as State troops of mounted men organized under the call of General Johnston for defense of the State during the Vicksburg campaign, armed and pro- visioned and paid by the Confederate States but not enlisted in the Confederate States Provisional Army.
First Regiment, reorganized under Brigadier-General George.
Second Regiment-Lieutenant-Colonel Lowry.
Third Regiment, Colonel McGuirk.
Ham's Battalion.
Davenport's Battalion.
Companies of Captains Weatherell, Perry, Herden, Hartin, Red, Hall, Saunders, Brookten.
These included same companies that had been organized under the act of Congress authorizing Partisan Rangers, and had been in service from 1862. They were accustomed to meeting raiding parties, defending the country and attending to their crops in times of quiet. They were disposed to give little heed to demands for organization.
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