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 22
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Field and staff officers: C. R. Bartean, Colonel; Geo. H. Morton, Lieutenant- colonel; Wm. Parish, Major; T. A. Smith, Lieutenant and Adjutant; E. O. El- liott, Quartermaster; J. M. Hughes, Surgeon; J. W. Harrison, Assistant Surgeon; S. C. Tally, Chaplain.
Co. A : N. Oswell, Captain; Thos. C. Adkisson, First Lieutenant; A. H. French, Second Lieutenant.
Co. B: T. B. Underwood, Captain; G. N. Smithson, First Lieutenant; S. B. Wall, J. D. Core, Second Lieutenants.
Co. C: M. W. MeKnight, Captain; H. L. W. Turney, First Lieutenant; Sam Denis, J. S. Harrison, Second Lieutenants.
Co. D: W. T. Rickman, Captain; Geo. Love, First Lientenant; F. W. Youree, T. R. Love, Second Lieutenants.
Co. E: W. A. DeBow, Captain; Geo. E. Seay, First Lieutenant; R. B. Dobbins, T. J. Carmon, Second Lieutenants.
Co. F: John A. Brinkley, Captain; Jas. F. Austin, First Lieutenant; J. E. Deming, Nuse Pennell, Second Lieutenants.
Co. G: Thos. Puryear, Captain; J. M. Eastess, First Lieutenant; A. W. Lips- comb, B. H. Moore, Second Lieutenants.
Co. H: B. Edwards, Captain; J. Bedford, First Lieutenant; E. Lassiter, J. L. Stubblefield, Second Lieutenants.
Co. I: S. W. Reeves, Captain; Wm. Latimer, First Lieutenant; J. H. Bettick, W. C. Roberts, Second Lieutenants.
Co. K: O. B. Farris, Captain; J. H. Neal, First Lientenant; F. M. McCrea, II. Pryor, Second Lieutenants.
The selection of officers was made from men of experience. Our Colonel was taken from the ranks, all knowing him to be a "soldier," as also the most of the other officers. Some changes in the organization will be noted hereafter. It would be impossible to give all the changes, as but few officers occupied the posi-
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tions at the close as above recorded. A large majority having been killed or dis- abled, there were many promotions of officers, and of privates from the line, to fill the stations vacated.
During the summer for a few weeks Col. Bartean was sick at Guntown, Miss. The regiment was commanded by Lient .- col. Morton. Bragg's army had now been generally reorganized. We were placed in the brigade of Gen. Frank Arm- strong. Our first engagement as the Second Regiment was in West Tennessee, near Middleton, where we moved up in solid line, each and every man feeling that here we were starting the history and character of the new organization, and determined to inseribe on onr banner, "The first engagement-on victory's side." We made three charges mounted without success, until the command-afterward familiar-" Prepare to fight on foot" was given. Then the day was ours, and the inscription headed, as we determined it should be, on victory's side. We had other engagements on the trip-at Medon and Britton's Lane-all proving suc- cessful.
Returning from West Tennessee we went to Alabama, where, after a short en- gagement at Courtland, we captured two or three companies of cavalry, camp equipage, etc. On the 20th of September we were with Gen. Price in the battle of Iuka, Miss., also taking an active part in the engagement at Cripple Deer, on the retreat. Our next hard fighting was at Corinth, Miss., on the 4th and 5th of October. Our position in the line was just south of Corinth, with two Alabama companies and a battalion of Mississippi cavalry, under Col. Barteau, who had orders from Gen. Van Dorn that when the attack was made from the west we should cross Tuscumbia River, and advance upon the place as far as possible. Hearing the ring of Price's musketry on the west, Col. Barteau moved promptly forward with his demi-brigade, crossing the stream and dashing in behind the breastworks upon the enemy's encampment and wagon and baggage guards. Aft- er a brisk engagement-close pistol-range, then hand-to-hand-having captured a large number of ammunition-wagons and prisoners, we fell back just in time to recross the stream before being intercepted by a much larger force of the enemy withdrawn for that purpose from the main battle. We were successful in bring- ing off our captures, and then took part on the main line.
After this battle we were stationed south of Corinth, most of the time with no support, and with very little at any time. We had to meet various raiding parties of Federal cavalry seeking to destroy the Mobile and Ohio railroad or to forage upon and lay waste that rich prairie region of country behind us. This kept us constantly in the saddle scouting and skirmishing, with several warm engagements at Baldwyn, Booneville, Guntown, Saltillo, Rienzi, and Bay Springs, where we numbered among our losses some of our best men. When Gen. Van Dorn passed out of Mississippi into Middle Tennessee we were still left to protect that sec- tion of country and keep np railroad connection with Mobile, Ala., and via Merid- ian, to Vicksburg, much to our regret, as we were exceedingly anxious to get on our native soil. We had a very large scope of country to overlook, and a very im- portant one to Vicksburg, as a vast amount of her supplies were shipped from this section. The Federals being apprised of that were consequently trying to cut them off. Our engagements with the enemy's cavalry during this time were more numerous-either light or heavy skirmishing almost daily; and oftentimes true bravery and strategy were displayed more notably than you would see in the
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larger battles. This order of affairs was kept up until, on the 17th of April, 1863, Gen. Grierson, in command of a large body of Federal cavalry, started from La Grange, Tenn., on a raid through Mississippi. At this time the regiment was widely scattered on outpost duty, which necessity demanded to protect the coun- try; but in all Col. Barteau, with the past few months' experience, had effected a complete system of discipline by which the entire regiment could be concen- trated on a very short notice. So on the news of Grierson's advance we were hastily collected, and made an effort to intercept him at Pontotoc. Failing in this, we succeeded on the 20th in cutting off from his main force eight hundred or more of Iowa troops under Col. Hatch, and attacking him at Palo Alto, below Starkville, Miss. Our attack would have been complete, and we would have capt- ured his whole command, had not a battalion of Mississippi State troops, which had joined us on the march, given way in disorder on one side as we charged on the other. We had him forced between two hedges, with only one outlet, but as it was we gave him a lively chase, and forced him to take the back track, we be- ing between him and Grierson. IIe next made a stand at Birmingham, above Okolona, as we pressed him back to La Grange. Here, after a brisk fight over a bridge and in a swamp, we routed him again, killing thirty of his men and taking fifty prisoners. Hatch then made a straight run for Memphis, not stopping at La Grange. The head of our column was now reversed to look after Gen. Grierson, but we soon learned that he had pushed rapidly through Mississippi, an open and unprotected country, with three thousand men, to Baton Rouge, La., a distance of about eight hundred miles, in about sixteen days.
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We now assumed our old lines, and on the 10th of May, at Spring Creek, near Tupelo, Miss., the regiment, unsupported by any other troops, met and defeated another raiding party from Corinth eighteen hundred strong, with light artillery. The regiment fought on foot under Lient .- col. Morton, except two mounted com- panies that were led by Col. Bartean in a charge upon the enemy's right flank, which caused them to break in some disorder. Seeing this, Col. Morton quickly mounted, and we drove the enemy back through Tupelo, capturing two of their guns and a number of prisoners. Our loss was comparatively small. On the 20th of June we encountered a similar force a short distance north-west of Guntown. The fight began about noon in a thick, swampy bottom. We soon drove them across Mud Creek, killing and capturing in all about seventy-five men. Destroy- ing the bridge and deserting two guns, they hastily retreated. Our loss was light -few killed and wounded.
Our next operations of any special importance were in North Alabama, under Gen. S. D. Lee, where we had a great deal of hard fighting near Florence. Men- orable to all of the "Old Second " will be the engagement at Cherokee, on the 23d of October, where we mourned to number among our lost that noble and gen- erous Capt. Thos. Puryear, of Co. G. Here he received his death-wound at the head of his company, with drawn saber urging forward to victory. We were fight- ing superior numbers, which he knew, and just as he received his wound the regi- ment was temporarily forced back. Private John P. Mills and myself rushed to him, determined he should not fall into the hands of the enemy, when he urged us to leave him and save ourselves, as we could not save him; but we carried him back where he was taken to the hospital. After lingering a few days he quietly breathed his last, his soul returning to the God who gave it. Never did a braver
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soldier respond to a bugle-call than Capt. Thos. Puryear. In this engagement we again proved successful. Here Lieut. J. M. Eastess was promoted to the Cap- taincy of Co. G.
On the 26th we again had a warm engagement against great odds, in which Lieut .- col. Morton received a severe wound. Our loss in both these engagements was heavy. The commanding General afterward, in an order thanking the troops for their conduct, said to Lieut .- col. Morton and his gallant little band of deter- mined followers: " Especial praise is due for the skillful and rapid manner in which they attacked and routed the First Alabama tory cavalry, of double their strength." After this engagement Lieut. Thomas Adkisson succeeded to the command of Company A, Capt. Oswell being disabled and discharged.
Early in December we were placed permanently with Gen. Forrest, on applica- tion of Col. Barteau and in accordance with the wishes of the entire regiment, believing him to be the best cavalry leader the world ever produced-which our most bitter enemies have never dared to controvert. Forrest's head-quarters were now at Oxford, Miss. Our first order from him to the regiment, then encamped at Okolona, Miss., was to go into West Tennessee and either kill or capture the no- torious Col. Hurst and his Federal command. We were soon in the vicinity of Bolivar, Teun .; but instead of Hurst and his command, we met the advance of' Gen. Smith, with a heavy force preparing to march through Mississippi, to effect a junction with Sherman at Meridian. Here we had daily skirmishing with the enemy while awaiting orders from Gen. Forrest. On the 5th of February we received or- ders to fall back toward Abbeville, and after a lively skirmish, in which we lost several men, we began to fall back; and on the 12th, after a great deal of hard service, we were joined by Forrest's other forces near Oxford, Miss., where we had heavy skirmishing all day on the Tallahatchie River.
In the organization of Forrest's cavalry the Second Tennessee was placed in the brigade of Gen. T. II. Bell, with the Twelfth, Sixteenth, and Newsom's regiment, all Tennessee troops. The Federal force we were facing was about seven thousand strong. It was moving leftward, and in the direction of Okolona. Gen. Forrest withdrew via Starkville, on the south of Tibbee Creek, a considerable stream that flows into the Tombigbee River just above Columbus. At Starkville, Forrest, re- taining two brigades-McCulloch's and Col. Jeffry Forrest's-sent Bell's brigade, under Col. Bartean ( Bell being sick), to Columbus, which is on the east side of Tombigbee River, to checkmate any movement of the enemy in that direction. We reached the west bank of the river opposite Columbus late on the evening of the 19th, and spent the night in crossing over in ferry-boats. By 2 o'clock next day, finding it was not the purpose of the enemy to move upon Columbus, Col. Barteau, following the discretion allowed him by Gen. Forrest, moved np the riv- er with the brigade on the east side, to Waverly, seven miles above; and here we again spent the night in recrossing the river to the west bank, with a view of striking the enemy's flank or rear. Next morning all the troops of the brigade. after two successive nights spent in crossing the river, with other laborious duty attendant on such expeditions, found themselves exceedingly jaded, especially the Second Tennessee, as we had made a cirenit of four hundred miles over bad roads, part of the time over roads with no bottom, to use a loose phrase, and in bad weather, with no intermission of hardships. Yet this was no time or place for rest. We were in close proximity to an enemy greatly superior in force; but
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with our usual self-confidence, now on the enemy's flank and Forrest in front of him, we did not hesitate to count their numbers, but at once-assuming the ad- vantage of our position that we had labored so hard for during the night-began a spirited attack in open prairie. The boldness of the attack, and the scathing volleys we poured into their ranks, soon caused them to fall back, we keeping on their right flank and striving to get ahead of them. Daring almost the entire day we were in this position. Long lines of Federal cavalry could be seen ex- tending far to our rear in the prairie, our own column being parallel at intervals of half to three-quarters of a mile, with skirmishers deployed between.
Gen. Forrest, having crossed all of his troops from the south to the north side of Tibbee Creek, followed rapidly. At night the enemy made rapid strides, and having gained on us some half mile, sent a force from his front to take possession of the Egypt and Aberdeen road ahead of us, and another force to the rear to at- tack us; but by skillful maneuvering and some sharp fighting we were soon mas- ters of the road. Pressing forward again in the night, and over the worst roads imaginable, onr horses and ourselves having had nothing to eat since the night be- fore, daylight found us skirmishing at Okolona. The Federals all moved through the town and took position on the west side; we stood in line on the east side. with the little hamlet lying between us, the wide streets and avennes and scat- tered houses scarcely obstructing the view. This was the position about sunrise. the other two brigades not yet having arrived. But Gen. Forrest, with his escort. came dashing across the prairie from the direction of the Federal rear, and was soon greeted among us with a hearty rebel yell. The enemy were rapidly dispos- ing their troops, evidently to attack us with their entire force. The moment was critical, for there were seven thousand Federals against twelve hundred Confed- erates; but even that odds did not make us nervous. Gen. Forrest immediately proceeded to where Col. Barteau was, and after a hasty conference Col. B. placed himself at the head of the old Second, giving orders to form platoons for a charge. instructing Col. Wilson, of the Twelfth Regiment, to wait in reserve and aid wher needed. . Gen. Forrest took command of Russell's and Newsoni's regiments on the right. The enemy now seemed to be puzzled more than ever to think we had the courage to attack odds so large. The Second now moved forward to the charge with her usual vim, and it was but a few moments before we were dashing through the main street of Okolona making for the enemy. We were wildly cheered by the citizens as we passed through the place, the women especially cheering and clapping their hands and waving handkerchiefs; and if there be an incentive that can inspire a Tennessee soldier more than his natural pride, it is that of woman. The enemy being on the alert, and anticipating our determination to win the fight, began shooting at long range. The command being well in hand, their stat- fell short of their expectation, as the regiment dashed boldly on, reserving fire until within close pistol-range; when, at the command "Fire!" we poured such a volley into them that their front line began to stagger, which we were not slow in taking advantage of, moving on them rapidly. using our pistols with telling ef- feet, which caused their entire lines to break and give way in disorder. The oth- er two regiments, under Gen. Forrest, were dismounted and did good fighting on foot. Col. Wilson, whose regiment had remained monnted as reserve, being a hero of the first water, could not longer wait, but came np on good time. Many of our men had fallen wounded, among them Col. Bartean, but he quickly re
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ยท mounted and continued in the fight, but few of the regiment knowing that our leader had been wounded until after the engagement. Gen. Forrest seeing the enemy break, moved rapidly up to our column, and with ours and Wilson's regi- ments, closely pressed them-now in complete disorder and full retreat-taking a great many prisoners and six or seven pieces of artillery. The Federal officers, seeing our small force that was pressing them so sorely, soon began to bring about some organization of their forces, hoping to check our advance. About this time Cols. Jeffry Forrest and McCulloch were seen coming upon the field with their commands. During the day the enemy made several stubborn stands, taking ad- vantage of cross-roads and ridges. They made one just at night at the edge of a large swamp, when our regiment, Wilson's, and the Seventh were dismounted and took a strong position along the brow of a ravine. This being the key to their line of retreat, they were forced to try and move us, which they endeavored to do in four successive charges, but each was readily repulsed; and following up the
4 last repulse we drove them rapidly back, capturing two pieces of artillery and a flag, with several prisoners, and driving the remainder into the swamp. It being now very dark we did not pursue farther, but kept pouring a warm fire of shot and shell into the swamp for some time, which next morning revealed to have been very disastrous to them, from the number of dead and wounded left, with quite a number of horses. This closed the fight as we had begun it in the morning-successfully.
We next find ourselves with Gen. A. Buford as division commander over our brigade (Bell's) and Thompson's Kentucky brigade.
On the 10th of March, 1863, we started from Tupelo, Miss., to Western Ken- tucky. On the 25th, in the attack on Paducah, our regiment was dismounted and placed on the right of Thompson's brigade. We had some very warm fighting in the assault of the works, which was unsuccessful. Why the attack was made on this strongly fortified (we might say almost impregnable) position was not gener- ally understood by the line. It was done at the sacrifice of some of our best men. Here Lient .- col. Morton received a severe wound. After this affair we were en- camped for a few days at Mayfield, Ky. We then moved to Eaton, Tenn., from which point, in conjunction with other troops-fragments of Forrest's command- we moved, on the 12th of April, for the attack on Fort Pillow. We reached the fort, after a long and hard march, early on the morning of the 12th, and were soon placed for the work before us. Having marched all night without rest or sleep, we were in rather poor plight. In this attack our regiment was on the extrenie right, next to the river. The Second Missouri Regiment was on the extreme leit, and in the final investment, assault, and capture. These two regiments were the first in the fort, which was no idle pastime. Here both courage and skill were displayed by each officer and man. The works were very hard of passage, and it was only by lifting and pushing each other that we were enabled to mount them, and that too under the steady fire of the enemy. After capturing the fort, we took down the flag and turned the guns of the fort upon the gun-boat up the river. One of the captured pieces of artillery was admirably handled by Sergt. B. A. High, of our regiment. This capture, however, was not effected without the loss of some of our bravest men. Among them was Lieut. George Love, a brave and good officer. Ed. Bullock succeeded him as Lieutenant in Co. D. The prisoners were placed in charge of Col. Barteau, and conveyed by the regiment to Tupelo, Miss. Here we went into camp, and after fully recruiting both man and
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horse we received orders on the 29th of May to move with five days rations east- ward to Fulton, Miss. When some distance east of this place, on the 2d of June, we were ordered back to meet a force coming out from Memphis. This proved to be Gen. Sturgis, with ten thousand men. By the 7th he was in the vicinity of Ripley. Forrest's forces, mostly collected at Baldwyn, now numbered only about two thousand effective men. We met the Federals near Guntown, at Brice's Cross- roads. In this engagement Gen. Forrest detached our regiment from Buford's division to operate alone. He gave orders to Col. Barteau, at Carrollville, to go directly across to the Ripley road and fall either upon the flank or rear of the Federal army and destroy their train if possible. To reach their rear required a very rapid move over a circuitous route, but the old Second had been educated to believe there was nothing insurmountable, so we moved out with good cheer, knowing the responsibility of the duty intrusted to us. The rear of the enemy had just gotten into the engagement when we reached the road down which they had passed. . They had disposed of their baggage-train with guard, awaiting the result of the fight. The battle was now raging in front, the balls from our guns in front passing over the enemy and falling among us as we moved quietly in be- hind the Federal lines along Tishomingo Creek. Col. Bartean, now being ap- prised that the heat of the engagement had come, and seeing the success of our force were somewhat doubtful, and knowing the great odds we were contending against, wisely decided to pass the baggage-train, which we might have easily capt- ured, and strike where we were most needed. He dispatched our company to picket in our rear, and deployed the remainder of the regiment into a skirmish line. We had reached the enemy's rear without their knowledge, and Col. Bar- teau thought best to deceive them as to our strength. For this purpose a bold attack was made by our little line, and being deployed at some distance apart, with a continuous fire. This led them to believe our force was large, and to con- tinne the impression the bugler, Jimmie Bradford, was instructed to gallop along the line and at different intervals to sound the charge. Nothing could have proved a more complete deception, for the enemy's cavalry, ten times our strength, began to move back. There was a general panie among the baggage-guards, team- sters, artillery, and soon among all the Federals, and as Forrest pressed them in front (which was becoming now their rear) they fell back in the wildest disorder. We kept up a running fight with the head of the retreating force until after night, taking a large number of prisoners. Never was a more bold or daring attack made than was executed on this occasion by our regiment. In the "Campaigns of Forrest's Cavalry," published on authority of Gen. Forrest, it is stated that this movement of Barteau's regiment, while the battle was raging with the great- est fury, drew to that quarter a large part of the Federal cavalry, and contributed materially to disorder the enemy. Next day we were early in the saddle, and re- ceived orders to now strike for the enemy's front; but they being in full retreat, we did not reach their front, yet succeeded in making a sudden and successful at- tack as they passed. We continued the pursuit, pressing their scattered forces all day, having quite a spirited engagement at Ripley. We continued the chase to near Memphis. In this engagement the loss on our side was heavy, but the ene- ny's much greater. We took in all about two thousand prisoners, and must have killed nineteen hundred; captured twenty pieces of artillery and over two hun- dred wagons and ambulances.
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It now being very warm we went into camp, but only to remain for a short time, for on the 8th of July another heavy Federal force was entering North Missis- sippi. Gen. Buford sent our regiment to New Albany to intereept them. We reached there just in time to meet the advance crossing Tallahatchie River. Skir- mishing at once began and continued during the day, and next day back to near Pontotoc. The enemy was estimated at sixteen thousand strong, under Gen. A. J. Smith. Gen. Forrest was now up. The enemy moved slowly, pushing us baek. Though Forrest did not have a third as many men, yet he made their progress very rough and slow. On the 13th Gen. Buford made a dash on their flank just west of Tupelo, making the attack with Bell's brigade across a bridge and deep ravine. Our regiment was thrown in first against two divisions of the enemy, and was for a time unsupported, until we were repulsed and in a measure ent to pieces. In this special dash victory was recorded on the wrong side of our old flag, yet we had the consolation of knowing it was only placed there by overwhelming numbers, Our loss was heavy both in officers and men. Lieut. A. H. French, of Co. A, was permanently disabled. Capt. J. M. Eastess, of Co. G, was killed. Lieut. B. H. Moore succeeded to the command of Co. G, and privates George F. Hager and G. L. Siddons were made Lieutenants. In this engagement Lient .- col. Morton appeared on the field for the first time since receiving his wound at Padn- cah, Ky., and though not yet recovered, seeing the danger of our position, he took part and aided in saving the regiment from finther disaster. The coolness and courage of both officers and men only prevented the complete destruction of the regiment by such an overwhelming force against us in a disadvantageous situation. The remainder of the brigade came to our relief as soon as possible, and soon we were again on the enemy, and continued the fight until night came on. During the night the enemy moved to Harrisburg, a few miles distant, and here spent the night in intrenching themselves. It was this engagement in which one of those singular premonitions of death occurred. Private James Drury, a noble and brave soldier, always at his post and ever ready to face danger, told several of his friends that he expected to be killed in the next engagement, and gave directions to his Captain ( Eastess, Co. G) for the disposal of his horse and other little pos- sessions, the proceeds to be returned to that faithful and loving wife in her lonely home in Tennessee. The writer urged upon him not to enter the fight, but to let one of the boys who volunteered to do so take his place. In a calin and resolute manner he replied, " No; and tell my wife I died for my country." He fell with the first volley, in the front rank, and so did his Captain to whom he intrusted the carrying out of his wishes.
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