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 7
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*In his report of the expedition. Gen Stoneman gives the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry the honor os having acted the most conspicuous part in the capture of saltville.
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
nessee furnished about 30,000 troops to the Federal Army. They were mustered as follows: Eight regiments of infantry, eight regiments of mounted infantry, thirteen regiments of cavalry and five battalions of light artillery. But in addition to these regiments there were also en- listed, within the limits of the State, about 17,000 colored troops, the precise number of which cannot be ascertained, as they were enrolled as United States troops without regard to State boundaries.
The State also contributed to the Federal Army a large number of efficient officers. In addition to those colonels and lieutenant-colonels who from time to time commanded brigades, Tennessee furnished the following brigadier-generals: Samuel P. Carter, Joseph A. Cooper, Al- van C. Gillem, James G. Spears, William B. Campbell and Andrew Johnson, the military governor, the first three of whom were also major- generals by brevet. The colonels who were brevetted brigadier-gener- als were William J. Smith, George Spalding and James P. Brownlow. Gov. Johnson, upon the organization of the State government in 1862, appointed Alvan C. Gillem adjutant-general, a position which he contin- ued to hold until the election of Gov. Brownlow, when he was succeeded by James P. Brownlow. On August 1, 1864, Lieut. Edward S. Rich- ards was appointed assistant adjutant-general.
The first Union regiment of Tennessee Infantry was organized by `Col. R. K. Byrd, at Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., in August, 1861. The other regimental officers at that time were James G. Spears, lieutenant- colonel; James T. Shelley, major; Leonard C. Houk, quartermaster; Ed- ward Maynard, adjutant; Robert L. Stanford, surgeon; William A. Rog- ers, assistant surgeon, and Samuel L. Williams, chaplain. This regi- ment was first under fire in the engagement at Wild Cat, and was after- ward present at the battle of Mill Springs. It also assisted in the capt- ure of Cumberland Gap, where it remained until the evacuation of that post by Gen. Morgan. It then retreated with the remainder of the com- mand to Ohio, and thence went on an expedition up the Kanawha Valley. Returning, it went by the way of Louisville to Nashville, arriving in time to participate in the battle at Stone River, after which it returned to Lexington, Ky. It then entered East Tennessee under Burnside's command and was present at the siege of Knoxville. During the winter of 1864 it was stationed at Kingston, and in the spring entered upon the Atlanta campaign, participating in all of the engagements until just pre- vious to the surrender of the city, when the greater portion of the regi- ment was discharged on account of the expiration of their term of service.
While at Cumberland Gap a detachment of this and the Second Reg- iment, consisting of sixty-nine men, led by Capt. Meyers and Lieut.
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Rogers, captured an important outpost of the Confederates without the loss of a man. For this exploit a complimentary notice was read on dress parade, by order of Gen. Morgan.
The Second Union Tennessee Volunteer Infantry was recruited and organized at Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., with James P. Carter* as colo- nel; D. C. Trewhitt, lieutenant-colonel; M. Cleaveland, major; A. Neat, surgeon; D. A. Carpenter, lieutenant and adjutant; George W. Keith. quartermaster, and W. J. Keith, commissary sergeant. The regiment was mustered into service to date from the 28th of September, 1861, and on the 18th of October following marched to meet the Confederate forces under Gen. Zollicoffer. From that time until the evacuation of Cum- berland Gap by the Federal forces under Gen. George W. Morgan in Sep- tember, 1862, the regiment was employed in eastern Kentucky, partici- pating in the battles of Mill Springs and many lesser engagements. It then marched through northeastern Kentucky, crossed into Ohio and thence entered the Kanawha Valley, W. Va. Returning by the way of Point Pleasant, Ohio, it went from there to Louisville by river, thence by land to Murfreesboro, where it was engaged in the battle of Stone's Riv- er. It remained there until March 10, 1863, when it returned to Ken- tucky for the purpose of being mounted, which was done about June 1, 1863. It remained in Kentucky, participating in various minor engage- ments with the Confederate forces under Pegram and Scott, until July +, when it started in pursuit of Gen. Morgan in his raid through Kentucky. Indiana and Ohio, and was present at his capture. It then returned to Stanford, Ky., and joined the force under Gen. Burnside for the cam- paign in East Tennessee. In was in the advance of Burnside's forces at Wolf Creek and Loudon, Tenn., and was present at the surrender of Cumberland Gap by the Confederate Gen. Frazier. It also took the ad- vance of the column which moved into upper East Tennessee from Knox- ville, and brought on and participated in the battle of Blue Springs. After pursuing the retreating forces to Abingdon, Va., and destroying a large amount of stores, it returned to Rogersville, Tenn., where, on No- vember 6, 1863, the regiment was captured by Gen. Jones. One hun- dred and seventeen men, most of whom had been captured, but soon af- ter made their escape, reported at Knoxville and were on duty there during the siege up to the 31st of November. Soon after the remnants of the regiment were gathered up and were detailed, as provost guards. to duty at Sevierville, Maryville, Clinton and Maynardsville. In Sep- tember, 1864, the garrison at Maryville, consisting of twenty-eight men. was captured. The remaining detachments were then ordered immedi-
*Resigned March 2, 1864; succeeded by J. M. Melton.
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
ately to Lee's Ferry, on the Clinch River, to harrass Wheeler's forces, who were then on a raid through East Tennessee. After this expedition the regiment returned to Knoxville, where, on October 6, 1864, it was mustered out of service, there being at that time only 106 of the orig- inal number,
The Third Union Regiment of Tennessee Infantry was organized at Flat Lick, Ky., by Col. Leonidas C. Houk and Lieut. John C. Childs in March, 1862. The other field and staff officers were William Cross. major; Daniel M. Ray, adjutant; John D. Lewis, quartermaster; Will- iam A. Rodgers, surgeon; John P. Blankinship, assistant surgeon; Will- iam F. Dowell, chaplain; John L. Shipe, sergeant-major; Elijah W. Adkins, quartermaster-sergeant. It remained near Flat Lick until June. then, with Spear's Brigade, went to Cumberland Gap, but was subse- quently ordered to London, Ky. Here the regiment was divided, five companies under Col. Houk remaining at that place, and the other five companies under Lieut .- Col. Childs going to Richmond. Houk having been attacked by a superior force under Gen. Scott retreated to Cumber- land Gap, and subsequently, with Morgan, to Ohio. The five companies under Childs while on their way to rejoin Houk at Loudon, were attacked by Scott's cavalry at Big Hill, and the greater part of the command captured. The remainder made their way to Richmond, Ky., where. on August 23, 1862, all but about 100 were taken prisoners and paroled. The few who escaped retreated to Louisville, and were temporarily attached to the Third Kentucky Infantry, with which command they took part in the battle of Perryville. They were then ordered to Gallipolis. Ohio, where the regiment was reunited. It then went to Nashville, and thence to Murfreesboro. In April, 1868, Col. Houk and Lieut .- Col. Childs resigned, and the regiment then stationed at Carthage was placed under the command of Maj. William Cross, who, a short time after, was commissioned colonel. In August the regiment left Carthage, and marched by the way of Alexandria and McMinnville to a point on the Tennessee River below Chattanooga. It remained in the vicinity of Chattanooga until November, when it proceeded to Knoxville to the relief of Burnside. April 26, 1864, it left Strawberry Plains to enter upon the Atlanta campaign, in which it took an active part. After the surrender of Atlanta it was ordered to Johnsonville, thence to Duck River, and finally to Columbia. Before reaching the latter place. however, the approach of Hood forced it back to Nashville, which it reached by the way of Charlotte and Clarksville, arriving in time to participate in the battles before that city. After pursuing the enemy to Clifton, Tenn .. it returned to Nashville, and was there mustered out February 23, 1885.
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
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regiment at that time numbering about 340 of the original com- nand. During its existence it numbered 990 enlisted men.
The Fourth Union Regiment of Tennessee Infantry was recruited under the direction of Col. Daniel Stover, of Carter County, Tenn., at Louisville, in the spring of 1863. It was composed wholly of. exiles from East Tennessee, who were brought out of the Confederate lines by officers and pilots sent in for that purpose. May 29 the regiment left Louis- ville, and was mustered into service in the following June. September 9, 1863, under the command of Maj. M. L. Patterson, it marched to MeMinnville, Tenn., where, on the 3d of October, after two hours' hard fighting against a greatly superior force under Gen. Wheeler, it was captured and paroled. Maj. Patterson, with forty men, returned to Nashville, and the remainder of the regiment, with few exceptions. returned to their homes in East Tennessee. Upon the arrival of Maj. Patterson in Nashville a court of inquiry was appointed to examine into the circumstances connected with the surrender of the post at MeMinu- ville, which resulted in his complete exoneration from all charges. He then proceeded to Camp Nelson, Ky., to reorganize the regiment, where many of the soldiers reported immediately for duty, the paroles being invalid, having been given in violation of the cartel. January 20, 186+, the regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, Third Division, Twenty- third Army Corps. On the withdrawal of Gen. Schofield's army from upper East Tennessee, the regiment was sent to Loudon, and three com- panies, under Maj. Reeves, to Kingston, Maj. Patterson having been promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy, was detached to command the bri- gade with headquarters at Loudon. The regiment remained there until November, 1864, when the troops were ordered to Knoxville. Lieut. - Col. Patterson was then put in command of a brigade consisting of the Fourth Tennessee and Third North Carolina Infantry for an expedition to Paint Rock, N. C., to cut off the retreat of the Confederates from Gen. Stoneman. This expedition ended about January 10, 1865. The reg- iment remained in upper East Tennessee and vicinity until July, when it was ordered to Nashville to be mustered out. Col. Stover, who organ- ized the regiment, was early attacked by consumption and saw no sery- ice in the field.
The Fifth Union Regiment of Tennessee Infantry was organized at Barboursville, Ky., by Col. James T. Shelley, of Roane County, in March, 1862. As a part of Spear's brigade it participated in the operations. around Cumberland Gap during the summer of 1862. also in the retreat from that place, and subsequently in the battle of Stone River. It was present at Chickamauga, and took an active part in the battle of Mission
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
9
Ridge. In the Georgia campaign it formed a part of Manson's brigade, and with the remainder of the Twenty-third Corps returned to fight HIood before Nashville.
The organization of the Sixth Union Regiment of Tennessee Infant- ry was begun in the early part of March, 1862, by Col. Joseph A. Cooper, at Barboursville. Ky., and, like most of the other regiments from Tennessee, was composed mainly of Unionist refugees. On April 23. four companies being completed, a lieutenant-colonel, Edward May- nard, was appointed. By May 1 three other companies were completed and the following field and staff officers had been appointed: William C. Pickens, major; Henry H. Wiley, quartermaster; William Cary, quar- termaster-sergeant; Ayres Maupin, surgeon, and Henry W. Parker, adjutant. The regiment actively participated in the opening movements of the Seventh Division of the Army of the Ohio, under Gen. G. W. Morgan, in the vicinity of Cumberland Gap, where it remained until September 17, 1862, when it took up the line of march in Morgan's fa- mous retreat to the Ohio River. After being refitted it remained at Gal- lipolis, Ohio, until November 11, when the brigade to which it was attached was ordered to Nashville. During the battle of Stone River it was detailed as an escort for an ammunition train for Rosecrans' army. A short distance from Nashville it was attacked by the Confederate cav- alry under Wheeler, who was immediately repulsed with considerable loss. It remained at Murfreesboro until April, 1863, when it was at- tached to the First Brigade, Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, and from that time until September, was employed in drilling and scout- ing in the vicinities of Carthage, Alexandria and McMinnville. About September 10, it crossed the mountains and moved toward Chattanoo- ga, arriving in time to participate in the close of the battle of Chicka- mauga, as a part of Granger's reserve corps. The regiment was then stationed on the river above Chattanooga until it joined the forces that moved to the relief of Burnside at Knoxville. It was engaged in the campaign of East Tennessee during the following winter. In April, 1864, having been transferred to the Second Division, Twenty-Third Army Corps, Department of the Ohio, it moved to join Sherman in his campaign to Atlanta. In this it took an active part, losing heavily at Resaca. After the capture of Atlanta the brigade was ordered to report to Gen. Thomas at Nashville, and was located at Johnsonville and Duck River until the advance of Hood compelled a retreat. The regiment reached Nashville by the way of Charlotte and Clarksville, and partici- pated in the battles around that city on the 15th and 16th of December. It was then transferred to North Carolina and joined Sherman's forces
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
at Goldsboro, where it remained until March 3, 1865. The regiment was then returned to Nashville and was mustered out on April 27, 1865, having served a few days over three years.
The Seventh Union Regiment of Tennessee Infantry was never or- ganized, and the companies raised for it were transferred to other reg- iments.
The Eighth Union Regiment of Tennessee Infantry was recruited from East Tennessee exiles and refugees at Nicholsville, Lexington, Camp Dick Robinson and other points in Kentucky, by Col. Felix A. Reeve, assisted by John B. Brownlow and H. H. Thomas. The work of recruiting was begun in the fall of 1862, but owing to the fact that sev- eral cavalry regiments, which were more popular with the foot-sore refu- gees, were proposed at the same time, volunteers for infantry service were not numerous, and it was not until August 1563, that the regiment. numbering about 700 men was organized. It was then assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-Third Army Corps, Depart- ment of the Ohio, and was present at Knoxville during the siege of that place. In April, 1864, it marched to join Sherman on his Atlanta cam- paign, in which it took a very active part, participating in every engage- ment. At Utowah Creek, near Atlanta, it was in the advance, and about 100 men of the regiment were killed and wounded in less than fifteen minutes. The Eight Regiment also bore an honorable part in the bat- tles of Jonesboro, Ga., and Columbia, Franklin and Nashville, Tenn. In January, 1865, with the remainder of the Army of the Ohio, it was transferred to North Carolina, where it participated in the actions at Fort Anderson, Town Creek and Wilmington. Col. Reeve resigned command of the regiment in July, 1864. The major of the regiment when organized was George D. La Vergne, who was promoted to lieu- tenant-colonel in October, 1863, in place of Isham Young, resigned.
The Ninth Union Regiment of Tennessee Infantry was never mus- tered into service, it being transferred and merged into other regiments. before it was completely organized.
The Tenth Union Regiment of Tennessee Infantry was organized at Nashville, about July, 1562, and was at first known as the First Tennes- see Governor's Guards. It was recruited partly in Nashville, and partly in Rutherford, Wayne, Hardin and Lawrence Counties, and was com- posed of a mixture of Americans, Irish and Germans. Until the sum- mer of 1863 the regiment did provost guard duty at Nashville, being encamped first at Fort Gillem. and afterward upon the Capitol grounds. It was then ordered out to guard the Nashville & North-western Rail- road, where it remained until the spring of 1864. During the following
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
year the regiment was divided up considerably, detachments being de- tailed for various purposes. In the spring of 1865 it was ordered to Knoxville, at which place and at Greeneville, it remained until about July, when it was returned to Nashville and mustered out. It was commanded at first by Col. A. C. Gillem, and afterward by Col. James W. Scully.
The First Union Regiment of Tennessee Cavalry was organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, November 1, 1862, with Robert Johnson as col- onel; James P. Brownlow, lieutenant-colonel; James O. Berry and Will- iam R. Tracy, majors; Pleasant M. Logan, surgeon; James H. Jones, assistant surgeon ; John P. Hotsinger, chaplain; Charles H. Bentley adju- tant; John H. James, quartermaster: McK. C. Williams and Franklin Highbarger, sergeant-majors. The regiment was then ordered to Ten- nessee, and in the organization of the cavalry, Department of the Cumber- land was united with the First Brigade, First Division. The ensuing sum- mer, with the forces of Gen. Rosecrans, it entered on the campaign which resulted in the occupation of Tullahoma and Chattanooga, participating in engagements at Rover, Middleton, Guyer's Gap, Shelbyville and Cow- an's Station. After an expedition through northern Alabama and Geor- gia under Lieut .- Col. Brownlow, it reached Chickamauga, and participated in the three days' battle of September 18-20, 1863. It was then sent in pursuit of Gen. Wheeler, going by the way of McMinnville, Shelby- ville and Murfreesboro, a detachment being sent to Sparta. The regi- ment afterward proceeded to Kingston, Knoxville, Strawberry Plains, New Market, Dandridge and Mossy Creek. At the last two places engage- ments with the Confederate cavalry, in greatly superior force, were had. but by gallant charges under skillful leadership the regiment succeeded in escaping with little injury. It then remained in that vicinity until April, 1864, when it began a march to Resaca, Cassville, Dallas and Pine Mountain, Ga., and thence to a raid on the Macon Railroad, where an engagement occurred. £ After some hard fighting it reached the Chatta- hoochee River on August 1, and while crossing the stream was attacked by the enemy, who succeeded in taking a large number of prisoners. Col. Brownlow reached Marietta two days later with a few men and there was joined by the more fortunate fugitives. During Gen. Wheeler's raid through Middle Tennessee the regiment was in engagements with him at La Vergne, Franklin and Campbellsville, and followed him upon his re- treat to Florence. It then returned to Pulaski and had a skirmish with Gen. Forrest, after which it continued to scout along the Tennessee until after the defeat of Hood, when it went in pursuit of his forces. After a reconnoissance as far as Corinth, in January. 1865, the regiment returned to Nashville, where it was mustered out June 14, 1865.
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
-ne Second Union Regiment of Tennessee Cavalry was organized at Cumberland Gap in the months of August and September, 1962, under Col. D. M. Ray and Lient .- Col. W. R. Cook, and was composed of loyal citizens of Knox, Blount, Sevier and surrounding counties, numbering in the aggregate about 1,175 men. Shortly after the organization of the regiment Gen. Morgan began his retreat to the Ohio River, and the See- oud Cavalry, although dismounted, rendered efficient service in protect- ing the flank and rear of the retreating column. Not long after its ar- rival at Gallipolis, Ohio, it was ordered to Louisville where it was mounted and armed, and pushed on to join Rosecrans at Nashville. It arrived in time to participate in the battle of Stone River, where it lost several officers and men. From that time until the 23d of June, 1863, with the remainder of the Federal cavalry under Gen. Stanley, it was em- ployed on the front and flanks of Rosecrans army, doing severe duty. At the latter date it moved with the army from Murfreesboro to Tullahoma pursuing Bragg across the Cumberland Mountains. About July 10 it was ordered to report to Gen. Sheridan for special duty, and was em- ployed in the vicinity of Bridgeport, Alabama, and Chattanooga until the early part of September, when it rejoined the cavalry command under Gen. Stanley and participated in the battle of Chickamauga. After do- ing some escort duty it was ordered to Washington and Kingston, and assisted in the defense of the latter place against Gen. Wheeler. It was then ordered to Nashville, hastily refitted, and forwarded to Gen. Will- iam S. Smith at Memphis for an expedition into Mississippi, in the course of which it participated with credit in engagements at Okolona, West Point, Tallahatchie River and elsewhere. On its return to Nash- ville in March, 1864, Col. Ray having resigned, Maj. W. F. Prosser was commissioned lieutenant-colonel and placed in command. In the June following the Second, Third and Fourth Regiments of Tennessee Cavalry, with Battery A of the First Tennessee Light Artilery, were ordered to North Alabama and remained on duty in that district until the end of the year. In the numerous engagements with the Confederate cavalry dur- ing that time the Second Cavalry displayed great gallantry, and received the commendation of all the general officers under whom it served. In the pursuit of Hood's retreating army the command to which it was at- tached marched 250 miles in seven days and nights of unusually severe weather, and during that time were engaged in six different actions, capt- uring a large number of prisoners and material of every description. From January to July, 1865, when it was mustered out, the regiment was on duty at Vicksburg and New Orleans.
The organization of the Third Union Regiment of Tennessee Volun-
3
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
teer Cavalry was commenced at Cumberland Gap, by Maj. William C. Pickens, of Sevier County, acting under authority from Gov. Johnson. The first recruits were received August 10, 1562, and at the evacuation of that post by Gen. Morgan, only one company had been completed. This company shared in the retreat to Ohio and thence went to Loui -- ville, where it was joined by the recruits of Companies B. C. D and E. These companies were ordered to Nashville as guards for government stores, arriving December 24, 1862, when they were temporarily attached to Gen. Spears' brigade. They were then ordered to the front and parti- cipated in the battle of Stone River. On January 27, 1863, the five companies were mustered into service at Murfreesboro, and the remain- der of that year was spent in scouting and skirmishing with the enemy through various parts of Middle Tennessee. During that time four more companies were recruited and mustered into service. About De- cember 25, 1863, the regiment under the command of. Lieut .- Col. Duff G. Thornburgh was attached to a brigade of cavalry under Col. D. M. Ray, of the Second Tennessee Cavalry, and marched upon the expedi- tion into Mississippi, participating in all the engagements of that cam- paign. While at Colliersville, Tenn., in February, 1864, Lieut-Col. Thornburgh turned over the command of the regiment to Maj. John B. Minnis, and soon after tendered the resignation of his command. which was reluctantly accepted. The regiment returned to Nashville in March and remained there until April 10. From that time until September, as a whole or in detachments, it was engaged in scouting or skirmishing. On September 24 and 25, 1864. the entire regiment with the exception of 15 officers and some 200 men, were captured at Athens and Sulphur Brook Trestle, by the Confederates under Gen. Forrest. The captured officers were exchanged December 15. The privates were exchanged at- Jackson, Miss., and on April 27, following, the steamer "Sultana," having them with a large number of other troops on board, blew up near Mem- phis, killing instantly 174 members of the regiment and mortally wound- ing a number of others. The remainder of the regiment was mustered out June 10. 1865.
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