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, V.2 > Part 14
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fought McCook's division of nearly twice as many and routed them from the field. capturing several thousand prisoners. He then retreated slowly, passing Cumberland Gap, marching to Knoxville, and thence moving by rail to Tullahoma and marching up to Murfreesboro. Buell was super- seded by Maj. Gen. W. S. Rosecrans, who concentrated his army at Nash - ville. Both armies were reorganized, the Confederate taking the name " Army of the Tennessee." which it retained during the remainder of the war. Bragg's army was weakened by the removal of Stevenson's divis- ion to Mississippi.
December 26 Rosecrans moved out to offer battle, and arrived be- fore Murfreesboro late on the 30th. Bragg determined to anticipate the attack, and at daylight on the 31st threw a heavy force upon the Federal right flank. So furious was the onset that, although the enemy fought with great stubbornness, the entire flank was swept around upon the right center. Rosecrans had determined to adopt the same tactics, and accordingly early in the morning massed a heavy force on the Confeder- ate right, but was too late. Before he could accomplish anything in that portion of the field. his right was routed and his entire army was in dan- ger of destruction. The victorious Confederates were checked late in the afternoon. During the night the Federals formed and perfected a new line, and the Confederates strengthened their advanced position. The next day some skirmishing occurred, and a threatening movement was made upon the Confederate right and rear, but as a whole the two armies remained idle and watchful. On the 2d of January Bragg at- tacked the Federal force that had been thrown across the river and in- trenched in a strong position. but after desperate fighting was repulsed, and the next day retreated to Shelbyville and Tullahoma. On the first day of the battle Hardee commanded the divisions of McCown and Cle- burne on the left: Polk, those of Cheatham and Withers in the center, and Breckinridge the force on the right. Wheeler's and Wharton's cavalries, respectively, were on the right and the left flanks. On the Federal right was McCook. in the center Thomas, and on the left Crit- tenden. Accounts and returns differ, but each army had about 45,000 effective troops, the Federals toward the last being re-enforced. Bragg's total loss was 10,125; Rosecrans' 11,598. The former lost three pieces of artillery, the latter twenty-eight .*
On the 30th of December, 1862. Wheeler's cavalry. in a daring raid, captured La Vergne, Rock Springs and Nolensville. About two weeks before that Forrest had cut loose from Bragg, crossed the Tennessee River at Clifton, captured Trenton, Humboldt. Union City and other
*These figures were carefully prepared from official reports.
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places, with large quantities of supplies and hundreds of prisoners, and rejoined Bragg without serious loss. March 5, 1863, Gen. Van Domn captured 2,000 Federals under Col. John Coburn at Spring Hill. In April Col. Streight, Federal cavalry leader, invaded Georgia, did con- siderable damage, but was pursued and captured by Gen. Forrest. In June Gen. John Morgan started North and invaded Indiana and Ohio, but was finally captured and his command dispersed. Bragg passed the winter at Shelbyville, Tullahoma and vicinity, while Rosecrans remained at Murfreesboro. June 24, 1863, Rosecrans began an advance and endeavored to fiank Bragg's right, but the latter being largely out- numbered, retreated slowly and finally crossed the mountains to Chat- tanooga. About the middle of August the Federal Army began to cross the mountains to confront Bragg.
In the meantime Vicksburg had fallen and Gettysburg had driven the Army of Northern Virginia south of the Potomac. Gen. Bragg. seeing that if he remained at Chattanooga his communications would be cut by flank movements of the large and rapidly increasing army before him, moved southward toward Lafayette, preparing to threaten the right flank of the enemy, or his rear via northern Alabama, or to fall upon him as he advanced southward from Chattanooga in detachments through the mountain passes and whip him in detail. The advance in detach- ments was really made, and had the re-enforcements expected arrived for Bragg, the division of McCook far out toward Alpine would have been crushed before Rosecrans perceived his danger. As it was the latter became alarmed and corrected his mistake before Bragg felt able to take advantage of it. Both armies had been heavily re-enforced and the anxious gaze of both nations was riveted upon them. A portion of Longstreet's corps from Virginia under Hood, and a considerable force from Johnston's army in the Mississippi had formed a junction with Bragg. The enemy concentrated somewhat near Crawfish Spring, near where, September 18, a few preliminary skirmishes occurred. MeCook occupied the right of the enemy, Thomas the left, and Crittenden the center. Polk was on the Confederate right, Hood on the left and Hill in the center. The battle of Chickamauga began early on the morning of the 19th and raged furiously all day without decisive result. The fol- lowing night brought Longstreet with the remainder of his corps. Bragg's aim had been to break and rout the Federal left, then crush the center and seize the Chattanooga road. Upon the arrival of Longstreet. Bragg summoned his generals in council. He divided the army into two commands-Longstreet with six divisions on the left and Polk with five divisions on the right. The latter was ordered to attack with all his
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
power at daylight, but it was nearly 9 o'clock before his troops were in motion. Had he complied with the order there is little doubt that Thomas would have been crushed before the arrival of Negley's division. As it was Thomas was the " Rock of Chickamauga" which the Confed- erate hosts failed to overturn. Thus do trifles serve to turn enormous tides.
The battle began about 9 o'clock and was continued with furious intensity for many hours, the Confederate cause on the whole advancing, until finally a gap was opened by a misunderstanding of orders, it was claimed, in the enemy's right center* through which the vigilant Long- street threw Hood's and other divisions like an avalanche. This move- ment was decisive, the whole right wing and part of the center of the enemy crumbling in pieces and rolling back in confusion toward Chatta- nooga, bearing their commanders, including Rosecrans, with them. Thomas on the left was re-enforced on a very strong ridge, and held his position until night, despite the utmost efforts of the Confederates to crush him, and thus saved the Federal Army from destruction. At night he withdrew toward Chattanooga, and left the field to the victorious Con- federates. The battle was over. The losses were about equal (over 15,000) to each army.
Rosecrans remained at Chattanooga where he was besieged for sev- eral weeks succeeding the battle of Chickamauga. He was superseded in command by Gen. Grant October 19. Early in October Wheeler and Wharton entered the Federal lines with their cavalry forces, and in the Sequatchie Valley destroyed about 800 wagons of supplies designed for the starving army of the Federals. They did extensive damage, and finally rejoined Bragg via northern Alabama. October 27 Gen. Hooker managed to open the Federal line of supplies, which virtually raised the siege. Longstreet had been detached to move against Burnside at Knox- ville. Bragg occupied Missionary Ridge with a weakened army too much extended, and Grant, in Chattanooga, received re-enforcements and supplies. On the 23d of November Grant advanced and drove back the Confederate advance lines and occupied and intrenched the ground. The next day Lookout Mountain was taken, and on the 25th the whole Fed- eral Army in overwhelming force swept up to the top of the ridge. driv- ing the Confederate lines, after sharp work, from the field.
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston succeeded Bragg in command of the army,
*This order, written by an aid of Gen. Rosecrans at the latter's direction, read as follows: "The general commanding directs that you close up on Reynolds as fast as possible, and support him." As will be perceived, "closing un," and " supporting" are two widely different acts, and hence the order was contradictory The officer to whom it was addressed, Gen. Wood, had been a short time before sharply reprimanded for neglect by Gen. Rosecrans, and now concluded to construe the order in the latter sense of " supporting " ouly, and accord- ingly withdrew his division, leaving a wide gap in the line of battle, which the vigilant eye of Longstreet at our detected with the resulta as above described.
35
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the latter relinquishing at his own request. The winter of 1863-64 was passed in and around Dalton in receiving instruction and disciplina * Late in February, to co-operate with a general movement of Federal troops in the west, Thomas attacked the Confederates at Dalton, in the absence of Hardee's corps, but was repulsed. Gen. W. T. Sherman took com- mand of the Federals in March, and Gen. Grant was transferred to the chief command at Washington. About the middle of March, 1863, Gen. Forrest entered West Tennessee from Mississippi, captured Jackson, Union City, Hickman, Ky., Paducah and other places with large quanti- ties of supplies and numerous prisoners; and April 18 captured Fort Pillow with 557 Federal troops, of whom 262 were colored. Later he dashed into Memphis but was compelled to leave almost immediately; and also defeated and routed the Federals in Arkansas.
About the middle of August, 1863, Gen. Burnside, with a force of nearly 20.000 men at Richmond, Ky., moved southward to cross the Cum- berland Mountains and take possession of East Tennessee. Knoxville was reached September 3; about the same time Gen. Buckner, unable to resist, withdrew all the available force there to re-enforce Bragg. Gien. Frazier, who occupied Cumberland Gap, was forced to surrender 2.000 men on the 9th. Gen. Burnside then scattered his command to guard and protect East Tennessee. Gen. Sam Jones did excellent work against several of the small commands, cutting them in pieces and capturing prisoners and supplies. Suddenly, without warning, October 20, Gen. Longstreet moved up from Chattanooga. At Philadelphia, below Loudon, he fell upon a force of Federals 2,000 strong under Col. Wolford and routed them, capturing many prisoners. Moving onward Burnside in force was encountered November 6, near Campbell's Station, where a sharp battle was fought. The enemy was forced back, but rallied until night when he retreated to his intrenchments at Knoxville. Both com- mands were handled with conspicuous ability. November 17 Longstreet invested the city. Sharp fighting occurred, and at last having been joined by Gen. Sam Jones, Longstreet November 28 and 29 assaulted but was repulsed. December 5 the siege was raised, as heavy re-enforcements for Burnside approached from Chattanooga.
In December. 1563. Wheeler's cavalry had a sharp engagement with the enemy at Charlestown, East Tennessee, over a wagon train. About the same time John Morgan and Martin Armstrong had a sharp battle with Gen. S. D. Sturgis at Mossy Creek, near New Market. Gen. Vance, who entered East Tennessee in January. 1804. after doing considerable
* As a detailed account of the Georgia campaign would carry the military history beyond the limits as- signed it in this volume, only an outline will be given of the movenients in which the Army of Tennessee participated.
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damage, was defeated and captured by the Federals. In January and February, 1864, Morgan and Sturgis fought several sharp battles at Som- ersville, Dandridge, Strawberry Plains and elsewhere.
About the first of June, John Morgan started to invade Kentucky. He was routed near Cynthiana by Gen. Burbridge, and made his way into West Virginia, where he collected a small force and returned to East Tennessee, captured Greeneville, but was killed and his force dis- persed in September by Gen. Gillem. In October Vaughn' and Palmer's forces were defeated at Morristown by Gen. Gillem; but in November the latter was routed by Breckinridge. In September Forrest invaded Middle Tennessee and gave the Federals much annoyance. In Decem- ber the Federal forces under Stoneman, Burbridge, Gillem and others were united. and the Confederates in East Tennessee under Breckinridge, Vaughn and others were overpowered and dispersed.
In the spring of 1864 an offensive campaign was proposed for Gen. Johnston, to move suddenly into East Tennessee, cross the river at Kingston, where a junction would be formed with Longstreet, ordered there for that purpose. and thus with an army of about 75,000 men to threaten Sherman's rear and prevent him from invading the South, as well as to threaten Tennessee and Kentucky. But this was not to be. Early in May, 1864, the Federal Army under Sherman began its ad- vance on Dalton, and successively, by flank movements, forced Johnston who had not been re-enforced as was designed should he undertake an offensive campaign, to retreat. Many have thought that this campaign from Dalton to Atlanta was not surpassed by any other of the war in brilliant and masterly movements, in furious and generally judicious battles, and in the splendid condition of both armies. From beginning to end it was a campaign of strategy. The overwhelming force of the Federal commander enabled him to face the Confederate Army with many more than its own number and to flank it with a large additional force. Vigilant as a tiger, Johnston watched the adroit coils of his wily adver- sary expanding and skillfully withdrew, inflicting upon him all the injury possible. At Rocky Face Ridge, Mill Creek Gap. Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Dallas, Lost Mountain, Pine Mountain, Kenesaw Moun- tain, Nose Creek, Powder Spring, Peach Tree Creek (where Johnston was superseded by Gen. J. B. Hood), Cobb's Mills, around Atlanta, a cam- paign of about four months almost a continuous battle was fought and not once was the Confederate Army driven from its chosen position by the assaults of the enemy. At Lick Skillet road and Jonesboro sharp bat- tles were fought.
Atlanta was evacuated by the army of Hood September 1. He
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moved to Lovejoy's Station; thence on the 18th at right angles to near Palmetto; thence on the 20th, across the Chattahoochie at Pumpkin Town, threatening Sherman's rear, which forced the latter out of Atlanta. Hood continued to move north, expecting to be followed by Sherman. reached Dalton, thence marched to Lafayette, thence westward reaching Tuscumbia October 31. Sherman followed a short distance from Atlanta then detached Schofield and Stanley's corps to assist Thomas at Nashville and then returned to "march to the sea." Hood was delayed at Tuscum- bia, but on the 21st of. November started north into Tennessee. The Fed- eral general, Schofield, marched rapidly from Pulaski where he had been stationed by Thomas, to reach Columbia before Hood, and succeeded, throwing up heavy intrenchments which were too strong to assault. He was flanked, however, and forced back toward Franklin where he con- structed heavy intrenchments in a very strong position. Hood advanced with A. P. Stewart on the right, Cheatham on the left, and S. D. Lee in reserve behind, while Forrest's cavalry protected the flanks. So furious was the charge of the Confederates, and in such masses, that the first line and hill with eight guns were captured and the standard of the South was planted upon the enemy's works. But this was as far as the Confed- erate host could go. Charge after charge of the flower of the army was repulsed with fearful slaughter. The foemen intermingled throughout the whole line, which writhed and twisted like huge anacondas locked in the struggle of death. The attack began at 4 o'clock P. M. of the 30th, and continued with unabated fury until 9 o'clock, when it gradually sub- sided and finally ceased. Pat Cleburne, "the Stonewall Jackson of the West," the idol of his troops, lay dead upon the field within a few feet of the enemy's works. Strahl and Adams and Gist and Granbury lay stretched beside him, and Brown and Quarles and Carter and Cockrill and Mani- gault and Scott, all general officers, took with them from the bloody field severe and honorable scars. This battle is especially painful to contem- plate by Tennesseeans, owing to the fearful slaughter of the troops of the State (many of whom lived at Franklin and neighboring cities ) and to the barren fruits of the result.
The night after the battle Schofield retreated to Nashville and united with Thomas, and on December 1, 1864. was promptly followed by Hood with his shattered, though gallant army, who on the 2d formed a line of battle and prepared to invest the place held by more than twice as many troops as he possessed. On the 15th the enemy moved out in overwhelm- ing numbers and attacked his whole line, making special efforts to turn his left, which was not accomplished until night, and then only in part. A new line was formed and the next day a heavy attack on the whole line
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was repulsed; but the artillery and infantry were concentrated on a weak point, a breach was made and soon the whole Confederate Army was thrown back in more or less of a rout, which was easily corrected. With sad hearts the heroic remnant of the grand old Army of Tennessee continued its retreat southward to join the army of Johnston in the Caro- linas for the final struggle. None who participated in it will ever forget the suffering and anguish of that weary march. The cause for which they had fought through nearly four long years of sorrow and war was trembling and falling; but barefooted, ragged and pinched with the severest physical suffering, the gallant boys turned their faces from their desolate homes and with their tattered banners marched down to the Carolinas to die, if need be, " in the last ditch." A few more engage- ments, Bentonville and elsewhere, and all was over, and in April, 1565. having surrendered, they returned to their homes to repair the ravages of war, to reconstruct their social system and to take their places once more as useful citizens under the Federal Government.
Besides the regularly organized regiments and battalions of infantry. cavalry and artillery, Tennessee furnished for the independent Confed- erate service a large number of companies, which did effective work within the Federal lines during the last three years of the war. Re- cruits were constantly enlisted or conscripted for the older regiments, as the war progressed, notwithstanding the presence of Federal troops posted to prevent such procedure. It is safe to say that the State furnished for the Confederate service nearly if not quite 100 000 men. Its credits considerably exceeded that figure, as each man was counted as often as he enlisted, which was, in some cases, three or four times. The provis- ional army of the State was mustered in for one year, at the end of which period great efforts were made to secure a re-enlistment for three years or during the war. This in the main was successful. No better soldiers than the Tennesseeans were found in either army. For gal- lantry, devotion to principle believed to be just, courage, hardihood and intelligence, they challenge and receive the admiration of their quondam foes. They have accepted in good faith the settlement of the questions of slavery, state sovereignty, secession, etc., and are now part of the warp and woof of the cloth of gold of the American Union.
REGIMENTAL SKETCHES.
The First Confederate (Tennessee) Regiment, probably the first raised in the State, was organized at Winchester April 27, 1861, and was raised in the counties of Franklin, Lincoln, Coffee and Grundy. Upon the organization Peter Turney was elected colonel. The regiment was
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ordered to Virginia, where, at Lynebburg, May 7, it was mustored into the service of the Confederate Government. It saw active service from the start, and participated in the earlier engagements of the war in that department. About the middle of February, 1862, it was attached to Anderson's brigade, the other regiments being the Seventh and Four- teenth Tennessee. This was known as the "Tennessee Brigade." This regiment served in nearly all the battles of the Army of Northern Virginia: Cheat Mountain, Winchester, Manassas (under Gen. Joe Johnston, near Yorktown), Seven Pines (the first real battle, losing heav- ily, including its brigade commander, Gen. Hatton. who was succeeded by Gen. Archer), Mechanicsville, Gains' Mills, Frazier's Farm, Culpep- per Court House, Second Bull Run, Centerville, Fredericksburg (where Col. Turney commanded the brigade and was severely wounded), Chan- cellorsville, Gettysburg (again losing heavily and displaying great gal-' lantry in the famous charge on Cemetery Hill), Falling Water, Bristoe Station, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and many others, losing in the aggregate two-thirds of those engaged. It was sur- rendered at Appomattox in April, 1865. Col. Turney had been wounded, and was in Florida at the time of the surrender. This was one of the best regiments from the State.
The First Tennessee (Confederate) Regiment was raised in Middle Tennessee, in April, 1861, immediately after the fall of Sumter, and was organized with George Maney as colonel, and was, July 10, transferred to Virginia, where, with the Seventh and Fourteenth Regiments, it was brigaded under Gen. Anderson. The trip to Mingo Flats was the first hardship, and near Cheat Pass the regiment was first under fire. It par- ticipated in the movement at Big Sewell Mountain, and prepared winter quarters at Huntersville, but December 8 moved to Winchester, and early in January, 1862, amid intense suffering and cold, moved to Rom- ney; thence back to Winchester early in February. After the fall of Fort Donelson, the First was ordered to the command of Gen. A. S. John- ston. Part was left at Knoxville. and part joined Johnston. The latter. the left wing, participated in the battle of Shiloh on the second day, but the right wing had been detained for want of transportation. After Shi- loh the wings were reunited and late in April the First was reorganized. H. R. Field becoming colonel, vice Maney promoted. Hawkins' battalion was added to the regiment as Company L. The First was in Maney's brigade of Cheatham's division. July 11, 1862, it left Tupelo, and via Chattanooga moved into Kentucky, reaching Harrodsburg October 6. It fought on the extreme right at Perryville, doing gallant service and losing over one-half its men killed and wounded. It captured four
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twelve-pound guns and had fifty men killed. It retreated south with Bragg, and in December was consolidated with the Twenty-seventh Teu- nesse, and later was engaged in the battle of Murfreesboro, where it lost heavily. It moved south, and in September participated in the battle of Chickamauga with conspicuous daring. Late in November it was en- gaged in the battle of Missionary Ridge, and then retreated with the Confederate Army. From Dalton to Atlanta the regiment was constantly engaged in all the memorable movements of that campaign, fighting desperately at " Dead Angle." In front of the First were found 355 Federal dead. The First lost twenty-seven killed and wounded. It fought on the 20th and 22d of July, and at Jonesboro August 19 and 220. It moved north with Hood, fighting at Spring Hill, Franklin and Nash- ville, and then retreated, moving to North Carolina, where it participated at Bentonville, and finally surrendered April 26, 1865.
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