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 43
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NOTE .- "Cheat Mountain ; or, Unwritten Chapter of the Late War. By a Member of the Bar, Fayetteville, Tenn. Nashville: Albert B. Tavel, Stationer and Printer. 1885," is the title of a valuable octavo, 128 pages, written by J. G. Carrigan, which gives an interesting episode in the history of the Eighth and sixteenth Tennessee regiments.
Prof. T. A. Head, of MeMinnville, has in press a volume on the Sixteenth Regiment.
-4-4.
345
REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
Official. ]
SIXTEENTH TENNESSEE INFANTRY.
Colonel, D. M. Donnell; Lieutenant-colonel, D. f. Brown; Adjutant, A. F. Claywell; Quar- termaster, J. B. Ritchey ; Surgeon, T. W. Leak; Assistant Surgeon, C. K. Mauzy.
COMPANY A. Captain, G. L. Tally.
Lockhart, E., k. at Murfreesboro. Adcock, W. M., d. June, 1861. Leege, E., k. at Murfreesboro. Cantrell, J. M., d. Nov. 20, 1802. Hallam, W. A., k. at Murfreesboro. Davis, C. B., d. April, 1863.
Kersy, F. G., k. at Murfreesboro. Hooper, J. T., d. Feb., 1.62.
Warren, John, k. at Murfreesboro.
Herrend, W. P., d. April 20, 1863.
Savage, L. N., k. at Murfreesboro. Anderson, R. B., k. at Murfreesboro.
Witt. Geo. W., k. at Murfreesboro.
- Atnip, Benj., k. at Perryville.
Hooper, A. M., k. at Perryville.
Kennedy, F. E. P., k. at Perryville.
Rowland, R., k. at Perryville, Webb, P. G., k. at Perryville.
COMPANY B. Captain, J. H. L. Duncan.
Wiser, W. D., k. at Perryville. Wiser, Isaiah, k. at Perryville. Dye, Lacey, d. Jan., 1862. Hawk, James, d. Nov. 3, 1862.
Long, H. B., d. Jan.11, 1863. Wessick, R. J., d. Nov. 15. 1862. Burrows, J. S., d. Sept. 3, 1861. Langley, A. S., d. Feb., 1862.
COMPANY C. Captain, D. M. Donnell.
Mackey, Horatio, k. at Perryville. Bruston, Reese, k. at Perryville.
Wooten, Wm. H., k. at Perryville.
Wood, M. P., k. at Perryville.
Thompson, H. S., k. at Perryville.
Spurlock, D. C., k. at Murfreesboro.
Bowen, T. M., k. at Murfreesboro.
Matthews, D. C., d. Feb. 1, 1863. Biles, J. H., d. Feb., 1563. Romulus, George. d. April, 1862. Martin, Lewis, d. Nov. 19, 1561. Pepper, John, d. March 20, 1863. King, Wm., d. June 29, 1801.
COMPANY D. Captain, P. H. Coffee.
Edwards, M. L., k. at Murfreesboro.
Gribble, J. T., k. at Murfreesboro.
Gribble, A. P., k. at Murfreesboro.
Gribhle, A. J., k. at Murfreesboro.
Hutson, Thomas, k. at Murfreesboro.
Perry, Win., k. at Murfreesboro.
Rowland, B. M., k. at Murfreesboro.
Rowland, James, k. at Murfreesboro. Smith, Wm. F., K. at Murfreesboro. Gaw, J. F., d. May 19, 1862. Mullican, L. J., d. March 20, 1863. Wheater, J. A., k. at Perryville. Summers, J. N., k: at Perryville.
COMPANY E. Captain, J. J. Womack.
Bell, Wm., k. at Perryville.
Christian, J. M., k. at Perryville.
Boren, John, k. at Perryville. Ware, R. W., k. at Perryville. Mason, A. D., k. at Perryville. MeGelgar, J. L., k. at Perryville.
Douglass, A., k. at Murfreesboro.
Bomer, David, k. at Murfreesboro. Womack, Elias, k. at Murfreesboro.
Mauzy, M., k. at Murfreesboro, Womack, C. W., d. March 20, 1863. Vanhooser, H. A., k. in battle. Tate, Stephen. k. in battle. Neal, O. D., k. Sept., 1861. MeRaw, G. H., d. June 25, 1861. Jones, J. A., d. Oct. 20, 1861. Holmes, A. R, d. Nov. 1, 1861. Evans, J. K. P., d. Oct. 20, 1861.
COMPANY F.
Anderson. M. M., k. at Perryville.
Pointer, D. G., k. at Perryville.
Captain, W. W. Baldwin. Bullington, Joseph. k. at Perryville. i Caruthers, W. N., k. at Perryville.
Martin, J. G., d. Oct., 1861.
Moore, W. C., d. Womack, W. M., d. Oct., 20, 1861. Watts, W. H., d. July 1, 1801. Cantrell, M. L., d. Dec. 20, 1802. Potter, O. D., d. Jnly 1, 1861. Potter, T. T., d. July 5, 1861.
346
MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
Grimsley, W. F., k. at Perryville.
Pleasant, James, k. at Murfreesboro.
Richardson, J. J., k. at Perryville.
Moore, W. T., d. Jan., 1802. Tolbert, John, d.
Thompson. T. C., k. at Perryville.
Choate, Jacob, k. at Murfreesboro.
Matheny, T. R., d.
Layeoch, John C., K. at Murfreesboro.
Ballard, J. J., k. at Murfreesboro.
Brown, John, k. at Murfreesboro.
Choate, John, k. at Murfreesboro.
Murray, Geo. R., k. at Murfreesboro.
COMPANY G. Captain, P. C. Shields.
Roberts, W. H., k. at Perryville.
Walker, S. J., k. at Perryville.
McGowan, O. D., k. at Perryville.
Wiggins, Joseph. k. at Perryville.
Clark, D. k. at Perryville. Cantrell, Polk, k. at Murfreesboro.
Cope, H. B., k. at Perryville.
Bain, Isaiah, k. at Perryville.
Britton, J. L., k. at Perryville.
Blunt. M., k. at Perryville.
Brien, C., k. at Perryville. Duncan, P. C., k. at Perryville.
Fisher, Lawson, k. at Perryville.
Hutson, John H., k. at Perryville.
Moore, Monroe, k. at Perryville.
Roberts, W. J., k. at Perryville.
Stockton, L. H., k. at Perryville.
Tallent, William, k. at Murfreesboro.
Walker, W. II., d. July 26, 1861.
Smith, J. S., d. June 22. 1561.
Roberts, Isane, d. Nov. 2, 1961.
Hennessee, W. M., k. at Perryville. Rhea, W. H., K. at Perryville.
Rowan, J. W., d. July 9, 1801.
Hays. R. B., k. at Perryville.
Mastin, A., k. in battle. Johnston, James, d. Feb. 25, 1862.
Jones, J. R., k. at Murfreesboro.
Etter, John, k. at Murfreesboro.
Pennington, Henry, k. at Murfreesboro.
Smith, B. F., k. at Murfreesboro.
Miller, J. A., d. Sept. 8, 1862. Slaughter, James, d. March 11, 1863. Fessin, William, d. April 11, 1863.
COMPANY I. Captain, Harmon York.
Jones, William, k. at Perryville. Haston, W. B .. k. at Perryville. Johnson, Levi, k. at Perryville. Parker, Samuel, k. at Perryville. Shackles, Peter, k. at Perryville.
Henderson, Rhodes, k. at Murfreesboro. Cready, William, k. at Corinth. Grissom, John, k. at Corinth. Wilson, William, d. July 27, 1861. Drake, George W., d. Sept. 30, 1361.
Foster, J. B., d. Dec. 6. 1861.
Robertson. Hillis, d. July 20, 1861. Hawkins, John, d. Oct. 1, 1861. Howard, Isane, d. May 15, 1862. Harrison, T., d. Nov. 10, 1961.
Hollinsworth, Isham, k. at Murfreesboro. Moore, J. G., k. at Murfreesboro. Moore, James C., k. at Murfreesboro, Marion, P. J., k. at Murfreesboro.
Rawlings, Thomas, k. in battle. Smith, W. J., d. Nov., 1861. Thomson, James, d. | Worley, Joshua, d. July 10, 1863.
COMPANY K. Captain, Daniel T. Brown.
Carlin. James, k. at Murfreesboro. Parsley, B., k. at Murfreesboro. Martin, E., k. at Murfreesboro.
Humphries, S., k. at Murfreesboro. Cope. Marshall. k. at Murfreesboro. Clark, James, k. at Perryville.
----
Fisher, John, k. at Murfreesboro. Hutchins, Benjamin, k. at Murfreesboro.
Hodger, T. L., K. at Murfreesboro. Moore, J. B., k. at Murfreesboro. Moore, R. P., k. at Murfreesboro. . Brown, Alfred, k. at Murfreesboro. Allen, William, d. Sept., 1861. Donnell, John, d. July 7, 1863. McPeak, Wallace, d. Sept., 1963.
Sanders, H. L., d. May 17, 1963. Froglin, Lee, d. Dec. 31, 1562.
COMPANY H. Captain, John M. Parks,
.. Castis, Martin, k. at Perryville. Sofley, Jerome, k. at Perryville. Hennessee, Obadiah, k. at Perryville.
Sparkman, G. W., k. at Perryville. Steakley, J. C., k. at Perryville. Wood, W. B., k. at Perryville. York. J. E., k. at Perryville. Baker, Peter, k. at Murfreesboro.
Garrett, E., d. Evans, Thomas, d.
Boyd, B. B., d. Bullington, D. H., d.
3-47
REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
Baker, S., k. at Perryville.
Oaks, A., k. at Perryville. Pirtle, Thomas, d. Ang. 20, 1861.
Martin, D., d. May 23, 1863. Knowles, Thomas, d. Aug. 21, 1861.
Farley, S. M., d. Oct. 14, 1862. Davis, T. V., d. Aug. 28, 1:01. Cautrell, Logan, d. Oet., 1801. Cope, E., d. March 5, 1862.
SEVENTEENTH TENNESSEE INFANTRY. BY A. S. MARKS, WINCHESTER, TENN. -
Os the 4th of May, 1861, nine of the ten companies which afterward composed the Seventeenth Tennessee Infantry assembled at Camp Harris, in Franklin coun- ty. On the next day they were sworn into the military service of the State, an.1 on the 27th of the same month were transported to Camp Trousdale, in Samner county. On the 11th, of June, 1861, the regiment was organized by the election of the following officers: T. W. Newman, Colonel; T. C. H. Miller, Lieutenant- colonel; A. L. Landis, Major; - Kinehelve, Adjutant; W. F. Collins, Com- missary; Watt Floyd, Quartermaster; Dr. Watt Gentry, Surgeon; Dr. Whilfred, Assistant Surgeon.
The regiment was composed of ten companies, viz .:
Co. A, from Bedford county, with the following officers: J. D. Hoyl, Cap- tain; Frank B. Terry, First Lieutenant; Robt. Campbell, Second Lieutenant; Jo- seph Hastings, Third Lieutenant.
Co. B, from Bedford county, with the following officers: W. A. Landis, Cap- tain; U. C. Harrison, First Lieutenant; H. M. Kimsey, Second Lieutenant; Mati. Cortner. Third Lieutenant.
Co. C, from Marshall county, with the following officers: R. C. Williams, Cap- tain; J. C. Davis, First Lieutenant; F. M. Orr, Second Lieutenant; N. M. Bry- ant, Third Lieutenant.
Co. D, from Franklin county, with the following officers: T. II. Fench, Captain; G. W. Corn, First Lieutenant; Wm. Lee, Second Lieutenant; W. H. Cardan, Third Lieutenant.
Co. E, from Franklin county, with the following officers: Albert S. Mark-, Cap- tain; William Newman, First Lieutenant; James Grant, Second Lieutenant; T. H. Cole, Third Lieutenant.
Co. F, from Marshall county, with the following officers: R. P. Hunter, Captain; John Begger, First Lieutenant; W. Waltes, Second Lieutenant; James Hunter, Third Lieutenant.
Co. G, from Bedford county, with the following officers: James A. Armstrong. Captain; Thomas H. Watterson, First Lieutenant; Thomas Cleveland, Second Lieutenant; Thomas Woods, Third Lieutenant,
Co. H, from Marshall county, with the following officers: R. H. MeCrory, Cap- tain; W. H. Holden, First Lieutenant; G. W. Collins, Second Lieutenant; -- Saunders, Third Lieutenant.
Co. I. from Franklin county, with the following officers: J. A. Mathews, Cap- tain; G. W. Ingell, First Lieutenant; -- Anderson, Second Lieutenant; - Stewart, Third Lieutenant.
Co. R, from Jackson and Putnam counties, with the following officers: S. B.
348
MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
MeDearmon, Captain; W. W. Cowan, First Lieutenant; R. B. Montgomery, Sec- ond Lieutenant; G. W. Montgomery, Third Lieutenant.
Soon after the organization of the regiment, flint-lock muskets of the oldest pattern were tendered the men and refused by them. After a promise that they should be speedily replaced with arms of modern pattern, the reluctance of the men was overcome, and they accepted the flint-lock muskets. The regiment re- mained at Camp Trousdale until the 23d of July, engaged in drilling. At that time it was ordered to Virginia, reaching Bristol, Va., on the 26th of July, when the order directing it to proceed to Virginia was revoked. The regiment remained at Bristol until the 3d of August, when it was recalled to Russellville, in East Tennessee; and on the 5th of August it marched to Cumberland Gap, which place was reached on the Sth. Here the regiment remained till the 14th of September. At daylight on the morning of that day Gen. Zollicoffer began his advance into Kentucky through Cumberland Gap, reaching Cumberland Ford on the same day, where a camp was formed, and called "Camp Buckner." Until the middle of October the command was engaged in fortifying the position occupied at Cumber- land Ford; and with the exception of an affair at Barboursville, in which a part of the regiment participated, nothing of interest occurred until the 16th of Oeto- ber, when the brigade began its march to Rock Castle. The Federal forces had occupied and fortified the Rock Castle hills, and had pushed out a corps near the camp at Cumberland Ford. Soon after the march was begun the advance of the Federal force was met, and while no serious resistance was offered, yet the enemy retired only as the brigade advanced. The presence of the enemy so delayed the march that the vicinity of Rock Castle was not reached till the evening of the 20th of October. The road on which the brigade was advancing lay along a narrow, thickly timbered valley, with precipitous ridges on each side. To obstruct the advance of the brigade, the enemy cut all the trees on each side of the road that would fall across it. This obstruction was encountered about night-fall on the evening of the 20th, and the commanding General, deeming it important to press his march, kept the men on their feet the entire night of the 20th, advancing as the obstructions were removed. The next morning the command was in the presence of the enemy. His position was concealed by the thick timber which enveloped the hill he had fortified. The brigade was deployed in line of battle, and the advance began through the heavy timber and up the hill. When the hill occupied by the enemy was reached it was found to be inaccessible on account of its precipitous bluffs save at a narrow point on the right, fronting the Seventeenth Tennessee Regiment. Without support or possibility of support, that part of the regiment covering the accessible point moved up the hill, and when its crest was reached the line of the enemy's intrenchments was found but a few yards distant, and protected by a thick abatis. The enemy opened fire as soon as the advance up the hill began, and as the assaulting line was the only part exposed to the enemy, all his fire was directed against it. In half an hour eleven men were killed in the regiment and twenty-seven wounded; and of this number, six were killed and seventeen wounded out of one company of the regiment. In the mean- time the commanding General, finding that the enemy could be assailed from that point alone, directed the withdrawal of that part of the regiment that had reached the top of the hill. After this assault, the greater part of the day was spent in an ineffectual effort to find a position from which the enemy could be successfully
319
REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
assaulted by our artillery. In the evening the brigade was chbirst . distance from the enemy und encanigel for the night. The next dby the brigade began to retire to Cumberland Ford, where is remained till November . when it retired to, Cun.berland Gap, and on the Eth of November Vezen ite advance to Mill Springs. Ky., which place was reached on the 30:Ans November after a long and tuilsome march.
The enemy having appeared in force on the north side of Cumberland River. near Wailsborough, on the 1 -: of Deceniber the regiment was mored to that point to support a battery which ongoved the chemy acmuss the river and fried him to retire. after willich the common i returnel to Mill Springs and went into camp oz the 31 of December. A pontoon bridge was constructed, and the greater lurt of the brigade crossed to the north side of the river. but the Seventeenth Reimen: remained on the south side. Nothing of Interest cleared handel the DOLL, DE Jin- uary. 1502, when the regiment was moved to the birth sile of the river to nice: & threstenelattack of the enemy. As the onter was unexpected the men Lod zs cfy rtunity to prepare rations, and darlog the entire day of the 18:1 they were exposed to a heavy rain with but little find. Ant od rin haring fallen, it was reported to the commcoding General that the forces of the enemy were separatell by a flood in Fi-line Cre-k. and the: _ part of His finee was <0000 of that stream and were nine miles Retard, and if oss the soul of tempomed until the food aboted. A! the situation was desperate at best. it prus determinei to improve the supposed allvantage by attacking at once. At cze didliik on :Le morning of the 19th the movement begon. The night was very jurk. wol the rood. softened by the rain-fall. rendered the midsch slow and dificul :. The bat- teries Cdstribused at different parts of the Mue were constantly miting, dal serve ! to remed the march and to draw out the length of the small codemin into miles. The Seventeenth Regiment marched in Fear of the e linin. az i meds rod miles from the dell when the Aring began. As the movement was intended to be a surprise. the plan adopted was the the reciments to bosall the evening ca carn as he was reached. without an effort to firma a general line. Abiut down the heat of the column encountered the rickets of the enemy. and pressing ihrwund reathed the main body about sunrise. The enemy rus neither divileh of supposed. no: surprised. as expected. The regiments at the Head of the odlu:
selves on the enemy with: surpassing gallantry As soon as they come on the fut i. and without any attempt to formia reguMir line. When the Seventerath reached the feld the battle was raging in a heavily timherel valley on both sides of the road. The battery which the regimen: flitwell was nolimbered sai pat in po-i- tion so as to cover the road. Ty order of fren. dritten len. The Seventreath Hes- incent was deployed to the left of the road, bellied a ral tende Shooting La
Geld. with the right of the regiment supporting the battery. The re mainel here in line till the bottle was lost without seeing a frestile sou ffer or nr- ing a single gun. The new, come from the ih at that Gen. Zellerder had fallen. and in a short time broken cammunis betan two roll back over the resident. I:
was evident the battery could not be saved in it remained sell the eresFen- peared, so it was limberel up and moved in retreat. In a short time the enemy appeared on the opposite side of the fehl and began to cross the fence. The field was not more than two hundred Funds wide, and the regiment was nevered to open fre. The fre being deliverel over == op sjette and the chezir being in plain
350
MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
view, it was immediately observed to have no effect. The promise made at Camp Trousdale had never been performed, and the men were still armed with the obl fint-lock muskets. The worthlessness of the guns and the condition of the ara- munition made the firing a farce. The shots were observed to fall to the ground far short of the enemy. The enemy continued to advance across the field until they entered the range of the guns of the regiment, when they were compelled to stop. The firing continued for half an hour; but as the regiment was protected by the rail fence but few casualties occurred, until the enemy, moving through the woods, gained its left and opened fire down the line. The companies on the lett, suffering severely, were compelled to retire; and then the battle of Fishing Creek was over, and for the first and last time during the war the Seventeenth Rezi- ment retired before an enemy in disorder. Although routed, the brigade left the field without haste or panic. The men felt that without fault on their part they had been subjected to a needless humiliation; and filled with resentment, they stolidly and sullenly retired to their intrenchments. In the engagement there were ten men killed and thirty-six wounded. The loss was confined ahnost en- tirely to the companies on the left of the regiment. The enemy made no effort to pursue, but in the evening approached the intrenchiments, which they assailed with artillery. That night the entire command was withdrawn to the south side of the river, and the next morning at dawn it began to retreat to Tennessee. Tie rigors of winter, which had to be endured without adequate supplies, were more appalling than the dangers of the field; and hence it was that some of the men separated from the command after there was no longer danger to escape the want and exposure which appeared inevitable. After much suffering the regiment reached Livingston on the 24th of January, and there the wants of the command were supplied by a generous people. The regiment left Livingston on the 27th of January, and marching to the vicinity of Gainesboro, remained there a few days and then continued to Murfreesboro, the rendezvous of the Army of the West, where it arrived on the 19th of February, 1862, and became incorporated into that army, whose glory it did so much to exalt.
On the 28th of February the march to North Mississippi began, and when Iuka was reached it was there encamped and charged with the duty of observing the front and river at that point until the battle of Shiloh began, and on the last day of that engagement it was removed to Corinth and out in the direction of the battle-field; but the fighting having ceased, it was returned to Corinth.
Soon after .its arrival at Corinth the regiment was armed with English rine muskets, and for the first time the men felt they could meet the enemy on equal grounds.
It will be too tedious to mention all the minor affairs in which the regiment was engaged with the enemy during the siege of Corinth, but as one of them is remarkable because of the unusual gallantry exhibited on both sides, it will be related. Lieut. Frank B. Terry was in command of a detachment of the regi- ment on outpost duty in the front of the enemy. A detachment of Federal car- alry charged the post, receiving the fire of our inen until they charged in among them, when a hand-to-hand conflict ensued. Lieut. Terry, after emptying his pis- tol, seized a fence-rail, and having knocked one of the enemy from his horse with it, secured him as a prisoner. The enemy retired, leaving the post in the posses- sion of Lieut. Terry and his command.
351
REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
On the 8th day of May, 1862, the regiment reenlisted for the period of two years, and the companies were reorganized by the election of the following officers:
Co. A: Frank B. Terry, Captain; John D. Floyd, First Lieutenant; T. H. Hastings, Second Lieutenant; Robt. Campbell, Third Lieutenant.
Co. B: U. C. Harrison, Captain; II. M. Kimsey, First Lieutenant; -- Ilight, Second Lieutenant; - Miles, Third Lieutenant.
Co. C: Jas. C. Davis, Captain; F. M. Orr, First Lieutenant; J. W. McCrory, Second Lieutenant; R. II. Armstrong, Third Lieutenant.
Co. D: H. H. Carden, Captain; G. W. Corn, First Lieutenant; W. L. Elzy, Sec- ond Lientenant.
Co. E: John R. Handly, Captain; J. Tipps, First Lieutenant; Marcus W. Black, Second Lieutenant-resigned, and Ress Handly succeeded him; G. W. Wag- goner, Third Lieutenant.
Co. F: J. D. Cooper, Captain; R. H. McCullough, First Lieutenant; Wm. By- ers, Second Lieutenant; Lee Cathy, Third Lieutenant.
Co. G: Thomas H. Watterson, Captain; Matt Scruggs, First Lieutenant; Joel Pacey, Second Lieutenant; John Harlie, Third Lieutenant.
Co. H: G. H. Owen, Captain; Jas. P. Tally, First Lieutenant; A. L. Elzy, Sec- ond Lieutenant; Z. W. Ewing, Third Lientenant.
Co. I: William Clark, Captain; J. W. Bollen, First Lieutenant; Looney, Second Lientenant; - Kelly, Third Lieutenant.
Co. K: Geo. W. MacDonald, Captain; D. D. Smith, First Lieutenant; Jas. D. Mckinney, Second Lieutenant; J. P. Byrne, Third Lieutenant.
On the same day the field and staff officers were elected and appointed as fol- lows:
T. C. H. Miller, Colonel; Watt W. Floyd, Lieutenant-colonel; Albert S. Marks, Major; N. M. Bryant, Adjutant (who resigned and was succeeded by Jas. P. Fitz- patrick); R. H. MeCrory, Quartermaster; T. H. Finch, Commissary; Dr. W. M. Gentry, Surgeon; J. C. McCultchen, Assistant Surgeon, and was succeeded by Dr. Alfred Jones, who became Surgeon upon the promotion of Dr. Gentry; A. B. Moore, Chaplain.
Before the 2Sthi of May preparations had been made for the evacuation of Cor- inth by the quiet removal of the heavy guns and stores, and at 10 o'clock on the night of the 28th the army began to move. As the Federal forces were closely investing the town, great care was taken to conceal the movement. Soon after night-fall each command built fires, and the men passed about them as if engaged in cooking their rations. At ten o'clock, the fires having been permitted to go down, without a drum-beat or a word of command each regiment formed on its colors, and the army moved out of Corinth in perfect silence, like a vast funeral- procession.
On the Sth of June the army reached Tupelo and encamped. Immediately after the arrival of the regiment at Tupelo Col. Miller resigned its command, and Col. Floyd declining farther promotion, Col. R. H. McCrory was solicited by the Captains of the companies to succeed him. He also declined, and upon the recommendation of the Captains of the regiment Major Albert S. Marks was pro- moted to the command. Capt. James C. Davis was appointed Major, and Lieut. Orr succeeded to the command of the company. The long stay at Tupelo and the favorable weather gave abundant opportunity to the regiment to improve in
352
.
MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
drill, discipline, and the art of war. Ambitious for its fame, the officers and sol- diers of the regiment united in a zealous effort to raise it to the first rank in the army, and so successful were their endeavors that when they left Tupelo for Chattanooga its drill was so perfected that it moved like a machine.
It was on the 28th of July that the regiment left Tupelo, and arrived at Chat- tanooga Aug. +, where the army was reorganized, and the Seventeenth Tennessee Regiment became a member of Johnson's brigade, Buekner's division, and Har- dee's corps, and it at once attracted the favorable notice of the general officers. On the 25th of August the army began its advance into Kentucky. From the commencement the prudence of Gen. Buckner kept his division ready to engage the enemy at any moment, both night and day. He at once won the confidence of both officers and soldiers, and soon possessed himself of their warmest esteem.
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