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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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