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 38
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Soon after this (about July 1, 1862) Corinth was evacuated, and the army fell
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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
back to Tupelo, Miss. During our stay here of about a month the Twelfth and Twenty-second regiments consolidated, still bearing the name "Twelfth Tennes- see Regiment Infantry." Col. L. P. MeMurray, of the Twenty-second, was put on duty as Lieutenant-colonel of the Twelfth, though retaining his rank as Col- onel; Assistant Surgeon E. R. Prewitt, of the Twenty-second, as Assistant Sur- geon of the Twelfth. Otherwise the field and staff remained unchanged. Very soon, and while the command was yet at Tupelo, Brig .- gen. Clark was ordered to Vicksburg, and that noble-hearted Tennessean, unexcelled in gallantry, Brig .- gen. B. F. Cheatham-known and loved as "Old Frank"-took command, Gen. Clark's division being added to or merged into his. Surgeon Caldwell returned to the Twelfth Regiment. Immediately following these changes, the army was or- dered to Chattanooga, Tenn. Assistant Surgeon McGee was temporarily detached and left at Tupelo in charge of the sick of the army who were unable to march. He was afterward promoted to Surgeon, and remained on division or corps duty till the close of Hood's Tennessee campaign, being at one time Medical Inspector of the Army of Tennessee; also Acting Medical Director.
On arriving at Chattanooga, the brigade, with the Twelfth Regiment-under com- mand of Col. Preston R. Smith, brevet or acting Brigadier-general-was detached and ordered to join Gen. E. Kirby Smith at Knoxville, Tenn., and became a part of his command throughout his brilliant campaign into Kentucky. On the ad- vance he flanked Gen. Butler out of Cumberland Gap and attacked and defeated with heavy loss Gen. "Bull" Nelson, at Richmond, Ky. In this battle privates John Banks and Wm. Farrow were killed and Col. McMurray wounded. The other casualties are not now remembered. We joined Gen. Bragg at Hatrods- burg, Ky., where the Twelfth, having guarded Smith's corps safely to the main army, was remanded to its old place in Cheatham's division. The Twelfth was present but took no active part in the battle of Perryville (or Goodnight Creek), being in reserve. Returning with the army to Knoxville, and arriving there about the 30th of Oct., the Forty-seventh Tennessee Infantry was consolidated with the Twelfth, still under the original name-"Twelfth Tennessee Regiment." The right was here detached as a guard for the wagon-train, and as such marched through to Tullahoma, Tenn., where it rejoined the command about Nov. 11.
On the 30th and 31st of December the Twelfth bore its full part in the battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone's River, both in gallantry and losses. Among the killed on the field we only recall Capt. John R. Duncan and private Monroe Wad- dy; mortally wounded and died, Sergt. Charles W. Pate, Capt. Wm. M. Harrell, Corporal M. T. Echols, privates Thos. J. Swift, Joe Boyett, Ben F. W. Fielder, Jos. H. Parker, Scott Hart, and A. F. Strayhorn. Most of these were of Capt. A. T. Fielder's company, and to him we are indebted for the list.
Surgeon Caldwell, having volunteered his services, was left in charge of the hospital for wounded. He served no more with the command, but remained in the service to the close of the war, filling several positions of honor and trust. From this time on to the final disaster the Twelfth Tennessee, though reduced to a mere handful, was always in its place in line, and took part in every battle fought by the Army of Tennessee. It fought through the two days carnage at Chickamauga, where John Hendrix, W. D. Bell, and Wm. M. Adkins fell; and Lieut. Dan E. Dane, D. E. Echols, and Wm. M. Hampton were mortally wound- ed. At the Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge disaster Robert J. Gauldin,
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MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
Pitts Ferris, and S. P. Rice were slain; and the regiment fell back to Dalton, Ga., whence, with the brigade, it was ordered to Demopolis, Ala., to succor Lieut .- gen. Polk, and returned to Dalton. Connected with this trip will ever be pleasantly associated in the memory of one of the writers the name of Miss Alice Lonis. Fought at Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, one of the bloodiest short contests of the war; Adairsville; New Hope Church; Kennesaw Mountain (Marietta , the Twelfth fighting at "Dead Angle; " Peach-tree Creek, where Jeff Crane, Rich- ard Rogers, Allworth Kennedy, and A. B. Gurgames fell; and Decatur, near At- lanta. Here Capt. T. J. Carthel was killed while commanding the regiment, all the field officers being wounded; also Jonesboro, Ga., where E. A. Godsaw and Ben Franklin fell; and Lovejoy's Station. Thence took up the line of march hack into Tennessee with Hood in his wild, reckless, and ruinous raid. Fought in the thickest of the Franklin slaughter (everybody knows where Cheatham's and Cle- burne's divisions were there); and constituted a part of the rear-guard in the pre- cipitate "retirement" of the army from the front of Nashville, Dec. 16, 1864. Thence with the army, in those dark days nearing the close, went through Al- abama, Georgia, South Carolina, up into North Carolina, where it participated in the last battle of the veteran Army of Tennessee, at Bentonville, N. C. Fell back thence, and on the 20th of April, 1865, on the historic ground of Greens- boro, was surrendered by that prince of Generals and soldiers, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston-a man who always outgeneraled his opponent, retained the love and confidence of his officers and men under all circumstances, and never drove them into a Franklin slaughter! The only field or staff officers present at the surrender were Col. M. M. Watkins, commanding; Capt. Jas. M. Russell, Quartermaster; Capt. A. T. Fielder, Capt. T. W. Jones, Lient. R. M. Hooker, of the original Twelfth; Capt. George R. Booth, of the original Forty-seventh. Privates and non-commis- sioned officers: James K. P. Harrell, George W. Coleman, J. D. Lewis, W. R. Hendrix, Richard D. Curd, W. S. Chapman, W. H. Price, James M. Abbott, J. B. Hamilton, J. N. Robertson, A. G. MeDearmon, J. C. MeDearmon, Samuel Rookman, J. N. Snow, Samuel Thomas, J. N. Brady (Orderly Sergeant), of the original Twelfth; W. H. Mangrum, John Riley, R. E. Bumpass, J. T. Bowden, J. B. Patterson, A. W. Riley, L. J. Riley, L. Welty, John Welty, J. J. Yates, S. E. Prewitt, of the original Twenty-second; W. S. Bone, W. T. Kellough, S. J. Kellough, W. M. Bell, J. T. Brown, M. M. Flowers, W. P. Prewitt, S. D. Reeves, J. R. Simmons, D. B. Dodson, N. A. Cresap, H. D. Dunlap, of the original Forty- seventh. Whole number of officers and men, fifty. The above list was furnishe i by J. C. McDearmon, Trenton, Tenn.
Oficial. ]
TWELFTH TENNESSEE INFANTRY. Colonel R. M. Russell. COMPANY A. Captains : D. M. Harrell and W. H. Harrell.
Goodloe, Robt., d. Aug. 5, 1861.
Lanier, C., d. Aug. 16, 1861.
Strann, N. J., k. at the battle of Belmont.
Bell, James, d. Dec. 5, 1861.
Edwards, J. H., k. in battle. Nov. 7, --- Lanier, Robt., d. Nov. 7, ----. Haskins, J. F., d. Jan. 26, 1862.
Curry, J. D., d. Jan. 3, 1862. Swerney, Henry, d. Feb. 15, 1862.
Pate, C. W., d. from wounds received at the battle of Murfreesboro. Reese, G. W., k. at the battle of Murfrees boro. Swift, P. J., k. at the battle of Murfeesboro,
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311
REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
Harrell, Capt. W. H., k. at the battle of Mur- ! Jackson, J. J., k. at the battle of Shiloh, April freesboro. 7, 1862.
Fielder, B. F. W., k. at the battle of Murfrees- boro. Ilart, R. S., k. at the battle of Murfreesboro. Williams, B. D., d. Feb. 2, 1863.
Jackson, Robert, d. Lanier, C. L., d.
[ Unofficial.] Rice, Stephen P., d. March, 1, 1854.
Rice, Lieut. Geo. S., k. at Kennesaw Mountain, June 23, 1864.
Fielder, Sergt. Thomas J., k. at Kennesaw Mountain, June 23, 1864.
Strayhorn, A. E. d. March 1, 1863.
Payne, Lieut. J. B., d. Nov. 29, 1863.
Gauldin, Lieut. R. J., k. at the battle of Chat- tanooga.
Montgomery, J. W., d. May, 1862.
Walls, R. W., k. at the battle of Shiloh.
Sanders, R. G., d. March, 1802.
Strange, J. B., k. at the battle of Shiloh.
Warren, John, d. March, 1862.
Gentry, Joseph, d. April, 1862.
Garland, R. F., d. June, 1862.
Edwards, Alva, d. June 1862.
Brunstop, David, k. at the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862.
Anthony, J. R., k. at the battle of Shiloh.
Adkins, Wm. M., k. at Chickamauga, Sept. 19, 1863. Drane, Daniel E., d. Sept. 23, 1863. Echols, David N., d. Sept. 24, 1863. Hampton, Wm. L., d. Oct. 27, 1864.
COMPANY B. Captains : M. W. Walker, S. K. P. House.
Evins, W. J., d. Aug. 12, 1861.
Rice, A. M., d. Aug. 2, 1861.
Davidson, R., d. Dec. 26, 1861.
Harwell, T. C., k. at the battle of Shiloh, April | Brunston, David, k. at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. 6, 1&62.
Ferris, F. P., k. at the battle of Missionary Ridge, Nov. 25, 1863.
Strange, J. Beverly, d. April 21, 1862.
COMPANY C. Captain, J. N. Wyatt.
Kirk, J. J., k. at the battle of Belmont, Nov. | Banks, J. W., k. in battle. 7,1861.
Cunningham, T. J., k. in battle.
McDaniel, F. A., k. at the battle of Belmont, Farrar, Wm., k. in battle. Nov. 7, 1861.
Greer, E. B., d. at home.
Bowles, Anthony, d. Feb. 24, 1862.
Smith, G. F., k. at the battle of Murfreesboro.
Hilarith, F. H., k. at the battle of Murfrees- boro. Nerson, A. P., k. at the battle of Murfrees- boro. Orr, A. G., d. at hospital.
McKee, J. N., k. at Murfreesboro.
Orr, J. D., d. at hospital. Turner, F. M., d. at Knoxville, Nov. 16, 1862. Wyatt, J. N., d. at hospital.
COMPANY D. Captain, John Hill.
Givens, S. J., d. Dec. 23, 1861.
Bohannon, R. Y., k. at the battle of Belmont, Nov. 7, 1961.
Brannon, Thos,, k. at the battle of Belmont, Nov. 7, 1561.
Atkins, J. W., k. at the battle of Murfreesboro. Erskins, G. W., k. at the battle of Murfrees- boro. Oliphant, Lieut. W. C., k. at the battle of Shi- Ich.
McManns, S., d. March 8, 1862.
Givens, J. J., d. Dec. 23, 1861. Bullin, W. A., d. Aug. 15, 1862.
Hughes, John, k. at the battle of Belmont.
Seals, J. E., d. at Lexington, Nov., 1862.
Stallings, W. L., d. March 10, 1863, at Shelby - ville, Tenn.
Carley, R. S., d. May, 1862.
Branch, J. W., k. at the battle of Murfreesboro.
Parker, J. H., k. at the battle of Murfreesboro. Echols, M. T., k. at the battle of Murfrees- boro. Kirk, E. W., d. March 28, 1863.
Terry, Joseph A., k. at Kennesaw Mountain, June 23, 1864.
Rogers, Lieut. Richard, k. at Peach-tree Creek, July 20, 1864. Gurgames, Abe B., d. at Peach-tree Creek, August, 1864. Fielder, Corp. A. Marion J., k. at Atlanta, July 22, 1864.
Bell, Wm. D., k. at Chickamauga, Sept. 19, 18C3.
Cunningham, J. M., d. April 11, 1862. [ Unofficial.] Walls, Robert, k. at shiloh, April 6, 1862.
Sinclair, Ralph G., d. April 23, 1862.
Henson, H. G., d. at hospital. Janis, S. B., d. at hospital.
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MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
Doud, Anderson, d. Nov. 16, 1862.
Edwards, J. J., d. at Columbus, Ky.
Louis, G. B., d. Feb., 1863.
Abbott, Joseph, d. Jan. 16, 1862. Bradford, M. V., d. Jan., 1862.
McCaleb, S., k. at the battle of Murfreesboro. MeCuin, M., k. at the battle of Shiloh. Nicholson, J. A., d. July, 1862.
Bryant, J. W., d. at Columbus, Ky. Connell, J. M., d. at Tupelo, Miss.
Pierce, N. L., k. at the battle of Shiloh.
Patterson, J. H., k. at the battle of Murfrees- boro. Patterson, Robert, d. at hospital.
Ward, Joseph T., d. May, 1862. Brickhouse, M., k. at Belmont.
Davidson, W. F., d. at Columbus, Ky. Glisson, E. G., k. at the battle of Shiloh. Hill, Jefferson, k. at the battle of Shiloh. Johnson, J. J., k. at Shiloh. Yates, L., k. at Shiloh. Ward, T. J., d. at Columbus Ky.
COMPANY E. Captain, D. A. Outlaw.
Seabeaugh, John, d. July, 1861. Grees, W. A., d. Sept. 10, 1861.
Dowd, A., d. Nov., 1862.
Alexander, R. C., k. at the battle of Belmont.
Erwin, J. H., k. at the battle of Belmont.
Glover, W. J., k. at the battle of Belmont.
Gills, W. A., d. Sept. 10, 1861.
Carpenter, H. J., k., so reported. Chanellor, L., k. at the battle of Murfreesboro.
Patterson, J. H., k. at the battle of Murfrees- boro. Fielder, J. S., k. at the battle of Murfrees- boro. Louis. G. B., d. at Shelbyville, Feb. 11, 1863. Hampton, G. H., k. at the battle of Chicka- maugs.
COMPANY F.
Captain, Joseph A. Knox.
Coap, R. A., d. Aug. 15. 1861. Eskew, J. T .. d. Aug. 29, 1861.
Jones, W. D., d. June 10, 1562. Wyatt, R. J., d. May 1, 1862.
Freeman, W. S., d. Sept. 9, 1861.
Guthrie, S. M., d. Aug. 3. 1861.
Rutlidge, JJ. T., d. sept. 2, 1861.
West, Joel, k. at Shiloh.
Allen, John, d. at Columbus, Ky.
Farris, C. H .. d. Dec. 15, 1861. Gregory, J. H., d. Nov. 10, 1861. Whitten, W. M., d. Nov. 8, 1861. House, W. W., d. Feb. 3, 1862.
Pope, L. D., d. April 15, 1862.
Allen, John. d. Jan. 11. 1862.
Fleming. W. J., k. at Chickamauga.
Cribbs, E, d. May 28, 1862.
Jones, J. M., k. at Shiloh.
Ferris, Martin, d. Moore, John, d. Needham, H. T., k. at the battle of Shiloh. Wright, G. W., k. at the battle of Shiloh. Sanders, B. F., k. at the battle of Shiloh. Wetherspoon, Thomas, k. at the battle of Shi- loh. Freeman, William, d.
COMPANY G. Captain, L. D. Walker.
Edwards, J. J., d. Nov. 11, 1861.
Torkess, J. M., k. at Richmond, Ky.
Medlin, H., d. at Knoxville, Oct. 28, 1802.
Martin, N. H., k. at Murfreesboro.
Pickler, J. H., d. at Shelbyville, Ky., Sept. 9, 1862.
Young, James, k. at Murfreesboro. Bell, H. C., k. at the battle of Murfreesboro. Jones, Clifton, k. at the battle of Murfrees- boro. Cable, G. J., k. at the battle of Murfrees. boro.
COMPANY H. Captain, B. H. Sanford.
Sanford, Capt. B. H., k. at Shiloh, Nov. 12, 1861. [ Moore, T. L., k. at Murfreesboro. Hale, G. F., k. at the battle of Belmont. Gilson, G. S., k. at Murfreesboro. Johnson, J. M., k. at Belmont.
Turner, H. T., d. Sept. 20, 1862, at Richmond, Ky. Bower, W. F., k. in a skirmish, Dec. 9, 1862.
Thomas, B. F., k. in a skirmish, Dec. 11, 1862.
Gray, T. T., d. at Atlanta, March 14, 1863. Harris, Geo. W., k. Jan. 8. 1864. Maclin, A. N., k. Nov. 25, 1863, at Missionary Ridge. Jackson, Second Lieut. Geo., k. at Shiloh.
COMPANY I. Captain, E. H. Williams.
Coley, J. R., d. Aug. 12, 1961. Cook, Jas. L., k. at the battle of Murfrees. Holly, R. G., k. at the battle of Murfreesboro. boro.
Wildes, M. S., d. April 25, 1862. Willington, E. H., d. June 21, 1862.
LT COL VE MOR IAN
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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
Haynes, F. J., k. July 22, 1864.
Gowan, L. M., d. in hospital.
Tor. zes, S. T., k. Sept. 2, 1804.
Hill, J. W., d. in the fall of 1561.
Woods, J. T., k. Sept. 1, 184.
Seavers. S., d. at Humboldr.
Yancey, C. A., k. July 22, 1:64.
Stone, R. M., k. at the battle of Shiloh.
Burrow. T. J., d. at Columbus, Miss.
Vanderver, J., k. at Murfreesboro.
Coley, R., d. in the summer of 1861.
Williamson, S. L., d. at Tupelo, Miss.
Greer, J. G., d. in hospital.
COMPANY K. Captain, A. W. Cannon.
Freeman, W'm., d. in the service.
Green, R. J., d. in the service.
Lewis, J. W., d. in the service.
Rust, J. F. M., k. Nov. 7, 1861.
Bigg, A. O., k. in battle.
Caldwell, W. F., k. at Bichmond, Ky., Aug. 30, 1862.
Algia. A. H., k. in battle. Jones. J. A., k. in battle.
THIRTEENTH TENNESSEE INFANTRY. BY J. D. WEST AND S. D. WEAKLEY, JR., MEMPHIS, TENN.
THE Thirteenth Tennessee Regiment was organized and mustered into service on the 3d day of June, 1861, at Jackson, Tenn., in answer to a call of Gov. Isham G. Harris for seventy-five thousand volunteers, and was composed of the following companies:
Co. A, Fayette Rifle Grays: Captain, William Burton, of Somerville, Tenn. Co. B, Macon Grays: Captain, J. L. Granberry, of Macon, Tenn.
Co. C, Secession Guards, organized at Germantown, Tenn .: Captain, J. H. Mor- gan, of Horn Lake, Miss. :
Co. D, Yorkville Rirles: Captain, J. A. Wilkins, of Yorkville, Tenn.
Co. E, Dixie Rifles, composed in part of Mississippians and in part of Tennes- seans, organized at Moscow, Tenn .: Captain, A. J. Vaughn, of Marshall county, Miss.
Co. F, Wright Boys: Captain, John V. Wright, of Purdy, Tenn. Co. G, Gains's Invincibles: Captain, W. E. Winfield, of La Grange, Tenn. Co. H, Yancey Rifles: Captain, R. W. Pitman, of Hickory Wythe, Tenn. Co. I, Forky Deer Volunteers: Captain, G. L. Ross, of Forky Deer, Tenn. Co. K, Dyer Grays: Captain, S. R. Latta, of Dyersburg, Tenn.
On the day succeeding the organization, the election for field officers resulted in the choice of Captain John V. Wright, of Co. F (by the unanimous voice of the regiment;, for Colonel; Captain A. J. Vaughn, of Co. E, for Lieutenant- colonel; and Captain W. E. Winfield, of Co. G, for Major.
Orders were forthwith received for the regiment to report at Randolph, Tenn., to join what was then known as the "River Brigade," commanded by Brig .- gen. John L. T. Sneed; pursuant to which orders Col. Wright immediately proceeded to Randolph, via Memphis, where the organization was completed by the appoint- ment of Lieutenant W. E. Morgan, of Co. C, Adjutant; Dr. J. A. Forbes, of Co. E, Surgeon: Dr. B. F. Dickinson, of Co. I, Assistant Surgeon; W. E. Dyer, of' Co. G, Commissary; L. F. Cabler, of Co. A, Quartermaster; P. H. Cole, of Co. H, Sergeant-major.
Wanneth, J. J., k. at the battle of Murfreesboro Harbour, W. H., d. a prisoner at Rock Island, Illinois.
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MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
The attention of the officers was now directed to disciplining and drilling the newly levied troops. The rapid progress made by these enthusiastic recruits dur- ing their short encampment at Randolph was truly gratifying to all, reflecting great credit as it did not only upon the men, but also upon the energy, intelli- gence, and capacity of those in command. Shortly afterward it became evident that Gen. Lyons, of the Federal army, intended to mass a heavy force in front of Gen. Mccullough, who was then in South-western Missouri. It became nec- essary to send troops into Missouri to prevent the desired reinforcements from reaching him. Accordingly, on the 26th of July, the brigade was ordered to proceed to New Madrid, which was promptly done.
Soon after this, the Thirteenth Regiment, which had previously been a portion of the State troops, was mustered into the service of the Confederate States, and, with the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth (Senior) Tennessee Regiment, Col. Pres- ton Smith, was formed into a brigade and placed under command of Col. J. P. McCown, who, pursuant to orders, moved his brigade on the 18th of August for Benton, where he arrived on the 19th, and wa, joined on the 20th by the Fourth Tennessee Regiment, Col. Neely. This rapid march beneath the burning rays of a mid-summer sun, and over roads which rendered it painfully toilsome, was cheerfully and opportunely accomplished, not only thwarting the enemy's design, but removing all doubt as to the capacity and willingness of the troops to undergo the severest hardships, and bringing to liglit that address and gallantry of their officers which produced a wholesome confidence on the part of the men that never forsook them. While at Benton, the supply-train was interrupted by unforeseen circumstances, and in consequence the men were reduced to the necessity of sub- sisting upon roasting-ears and fresh meat, without salt. The objects of the move being soon accomplished, the command returned to New Madrid, at which place it arrived Sept. 2d, and on the following day proceeded to Hickman, Ky., where the regiment was placed in the brigade of Gen. Cheatham.
On Sept. 4th the regiment witnessed the first fight they had ever seen, which was an artillery duel between the Federal gun-boats and the Confederate land- batteries; and though the men were eager to take part, no opportunity was pre- sented, as the gun-boats soon retired without inflicting or receiving any injury. At this juncture, Gen. Polk seeing the necessity of occupying Columbus, Ky., with a force, prior to its occupation by the enemy, ordered Gen. Cheatham's bri- gade to proceed by railroad to that point, where it arrived on the 6th of Septem- ber, being the first command to take possession of that important point. After reaching Columbus, nothing worthy of special notice occurred in the history of the regiment until Sept. 10th, when it was thrown into a brigade composed of the Twelfth Tennessee, Col. Russell, and the Twenty-first Tennessee, Col. Pickett, known as the Third Brigade, and commanded by Col. Russell, of the Twelfth Tennessee. Its connection with the Third Brigade continued till Oct. 26th, when it was placed in the First Brigade, First Division, which were commanded respect- ively by Col. J. Knox Walker and Brig .- gen. Gideon J. Pillow. A few days sub- sequent to this latter change, the regiment went into its first engagement. On the morning of the 7th of November, it being discovered that a considerable body of the enemy had disembarked from their gun-boats and moved down to a point near Belmont, on the Missouri shore, preparations were immediately made to meet them. Col. Wright, in obedience to orders, formed his regiment. rapidly
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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
.
crossed the river, and took position on the extreme left, contiguous to Watson's Battery. Never were troops more eager for the fray. The enemy, posted in a dense wood that concealed them from view, soon opened a galling fire upon the regiment stationed in an open field and entirely without cover. The fire of the enemy was immediately returned with spirit, and the position, which was an im- portant one, firmly held by these gallant men, fighting under great difficulties, for the space of an hour and a half, when it was discovered that the ammunition was failing. Col. Wright at once notified Gen. Pillow of this fact, through Lieut .- col. Vaughn, and received orders to fall back to the river, which was done. The enemy, supposing this to be a feint, did not follow up their advantage, and the regiment, having rallied, soon afterward joined in a charge which resulted in kill- ing and capturing numbers of the now vanquished foe and driving the remain- der from the field. While the men acted nobly in this fight, too much cannot be said of the officers. Col. Wright, though disabled and dismounted, was with the regiment until the close of the fight. Lieut .- col. Vaughn was ever in the thick- est part of the fight, cheering and encouraging his men. He had two horses killed under him, but fortunately escaped without injury. While it will be im- possible, in the space allotted to this history, to refer to all those acts of courage and devotion performed by both the officers and men of the regiment during the war, the writer cannot forbear to mention the name of Lieut. Matt Rhea, whose company (A) being deployed as skirmishers on the left was overpowered, and this brave man, though surrounded and cut off from his company, preferred death rather than surrender his grandfather's sword. Adjt. Morgan was also slightly wounded, and the regiment lost in killed and wounded one hundred and forty- nine men out of four hundred.
Col. Wright, while in command of his regiment, was elected to a seat in the Confederate Congress, having been in the United States Congress for six years before the war; and at the solicitation of friends he was led to resign his posi- tion, which he did on Dec. 4, and Lieut .- col. Vaughn was unanimously elected Colonel in his stead. Adjt. W. E. Morgan was then made Lieutenant-colonel, and Lieut. R. M. Harwell, of Co. E, was appointed Adjutant.
The winter which now set in prevented further military operations of impor- tance, and nothing worthy of note occurred until early in the spring, when it be- came a military necessity to evacuate Columbus and establish the Confederate lines farther south. After taking part in the preliminary arrangements attend- ant upon such a move, the Thirteenth Regiment was ordered to Union City, Tenn., where it arrived the following day. It here made a short stay, and proceeded on the 12th of March, by railroad, to Humboldt, Tenn. Here the Thirteenth Rezi- ment was thrown into a brigade with the Twelfth Tennessee, Col. Russell, the Twenty-second Tennessee, Col. Freeman, and designated as the First Brigade, First Grand Division of the Army of Mississippi, commanded by Col. Russell, of' the Twelfth Tennessee. Four days later the brigade was ordered to Corinth, Miss., by rail, which point it reached on the 19th of March, and with its former division was soon afterward placed in the First Corps of the Army of Mississippi. It now being the policy of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston to attack the enemy near Pittsburg Landing, on the Tennessee River, where he had disembarked in force from his gun-boats, before reinforcements could arrive from Nashville, a general movement was ordered. Accordingly, on the 3d of April the First Bri-
316
MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
gade of the First Division of the First Corps of the Army of Mississippi began its march to the point of conflict. Owing, however, to the heavy rains and the im- perfect nature of the roads, our troops were not formed in line of battle till the evening of April 5th, although the distance they had marched did not exceed eighteen miles. The regiment lay in line of battle all night, preparatory to an attack in the morning. Just as the sun was rising on that memorable Sabbath morning, the first cannon was heard, and it was evident to all that the battle had begun. The Thirteenth Regiment marched in line of battle for some distance, and coming to the edge of an old field was ordered to lie down. The Eleventh Louisiana Regiment having been repulsed with great loss of offi- cers and men, in charging a battery in their front, Gen. Clark, who was com- manding the division, asked Col. Vaughn if he could take the battery of four guns. Col. Vaughn responded that he would try, and ordered his regiment, the Thirteenth, to charge in double-time. The regiment charged across the field, about three hundred yards, and by a mistake of Maj. Winfield-which, however, proved a fortunate one -- the regiment divided, part going to the left, the other companies to the right. In this way the battery was flanked on both sides, and was soon taken. This charge was made in the face of a perfect shower of grape and canister, which literally mowed the ranks of the regiment. The en- emy was soon beaten back at all points, and nothing more of consequence was done on that day. Heavy reinforcements having been received during the night, Gen. Grant renewed the contest on the morning of the 7th, and the Thirteenth Regiment was again called into action in checking his advance.
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