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 37
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In this battle, there were but few stragglers from my command, and not a man stopped to plunder the knapsacks of the enemy, which were lying in numbers behind his breast-works.
I am much indebted to officers and men of the corps for their prompt and gallant conduct. Though entering this fight after a long and venturesome trip, a retreat from a disastrous field, few in num- bers, without the complement of officers, and much embarrassed for the want of efficient reorganization, the corps not only exhibited the innate metal of its material and maintained its ancient battle-prestige, but encircled its brow anew with laurels gathered from the Atlantic Slope. I cannot confer too much commendation upon my division commanders, Brigadier-General James A. Smith and Colonel Keenan, of the - Florida Regiment, both of whom were equal to every emergency, and inspired their commands by the proper ex- amples. Colonel Keenan lost a leg at the close, in the thickest of the fight, which deprives the country of the services of a most gallant and efficient officer. I am doubly grieved to mourn, in conjunction with other casualties, the loss of the young, gallant and lamented com- mander of Tyler's Brigade (Bate's Division), Major W. H. Wilkinson. For four years, under my eye, he has borne himself with modest grace, becoming dignity and marked gallantry. He fell at the head of his brigade, leading the last charge of the day. I am indebted to Col- onel Moore (of North Carolina), for assistance, as volunteer aid, on this occasion. To no one of my command am I more especially in- debted than Captain J. Cobbs, of the - Alabama Regiment, who was on duty with me as Assistant Adjutant-General. When his horse was killed under him, he promptly took his place on foot and contin- ued the discharge of his duty with persistent energy and peerless reso- lution. Lieutenant Bradford Nichol, acting ordnance officer for the corps, merits special notice in this report for the incomparable energy and efficiency in getting, under embarrassing circumstances, transpor- tation for and furnishing timely supplies of ammunition. To Doctor George M. McDowell, Chief Surgeon, I tender my acknowledgements for the skill, energy and success displayed in his department. A list of casualties has heretofore, as per order, been forwarded to your office. It exhibited a loss of little more than twenty-five per cent. of the number engaged. For further particulars, allow me to respect- fully refer to the reports of my brigade commanders.
I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. B. BATE, Major-General, Commanding.
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DIARY OF PRIVATE W. J. DAVIDSON.
(Concluded.)
SUNDAY MORNING, Sept. 20th.
A/E were up and ready for battle at an early hour, and, aft .: day-light, were allowed to build small fires.
Under the dense fog, no demonstration was made on either side un. til a late hour in the morning, and the opportunity was improved l .: our generals to make a better disposition of their forces than had ex isted on the preceding day. Gregg's Brigade was moved to the rigl .: where the heaviest fighting had been, and was expected to take place again. It formed the second line, of which there were three, and was not expected to make the first charge. As soon as the fox cleared away, the battle opened on the extreme right and gradually came on down to the left, the artillery firing being much heavier than it was the day before. Between Io and II o'clock, the enemy's bat- teries at one point opened and shelled us furiously for some time, our line lying down and taking it easy until the command "Forward was given, when it advanced steadily and in splendid order until it overtook the brigade in front, which, after capturing the first line of works, had halted in the face of a terrible fire of artillery and mus ketry from across a field. There were said to be sixteen pieces dis puting our advance here, supported by lines of infantry. The brig ade in our front being sheltered by a shallow ravine, seemed loth to quit its vantage-ground, and Colonel Sugg, commanding Gregg's Brig- ade, asked permission of its commander to pass over it, which was granted. We sprang forward at the word with loud yells, and in a few seconds were under the play of the enemy's batteries in an open stubble-field. Our line made no halt or waver, but dashed ahead, and in a brief time had captured the guns, shooting down some of the gun ners and clubbing others as they stood at their posts. The second line of fortifications, just in rear, was carried by the same assault-the in fantry flying in disorder before us. This brigade being now ahead of every thing, was halted to allow other parts of the line to come up. when, if it had been pushed forward a couple of hundred yards, i: could have captured, almost without resistance, a large train of wag ons and ordnance. Its advanced position created some apprehension
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of a flank-fire, and, to meet this contingency, it was filed to the right, and skirmishers were thrown out to find out the situation. I was again called upon for this duty, though very tired and thirsty. We advanced, cautiously, from tree to tree, and sprang the game a half mile off, posted in a strong position among the hills. While on this duty, a solitary horseman came dashing through the woods from the front, and, not knowing our whereabouts, found himself in unex- pected range of our rifles. Every man in the line fired upon him ex- cept myself. He looked so fine, on his gray charger, with fancy trap- pings, that I had n't the heart to do so. Only one shot took effect, and this was fired by John Jobe, just as he was in the act of escaping over the hill. Moving forward to the top of a ridge, we found the enemy's skirmishers on the other side, but Captain Feeney's Company soon drove them back on the main body. The brigade now came on, and took position on the ridge, and waited for the enemy's attack, which, from the signs at the front, was momentarily expected. It had not long to wait. With a feeble cheer, a heavy force advanced through the woods and opened a furious fire. The brigade to our right-the same over whose heads we had charged at the opening-gave way and left us exposed to a heavy cross-fire. The colonel now ordered us to retire a short distance, until the other brigade could be rallied, when we moved forward again. Now ensued the hardest and closest engagement we ever had, the enemy being in heavy force; but, not- withstanding that our line was thinned by the casualties of battle already, we held our ground against the odds for two hours before re- inforcements came to our help. These came under the same wither- ing fire to which we were exposed, and suffered heavily. The fire was kept up obstinately by both sides, and it was not until a little before sunset that the enemy showed signs of weakening, when we made a charge, driving them over the hill, which they contested to the last inch. Again they rallied, but this time for a few minutes only, when they gave way and quit the field in disorder. Night and the tired condition of our troops prevented any further pursuit. Just before the enemy retreated, and as I was in the act of ramming down the last out of sixty cartridges, I was struck in the hip and rendered hors du combat.
Our loss this day was heavy, both in officers and men, though my company was comparatively favored. Doc. Conway had his shoul- der shattered; Robert Fulton, flesh wound in arm, which proved
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fatal ; Charley Bagley, in the shoulder ; Billie Hill, in the shoulder. severe; and Tom Pinkerton, in the chest. Other companies in the regiment lost heavily, and other regiments in the brigade lost more than ours. Colonel Tillman was wounded in the shoulder; Major Robinson, in the groin ; Colonel Beaumont was killed; Captain Wm. March, of the Forty-first, fell while leading his men in a charge. I was carried off the field, after the fight, by Lieutenant Chafin and Mathew Hathcock, and reached the Field Hospital during the night.
The hospitals were all crowded with our own and the enemy's wounded, and the surgeons could not attend to half of them. I re- mained there nearly a week, when I was so much improved that I could assist my friends who were worse hurt. Thos. Halbert was wounded in his good arm, but I don't think he will lose it. Doc. Conway is badly hurt, but we are keeping his arm cool with water, and hope to save it. We came to this place (Empire Hospital) last Tuesday, and are comfortably situated. I intend returning to my command to-morrow.
CAMP NEAR CHATTANOOGA, Oct. 8th.
Arrived in camp this evening. My wound is not yet well, but I prefer doing duty to staying in a hospital. The boys are doing well, and in fine spirits. I was greatly disappointed in not getting a letter from home, which came in my absence and was destroyed, under the impression that I would be away for some time. We hold the river above and below Chattanooga, leaving Rosecranz but one outlet- through Sequatchie Valley. There seems to be no danger of his at- tacking us, or of our attacking him. His position has been made very strong. Our siege-guns on Lookout can reach the city at long range.
President Davis is expected every day.
Oct. 10 .- Had orders last night at 12 o'clock to cook rations and be ready to move at 4 A.M., but this morning nothing farther is said about it. The order was given in anticipation of an attack, in conse- quence of some demonstrations made by the enemy last night.
It is now three weeks since the great battle, and I understand that a great many of the enemy's dead are yet unburied. I found, four days after the fight, some of their wounded still unattended to. One of them, belonging to the Sixth Ohio, I made as comfortable as possible, by filling his canteen with water and furnishing him some matches.
11th .-- All quiet. Mr. John March arrived last night, and was
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shown the grave of his son, Captain Wm. March. President Davis rode along the line to-day, and was cheered by the brigade.
19th .- Cannonading in the direction of . Bridgeport. The Presi- dent is making speeches to the soldiers-telling them that they will be in the heart of Middle Tennessee in two weeks. Captain Feeney has sent in his resignation, which, if accepted, will deprive us of one of the best officers in the regiment.
THE RETREAT FROM MURFREESBORO.
Letter of Major-General J. M. Withers in Defense of General Bragg.
CHUNCHULU, ALA., January 17, 1863.
HE report being circulated that the retrograde movement of our army at Murfreesboro was ordered by the commanding general, in opposition to the advice of corps and division commanders, is not . sustained by the truth. The movement was suggested by two division and sustained by a corps commander, after 12 o'clock on the night of the 2nd instant, and was then rejected by the general commanding. On the morning of the 3rd instant, the general ascertained that all the corps and all of the division commanders concurred in the opinion that the army should be withdrawn, and not, in its then worn con- dition, be put to the hazard of another general engagement. He, about the same time, learned the fact of reinforcements having been received by the enemy. It was then that he yielded his opposition and ordered the movement. Suppose that the general had adhered to his first determination, and disaster had been the result, what would have been his position then? If this movement did not command the approval of every brigade, division and corps commander then present with the army, I have to hear of the exception. I cannot believe the army numbers among its generals one of those creatures who is wise after the fact, and bold when there is no danger. A man who has given his all to his country should at least have justice.
J. M. WITHERS.
VOL. I, NO. VIII .- 3.
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THE ANNALS OF THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE
EARLY WESTERN HISTORY.
THE ATTACK ON BUCHANAN'S STATION.
(From Original MSS. of the Tennessee Historical Society.)
HERE is a tradition current in this country that Tecumseh was present at the attack upon Buchanan's Station in this neigh-
borhood. I think the authenticity of that tradition may well be doubted. I have never known any attempt made to trace it to its origin, or conversed with any person on the subject who pretended to know any thing more about it than merely to have heard it. I never heard the subject mentioned until since the last war with Great Britain, and am strongly inclined to believe that the celebrity which Tecumseh acquired in the course of that war, together with the fact that there were some Shawnees understood to have been engaged in the assault upon Buchanan's Station, constitute the whole foundation of the tra- dition in question.
The attack upon Buchanan's Station, as Mr. Tannehill informs me, was made in September, 1792. Since I heard that this subject was under investigation by this Society-that is, within three or four weeks past-I wrote to Constantine Hardeman, of Rutherford County, re- questing him to inform me of the date of said attack. Constantine Hardeman is a son of the late Thomas Hardeman, who was the owner of the place at which Hardeman's Station was established (it being the place owned by the late Robert C. Foster), and situated within one mile of Buchanan's Station. Mr. Hardeman did not answer my let- ter, but he called upon me in a few days after its reception and stated that he could not undertake to give the exact date of the said attack on Buchanan's Station ; that he remembers the event perfectly well ; was in Hardeman's Station at the time; heard the firing of arms when it commenced and throughout its continuance ; thinks that he was then about fifteen years old, and says that he was born in the year 1778 -- which, if correct, would place the date of the attack in the year 1793. Mr. Hardeman says, further, that, although he was then old enough to be capable of shooting a rifle at squirrels, etc., he was considered too small to be of any service in defending Buchanan's Station, and was left at Hardeman's Station, while he mentions a number of others who went from the latter station to the relief of the former, all of whom are now dead. He refers me to Benjamin Bashan, of this
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county, as being a man who can probably assist me in ascertaining the date of the attack upon Buchanan's Station; and, also, to the widow of the late Thomas Buchanan, a sister of the said Benjamin Bashan, whom he describes as being a woman of remarkable memory. He also says that he never heard of Tecumseh's being present at said attack until since the last war with England.
I state that some time during that war (it might have been in the year 1812 or 1813 or 1814-I cannot pretend to be precise as to the time, but it was after the name of Tecumseh had become very noto- rious), I met, in Gallatin, with the late Colonel Sparks, of the U. S. Army, who was then on his way, accompanied by his wife, to East Tennessee from the South, where he had been stationed. Mrs. Sparks was a daughter of the late Governor Sevier, and a very intelli- gent, good-looking woman. Colonel Sparks, himself, was almost illit- erate : so nearly so, that he could scarcely execute any other writing than merely the signing of his name. I learned from him, on that oc- casion, that his wife was in the habit of making out his returns for him, and of carrying on his correspondence at his dictation. The reason which he assigned to me for the deficiency of his education was, that, when a small boy, he was captured by the Indians and taken to the Northwest, where he was adopted into the family of Te- cumseh's parents, and grew up with Tecumseh and his brother, the prophet. I do not remember when nor where his capture took place; but I think it was in Kentucky, or, perhaps, in Virginia. Neither do I remember how long he was detained among the Indians, but several years, and during that portion of life in which an educa- tion is commonly acquired; and long enough for him to acquire Indian habits and tastes. I remember his telling me how great a calamity he considered it to be taken away from the Indians; and of his revolving in his own mind, for some time after his return, various schemes for making his escape and returning to them. He also stated to me that he had frequently wrestled and run foot-races with Tecumseh and the prophet; and my impression is that they were all boys of nearly the same age. I know he stated that he was stouter or stronger than Tecumseh, but that Tecumseh was wifter of foot. He also described the prophet as being of a graver disposition than T'e- cumseh; and Tecumseh as being more restiess, daring and enterpris- ing. In fact, he spoke of him as being what is termed a bad boy, who was frequently flogged by his mother.
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Colorel Sparks, according to his said narrative, was released from captivity by virtue of some treaty-I think it was the treaty that fol- lowed Wayne's victory, but am not certain of that fact. Wayne's victory was achieved in the year 1794, and the Treaty of Grenville, which followed it, bears date on the - day of -, - That vic- tory had the effect of bringing about a general pacification between the United States and all the Indian tribes. We had no Indian wars in Tennessee after the year 1795. I do not know the age of Colonel Sparks, but, probably, some of the elder members of the Sevier family can give information on that point, and relate the circumstances of his capture and detention more in detail than I have done. Neither do I know the age of Tecumseh when he fell in the battle of the Thames, but I have always considered him as being then in the full vigor and maturity of manhood-say from thirty to forty years of age. My im- pression in regard to that I have received I cannot tell how, but most likely from the current impression of the day, or from some fugitive publication.
General Cass, whom I consider, since the death of General Harri- son, as the best informed man upon the subject of Indian character, Indian history and Indian affairs in the United States, in a very able and lucid article, written by himself and published in the January No., for the year 1826, of the North American Review-the object of which was to expose the mendacity of the author of a certain book, purporting to have been written by one John Dunn Hunter, on the subject of the Indian Tribes-says (page 95) :
"Now, we happen to know that Tecumseh did not leave Detroit for the Mississippi country in 1812. We happen to know that, on the 27th of September, 1811, he arrived in Vincennes, and sought an in- terview with General Harrison. At the discussion which took place during the interview, he displayed the most hostile spirit, and, the re- sult being unsatisfactory to him, he descended the Wabash, with a small party, in a canoe. He was himself a half Creek-his father be- ing of that tribe-and between them and the Shawnees a friendly in- tercourse had long subsisted. His object was to excite the Creeks to hostilities against the United States, and, eventually, to form a gen- eral Indian Confederacy, under the protection of the British."
Here, then, was a very fit occasion for General Cass to have men- tioned that Tecumseh had been present at the attack on Buchanan's Station, if the fact had been so; or, that he had previously been
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among the southern tribes; had co-operated with them in their wars, and had acquired distinction in arms. But he does not even allude to any such thing. And, in connection with his project of forming a general Indian Confederacy, it is most natural to suppose, if he had been favorably known to the Cherokees, and associated with them in any of their military enterprises, that he would have calculated as much upon his influence with them as upon the ties of blood between himself and the Creeks; and that he would, at least, have been in- duced to extend his visit. in ISII, further than it seems he did.
Again : In the same article, at page 97, in answer to an assertion of the reviewer of Hunter's narrative, contained in the London Quarterly Review, that Tecumseh was in the battle of Tippecanoe ; that many of the Shawnees were killed in that action-in consequence of which his band was very weak when he subsequently joined the British-Gen- eral Cass, after stating that there was but one Shawnee killed at Tip- pecanoe, and three others wounded, whose names he gives, adds :
"The loss fell on the Kickapoos, Winebagoes and Potawotamies. We happen to know why Tecumseh's party are so weak, and we will communicate the cause for the benefit of the author of the next tirade upon this subject in the Quarterly. Tecumseh was a disaffected man, and had seceded from the legitimate authority of his tribe. All the chiefs and almost all the warriors were opposed to his plans. They saw that these were fraught with ruin to their people, and believed them to have originated in a system of self-aggrandisement. Tecum- seh was a novus homo, not entitled to any hereditary authority ; and he regarded with jealousy the influence of the lawful chiefs. The great body of the tribe adhered, with unshaken fidelity, to the cause of the United States during the whole contest, and time has proved the wis- dom of their measures. They are now living, comfortably, upon a large reservation secured to them in a fertile part of Ohio, while Te- cumseh fell in a cause in which he had no interest, and his son and brother are outcasts from their people, receiving no aid from the Brit ish Government, and anxious to rejoin their connexions .* Like al other Indians who have placed their faith in the same trust, when their services ceased to be useful, they ceased to be regarded or re- warded.
* In a note subjoined at this place, General Cass says : "Since the above was written, they have left Canada, and removed to the Shawnees reservation in Ohio, radically cured, if we may credit their own declarations, of their Anglo-mania."
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" We are the less apprehensive of leading our readers, or being our- selves led, into error on this topic, or on any other connected with the history or objects of Tecumseh, as the prophet (his brother) and his son are sitting with us while we are writing these remarks, and as they have freely disclosed to us their past history and present situation. We have been not a little amused at the shrewd observations of the prophet respecting the ignorance of the reviewer in the article which we have caused to be explained to him.
"Tecumseh has obtained a celebrity such as has fallen to the lot of few of his countrymen. For this he was indebted not less to adven- titious circumstances than to his own physical and mental endow- ments. He was a man of more enlarged views than are often found among the Indian chiefs ; a born warrior and a skillful leader; politic in his measures and firm in his purposes. But he was jealous and am- bitious-one prepared to sacrifice the happiness of his people to his own impracticable projects. His connection with the British contrib- uted, however, more than any other circumstance, to the celebrity he enjoyed. He was an instrument in their hands, and it was their in- terest to give him an importance, true or false, by which they could wield the savage force which they had collected. With this view, he was invited, as the Quarterly states, to the British general's table, and with this view he was made the distributor of the presents lavished upon the Indians. One of the British armed vessels was named the Tecumseh, and another the Nanash. This Nanash was an Ottowa, elevated to importance by the same system and with the same object. He has long since ceased to be useful, and now lives in utter insignifi- cance among his tribe upon the Miami in the Michigan Territory."
At page 96 of the same article, General Cass says : "Tecumseh re- turned from his tour in December, and remained with his party during the winter of 1811-12. In the spring of 1812, as the note of prepar- ation become louder and louder, he was invited to Malden. He left Fort Wayne for that place on the 2nd of July, and arrived there about the 8th or 9th. He was in most of the engagements upon that frontier during the two succeeding campaigns, and never was again further west than the Tippecanoe."
Now, what is there in this sketch from the pen of General Cass but the delineation and history of a restless, ambitious and aspiring man, without previous distinction or authority, and seeking to gratify his passion for self-aggrandisement at whatever sacrifice to friends or
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foes it might cost? I have no doubt that the picture here drawn of Tecumseh is true to the life. Then, taking that as proved, upon the authority of General Cass, and assuming also that Tecumseh was pres- ent at the attack on Buchanan's Station, in the year 1792, how are we to account for his inactivity and total obscurity during the whole of the intermediate period between that event and the breaking out of the war with England-a period of some twenty years ?
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