The military annals of Tennessee. Confederate. First series: embracing a review of military operations, with regimental histories and memorial rolls, V.1, Part 22

Author: Lindsley, John Berrien, 1822-1897. ed. cn
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Nashville, J. M. Lindsley & co.
Number of Pages: 942


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 22


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Captains: James Fentress, M. H. Vernon, and (Albert T. McNeal-ED.)


Shenault, D., d. April 26, 1861.


Woods, H. T., d. Oct. 3, 1861. Campbell, W. A., k. in action at Shiloh. Davis, P. T., k. in action at Shiloh. Powell, T. J., k. in action at Shiloh.


Prewitt, T. N., k. in action at Shiloh. Sheets, W. N., k. in action at Shiloh. Tocne, L. H., k. in action at Shiloh. Turner, A. K. P., k. in action at Shiloh. Rose, F. W., d. March 22, 1862.


Woodruff, W. H., d. at home, May 10, 1862. Pertie, J. T., d. at home, May 15, 1862. Johnson, W. S. R., d. May 15, 1862. 13 .


Sills, R., d. in prison. -


Nooner, F. M., k. at Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862.


Wilkinson, J. B., d. July 14, 1862.


Bowers, A. C., d. at Chattanooga, Oct. 3, 1863. MeNeal, Albert T.


Brown, Lieut. L. M., k. at Shiloh, April 6, 1862 Harris, J. M., w. at Perryville, captured, d. in 1863.


Chandler, W. W .. d. in service.


Rose, J. P., of Hardeman county, joined W. C. Falkner's Mississippi regiment, and was killed at Manassas-said to be the first Ten. nessean killed in battle.


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MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.


COMPANY C. Captains : F. M. Hammond and W. T. Cargill.


Hannick, Aaron, d. Sept. 11, 1861.


Sawyer, M. P., d. Jan. 11, 1862.


Parker, W. J., k. at Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862.


Applewhite, W. T., k. at Perryville, Oct. &, 1862. Pullian. C. L., d. at Tullahoma, Nov., 1861.


Capers. Lieut. W. O., k. at Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862. Lusher, W. D., d. March 5, 1862. Smith, J. M., d. March 10, 1863.


Jay, J. A., k. at Missionary Ridge, Nov. 25, 1863.


Kennon, A. J., k. May 13, 1864. Fisher, S., k. at Missionary Ridge, Nov. 25, 1863. Rogers, J. E., k. near Atlanta, July 22, 1864. Collins, H. B., d. July 23, 1864.


Estes, E. R., k. May 24, 1863. Robertson, W. M., k. near Atlanta, Ga., July 22, 1864.


COMPANY D. Captains : J. A. Onley and A. J. Kellar


Hester, J. W., d. in Fayette county, Tenn., ! Pipkin, J. Q., d. at Columbus, Ky., Oct. 17, Nov., 1861.


Jackson, A., d. in hospital at Columbus, Ky., Dec. 11, 1861.


Hays, E. P., d. in hospital at Columbus, Ky., Dec. 28, 1861.


Cannon, W. R., d. at home, Dec. 20, 1861.


1361. Curtis, Henry, d. at Lauderdale Springs. Shelton, M. N., d. in hospital at Griffin, Ga., March, 1864. Robertson, George, k. in action, Aug. 31, 186-4.


COMPANY E. Captains : James H. Dean and S. F. Maxey.


Brown, Lieut. M. B., d. at Columbus, Ky., [ Smith, J. F., d. at Memphis, May 7, 1862. Dec. 12, 1861.


Twigg, J. H., d. June 1, 1862.


Becklaw, A. P., d. Oct. 24, 1861.


Carney, Patrick, k. Nov. 9, 1861.


Jones, A. S., d. at Corinth, Miss., May 18, 1862. Huddleston. K. H., d. at Somerville, Tenn., May 18, 1862.


Dees, James, d. at Chattanooga, Aug. 16, 1862. Cathes, G. H., k. at Murfreesboro, Dec. 31, 1862. Day, H. C., d. in hospital at Shelbyville, March 26, 1863.


COMPANY F. Captains : R. L. White and Joseph L. Lett.


Crawford, John R., d. at Trenton, Tenn., Dec. ; Hill, T. R., k. in action at Shiloh. 31, 1861.


Prior, Led., k. in action at Shiloh.


Pyhoss, Samuel N., d. at Columbus, Ky., Oct. 18, 1861. Lett, M. D. L., d. in Mississippi, July 15, 1862. Shriver, A., d. April 21, 1862. Lassiter, H. C., k. at Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862. Williamson, W. H., d. June 5, 1862.


COMPANY G. Captain, W. W. Wheeler.


Coleman, I. S., k. at Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862. Anderson, B. F., k. at Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862. Meadows, W. H., d. at Macon, June 5, 1862.


Richardson, Lieut. J. P., k. at Murfreesboro, Dec. 31, 1862. Nearn, T. H. H., d. at Macon, May 6, 1862. Anderson, W. C., d. near Fayetteville, Ga., July 15, 1863.


Gaines, R. Q., k. at Chickamauga, Sept. 19, 1863.


Halliburton, T. J., d. at Somerville, Tenn., May 15, 1862. Hinton, E. L., d. at Corinth, May 8, 1862. Sutherland, Captain John, k. in action at Shi- loh. Pillow, Lieutenant H. C., k. in action at Shiloh.


COMPANY H. Captain, H. Hampton.


King, M., k. in action at Shiloh.


O'Brien, M., k. in action at Shiloh.


Freeman, M. A., k. at Murfreesboro, Dec. 31, 1862.


- Biles, G. C., k. at Perryville.


Spratts, W. B., k. in action at Shiloh. Mosier, G. A, k. at Perryville, Ky., Oct. 8, | Dalton, W. H., k. at Perryville. 1862.


Cobb, H. B., k. in action at Missionary Ridge.


McCall, William, k. in action at Shiloh. Magher, John, k. by railroad accident.


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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.


COMPANY I. Captains : John B. Turner and John T. Barratt.


Brooks, R. H., d. at Columbus, Ky., Jan. 30, | Turner, Captain John B., k. at Perryville, Kr. 1862.


Harrison, J. H., d. Sept. 20, 1861.


McCaire, J. A., d. at Columbus, Nov. 18, 1861.


McCrau, James, d. at Columbus, Sept. 14, 1861.


Trailor, H. H., d. at Columbus, Jan. 3, 1862.


Wilkins, William, d. at Columbus, Sept. 22, 1861.


Rolph, T. C., k. at Missionary Ridge.


Harris, W. E., d. at Glasgow, Ky., Sept. 17, 1861.


Wiseman, John R., d. at Dalton, Ga., April €, 1861.


COMPANY K. Captain, John W. Lauderdale.


Fowlkes, H. L., d. Nov. 28, 1861.


Fowlkes, M. P., d. Oct. 18. 1862.


Jenkins, M. C., d. Oct. 15, 1861.


Richerson, J. L .. d. from wounds, Nov. 12, 1862. Gleaves, J. B., d. from wounds, Nov. 11, 1862.


Stone, E. W., d. Oct. 10, 1861.


Pierce, A. W., d. June 5, 1862.


Ferguson, J. A., k. at Murfreesboro.


Caruthers, W. J., k. at Shiloh.


Hendrix, J. L., d. at Chattanooga, Feb. 20, 1862.


Ferguson, T. C. S., k. at Shiloh.


Snell, J. A., k. at Perryville, Ky.


Freeman, J. A., d. March 30, 1862.


Ferrill, J. E., d. at Columbus, Feb. 10, 1804.


Hall, J. W., d. at Corinth, June 4, 1862.


Fuller, J. T., k. at Missionary Ridge.


FIFTH TENNESSEE INFANTRY. BY JOHN T. IRION, M.D., PARIS, TENN.


HENRY county furnished to the Confederate armies two regiments of infantry, the Fifth and Forty-sixth, and Co. F of the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regi- ment of Infantry, and companies of cavalry to various regiments sufficient for an- other regiment.


The Fifth Infantry was organized at Paris on the 20th of May, 1861, by the elec- tion of W. E. Travis as Colonel; J. D. C. Atkins, Lieutenant-colonel; Wm. C. Swor, Major. Robt. T. Clark, M.D., and F. F. Porter, M.D., were commissioned as Surgeon and Assistant Surgeon, and assigned to duty with this regiment. Calvin D. Venable was appointed Adjutant, and Hugh P. Dunlap, Sergeant-major; Samuel E. Barbee was commissioned as Captain in the commissary department, and O. H. Edwards as Quartermaster with the rank of Captain, and assigned to the Fifth Regiment; Surgeon Clark after two months of faithful service resigned, and was succeeded by Jo. H. Porter, M.D., Captain of Co. H, who was commissioned as Surgeon; Assist- ant Surgeon F. F. Porter, resigning soon thereafter, was succeeded by Thos. C. Harcourt, M.D. The Rev. E. E. Hamilton was appointed Chaplain.


The regiment was mustered into the service with twelve companies, viz .: A, Captain B. B. Bunch; B, Captain Michael Long; C, Captain Thos. H. Conway; D, Captain A. Wayne Caldwell; E, Captain H. Corbett; F, Captain James E. Dumas; G, Captain James E. Fowler; H, Captain Jo. H. Porter, resigned in July. 1861, and appointed Surgeon; I, Captain Wm. D. Hallum; K, Captain H. W. Ballard; L, Captain John T. Winfrey; M, Captain J. R. Lauderdale. These companies were composed almost entirely of citizens of Henry county, excepting a portion of Co. G from Carroll, portions of companies E and L from Benton, and Co. M was from Kentucky and Southern Illinois. At the reorganization in 1862,


Robertson, E. G., k. near Corinth, May 24, 1802 Barley, W. H., k. at Shiloh.


Gorton, Hale, d. at Somerville, May 18, 1952. Smith, John A., k. at Shiloh, April 8, 1852. Stansbury, O. H., k. at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Ayers, J. L., d. at home in Tipton couuty, Tenn., Dec. 25, 1862.


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MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.


C. D. Venable was elected Colonel; Win. C. Swor, Lieutenant-colonel; and Jona- than J. Lamb, Major; Drs. J. M. Brannock (appointed Surgeon vice Jo. H. Porter resigned) and M. D. L. Jordan, Surgeons. The following officers were promoted to the command of companies, viz .: Co. B, Henry B. Bowman; Co. E', Pleasant Swor; Co. G, John T. Irion; Co. H, James P. Cooper; Co. I, E. Foust; Co. K, Jo. T. Kendall; Co. L, J. T. Fry; Co. M, J. T. Ward.


On the 22d of May the regiment went to Humboldt, where it remained only a few days, when it went into camp at Union City. Here Col. Atkins was unani- mously elected as a representative in the Confederate Congress, where he served with distinction during the war. Adjutant C. D. Venable was elected Lieutenant- colonel to succeed Col. Atkins, and W. D. Kendall was appointed Adjutant.


The Fifth Regiment, Cheatham's brigade, remained here drilling until September 4, 1861, when it was ordered to Columbus, Ky. Here it assisted in erecting the fortifications, and on the completion of the fort on the bluff took position in the fort as a support to the heavy artillery commanding the Mississippi River above the town. The several engagements of the Federal gun-boats with our water batteries furnished us rather an exciting amusement, and on the appearance of & gun-boat the men would assemble on the bluff in large numbers, simply to see the fun, while they themselves formed the most conspicuous target for the Federal gunners. The writer remembers that on one of these occasions he was deprived of the services of his sable cook for several days, by the explosion of a large bomb- shell near him. He was on the bluff acting "big brave," but when the shell ex- ploded, he dropped the camp-kettle which he held in his hand, spit in hands, ex- claimed that it was "gitten too hot fur dis nigger," took to his heels, and did not make his appearance for three days.


The regiment was ordered out, and supported the heavy artillery that turned the tide of battle at Belmont. At this time the regiment was in Stewart's brigade, Cheatham's division, Polks corps. In consequence of the fall of Fort Donelson, Gen. Pope's division began a flank movement on our left with New Madrid, Mo., as his objective-point. It was therefore determined to evacuate Columbus, and the Fifth Regiment, under Lieut .- col. Venable, was sent to New Madrid, where Gen. A. P. Stewart with some two thousand men, aided by a few so-called gun-boats under command of Commodore Hollins, held in check Gen. Pope with about twelve thou- sand men for fourteen days, during which time there were frequent skirmishes on the picket lines and lively firing between our gun-boats and Pope's artillery. This kept us in the trenches much of the time, and the weather being bad we suffered much from exposure. Col. Travis had been prostrated with an attack of inflamma- tory rheumatism which disabled him. He was not again in the service. From here we went to Corinth, Miss., where the Fifth Tennessee took an active part in work- ing on the earth-works, performing picket duty, and bore an active and honorable part in the battle of Shiloh. It went into the engagement under command of the brave Lieutenant-colonel C. D. Venable, did its whole duty in the fighting both days, and lost heavily in killed and wounded. Just before the evacuation of Corinth, while the Federals were pressing hard upon our front, and throwing their cordon around us, skirmishes were frequent, and picket duty was decidedly un- pleasant. The writer retains a lively rememberance of one of these skirmishes, which will serve as an illustration of others. In command of companies G, H, and I, he was placed in charge of an eminence some distance in front of our


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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.


earth-works, on which the enemy desired to place heavy ordnance with the view of shelling our encampments. We were stationed two hundred yards in front of the eminence, along a thicket of undergrowth through which ran a small creek, on the opposite side of which the enemy were encamped, our orders being if at- tacked in force to hold out as long as possible, and then fall back to the top of the hill. A large regiment was sent to capture or drive us back, and approached us under cover of the thicket; when within a hundred yards of us we poured into them a galling fire, which checked their advance until we could fall back to the top of the hill. Recovering they advanced upon us, each man on both sides firing as fast as possible, and there being four or five of them to one of us, the result might have been disastrous to us but for the timely arrival of Gen. A. P. Stewart with four companies of the Thirty-third Regiment Infantry, under Col. Bradford, who immediately ordered us to charge, which was done, driving the enemy back beyond the thicket with the loss of several killed and wounded.


From Corinth the regiment went to Tupelo, where we had several weeks of rest, which was very much needed; thence by railroad to Chattanooga, where we rested a short time preparatory to beginning the march to Kentucky.


On a bright day in September, 1862, in good health and fine spirits the regi- ment crossed the Tennessee River, on its weary and toilsome march through fer- tile valleys and over mountain heights, into the "dark and bloody ground." Be- fore crossing the State-line Gen. Stewart summoned all his commissioned officers before him and delivered to them a timely and sensible address on the importance of discipline, especially in the enemy's country. That pillage and plunder not only injured non-combatants, but reacted on the perpetrators by bringing demor- alization, disaster, and ruin. He therefore hoped that after we should leave Kentucky no man could truthfully say that he had been damaged by any mem- ber of Stewart's brigade. He placed the writer in charge of the rear-guard of his brigade, with instructions to arrest every man caught out of ranks without permis- sion, which order was strictly obeyed.


After the fall of Island No. 10, Capt. John W. Harris's company, of the Forty- sixth Regiment Infantry, acted with the Fifth until after the Kentucky campaign; it being on special duty at the time the remainder of the regiment was captured. It was a company of true men, and did faithful service while with us. Its gallant Captain, on the bloody field of Perryville, while leading a charge, fell by the side of the writer, his thigh bone shattered by a Minie-ball, rendering him a cripple for life.


In the battle of Perryville, one of the bloodiest in which Bragg's army was ever engaged, the Fifth Regiment was in the thickest of the fight, and sustained a very heavy loss in killed and wounded. Early in the engagement Col. Venable was thrown from his horse, and though seriously crippled, he continued in the fight, being carried by two of his men. Maj. Lamb was also unhorsed, and Lieut .- col. Swor's horse was killed under him by a cannon-ball; but both of these gallant officers continued the fight on foot. Capt. Gillett, a former member of Company M, and a citizen of Illinois, then Assistant to Chief of Subsistence of Cheatham's division, asked permission to fight with his old commander, and while gallantly leading a charge was killed. Two incidents among many may be related to illustrate the power of endurance under severe wounds. Private Hay- wood, of Company B, was shot through the breast with an iron ramrod, which


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MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.


being stopped by its swelled head, he caught hold of this and drew it out. Tip Allen, of Company I, was shot in the neck by a Minie-ball, which he in a short time coughed up. Both of these men walked back to Knoxville without missing a .


roll-call.


From Perryville the regiment fell back to Knoxville, Tenn., reaching there Saturday, Oct. 20, 1862, tired, foot-sore, and hungry, many men ragged and bare- footed, in the midst of a terrible snow-storm. The forest was green on that day, but on the next morning the boughs were laden and bending under their weight of snow, and many a barefoot-track stained with blood was made in the snow around the camps. Being without tents, what oil-cloths could be commanded were stretched over poles, and brush thrown over them for a covering. Remaining only a few days, the next stop was at Murfreesboro. Shortly after reaching here the regiment sustained a heavy loss in the death of Col. Venable, and the disabil- ity of Lieut .- col. Swor. Col. Venable, being unwell, rode out to Versailles through the rain, took a chill, and died the same night with congestion. He was an able and efficient officer, kind to his men, faithful in the discharge of duty, and died regretted by all who knew him. Col. Swor was as brave as a lion, and was a true friend to the soldier. While here the Fourth and Fifth regiments were consoli- dated, and Maj. Lamb, of the Fifth, was promoted, and placed in command. The regiment was engaged in some of the hardest fighting at the battle of Mur- freesboro, and did its duty nobly. Falling back to Shelbyville, our brigade-Gen. Strahl commanding-was placed on outpost duty at Guy's Gap, on Shelbyville and Murfreesboro pike, where we had some lively skirmishes with the advanced line of the enemy. From here we fell back to Chickamauga, Ga., and were in the two days' fight at that place. Being reserve for Cheatham's division part of the time, our casualties were not as great as in some other battles; but as an evi- dence that we were in several warm places, our color-bearer, Dick Burton, and every color-guard save one were wounded. Dr. J. B. Jones, now of Mckenzie, alone escaped, and gallantly saved the colors.


After the battle of Chickamauga we advanced on Chattanooga, our lines being formed to the south and east of the town. On Nov. 24, 1863, we were formed in line about one-third the way up Missionary Ridge, the Thirty-third Regiment of Tennessee Infantry in our front on picket; the Federal hosts literally filling the valley between us and the town. An unusual solemnity pervades our ranks. All realize that a fearful contest is at hand, but every man is actuated by the same sentiment-a determination to do his whole duty. The Thirty-third Ten- nessee was soon driven back, when an overwhelming force was thrown against the Fifth, which fought with Spartan valor, and held the enemy in check until flanked by a heavy force which had moved up a ravine to our right, and was pour- ing into our decimated ranks a deadly cross-fire, when Gen. Stewart ordered us to fall back to the top of the ridge. At this juncture volunteers were called for to drive this force from the ravine above alluded to, when Capt. Wayne Caldwell, of Company D, led the Fifth in one of the most gallant charges it ever made, driving the enemy from their strong position with great loss. By this time, how- ever, all other parts of our line were routed and falling back, and the Fifth, after losing half their number in killed and wounded, fell back about three-fourths of a mile, wlien Gen. Stewart rode up to Ab. Dinwiddie, color-bearer of the Fifth, took the colors, and exclaimed: "ATTENTION! Fifth Tennessee, Strahl's brigade:


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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.


RALLY! and protect the rear of your army!" He then ordered the regiment to about-face and charge the pursuing enemy, he himself leading a short distance, when he returned the colors to Dinwiddie, who was as brave a man as ever bore a banner. The Fourth, Nineteenth, Thirty-first, and Fifty-fifth joined in the charge, and under the most galling fire from thousands of troops flushed with success, stubbornly held their position from 4 o'clock r.M. until 2 o'clock the next morning. The entire force of the regiments mentioned above did not ex- ceed five hundred men. At 2 o'clock A.M. we left our position and fell back to- ward Ringgold, Ga., fighting almost continually until reaching Ringgold Gap, where the Federal forces were ambushed by two brigades under Gen. Cleburne, which ended the campaign until spring, our last fight having been at Chickamau- ga Creek, where we were attacked while wading the creek. Hastily forming our lines on the opposite bank, we fought for three days and nights almost continu- ously ..


On reaching Dalton we went into winter-quarters on about half rations and badly clothed; but we built shanties, and prepared as best we could for the rigors of winter. For some time previous to this Strahl's brigade was detached from Gen. Cheatham's division, but in the reorganization here we were again placed under his command, which was a source of general rejoicing to the Fifth, all of whom were strongly attached to him. Immediately after being restored to his command we were ordered to North Mississippi, to reinforce our troops in that quarter; but on reaching Selma, Ala., we were ordered back to Dalton. On our re- turn we found that members of Walker's division had torn down and burned our shanties. A heavy snow having fallen, and our men feeling somewhat exasperated, they began to snow-ball the guards of Walker's division. Each side was gradu- ally reinforced, until both divisions became engaged, one under command of Gen. Walker, and the other led by Gen. G. W. Gordon. Neither was ever in a more hotly contested fight. The air was filled with flying missiles of snow, with an occasional stick and stone, the contest raging fiercely until sunset, when Walker's division gave way; the others pursuing, run them out of their camps, capturing and carrying off their supplies. The next day Gen. Walker demanded a return of the supplies, and Gen. Gordon sent him word to come and take them; but he did not come!


Early in the spring we were ordered to Mill Creek Gap on outpost duty, and on the next day after our arrival we were ordered into the Gap to reinforce an Alabama regiment, which we met falling back before a heavy fire. We checked the enemy, drove him from the Gap and held it for several days, when we were flanked, and fell back to Resaca. Soon after reaching here it was thought neces- sary to take an eminence to our right which was held by the enemy. It was a strong position and required a desperate struggle, but we drove them away with heavy loss on both sides. Among the killed of the Fifth was Capt. Ward, of Co. M, one of our most efficient officers. In one of the engagements near Resaca, a large bomb-shell, with the fuse burning, fell in the trench among the men, when Lieut. Frank Clark, of Co. I-one of the bravest of the brave-deliberately picked it up and threw it over the breastworks, it exploding just as it hit the ground.


From this time on, battles were too frequent to particularize. Allatoona, Cal- houn, New Hope, etc., followed in rapid succession, and fighting was almost a daily business. At Ellsbury Ridge, in front of Dallas, we were left for three days and


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nights to check the enemy and protect supplies, the rest of the army marching on toward Atlanta. Here the Fifth Regiment sustained an irreparable loss in the death of Col. Jonathan J. Lamb. He had just led a gallant and successful charge, and on returning was reestablishing his picket lines, when he fell mortally wound- ed. He was as brave and chivalrous an officer as ever drew a sword or led a charge. Every member of his command loved him like a brother, and it was right that they should deeply mourn their loss, because they never had a truer friend or more gallant leader. Col. A. J. Kellar, of the Fourth Regiment, suc- ceeded him in command, and we fell back to the south side of the Chattahooche River. Our pieket lines being on one side of the river and the enemy's on the other, a constant firing was kept up, except occasionally a truce would be agreed to for that day. These were sacredly kept by both sides, until one day a number of our men, relying upon the truce, went in the river to bathe, and were fired into by the Federals, a cannon-ball killing Lazarus Johnson, a brave and true soldier.


On the 20th of July, 1864, we reached Atlanta, and with the rest of Cheatham s and Cleburne's divisions fought the battle of Peach-tree Creek, north of Atlanta. On the 22d, at 2 o'clock A.M., with Hardee's corps, we were ordered to the right of Atlanta, marched twenty-five miles, struck the enemy's left flank, and drove him back with great loss on both sides, taking a considerable portion of his earth- works, which we held until the evacuation of Atlanta. In this fight we lost some of our best men, as Capt. Wayne Caldwell, Color-bearer Ab. Dinwiddie, Color- sergeant Newton J. Fields, and others.


A few days after this, Maj. Shannon, of the Twenty-fourth Tennessee, having charge of the picket lines near the Augusta railroad, sent Lieut. John I. Sim- mans, of Co. B, Fifth Tennessee, with seventeen picked men, to reconnoiter and ascertain if the enemy were still in their earth-works a short distance in front. Aleck R. Lankford and Tip Allen, of Co. I, were sent forward, and were soon fired on by the enemy's pickets, who were then charged by Lieut. Simmans, and driven into the trenches. Lieut. Simmans called a halt, and informed his men that he intended to charge the breastworks. One of the men demurred at the idea of seventeen men charging a whole line of trenches, whereupon the Lieutenant coolly informed him that if he was afraid he could retire to the rear, that he " had enough without him." Drawing his sword, he ordered them to charge-when, like infuriated demons, they rushed upon the lines with such shouts and yells that the terrified enemy fled in dismay, thinking, no doubt, that the whole Con- federate army was upon them. Lieut. Simmans and his seventeen men took pos- session of the trenches, out of which they had driven at least fifteen hundred or two thousand Federals, several of whom were killed. After falling back several hundred yards, and finding that they were not pursued, the enemy about-faced and began to pour into the little squad a hot fire, when the daring band beat a hasty retreat; not, however, until one of them-Mike Terry-had relieved one of the dead, who had fallen ten paces from the trenches, of a very " fat" knap- sack.




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