History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A., Part 23

Author: Scott, Samuel W; Angel, Samuel P., 1840-
Publication date: [c1903]
Publisher: Philadelphia : P. W. Ziegler
Number of Pages: 576


USA > Tennessee > Johnson County > History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A. > Part 23
USA > Tennessee > Carter County > History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A. > Part 23


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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He is now engaged in farming and merchandising near Elizabethton, Tenn.


CORPORAL HENRY LINEBACK, CO. C. (A boy soldier.)


Henry Lineback, of Company C, was among the youngest if not the very youngest soldier in the Thir- teenth Tennessee Cavalry. He was in his fifteenth year when he enlisted and small to his age. When taken to the mustering officer he stood on a small box that made him look as tall as the other boys-the mustering officer not perceiving the deception, mustered him in. This was June 3, 1864, and from that day until the Regiment was mustered out of service Henry never flinched from any duty. He drilled, stood guard and did all other du- ties, carrying his carbine and sabre and was always among the first on the firing line and the last to leave it.


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He was in every skirmish and battle in which the Regi- ment was engaged, and went through the Stoneman raid into Virginia in the winter of 1864.


He was also on the long raid through Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia in the spring of 1865, when the command was in pursuit of President Davis. In the fight at Witheville, Va., it fell to his lot to hold horses while the rest of the company fought, being a fourth man, but he exchanged places with a comrade and fought on the firing line.


Henry Lineback belongs to a fighting family, having had two brothers and three uncles in the Federal army.


He was born in Johnson county, Tennessee. After the war he engaged in the mercantile business at Crab Orchard, Tenn., after spending two years in the West. He lived in Mitchell county, N. C., twelve years and rep- resented that county in the legislature of the State. He came back to Crab Orchard, Tenn., and from there to Lineback, Carter county, Tenn., his present home. He married Miss Lottie Wilson, of Carter county. They have ten children living and one dead. "Henry," as he is known to everybody, has been "on the move" since boyhood and is a successful business man and has an elegant home and large farm situated on Elk Creek near the beautiful Watauga river, where he entertains his friends and comrades in royal style with the best the land affords.


CAPT. R. H. LUTTRELL, CO. D.


R. H. Luttrell, to the best of our information, was a native of Johnson county and was born in 1828. He was among the leading citizens of his county and took an active part in behalf of the Union cause.


He assisted in recruiting Company D and was elected captain in the organization, and commissioned and mus- tered to date November 8th, 1863.


He died of fever January 20, 1864, contracted, no doubt, on the march from Strawberry Plains. Though


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he did not live to see any active service in the field he had impressed himself upon the officers and men of the Regiment as a man of sterling worth and character and would have done honor to himself and the cause he had engaged in and sworn to serve.


CAPT. ALFRED T. DONNELLY, Co. D.


Captain Donnelly was born at Taylorsville, now Moun- tain City, Tenn., March 9th, 1838. He is the son of Richard and Rebecca Donnelly. The Donnelly's are a highly respected family of Johnson county, noted for integrity, energy and patriotism. Captain Donnelly at- tended school at Boone's Creek Seminary, and com- mencd the study of law under Judge R. R. Butler in 1861. His law course was interrupted by the out- break of the war, when he promptly took sides for the Union and was engaged in the Carter county rebellion and exposed to all the dangers and hardships common to the well known Union men of Carter and Johnson counties.


He enlisted as a private in Company D, was promoted to Sergeant-Major of the Regiment January 1, 1864, to First Lieutenant of the company July 1, 1864, and to Captain April 22, 1865. Captain Donnelly's frequent promotions are a sufficient comment upon his popularity as a man and his usefulness as an officer.


He was with the Regiment in most of its campaigns and battles, and remained with it until its muster-out at Knoxville, Tenn., September 5, 1865.


Upon his return to Mountain City in 1865, Captain Donnelly completed his law course and formed a part- nership with Hon. R. R. Butler in 1866, which con- tinued until the death of the latter in 1902.


Capt. Donnelly has been honored with a number of positions of trust and honor, having been appointed No- tary Public, Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue,


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Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue, and Superintend- ent of Public Instruction for Johnson county. He is still an honored citizen of Mountain City, Tenn.


LIEUTENANT CALVIN M. ARNOLD, CO. D.


Lieut. Arnold was born in Johnson county near Moun- tain City, January 21, 1833. He was a true and loyal Union man through all the vicissitudes of war.


Lieut. Arnold was promoted to First Sergeant of Company D and filled that office well until promoted to First Lieutenant June 22d, 1865. He was in all the campaigns of the Regiment except the first Stoneman raid into Virginia. After his promotion to First Lieu- tenant, his Captain, being then unable for duty, he com- manded the company in the last raid under Gen. Stone- man. He was a brave and valuable soldier and officer and was highly respected by all his comrades.


Lieutenant Arnold has resided in his native county since the war, and has served as School Commissioner, mail contractor and postmaster; having served "Uncle Sam" as soldier, mail carrier and postmaster 26 years. He still lives at his old home and is an honored and re- spected citizen.


CORPORAL ISAAC A, SHOUN, CO. D.


Corporal Alex. Shoun was born in Johnson county, Tenn., in 1843. He is descended from two old and high- ly respected families of that county, the Shoun's and the Wills's. He was raised on the farm; is now one of the most prominent and substantial of Johnson county farm- ers. His father died when he was an infant, and his mother, who was a widow, like all the Wills's was devoted to the Union. Alex, at that time scarcely arrived at the years of manhood, embraced the Union cause and was


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involved in all the diffculties and dangers of that period, and his mother was one of the noble women who aided the Union cause by feeding and caring for the refugees. Like many others of these brave women she prepared food and with her own hands bore it to her friends and relatives who were in hiding; often in the darkness of the night or in the most inclement weather. For this reason she was shamefully abused and mistreated by rebel soldiers, and her horses and property taken from her. After several ineffective attempts to reach the land of freedom where the starry banner floated, Corporal Shoun finally reached the Federal lines at Greeneville, Tennessee, and enlisted in Company D, 13th Tennessee Cavalry, Sept. 24, 1863, and thereafter became a part of the Regiment, sharing in its marches and battles to the end of the war.


Corporal Shoun was one of the "Sharp Shooters" un- der Sergeant (later Lieutenant) Peter L. Barry. He participated with the sharpshooters in the charge on the artillery at Greeneville, Tenn., Sept. 4th 1864, and re- ceived a sabre cut in the charge at Morristown, Oct. 28, 1864. He was captured in the memorable stampede from Bull's Gap, Tenn., on the night of Nov. 13th, 1864, and was marched, on foot, to Jonesboro, where he was placed in the cars to be sent to prison at Richmond, Va. At Bristol he and his brother, C. A. Shoun, jumped from the train and made their escape amidst a shower of bullets that was sent after them. They made their way in the cold and snow over the Holston Mountains to their home in Johnson county and soon afterwards re- joined the Regiment. Corporal Shoun was a model sol- dier, brave, daring and intrepid, and always ready for duty. After his discharge from the army, Sept. 5, 1865, he returned to Johnson county. He married the daugh- ter of N. G. Robinson, a prominent Union man of that county, Nov. 28, 1870, and settled down on his farm where he has since resided. There was born to Mr. and Mrs. Shoun but one child, a daughter, now Mrs. M. E. Wilson, of Ivy Spring, Johnson county, Tenn.


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ELISHA A. SHOUN, COLOR-BEARER CO. D, 13TH T. V. C.


Elisha Shoun was a mere youth of seventeen when the war came. He is a native of the County of Johnson, that sent out so many brave young soldiers to the Union army, but we can testify that among them all there were none braver or truer than young Shoun, who looked like a mere boy when he enlisted in Company D, September 24th, 1863. He was appointed Sergeant and later made color bearer of his company. He resigned the office of Sergeant, preferring the position of a private. He was later appointed Corporal. He remained with the Regi- ment until its muster-out.


CAPT. JACOB H. NORRIS, CO. E.


J. H. Norris was a native of Johnson county, an active Union man and member of the Greeneville Union Con- vention. He was commissioned Captain of Company E September 24th, 1863. He served with his company until September 5th, 1864, when he was discharged for disability.


He was a good officer and a pleasant, agreeable gentle- man and had won many friends in the Regiment.


We are not advised as to the date of Captain Norris's death, or anything concerning his history since the war.


CAPTAIN THOMAS J. BARRY, CO. E.


Thomas J. Barry was born in Johnson county, Teun .. November 22, 1835. He belonged to a large family, all of whom were patriotic Union people. He took an ac- tive part in the Carter county rebellion. He was mus- tered into service as First Lieutenant of Company E at Strawberry Plains, Tenn., September 24, 1863; was de- tailed as acting R. Q. M. and promoted to Captain of


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Company E, October 13, 1864, and continued with the Regiment until it was mustered out September 5, 1865.


Captain Barry commanded his company in the canı- paigns in East Tennessee and on the Stoneman raid in Virginia in December, 1864. He was prevented from going on the last raid under Gen. Stoneman by ill health.


Captain Barry was a valuable officer and was highly respected by the men and officers of the Regiment.


After the war he married the daughter of Captain S. E. Northington, and has resided at Mountain City, his native town, since the war.


Captain Barry has been honored by appointment and election with a number of offices, among which were Sheriff of his county, Register of Deeds, County Super- intendent of Public Instruction, Justice of the Peace, Chairman of the County Court and County Surveyor. He has been engaged in school teaching, milling and var- ious enterprises since the war, and has raised a family of ten children, the oldest 35, and the youngest 8 years old.


LIEUT. PETER L. BARRY, CO. E.


Peter L. Barry was born and raised in Johnson coun- ty, Tenn. He was born January 11, 1843. He joined the Regiment at its organization and was appointed Ser- geant in Company E. In August, 1864, he was placed in command of a company of "Sharp-shooters," made up of select men from each company. This company was distinguished for daring and bravery and did ex- cellent service on all occasions.


Sergeant Barry was promoted to Second Lieutenant for gallantry and meritorious service. He was in all the marches, skirmishes and battles in which the Regi- ment was engaged and remained in the service until its muster-out.


Since the war he has been a minister in the Christian church. He now resides at Keller's Cross-roads, Washi- ington county. Tenn.


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CAPTAIN FREDERICK SLIMP, CO. F.


Captain Slimp belongs to a well known Johnson county family and was born in that county November 26, 1824. He had arrived at manhood before the break- ing out of the Civil War and was well-known throughout the counties of Johnson and Carter.


When the civil war came up he was among the first to take sides with the Union men and gave the cause his undivided support throughout the war. His exten- sive acquaintance gave him a large influence in his na- tive county and in the neighboring county of Carter. He was looked upon as a wise counsellor and took an active part in all the plans of the Union people and was one of the delegates from Johnson county to both the Knoxville and Greeneville Union conventions. Captain Slimp shared with the Union people all the dangers and hardships of the war period up to the date of the organi- zation of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry. His promi- nence made him a special mark for the hatred of the Confederate authorities. His many adventures, like those of many other officers of the Regiment, would make an interesting story in itself.


Captain Slimp joined the Regiment at its organization and was placed in command of Company F at Strawberry Plains, Tenn., September 22, 1863, though not yet mus- tered into the service. He was in command of the com- pany on the march to Camp Nelson, Ky., at which place he was mustered as Captain, January 1, 1864. Ow- ing to continued ill health he resigned his commission in August, 1864. He was held in high esteem by the men and officers of the Regiment. His many acts of kindness in writing letters for the men who were sick or could not write, and his advice and counsel to the younger men will be remembered by many of the surviving comrades.


Captain Slimp has resided in Johnson county since the war. He represented that county in the General Assembly of the State in 1869-70, and was joint repre- sentative from Johnson and Carter counties in 1870-1.


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He was appointed circuit court clerk of Johnson county and served two years; he was again elected to that office by the people and served four years. He and his estim- able wife are now residents of the flourishing little town of Butler. Their home is a pleasant cottage inn, where the travelers may find a pleasant host and hostess and good entertainment.


CAPTAIN BAYLUS A. MILLER, CO. F.


B. A. Miller is a brother of Col. John K. Miller and was born and raised in Carter county, Tenn. He was a Union man from the beginning and crossed the moun- tains and enlisted in the Second Tennessee Mounted In- fantry May 2d, 1862. He served with that regiment until it was captured at Rogersville May 6, 1862. He made his escape on that occasion and came to the Thir- teenth Tennessee Cavalry, then at Strawberry Plains, Tenn. He was promoted to First Lieutenant of Co. B, and transferred to Gen. Gillem's staff as Aid-de-Camp, in which capacity he received special mention in General Gillem's report for his gallantry. He was promoted to Captain of Co. F, March 13, 1865, serving in that po- sition until the Regiment was mustered out. He now resides at Elizabethtown, Tenn.


LIEUT. B. B. FERGUSON, CO. F.


Benjamin B. Ferguson was born in Carter county, Tenn. He was an uncompromising Union man, brave and fearless in proclaiming his love for the old flag. He had the distinction of having the first commission issued to an officer of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry. He enlisted September 21, 1863, and was mustered October 28th, 1863.


Lieut. Ferguson was a good officer, always ready to perform every duty assigned him, and had the respect and confidence of his superior officers. He is now a resi- dent of Elizabethton, Tenn.


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LIEUT. ALFRED C. WILLIAMS, CO. F.


Alfred C. Williams was a native of Stony Creek, Carter county, Tenn., and was a true Union man.


The Adjutant-General's report gives no record of his service except that he was 2d Lieut. of Company F. We have been unable to obtain further information from his friends or relatives.


According to our recollection he was mustered into the service on the organization of the company Septem- ber 22, 1863, but we do not know the date of his resig- nation. We know that he served for a considerable time as an officer and that he performed his duties faithfully as far as his physical ability would permit. He was frequently off of duty on account of ill health.


After the war he returned to Carter county where he lived a respected citizen until his death, which occurred. at Elizabethton, Tenn., Aug. 28, 1900.


CAPT. SAMUEL WV. SCOTT, CO. G.


Was born and raised in Elizabethton, Tenn. His father, John Scott, served in the Indian War under Gen. Jackson in 1813-14. When Gen. Burnside came into East Tennessee in September, 1863, he enlisted as a pri- vate soldier at the court house in Elizabethton under Capt. C. C. Wilcox; left home on foot and went to Greeneville by way of Cherokee in company with S. P. Angel and others. On the organization of the company (G) he was elected First Lieutenant. He was detailed as acting Adjutant of the Regiment April 12th, 1864, and promoted to Adjutant, September 24th, 1864. He was in all the campaigns and battles in which the Regi- ment was engaged in East Tennessee and the Stoneman raid into Southwest Virginia in December, 1864. Upon the promotion of Major C. C. Wilcox to Major of the 2d Battalion, Adjutant Scott was in line of promotion and was commissioned and mustered as Captain of Com-


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TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.


pany G to date, March 10th, 1865. All the active ser- vice in the field performed by this officer was as acting Adjutant and Adjutant of the Regiment. He was hon- orably discharged with the Regiment September 5th, 1865, at Knoxville, Tenn.


Captain Scott was married to Miss Mary Cordelia, eld- est daughter of Hon. A. J. Fletcher, who was then Secre- tary of State of Tennessee, December 19, 1865. He en- gaged in the mercantile business in Elizabethton for a short time, removed to Gibson county, Ind., in January, 1867, where he remained until May 21, 1895, when he returned to Carter county, Tenn.


He is a Past Master in Masonry and has served as W. M. of that order. Is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and served as Commander of Wasson Post, No. 64, Owensville, Ind., and P. P. C. Nelson Post, No. 37, Elizabethton, Tenn.


Captain Scott was elected Historian of the 13th Ten- nessee Cavalry by the "Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry Association" at Butler, Tenn., in October, 1896. Il health prevented him from engaging in this work until November, 1901, when in collaboration with Comrade S. P. Angel, of Knoxville, Tenn., between whom and himself the closest ties of friendship and comradeship have existed from early boyhood, the work was begun. If, when completed and placed in the hands of his com- rades, it should meet their approbation he will consider, that though he has met many reverses in the battle of life, he has not lived in vain.


LIEUT. THOMAS C. WHITE, CO. G.


Thomas C. White was one of Carter county's most loyal citizens, and performed his duty well both as a citizen and an officer. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Co. G, October 28, 1863, and promoted to First Lieutenant March 12, 1865. He was with his com- pany on every march and in every skirmish and battle in


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which it was engaged; and commanded the company 011 the long raid in pursuit of Jefferson Davis. He was a brave soldier and a clever citizen. He was elected trustee (or Treasurer) of his county after the war. He lias been dead for a number of years.


LIEUT. JOHN M. WILCOX, CO. G.


Lieut. Wilcox was born in Carter county, Tenn., in 1845, and has spent most of his life there. He is the eldest son of the later Major C. C. Wilcox.


Tho:igh a very young man he took an active part in the Carter county rebellion and was arrested and impris- oned for his activity in the Union cause. He enlisted in Company G, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, September 24, 1863 ; was appointed Sergeant October 28, 1863, and promoted to Second Lieutenant March 13th, 1865. He was in every march, battle and campaign in which the company or Regiment was engaged as far as we can re- call. He acted a conspicuous part in the killing of Gen. Morgan at Greeneville, Tenn., Sept. 4, 1864.


He was detailed as Acting Aid-de-Camp on Col. Mil- ler's staff on the last Stoneman raid. He was a brave, active and intelligent young officer, always able for duty and willing to do his duty in the face of any danger.


He returned to Elizabethton, Tenn., and was married to Miss Margaret P. Barker of that place January 10, 1866. Three sons and three daughters were born to them, viz : Charles R., Frank N. and Roy B .; the daugh- ters were Mary Lydia, Sarah Folsom and Mamie Lynn, all of whom are living except the oldest daughter, Mary Lydia, who died May 1, 1889.


Lieut. Wilcox and his wife have successfully con- ducted the popular hotel known as the "Wilcox House" at Elizabethton, Tenn., for many years.


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CORPORAL JOHN G. BURCHFIELD, CO. G. A BOY SOLDIER.


John G. Burchfield was born near Clark's Spring, Car- ter county, Tenn., May 5, 1846, hence he was but 15 years old when he assisted in burning the Union bridge in November, 1861, and 17 when he joined the arn.v in 1863.


Though a boy in years he was a man in all that it takes to make a brave soldier, and whether we find him riding through the darkness side by side with the brave men who burned the bridge, standing his ground with the bravest at Taylor's Ford or marching and fighting with his company at Greeneville at the death of Gen. Morgan, in the charges at Morristown and Fort Brec !:- enridge and Saulsbury, and in all the marches and bat- tles in which his Regiment was engaged he is the same brave and fearless boy.


Corporal Burchfield has had a varied experience since the Civil War. He first went west and located at Athens, Ill., in January, 1866, and later removed to Illiopolis, thence to Niantic, and then to Springfield, Ill. At the latter place he was married to Miss Margaret Baum- gardner, December 10, 1868, and settled at Niantic, Ill. He removed to Kansas in 1886 and thence to Washing- ton, D. C., in December, 1890, where he resided until recently, 1902.


While in Washington he was appointed on the Capi- tol Police force until relieved by change of administra- tion, but was re-instated in 1899.


We are pleased to note that our friend has received an honorable and lucrative position in the Mountain Branch of the National Soldiers' Home for Disabled Veterans at Johnson City, Tenn.


SERGEANT JAMES W. PEARCE, CO. G.


Sergeant Pearce was born at Elizabethton, Tenn , September 17, 1846, and enlisted in the Thirteenth Ten- nessee Cavalry when he was but 17 years old. "Jimmy,"


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as he was known, was a model young soldier and was soon promoted to Sergeant, a responsible non-commis- sioned . office. He discharged his duties with courage and fidelity. His youth and amiable disposition made him a general favorite in the company.


He was with the Regiment in all its marches, skirmishes and battles, facing the hardships and dangers as heroically as the older men.


After the war he studied medicine under Dr. Michael Carriger at Morristown, Tenn., for two years. In 1869 he entered into partnership with Dr. C. P. Moses and engaged in the practice of medicine in Union county, Tennessee, for two years. He then moved to Pleasant, in Claibourne county, Tenn., where he continued the practice of medicine until 1877. In that year he removed to Tate Springs, Tenn., and attended medical lectures at Nashville, Tenn., in the medical department of Vander- bilt University. He has been practicing medicine at Tate Springs, Tenn., since his return from the University and is still enjoying a lucrative practice. He is now (1902) in his fifty-fifth year and is among the youngest living ex-Federal soldiers.


We wish to note here that Columbus P. Pearce, a younger brother of "Jimmie," came to us at Bull's Gap, Tenn., and served with Company G, (then scarcely 15 years old) and went through the Stoneman raid into Virginia in December, 1864, and made a brave little soldier, though too young to muster in.


"THE MAN ON HORSEBACK."


The cut of a cavalryman on the front cover is made from a photograph of a corporal in Company G, taken at Nashville, Tenn., just before the Regiment started for East Tennessee. The soldier was in every respect a fair repre- sentative of the brave men who won for the "Thirteenth" an honorable place among the loyal regiments of East Tennessee. He was in the charge into Greeneville on the


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morning of September 4th, 1864, and in every march, skirmish and battle in which his company was engaged He is still living, an honored and respected citizen of Carter county (not far from the line), and the "latch string hangs on the outside" to his many friends and es- pecially to every comrade of the Thirteenth.


CAPTAIN LANDON CARTER, CO. H.


Landon Carter was one among the most active support- ers of the Union cause in Carter county. He was at the burning of the Union bridge and was so conspicuous as to be easily recognized by Jenkins. He was Captain of what was known as the Turkey Town Company in the Carter county rebellion. After the rebellion he was :: marked man by the Confederate authorities and every effort was made to capture him. After many adventures he reached the Federal lines and enlisted in Company B, Fourth Tennessee Infantry, Dec. 7, 1862. He served in that regiment until February 27, 1864, when he was dis- charged to accept commission as Captain, Company H, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry. He was in most of the engagements and service in which the Regiment was en- gaged. In the fight at Greeneville, when Gen. Morgan was killed, Capt. Carter's mule that he was riding at the time was shot. He was mustered out with the Regiment at Knoxville, Tenn., September 5, 1865.




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