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 53
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From Nasliville our little army went to Smyrna, and from thence to Murfrees- boro, where we halted a few days. Here the Twenty-seventh Regiment was as- signed to the brigade of Gen. S. A. M. Wood, of Alabama. At this time and place we numbered about eight hundred men in our regiment, and as we marched through the city old friends and acquaintances asked me, " What brigade is this?" I replied: "This is no brigade, but Col. Kit Williams's Twenty-seventh Tennes- see Regiment;" for by this name it was known in our command. Men were as tonished at its size-for it was imposing. From Murfreesboro we were with Gen. Johnston, on the march passing Shelbyville, Fayetteville, Athens, Ala., and cross-
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ing the Tennessee River on the railroad bridge at Decatur. This was a fearful march-through the mud and swamps and over the new-made roads of North Alabama and Mississippi. I may be pardoned if I relate an incident or two that occurred on this march. We were, of course, patriotic; and a number of us had listened to our fathers relate the fearful hardships they had encountered in the war of 1812, and many had read the same-how they camped in swamps, sket upon brush-piles to keep out of the water, etc. We had now come to a Idwe where we were soon to have experimental knowledge as to how they suffere.l. We had begun one evening to pitch our tents in a low, flat place, when presently the rain began to fall and the valley became inundated. Our camp-fires were put out, and we had to resort to cutting down the underbrush and throwing them to- gether in hugh piles, that we might keep our blankets out of the water. Half- cooked rations were eaten; and the water was a foot or two deep all through our camp. Many soldiers will remember the terribleness of the night as we sat perched upon the brush and discussed the war and its attendant hardships. Songs were sung, stories related, and many a long sigh given when we thought of loved ones at home, until briny tears traced each other down manly checks.
This long march told upon our ranks; for when we reached Iuka, and finally Corinth, our numbers had been materially decreased. We remained at Corinth for some time, but it was apparent that our faces would soon be turned toward be- loved Tennessee. Well do I remember, when on dress-parade a few days before we left Corinth, that Col. Kit Williams addressed his regiment and informed us that an engagement was imminent. He knew his officers and men, and well knew they would bear themselves as true, brave soldiers. \y, he seemed proud. and was, as he looked in the faces of so strong a regiment of gallant men, and knew that if all did as well as the Twenty-seventh victory would be ours. A week, a day, an hour sometimes brings forth astonishing results. On Sunday be- fore leaving Corinthi we had religious service in our regiment, conducted by Capt. Isham G. Hearn, of Company H, who was a Methodist minister. His discourse was earnest and practical, and he warned the boys against the pernicious vice of swear- ing. IIe spoke eloquently, feelingly in the interest of his Master; perhaps not ex- pecting in one short week he would be in the presence of that God he was urg- ing and advising liis comrades to worship. Corinth was only a few miles from the State line, and from MeNairy county, in which one of our companies was formed. On the day we took our line of march, being in the Third Corps, com- manded by Maj .- gen. Hardee, it was announced when we crossed the State line. and then the air was rent with cheer after cheer-as we were in our native State again. The next day, as we came near Monterey, evidences of the advance of Gen. Polk's corps were seen, and it was evident that a consolidation meant some- · thing, On Friday evening before the fight our cavalry came back with a number of Federals they had captured. That night rumors of a council of war being hell were discussed, and we expected when morning came the engagement would be- gin. The rain poured in torrents, and many slept standing under the trees. Saturday was passed, and during the day Gen. Johnston, with his staff, inspected the army. He was certainly a magnificent picture of manhood, a splendid horse- man; and his very presence inspired confidence in the army.
I will be pardoned for mentioning a group of friends and a circumstance on Saturday evening. Our war Governor, Isham G. Harris, who was a warm per-
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sonal friend of Col. Williams, came to our regiment; for the Governor loved all the Tenne-see troops, and we all loved him. At Col. Williams's mness that even- ing were himself, Governor Harris, Lieut .- col. Brown-if I mistake not-Capt. S. A. Sayle, Lieut. F. W. Henry, and myself. We all seemed held to the spot. It was our last meal together; and soon after, we were upon our arms asleep. In twenty-fours all but two of that group were killed or wounded. We were within hearing of the enemy's bands, and they were playing national airs, evidently not suspecting our presence in such formidable numbers. While we were listening to the drums and fifes of the enemy, Frank Rice, a soldier of our regiment re- marked: "Well boys, I've got nothing against those fellows over yonder. I ex- - peet they are as elever as we are, and have nothing against us. I want to fight men like the Covodes, Lovejoy, Phillips, Sumner, and others who precipitated this fight; but they are like some of our men (naming them)-anxious to get up a fight, but too cowardly to take part. Some of them are still in both Congresses, or have sought easy positions, while we poor fellows have to do the shooting, kill- ing, and dying." Ile but spoke a truth to which all assented, and that was fully verified before the close of hostilities.
Before the gray and silver light began to stretch across the plains on that beautiful, holy Sabbath-day, the army was in motion, moving forward. Hardee was in front, and opened the fight. Pickets were driven in, and we pressed for- ward. Coming to an old field, and going quickly across it, we discovered a bat- tery to our left and front. Several of the enemy's pickets were found dead upon the field. Just about the time we were getting fairly through the old field, a heavy line of pickets opened a spirited fire upon us, which drew a re- sponse from our regiment. Then the fight began in earnest, and we could plain- ly see the enemy's tents, and the men rushing here and there falling into line. About this time the battery opened fire upon us, and among the first discharges from it Capt. S. A. Sayle was killed, having been struck in the neck with can- ister. He was the first one of our command I remember to have been killed. Several others were wounded, but I only remember poor Bennet Warner, who afterward died. Maj. Love's fine horse "Sable" was also severely wounded. Here we realized that we were in battle-one of our Captains and several men killed at the commencement of the engagement. The regiment pressed forward for some distance, driving the enemy before us; and we could see the telling effect of our Entields, as their dead were unmistakable evidences of our fire. We soon struck their camps, which they had hastily abandoned, seemingly massing near the battery, which was still to our left. The Twenty-seventh had thus far met the expectations of its friends, and with undaunted courage was dealing telling blows upon the Federals. It was the largest regiment in the brigade, and indeed formidable, with a cool and determined leader for Colonel. After the battle had been raging for some time, Gen. Wood rode hurriedly up and, addressing Col. Williams, said: "Colonel, you must take that battery." Col. Williams replied: "General, my regiment has been doing hard fighting all day." Gen. Wood re- plied: "I know it; but your regiment is strong, and you must change your direc- tion and take it." Col. Williams then said: "All right, General; we will take it." Then as he addressed lis command, giving the necessary orders, we turned fac- ing the battery. The regiment moved off grandly and rapidly, and opened a galling fire upon the battery and its support. They wavered, and seemed to melt before
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the heavy discharge of small arms, but rallied and fought bravely. Finally we reached a small ravine, and then the artillery could not be used with much effect on us. In crossing this ravine, in which the night before the enemy had slept in their tents, and when Col. Williams could see that the men in whose courage he had unbounded confidence were almost in reach of the battery, and the Fed- erals were giving way, the gallant Colonel, the intrepid leader, the admired Kit Williams fell from his black charger, pierced through the body with a bullet, and lived but a short while afterward, but long enough to see his orders about executed. No braver or truer man ever commanded a regiment or tell upon a battle-field. He was the soul of honor and integrity -- in fact, an upright, honest, brave man. His remains were conveyed to his home in Memphis. Those of us who knew he had fallen realized the fact that our loss was irreparable, and that his place could not be filled. About this time a perfect storm of leaden missiles were hissing through the air, and men were falling on every hand, for it seemed we had succeeded in concentrating a force and fire upon us. In this small de- pression, or ravine, Lient .- col. Brown attempted to mount the black mare from which Col. Williams fell, and about the time he put his foot in the stirrup she fell dead; and in a few seconds, it seemed, after our gallant Lieut .- col. Brown had assumed command, he was severely wounded, having his left thigh broken. It was feared the wound was mortal, but he recovered. The line was then ordered to lie down, which command was pretty generally obeyed. I remember one tall soldier of my own company-Green MeMurray-who invariably rose up six feet two inches, took delil erate aim and fire1. When remonstrated with and told to fire from a kneeling posture, he replied: "Well, Captain, I'm for a fair thing."
Maj. Sam Love was now in command of the regiment, and was again mounted immediately in the rear of my company. I called to him, and said: " Major, for God's sake, dismount and do not expose yourself." With a smile, he said: " Why, Captain? I'm not alarmed; this is my place." He did not dismount, but remained quietly surveying the field, in the meantime a target for the enemy's sharp-shooters. He had served in the Mexican War, was in a number of bat- tles, and seemed perfectly at ease and at home. To recall the incidents here transpiring, and the number of true, brave, good men who fell, is impossible; but in that ravine the Twenty-seventh Regiment, and especially the left, lost heavily.
Capt. Isham G. Hearn's company was just to my right. As I understand. his last words were, addressing his company, "Charge them, tigers!" I saw him as he fell, his noble brain pierced by a ball just above the right eye. He fell with his feet to the foe and his face to heaven. I shuddered as I saw his manly form quiver in death, for a good and true man was gone. I felt specially his friend; for I remembered him as the young station preacher in Lexington, and as a Sun- day-school teacher more than thirty-five years ago, when as a little boy I was one of the scholars. He was a Christian, a hero, a noble, true-hearted friend, and his life was exemplary.
Upon the same historic ground fell the friends of my youth and my school- mates. Among them were Lieut. F. W. Henry, a warm-hearted, true hoy; James W. Bird, also a man of exemplary character-both of Lexington. John S. Argo, Scott, Warner, Woodard, and many others, also sleep upon the field of Shiloh. I regret that I cannot furnish from memory the names of all the killed and wounded.
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The battery that Col. Williams said he would take with the regiment was taken, and was perhaps the only one captured that was safely carried to Corinth. We soon passed it; and around the guns the wounded, dead, and dying told truly what terrible effect the fire from our command had upon the enemy's lines. They were strewn here and there over the ground, being sometimes almost in hears. From this point the Federals fell back toward the Tennessee River, our command pursuing. I believe it was on this day, and in his native county, that Maj. Rob- ert Wilkerson was killed, being in a few miles of his wife and children. He was a good soldier and a most estimable gentleman.
Shortly after Gen. Johnston fell the firing became desultory, the Federals fall- ing back until our command and others in line of battle found no enemy in front or in sight. The gun-boats were then plying in the river, occasionally firing, and sending their shot beyond us and sometimes in our midst. Late in the evening, and before sundown, while standing in line, a shot from the gun-boats made sad havoc in Capt. Crabtree's company, of our regiment, killing and wounding eleven of his men. One soldier was literally carried up in the air, and was badly in- jured but recovered. He was afterward known as "the man who rode the bomb- shell." At this terrible slaughter of his men Capt. Crabtree remonstrated, and asked permission to get his command away, which was granted. That night, resting upon some logs trying to eat what we found of the enemy's supplies, Lieut. Starrett, of Crabtree's company, being present, we could see the brains of some of his slain comrades spattered upon his hat, caused by the shot from the gun-boat. O the scenes of that dreadful night upon the blood-stained field of Shiloh, with its thousands of dead soldiers lying in every direction and the shrieks of the wounded and dying! At intervals of every few minutes the roar of artillery from the gun-boats could be heard. It was indeed a fearful night, and the witness of many heart-rending scenes. How many heart-aches and vacant places were made! Here we were, after a sanguinary day's engagement, resting upon our arms await- ing the coming of the morrow to renew the struggle, not only with those we had vanquished the day before, but also with a fresh army under Gen. Buell.
Could the gallant spirit of our noble commander, Gen. Jolinston, have con- trolled our movements but a few hours longer, the terrible Monday would have brought rest to his army, and there would have been no second day's fight at Shi- Ich. Only an hour more, and his great plan would have been executed and the Federal army captured. History as to the final termination of hostilities would perhaps have been the same, but that of Shiloh would have been written in one day, and recorded a complete and glorious victory, unsurpassed in importance by any during the war.
On Monday morning, as we were in line of battle, our gallant, great Governor, who was honored by all Tennesseans, addressed our regiment, encouraging us to deeds of valor and a renewal of the record we had made the previous day, and feelingly and eloquently referring to our severe loss, and especially to the death of our Colonel; for all felt that a great leader had fallen. Not much time had been consumed when our brigade was marched across an old field and then back again to its first position. Then there was a right-wheel movement, the pivot be- ing on the right, until we were reaching diagonally across the field. If this move- ment was for the purpose of drawing the fire of the enemy and discovering their whereabouts, it was a success; for we had hardly halted when the command was
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given: "About face; double-quick; march!" and then shot and shell seemed to scream in torrents above us. It was fearful indeed as to noise, but resulted in little actual damage. We fell back to the timber and formed in line, awaiting the approach of the enemy. Some little time was spent in re-forming, when we again advanced, and encountered the Federals with varying fortunes during the day. Our loss had been less than was expected; yet our sufferings in sick, weariel, and broken down troops, in addition to the killed and wounded, were severe. It was not long before we were in the midst of a hot and galling fire, contesting every inch of ground. The magnificent system did not prevail that governed us in the first day, when the spirit of Albert Siduey Jolinston directed our movements; yet the men fought stubbornly.
On Monday evening we were pressing the Federals and seemed to be gaining ground-at least we were advancing-but finally came to a pond which lay im- mediately in front of the Twenty-seventh Regiment. Gen. Wood, thinking the troops would perhaps hesitate, dashed to the front, plunged into the pond, and crossed, the regiment following with a cheer, the mud and water being about three feet deep. A terrible volley was pouring upon us, and at each step bullets seemed falling in the water like a heavy shower of rain. A strip of timber a few yards in width lay just beyond the pond and between it and a field. In this tim- ber we remained, firing upon the enemy, he being also protected on the opposite side by timber. As to the loss here I can give that of the Sharp-shooters only, my own company. It sustained a loss of eleven men in killed and wounded, and all pretty close together. This was a hotly contested point, and the discharge of musketry had a telling effect on either side. Finally, whether by order or not, we essayed to charge across the field and dislodge the enemy. It occurs to me this was one of the most daring feats of the battle, and subjected our men to a merci- less fire and almost certain death. In this charge Major Sam Love, a gallant and affable gentleman, true soldier, and grand officer, fell pierced in the neck by a shot. He was left upon the field, captured by the Federals, and died at Paducah. No braver man fell upon that gory field. No man was truer to principle or more ardent in support of the cause he espoused. Honor to his memory, and peace to his ashes! We were defending our homes from the blight of the despoiler, whose highest aim was to subjugate and humiliate our people, confiscate property, and deny us equal rights in the Government. But this is a digression. At the time above alluded to the evening was rapidly waning and our command scattered. Then began the retreat toward Michies and Monterey -- a seemingly simultaneous movement throughout the army. Had not the last desperate charge been made we could have retreated in better order. We now regarded the day as over, and as we sullenly fell back the Federals slowly followed, thus signifying their will- in gness to quit also.
That night our forces camped en route to Corinth. Well do I remember the drenching rain that fell in perfect torrents upon us as we endeavored to rest neat the flickering camp-fires, that blazed out upon the darkness as bleak sentinels sur- rounded by weary soldiers. It was a dismal night, and reflections on the two days' enactments just passed brought sorrow and regret to many brave hearts as the true situation dawned upon them. The Twenty-seventh Regiment had aided in the capture of the only battery carried to Corinth. Its members were scat- tered, its ranks thinned, field officers and also line officers killed and wounded.
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It had suffered terribly. Four companies were from my native county of Hen- derson, and these all sustained losses that fell heavily. Our march to Corinth was over fearfully cut up roads, and the men virtually dragged themselves along through the mud, going without command or order. About night we reached Corinth; but the Twenty-seventh was clothed with sorrow. How different !- our ranks thinned, and a number of our noblest officers and men left sleeping in death upon the sanguinary field of Shiloh. We were without a field officer, our Colonel. Major, Sergeant-major, and several line officers killed, and our Lieutenant-col- onel dangerously wounded. The command fell upon Capt. Richard Barham, the senior in years. Lieut .- col. Brown having been promoted to Colonel, an election was held, Capt. Caldwell being elected Lieutenant-colonel and Capt. Taylor Major. Our command was now quite small. We remained at Corinth until the army was reorganized, our regiment being placed in the brigade commanded by Gen. Geo. Maney, and forming a part of the division that became famous and illustrious as the division commanded by Gen. Frank Cheatham. A number of our officers and men were on leave of absence and furlough when the reorganization was effected. It resulted in the election of A. W. Caldwell as Colonel; private Wm. Frierson, of the Sharp-shooters, as Lientenant-colonel; and Lieut. Allen, of Capt. Burns's company, as Major. Lieut. S. M. Howard, of Obion county, was then appointed Adjutant of the regiment. The following, as I remember, were made Captains, to wit: Messrs. Lawler, Perry, Taylor, Lipscomb, Sharp, Kizer, Beasley, John- ston, Ncel, and Brenning. A number of officers retired, and some afterward joined the cavalry.
Injustice would be done a part of the regiment did I not mention Lient. James C. Gooch, of the Henderson County Sharp-shooters. After the reorganization he raised a company, some of them being from the Twenty-seventh Regiment, ani joined Gen. Forrest's cavalry command. Capt. Gooch-for such he was made- became one of the most distinguished and reliable officers in the command. He was bold and daring, and made many brilliant dashes under direction of his su- perior. In fact, so much was Gen. Forrest pleased with this young officer that he complimented him frequently by sending him out to feel of the enemy and report. He could always be relied upon, and for gallant bearing, good fighting. and daring feats he became conspicuous.
But to return. We were in camps at Corinth for some time, and the Federals were gradually approaching, when picket firing and fighting were of daily, if not hourly, occurrence. In fact, it became a. hazardous as actual fighting, and seemed destined to continue; and many were killed and wounded. For two nights and a day Capt. Taylor had command of one hundred pickets from our brigade, and was on the outposts. The first night rockets were seen to flash in the sky, but no sum- mons or orders came. On the second night orders were received, through Capt. T. H. Malone, Adjutant-general of the brigade, directing the withdrawal of the pickets as noiselessly as possible, and to return to camps some two miles in the rear. This left our army without pickets in this direction. Hardly had we reached camps and disposed of our arms preparatory to rest when an order was received from the same officer to take the same men and return and regain the same position on the picket line. This was, of course, to be attended with great difficulty, as the night was dark. However, they were formed in line and pro- ceeded on their return to this perilous undertaking, when Gen. Cheatham rode up
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and in his emphatic way desired to know what it meant and who was in command. Upon being informed, he directed a halt, and said the cavalry must go, and the one hundred be disbanded. That night and early next morning we withdrew across Tuscumbia River, and proceeded on our march to Tupelo, Miss. After crossing the river, sleepy and tired soldiers were seen slumbering along the road- sides. Our wagon-train had preceded us, and on this march first appeared the improvised bread-trays made of hickory bark, and the principal cooking was done by wrapping the dough around the ramrods or baking the Johnny-cake.
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Disregarding the minute details of camp-life, and the occurrences incident to the same, I will content myself by saying we remained awhile at Tupelo, and here lost a number of our men from sickness, among them Dr. Terry, Charlie Pritchard, and others. From this time forward the Twenty-seventh was with the command in all its marches, and was transported on the Mobile and Ohio railroad to Mobile, Ala., and from thence via Montgomery and Atlanta to Chattanooga, Tenn. When near the Georgia and Alabama State line our regiment suffered by having several killed and a number wounded in a railroad accident. This occurred on a tolerably high trestle, and many soldiers were thrown violently to the ground. We remained at Chattanooga until Gen. Bragg commenced his movement into East Tennessee, and from thence to Kentucky.
We proceeded across the Tennessee River, and then to climb Walden's Ridge. From this mountainous country the scenery was grand and beautiful, stretching out into upper East Tennessee, presenting a picturesque panorama and landscape, with the Tennessee winding through it, and also smaller streams, and dotted here and there with towns and villages. To the naked eye, old Lookout seemed to keep vigil over the scene, and far out toward North Carolina the outlines of distant mountain ranges were apparently resting in the clouds. Descending from Wal- den's Ridge, we crossed the Sequatchie Valley; and here we found our provisions had been exhausted. We were turned into a field of green corn, well ripened into roasting-ears, and these constituted our rations. Each soldier felt himself en- titled to the rations of a horse, and brought out an armful of corn. Resting here until late in the evening, canteens were filled, and we started to cross the Cumberland Mountains, which, at this point, were twenty-four miles wide. Just before daylight a stampede of some cavalry occurred, and the road was blocked with wagons and teams. After day had dawned, however, we proceeded down the mountain-side, and we were soon in sight of Sparta. From thence the march by Muldraugh's Hill to Bardstown is well known. No prospect of a fight was ap- parent until the day before the capture of the command stationed at Munfords- ville, Ky. The day previous our cavalry had made an unsuccessful attack upon the garrison and been repulsed. The next day our regiment and division made a forced march of twenty-eight miles, I believe, fording Green River abont night, and in a short while we were in line resting upon our arms across the Louisville turnpike, and thus had the Federals completely surrounded and bagged. Early next morning they surrendered. It was at this point we saw the first greenback money, and here we were called "Rebels." Before reaching Kentucky we had also waded across the Cumberland River at Gainesboro, Tenn. The evening after the capture of Munfordsville we proceeded on our march until we had neared Baker's Creek, when there was a sudden commotion all along the line. A large Federal force was reported in our rear. Orders were given for the soldiers each to carry one
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