USA > Tennessee > The military annals of Tennessee. Confederate. First series: embracing a review of military operations, with regimental histories and memorial rolls, V.1 > Part 21
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pealing off his hair, said, as he threw his gun to the ground: "There! that would have killed brother George as dead as Hector!" ( His brother was one inch tall- er.) And they will remember, moreover, the remark of the fearless Capt. Oscar Gilchrist, made in the field when the boys were ordered to lie down. Stand- ing as erect as an Indian, he said: "Lie down! if you don't the Yankees will shoot you!" Many will remember the re-forming on the battle-flag at the water- gap by Lewis White, who snatched it up as its gallant bearer fell, and placed the broken staff in the muzzle of his rifle.
For that day's matchless fight the Fourth won the honor of placing the "in- verted cross cannon" on its battle-flag-purchased, though, by the death of the Christian, Hugh Banks, and other noble men to the extent of about one-third of those present for duty. Nor will the survivors forget carrying the wounded from Buell's reserve battery to the hospital, the taking from the field by each soldier of an extra rifle to the place of bivouac near the rock fence; nor the deliberate march next day, after the sun rose so brilliantly, to Harrodsburg. Here our boys fully equipped themselves with Enfield rifles, exchanging their old guns for these new ones taken from the foe on that bloody field.
After a few days at Camp Dick Robinson, the regiment took its place in the rapid march to Cumberland Gap-preserving, as usual, its discipline and esprit du corps, and its wonted cheerfulness in the midst of hardships, and with its rations of " flour and fat beef without salt."
Illustrative of the discipline-on this march a soldier shot through the chest with a ramrod, and which was sticking out of his breast and back, was found marching out of his place by an officer of the Fourth brigade (officer of the day), and upon being asked if he would not prefer his place in the company, said, "No; this suits me." "How are you wounded?" said the officer. With rifle and equipments complete, he pulled his clothing from his breast, and said, "There it went in;" and then turning his back to the officer and removing his clothing, said, "Here it came through." Dr. Frank Rice pulled the ramrod out of the soldier.
Moving thence to the right of Rogersville to its bivouac of snow at Knoxville, by cars to Bridgeport, by boat across the river-some "cooning" the bridge; by cars thence to Tullahoma, whence, after a brief rest, it marched by Manchester to Murfreesboro, where Bragg awaited Rosecrans. Here the Fourth and Fifth were consolidated for drill and field purposes.
December 31st came, and the Fourth occupied the right of Stewart's brigade, as usual, and was ready to participate in the grand movement of the army as it swung round on the right of Cheatham's division, three hundred yards in the rear, and supporting Withers. Stewart's brigade met on the bridge of battle Roberts's of Vancleve's lying in wait, likewise in the second line, which resulted in an impetuous charge and the driving back of Roberts's force, that moved like regulars, and even in defeat preserved some regularity of movement. When the brave Roberts fell-a hero held in honor by his wounded and dying comrades- he received the rite of burial in his oil-cloth, at the hands of the writer, with the approval of Gen. Stewart, for his soldierly qualities. The Fourth bore its part in the capture of the pieces of artillery wrested from a brave foe, and remained on the battle-tield until the retreat was ordered Saturday night, Jan. 3, 1863, at 11 P.M., when it quietly moved to the encampment near Shelbyville, and did out-
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post duty at Guy's Gap until June 28, 1863, at which time the army commenced the backward movement which ended at Chattanooga, spending the rest of the summer there. July 28, 1563, Col. Otho F. Strahl was commissioned Brigadier, took charge of the brigade, which was henceforth known as Strahl's. Andrew J. Kellar was commissioned Colonel, ordered to report to Richmond, and was as- signed to duty with Gen. Brent in the Inspector-general's Department, where he remained until just before we reached Nashville, Dec., 1864. Luke W. Finlay was commissioned Lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. Henry Hampton, Major, of the Fourth. September 18th and 19th the Fourth participated in the important movements of the brigade, and a second time met the same troops encountered at Murfreesboro. In one of the movements to the rear in this hotly contested field of charges and counter-charges, tell the heroic Lieut. W. W. Webber, executing with the Fourth the dangerous movement of a retreat under fire, with the words "Boys, keep your lines dressed!" on his dying lips; than whom a braver never gave his life for his country, and whose name was inscribed on the roll of honor.
As the retreating Federals moved to Chattanooga the Fourth followed close in the line of fire. The investment of the Federals, with their line of supplies and recruits open, only gave rest to the troops. Here, under artillery fire, the Rev. John Miller Schwrar was nominated Chaplain of the Fourth, and well and wor- thily did this man of simplicity and worth, with good words and works, do his duty, and attach the boys to him as a man of God.
At length, the Federals having dislodged those in charge of Raccoon and Look- out mountains, the 26th of November came, and the Fourth, for the first time, received a charge. About the hour of + r.M. the advance began; and as they ap- proached, under the inspiration of the siege pieces in their rear and the many field pieces, the fifty pieces on our side opened and joined in the continuous roar of the deadly conflict from the summit above. At this place the Fourth with the Fifth was posted in the rifle-pits prepared by Gen. Bushrod Johnson, as a reserve skirmish force, about one hundred and fifty yards in rear of the Thirty-first and Thirty-third, who were deployed as skirmishers. The Federals, preceded by a skirmish line, advanced in three separate lines of battle. After driving back the skirmishers and breaking the first line of battle, Col. MeNeill with the Thirty- first and Thirty-third retreated. As he passed the rifle-pits he said to the officer in charge, "Why don't you open fire?" "I will," said he, "as soon as you un- cover our front." This done, he said, " Ready! Aim! Fire!" and three hundred guns opened on the Federals again advancing with colors flying, and again they were broken. In the midst of the firing an heroic En-ign, rallying his men, was gallantly moving to the front, when private W. C. King, of the Fourth, noted for accuracy of his shot, was directed to fire at him. At the crack of his rifle the brave man fell forward on the colors he bore so well. The forces in our front broken, six or seven Ensigns of broken regiments, assisted by their officers, were rallying their men off to our right and front. They covered a small space of ground in fine range. Then the order was clearly given, " Right oblique, fire!" and the guns were turned on them, and they too were dispersed. At this junct- ure -- not an organized body being in our front, the skirmishers as far as the eye could reach to the right being driven to the ridge, and the Federals being in hot pursuit-an order came to us to retreat to the top of the ridge. Accustomed to the skirmish fire, on their way up to the top, from time to time they turned on
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the foe. Not one was badly hurt in the pits, but nearly one-third were disabled or killed in the ascent. Once on the summit, the boys falling in the attenuated line of battle, resumed the contest, and continued until the L'ederals had gained the left center of our army, to our right, and were moving almost on us on our right flank; and then, Strahl's brigade being alone in the line of battle, and the last in that part of the field-both flanks being exposed-Gen. Strahl, in the pres- ence of our division commander, Gen. A. P. Stewart, ordered a retreat to the oppo- site ridge. Private Goodloe, intent on his work, did not hear the order, and seeing the soldier to his lett-the extreme left of the regiment-moving to the rear, called out to him, "Here's the way to gain your independence;" and with the words loaded his piece, aimed, and fired. The comrade turned and said the or- der was given to retreat. Goodloe rammed down another cartridge, emptied his gun once more, and looking to the right and left said, "I'll gain my independ- ence that way too," and hurried from the field. This was done in the presence of the Federals. With this brigade the Fourth covered the retreat to Chicka- mauga, bivouacking on the opposite bank for the night. Early the foe was after us, and we were ordered with the brigade to report to Pat. Cleburne, to cover the hazardous retreat. Without cavalry, by double-quicking, forming line of battle, and alternating with other regiments, this was done. Not the least exciting scene was the quiet and orderly movement by the bivouac of the sleeping Federals near the junction of the two roads, after night, their camp-fires burning. We bivouacked near the Chickamauga opposite, and distant from Ringgold, Ga., about a mile. At daylight the order came to move, and without much ado the Fourth left their lowly couch, fell into line close by the advancing foe, and moved in quick time, and that November morning waded the cold waters of the Chickamauga and passed just beyond the celebrated gap where Cleburne lay in ambush and inflict- ed such a heavy blow upon the too hasty advance, where five flags were captured, and Ringgold Gap passed into history. This ended the pursuit. We reached Dalton Nov. 29, 1863. Going into winter-quarters, we drilled, disciplined, recu- perated, and got ready for the memorable Georgia campaign. Here, by the elec- tion of the Fourth, young Mullins was made Ensign.
May 7, 1804, those days of strategy began, and lasted seventy-one days, sixty of which we were under fire. Our prominent engagements were Dug Gap, Mill Creek Grap, Resaca, Ellsbury Mountain, Kennesaw, Atlanta, July 20th and 22d; Jonesboro, Aug. 31st and Sept. 1; suffering severely. At Ellsbury Mountain the Fourth was sent out on the skirmish line, and occupied its position at daylight, driving in the Federals. Here was one of the hot contests of the war. The boys resolutely held their position. At some points scarcely fifty yards intervened in the open woods. Private Halley shot eighteen times, the finest he ever got, and then had a ball pass through his body and arm. His Lieutenant seized his gun and occupied his place. After two shots he was disabled. Our loss in killed and wounded was about thirty-three and one-third per cent. of those on duty.
At Kennesaw we occupied the left of the "Dead Angle," where fell so many Federals. A soldier trying the hollow chestnut in our front, and perceiving that balls went through, quit it, dug a trench at night, so as to hide himself and ena- ble him to pick off our boys. As he threw out the dirt with his spade near our lines and just below us, his strategy was observed, and at once the boys threw some big stones nearly straight up, so as to fall on him below. They struck him,
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and he cried out: "That is not fair war, to throw rocks when you are behind logs!"
The flank movement, near where fell the brave MePherson, was a trying hour to our boys. Some of our bravest and best were killed and wounded. From Jonesboro we retreated to Lovejoy, but moved back Sept. 6th, going thence to Palmetto, whence began the disastrous flank movement into Tennessee. The lot- ter part of October found us at Tennessee River awaiting pontoons. We delayel near Tuscumbia and Florence about two weeks, then took up our line of march. flanking Columbia, and reaching Spring Hill Nov. 28. Private J. T. Puckett. with a furlough in his pocket-for his home was near by-expecting a fight, said, " I'll wait till after the battle." Brave Puckett died at Franklin. In this rash yet grandly heroic charge at Franklin, the Fourth had its place on the left of the pike, where it planted its colors upon the main works. Here Lieut. James K. Murphy, a brave soldier (who had been baptized in the Mississippi River Ly Chaplain Gray), and a few others, leaped the works and passed Federal prisoners over them to the rear. Here fell, in the midst of the regiment he loved so well, and in the arms of Acting Aid-de-camp private James E. Beasley-right upon the works -- the gallant soldier, the first tactitian in the Army of Tennessee, the noble Otho F. Strahl; and close by also fell his staff officers Capt. Johnston and Lieut. Marsh. Picton at Waterloo with his skeleton brigades made not a gran ?- er charge than did Strahl at Franklin. On the opposite side of the pike, leaping the works, brave Dick Cahill, of the Twenty-first, was bayoneted to death; and just behind, the matchless Cleburne fell.
December Ist was occupied in burying the dead and caring for the wounde l. That was a sad picture: Strahl and his staff, who died together, sent in his amba- lance-their warfare over-to sleep in the beautiful church-yard of Ashwood, near Columbia.
On to Nashville we started December 2d, and remained there until the 15th, when late in the afternoon we were ordered to the left, and placed on the front of the slope that lies to the left of the high hill near Granny White pike, next Gen. Tom Smith's command on its summit and sides. After the fight had opened. an .! continued until late in the day, Ligon, a veteran soldier in the infirmary corps. said to the officer of the Fourth: "Step here, Colonel-see there !" He pointed to the right wing of the Army of Tennessee in full retreat, visible from where he stood. Immediately pointing to the top of the hill, said he: "See the stars and stripes there!" Nothing was left but to retreat. The Fourth was ordered to re- treat to the Gap west of Franklin pike, and not to study the order of its go- ing. On the summit we re-formed with other commands, but discovering the Federals flanking us, moved on rapidly toward Franklin pike, exchanging a few shots with the Federals on the ridge to our right. Discovering the enemy posted on the pike a little in advance of us, we moved parallel to the pike and emerged near Brentwood, when the army that night was almost in chaos. We bivouackel on the road-side, and crossed the Harpeth River early December 17th. The Fourth was ready for work, and was in line of battle, to cover the retreat, near Spring Hill, and again on the banks of Rutherford Creek. cooperating with the cavalry in this work. Across the river Gen. Hood rode up to the officer in charge of the Fourth, who at the time by seniority was commanding the brigade, and askel. "What brigade is this?" Upon being informed "Strahl's," he said: " I desire to
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organize a strong infantry reserve under Gen. Walthall to cooperate with the cavalry, and under Gen. Forrest cover the retreat of the army until I get across the Tennessee; and I know no troops I can call upon with greater confidence in its being well done than you Tennesseans. Will this brigade volunteer for that duty?" Upon being answered in the affirmative, he said: "Then report to Col. Field." Many were ill-clad and unshod-some with their feet wrapped with pieces of blanket-some actually bleeding tramping on the frozen ground. On this retreat came the sternest trials of the war; some even turning their backs on their homes. The Fourth was present that night in the snowy bivonac-gave its quota of the two hundred who at 4 A.M. next day were at the front guarding the crossings of Duck River in front of Columbia. The soldiers were without rations- the day bitterly coldl. Some few, who happened to have friends aware of the situa- tion, were handsomely fed by the hospitable Columbians. The Federals were content not to provoke a contest on the frozen ground, and with the turbid, swollen river between. At 9 A.M. Maj. Estes, with his Texans, relieved us. A Federal officer dashed along their lines evidently instructing the pickets to fire on us as we were being relieved. No doubt there was an honorable truce, as the Fed- erals, at first, turned their guns upward. The Texans, not aware of it, bronglit their pieces down on them, and they scampered away-exchanging shots, however. Here the veteran Capt. Hays fell. As we rejoined our regiment on the pike, Gen. Forrest was in the act of giving a cavalry Major his mind, and closed his brief and pointed reprimand with these words: " You ought to have your - neck broken for letting the Yankees cross while you were stnek up in that cabin." Near Pulaski, where the two ridges converge making the apex at the road, the infantry was thrown across, and infantry guards were stationed with instructions from Forrest to allow none to pass without his written permit, or a bullet-hole through them. This order was obeyed. As usual on this trip a hot skirmish was going on, and only a short distance from the guard. Quite a number of wounded cavalrymen passed. One soldier dashed up to this guard detailed from the Fourth, and demanded the right of way. This was refused. He exhibited an old forage order. It was not recognized. He was furious; demanded to know if any com- missioned officer was present in charge; rode up to him; stated the case; declared his intention to pass, and started that movement. "Corporal, don't let him pass," was the order given. The sentry brought his gun to a "ready," and he then said, "I'll report you to Gen. Forrest." At the head of the column, now near dark, came Gen. Forrest, and the man dashed up to him and told his story. Thereupon Gen. Forrest instantly turned to the officer in charge of the guard and said, pointing to the furious soldier, " Shoot him ;" but he hastily returned to his place in the ranks. There was no more straggling that evening.
Within the intrenchments at Pulaski we bivouacked that night. Next day, Christmas, 1864, we moved through Pulaski early in the day, across the stream near by, to Anthony's Hill. Here the capture of a fine field piece, and a nice strategic surprise dampened the ardor of our pursuers and gave good cheer to our . troops. We, with Reynolds, lay in the reserve. When this work was done, com- menced that long, cold, cheerless march, through that half ice and half water, down that winding road to Sugar Creek. The icy pathway; the blood-stained track; the crashing tramp; the sad moan of that unhappy household, one of whose sons lay sleeping at Franklin, another of whom, true to his colors, was
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about to turn his back on the home of his youth; that tedious march after vari- ous movements of the day -- all these testify the soldierly qualities of those resolnte men. Next day the Fourth turned about, ready, determined, fearless, with her brave compeers, and taking position, awaited the onset of the well-equipped and victorious legions of the North-Reynolds on our right, the rest of our brigade on the left. Here, just in our front, Forrest convened the brigade and regimental officers, and giving instructions, said: " When the infantry break their lines, I'll turn Ross in on 'em." Col. Field-a wiry and heroic soldier, whose silvery voice could be heard in the roar of musketry, having under him his own and Strahl's old brigades-immediately replied with spirit: "We have no such soldiers; we don't break our lines." Forrest, perceiving the double construction his words were capable of, said at once: "I don't mean that. I mean when you break the lines of the enemy, I'll throw Ross's Texans in on them and rout them." We had rested, and hastily put up some works and were in waiting. The fog still covered our front. Reynolds occupied the level valley between the gentle rise and the stream, our Tennessee brother forces the hillock and on to the left where the stream ran right up against the bluff. The Federals came in force, crossed at the bridge, and moved in line of battle, and some came opposite Field's left. When they came near enough, the firing commenced vigorously on our right and left, we holding our fire until they came right near us, and the battle raged on both sides of us. Then the order to advance was given, and then the rapid charge was made that hurled back the impetuous foe, who had incantiously come too near, and just where we wished them. That bivouac, that grateful rest after the march, those hasty works, that fight and flight-they will not soon be forgotten. The spirit and vigor of the resistance satisfied our foes, and we had a quiet, peace- ful, undisturbed march thence to the river. Not Xenophon's retreat with his ten thousand was more masterly and heroic. We then quietly moved to Corinth, Miss. January 5, 1865, with the other West Tennesseans, we had a thirty days' furlough. with orders to reassemble at West Point, Miss .; and to their lasting honor be it said, almost to a man they met at the time and place. We then went to Meridian, and on the 12th of February left to join Gen. Joe Johnston in North Carolina, so- ing by ears to Augusta, thence on foot to Salisbury, N. C., thence by cars to Smith- field. We immediately hurried to Bentonville, reported on the field to Gen. Johnston, and were by him posted with the old division as a reserve, near where he directed the movements of the army-after that, were moved rapidly to the left to assist the cavalry in resisting a threatened attempt to turn our left. This was done, and was the last battle the Army of Tennessee fought. At Smithfield the army was reorganized, and the Fourth, with the Fifth, Nineteenth, Twenty- fourth, Thirty-first, Thirty-third, Forty-first Tennessee regiments, and the Fifth Confederate, formed a new one, designated as the Third Consolidated Tennessee Infantry, under the following fieldl officers: Jas. D. Tillman, Colonel; Luke W. Fin- lay, Lieutenant-colonel; C. S. Deakin, Major. The Fourth and Fifth formed one company under John S. Chapman, Captain; A. W. Sidebottom, First Lieutenant; and J. F. Seay, Second Lieutenant. Scarcely a man was in it who did not have one . or more gun-shot wounds. Battle-scarred, they were ready for action, and moved from place to place as ordered, finally halting at Greensboro, N. C. Every one stood at his post of duty up to the last hour, April 26, 1885. Each got in the distribution of the Treasury fund a Mexican dollar and twenty-nine cents over,
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and doubtless many have this now. We left for our homes in West Tennessee --- with one-seventh of our guns, and each regiment with its own battle-flag -- passing through Statesville, Asheville, where we unfurled for the last time the beautiful flag made by the ladies of Montgomery, Ala., the Confederate battle-flag; thence down the French Broad River to near Warm Springs; thence across the country to Greeneville, Tenn. On our return we listened to a very fine sermon from the Rev. Dr. J. B. McFerrin on the apt subject, "For here have ve no continuing city." At Greeneville we took the cars via Chattanooga to Nashville, thence going by boat down the Cumberland, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers to our respective homes -- every- where treated with respect and courtesy by the brave soldiers who fought for the Union.
Such is a faint outline of a famous regiment, upon whose banners was in- scribed, "Home Rule," and who were ready to die for this principle of civil liberty, and whose records are brilliantly set with unwritten heroic deeds. And strange as it may seem, this doctrine of "Home Rule," for which the Fourth fought, is the corner-stone of our free institutions now; and while the rebel David and his son Solomon may not rule over all Israel, still we already have in its recognition, all over this republic of States, the earnest of a glorious future, and with it preserved a greater, a grander, and a more glorious destiny awaiting us in this beautiful land. We are unable to give from memory the names of our fallen comrades.
Oficial.] FIELD AND STAFF, FOURTH TENNESSEE INFANTRY.
Colonel, O. F. Strahl; Lieutenant-colonel, A. J. Kellar; Major, L. W. Finlay; Surgeon, T. W. Leake; Assistant Surgeon, E. R. Vernon; Chaplain, J. M. Schwrar; Quartermaster, R. Payne; Adjutant, J. W. Johnston.
Williams, Surgeon Junius, d. Jan. 1, 1862.
COMPANY A. Captain, Thomas H. Francis.
Ackerly, R. S., k. at Shiloh.
Roberts, J. H., k. at Shiloh.
Lapoley, S. R., k. at Shiloh. Hawkins, W. L. C., k. at Shiloh.
Gooch, P. L., k. at Shiloh.
Fields, T. B., k. at Shiloh.
Seabrook, jr., J. T., k. at Shiloh.
Vickers, B. C., k. at Shiloh.
Henry, James, k. at Shiloh.
Townsend, G. S., d. June 10, 1862. Shaw. D. C., d. May 28, 1862.
Banks, H. A., k. at Perryville, Oct. 8. Locke, Charles W, k. at Perryville, Oct. 8. Mitchell, J. D., d. at Shelbyville, April 25, 1863. Webber, Lieut. W. H., k. in action at Chicks- mauga, Sept. 19, 1863.
COMPANY B.
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