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 30
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A slight elevation of the ground to the rightward hid the field from view in that direction, but the heavy firing indicated that the enemy was pushing closely up there. The line occupied by the Forty-fourth Tennessee ended at its right, and the general prolongation of the rest of the line to the right began one hundred yards in the rear of this point and resumed its general parallelism. These two points were connected by an old ditch, which had been left unoccupied. The cir- cumstance that this point was undefended occurred to Lieutenant F. M. Kelso, of the Forty-fourth Tennessee, at this juncture, and he has- tily gathered up what men he could (eighteen in all) and occupied the old ditch without delay. The movement was most fortunate, for along a shallow ravine a short distance in front of the retired line lay the rem- nant of Wilcox's (Federal) Brigade, sheltered from injury in the front, but unable to go forward and unwilling to take the risk of a retreat over the open ground upon which it had advanced to the attack. Luckily it had failed to observe, or at least take advantage of the op- portunity presented of taking the right of Fulton's Brigade in reverse. The right flank of the enemy thus presented a fair mark at short range to Lieutenant Kelso's fire, which became so murderous that a number of white flags were raised in a short time, in token of surrender. On this discovery the Confederate fire ceased, and the Federals were or. dered to throw down their guns and come in. No reply being made to this demand, nor any steps taken to comply with it, the firing was resumed, when flags were again hoisted. An earnest discussion seemed to be going on in their ranks all the while, and it was evident that there was a strong party opposed to surrender. Kelso and his men now became convinced that this party was only dallying for time
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until night, which was now near at hand, should come on and allow an opportunity for escape. They, therefore, crossed their works, and, taking down the rear of the line, demanded its surrender, which was now complied with. Six stands of colors and nearly seven hundred prisoners with their arms were the fruits of this bold undertaking. The collaborator of this sketch is enabled to gather the names of only twelve of this heroic little band, to-wit : Lieutenant F. M. Kelso, Ser- geants G. W. D. Porter and J. J. Martin, Corporal Turner Goodall, who was mortally wounded in this affair, Privates George Crabtree, Ira Lipscomb, Thomas Lenehan, W. Harvey McGuire, Rufus Smith, Tom Smith, Button Smith and Aaron Tripp, all of Company B, except Corporal Goodall, who belonged to the Provost Guard of the same Regiment-the Forty-fourth Tennessee. We are particular to give their names, not only as a matter deserving record on the pages of his- tory, but because envy endeavored at the time to snatch from their brows their well-earned laurels.
The results of this first day's defense of Petersburg were glorious, and form one of the most brilliant chapters of Confederate achieve- ment. It is almost incredible that the few thousand troops engaged in the defense could have held six army corps at bay, fighting, as they were, from works hastily dug with their bayonets and only waist high. The fact can only be accounted for on the supposition that the four corps detached from the Army of the Potomac were too sore, from recent failures in this character of fighting, to press forward with spirit when the fire became warm. The Army of the Potomac, according to the returns of the United States Surgeon-General, as given in the " Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion," from May 5th to June. 12th-a period of thirty-nine days-had lost seventy- nine thousand one hundred and nine men in killed, wounded and miss- ing. Nearly this entire loss occurred in front of entrenched lines, and it is not surprising that, under such repeated chastisements, with hardly a ray of success, these men should falter at the critical moment in spite of their numbers and discipline. Looking at this battle in the light of the real facts, it is plain that the faltering began in the mind of the Federal Commander, and communicated itself from this source to his men. Soldiers quickly gather the purport of a movement and catch its prevailing spirit. Thus the advance on Petersburg was so slow and hesitating that the movement lost the spirit of real enterprise. It was too much "sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought." Its momen-
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tum was heavy from mere weight of numbers, but, after the first launch, it could not be gathered up for another that day. In fact, the ground that was gained in places was held as a matter of necessity for the purpose of shelter, from which it was unsafe to retreat during day- light. However, by the next morning the time and opportunity had been improved in entrenching.
· There were two omissions, on the part of the Federal Commander, that may be commented on here. The first has reference to the delay of his attack until late in the afternoon. At daylight he would have found little or no obstruction in the way of rifle-pits between him and Petersburg ; besides, the Confederate line, from being taken up in the darkness, would have been necessarily faulty to some extent. The second omission was his failure to extend his line so as to envelope Beauregard's flanks, instead of confining his large and badly wielded force to a narrow front. By this course he would certainly have found some weak or undefended place of entrance.
The effect of rifle, musket and artillery fire on massed lines is shown in the returns as given by the United States Surgeon-General. From .June 15th to 19th, the Federal losses are reported at ten thousand five hundred and eighty-six killed, wounded and missing.
A statement from Captain Frank Terry, of the Seventeenth Tennes- see, throws some further light on this engagement, and explains the cause of the disaster which overtook Fulton's Brigade at daylight the next morning. He says that a ravine extended along the front of the works, beginning several hundred yards in front of the right of the Brigade, and drawing gradually nearer until, on the left, it approached within sixty yards or less, where it joined with a marsh about one hundred yards in width. This marsh began as a ravine beyond the right of the Brigade (being the same in which Wilcox's Brigade was captured by Lieutenant Kelso's party), and ran along the rear of the works to its left, separating, at this point, Gracie's and Fulton's Brig- ades. Passing to the front, it joined the ravine spoken of above. Fulton's Brigade was in single rank, and the men fire or six feet apart. Seven lines of battle in succession came against the part of the works occupied by the Seventeenth and Twenty-third Tennessee Regiments, and were fired upon at the distance of over two hundred yards, as each came in view at the brow of the hill. These lines came with arms at a "right shoulder shift," and did very little firing, but took our fire in the open ground for the distance of nearly one hundred and fifty yards,
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over which they had to come before reaching the shelter of the ravine. The slaughter was terrible, particularly in General Meagher's Brigade, composing the front line, few of which, according to the statement of one of its officers on the next day, escaped wounds or death. The slope leading down to the ravine was literally blue with bodies. This point was conspicuous, and drew the fire of artillery and musketry from several different quarters.
There was no effort made to dislodge the lines in the ravine, for the want of sufficient force, Longstreet not having yet arrived. During the night, the enemy made the discovery of the wide gap between Ful- ton's and Gracie's Brigades, and by daylight had penetrated it with a large force, which worked to the rear, while another straddled the works and took down the line in the fog, enforcing surrender or flight with the bayonet, having orders not to fire a shot. As soon as I be- came apprised of the condition of affairs, I got my company back to a place of safety ; but hearing some one call out in the darkness several times, "The Seventeenth is holding the works," I ordered the men back to their places at once, supposing the expression referred to my own regiment, while I bore off to the left to rally some men and get as many as possible back into the ranks. I soon found myself sur- rounded, and gave up my sword to a Captain Hall, of Meagher's Bri- gade, who was a perfect gentleman and treated me very kindly. My company was captured at the same time. We were placed under charge of Captain Hall, who carried the prisoners to the rear at once. The ravine presented a sickening sight as we crossed it : the place was filled with dead and the desperately wounded ; on the slope beyond, it was necessary to pick our way through the dead bodies, and at the field hospital, over the hill, the victims seemed without number.
THE HANGING OF SAM. DAVIS.
BY COLONEL J. B. KILLEBREW.
HIS young man, of exemplary habits, and of a courage that nothing could quail, was the son of C. L. and Jane Davis, of Rutherford county, and was at the time of his execution about nine- teen years of age. He entered the army in 1861, joining Dr. Ledbet- ter's company, of the First Tennessee Regiment, and it was but a short
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time before his bravery, prudence, zeal and undoubted patriotism rec- ommended him to his commanding officer as one eminently suited to perform the ardnous and dangerous duties of a scout. He was, accord- ingly, detached from his regiment and made a member of Coleman's Scouts. Toward the close of October, 1863, it was considered highly important to the success of Bragg's movements that the strength of the .Federal fortifications in Middle Tennessee should be accurately known, and to procure this information young Davis was selected. He set out on his dangerous mission, and after accomplishing all that was ex- pected or desired, he was arrested on his return, within the Federal lines, on the 20th of November, with a plan of the fortifications of Nashville, Pulaski, and of all other places of importance in Middle Tennessee on his person. The accuracy of these plans and the minuteness of detail showed at once that his informant was a man holding a high position among the Federal engineers; and when ques- tioned about his sources of information, candidly admitted that the plans had been furnished by an officer high in command, but resolutely refused to give his name, though a free pardon was offered and a safe return within the Confederate lines. General Dodge, the Post Com- mander, immediately convened a Military Commission for the trial of Davis, on the following charges and specifications :
Charge Ist-" Being a spy."
Specification : "In this, that he, Samuel Davis, of Coleman's Scouts, in the service of the so-called Confederate States, did come within the lines of the United States forces, in Middle Tennessee, for the purpose of secretly gaining information concerning these forces, and conveying the same to the enemy; and was arrested within the said lines, on or about November 20th, 1863. This in Giles county, Tennessee.
Charge 2d-" Being a carrier of mails, communications and infor- mation, from within the lines of the United States Army to persons in arms against the Government."
Specification : "In this, that the said Samuel Davis, on or about November 20, 1863, was arrested in Giles county, Tennessee, engaged in carrying mails and information from within the lines of the United States forces to persons in arms against the United States Government."
To which charges and specifications the accused pleaded as follows :
To the specification first charge, "Not guilty."
To the first charge, "Not guilty."
To the specification of second charge, "Guilty."
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To the second charge, "Guilty."
After a patient investigation of several days, the following were the
Finding and Sentence :
The court finds the accused as follows:
Of the specification to first charge, "Guilty."
Of the first charge "Guilty."
Of the specification of second charge, "Guilty."
Of the second charge, "Guilty."
And the Commission does therefore sentence him, the said Samuel Davis, of Coleman's Scouts, in the service of the so-called Confeder- ate States: "To be hung by the neck until he is dead, at such time and place as the Commanding General may direct; two-thirds of the members of the Commission concurring in the sentence."
Finding and sentence of the Commission approved. The sentence will be carried into effect on Friday, November 27, 1863, between the hours of 10 o'clock A. M. and 6 o'clock P. M.
Brigadier-General T. W. Sweeney, commanding Second Division, will cause the necessary arrangements to be made to carry out this order in the proper manner.
The Military Commission, of which Colonel Madison Miller, Eigh- teenth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, is President, is hereby dissolved.
By order of Brigadier-General G. M. DODGE.
J. W. BARNES, Lieut. and A. A. G.
The prisoner was informed of the finding and sentence of the Mili- tary Commission by Captain Armstrong, the local Provost Marshal, and, though manifesting some surprise at the severity of the punish- ment to be inflicted, he bore himself heroically, and showed not the quiver of a muscle. Later in the day Chaplain Young visited him, and · found him resigned to his fate. After prayer by the Chaplain, he in- quired in relation to the news of the day, and being told that Bragg was defeated, he expressed the deepest regret. The scaffold for the execution of the prisoner was built upon an elevation on the east side of the town, near the college, and immediately in front of the house now occupied by James McCallum, Esq., a position that can be seen from almost every part of town. At precisely ten o'clock on the morning of Friday, the 27th of November, 1863, the arms of the pris- oner being pinioned, he was placed on a wagon, seated on his coffin (a refinement of cruelty), and conveyed to the scaffold. Davis stepped
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from the wagon and seated himself on a bench at the foot of the scaf- fold, glancing occasionally at the coffin as it was being taken from the wagon. He displayed no trepidation, but calmly and quietly turning to Captain Armstrong, asked how long he had to live, and upon being told just fifteen minutes, said in substance that the rest of the battles would have to be fought without him. Captain Armstrong, turning to him, said: "I am sorry to be compelled to perform this painful duty ;" to which Davis replied, with a smile, " It does not hurt me, Captain ; I am innocent, though I am prepared to die, and do not think hard of you." Captain Chickasaw, then approaching, asked the prisoner if it would not have been better to have saved his life by disclosing the name of the officer who furnished the facts in relation to the fortifica- tions, etc., and intimated that it was not yet too late, when the pris- oner answered, with much indignation, " Do you suppose that I would betray a friend? No, sir; I would die a thousand times first. I will not betray the confidence of my informer." Committing, then, a few keepsakes to Mr. Lawrence, a Methodist minister, he mounted the scaffold with a serene countenance, in company with Chaplain Young, whom he requested to pray with him. After a prayer, the delicacy and appropriateness of which may be well questioned under the cir- cumstances, the prisoner stepped upon the trap, and paid the severe penalty of devotion to right and principle. He died with the calmness of a philosopher, the sternness of a patriot, and the serene courage of a martyr. Never did a deeper gloom spread over any community than did over that of Pulaski when Davis's tragic fate was made known. The deed was openly and boldly stigmatized by the common soldiers as a needless assassination; men and women, in every part of the town, indulged in unavailing moans, and even the little children, with terror depicted on their countenances, ran about the streets weeping with uncontrollable grief. No man ever awakened a deeper sympathy. His sad fate is one of the touching themes of the county; and whenever his name is mentioned, the tear rises unbidden to the eye of the oldest as well as the youngest. His memory is embalmed among the people as a self-immolated martyr to what he conceived a pure and holy duty-the preservation of the sacredness of confidence. This case furnishes a melancholy example of the atrocities still per- mitted under the usages of civilized warfare.
In reviewing, after the lapse of eight years, all the facts connected with this sad affair, it must be admitted that there were many mitigat-
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ing circumstances in the case of this dauntless young soldier, which pleaded powerfully for clemency from the Post Commander. He wa, captured fifteen miles from Pulaski; he pretended to no disguise, but had on at the time of his capture his arms and the Confederate uni- form. It is true, that plans of the fortifications in Middle Tennessee were found upon his person, but no proof further than his own admis- . sion was adduced to show that he was in possession of them in any other capacity than as a courier or letter carrier, and might, in the discharge of his duty as such, have involuntarily got within the lines. In addition to all these, his youth, his intelligence, his unflinching con- stancy under the severest trials and the greatest temptations, and his heroic conduct to the last, were certainly qualities that should have in- duced a noble-hearted commander to give the prisoner the benefit of . any doubt.
GENERAL ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON.
Review of "The Life of General Albert Sidney Johnston. By his Son, Colonel William Preston Johnston." D. Appleton & Co., N. Y.
BY E. W. M.
IN your September number a succinct editorial notice was taken of this work, in which brief mention was made of its many excellen- cies of matter, manner and spirit. It is a book of solid merit, valua- ble as a contribution to history, for it gives us many new and important facts, to literature ; for its animated narration is embodied in a style pure, vigorous and classic; to the general public, for it gives us the faithful portraiture of one of the few truly great men of modern times. In this latter regard consists one of the chief of its many merits. It brings us easily and naturally face to face with the man. We not only see him, but he takes us kindly by the hand, talks with us as a familiar friend, and whether around the camp-fire on Western wilds, amidst the blandishments of capital cities, with him, as he labors in the field for bread, or under his orders as the honored chieftain of martial hosts. at every time and place, and under all changes of outward circumstance, our thought is enlightened and our hearts made better by his cloudless
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diance and his own pure spirit. For the comparatively few survivors : "Shiloh," the remnant of that band who,
-" Under the stars, On that field of Mars, Where glorious Johnston fell,"
tight by his side with unsurpassed gallantry, it possesses an especial and peculiar charm. It tells them not merely of his grand strategy by which the concentration at Corinth was effected, but how, by his tact and skill on the battle-field, the smaller, less disciplined, and worse equipped Confederates overthrew a much larger and perfectly ap- pointed army on their own chosen ground. And to all the survivors of the "Lost Cause" it brings a message at once melancholy and in- spiring. It tells them how one of the ablest and best of men, holding high rank and face to face with the most glittering prospects, conscien- tiously laid down his commission, turned his back upon all these tempt- ations, and simply because he believed it to be right, left the stronger to give to the weaker side his laureled sword and his life. But the value of this book has a wider range than this. It not only vindicates the truth of a portion of history essential to Southern honor, but pre- sents to the gaze of the rising youth of America a magnificent model upon which each for himself may form a character of true man- hood. In this respect alone it should find its way into every fireside and library in this broad land. That such teaching is an imperative need of the youth of to-day will be manifest upon a moment's glance at the situation. They are growing up just after a great civil war- confessedly the worst character of war-had shattered, like an earth- quake, the foundations of our whole political and social fabric, devolv- ing upon the near future the solution of problems, some of which men- ace the very life of republican institutions, and all of which are of the gravest import. That general demoralization followed the war; that statesmanship was supplanted by demagoguism; that legislation has been "bought with a price;" that offices are rarely conferred on the meritorious, but won as " spoils" by partizan service at once vile and unpatriotic; that corruption in office neither awakens popular indigna- tion or excites surprise; that rings are and have been potent evil : that the dignity and value of the people's best hope, the ballot, has been shamefully disregarded; that strikes have demonstrated the tenure of property at last rests on the points of Federal bayonets; that millions
-
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-lately slave, without intelligence or culture-have been raised to the full dignity of citizenship, given the ballot, and in many instances i ... vested with all the powers of legislative, judicial and executive post. tions, bringing the African and Caucassian races face to face into com .. petition for wealth and honor, thus confronting us with a terrib !: "problem of races;" that by corrupt practices and unwise policies the whole country has drifted into almost universal bankruptcy, whils: office-holders on small salaries have grown rich-in a word, that the whole spirit and tone of our politics have degenerated from the stand- ard of enlightened patriotism necessary to the preservation and success of our institutions, are all palpable to every observant and reflective person. That many, and possibly the greatest of all these problemi, must be solved by the incoming generation, or bear the bitterest of fruit ; that the morality of politics must be restored; that offices must become public trusts; that demagogues must be hurled from power. trampled under foot, and the destinies of the country be once more confided to statesmen, or the days of this Republic are numbered, are equally plain. How can our boys be more healthily and happily tu- tored into the rounded symmetry of true manliness than by their study of august characters like that of Albert Sidney Johnston ? Said the late Professor Bledsoe, himself in the front rank of able men : "Albert Sidney Johnston, take him all in all, was the simplest, bravest, grand- est man we have ever known ;" and such was the opinion of all who knew him. Let every father furnish his sons with a copy, let them ponder well its lessons, and sure as the day follows the night will the next generation present a higher tone of citizenship and the future of our country a more cheering outlook. The author may well felicitate himself upon the success with which he has executed his filial and pat- riotic task.
Our limited space restricts us to the merest outline of a life so event- ful; but the reader will find in the volume before us all its varied and interesting details. The focal interest of to-day, however, is concen- trated upon that period in which, as a Confederate, General Johnston was in command of the Western Department, beginning on the 10th of September, 1861, and ending, amidst the victorious thunders of Shiloh, on the 6th of April, 1862.
He was given command of all military operations in that part of Mississippi lying west of the Central Railroad, in Tennessee and Ken- tucky, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and the Indian country lying west
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of Missouri and Kansas. The extent of this northern frontier was wach that if every armed soldier in his department had been placed dlong it, not one could have heard the musket. shot of another. It was also pierced by three rivers-the Mississippi, the Tennessee and the Cumberland-all navigable highways for the gunboats of the enemy, and he had none. Of course, it was indefensible, and a orter one must of necessity be chosen, which, with his inadequate means, gave promise of being held till he could raise an army. Gen- eral Polk had already seized and fortified Columbus, on the Missis- sippi, and the State of Tennessee had built two forts-Henry, on the Tennessee, and Donelson, on the Cumberland. General Buckner aus ordered to seize the line of Barren River, at Bowling Green, in Kentucky, and Zollicoffer to move forward to the south bank of the Cumberland and hold its crossings. This line, therefore, placed his left at Columbus, on the Mississippi, his right in the Cumberland Mountains, and his center at Bowling Green, and was strictly defensive. 'His authority to call for troops was in these words: "You have authority to call for troops from Arkansas, Tennessee, and such por- tion of Mississippi as may be within the limits of your command. You have, also, authority to receive into the service such troops as may be offered from the States of Missouri and Kentucky, and to call on the naval service for such assistance and material of war, including boats, as may be required for the defense of the Mississippi River." It will be observed that the numbers and length of service to be called for were left to General Johnston's discretion. He came to his depart- ment, took a rapid glance, and at once called for 50,000 men-30,000 from Tennessee, 10,000 from Mississippi, and 10,000 from Arkansas, the latter ordered to report to General Ben. McCulloch, for the defense of their own frontier. The following extract from his letter to the Gov- ernor of Tennessee will give, in his own words, his views and the rea- sons for the character of call he made, viz: "The defenseless condi- tion of this department was patent from the moment I arrived and had a hasty view of the field. The necessity for a strong and efficient army is present and pressing. I, therefore, avail myself of the permission above cited to call upon your Excellency to furnish, for the service of the Confederate States, 30,000 men. I would prefer volunteers for the present war, as securing better disciplined, more skilled and effective forces, and if any such shall volunteer by companies, they will be gladly accepted under the act of March 8th. But dispatch, now, is of
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