USA > Tennessee > The military annals of Tennessee. Confederate. First series: embracing a review of military operations, with regimental histories and memorial rolls, V.2 > Part 19
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On the 27th of June the brigade, then a part of Gen. Buckner's division, was ordered to proceed to Tullahoma by rail to reinforce Gen. Bragg's army, which was then hard pressed and being forced back by a superior force of the Union army under Gen. Rosecrans. Up to this time the Sixty-third had not engaged in any regular battle, and officers and men were disappointed on reaching Gen. Bragg's line to find his army preparing for retreat instead of battle; but so it was. His army fell back across the Cumberland Mountains to Bridgeport and Chatta- nooga; but Buckner's command, including Gracie's brigade, was given the post of honor, which in this case was the rear of the army. Gallantly holding Rosecrans's advancing columns in check, Bragg's army placed the Cumberland behind it, and the pursuit was abandoned.
The Sixty-third was ordered to Knoxville, thence to Strawberry Plains, where it remained in camp until the latter part of August. On the 21st of August, 1863, the regiment was ordered to rejoin Gracie's brigade, which took up the line of march in the direction of Chattanooga, which was then threatened by the Union army in force. Reaching that place, the armies of Gens. Bragg and Rosecrans were found again confronting each other, the Tennessee River only separating them. Rosecrans succeeded in crossing his army to the south bank of the Tennessee River. The two armies, manenvering several days for position, finally selected
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the line of the Chickamauga River, and the bloody battle of Chickamauga was fought and won by the gallant Confederate army. In this battle Gracie's brigade, of which the Sixty-third formed a part, was assigned to Gen. Wm. Preston's di- vision of Buckner's corps. On the 11th of September the brigade was ordered to McLemore's Cove to support Gen. Hindman's division, to check a flank of a portion of the Federal army under the command of Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, who had crossed the mountain from the direction of Bridgeport with three divisions. On the morning of the 12th our command passed Hindman's line, and came in contact with the enemy's pickets, with whom sharp skirmishing was kept up dur- ing the day. Late in the evening Gen. Thomas retired in great haste across the mountain. Our brigade was then marched toward La Fayette to meet a column un- der Gen. Crittenden. We remained at La Fayette during the night, and on the morning of the 13th marched out on the Chattanooga road to support Gen. Polk's corps. The same day we were ordered back to support Gen. Hill's corps, which was engaging the enemy on the Rome road. On the 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th we lay in line of battle between La Fayette and Chattanooga, the plans and posi- tion of the enemy not being fully developed. On the 18th skirmishing became pretty general along the whole line, with occasional artillery firing where the skirmishing was heaviest. At this time the rumor of reinforcements from Gen. Lee's army was verified by an order from Gen. Bragg announcing the arrival of Gen. Longstreet's corps. This announcement restored confidence in Bragg's army, and created the wildest enthusiasn.
Saturday, September 19th, the great battle which was to decide the fate of Ten- nessee commenced in earnest. Heavy skirmishing commenced on the right of our lines early in the morning. At nine o'clock A.M. the roar of musketry and the thunder of cannon were continuous from right to center, and rapidly extended along the line to the left. Gradually the enemy's lines receded, though they con- tested every inch of the ground stubbornly.
The Sixty-third was in the second line, supporting Stewart's division, which was in action, and was during the day exposed to the enemy's shot and shell.
Lieut. Layne, of Co. G, had his arm shot entirely off by a shell, and private Kidd, of the same company, lost a leg. At eight o'clock P.M. the firing ceased along the whole line, the enemy being driven back at every point. We lay upon the field of battle that night, amid the dead, the dying, and the wounded. Br nine o'clock of the 20th the battle was raging from right to left. About three o'clock P.M. our brigade was ordered to take a strong position on a hill, held by a brigade of the enemy, with one battery, flanked by a brigade on either side. To reach the position Gen. Gracie marched by the left flank to a certain point, formed the brigade in column, then forward into line of battle.
The Sixty-third, occupying the right of the brigade, was the last to form into line, and before it could reach its position in line the enemy had opened a terrific fire with shot, shell, and grape, which would have thrown it into utter confusion had it not been accustomed to drill and discipline.
This was the first regular battle in which the Sixty-third had participated, but the courage displayed by these brave East Tennesseans on this occasion and their admirable conduct under a galling fire from front and flank were never surpassed by veteran troops. They were under fire in their position for more than an hour. Their ammunition was exhausted, and was not replenished except from the car-
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tridge-boxes of the killed and wounded. Their ranks were thinned by every vol- ley from the musketry and artillery on the ridge above. Still, when the order was given to charge they gallantly stormed the enemy's fortified position, driving him into the ravines beyond, where a large number of prisoners were captured.
It was now about sunset, and the firing ceased. The battle was won, and the shattered columns of Rosecrans's army were in full retreat toward Chattanooga. The victory was dearly bought. But few regiments suffered greater loss than the Sixty-third Tennessee Regiment. The following are the casualties, as nearly as can be given at the present time: Forty-seven men were killed dead on the field. Many others died from wounds received. Capt. James T. Gillespie and Lieut. Shelby M. Deaderick were killed and buried on the field. Sergt. C. T. Beidle- man, privates Benj. White, Henry Barnett, Josiah Bushong, James Weaver, Wm. Weaver, Wm. Adams, and John King, of Co. E, and Joseph Russell, of Co. A, were also killed and buried on the field. Lieut .- col. A. Fulkerson, commanding, was severely wounded by a Minie-ball in the left arm, above the elbow, about the close of the engagement. Capt. Wmn. H. Fulkerson was seriously wounded in the foot, and permanently disabled. Lient. Henly Fugate had his arm shot off by a shell. Lieut. S. M. Jones was wounded in the thigh. Lient. H. J. Baker was shot in the thigh. Lieut. W. P. Rhea was slightly wounded. Lient. James J. Acree was shot in the leg. Lieut. A. H. Bullock was wounded in the leg. Lieut. Geo. H. Neill was seriously wounded in the left lung, and permanently disabled. Lieut. L. I. Etter's sword was shot off. W. H. Wilkinson, who had been promoted to the rank of Captain, was wounded in the leg. Lieut. J. H. McClure was wounded in the foot. The aggregate number of nien taken into bat- tle was four hundred and four, of which two hundred and two were killed and wounded. It is a source of deep regret that the name of every one of the brave soldiers of the Sixty-third killed and wounded cannot be perpetuated by giving it a place in the military records of Tennessee; but the regimental and company rolls showing the killed and wounded were captured or destroyed at the surren- der, and the writer has to trust to the memory of himself and surviving comrades for the names and dates here given. The official report of Gen. A. Gracie, except that part of it which refers to the Alabama troops in the battle of Chickamauga, is here given:
"HEAD-QUARTERS GRACIE'S BRIGADE, IN FRONT CHATTANOOGA, " October 2, 1863. "Captain: I have the honor of herewith forwarding the report of the opera- tions of my brigade, composed of the Sixty-third Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, Lieut .- col. A. Fulkerson commanding, . . ... on the days of the 19th and 20th of September, 1863. Taking position on the evening of the 13th inst. at Dalton's Ford, on Chickamauga River, early on the morning of the 19th the brigade formed its first line of battle, facing the enemy's works near Lee and Gordon's mills. It was exposed to the fire of the enemy's shell, wounding Lieut. Layne and others of the Sixty-third Tennessee Regiment. Further than this the brigade was not engaged in this day's tight. On the morning of the 20th the brigade was ordered near Dyer's house, on the Chattanooga road, where. again forming line of bat- tle, it again received the fire of the enemy's shell. Between 4 and 5 o'clock P.M. orders were received to support Kershaw's brigade, posted to the left of the Chat- tanooga road. Word was sent to Col. Kershaw that the brigade was ready, and
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he ordered it to advance. Passing through Kershaw's command, the brigade found itself suddenly in the presence of the enemy strongly posted behind breastworks of logs and rails on the crest of an opposite hill. The fire of musketry, grape, and canister immediately commenced; but undaunted the brigade scaled the pre- cipitous heights, driving the enemy before it, and took possession of the hill. Holding the hill for nearly an hour, and ammunition becoming scarce, I informed Brig .- gen. Preston, commanding the division, that unless supported the brigade could not hold out much longer. Trigg's and Kelley's brigades were ordered to my relief. Though with ammunition nearly exhausted, the brigade held its own until the scattering fire of its musketry betrayed its condition to the enemy. Trigg's and Kelley's brigades arriving, the command withdrew to replenish its empty cartridge-boxes.
"Early the next morning the brigade resumed the position it had so nobly won. The number of killed and wounded shows the desperate nature of the contest. Of about one thousand eight hundred and seventy carried into action ninety were killed and six hundred and fifteen wounded. Where so many distinguished them- selves it would be difficult to particularize. All nobly did their duty. I would, however, call attention to the following-named officers: Lieut .- col. A. Fulkerson, Sixty-third Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, who, in the absence of the Colonel, commanded the regiment and led it into action. To him it owes its discipline and efficiency. Col. Fulkerson was severely wounded in the arm, making, with the one received at Shiloh, the second during the war. He is deserving of a much higher position. . .... Among the noble dead I have to record the names of Capt. James T. Gillespie and Lieut. S. M. Deaderick, Co. I, Sixty-third Tennessee Regiment. I am, Captain, very respectfully your obedient servant,
"A. GRACIE, JR., Brigadier-general. "To CAPT. J. L. SANFORD, A. A. Gen."
Gen. Buckner, our corps commander, in his official report of the said battle, says: "Upon Brig .- gen. Preston and his brigade commanders, Brig .- gen. Gracie, etc., I cannot bestow higher praise than to say that their conduct and example were such as to convert a body of troops but few of whom had before been under fire into a division of veterans in their first battle. Stewart's veterans maintained the reputation they had won on many fields. Preston's troops imitated their ex- ample, and equaled them in merit. The recapitulation of the heavy losses sus- tained in both divisions is a sad testimony of the soldierly qualities of the survir- ors. Few troops who have suffered so heavily have been victorious on the field of their losses. But the result is only another evidence of the invincible spirit of our people."
After burying the dead, the regiment, on the 21st, marched with Bragg's army to Missionary Ridge, and remained there until Longstreet's corps had been de- tached and sent to East Tennessee. The army was reorganized in front of Chat- tanooga, and the different State troops put together. The Sixty-third was detached from Gen. Gracie's brigade and attached to Gen. Maney's brigade of Tennesseans. But before reporting to Gen. Maney the order was rescinded, and the regiment placed in Gen. Bushrod Johnson's Tennessee brigade. This latter brigade was ordered to East Tennessee to reinforce Gen. Longstreet's corps, which was then preparing for the siege of Knoxville. It reached Knoxville in time to participate in Longstreet's disastrous assault on Fort Sanders. The regiment continued with
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Longstreet during his entire campaign in East Tennessee; participating in the en- gagement at Bean's Station, in which it lost in killed and wounded eighteen. Among the killed were Lieut. Galbraith, of Co. C, and also private C. T. Smith, of Co. E; and among the wounded was James Whistman, of the same company. These are all the names remembered. The command went into winter-quarters at Morristown, and later at Dandridge and Bradson's Ferry. The troops suffered greatly during the campaign in East Tennessee, as Longstreet's army depended upon that section of country for supplies of every kind, including clothing. An- ticipating the early surrender of this important section of the country to the en- emy, it seemed to be the policy to strip it of all its available resources in the way of provisions, etc. Longstreet was consequently required to support his army of near twenty thousand men exclusively upon supplies collected from the people within the borders of East Tennessee.
The last of April, 1864, Longstreet's army evacuated East Tennessee and proceed- ed to Virginia by rail; that part of his corps which he took to Chickamauga re- joining Gen. Lee's army, and Bushrod Johnson's brigade reporting at Richmond. Thence it was ordered to Drury's Bluff, Gen. Johnson taking command of that point and of the line of railroad between Petersburg and Richmond. The brigade at this time numbered less than one thousand men. Butler landed a considerable army at Bermuda Hundreds, and from that point constantly menaced Petersburg, the line of railroad, and Drury's Bluff, which at that time was the key to Rich- mond. The defense of these important points devolved upon Johnson's little brigade, the garrison in charge of the siege-guns at Drury's Bluff, and the home- guards of Petersburg. Butler's first effort was to prevent communication between Richmond and Petersburg by destroying the railroad at Walthall Junction. By a forced march of Johnson's entire brigade it reached the Junction before much damage was done by Butler's troops. A sharp engagement ensued, Butler retiring within his fortifications. His next attempt was to capture Petersburg via Swift Creek. Johnson again withdrew his troops, leaving Drury's Bluff exposed, and by a double-quick march reached Swift Creek and took position along its bank, from the railroad bridge to Appomattox River, in time to check Batler's advance and save the city. We held this position until the next day, when Beau- regard's forces from North Carolina arrived, when we were relieved and marched back with Beauregard's forces to the fortifications around Drury's Bluff. On reaching that place Beauregard's troops took position on the outer line of works, but in a short time abandoned it and occupied the second line. Butler followed close upon our rear, and occupied the outer line of trenches with his entire army. On the 16th of May Beauregard determined to attack Butler in force. At day- light his troops moved out of their line and commenced an assault on the enemy's right, which rested on the James River.
Johnson's brigade, which had been assigned to Gen. Hoke's division, occupied a position on the inner line of works immediately on the turnpike road.
On the morning of the 16th the Sixty-third Regiment was formed on the pike, and marched by the flank down the pike in the direction of the enemy's works, and when within one hundred and fifty yards of an open fort, built immediately across the pike, the regiment was formed forward into line of battle under a heavy fire of grape, canister, and musketry. The enemy's works were charged with great spirit, and the fort on the pike was captured, the bayonet being used for the
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first time. Quickly the left company of the Sixty-third was ordered to shoot the horses and men of a battery of Parrott guns which was posted a short distance in rear of the enemy's earth-works on the left of the pike. This order was promptly executed, the horses being shot and the men killed or driven from their guns. A line of works extending from the captured earth-works on the pike some two or three hundred yards to the next angle was instantly swept of its occupants by a flank fire. Meanwhile the right of the regiment suffered terribly under a galling fire from the line of the enemy's works immediately in our front. Cling- man's North Carolina troops had been ordered to protect our right flank, but from some cause they failed to come up in time to protect us from a flank movement of the enemy on the right of our regiment, and we were for awhile subjected to a most destructive fire from front and flank. The regiment went into action with three hundred men, and in less than fifteen minutes one hundred and fifty were either killed or wounded. Still the fort was held. A detail was made to haul into the fort one of the Parrott guns, which was accomplished with great gallantry under a heavy fire, and the piece turned and used with effect upon the enemy.
In this battle, among the killed and wounded are remembered the following: Lieut .- col. John Alfred Aiken, one of the bravest of the brave, was shot in the head and instantly killed. Capt. R. A. Rutledge, of Co. H, and Lieut. Wm. T. Battles, of Co. K, were killed. Sergt. Thos. Morrell, of Co. D, was shot eight or nine times, and killed. The following privates in Co. E were killed: A. B. Jones, Jesse Hickman, F. M. Scott, S. S. Webb, Wm. Coldbaugh, R. B. Rogers, C. R. Godsey. James M. Hatcher and Jacob MeCrory were captured, and died in prison. Of Co. K, Win. G. Odell was killed. Of Co. F, Geo. Doan, James W. Emmert, Jesse Collins, Nathan Galloway, Wm. Gray, and Win. Cox were killed, and Geo. Smith captured and died in prison. Among the wounded the following are remembered: Capt. C. R. Millard, severely wounded. Frank A. Moses, the gallant standard-bearer of the Sixty-third, while bearing the flag to victory, was severely wounded in two or three places, whereupon James A. Lindamood, of Co. E, seized the flag, and bearing it aloft called loudly for the men to go forward. In this battle Adan Harr, a brave private of Co. F, was shot in the head and in the left side, and as he called for help he was asked, " Where are you shot, Adam?" In response he said, " Right through the heart and right through the brain." He still lives.
After the battle of Drury's Bluff the Sixty-third assisted in "battling" Butler in his fortifications at Bermuda Hundreds. It assisted in the construction of the sand fort at the Howlett house, and was under the fire of the enemy's gun-boats there and along the line of fortifications from that point to the Appomattox Riv- er until Grant's army reached Cold Harbor, when the main portion of Butler's army and the army besieging him were withdrawn to reenforce the respective armies at Cold Harbor.
Casualties were few during this period. Occasionally a man was wounded. George Millard, of Co. E, was killed on the line near the Clay house, and John Ellis, of the same company, died of a wound.
On the 14th of June the advance of Gen. Grant's army crossed the Appomattox River at Harrison's Landing, and marched in the direction of Petersburg, for the purpose of capturing that place. On the 15th of June Johnson's brigade, now reduced to less than five hundred muskets, evacuated the line of works in front
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of Butler, and marched to Petersburg late in the evening of that day, for the pur- pose of protecting the city against what was supposed to be a raid of Kautz's cav- alry. Before we reached there, however, the advance of Gen. Grant's army had captured the line of fortifications around Petersburg from Appomattox River to Battery Fourteen, near Friend's house. Hoke's division, of three thousand muskets, and Johnson's brigade were hastily thrown into line, Johnson's brigade being on the right and the Sixty-third Tennessee on its right, resting near Battery Fourteen, the line extending to the left to the Appomattox. Temporary earth-works of rails and such material as was at hand were hastily thrown up that night, tin plates being used for shovels. Sunday morning a charge was made upon our line by the advance corps of Grant's army in two columns. This charge was gallantly repulsed; but the enemy, receiving reinforcements, constantly charged our single line, consisting of a single rank placed at intervals of three paces apart. But they were successfully repulsed, and held in check until night put an end to the unequal contest. All night long Gen. Grant was massing his army in our front, and at daylight the attack was renewed by lines of such weight as to completely outflank and overpower our heroic little band. The larger portion of Johnson's brigade was captured, some killed and some wounded, and the remainder driven out of the trenches toward Petersburg. Lieut. H. I. Baker was killed; also pri- vates Ted. Morrell, of Co. E, and - Nutly, of Co. K. Several others were killed, many wounded. Lieut .- col. Fulkerson, commanding, was slightly wound- ed and captured. Lieut. Godsey, of Co. E, was wounded; and about one-half of the regiment were captured and imprisoned at Fort Delaware, Morris Island, and other places, where a large number of them died. The command of the regiment then devolved upon Capt. J. W. Robinson, a brave and gallant officer. In the evening of the same day the small remnant of the brigade, including the Sixty- third, which at this time did not number perhaps upward of forty or fifty men, under Capt. Robinson, was again marched out to fill out an unoccupied interval in our line and in front of one of Gen. Grant's batteries on a hill. When amid the shot and shell we arrived in front of the battery, and within some one hundred and fifty or two hundred yards of it, the men were ordered to lie down, and a few sent forward to dig holes with bayonets. Meanwhile the enemy continued to shell the woods with a most terrific and galling fire. Some were killed and many wounded by the shot and shell and falling timber. - Robinson, of the Sixty- third, is remembered to have been killed. Capt. J. W. Robinson and Lieut. A. H. Bullock were wounded by the explosion of a shell close to their heads.
The remnant of the regiment remained with Gen. Lee until the evacuation of Petersburg, occupying various positions in the besieged line of intrenchments, among others the fort which was afterward blown up, and became known as "the crater." They were under fire of the mortar-shells almost continuously. During this time Lieut. Samuel Saffell is remembered to have been killed. The regiment was at New Market Hill, and subsequently at Signal Hill, where a detachment of one hundred men, under Lieut. A. H. Bullock, captured in the Federal trench- es several of the colored troops. The enemy moved upon and captured Fort Harrison, which necessitated a hasty withdrawal from Signal Hill, during which heavy skirmishing ensued. Several were wounded. Among the number killed is remembered private George Smith, of Company E. Late in the evening of the same day our forces-Capt. A. M. Millard commanding the Sixty-third Ten-
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nessee-stormed and recaptured the fort, together with a goodly number of pris- oners; subsequently, however, being overpowered, we abandoned it to the enemy. In this engagement several were killed and wounded.
South-west of Petersburg, on the Jerusalem plank road, on the 2d of April, 1865, the remnant of the regiment participated in the effort of Gen. Hill to drive the enemy back, where the most of it was captured. The remainder, consisting of twenty-eight meu, retreated with Gen. Lee's army to Appomattox, where it was surrendered by Lieut. L. L. Etter, of Company C, a brave and chivalrous officer. Here terminated the organized existence of the little handful of veter- ans, all that was left of the noble and brave Sixty-third. Many of the survivors have since died; a few still survive, and are worthy citizens. The memory of both the dead and living is very dear to the writer, who trusts he is kindly re- membered by the noble men who stood by him and went with him through the fiery and fierce ordeal of the war.
Adjt. N. L. York, a splendid officer and soldier and an accomplished gentle- man, also surrendered at Appomattox. His remains now sleep in the Bristol cemetery. Peace to his ashes! Dr. J. S. McDonough, regimental Surgeon, suc- cessfully and with fidelity discharged his duties. He was a true man, a fine phy- sician and surgeon, and stood preeminently in the front rank of the army surgeons. Sergt .- maj. N. D. Bachman, a gallant and efficient officer, also surrendered at Ap- pomattox. Many others are equally deserving of honorable mention, but the writer had access to information derived from members of some companies resid- ing in the same community with himself, while he could not see and consult with the members of other companies who are more remotely situated. But an hon- est effort has been made to do justice to all. All alike are held in high esteem, and though this sketch of their many noble and daring acts is very imperfect, where they could be remembered they have been mentioned.
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