USA > Tennessee > The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and early western history, including a chronological summary of battles and engagements in the western armies of the Confederacy > Part 3
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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 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
* U. S. Official Report, 1929.
VOL. I, NO. 1 .- 2.
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THE ANNALS OF THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE
the joke quite good humoredly, and did not appear more discomposed by the loud laugh which greeted the sally, than he was a few days be- fore, when the Yankee sharp-shooters were making the minnie bullets sing around his ears. At 10 o'clock, the enemy having failed to come to time, we were allowed to drag our weary limbs out to our camps. There being only one tent to the company, we had to stand out in the wet all day and part of the night, when, to our great relief, the wind changed to the north, and the rain, which had been falling for forty-eight hours, ceased.
Jan. 5 .- Yesterday being Sunday, and no enemy appearing, we had a day of comparative rest. In the morning we were marched into town for fear the Yankees might return and attempt to land under cover of their gunboats, but five minutes after our arrival we were about-faced and moved back to camps. The day was spent in drying clothes, cleaning guns, and setting tents. The cooking is an easy job with us here, as our ration consists only of musty meal and poor, tough beef. I obtained permission this morning to go to town, and while there learned that the regiment was coming in to take a boat for Port Hudson. I write this entry on the top of the wheel-house of the "Charm," waiting for her to start.
Jan. 6 .- Last night at ten o'clock we got under way for Port Hudson, La., and the motion of the boat lulled me to sleep in a few moments. I have no distinct recollection of what occurred during the night. I awoke this morning at a wood-yard above Natchez, and, as the day was breaking, I concluded to keep awake and enjoy the scenery and the spring-like morning. Mississippi scenery has been described as a "line and a pine," and I will not attempt a better description of the lowest, flattest, and most dreary landscape in my memory. The only thing to relieve the monotony of the scenery and dullness of the journey was the bluffs at Natchez and the landing of the boat at the wharf. It was refreshing to see the natives running from their 8x10 groceries, and bringing whisky to our boys. Being on the upper deck, and stopped by a guard at each hatchway, I failed to get a supply of the " cretur," for which I am most heartily thank- ful. The boys on the lower deck were more (un)fortunate, and pro- cured a plentiful supply.
Jan. 10-Nothing of interest since the 6th. Arrived at Port Hud- son on the morning of the 7th, and were bivouaced until daylight. The regiment breakfasted on a little spoiled meal brought from Vicks
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burg ; my mess did finely on bread-mush, and "sassafac" tea. At ten o'clock we were marched to our present camping-ground, one mile from the dirty little village of Port Hudson, La. Our camp is on a hill in the midst of briers and cane, and in good weather we could make it quite a pleasant place; but since our arrival it has been rain- ing constantly, and the rich soil has become worked into a muck about a foot deep. Yesterday some men in the Third Tennessee killed three rattle-snakes in camp. Scorpions, lizzards, bugs, and green leaves are about as plentiful here now as they are in Tennessee in August. While writing, a small snake crawled up to our camp-fire, and passed between W. M. Woodward's legs.
Jan. 11 .- To-day we have another beautiful Sabbath. The boys are engaged in cleaning up guns for inspection, and as we are not in the immediate vicinity of the enemy, and have no hope of marching orders, we may expect a day of comparative idleness, which is more to be dreaded than any hardship that could be imposed, as it disposes the men to immoral practices to kill time. In two hours at least half of us will be playing cards, while a few, true to the principles of relig- ion instilled into their hearts in times past, will be reading their Bibles, or engaged in other devotional exercises. The news of the defeat of our army in Tennessee [Murfreesboro] has created quite an excitement in our camp, as nearly all of the soldiers here are from that State. We are impatient for orders to go to the defense of our own homes, and some of the men say they will go whether they get orders or not. As yet, however, good order and discipline have prevailed, and I believe will to the end.
Jan. 13 .- Yesterday we had nothing to do, and spent the day writing letters to friends and relatives at home. In the afternoon had some little excitement over a report that the small-pox was in our regiment, and that we would be sent several miles away from other camps and put in quarantine. I paid but little attention to it at first, thinking it originated as camp rumors generally do, but early this morning orders came to tear down and pack up tents and other baggage, and we were soon on the march.
The report was but too true; four or five cases of small-pox have been taken from our regiment, and we are now in quarantine, four miles from our camp of yesterday. No new cases reported to-day. We are now encamped in the midst of a magnolia forest, entirely away from any habitation, and are confined to a certain limit, beyond
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THE ANNALS OF THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE
which we dare not go, and inside of which no one is allowed to come.
Jan. 15 .- Nothing of the least possible interest to any one has transpired since our confinement in quarantine. We draw our rations, cook, eat, sleep, and play cards, occasionally varying the monotony by telling yarns, abusing the officers, and telling what we will do when we get back to old Tennessee. The latter seems to be the desire of every heart, and is so strong in some that, added to the fear of the small-pox, it has caused a dozen of Captain -'s men to take "French leave"-in other words, to desert and go home. 'Several new cases reported yesterday and to-day. I fear we will suffer greatly before we get rid of this loathsome pest. Having been well vaccinated, I dread being placed in "durance vile" for such a length of time more than I do the effect of the disease; but I may lose my life, or have my good looks spoiled. I pray God that I may escape. Even- ing .- The rain has now ceased, and the wind is blowing strongly from the north. I did not expect to find the cold so intense in this land of " everlasting green," but so it is. A few flakes of snow are now fall- ing, but melt as they touch the earth.
Jan. 16 .- After a very cold night spent in sleeplessness, I arose, determined to have something better to eat than our daily ration of coarse meal and poor beef, supplemented occasionally with a little sugar and molasses. I procured a permit from Captain Feeney, which was duly approved by Colonel Tillman, but could not pass the pickets on it: had to return a short distance and go around them, which was no easy job, considering the topography of the country. After cooning logs over the same crooked little stream some half dozen times, we (Arch Conaway and myself) found ourselves in a dense cane- brake, and then in the midst of an impassable swamp. Being lost, we struck out straight ahead, and finally came to a farm-house; asked if we could purchase any potatoes, pork, or butter, and were told "nary tater ;" pushed on to the second house, and the same question asked, and the same answer returned ; ditto at the third house and the fourth : started on return; found an aged colored individual, who agreed to steal us a small hog at night for the small consideration of ten dollars and a half. No help for it. Must have a change of diet. [A story is told of a soldier in this regiment, when at Port Hudson, which is appropriate in this connection. . He, like our author, needed a " change of diet," and slipped into a farmer's hog-pen one night to
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get it. He saw, what appeared to him, a fine large porker, lying fast asleep, and with practiced skill approached and knocked it in the head with his axe. On attempting to turn it over he found his game had been dead three or four days.]
Jan. 17 .-- Went out this morning for small hog, but couldn't find aged colored individual, so had to go back to camp porkless and in bad humor. Have spent the day in doing nothing at all, and am without energy to think on any subject except that of going home. We are in a most shameful condition here, hundreds of miles from our homes and friends [and fat hogs]. We never see a newspaper or let- ter, unless some of our Tennessee friends happen to hear of our hiding place, and bring us out these desirable articles. We are badly fed, and have no source of amusement except what is afforded by our camp-jokes and soldier-yarns. We can buy nothing of use or orna- ment, and, to crown all our miseries, we are in a quarantine which may end in the spring.
Jan. 18 .- Lee Kelly died last night of small-pox. He came down with a party of twenty-two of us some five weeks since. He was the liveliest of the party from Deckerd, Tenn., to Canton, Miss. Requi- escat in pace.
Jan. 20 .-- Yesterday my brother-in-law, Jack Smith, came in as a recruit,, and, to my great disappointment, brought me no letters. I am certainly the most unfortunate man in the regiment in that respect. I have numerous friends and relatives at home, besides a wife, whom I love better than myself, and yet I never get a letter or a message, while others who are considered as being friendless get long epistles by every one who comes. Ab. Snell, another of the men who came down with me from Tennessee, died yesterday of small-pox. He was full of life and spirits during the entire trip. God save me from such a fate! Fowler, another of my compagnons du voyage, is reported to be dying of the same vile disease. Colonel Farquharson arrived yester- day, and will take command of the regiment immediately. He is beloved by the entire command.
Jan. 21 .- Yesterday I was on guard for the first time since I went soldiering. I cannot say that I particularly like the fun, but it gives one an opportunity of thinking over past sins, and meditating new ones. To-day I have been cooking, and, to the great joy of my mess, I made a good pot of coffee out of rice and sweet potatoes. The small-pox is on the decline.
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. THE ANNALS OF THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE
Jan. 22 .- It is reported to-day that the enemy is coming up the river ; if this is the case, I will have an "item" shortly. I have been sorely distressed for something to write about since our arrival here, and a big fight would be positively refreshing. To-day the booming of heavy guns is heard down the river, but from the faintness of the sound it must be some distance off.
Jan. 23. - An anecdote is told of James B. Wilson, of the Forty- first, during the late fight at Vicksburg, which should have appeared in its proper connection. The Yankees used to deride our Tennessee boys while in prison, at Camp Morton, with the epithet of " Butter- nuts," on account of their clothing. At the fight at Chickasaw Bayou, one Tennessee regiment (the Third, I think) repulsed six or eight Fed- eral regiments, capturing five stands of colors and five hundred prison- ers, besides killing a great number. During the action the enemy's sharp-shooters killed one of our field officers, of which fact they seemed to be aware. As they were being brought in, Jim Wilson remarked, "You ran against the Butternuts, did you?" "Yes," replied a saucy fellow, "yes; and we picked out the kernels (colonels) too."
Sunday, Jan. 24 .- Our faces were considerably elongated this morn- ing by the report that John Bland, of our company, was taking the small-pox. As John circulates a good deal among the boys, we all expected to take it from him; but, after a thorough examination by Drs. McNelly and Smith, they pronounced it measles, whereupon we all regained our usual composure, except Joel Neece, who slept with Bland last night, and was too badly frightened to get over it in a moment.
Feb. 6 .- We have had no excitement since we left Vicksburg. Nothing has transpired here to cause a "yell" even. We have lived out the allotted time in quarantine, but have received no orders as yet to go back into the world again. There has been no small-pox for over twenty days, and the boys are suffering more from the confine- ment than from the pestilence. Last night was the coldest of the season. Ice formed to the thickness of a quarter of an inch. Arch Sloan, of our company, died night before last of measles.
Feb. 8 .- Yesterday we moved back into civilization, and took up quarters in a swamp near the broad Mississippi. Have a good camp- ing-ground for this country, and if we can get good rations, I think we will have a healthy regiment once more. We have been through the
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flint-mills since we went into quarantine. The men have suffered a great deal from bowel complaints, colds, and measles : some have died of small-pox, and but for the promptness of Surgeon McNelly in hav- ing us well vaccinated, and the infected sent to the pest-house, we might have had a serious time of it. We are now in better spirits, as we can see what is going on and hear the news, besides having the advantage of the sunshine and facilities for purchasing provisions, etc. While writing, I have been detailed as ship's carpenter on board of a steamboat now fitting out to capture the Federal gunboat Indianola, which passed our batteries at Vicksburg sometime since, and has been annoying our transports between this point and Red River. The attempt will be dangerous, and nothing but the exigency of the case would warrant the undertaking.
Feb. 15 .- Another week has passed over without any excitement, save what is occasioned by the preparations for the attack on the Indianola, and what is afforded by the weekly visit of the Federal gunboat Essex. This boat is said to be the best in their fleet below this point. She wastes considerable ammunition in the woods, firing at our pickets. On Thursday heavy cannonading was heard above, in which the Indianola is supposed to have a hand. The preparations for the expedition are nearly complete, and the Dr. Beatty, our flag- ship, will be ready to start in a day or two. The Forty-first Tennessee furnished twenty-five volunteers for the expedition, and of that number Captain Feeney's company furnished twelve good and true men, excepting the writer, who goes as assistant ship's carpenter, provided his detail is approved, according to the promise of Colonel Brend, who commands the " Musquitto Fleet."
[Continued in our next.]
THE KILLING OF CAPT. FREEMAN, OF FREEMAN'S BATTERY.
C. G., of Freeman's Battery, gives the following account of this affair :
J. ยท The company was moving, on the roth of April, 1863, on the Lew- isburg-Franklin pike, about four miles from the latter place. Arm- strong's Brigade had passed over the same road a short while before,
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THE ANNALS OF THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE .
and Starnes' was no great distance in the rear; but there was gaps of sufficient length to invite an attack. The enemy were seen peering over a hill to the front and rightward, and their manner ex- cited some suspicion among several persons at the rear of our column, which happened, at the time, to have the advantage of the elevation of the hill which the head of the column had already descended. Captain Freeman, being in the valley, had failed to notice the circum- stance, and was unsuspicious of the impending danger. James Neeld and myself were so thoroughly convinced of the truth of our suspic- ions, that we hurried on to get to our places, and reached our gun just as a force of the Fourth U. S. Regulars were forming a short distance off for a charge. Captain Freeman, who was some yards in advance, turned and commanded, "In battery, action right," which was re- sponded to as promptly as the scattered condition of the sections would allow. In five seconds more the guns would have been loaded and fred, but the distance of the charge was too short to make any avail- able defense. As it was, the enemy were in a few yards of. us by the time the ammunition reached the guns. Captain Freeman and those in front rode rapidly down the line in order to escape, closely pursued by the cavalry. This was the signal for all to escape who could. I mounted and followed in the same direction, mingling with the pursu- ers. Unfortunately, the caisons, in the effort to retreat, become jam- med in a narrow part of the road and effectually blocked the way, so that horsemen could not pass; otherwise, Captain Freeman and a num- ber of others might have escaped by hard riding. On reaching this point, he turned and threw up his hand, saying, "Stop your firing ; my men have surrendered ;" which was obeyed as to those here. Others had crossed the plank-fence on the left, and were making off on foot, and to these the enemy were now turning their attention. Our own cavalry were now observed not far off, and to these Captain Freeman turned, with a most longing expression of countenance, for succor ; but they seemed paralyzed by the suddenness of the attack, and, be- sides, had empty guns. It was probably five minutes before any direc- tion was given for us to go to the rear. When we were ordered to " double quick," Captain Freeman obeyed the command like the rest, and, as he was in my rear, I saw him no more. I soon broke down and fell, but a pistol leveled at my head brought me to my feet again and a double quick. At last I gave out entirely, and told my captors to shoot if they wanted to. Dr. Skelton, of our battery, happened to
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AND EARLY WESTERN HISTORY.
be passing at the time, and they hoisted me up on his horse and car- ried me off. Dr. Skelton was shot after he surrendered-the ball pass- ing through his uplifted hand and into his face, causing a serious wound.
Wm. B. Martin, of this battery, and eight or ten others, got off on foot three hundred yards, when they were overhauled and brought back. 'On nearing the pike again, he discovered a Confederate, a short distance away, relieving a Yankee of his sabre. At that instant another presented his pistol at his captor, whom he remembers as being red- headed, and he himself was admonished to get out of the way as quick as he could. He never ascertained whether his captor was killed or not. He says that Captain Freeman was shot in the mouth, and his face was badly powder-burnt.
A year or so after this affair, a Fourth Regular deserter was taken in Lincoln co., Tenn., by some Confederate Scouts, and he gave some further particulars of the death of this lamented officer. He said that . he was lamed, probably by striking his knee against some obstacle-a gun or wheel, and was unable to keep up with the rest of the prison- ers; whereupon a sergeant placed his pistol to his face and shot him dead in his tracks.
Captain Freeman was a splendid specimen of southern manhood, and was regarded by his cotemporaries as one of the best artillery officers in the service. This was the oft-expressed opinion of General Forrest.
" Captain Freeman, at the beginning of the war, was a lawyer. He entered the army, at an early moment, as a subaltern in a company of volunteers. His Artillery Company (one of the best in the service) was raised in Sumner co., Tenn. [The men composing it were from Sumner, Wilson, Davidson, and Lincoln counties.] He was a Christ- ian gentleman, standing high with Forrest, who was not easily pleased. The officers and men esteemed him greatly, and his loss, much de- plored, cast a gloom over the command. Even General Forrest wept at his grave, and all were deeply moved as this promising soldier was consigned to his last home at Spring Hill, Tenn., on the 11th of April, 1863. A staff officer, who served long with Freeman, in speaking of him as an artillery officer, observed that 'his favorite guns were his twelve pound howitzers, his preferred ammunition two thirds cannister, and his distance as close as his General would let him go.'"-Cam- paigns of Forrest's Cavalry.
This same command-the Fourth Regulars-murdered James
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THE ANNALS OF THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE
Neeld, of this Battery, at Rome, Ga., in 1865, after he had surren- dered.
We would be glad to have, from any of our readers, any further de- tails of this affair, and also a sketch of the military career of this la- mented officer. He is worthy of a fuller recognition and a higher place in our history.
COL. GRANVILLE LEWIS.
T HE copy of the Tyler (Texas) Reporter, of June 18, 1863, kindly furnished to the ANNALS by Major Winchester, of Memphis, is very interesting for its historical value, and also as a memento of those times. We are glad to put on record again the patriotism of Colonel Lewis, as shown by Major Winchester's letter and by General Donel- son's report. By the way, can any of our readers furnish us the full text of this report ? It would be a most valuable testimony to a most brilliant feat of arms on the part of Donelson's Brigade. The Reporter contains also appropriate obituary notices of Captain Samuel Gallatin Smith, of General Mccullough's staff, who was killed at the fight at Milliken's Bend, and Captain William H. Smith, who fell at Raymond, Mississippi :
"COLONEL GRANVILLE LEWIS. -- This clever gentleman and patriot arrived here a few days since. It will be remembered that he left here about eighteen months ago, for the purpose of joining Colonel Gregg's regiment at Hopkinsville, Ky. He was, however, dissuaded from this purpose by his friends, on account of his age. He served for a short time as Assistant-Quartermaster at Memphis, and afterward as an assistant at the hospitals, until the battle at Murfreesboro-all the time (except when Quartermaster) free of charge to the Government. The manner in which he conducted himself during the week's fighting at Murfreesboro will be seen from the following extract from the official report of General Donelson :
"' I cannot conclude this report without expressing my appreciation of the services of my staff. I was attended on the field of battle by the following staff officers: Captain John Bradford, my Brigade In- spector, acting as Assistant-Adjutant-General; James H. Wilkes, my
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clerk, acting as Aid-de-Camp-my Assistant-Adjutant-General, Major James G. Morton, and Lieutenant Samuel Donelson, my Aid-de-Camp, being absent on leave My volunteer Aids-de-Camp were Captain J. L. Rice, Colonel Granville Lewis, of Texas, and Henry Lindsley, of Lebanon, Tennessee. I feel that I am doing but sheer justice to ex- press my entire satisfaction with the conduct of every member of my staff, for they rendered efficient service in carrying orders with prompt- ness in the hottest of the conflict-particularly to that part of the field on the right of my brigade, which the enemy was attempting to turn during the entire day, but where he was gallantly repulsed by the de- mined bravery of my troops. Mr. Lindsley had his horse killed by a cannon-ball early in the action, and was so severely wounded himself that he had to retire from the field during the remainder of the battle. My clerk, Wilkes, had his horse killed late in the afternoon, near the Cowan House. It is but right that I should say that Colonel Lewis, the previous day, had obtained a musket, and was fully equipped to take the field in the ranks of Captain Buford's company, of the Eight Tennessee regiment, when, being informed of this fact, I invited him to take a place with me as volunteer Aid, which he readily assented to do, and conducted himself with the greatest coolness and determined bravery.'"
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THE ANNALS OF THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE
EARLY WESTERN HISTORY
INDIAN BATTLE AT ROCK ISLAND, TENN., ON THE CANEY FORK.
BODY of men from the stations in Sumner county with a company of soldiers under Lieutenant Snoddy, thirty three in all, were scouting in the neighborhood of Rock Island, in the year 1793. Just before going into camp for the night, some of the pilots discovered a bear, and it was agreed that they would drive him in the direction of the proposed camp and kill him with tomahawks instead of rifles, as a precaution against discovery by Indians, who were supposed to be in the vicinity. The pursuit began at once, and was getting hot when the hunters ran unexpectedly on a camp of sixty Indians. The latter, being taken by surprise, took refuge in the high rocky island in the river. Their camp was quickly plundered and the facts reported to the main body, now a short way off. It was decided to go up out of the cane and brush and occupy a high, open timbered hill in the vicinity.
Guards were put out, but there was no sleep in either camp. The Indians were greatly enraged at the loss of their effects, and an earnest pow-wow could be plainly heard going on during the night at the island. The chiefs were haranging their men to get their courage up to attack the whites, whose position was soon made known by the neigh- ing of some horses which were in the party. A little before day, Lieu- tenant Snoddy suggested to William Reid that they had better begin their retreat ; this was strenuously opposed by Reid, who gave as a reason that it was better to receive the Indians from a chosen position and fight it out there, than to be taken at a disadvantage on the march. This advice was founded on good grounds from knowledge of Indian character, and was adopted.
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