A history of the Henry County commands which served in the Confederate States army, including rosters of the various companies enlisted in Henry County, Tenn., Part 13

Author: Rennolds, Edwin Hansford, 1839-1912
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Jacksonville, Fla., Sun Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 322


USA > Tennessee > Henry County > A history of the Henry County commands which served in the Confederate States army, including rosters of the various companies enlisted in Henry County, Tenn. > Part 13


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Charlie Burton ; captured at Corinth, October, 1862.


T. Jeff Burton ; wounded and lost arm in service. Arch Carter ; served one year.


Dick Caton.


George T. Caton ; served about a year.


James H. Chiles; served through the war; one of thirty present at surrender.


James Coffman ; served one year.


William Coffman; served through the war.


T. T. Coleman ; wounded at Okalona ; died February 22, 1864.


James E. Collins ; served about a year.


Richard Collins; served one year.


J. D. Cook ; served one year.


Zack Cook ; served one year.


James M. Courcy ; served through the war.


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IN CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY.


Rev. Asa Cox; scout; discharged as minister, Octo- ber, 1863.


Meshech M. Cox; wounded at Nashville; served through the war; one of thirty present at surrender.


Hart Crutchfield ; served one year.


Fox Dalton; served through the war.


William Daniel ; died at Irby Mills, Miss., January 7,1864.


Ben Darby ; served one year.


James M. Douglass (blacksmith) ; served through the war; one of thirty present at surrender.


James Duncan ; served one year.


R. A. Dunlap; served through the war ; one of thirty present at surrender.


W. Fletcher Etheridge; wounded at Mansfield, Tenn.


Harrison Fields; served one year.


J. W. Fields; wounded at Mt. Carmel Church; died in Mississippi.


R. M. Gilbert; wounded at Davis' Mill; served one year.


Thomas Granger.


I. K. Grogan; served one year.


Thomas H. Grubbs; served through the war; one of thirty present at surrender.


James Gwinn; went home sick after a year's ser- vice.


J. K. Polk Harmon; captured at Duck Hill, Miss., and paroled.


G. L. Harris; served a short while.


James Haynes; promoted to lieutenant; killed at Harrisburg.


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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY COMMANDS


Sam Haynes; served about two years.


Richard Holt; served through the war.


Pleas J. Howard ; served one year.


Porter Howard; served one year.


N. S. Hicks ; served one year.


Richard Hicks; served one year.


George Hudspeth ; served one year.


Wes M. Humphreys ; promoted to lieutenant ; served through the war.


William Hutchins; discharged, over age.


James Jenkins ; served one year.


Monroe Jenkins; served one year.


William Jenkins; served one year.


Felix F. Johnson; served through the war; one of thirty present at surrender.


John Jones; served through the war.


Clint Kelsoe; served about a year.


C. H. Koen; served through the war; one of thirty present at surrender.


-. -. Koen ; served about a year.


David Lemonds; discharged, ill health.


John Linton; died at hospital in Mississippi, June 17, 1863.


E. T. Looney ; served one year.


Jesse Looney ; served through the war.


James Louden ; served one year.


Richard Lumbrick ; served one year.


Newton E. Manly ; served through war. James Martin ; served one year.


J. K. Polk Martin ; served through the war.


Jno. Watt Martin ; served one year.


Wm. C. Martin ; served one year.


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IN CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY.


Wm. W. McConnell; served through the war.


John McConnell; served a short while.


Clem. C. McDearmon ; served one year.


Robt. J. McFarland ; captured on furlough.


Wm. H. McFarland ; captured on furlough.


John W. McGehee; served through the war; one of thirty present at surrender.


Wm. P. Melton; served one year.


--. -. Milam; died in hospital in Mississippi.


Pleas Miller ; served about one year.


Wm. H. Miller ; served about one year.


Joe Moore; discharged, ill health.


Henry T. Morris; served through the war; one of thirty present at surrender.


Wm. D. Morris; served through the war; one of thirty present at surrender.


Jas. Neal; served about one year.


James Nunn ; served one year.


James Olive; wounded in Mississippi.


James Page; died at Trenton of measles in 1862.


John Paschall ; wounded at Mt. Carmel church ; cap- tured and escaped.


Littleton Perry ; served one year.


George Poore; served one year.


Howard Poyner; captured while serving in Tenth Tennessee Cavalry, and escaped, and served awhile in Company "G."


Jno. B. Rainey ; served about one year.


Geo. Renfroe; served one year.


Jack Renfroe; served one year.


-. -. Reynolds ; perhaps captured at Paris. John Rigsby ; served onė year.


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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY COMMANDS


Samuel Rigsby ; served a year or more.


W. Matt. Rowe; served a short while. John Rushing; discharged, ill health, 1862. James Seawright ; served one year. J. Logan Seawright ; served one year. Wm. Seawright; served one year. -. -. Scarboro; wounded at Guntown.


Hugh Shipley ; served about one year.


Britt Simmons ; served one year.


Dr. Thos. C. Simmons ; killed at Brice's crossroads. James Stone ; served about one year.


Billie Stubblefield; served through the war.


Watson Stubblefield ; wounded at Mansfield.


Wm. Stubblefield ; served one year.


S. B. Sproul ; discharged, ill health.


Chas. W. Tandy; wounded near Tupelo; served though the war ; one of the thirty present at surrender.


Thos. H. Tayloe; enlisted and commanded Com- pany "D," Nineteenth Cavalry.


Rufus H. Todd ; served about one year.


Jno. S. VanDyck; captured; served through the war.


Reuben VanDyck; wounded at Brice's crossroads; died ten days later.


Will O. VanDyck ; served through the war.


Alex Wade; served one year.


Frank Wakeland; killed at Brice's crossroads.


J. H. Walker ; wounded at Okalona.


Morris Warnock ; killed at Harrisburg.


Alex Wesson ; killed at Athens, Ala.


-.-. Wheeler ; served about one year.


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IN CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY.


J. T. Wilkins; served through the war; one of thirty present at surrender.


Jno. H. Wright ; served about two years.


S. C. Wright; served through the war ; one of thirty present at surrender.


-. -. Yarborough; wounded at Guntown, Miss. Thos. J. Yates ; served one year.


SKETCH OF COMPANIES "I" AND "K," TENTH REGI- MENT, TENNESSEE CAVALRY.


During the summer of 1862, the Federal commander at Ft. Heiman (Col. Lowe of the Fifth Iowa Cav- alry), issued orders requiring every man in Henry County to come to the fort and take the oath of alle- giance to the United States, and announced that the failure to comply with this requirement would sub- ject the offender to arrest and imprisonment. Most of the older men with families dependent upon them, realizing that they must forsake their loved ones and flee south, go to prison or comply, decided to take what seemed to them the least of three evils, and took the oath. The younger men, however, and especially those who had served a year under the stars and bars, were not as a rule willing to transfer their allegiance to the government they had sworn to oppose, and many of them mounted their horses, crossed the Ten- nessee river and took refuge among the hills of


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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY COMMANDS


Humphreys and other counties in middle Tennessee, where they found many others seeking an asylum. These hardy spirits naturally gravitated toward each other and soon formed themselves into companies, first as "Partisan Rangers," and later as regular mili- tary commands.


On the 25th day of August, 1862, five of these com- panies rendezvoused at Waverly and organized a bat- talion, with T. H. Napier as lieutenant-colonel. One of these companies was commanded by the redoubtable Capt. D. F. Alexander, formerly a subaltern in the Fifth Infantry, and many of his men were from Henry County. About this time another battalion was formed in Hickman and Perry Counties. One of these com- panies was in command of Capt. Thos. Fletcher, with Clinton Aden as first lieutenant, who afterwards be- came its captain. Some of this company was also from Henry County. Lieutenant-Colonel Napier, who was a very brave man, did valuable service with his bat- talion in obstructing the navigation of the Tennessee River, and at one time capturing three Federal steamers at the mouth of Cypress Creek with two pieces of light artillery. At another time he attacked and defeated a Federal column near Waverly, which had been sent out to endeavor to drive him away or capture him. Major Cox's Battalion did much of the same kind of service between the mouth of Duck River and Savannah.


When General Forrest made his first raid into West Tennessee, in December, 1862, both these battalions were ordered to accompany the expedition, and shared all the dangers and exposures of the campaign. At


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IN CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY.


Parker's Cross Roads Lieutenant-Colonel Napier and others were killed and several wounded.


After a few days rest the expedition against Fort Donelson was undertaken. The command fought valiantly ; but the Federals were so thoroughly forti- fied that the attack failed with considerable loss. The fearless Capt. D. F. Alex- ander fell dangerously wounded in the very fore- front. Henry Ridley lay down in front of his strick- en captain and shielded him from further danger. When ordered to retire his men bore him to a house to be cared for, where he was captured and impris- oned.


Returning to Columbia, Napier's and Cox's Battal- ions were united and formed the Tenth Tennes- CAPT. D. F. ALEXANDER. see Cavalry. N. N. Cox was made colonel ; E. B. Treze- vant, lieutenant-colonel, and W. E. Demoss major. Colonel Trezevant was soon afterwards killed in a sharp fight at Thompson's Station. Major Demoss was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and Capt John Minor to major. During Forrest's chase of Streight's Raiders the Tenth Cavalry held the line of Town Creek to prevent reinforcements advancing from the direction of Corinth. They were soon after sent to East Tennessee and placed under Gen. Joe Wheeler.


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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY COMMANDS


While crossing the Holston River at Kingston, in August, 1863, using an old leaky ferry boat, it sank with a boatload of men. Newt Bowden of Company "F," and Martin Bevil and James McCorkle of Com- pany "K" and two others (none of whom could swim) were drowned. D. D. Brisendine of Company "I," William Greer of Company "K" and several others saved themselves by swimming out.


In September the Tenth fell back towards Chatta- nooga, covering the right wing of the army.


Upon the investment of Chattanooga by General Bragg, they were sent back to East Tennessee and fought under General Dibbrell at Philadelphia, led Longstreet's advance to Knoxville, fought around that city and covered his retirement towards Virginia. At General Watkins' farm near Mossy Creek Station, January 4, 1864, while on picket, Lieut. Howard Poyner, Dillard Poyner, H. A. Boden, J. F. Bushart, D. D. Brisendine, W. P. Erwin and Henry Diggs were captured. The two former of these escaped by jumping from the train while in motion near Nash- ville.


The Tenth Regiment spent the winter of 1863-4 in arduous campaigning in upper East Tennessee, and then transferred to Dalton in the early spring. To accomplish this it was necessary to make a long de- tour through the mountains of western North Caro- lina. During the summer of 1864 the Tenth helped to protect the flanks and cover the rear of Johnson's army from Dalton to Atlanta, and were under fire almost every day.


While the infantry were resting after the fall of


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IN CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY.


Atlanta, they accompanied Wheeler on his raid to Sherman's rear and destroyed part of the railroad as far as Knoxville, Tenn., burning much valuable prop- erty and stores of the enemy.


They crossed the Cumberland Mountains and dam- aged the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad between Bridgeport and Nashville, and the Nashville and De- catur railroad, and at Mount Pleasant, being near the homes of many of the regiment, they were fur- loughed and allowed to visit their loved ones, whom they had not seen for two long years.


They rendezvoused at Milan and joined Forrest, and with his command preceded Hood's advance into Middle Tennessee, fought in the battles and skir- mishes of that disastrous campaign and retreated with the army as part of the rear guard to North Alabama.


Reporting at Corinth, Miss., the Tenth was con- solidated with the Sixteenth Tennessee Cavalry and renumbered the Twenty-First. Col. A. N. Wilson of the old Sixteenth was placed in command.


It was attached to Bell's Brigade of Jackson's Di- vision.


It did hard marching and fighting in the spring of 1865, in trying to arrest the progress of Wilson's hosts marching on Selma, Ala., but was prevented from reaching that point by high water and the de- struction of bridges, and nothing was left for them to do but surrender, which they did at Gainesville, Ala., and scattered to their several homes.


During the two and a half years of its service Com- pany "K" participated in more than a hundred en-


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gagements. Its casualties amounted to twenty-five per cent of its members.


On the last campaign they were cut up into detach- ments and fought wherever and whenever the enemy was met, and were surrendered at sundry places and in squads and companies.


ROLL OF HENRY COUNTY MEMBERS OF COMPANY "I," TENTH REGIMENT TENNESSEE CAVALRY. .


Capt. Clinton Aden; served through the war.


Second Lieut. Howard Poyner; captured at Mor- ristown, Tenn., and escaped by jumping from train.


First Sergt. Will Owensby ; wounded and captured at Parker's Cross Roads.


Second Sergt. James F. Bushart ; captured at Mor- ristown, Tenn .; served through the war.


Thomas Barnes ; served through the war.


Hud A. Boden; captured at Morristown, Tenn., January, 1864; served through the war.


Newt Bowden; drowned at Kingston, Tenn., Au- gust, 1863.


D. D. Brisendine ; captured at Parker's Cross Roads and escaped ; rejoined regiment at LaGrange Furnace ; served through the war.


Henry Diggs; served through the war.


W. Pink Erwin; captured at Morristown and pa-


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IN CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY.


roled in prison ; served in Lyons' escort; captured in Henry County in January, 1865.


Wm. Greer.


A. Thomas Milliken; served through the war.


Bart V. Owensby ; served through the war.


E. P. (Doc) Owensby ; served through the war. Dillard Poyner; captured at Morristown, and es- caped by jumping from train.


Henry Rose; served awhile with the company. John Rose.


ROLL OF HENRY COUNTY MEMBERS OF COMPANY "K," TENTH REGIMENT TENNESSEE CAVALRY.


Capt. D. F. Alexander; captured at Ft, Donelson, 1863.


· Second Lieut. J. Oscar Penick; served through the war.


First Sergt. Wm. J. Bowden; wounded in East Tennessee; served through the war.


Second Sergt. Wm. A. Dillahunty ; transferred from Fifth Tennessee Infantry, August, 1863 ; served through the war.


Samuel A. Allen; transferred to Company "I," Fifth Tennessee (which see.)


Martin Bevil ; drowned at Kingston, Tenn., August, 1863.


Robert H. Breedlove; served through the war.


Varner Caldwell; lost sight of at Parker's Cross Roads.


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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY COMMANDS


James M. Carter; wounded at Parker's Cross Roads; served through the war.


Mart L. Cate; killed near Spring Hill, Tenn., in the spring of 1863.


W. H. Green ; captured scouting in Henry County, Tenn., December 29, 1862 and paroled; served through the war.


Wm. H. Greer; served through the war.


Wm. B. Greer; served through the war.


Jas. A. Haymes; detached in 1864; was the only one of the company in the battle of Franklin; served through the war ..


John D. Looney ; captured in East Tennessee, latter part of 1863, and probably paroled.


Jas. McCorkle; drowned at Kingston, Tenn., in the summer of 1863.


B. F. McIntyre; wounded and lost a leg near Dan- dridge, Tenn.


J. Mitchell Milam; served through the war.


J. T. (Tice) Palmer; served through the war.


James Scott ; died in the spring of 1863, at Waverly, Tenn.


Else Workman; captured scouting between Hunt- ington and Paris, December 29, 1863 ; served in Com- pany "E," Twentieth Tennessee Cavalry.


The four following named men joined the company after consolidation with the Sixteenth Tennessee Cav- alry :


J. Polk Cate; served through the war; present at surrender.


Manly Hannah; served through the war; present at surrender.


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IN CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY.


James M. Todd; served through the war; present at surrender.


Ed H. Todd; served through the war; present at surrender.


COMPANIES "E," "F," AND "K," TWENTIETH TENNES- SEE CAVALRY.


General Forrest, during his raid into West Ten- nessee, in December, 1862, so effectually destroyed the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, between Corinth and Union City, that the Federals never attempted its rehabilitation, and the army posts along its line were soon abandoned; and though the M. & C. Railroad was still held and operated, the interior of West Ten- nessee was virtually free from the bands of thieves and outlaws (in the name of Federal soldiers) which had infested it.' Emboldened by this favorable condi- tion, Gen. T. H. Bell, formerly colonel of the Twelfth Tennessee Infantry, boldly entered West Tennessee and began recruiting for the Confederate Army.


In December, 1863, General Forrest having been assigned to command of the Cavalry Department of North Mississippi and West Tennessee, instructed General Bell to collect all the recruits at Jackson, Tenn., and then with what forces he could assemble, pushed his way through the cordon of Federal posts stretched from Memphis to Corinth, and by hard


17


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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY COMMANDS


marching, fierce fighting and fatigueing labor, build- ing bridges across the swollen streams, etc., succeeded in safely escorting these new levies, amounting to about 1,800 men, to his camps in North Mississippi.


By combining and transferring and organizing, these raw recruits were speedily organized into com- panies and regiments. Three of these companies were composed mainly of Henry County men, and were placed in Col. R. M. Russell's regiment and numbered the Twentieth Tennessee Cavalry (though in Lins- ley's Annals of Tennessee it is sometimes called the Fifteenth). Colonel Russell had served as colonel of the Twelfth Tennessee Infantry. Lieut. Col. H. C. Greer had been a lieutenant in Company "I," Fifth Tennessee Infantry, and Maj. H. F. Bowman had filled the position of captain of Company "B" of the same regiment, both of the latter being Henry County men. Capt. W. D. Hallum of Company "E" was a veteran of the Mexican War, and had commanded Company "I" of the Fifth Infantry until its reorgani- zation. His company of cavalry was recruited from the southern portion of Henry Ceunty where he had enlisted his company of infantry.


Capt. J. C. Wilson of Company "F" entered the Fifth Infantry as corporal in Company "B." At the end of the first year he was elected lieutenant, was desperately wounded at Perryville and captured. When exchanged he found the consolidation of the Fourth and Fifth had left him a supernumerary. Se- curing authority to organize a cavalry company, he recruited it in the northeastern quarter of the county,


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IN CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY.


almost up to the frowning guns of Fort Heiman. It became Company "F" of the Twentieth Cavalry.


Company "K" of this regiment was enlisted by Capt. H. F. Bowman, formerly of Company "B," Fifth Tennessee Infantry ; but on his promotion to major, Lieut. Macon H. Freeman was promoted to the captaincy, and commanded it until near the close of the war with signal ability and bravery.


The Twentieth Regiment was placed in Bell's Brig- ade with the Second (Colonel Barteau), Sixteenth (Colonel Wilson), and the Nineteenth (Colonel New- som ), all new commands except the Second. These new soldiers, however, were doomed soon to have a smell of gunpowder, for Forrest enlisted soldiers to fight. A goodly number of them, be it said, had "seen the elephant" at Shiloh, having served their first year in infantry.


In February, 1863, Gen- eral Smith started from Memphis on his raid into the prairie country of Mis- sissippi, which culminated in his defeat at Okalona.


CAPT. M. H. FREEMAN.


General Forrest, in his preparation to meet it, fear- ing that Smith might cross the Tombigbee at Aber- deen, Miss., and advance on the east of that stream, detached Bell's brigade to pass the river at Columbus


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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY COMMANDS


to meet him if needed. Finding Smith was descend- ing on the west side of that stream, General Bell re- crossed the river and kept on the flank of the retreat- ing Federals whom Forrest had driven back the day before. On the morning of February 22, Colonel Bar- teau, commanding Bell's Brigade, approached Oka- lona from the east and found the Federals drawn up in line. Forrest coming up just then was received with cheers and lent confidence to the men, and while Russell's, Wilson's and Newsom's regiments, all made up mainly of men now under fire for the first time, attacked in front (dismounted), while the Second Tennessee (mounted) attacked on the Federal right flank. Mccullough's Brigade coming up just at this juncture, the enemy gave way and fled. The Twen- tieth took part in the continuous charge that extended far towards Memphis.


March 15, 1863, another expedition into West Ten- nessee and Western Kentucky commenced. While other forces were sent to capture the forces at Union City, Buford's Division, to which Barteau's Brigade belonged, pressed on to Paducah, where they arrived on the 25th. While Thompson's Brigade threatened the front Russell's Regiment occupied a row of build- ings near the river used to store military supplies, and with long range rifles poured such accurate and continuous fire into the port holes of two gunboats as to drive them under shelter of the fort. Securing supplies of horses, equipment and stores, the Confed- erate command withdrew after nightfall.


Returning to Jackson, Tenn., General Forrest de- cided on the capture of the post at Fort Pillow, and


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IN CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY.


on April 11 began his march to that place. Pressing up under cover of timber and ravines to within sixty yards (in some places) of the Federal works, a de- mand for a surrender was made but refused by the Federal commander. When ordered to attack the dashing Confederates dismounted, rushed over the ditches and breastworks, and poured a hot fire into the Federals as they fled out of the fort and hurried down the bluff towards the river.


The fight was soon over, but not until fourteen val- uable officers and men were killed and eighty-six wounded.


Capt. J. C. Wilson of the Twentieth Tennessee fell near the works while charging at the head of his com- pany. He was carried by his men on stretchers eigh- teen miles to Dr. Brodie's, where he died after linger- ing several days.


Returning to Jackson and gathering recruits. supplies and horses, For- rest's command, on the 10th, started back to Mis- sissippi, Bell's Brigade con- veving the prisoners and artillery via LaGrange.


Everything being secur- ed, Bell's and Neely's brig- ades returned to West Ten- nessee to visit their homes and secure recruits. Bell's Brigade was thus increased in numbers from 1,004 to


CAPT. J. C. WILSON.


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1,717 fighting men; and on the 22d Buford withdrew all the forces again to Tupelo, Miss.


Just before the battle of Brice's Cross Roads Rus- sell's Regiment was stationed at Corinth, but moved southward to meet the advancing enemy. When the line of battle was formed the regiment occupied the left center. Two strong lines of Federals attacked them vigorously, the front line coming within thirty paces of the Confederates, who then drew their re- volvers and drove them back with great slaughter.


About 2 p. m., after some destructive artillery fir- ing, the whole line advanced and carried the strong Federal position, driving them back upon the muddy crossing of Tishimingo Creek, and the retreat became a rout, Russell's Regiment being prominent in the rapid pursuit which lasted for two days, or until the command, both men and horses, were well nigh worn down.


When the Federals under General Smith essayed for the third time to penetrate the rich country con- tiguous to the M. & O. railroad, it was Bell's Brigade that gave them the first real check, about four miles west of Tupelo, and brought on the battle of Harris- burg. In the general engagement on July 14th, it oc- cupied the centre just to the right of the Tupelo road. When Gen. S. D. Lee ordered the line to advance and attack the enemy, now pretty well fortified, they answered with a yell and charged in the face of a lot and destructive fire which they were not able to en- dure, and soon retired. All the colonels of Bell's Brigade were wounded during this engagement.


An expected attack was awaited until night and


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IN CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY.


then the whole force was withdrawn during the dark- ness and a new position taken up about three miles south of Tupelo.


The Federal commander, instead of attacking next morning, began to retire, and the Confederates pur- sued promptly. At Town Creek, four miles beyond Tupelo, the enemy prepared an ambuscade and Bell's Brigade was driven back a short distance, but rally- ing advanced again with Crossland's Kentucky Brig- ade. In spite of fierce attacks upon their position the Federals maintained it until nightfall, and then con- tinued the retreat. The Confederates and their horses were so worn down by hard marching and fighting that the pursuit was not pushed with the usual. vigor, though Chalmers followed for some distance.




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