The Old Guard in Gray. Researches in the Annals of the Confederate Historical Association. Sketches of Memphis veterans who upheld her standards in the war, and of other Confederate worthies.., Part 1

Author: Mathes, J. Harvey (James Harvey)
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: [Memphis, Press of S. C. Toof & co.]
Number of Pages: 606


USA > Tennessee > Shelby County > Memphis > The Old Guard in Gray. Researches in the Annals of the Confederate Historical Association. Sketches of Memphis veterans who upheld her standards in the war, and of other Confederate worthies.. > Part 1


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M. L.


73.74


46030


REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION


Ge


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01085 6349


Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012


http://archive.org/details/oldguardingrayre00math


THE OLD GUARD IN GRAY


Researches in the Annals


OF THE Confederate Historical Association.


SKETCHES OF MEMPHIS VETERANS WHO UPHELD HER


A STANDARD IN THE WAR, AND OF OTHER CONFEDERATE WORTHIES.


ILLUSTRATED.


BY


J. HARVEY MATHES.


840


1746030


>


from his friend -


Anche


-----


HON. JEFFERSON DAVIS.


LIEUTENANT-GENERAL NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST.


-


TO MY COMRADES, THE LIVING AND THE DEAD,


WHOSE NAMES ARE LINKED TOGETHER AS HEROES IN THE GREATEST STRUGGLE OF ALL THE AGES FOR HOME RULE AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, AND TO THEIR CHILDREN AND DESCENDANTS, THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED.


--


---


-


--


-


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.


Acknowledgments are due for frequent reference in the compilation and writing of this book to Dr. J. Berrien Lindsley's " Military Annals of Ten- nessee ;" J. P. Young's "Seventh Tennessee Cavalry ;" "Campaigns and Bat- tles of the Sixteenth Tennessee Infantry," by Coionel T. A. Head; " Han- cock's Diary ;" " Keating's History of Memphis;" various volumes of Govern- ment " Records of the Rebellion , " S. A. Cunningham's " Confederate Vete- ran " magazine of Nashville; and especially to the officers and members of the Confederate Historical Association of Memphis, and other comrades and friends who have furnished data and offered kindly words of encouragement from time to time as the work progressed. To the papers of Memphis and other cities the author is indebted for flattering notices in advance, and he hopes to not altogether disappoint their many readers.


REPORT OF COMMITTEE.


Hon. C. W. Frazer, President Confederate Historical Association of Memphis :


The undersigned committee, appointed at a meeting of the Confederate Historical Association to inspect the manuscript work of Captain J. Harvey Mathes and examine the sketches and brief memorials which he has drafted of the various members of the Association, living and dead, respectfully re- port that they find Captain Mathes has with extreme care and painstaking labor compiled brief sketches of many members, past and present, showing their military records and frequently embellished with incidents illustrative of the devotion and daring energy of the Confederate soldier. The little book is replete with historical facts, and will not only entertain the general reader, but will prove of infinite value to the descendants of those whose deeds are therein narrated, in enabling them to trace the military career of their ancestors through the battles and campaigns of the great war. We therefore heartily commend the book to all Confederates who feel a pride in the deeds of their comrades in arms in the mighty struggle.


J. P. YOUNG,


Chairman of Committee.


MEMPHIS, TENN., January, 1897.


ILLUSTRATIONS.


PAGE


PAGE


Arnold, Capt. T. H


29


Loudon, Capt. Jas. A


141


Barbiere, Col. Joseph


37


Barteau, Col. C. R.


33


Martin, Capt. Hugh B.


263


Bedford, Maj. Hugh L


39


Mathes, Dr. Geo. A


267


Bourne, Edward


43


Mathes, J. Harvey


149


Brown, J. J.


53


Mathes, J. Harvey


151


Brown, Judge T. W.


47


McHenry, Maj. E. B.


157


Bullington, Dr. R. E


57


Meriwether, Maj. Minor


265


Carnes, Capt. W. W


61 & 66


Moyston, John H.


269


Myers, Col. Henry C


167


Neely, Capt. H. M


169


Parker, Wm. Garnett


175


Pepper, S. A.


177


Pillow, Maj .- Gen. Gideon J


273


Price, Bun F.


277


Sneed, Jno. L. T


281


Snowden, Col. R. B.


193


Thompson, Hon. Jacob


201


Thornton, Dr. G. B.


203


Tobin, Capt. Thos. F


205


Harris, U. S. Senator Isham G ...


121


Vance, R. H.


211


Heiskell, Col. C. W.


123


Hubbard, John M


127


Walt, Maj. Martin.


217


Johnston, J. V


133


Williams, J. M.


289


Williamson, Maj. R. C.


223


Wilson, T. E.


225


Wood, Jacob M.


291


-----


Lake, Richard P


139


Looney, Col. Robert F


257


McDavitt, J. C


155


Vaughan, Gen. A. J


213


Gordon, Gen. George W


107


Greer, Col. Hugh D


111


Gwynne, Col. A. D.


117


Galloway, Judge J. S


103


Garvin, Michael T.


105


Cooper, Judge L. P.


243


Dinkins, Capt. James


81


Erskine, Dr. John H


247


Forrest, Lt .- Gen. N. B ... Frontispiece


Chalmers, Gen. James R


69


Chilton, Thos. H


73 & 75


Mallory, W. B


261


INDEX TO SKETCHES.


PAGE


PAGE


Albright, C. H.


25


Brennen, John. 46


Allen, Aaron


27


Brent, James. 236


Allin, Phil. T


27


Brewer, A. Clarke. 236


Anderson, James H 27


Brightwell, Thomas H 46


Anderson, Kellar


27


Brown, C. W


46


Anderson, Patton. 28


Brown, J. J. 53


Anderson, W. L 2S


Brown, Thomas W 47


Arnold, T. H. 29


Buchanan, J. W


58


Ashford, James A 32


Buford, Smith


59


Austin, J. A 28


Bullington, R. E


57


Avent, B. W


28


Bunch, George H 60


Avery, W. T. 32


Burford, Rev. S. 46


Bailey, L.


36


Burrow, F. J .. 46


Butler, A. R 60


Cameron, William L. 60


Campbell, D. A 60


Cannon, H. E 60


Capers, R. S 237


Carmichael, J 60


Carnes, William W 61


Carpenter, A. S ..


60


Carroll, Charles Montgomery. 292


Carroll, W. H 238


Carter, A. B. 67


Beasley, T. J 38


Bedford, Hugh L. 39


Beecher, Edward A 55


Bennett, J. C.


38


Bethel, W. D. 235


Bicknell, B. J 38


Black, A. J.


38


Black, R. J


38


Block, W. F 41


Bobbitt, P. A 46


Boggs, Rev. Wm. E 41


Boliner, Patrick McHenry 52


Bond, Lee 45


Bourne, Edward 43


Bowks, Robert S


Brenan, Fred R 42


Coleman, W. M.


241


Collier, Charles H. 242


Collier, C. M 78


Collier, Dabney W


Cooper, Lunsford Pitts


Cousins, Peter R


244


Bain, John 36


Balch, Robert Langdon 234


Ballentine, John G 35


Barbiere, Joseph 37


Barbour, James G. 37


Barker, J. O 36


Barnes, Robert Weakley 234


Barteau, Clark Russell 33


Beard, Hon. W. D 234


Beasley, James Edward 36


Cary, Hunsdon


237


Cash, Patrick Boggan 239


Chalmers, James R 69


Cheatham, Major John A 67


Chilton, Thomas H.


73


Cleary, James. 70


Cluskey, M. W


78


Cochran, J. W 240


Cole, Edmund Anderson .. 71


Coleman, Robert H ..


240


Bailey, Thomas F


36


11


CONFEDERATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.


PAGE


PAGE


Cox, J. J


79


Fizer, John C. 250


Crawford, West J. 241


Flannagan, P 96


Crofford. John Alexander 245


Flannery, David. 250


Crofford, J. A.


72


Flippin, J. R. 251


Crump, James M.


68


Fontaine, Ogden


97


Culberson, J. H.


Forrest, Nathan Bedford. 251


Cummins, Holmes


68


Forrest, W. M 98


Dashiell, George


Frayser, Robert Dudley 98


Davis, Isaac N


S3


Frazer, C. W 101


Davis, W. C. 245


Frazer, J. W. 100


Dawson, John W


80


Frederick, E. 101


DeSaussure, Charles A


French, J. C. 102


Dickinson, J. R S4


Fuchs, Victor D 102


Dickson, Barton. 84


Galloway, J. S 103


Dinkins, James


S1


Garrett, J. H 106


Donelson, R. S.


84


Garvin, Michael T 105


Douglass, C. A


Gibson, F. L. 106


Douglass, I. E


S4


Gillooley, Frank 106


Drake, John B 246


Goldbaum, Morris. 10S


Droescher, A. R


85


Goodbar, James M


108


Du Bose, J. J. S5


Goodloe, J. L. 252


Duff, William L


Goodman, Walter A 109


Dunn, W. C 86


Gordon, C. M.


108


Dupuy, John J


86


Gordon, George W


107


Dwyer, John 87


Gotten, Nicholas 109


Edmondson, E. A. 87


Gray, J. E. 109


Elam, E. E S7


Gray, W. P 109


Elam, W. S. S7


Greenwald, Lee 110


Elcan, Archibald Liebig


SS


Greer, Hugh Dunlap 111


Eldridge, J. W 89


90


Griffin, John C. 116


Elliott, C. S. 90


Groves, Robert Douglass. 110


Ellis, W. W


90


Gwynne, A. D 116


English, Richard T


91


Hamblet, J. G 130


Erman, L. W 92


Hamilton, Hugh A 252


Erskine, Alexander. 249


Hanauer, Louis 252


Erskine, John Henry 246


Hancock, J. B 120


Erskine, Dr. John H 92


Harrington, John N 120


Estes, L. H. 92


Harris, Isham G 121


Farabee, Benj. F 92


Harris, J. S. 120


Farrer, Chas. Smith


92


Harrison, B. P 130


Farris, O. B.


93


Hart, B. Newton 120


Farrow, G. F 93


Hartmus, T. H 120


Fazzi, J 93


Hays, A. J. 252


Fentress, Francis. 93


Finlay, Luke W 93


Heiskell, Carrick W. 123


Fisher, J. B. 96


Henderson, Benj. R 122


Fisher, John H 96


Hays, John B. 120


Henkel, Christopher. 122


Greer, James M. 110


Elliott, George B.


12


INDEX TO SKETCHES


PAGE


PAGE


Henning, S. L 122


Lavender, G. W


138


Herbert, B. F.


120


Lawhon, H. C. 138


Hill, A. B 125


Lee, Stacker 140


Hill, J. L.


122


Levy, Daniel Seessel 138


Loudon, J. A 141


Hix, J. M 253


Lewis, George W 143


Holloway, J. L


126


Lindstedt, W. H 143


Holt, G. A. C. 126


Linkhauer, John A 143


Hubbard, John Milton 127


Locke, Chas. G. 144


Hughes, Barney 253


Logwood, Thomas H 145


Huhn, John D 128


Long, Rev. Nicholas M 255


Humes, W. V. C.


128


Hunt, W. R 129


Loudon, Milton B. 258


Huskey, W. H


129


Loudon, Hopkins. 259


Introductory 17


Lowry, Will J 146


Ivey, A. J.


130


Mahoney, E 146.


James, Frank L


130


January, W. W


130


Jarnagin, John Hampton 130


131


Manson, J. A


146


Johnson, A. W.


131


Marcum, Wm. J


147


Johnson, John 131


Marion, Nathan. 147


Martin, E. J 152


Martin, J. H. 147


Jones, A. D


132


Martin, John C


148


Jones, J. C 132


Jones, Phil. B. 132


Jones, R. L


132


Jones, Russell


132


Mathes, George Anderson 266


Jones, Joe


134


Jordan, G. S.


135


Jordan, J. P


135


Kearney, J. R


135


Mayo, Albert


152


McCalla, J. G.


152


Kelly, W. O


255


McCallum, John F 153


McCarver, Arch. 153


McClurg, P. M. 153


McCroskey, H. A 153


Kennedy, A. E. 136


McDavitt, J. C 154


McFarland, L. B 154


154


Kingsbury, William I. 136


McGowan, E. L


154


Kinney, I. C. 255


Kirby, John A 136


McHenry, E. B. 156


Mckinney, John Fletcher 158


Lake, Richard P 139


McKnight, W. T 158


. Lake, Walter S. 137


Mclean, Wm. I. 15.8


Landstreet, Edward.


137


McNeal, A. T. 159


Martin, Hugh Bradshaw 262


Mason, Frank 148


Mathes, James Harvey 149


Mauldin, W. D 152


Maury, Richard B. 250


May, Lambert 152


Kellar, Andrew J.


254


Kelly, P. J 135


Kelly, P. J. 135


Kendall, W. R


136


King, S. A 136


King, W. C. 136


McGhee, W. T


McGuire, Wm. Eugene 260


Knox, R. L. 136


Mallory, W. B 260


Malone, G. B. 146


Malone, W. B. 146


Jett, Duncan Frierson


Johnston, J. V. 133


Jones, D. C. 131


Looney, Robert Fain 256


Hills, J. B 130


.


13


CONFEDERATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.


PAGE


PAGE


Meriwether, Minor 263


Piper, O. H. P. 275


Merrin, T. C. 160


Pitts, J. M. 178


Miller, Geo. W. 160


Podesta, Louis E 179


Miller, M. J.


160


Pollard, W. J. 180


Miller, Marshall Jeffrie 160


Porter, Edward E 278


Mitchell, Jno. R 161


Porter, Dr. Joseph T. 279


Mitchell, Robert Wood


162


Poston, D. H. 180


Mockbee, R. T.


162


Poston, James 180


Monroe, D. W


163


Poston, Wm. K 181


Moore, M. J. M. 163


Powel, John A. 181


Morgan, Robert Jarrell 163


Prescott, J. A 182


Morrison, George E. 164


Price, Bernard Francis. 276


Mosby, C. W


164


Pullen, Benj. K 182


Moyston, John H. 268


Mullins, Thomas B 165


Radcliff, T. D 183


Munch, George P 165


Rainey, I. N. 183


Munson, S. A.


165


Rambaut, G. V


183


Murphy, J. J


166


Rawlings, R. J. 184


Murrell, D. A.


166


Reaves, Ben. T. 184


Myers, Henry C.


167


Renig, Chas 184


Myers, J 168


171


Richardson, W. G. 185


Names without sketches 232


Rittenhouse. Dan. G. 184


Neale, Thomas R. 171


Robertson, W. M. 185


Neely, H. M 169


Robson, B. P. 185


Nelson, F. M


172


Roden, George 185


Netherlands, J. J 172


Rodgers, W. S 186


Newborn, Joseph L. 172


172


Rosser, Isaac 186


Norris, J. W 172


Rucker, Colonel E. W 186


186


O'Berst, C. 174


Ryan, Charles Roscoe 186


187


Outten, William T 270


Scales, Dabney M


187


Overton, John, Jr 270


Scott, Wm. L. 187


Pape, A. R. 174


Searcy, Mark W. 188


Parker, W. G. 175


Sebring, W. H 279


Parker, Minter 271


Selden, M. L. 188


Patterson, Hon. Josiah. 271


Semmes, B. J. 189


Pearson, R. V. 174


Semmes, P. W 189


Pepper, S. A. 176


Semmes, Raphael, Jr 189


Perkins, A. H. 1) 174


Semmes, S. S. 189


Persons, C. P 174


Shaw, Thos. J. W 189


Persons, Richard J 175


Shelby, J. M. 190


Pettigrew, Jamies 176


Shick, John 190


Phelan, James 178


Shippey, W. F 190


Pickett, Edward. 274


Shoup, Francis 190


Pillow, Gideon J


Shouse, W. W 191


-------


Nutzel, Conrad 172


Rust, J. W


Omberg, James A. 269


Sanford, G. W


Rogan, H. A. 186


Norfleet, F. M.


Rhea, W. H 184


Nabors, T. P


Quintard, Charles Todd 182


14


INDEX TO SKETCHES


PAGE


PAGE


Simmons, J. F


191


Venn, Frank H 210


Sims, W. K.


191


Wagner, A. E. 215


Smith, J. N


192


Waldran, C. M 286


Sneed, J. Wes. 280


Walt, Martin 216


Sneed, John L. T. 280


Ward, B. F. 216


Snowden, Robert Bogardus. 192


Watkins, T. R


218


Southerland, James 282


Watson, J. H


216


Spicer, Jno. E. 194


Waynesburg, John W 218


Spillman, R. B. 194


Wear, B. H. 218


Spotswood, Edwin A 195


Webb, John L 219


Starke, E. T


195


Webber, Albert


218


Steinkuhl, Chris. D 196


Wheat, Rev. J. T 219


Stewart, C. M.


196


Wheatley, William Arthur, 287


Stiles, M 196


White, Moses 219


Stovall, George A 283


White, R. T 220


Stovall, W. H


283


White, J. H 220


Stovall, James R 283


Whitmore, E 220


Strange, J. P. 196


Wiggs, W. B. 221


Stratton, W. D


197


Wilkerson, W. D. 226


Sykes, Joseph P. 197


Wilkins, W. G


287


Talley, Richard H.


198


Wilkins, Chas. W 288


Talley, Wm. F. 2.84


Williams, L. G. 2221


Talley, Fletcher H 284


Williams, Claude


Talley, Foster D


284


Williams, Jas. M


288


Tatum, Henry A


198


Williamson, R. C


Taylor, Thomas J 198


Willins, John T. 224


Taylor, W. F 198


Wilroy, C. W. 2.25


Taylor, Thos. C 199


Wilson, T. E. 224


Taylor, J. R. 199


Winchester, Geo. W


226


Thompson, J. H 200


Winfree, Samuel 226


Thompson, Jacob 200


Winston, W. B. 226


Thompson, J. N. 202


Withers, R. Q.


Thornton, Gustavus Brown 202


Wolf, Fred.


Wood, Jolmn W 2227


Trask, W. L 285


Wood, Jacob Mabie, 290


Tucker, W. W .:


204


Woodson, H. M.


227


Tucker, John (),


207


Wooldridge, Oscar


228


Tucker, W. D. 207


Wooldridge, Egbert ..


Tucker, Wm. W


208


Wright, Jesse C.


Tucker, A. F 208


Turley, Thomas B. 208


Tyler, F. A.


209


Vaccaro, A. B.


209


Vaccaro, B. 209


Young, .1. A 231


Vance, R. HI. 210


Vaughan, A. J 212


Wright, J. K. 230


Wright, Luke E 230


Wright, Marcus J 230


Wynne, J. W .. 231


Young, J. P


281


.


Tobin, Thomas Francis 205


Confederates Incidentally Mentioned.


PAGE


PAGE


Adams, Gen. Wirt.


32


Alsup, O. M 170


Anderson, Gen. Richard H


133


Armstrong, Gen. F. C.


38


Bankhead, Gen. Smith P 187


Barton, Capt. Wm


30


Bate, Maj .- Gen. W. B. 226


Beauregard, Gen. G. T 126


Bettis, Capt. A. C 84


Blakemore, Capt. W. T 193


Breckenridge, Gen. John C 98


Cabell, Gen. W. L .. 158


Campbell, Gen. Alexander 220


Cannon, Capt. Wynn


Carroll, Gen. W. H.36,98, 149,205,219 Carter, Capt. Geo. W 10S


Carter, Gen. John C. 113, 170 Castleman, John B 280


Chalmers, Col. Alex 57


Cheatham, Gen. B. F. 89, 230


Clayton, Gen. H. I).


202


Cleburne, Gen. Pat 246


Crittenden, Maj .- Gen. Geo. B. 150


Donelson, Gen. Daniel S. 12


Doyle, W. J. P. 76


Dupre, Col. L. J 151


Edmondson, James II 76, 288


Falconer, Col. Kinloch. 119 Gailor, Maj. Frank. 216, 275 Gantt, Col. E. W 158 George, Gen. J. Z. 161


Gillespie, Capt. Bart. 142


Greene, Gen. Colton. 248


Hall, Surgeon Joel C 151


Hardee, Lt .- Gen. W. H.


Head, John W 34


Helm, Col. Ben Hardin 260


Hill. Col. Ben 173


Hines, Capt. T. H.


Hodge, John.


Hood, Gen. J. B ..


56, 247


Hunt, Capt. C. W 96


Jackson, John K 134


Jackson, Gen. Stonewall. 268 Jackson, Gen. W. H. 41, 62, 132,153,191 Jarnagin, R. A. 124


Johnston, Gen. A. S ... 89,121,125,274 Johnston, Gen. Bushrod R ... 150, 270 Johnston, Gen. J. E .... 74, 92, 95, 131 166, 179, 183, 236


Lee, Capt. James A.


277


Lee, Gen. Fitzhugh. 137 Locke, Bowdoin, Wm. and Jos .. 145 Lyles, Gen. O. P 79


Maffitt, John N 187


Mallory, Secretary of War 161


Marmaduke, Gen. J. S ..


131, 266


Martin, Maj .- Gen. W. T. 79


Maury, Com. M. F. 242, 259


Maxey, Maj .- Gen. S. B. 224


McCown, Gen. Jno. B. 202, 275


McCulloch, Gen. Henry E. 225


Moode, Henry. 38


Moore, Capt. Virgil V. 140


Morgan, Gen. John II .. 45, 97, 236 Morgan, Col. Bright. 94


. Morgan, Capt. J. B .. 134


Morton, Capt. J. W 62


Munford, Col. E. W


40


Murray, Col. John P. 108


Myers, Col. G. B. and Brothers 167 Neely, Col. R. C. 114 O'Neal, Col. John G. 173


Orne, Capt. W. P 134


Pattison, Capt. Thos. F 282 Peters, Major Tom 143


Pittman, Capt. R. W 288


Polk, Gen. Leonidas 45. 56, 129


Polk, Wm. Mecklenburg


15.


Pryor, Gen. Koger A


16


CONFEDERATES INCIDENTALLY MENTIONED.


PAGE


PAGE


Rice, Capt. Harry


173


Stuart, Gen. J. E. B.


137


Rice, Capt. J. W


131


Tyler, Gen. R. C. 144


Robertson, Felix W


20


Van Dorn, Gen. Earl ... 32,142,158,206


Russell, Col. A. A.


147


Walker, Gen. F. M. 124


Sanders, Capt. Ned. 287


Walthall, Maj .- Gen. E.C ... 59,171,174


Semmes, Admiral Raphael, 189


Wheeler, Gen. Joseph 240


Smith, Col. (Gen.) J. A 135


White, Capt. T. W 133


Smith, Gen. Tom Benton 99


Wood, Gen. S. A. M. 216


Smith, Gen. E. Kirby ... .. 96, 102, 279


Stewart, Gen. A. P


89


Strahl, Gen. O. F.


124


Wright, E. E. 53, 54, 89


Zollicoffer, Gen. Felix K 99


CONDITIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP IN C. H. A.


The reorganization in May, 1884, referred to elsewhere, provided by by- law, that the petition for membership must give the company, regiment and brigade of the applicant; when enlisted or commissioned; when and where paroled or discharged; and that he should be recommended by a veteran ; and that the petition should be presented only at a regular meeting; should be referred to the committee on credentials and lie over for one month; the qualification for membership being that applicant shall have actively served in the Confederate army, and that his record was blameless.


INTRODUCTORY.


HE original idea of this work was to get up a complete and reliable list of all the members of the Confederate Historical Association of Memphis under present and former charters, and give a brief history of the society. But research into old books and papers, interviews and correspondence with comrades and press notices. brought out an unexpected amount and variety of valuable historic material, enough indeed, with the reminiscences of men whose lives were a part of the late war, to fill many volumes. The oral testimony of such men cannot much longer be available ; some of it, in connection with their records and gleanings from various other sources, has been put together in the pages to follow. Thus condensed to encyclopedie form and arrangement, it may suggest to others more and better work in the same lines.


It will at least group the names and deeds of many repre- sentative ex-Confederates, regardless of rank, who exempli- fied the highest and best qualities of soldiers and citizens, and were willing to die for their principles, their honest beliefs, and the sanctity of ancestral homes. Such men in defeat or victory, living or dead, need no defense or glowing eulogy. . It is sufficient that we preserve the actual facts of their lives, and as to the cause in which they fought to transmit as a heritage to posterity ; and it is a proud satisfaction to know that so many men and women, and even children, were faith- ful even unto death, in times of greatest trials and perils that can come to human hearts, and thus were an honor to their race and generation.


Many of the survivors of the civil war are still in the prime of life, and look back with wonder and thankfulness at the mercy of Providence, which preserved them in the midst of so many and great dangers ; and having done their part well


.


2


17


18


SKETCHES OF SOLDIERS


in war and in peace from a strict sense of duty, they are con- tent with the results, and have no fear or doubt as to the ultimate verdict of the world.


The Southern people have been too busy since the surrender of the Confederate armies to devote much time to the writing, reading or preservation of their own history. They have been occupied in hard struggles to retrieve untoward fate; in build- ing up homes, schools, churches, factories, reclaiming farms, and planting vineyards, and have made a showing which again excites the surprise if not envy of other sections and the admiration of thinking people everywhere. A few persons at least among us have held that we should write and pre- serve our own history, and not leave it to tradition as so many of our forefathers did after the Revolutionary war, or to outsiders who have a motive for perverting the facts. We were an agricultural people before the war, with but few great colleges or publishing houses, and permitted others to supply most of our school books, histories and literature. After the war school books again came into the hands of our children that were written in a sectional, partisan, misleading spirit. That some improvement has been made is admitted ; more is expected and demanded in the interest of truth and jus- tice ; simply that and nothing else. The humiliation of defeat passed away with the Southern people long ago, and they are as cheerful, industrious, loyal citizens as can be found in any part of the country, but they none the less respect the deeds and sacrifices of the men who wore the gray, whose names will be honored as long as American valor and true manhood endure. In their minds and hearts the bird's nest has been built in the cannon's mouth, and the bloody chasm of history is now a smiling landscape of teeming industries, waving grain, fairest fruits and fragrant flowers. They vie with their Northern brethren in loyalty to all that is meant, or that can properly cluster in memory, around the stars and stripes ; at the same time they owe it to themselves and the generations to come to honor the names of their fallen heroes and to preserve a record of the deeds of those who fought under the stars and bars. For these men were as true to their sense


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of right as were Washington and Warren and Mad Anthony Wayne, as Marion and Sevier, as the Campbells, the Lees and Greens, the Shelbys and Robertsons and their compat- riots, who also were classed as rebels against their govern- ment. The Southern States withdrew from the Union one - by one, in the hope of escaping from aggressions and policies which violated the spirit of the Federal compact and trampled the constitution and all its traditions under foot. They fought for home rule and constitutional liberty and went down in the unequal struggle. But " time makes all things even " at last. They have been restored to their position in the Union with all disturbing causes removed, have rebuilt their waste places, and have set marvellous examples of thrift, patience and recuperative capacity. The bitter chalice has passed with its dregs, and been replaced by the wassail bowl of good fellowship, around which the veterans of both sides may meet to tell many a long-drawn-out story of weary march, of camp life, of surprise, ambush and shock of battle.


It is not possible in the limits of this book to give more than an outline of the military life of any one man. Where mention is made of the civil life of anyone before or after the war, it is merely put in as a record for posterity and to show what kind of men went out to fight the battles of the South as against the North.


In a few instances no data was found in the books of the Association, as some of these have been lost or mislaid. The sketches are meager enough, but are semi-official and deemed entirely reliable. Great pains have been taken to obtain actual facts. If any preference is shown, it is in favor of the privates and non - commissioned officers, as nearly all the generals and colonels have long since been given conspic- uous places in current and permanent histories.


Just when the Confederate Historical Association of Mem- phis originated is a matter of doubt, owing to the loss of early minutes ; some meetings of returned Confederates for social and relief purposes were held as early as 1866, a later book showing that B. J. Semmes joined in that year. The records in existence begin in 1869 and come on down to the present,


ما سيده :


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being kept in a strict business manner. The first charter was obtained from the Legislature under an act passed Feb- ruary 17, 1870, found on page 393, Acts of 1869-70. The incorporators named were W. D. Pickett, W. B. Wiggs, R. W. Mitchell and John H. Erskine, and their associates and successors, with succession for thirty-three years. The name then was the Confederate Relief and Historical Association of Memphis. The old association back of that had been reor- ganized July 15, 1869, as the minutes show, with Isham G. Harris as President and a membership of 225; the member- ship now is 245. Gov. Harris served two years, and J. Harvey Mathes was Secretary for one or more years, and Felix W. Robertson was Treasurer. Mathes was succeeded in 1871 by Major Minor Meriwether, who also became Treasurer. At the end of the second term of President Harris in 1871, he was succeeded by General John C. Fizer. It was about this time that Jefferson Davis became a citizen of Memphis and a member of the Association. He attended meetings regu- larly and was frequently called to the chair, in which he pre- sided with that ease, grace and dignity so characteristic of the man in higher places and under all circumstances. He was in the home of his friends and took a lively interest in their proceedings. Memphis was then a rendezvous for ex- Confederates second only to New Orleans. The following distinguished leaders, all or nearly all, belonged to the Asso- ciation and attended the meetings :


President Jefferson Davis, Admiral Raphael Semmes, Lieutenant-General Richard S. Ewell, Lieutenant-General N. B. Forrest, Major-General Gideon J. Pillow, Major-General W. Y. C. Humes, Major-General Patton Anderson, Brigadier-General Francis A. Shoup, Brigadier-General A. J. Vaughan, Brigadier-General Colton Greene, Brigadier-General E. W. Rucker, Brigadier-General J. W. Frazer,


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