History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A., Part 9

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 9
USA > Tennessee > Carter County > History of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A. > Part 9


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41


When they saw the honored flag they had not seen for years."


When this news was received in Carter and Johnson Counties men and women gave expression to their happi- ness with tears and shouts of joy. We will relate an instance in point. One night a certain prominent Union man who had been accused of bridge burning, and had been long in hiding, was looking westward when he saw


TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.


colored lights flashed upon the sky. These were probably signals, but this man knowing nothing about army sig- nals at that time, threw up his hands and shouted, "Glory to God, the Almightly has given signs in the heavens that the red, white and blue shall prevail and the Union shall be saved!" This same man made a vow that he would neither shave off his beard nor have his hair cut until the Yankees came into East Tennessee, which he faithfully kept.


When the Federal forces reached Johnson's Depot, (now Johnson City) hundreds of Union men from John- son and Carter Counties saw the "Yankees" for the first time. Believing they had come to stay they no longer tried to conceal their happiness and greeted them with the greatest demonstrations of joy, but when they began to fall back, gloom and sadness took posession of their hearts.


Gen. Burnside, who had established his headquarters i1; Knoxville, was looked upon by the loyal people of East Tennessee almost as a Saviour.


After the battle of Chickamauga Gen. Longstreet was detached with a Confederate army 20,000 strong to drive Gen. Burnside out of East Tennessee. This necessitated the calling in of the Federal forces from upper East Ten- nessee to the defense of Knoxville. Hence on the 24th of September they began falling back towards Knox- ville, leaving the people in the Eastern counties in mucli worse condition than if they had never come.


ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT.


It now became necessary for every Union man who had shown any respect for the Federals, or "Yankees," as they were called, to leave the country. Thousands had already gone, and most of those who had remained had been subject to greater danger and hardships than even active military service would have entailed. Many boys 14, 15 and 16 years old at the beginning of the war, were now old enough, and were eager to join the army. The leading men in Carter and Johnson Counties, now


II2


HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT


that an opportunity had come, and knowing they could no longer remain at home to protect their families and as- sist the families of those already in the field, upon hear- ing of the advance of Gen. Burnside's army, began to re- cruit men for the Federal service, and one or two com- panies were partially formed and organized in the moun- tains. There had been no time since the beginning of the war when the Federal Government needed troops worse than at this period, and though a single regiment was but an insignificant fraction of the vast army that was now battling for the Union, every patriot felt that he could no longer withhold his services with honor to himself. While irany loyal men had already joined the Federal army, and were fighting their country's battles on many battle-fields, the men who were now to compose the Thirteenth Regi- ment of Tennessee Union Cavalry had rendered impor- tant service in many ways. They had burned the bridge, engaged in the Carter county rebellion, and by their pres- ence at home, had kept a large force of rebels constantly engaged in watching them. When reminded in a pleasant way by some of our comrades who joined the army at an earlier date, that we did not go into the service until the war was nearly over, we tell them that is true, and a great pity, too, as the Rebellion did not begin to collapse until the "Thirteenth" entered the field. Even after this regi- ment left Carter County there were Union men left there who did as noble service as those in the field, in caring for the families of the soldiers and feeding many of them, and protecting and advising them as far as they could. Mention will be made of many of these brave men in the chapter of "Heroes and Heroines."


Col. John K. Miller, of Carter County, was authorized to raise a Regiment of Cavalry by Governor Johnson. Col. R. R. Butler, of Johnson County, was also author- ized to raise a Regiment of Cavalry. Col. A. D. Smith, J. W. M. Grayson, Samuel E. Northington, J. N. Norris and others of Johnson County, and H. C. Smith, C. C. Wilcox, L. W. Fletcher, William and D. B. Jenkins and others of Carter County, were all active at this time in


.


LIEUT. RICHARD L. WILSON, R. Q. M. (See page 279.)


GEN. ALVIN C. GILLEM. (See page 151.)


II3


TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.


enlisting men for the army. It was not long until several hundred men were enlisted. Among the men enlisted were quite a number of loyal men from Western North Carolina, some of whom had done service in the Carter County rebellion, and now learning that Burnside had occupied East Tennessee came to join the Union stand- ard.


The Federal forces, under Gen. Shackelford, Gen. S. P. Carter, Col. Foster and others, had advanced as far east as Abingdon, Virginia, driving in the rebel pickets at that place when they were ordered back to the defense of Knoxville.


The men who had been recruited for the 12th Ten- nessee Cavalry (afterwards changed to the Thirteenth) joined the retreating Federal forces at Johnson's Depot and Jonesboro and fell back with them to Greeneville, Tenn.


Having drawn our first rations at the latter place from the United States Government, as well as frying pans and some old Springfield rifles, we date the beginning of our service at Greeneville, and the time September 30th, 1863, and take the liberty henceforth to use the first per- sonal pronoun being now a part of the organization soon to be mustered into service as the Thirteenth Regiment of Tennessee Cavalry, U. S. A.


On the night of September 30th the enemy were ac- tively pushing our forces. Equipped now with frying pans and old rifles we began our first retreat, in the night. Rumors of fighting, verified by the sound of musketry in our rear, was a new experience to most of us, and some- what alarming. Though not yet mustered into service, like young Prince Napoleon at Sedan, we were receiving "the baptism of fire ;" but we reached Bull's Gap in safety, and with no loss except frying pans and perhaps a few muskets that some of us threw away to accelerate our speed.


Here we rested, little thinking that this dreary-looking place was to cut such a figure in the future history of our Regiment. Such of the frying pans as had not been


114


HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT


thrown away in our flight from Greeneville were brought into use.


On the night of Oct. 2d we were loaded into some old flat cars and taken to Strawberry Plains where we arrived just before daylight. The nights were growing cold now, and using the tactics of Col. Woolford, "we scattered out" and "huddled up" in straw piles, or any old barns or houses that would afford us a place to take a little rest and sleep.


The next day, learning we were to remain here for sometime, the men set about erecting rude huts or shan- ties out of such material as they could find, to protect them from the rain and the sun, which, at mid-day, still poured its effulgent rays upon the shadeless plains with uncomfortable warmth. We were without equipments of any kind, except the muskets, and what were left of the frying pans, and such blankets as we had brought from home. Some of the men had also brought their horses with them when they left home.


We were at this time dependent, to a great extent, on foraging for subsistance for ourselves and horses, that, too, in a country that had been largely stripped by both armies. Men unused to cooking made most amusing and ridiculous efforts to prepare their meals and keep their scanty wardrobes in order, with the very few of the neces- sary conveniences for this purpose. We were a motley crowd, presenting little appearance of soldiers, or giving little promise that we ever would be.


It might be in order just here to compare our home- leaving with that of our comrades of the North, or the Confederate soldiers in the South.


They were usually uniformed, equiped and at least par- tally drilled in camps near their homes. They generally spent several weeks in camp, provided with tents and all the accessories to make a soldier's life as comfortable as posible. Their friends visited them, often bringing deli- cacies to eat and little mementoes of love. When they were ordered to the front they were presented with beauti- ful banners, often the handiwork of fair and loving


II5


TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.


hands ; large crowds gathered at the railroad stations, or places of embarkment, to bid them goodby; and with the sound of music and amidst the waving of flags, with the kisses of loved ones warm upon their lips, and the bless- ings of parents, wives, sisters and sweethearts they were speeded on their journey in comfortable coaches.


How different with us! Hastily getting together a few articles of clothing, a blanket, and perhaps a little lunch, if we had the time, we hurriedly left our homes. With a hasty kiss and pressure of our loved ones to our hearts we were gone. Tramping over rugged roads, toil- ing over hills-foot-sore and weary, our first introduc- tion to military service was the sound of musketry, and the roar of artillery.


The time was spent at Strawberry Plains in making such efforts as we could to maintain discipline and order as far as possible without any authorized officers, and in making ourselves as comfortable as we could. Recruiting officers were sent back and men were continually joining us from the upper counties and Western North Carolina.


THE REGIMENT PARTIALLY ORGANIZED.


While we were at Strawberry Plains Gen. Burnside and his staff went east on the train, the Union forces not having all fallen back yet as far as Knoxville.


Col. Miller now had perhaps 500 or 600 men who had been recruited for the 12th Tennessee Cavalry. These men were mostly from Carter and Johnson Counties, some from Western North Carolina and a few from other counties in East Tennessee. Alexander D. Smith, of Johnson County, was the choice of the Regiment for Lieutenant-Colonel, and Johnson County being entitled to that position he received the appointment.


While the service of the Field and Staff dated from October 28, owing to some delay in obtaining a muster- ing officer, they were not mustered until November.


In the meantime, Col. A. D. Smith, who had been serving as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment, was taken seriously ill and died at the home of Mr. McBee at


116


HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT


Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, November 3, 1863. Much regret was expressed throughout the Regiment upon learning of the death of a man who was well known and held in high esteem by all the Carter and Johnson county men.


Hamilton C. Smith, of Carter county, a brother of Col. A. D. Smith, had the appointment of Major in the Regiment, but was taken sick with fever at Strawberry Plains, and never became able to serve. He was after- wards Chancellor of the First Chancery Division of Ten- nessee for many years, and was among the most promi- nent citizens of East Tennessee. He has been dead (1902) a number of years.


Upon the death of Colonel Smith, Colonel R. R. But- ler's recruits were attached to the Regiment and he was commissioned and mustered as Lieutenant-Colonel. The number of the Regiment was changed to the Thirteenth.


The following are the names and rank of the officers of the Field and Staff of the Thirteenth Regiment of Ten- nessee Volunteer Cavalry, mustered into the service of the United States at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, by Captain Ogden, U. S. Mustering Officer, to date from October 28, 1863, and to serve three years, or during the war.


FIELD AND STAFF.


John K. Miller, Colonel.


Roderick R. Butler, Lieutenant-Colonel.


James W. M. Grayson, Major.


Brazillias P. Stacy, Adjutant.


James H. Conkling, Quartermaster.


Joel H. Williams, Commissary.


William H. Matlock, Surgeon.


James M. Cameron, Asst. Surgeon.


Alfred T. Donnelly, Sergeant-Major.


Charles Lefler, Commissary Sergeant.


Larkin P. Blackburn, Hospital Steward.


Oliver C. Butler, Saddler Sergeant.


Jordan J. Heck, Blacksmith Sergeant.


II7


TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.


At this time few of the companies had a sufficient num- ber of men to entitle them to a full complement of officers, hence the Regiment was not fully organized until it reached Camp Nelson, Ky. The names of the company officers with rank and date of muster will appear with the rolls of the companies.


Our officers and men were ignorant of the arts of war, and knew very little about military rules and disci- pline. A few were elected to office under the impression that having attended the old militia musters they might be useful in drilling the men, but the tactics used in the old muster days were now out of date, and antiquated, and these men were found to be not only useless as drill- masters, but found it most difficult to acquire the new methods of drill laid down in the modern tactics. There were a few men with us, however, who had seen service and were very useful at this time. Among these men were Patrick F. Dyer, who had been captured at the first battle of Bull's Run, taken to Saulsbury prison and made his escape into East Tennessee just before the organiza- tion of the Regiment.


Col. John K. Miller, who had always been a civilian, and was therefore inexperienced in military affairs, upon the recommendation of Gen. Samuel P. Carter, ap- pointed as his Adjutant B. P. Stacy, who had seen service as Sergeant-Major of the 7th Ohio Cavalry. Adjutant Stacy joined us at Strawberry Plains and proved a most gallant and efficient officer, as will appear later on.


The Regiment made some progress in drill and disci- pline while at the Plains, and the verdancy that charac- terizes the new recruits began to wear off to some extent.


An extended notice of the death of Col. A. D. Smith will appear among the "Sketches of Officers" in another chapter. Other deaths in the Regiment at Strawberry Plains were privates David N. Gourley and James Williams. The latter assisted in burning the bridge at Zollicoffer. Both were brave boys and were the first of the Regiment to die.


Gen. Burnside fell back to Knoxville and began to


118


HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT


make preparations for the defense of the city, which was threatened by Gen. Longstreet. There were no Federal troops east of us now, placing us in an extremely serious situation. After some fighting at Kingston and Camp- bell's Station Burnside fell back to Knoxville, and Long- street, following, invested the city. We were only 18 miles distant, and a small force either from Longstreet's army, or any rebel force that might come from the east were liable to capture us at any moment. Being practic- ally unarmed we were in no condition to defend ourselves against any armed force, however small.


In this dilemma several days passed, leaving us in great suspense, knowing if we were captured most of us having been conscripted would be treated as deserters from the Confederate army.


Col. Miller, appreciating the danger of the situation, called a council of the officers and it was determined to send a detachment of men through Gen. Longstreet's lines to Knoxville to advise Gen. Burnside of the situation, and ask for instructions and orders. Volun- teers were called for and a number of men readily as- sented to make the dangerous trip. Lieut. D. B. Jenkins, of Company C, and Lieut. B. F. Ferguson, of Company F, volunteered to lead the detachment. This detachment, numbering about 20 men, left Strawberry Plains about 4 o'clock p. m. on the 21st of November and made its way down the Holston river, reaching the vicinity of the enemies' lines at a point four miles east of Knoxville. Lieuts. Jenkins and Ferguson ascertained from Union people in the vicinity the position of the enemy, and se- lecting the weakest point in his line charged the position and succeeded in reaching the city, and reported to Gen. Burnside. Receiving instructions these men again made their way through the enemies' lines back to Strawberry Plains, arriving there in safety at II o'clock P. M. on the same day.


Gen. Burnsides gave Col. Miller instructions to either make his way to Knoxville, or take the Regiment to Camp Nelson, Ky., by way of the Cumberland Gap.


I19


TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER ·CAVALRY.


Knoxville was now closely invested, and the Federal army reduced to short rations. On the one hand, the possibility of being captured in the attempt to reach Knox- ville and our men, most of whom had been conscripted in the Confederate army, treated as deserters, or, escaping this contingency, Knoxville itself falling into the hands of the enemy. On the other hand we were illy prepared to make the long journey to Kentucky in the cold weather, now approaching, most of us on foot, poorly clad and without tents or other protection from the cold.


After some discussion is was at length decided to make our way to Camp Nelson. Rev. Wm. Rogers, of Knox- ville, an ex-chaplain of the Mexican War and a Union man of unquestioned courage, was sent out with Lieut. Jenkins to pilot us into Knoxville, and when we decided to go to Camp Nelson he went with us as far as New Market, Tenn. We left Strawberry Plains about 12 m. o'clock on the night of November 21, 1863, carrying with us our few effects-some on foot, others on horseback- and began the toilsome march of 170 miles over rough roads, across rugged mountains, through mud and rivers and streams and without rations or any adequate protec- tion from the weather.


I 20


HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT


CHAPTER XIII.


March to Camp Nelson .- Without Shelter or Rations .- Much Suffering and Hardships on the Way .- Mid-Winter .- Cold and Rain and Snow .- Towns Passed Through .- Incidents on the Way .- Our Appearance.


After leaving Strawberry Plains at night, we reached Newmarket, Tenn., early on the morning of the 22d, got breakfast, and crossing the Holston river at Nancy's Ferry, proceeded to Bean's Station, where we arrived that evening. Here we learned that Gen. Wilcox, who was guarding the Cumberland Gap with a brigade of Indiana troops, had blockaded the road through the Gap of Clinch Mountain. We rested here and procured some food for the men and feed for the horses. Sending the mounted men and wagon-train under Lieut. Ferguson via Powder Spring Gap, the remainder passed around the blockade, crossed the Clinch mountain and Clinch river and halted four miles from Tazewell, Tenn. Here we procured some supplies and moved up to Tazewell, where we camped for the night, the 23d of November.


On the 24th we reached the highest elevation of the Cumberland Gap, where we remained all night without food. Here a stone was pointed out that was said to mark the place where the three States-Tennessee, Ken- tucky and Virginia-touched each other. Leaving here on the morning of the 25th we marched all day in a cold, drizzling rain, wading streams, with nothing to eat, cold, wet, hungry and tired, we reached the Cumberland river, crossed at Cumberland Ford, and went into camp. It was still raining, and the men sought shelter under the projections of ledges of rocks, and having procured scanty rations of corn-meal and pork, baked bread on flat rocks, or fried the dough in grease and ate it with much


121


TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.


relish, only regretting they did not have more of it. We resumed our journey the next morning, marching a few miles to an old mill where we secured a further supply of corn-meal and finished our breakfast, moving in the after- noon to within a few miles of Barboursville, Ky., where we remained over night, still subsisting mostly on corn- meal. This road had recently been traveled over by Burn- side's army, and stripped of everything for several miles on each side of the road. On the 27th we straggled into Barboursville, where we drew bread and meat and fared sumptuously. We were joined at this place by our horse- men and wagon-train. Quite a number of our men had taken sick from the exposure of the march. They were quartered in an old building and cared for as well as pos- sible. In the night this building caught fire, creating some aların and excitement, but the flames were ex- tinguished without serious results.


Leaving Barboursville the 28th nothing occurred of in- terest on that day, or until we reached Camp Pitman, in a snow-storm, on the evening of the 29th and went into camp in an old field full of dead trees, which the men began to cut down for fire-wood It must be remembered we were without tents and poorly clad, and only such blankets as we had brought with us from home. After cooking our suppers, and weary from long marching, the wet ground offered poor accommodation for a night's repose ; and from appearances our covering was to be "the beautiful snow." However, we divided into quartettes and prepared to make the best of our unpromising situa- tion. Some one suggested that we try the "Buntin Plan," and explained that Buntin had been a great bear hunter, and in bad weather would build a fire before night to dry and warm the ground, then move the fire and make his bed where the fire had been. So our party fell into the plan, removed our fire some distance, scraped away the coals and ashes, then spread down our blankets, removed our coats for pillows, and lying down with other blankets over us, soon went to sleep. We slept soundly for awhile, but waking up in the middle of the night we


122


HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT


found the steam from the hot ground had given us a "Quaker bath." Our clothes were wringing wet. There was nothing left us now but to get up and shiver around the fire, turning first one side and then the other, while the cold wind pierced us through and through. The mistake we made was that the fire should have been re- moved long enough to give the hot steam time to escape before lying down. We long remembered our experience with the "Buntin plan," but never repeated the experi- ment.


We left Camp Pitman the next morning, November 30th, crossed Wild Cat Mountain and the river of the same ferocious name. Roads were terrible, and the dead mules left by Burnside's wagon-train were innumerable; for miles we were not out of sight of their carcasses. These were the first dead mules some of us had ever seen, and we had thought these long-eared quadrupeds were almost immortal.


The following day, December I, we reached Mount Vernon, Ky., and on December 2d the Crab Orchard, a very pretty little town. Some of us when approaching this place thought of the section of country in Carter county bearing that euphonious name. Here we pro- cured supplies and rested for the night. The 3d we reached Lancaster, Ky., where we met Lieut. D. P. Wil- cox, of the 2d Tennessee Mounted Infantry, who had been severely wounded at Mill Springs, Ky., and was now, with his family, living temporarily at Lancaster. We finally reached Camp Nelson on the 4th day of De- cember, 1863. This was indeed a haven of rest to weary pilgrims. On our march some of our men had to be left on the way sick, one or two never to join us again. Many took sick at Camp Nelson after this mid-winter march. Here we hastened to build Winter quarters, drew rations regularly and were paid for two months service, and twenty-five dollars bounty. Our condition was now comparatively pleasant. Our greatest anxiety was for our folks at home. Knowing that Longstreet was winter- ing in East Tennessee with his large army, and that our


123


TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.


people were still being harassed by the rebel soldiers- knowing too, that they were deprived of all the luxuries, and many of what was considered the necessaries of life, we could scarcely see how they would get through this dreadful Winter. But for this we would have been com- paratively happy.


The 4th Tennessee Infantry was at Camp Nelson, and among them we found many Carter and Johnson county friends which was a source of great pleasure to us. Among these were L. F. Hyder, D. A. Taylor, F. S. Singletary, Allan Blevins and many other Carter county friends.


The cold New Year's day of 1864, long remembered as the coldest day ever known in that climate, found us snugly ensconced in our winter quarters, but the cold was so extreme that all suffered, more or less; and it was reported that a number of men, teamsters and others, who were out in the rain the previous day, froze to death that night.


One sad incident occurred in our camp. Major Mc- Clellan, of Greene county, Tenn., who had been trying to effect an arrangement to secure a position in our Regi- ment, had put up a tent and he and his son, Oliver, occu- pied it. The Major had left a few days before on re- cruiting, or other service, leaving the young man to oc- cupy the tent alone on the cold night of January Ist. In the night the young man, Oliver McClellan, awoke almost frozen and went to Lieut. Conkling's tent. Doctor Cam- eron administered stimulants and sent him to the hospital, and tried in every way to save him, but he died during the next day. He was a bright, intelligent youth, 16 or 17 years old. His sad death, away from home and friends, was much regretted.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.