USA > Tennessee > Williamson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 53
USA > Tennessee > Maury County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 53
USA > Tennessee > Rutherford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 53
USA > Tennessee > Wilson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 53
USA > Tennessee > Bedford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 53
USA > Tennessee > Marshall County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 53
USA > Tennessee > History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present , together with an historical and a biographical sketch of from twenty-five to thirty counties of east Tennessee, besides a valuable fund of notes, original observations, reminiscences, etc., etc. V. 1 > Part 53
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The Indians had concentrated their forces at a bend in the Talla- poosa, from its shape called Tohopeka-horseshoe. Here they had col- lected about 900 of their warriors and about 300 women and children. They had been well supplied with weapons by the British. They had been taught that this was holy ground, and to tread upon it would be death to the whites. The space enclosed about 100 acres, and the dis- tance across the neck was only about 350 yards, which had been pretty well fortified by logs and brush. The place was fifty-five miles south of Jackson's camp. Toward this Jackson put his column in motion, and after eleven days arrived on March 27. The cavalry under Coffee and some of the friendly Indians surrounded the place from the river, and the main force attacked from the peninsula, first by artillery, but were compelled to charge. Col. L. P. Montgomery was first to leap upon the works, but was killed; Ensign Houston (Gen. Sam Houston) was shot
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with an arrow in the thigh, but after several attempts tore it out and continued to fight. The friendly Indians slipped across and cut loose the boats of the enemy, which were tied next to the town. No Indian asked for quarter; 557 dead were left upon the peninsula, and about 200 more were killed by Gen. Coffees' men and Indians at the river and in the woods. Only a few escaped under cover of the night. An Indian chief lay under the water and breathed through a long reed till darkness gave him a favorable opportunity to escape; + warriors only surrendered besides 400 women and children. Jackson lost 25 killed, among whom were Maj. Montgomery, who was of the Thirty-ninth Regulars, and Lieu- tenant Somerville; the wounded amounted to 105. The loss to the
the friendly Indians was 29 killed and 54 wounded. Jackson sunk his killed in the river to prevent their being scalped by the Indians, and re- turned to Fort Williams with his sick and wounded. On April 7 he started for the junction of the Coosa and Tallapoosa, their "Holy of Holies." Most of the Indians were destroyed and their power was for- over broken.
Among the chiefs who came in to surrender was William Weatherford, an intelligent half-breed, who had planned the attack upon Fort Mimms. He rode boldly into the American lines and up to Gen. Jackson's quarters. He was mounted upon a magnificent charger, and carried with him a large buck, which he presented to the General. With the bearing of a king he said: "I am in your power; do with me as you please. I am a soldier. I have done the white people all the harm I could; I have fought them, and I have fought them bravely. If I had - an army I would fight you longer and contend to the last, but I have none; my people are all gone. I can now do no more than weep over the misfortunes of my nation. All I ask is for the women and children." He was treated with great civility, and lived to show his good faith after- ward. Fort Jackson, in addition to Fort William, was built to protect the conquered country, the former near the junction of Coosa and Talla- poosa. A treaty was signed at Fort Jackson on August 9, 1814, by which the Indians ceded all the lands east of the Tombigbae and west of the Coosa to the United States. The time of enlistment of the men having expired, they were discharged. Many of the Creeks never joined in the treaty, but their power being broken they joined the Seminoles, with whom a war was waged later. The burning of the Hillibee towns by Gen. Cocke made that tribe the most furious and implacable of foes. They were thought to be kindly disposed but for this unfortunate act. The Creeks or Muscogees were the most powerful of the Southern In- dians, and before the war their limits extended from the Chattahoochee on the east to the Tombigbee on the west; from the Tennessee on the
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north to Florida on the south. Among them was a tradition that they "came out of the ground."
Gen. Jackson determined to reach the cause of the war, and strike at both the Spanish and the British. The threatened condition of the gulf coast led him to urge forward new lines from the States. On September 10 a British fleet of ninety guns and a large land force of Spanish and Indians made an attack upon Fort Boyer at Mobile Harbor, but met with a bloody repulse. The levies under Gen. Coffee left New Orleans October 1 to join Jackson at Mobile: Jackson determined to reduce Pensacola, and determined to take possession of the forts there. The march for the place began on November 2, and the vicinity of Pensacola was reached on the 6th. A flag of truce was sent to the Spanish gover- nor demanding the surrender of the forts to the Americans, to prevent the British from using them to the detriment of the Americans. The flag was fired on and compelled to return. Another effort was made the next day by sending a Spanish corporal to the governor with a letter demanding possession of the forts. A very polite note was sent to Jack- son, stating that the firing upon the flag had been done by the British. Jackson then demanded the surrender of the forts within an hour. This was refused. Jackson then sent a force of 500 men to draw the fire of the British fleet, while with the remaining force he attacked the Spanish in the streets and forts. The white flag was soon displayed, and the British fleet was driven off. Fort Barrancos, fourteen miles west, was abandoned and blown up by the British the next day to prevent its cap- ture. Jackson then hastened to Mobile to ward off a threatened attack on that place, but the place being relieved, he hurried on to the defense of New Orleans on November 22, where he arrived on December 1. . Gen. Coffee moved with the cavalry toward the Mississippi, striking that at Baton Rouge. After suffering almost untold hardships from rains. cypress swamps and other difficulties from traveling through an unin- habited country of pine forests, he reached there with his men and horses in a sad plight. Jackson himself turned to New Orleans on, horseback, which he reached after an eight days' ride. Sickness and the hardships of the campaign had almost reduced him to the grave. He was agree- ably entertained at breakfast at Mr. J. K. Smith's on the morning of his arrival.
The accomplished Mrs. Smith was greatly disappointed in his appear- ance. She saw nothing in him but "an ugly old Kentucky flat-boat man," instead of "your grand general with his plumes, epaulettes and Jong handsome mustache." To oppose the British forces, consisting of over 10,000 soldiers and 50 heavy war vessels of 1,000 guns and 10.000
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sailors, their officers being in gay uniform and fresh from the war with Napoleon, Jackson had only about 2,000 men dispirited and poorly clad. Re-enforcements were hurried forward from every quarter. The new levies from Tennessee, under Gen. Carroll, were sent down the river; not more than one in ten were armed when they started. The high stage of the river enabled them to make rapid progress. Fortunately they fell in with a vessel that was loaded with arms, and they were thus supplied.
So many went for the defense of New Orleans that the venerable Peter Cartwright said his congregation was small, but he deemed it best that they should go with Gen. Jackson. The danger being so imminent Jackson sent a message to Gen. Coffee, who was now at Baton Rouge, 129 miles away, to hurry with all speed with his riflemen, who now num- bered 1,250. Leaving about 300, who could not travel so rapidly, he started with the remainder and marched fifty miles the first day. Here he left 400 or 500, but with the remainder he marched seventy miles, which brought him within four miles of headquarters. He himself rode on and reported orders. The others came on in due time. These were dressed in hunting shirts, copperas-dyed pantaloons made by wife, mother or sister. They wore slouched woolen hats or coon-skin caps, adorned with a fox tail. They carried a knife and a tomahawk in a leather belt. Their hair and whiskers were long and unkempt.
Such was their appearance that the British declared them to be a posse comitatus. Gen. Carroll's men arrived in season. A night attack was planned by Jackson upon the British, on December 23, at Gen. Villere's plantation. The cavalry was led by Gen. Coffee and the infantry by Jackson. It was only a partial success; Coffee and Col. Lauderdale both distinguished themselves. The American loss was 24 killed, 115 wounded and 74 prisoners. The British loss was estimated at 400. The British attacked the Americans on December 28, and after a seven hours' bombardment drew off. In this'engagement the Americans lost 7 men killed and 10 wounded; among the killed was Col. Henderson, of Tennessee. On January 1 there was an engagement between the British and the Tennessee troops, in which there were 11 killed and 23 of the latter wounded. On the 8th of January, 1815, was fought the battle that will ever be memorable for the great disparity of losses if nothing more. The British attacked in heavy columns and with great determination, and were met by the Americans with great spirit. Gens. Packenham and Gibbs, of the British, were both mortally wounded. A regiment of Scotch Highlanders charged in front of Gen. Carroll's Ten- nesseeans and left 544 of their number on the field. Maj. Wilkinson mounted the American works and fell mortally wounded. His admiring
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enemies bore him tenderly within the works and said: "Bear up, dear fellow, you are too brave to die." In twenty-five minutes' time the Brit- ish lost 700 killed, 1,400 wounded and 500 prisoners. The American loss was but S killed and 7 wounded. The British, disconcerted, returned to their ships and in a few days sailed away. Peace came and Jackson and his men received the plaudits of the nation for a victory that was useless, yet none the less brilliant. On March 15 he dismissed his men with: "Go, then, my brave companions, to your homes; to those tender connections and those blissful scenes which render life so dear, full of honor and crowned with laurels which shall never fade." Whether the British had promised their soldiers, as is generally believed, the license of " beauty and booty " or not, the Americans believed it and so fought.
Trouble began with the Seminole Indians in 1817. The name Sem- inole is said to mean vagrant, reckless, and they are supposed to have sprung from the Creeks. The Seminoles, Creeks and escaped negroes began ravages in Georgia. The difficulty grew out of the treaty of Ghent made with Great Britain at the close of the war of 1812. By that treaty it was stipulated that the previous boundaries should be con- firmed, and the Creeks being allies of Great Britain claimed their old boundaries, thus not recognizing the treaty made between them and Gen. Jackson. This the American Government refused to grant. Gen. Gaines sent Col. Twiggs from Fort Scott to Fowltown, thirteen miles distant, to demand of the chief some Indians who had been committing depredations. The party was fired upon, when the fire was returned and a woman and two warriors were killed and the town burned by order of Gen. Gaines. Supplies were brought up the Appalachicola, by permis- sion from the Spanish, to forts in the Creek country. On November 30, as Lieut. Scott was proceeding up the river with a boat of supplies, forty soldiers, seven women and four children, he was fired on by a party of concealed Indians, and every one (except four who leaped out and swam ashore) was killed and one woman was carried off. Gen. Jackson was sent to conduct, the war. He was instructed by the Secretary of War, Mr. Calhoun, to call on the adjacent States for such additional troops as he might need. He was not long in construing this order to mean Tennessee. He issued a call and set January 11, 1818, as the day of rendezvous at Fayetteville. Two regiments of 1,000 men assembled under Cols. Dyer and Williamson, and a body of 100 men under Capt. Dunlap; the whole were under Inspector-Gen. Hayne. Jackson himself left Nashville on January 22 and joined his forces. He started with twenty days' rations. He experienced the same difficulties as in 1813-14. Supplies were ordered to be shipped from New Orleans to Fort Scott,
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where he arrived on March 9, a distance of 450 miles, with 1,100 hungry men. This was accomplished in forty-six days. Before arriving at Fort Scott he was joined by McIntosh, now a brigadier-general in the United States Army, with 2,000 Indians.
Perceiving the Spanish were giving aid to the Indians, Jackson de- termined to capture Fort St. Mark's, a Spanish fort. He left Negro Fort, now rebuilt and called Fort Gadsden, on March 26, and arrived before St. Mark's April 7. On his way he destroyed several Indian towns. On the 8th Jackson entered St. Mark's, and hauled down the Spanish flag and ran up the American flag, notwithstanding the protest of the Spanish governor. Here was captured Alexander Arbuthnot, a Scotch trader, who was aiding the Indians. On his way to St. Mark's Capt. Mckeever, of the navy, who was going to the assistance of Jackson, lured the prophet Francis and his head chief on board his vessel by displaying an English flag, and held them as prisoners. They were executed by Gen. Jackson for being at the massacre at Fort Mimms. On the 11th he started for the Suwanee Old Towns, 107 miles distant. After a tiresome march through snows and bogs he arrived to find the towns deserted, the Indian chief, Bowlegs, and his warriors having fled. Here was cap- tured R. C. Ambrister, an Englishman of rank, who had been suspended from the army for sending a challenge for a duel. He was assisting the Indians against the Americans. Jackson returned to St. Mark's on the 26th. A court martial was called to try Arbuthnot and Ambrister, which ended in two days in their conviction. The sentence was approved by Jackson and they were executed, the former having been hung and the latter shot. Jackson returned to Fort Gadsden, where he remained a few days, when he started for Pensacola. The Indians were committing depredations in that vicinity, and were receiving protection from the Spaniards. Jackson seized the place in spite of the governor's protest, and placed thereon an American garrison. The execution of Ambrister and Arbuthnot and the invasion of Spanish territory came near involving the United States in war with England and Spain. Fort Gadsden, form- erly called Negro Fort, was built about seventeen miles above the coast, on the Appalachicola, by Col. Nichols during the war of 1812, and was a store-house for the Indians. After the war the Indians neglected it and Garçon took possession of it with several hundred runaway negroes. They refused to allow supplies to go up the river, when it was de- termined to destroy the fort. It was surrounded by settlers and friendly Indians, but they were unable to make any impression on it. 'A gun- boat was ordered up the river to assist in its destruction. This was in 1816. The fort was defended by ten or twelve cannon, and had stored
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in, the magazine 700 barrels of powder. A red-hot shell fired from the gun-boat lodged in the magazine and a terrific explosion followed. Of 334 inmates only three were unhurt. The explosion is said to have been felt for 100 miles. A treaty was signed at Moultrie Creek Septem- ber 18, 1823, by which the Seminoles were to be kept in the interior, and were paid the sum of $5,000 a year for twenty years.
The pressure of the whites upon the Indians to take possession of their rich lands led to frequent difficulties, and not unfrequently were persons killed by the Indians. To avoid these growing evils it was de- termined by the Government if possible to send the Seminoles to a reser- vation west of the Mississippi River. The Indian chiefs were sent to the Indian Nation to examine the situation and report. Arriving there in the winter they were not favorably impressed, but were at last induced to sign a treaty. Through the influence of Col. Gadsden this treaty was made at Payne's Landing, May 9, 1832, by which it was stipulated that the Indians, for a small consideration, should within three years move to a new reservation west of the Mississippi River. Osceola and other chiefs bitterly opposed this. Gen. Thompson, who had wronged Osceola, was killed December 23, 1835, and on the same day Maj. Dade and 110 men were waylaid and massacred in Wahoo Swamp. Volunteers were called for in June, 1836, the apportionment of Tennessee being 2,000, more than double the number offered. The East Tennessee troups ren- dezvoused at Athens and elected R. G. Dunlap brigadier-general over their brigade. Troops of Middle Tennessee assembled at Fayetteville, the old place of rendezvous. Here met the companies of Capt. Rodgers, of Warren County; Capts. Jetton and Yoakum, of Rutherford; Turney and Roberts, of Franklin; Terry, of Bledsoe; Cronck, of Williamson; Henry, of Robertson; Grundy, Washington and Battles, of Davidson; and Trousdale and Guilt, of Sumner. These were organized into a brigade, of which Robert Armstrong was elected general; Washington Barron, adjutant; A. M. Upsham, inspector-general, and W. G. Dickson, sur- geon. Of the First Regiment A. M. Bradford was colonel; T. H. Cahal, lieutenant-colonel; Goff, first major; Powhatan Gordon, second major. Of the Second Regiment W. Trousdale was colonel; J. C. Guilt, lieutenant-colonel; - Meddow, first major; W. L. Washington, sec- ond major, and J. P. Grundy, adjutant.
The force moved in due time following near Jackson's old route to the Creek Nation. The army was little encumbered by baggage, as what little was carried was placed upon Sumter mules and the necessity of wheeled vehicles was in a great measure avoided. The army moved from Huntsville by way of Elyton, Montgomery, to Watumpka or Camp
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Jordan, where it remained till the 1st of September. It then crossed the Coosa at Fort Meigs, the Appalachicola at the confluence of the Flint and Chattahoochee, thence by way of Quincy, Marietta to Tallahassee. From Tallahassee the army moved through the wilderness to the Suwa- nee Old Towns. thence to Fort Drane. On October 13, a battle was fought on the Withlacoochee with no great loss on either side. The forces were compelled to withdraw for supplies but returned, and another engagement was fought on November 13 near the same place. Bat- tles were fought at the Wahoo Swamp on the 18th and 21st of Novem- ber. Osceola, Sam Jones, and Alligator are said to have been present on the side of the Indians. After a stubbornly contested engagement, the Indians retreated into their fastnesses. This was the last fighting done by the Tennesseans. The army marched to Tampa Bay, thence by ship to New Orleans, and from there went home. The war was finally brought to a close by Gen. Taylor. With 600 regulars he left Fort Gardner, and on December 19 gained the most decisive victory of the war at Lake Okechobee. He was made a brigadier-general for his success at Oke- chobee, and on the resignation of Gen. Jessup the whole conduct of the war was entrusted to him. His policy was to carry out the stipulations of the existing treaty. As fast as a sufficient number of Indians were captured or gave themselves up, they were sent to the reservation. By 1839 he had sent 1,900 to their future homes. The war could not be said to be closed till 1842, with a loss of 1,466 lives by disease, such as yellow fever and other diseases pecular to that climate, and by Indian bullets and scalping knives, and an expense of $10,000,000.
Texas was early an inviting field for adventurous speculators and per- sons seeking homes. Many, after the Creek and Seminole wars, went there from a spirit of adventure alone. The disturbed condition of that unfortunate republic, with its periodical revolutions, compelled those living in Texas to protect themselves against the aggressions of the Mex- ican Government. Among the most distinguished men living in Texas was Gen. Sam Houston, of Tennessee, who had won renown in the Creek war, also had been distinguished as a political leader. The settlers of Texas were largely American, and the tyranny of Mexico led them to rer- olution. Many old friends and companions in arms of Houston flocked to his standard, he at this time being at the head of the revolution. Af- ter varying turns of fortune, a decisive victory was gained at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, which resulted in the complete discomfiture of the Mexican forces and the capture of Santa Anna, the Mexican president. While a prisoner, he signed with the Texans their treaty of independ- ence. The State maintained its independence for ten years, though after
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the release of Santa Anna, he disavowed the act done by himself, on the ground of its being done while a prisoner of war. Texas made applica- tion for admission into the American Union. This was bitterly opposed by the Mexican authorities on the ground that she had never acknowl- edged the independence of Texas, and that Texas was still a part of the Mexican Government. This became a question in American politics. The elections of 1844 were favorable to the issue of the Texan admission. Mexico claimed sovereignty not only over all Texas, but particularly that part lying between the Nueces and the Rio Grande Rivers. A threatened invasion of this territory on the part of the Mexican authorities, led the American Government to send Gen. Taylor with a large force of United States troops into the disputed territory to take post at Corpus Christi, at the mouth of the Nueces. After some negotiations for peace, on March 8, 1846, Gen. Taylor advanced to Point Isabel, thence in a few days to the point on the Rio Grande opposite Matamoras. On his arrival there Ampudia notified Gen. Taylor that his forces must quit the territory be- tween the Rio Grande and the Nueces within twenty-four hours, or risk the consequences. Taylor's communications with Point Isabel, his base of supplies, were threatened by Mexican cavalry. He went with his main force to open communications, and in his absence, his works at Matamoras were attacked and Maj. Brown was killed. In honor of him the American work was called Fort Brown.
On May S Gen. Taylor in his return to Matamoras encountered Gen. Ampudia at Palo Alto. An engagement ensued and the Mexicans were forced to retreat with a loss of 600 men. The American loss was 6 killed and 44 wounded. Another battle was fought on the 9th at Resaca de la Palma, in which the Mexicans were again defeated, with a loss of 1.000 men, the American loss being only 110. On the announcement of these engagements, it was stated that American blood had been shed on Amer- can soil.
The President declared that war existed between the United States and Mexico, and called for 50,000 volunteers. Congress immediately appropriated $10,000,000 for carrying on the war. The apportionment of volunteers for Tennessee was 2,000, and Gov. A. V. Brown called for that number. It was finally agreed to accept 2,400 men, 1,600 infantry, and 800 cavalry. Such was the spirit for volunteering, that it became a question, not as to who must go, but who may go. It was remarked that a draft would be necessary to compel men to stay at home. The State was divided into four military districts: one in East, two in Middle and one in West Tennessee. The volunteers of the middle division consisted of the Harrison Guards -- Captain R. C. Foster; Lieutenants A. Heiman and
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George Maney; the Nashville Blues-Captain B. F. Cheatham; Lieuten- ants William R. Bradfute, and E. Eastman; Shelbyville Guards-Captain Edward Frierson; Lieutenants J. L. Scudder and G. W. Buchanan; the Polk Guards-Captain R. A. Bennett; Lieutenants J. M. Shaver and Patrick Duffey; Tenth Legion-Captain S. R. Anderson; Lieutenants William M. Blackmore and P. L. Solmon; Union Boys-Captain W. B. Walton; Lieutenants Samuel High and C. W. Dixon; Dixon Spring Guards -Captain L. P. McMurray; Lieutenants W. Bradley and James Lanahan; Lincoln Guards-Captain Pryor Buchanan; Lieutenants A. L. Fulton and J.V. Myers. Lawrenceville Blues-Captain A. S. Alexander; Lieutenants James Burkitt and G. H. Nixon. Hickory Guards-Captain J. Whit- field; Lieutenants J. B. Easley and L. P. Totty. Richland Guards- Captain H. Mauldin; Lieutenants W. P. Davis and W. H. McCrory. Mountain Blues -- Captain A. Northcutt ; Lieutenants E. M. Mercer and J. J. Hill. These men rendezvoused at the race course near Nashville. The regiment was organized June 3, 1846; William B. Campbell, of Smith County, colonel; Samuel R. Anderson, of Sumner County, lieutenant-col- onel; Richard Alexander, of Smith County, first major, and Robert Far- quharson, of Lincoln County, second major; Adolphus Heiman was made adjutant; Dr. McPhail, surgeon, and W. D. Morris, assistant sur- geon. These companies were constituted the First Regiment. Before leaving for the seat of war a beautiful flag was presented to the regi- ment by Miss Irene C. Taylor, in behalf of the young ladies of the Nash- ville Female Academy. On the 4th and 5th of June they left Nashville - for New Orleans. The Second Regiment was ordered to assemble at - Camp Carroll, near Memphis, on June 15, 1846, These men were sworn into the service by Gen. Hay. The forces consisted of the Tennessee Guards, Capt. H. P. Maney; Avengers, Capt. T. P. Jones; Memphis Rifle Guards, Capt. E. F. Ruth; Gaines Guards, Capt. M. B. Cook. In addition to these were the following cavalry companies: Fayette Cavalry, Capt. J. Lenow, and the Eagle Guards, Capt. W. N, Porter. From East Tennessee came the Knoxville Dragoons, under Capt. Caswell; Claiborne Blues, Capt. Evans, and the Rhea County Cavalry, Capt. Waterhouse. The infantry companies from this section were Capt. Standifer, from Hamilton; Capt. Lowery, from McMinn; Capt. McCown, from Sevier, and Capt. R. L. Kilpatrick, from Anderson, instead of Capt. Barnett, of Sul- livan. The officers of the Second Tennesse were J. E. Thomas, colonel; R. D. Allison, lieutenant-colonel, and Richard Waterhouse, major.
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