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 34
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of about five hundred yards, till the Confederate line of battle could be reached, when they were relieved by a well-directed volley from friendly guns, which caused such of the pursuers as escaped unhurt to return to their lines as rapidly as they had come.
On the 22d of February the brigade crossed the French Broad at Evans's Ford, moved by way of Dandridge to a point near the mouth of Chucky River, and camped several days. The command then crossed the French Broad on the 28th of February, and camped near Newport, between the French Broad and Pigeon rivers. While the cavalry was encamped at Newport a very amusing incident occurred. The officers of the quartermaster and commissary departments, in- cluding Captains and Majors of the staff, dressed well. The others of the com- mand, officers as well as privates, had no fine clothes-in fact, felt that they were shabbily dressed in comparison with these gentlemen of the staff. Whether true or not, many of the private soldiers, as well as officers of the line, conceived that these well-dressed gentlemen bore themselves with an air of superiority because of their clothes. Among other characteristics of the staff, they were noted for being great ladies' men, and lost no opportunity to attend any party that might be gotten up in the vicinity of Newport. Finally there was a party at Mr. J-'s, across the river in the direction of the enemy. The crossings of the river were all guarded by the Confederate pickets. About 9 o'clock at night the party had assembled at Mr. J-'s, consisting of a number of ladies in the neighborhood, and, so far as the male portion was concerned, exclusively of Quartermasters and Commissaries. The table groaned with the luxuries of the season, and to a sol- dier's eye it presented a scene peculiarly tempting. Just as the company was in the act of sitting down to partake of the rich repast the clatter of hoofs rapidly approaching could be distinctly heard. Nearer they came. Then above the din was heard the clear ring of the army pistol. The ladies turned pale, and " whis- pered with white lips, 'The foe-they come, they come!'" The officers of the staff simultaneously rushed for the door. All not being able to make their exit at once, some went through the windows, smashing the glass and getting many ugly scratches and gashes as they went through, which made the blood they had never before spilled flow freely. Some managed to mount their horses, and went dashing toward camp. The others believed they were too late to make a mount, and ran on foot for dear life, leaving their horses behind. Reaching the crossing, the pickets affected to believe the fugitive Captains and Majors were the enemy, and fired a volley-in the air. There was no time to parley or explain to the pickets that they were friendly non-combatants; so, plunging into the stream, they swam across. The "enemy" turned out to be only some hungry soldiers from that same Confederate command, who had taken this method of "getting even" with the staff. They went in and devoured the supper. The ladies were so glad they were Confederates and not Federals that they were happy at their presence, and greatly enjoyed their keen relish of the supper. "All went merry as a mar- riage-bell." and the boys left the "girls" happy. Perhaps the most amusing thing about it was the attempted investigation the next day as to why there was picket firing the night before. Nobody knew any thing to tell, and yet there was a joy and hilarity in camp never known before or afterward. The "staff's" first im- pulse was to investigate, but soon found there was a deep under-current that made it wholly impracticable. Still, they never did hear the last of that supper.
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The regiment remained at Newport till March 15, at which time it crossed the Nollachucky River and camped within about three miles of Warrensburg, where it remained till the 25th. On the 22d snow fell to the depth of about ten inches. On the 25th the command moved up Cedar Creek and camped. Orders were now received to get every thing in readiness to move to Dalton, Ga., by way of Ashe- ville, N. C., and Greenville, S. C. March 29 the command crossed Paint Mount- ain at Paint Rock, and camped near Warm Springs. Passed through Asheville, N. C., March 31; through Greenville, S. C., April 3, where it rested a day or two. Reached Anderson, S. C., April 6, and rested three days. April 9 it moved to Seneca River, and camped one day. April 10, crossed Tugaloo River. April 13, reached Athens, Ga .; on the 18th, Marietta; on the 20th, Acworth; on the 21st, Cass Station; on the 22d, Adairsville; on the 23d, Resaca, where the regi- ment remained till May 4, when, late in the evening, it was ordered to Dalton, and about midnight camped within two miles of that place. The next day the brigade went to the front on the Cleveland road. May 7, skirmished with the enemy on his left. On the 9th the Federal cavalry charged the brigade with much spirit, and were repulsed with some loss. Private J. B. Smith, of Lytle's company, was killed, and Lieut. Thos. Banks, of Martin's company, severely wounded. There were other casualties to the regiment not now remembered.
On the night of the 12th of May the regiment, with the other Confederate troops, fell back from Dalton to Resaca. May 13 the enemy shelled the troops at Resaca for several hours, employing a number of pieces of artillery, but little dam- age was done the Confederates. On May 14 the Federal infantry repeatedly charged the Confederate lines, and were as often repulsed. The Eleventh par- ticipated in this fighting. For the most part going in dismounted, they fought as infantry.
At daylight on the morning of the 15th the battle opened briskly all along the line, and waxed harder as the day advanced. The enemy made repeated charges in their effort to break the Confederate lines, but were unsuccessful. The Con- federates held their lines in the evening as they did in the morning. The Elev- enth formed the extreme right of the Confederate line, the left wing of the regi- ment resting on the infantry and the right wing resting on the river. Immedi- ately in front was a level field nearly two miles long and half a mile wide. This plain touched the river for two miles on one side, and on the opposite side was skirted by a dense wood. In this wood a fierce battle was raging, the Confederate lines slowly recoiling before the heavy columns of the enemy. Across the field we have described the Federals had thrown a strong skirmish line, extending from the woods to the river, to guard their left flank. To face this skirmish line, the Eleventh Tennessee was posted as the guard of the Confederate right flank. The peculiar position gave an opportunity for one of the few horseback charges of cav- alry against infantry that occurred during the war. The regiment charged the Federal skirmish line, broke through it, and reached a point about a mile in rear of the enemy's line of battle. Re-forming after this rapid charge, the regiment was on the point of charging the Federal batteries thus taken in rear and almost unprotected by contiguous infantry support, when it was discovered that a strong column of Federal infantry was moving across the field through which they had just charged. This movement, if suffered to proceed to completion, would cut off their only means of egress. The line was rapidly wheeled to face this new emer-
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gency. At the same moment three batteries of the enemy, recovering from their astonishment, turned a fierce and converging fire upon the intruders, now drawn up in plain view upon the open field. No time was to be lost. Moving rapidly, as if to charge the line of infantry forming to bar their egress, the regiment, when nearly upon them, changed its course to the river, and from this point opened fire on the enemy's flank. Below the level of the battle-field, and along the margin of the river, lay a narrow and slippery pathway, which seemed hardly practicable for horsemen. Along this path, protected by the overhanging bank, the regiment in single file found its precarious exit. A portion of the regiment faced the ene- my and threatened to charge, while the remainder escaped unseen. Before the rear could effect a retreat the enemy discovered the stratagem, and pressed heav- ily upon the retreating column. Nothing remained but pell-mell and precipitate flight. In single file at full speed they dashed along the narrow path, while the Federal infantry rashed to the bank and opened a furious fire. The projecting bank and willow-bushes, and the rough ground, gave some shelter, however, and the rapidity of the movement confused the enemy. The regiment emerged out of breath, bespattered and disordered, but with a loss not exceeding five men. The effect of this charge was to break the advance of the entire left wing of the Federal army, and to relieve the pressure on the Confederate right.
On the night of the loth of May Gen. Johnston's army fell back in the direc- tion of Calhoun, Ga. On the 16th there was a good deal of skirmishing but no hard fighting. The army fell back during the night to the vicinity of Adairsville. On the 17th there was a general engagement all along the line, in which Cheat- ham's division suffered. On the night of the 17th the entire army retreated to the vicinity of Cassville and Kingston, where on the 18th it remained skirmish- ing and fighting. On the morning of the 19th, at Cassville, Gen. Johnston issued his battle order. The spirit of the Confederate troops was never better, and they confidently expected an immediate and decisive battle. Never did troops exhibit in a more marked degree the firm resolve to conquer or to die. From lip to lip passed the words, "Now old Joe has got them where he wants them!"
About 3 o'clock in the evening the Federal advance pressed heavily the Con- federate right and center. The Eleventh, with the remainder of the brigade and some other cavalry, contested the advance, but were pressed back by superior and overlapping numbers till the Confederate infantry lines were reached, when a sharp engagement occurred. The Federals were repulsed, but a most terrific artil- lery duel ensued, lasting some two or three hours. The Federal artillery appeared to have the advantage in position. At any rate, their artillery was served with marked precision and effect. The belief rapidly gained ground that the position of the Confederate right, occupied in the main by Hood's corps, was untenable. For some reason Gen. Johnston changed his plans, and during the night the Con- federate troops fell back to Cartersville and Allatoona. The Eleventh and the remainder of the brigade were actively engaged in protecting the rear of the re- treating army and watching the Federal advance, participating in the fighting incident to such service.
On the night of the 23d, about midnight, while encamped at Big Island Ford, on the Etowah River, the Eleventh, with a considerable force of other cavalry, under Gen. Armstrong, moved around Sherman's left, and passed to his rear reaching Cassville about 10 o'clock in the morning. The surprise was complete.
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Some infantry and a considerable force of cavalry were routed. A number of prisoners, over a hundred wagons and teams, and a quantity of quartermaster commissary, and sutlers' stores were taken. Some of the wagons and stores were destroyed, but most of them were brought away in safety and turned over for the use of the Confederate army. Nearly every soldier brought a trophy with him. Taking the Canton road, the command, after traveling east about twenty miles, was overtaken by a severe rain-storm, compelling it to encamp near Steel's bridge for the remainder of the night. In the meantime Johnston's army had fallen back to Acworth, Ga., to which point the Eleventh, with the remainder of the raiding cavalry, moved on the 25th.
Sherman had sent a heavy column in the direction of Dallas, the county seat of Paulding county, with the evident intent of turning the Confederate left. This movement was promptly met by counter-movements of the Confederate troops. Dibrell's brigade, and a large part of the other cavalry, at once mored hurriedly to the point of attack. The Eleventh participated actively in the fighting on the Confederate left for several days. Here occurred some of the hardest fighting of the war. On the 27th Cleburne's division repulsed a furious assault, with heavy loss to the enemy. At night this noble division, supported by the cavalry, made a gallant charge on the enemy, killing a great number and capturing two hundred and fifty prisoners.
The skirmishing along the entire line on May 28 and 29 was almost without intermission. On the night of the 20th, it being Sunday, the Federals made a determined assault all along the Confederate lines, but were repulsed with con- sideralle loss. On the 31st, in a charge on the enemy, private C. Buford, of Gor- don's company, was killed, and Capt. Andrew R. Gordon severely wounded. Capt. Gordon was not able for duty again, as the writer has been informed, and his com- pany was afterward commanded, for the most part, by Lieut. J. M. Edmondson, a brave and efficient officer. The company, or details from it, were frequently commanded by Lieuts. Robt. Gordon and George Rothrock, officers of great brav- ery and worth.
Sherman having signally failed in the effort to turn the Confederate left, had evidently changed his tactics, as indicated by the movement to the Confederate right. Again the Confederate troops moved to the right. As early as the 2d of June Bate's division moved toward Kennesaw. In the meantime Sherman, in his effort to "steal a march," kept up a show of advancing, and constantly menaced the Confederate left, making the services of the cavalry in that direction indis- pensable till about the 3d or 4th of June, when Dibrell's brigade, with other cav- alry, was ordered to the vicinity of Kennesaw. Here the Eleventh participated in the skirmishing and performed its part of the picket duty till June 13, when Col. Holman was ordered to report, with his regiment, to Gen. Joseph E. John- ston, at Atlanta, Ga., for any service the General of the army might have for it to perform.
The constant strain on the men and horses night and day for the last forty days had well-nigh exhausted both. The much-needed rest for the next month, while the army was intrenched at Atlanta, was in some measure afforded. The change of service, though none the less onerous, afforded the command more of rest and sleep. The city of Atlanta was policed by details from the regiment during the stay of the army at that place. Besides, details were made for couriers, scouts,
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pickets, and almost every duty incident to the army. Occasionally, when emer- gencies required, such of the command as was not engaged in other service was sent to the front to assist in repelling an assault or strengthen a weak point in the line. The regiment cherished the most unbounded confidence in and esteem for Gen. Johnston. The better the men knew him the more they loved and admired him. While he was always respectful and just to the officers, he seemed to be most watchful of and careful for the rights and comfort of the private soldiers. His unexpected removal was a severe shock. Sadness akin to despair was depict- ed on the faces of the men, and many of them wept freely.
When Gen. Hood took command of the army he retained the regiment for spe- cial service. Sherman continued his course southward through the heart of the Confederacy, while Hood about-faced, and went northward to interrupt Sherman's communications and destroy his base of supplies. A number of prisoners were captured, among them the Forty-fourth U. S. Colored Troops, all the officers of which were white men. These, with other Federal prisoners, were turned over to the Eleventh to be guarded and carried to West Point, Ga., a considerable dis- tance, for exchange. The officers of this colored regiment were at first greatly alarmed for their personal safety, knowing the feeling among Southern soldiers toward colored troops. They soon became assured of their safety, and when de- livered over to the Federal authorities under a flag of truce, expressed their grat- itude for the kind treatment they had received, each warmly shaking the hands of the officers of the regiment, and pronouncing, as they took their departure, benedictions on its officers and men.
The regiment became separated from the brigade at Atlanta, and was not able to be with it again during the war. It was temporarily assigned to Bell's brigade, Jackson's division, under Gen. Forrest; came into Tennessee on the Hood cam- paign, and in the latter part of December, 1864, returned south of the Tennessee River with the remnant of Hood's army. After the separation of the regiment from the brigade Col. Dibrell was made Brigadier-general of the brigade. This promotion was well merited, and met the hearty approval of the entire brigade.
On the 11th of July, 1864, at Atlanta, Gen. Jos. E. Johnston sent Capt. C. Cof- fee to Middle Tennessee on a scout with a portion of his company. He crossed the Tennessee River at Muscle Shoals, passed through Giles, Marshall, Bedford, and Coffee counties into Warren county, Tennessee. At that time the Federals held undisputed possession of Middle Tennessee, and he ran many narrow risks of capture, several of his men being wounded and captured. He added forty-six new recruits to his company in a short time, and assisted in driving the Federal troops from MeMinnville, Tenn., the home of a number of his men. His only way of escape was through East Tennessee and by way of Saltville, Va. He par- ticipated in the fight at Saltville against the Federal troops under command of Gen. Burbridge, passed on as rapidly as possible with his company through North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to join his regiment. The regiment hav- ing moved into Tennessee with Hood's army, he was ordered to remain withi Dib- rell's brigade to assist in resisting Sherman's march to the sea. He participated in the fighting from Macon to Savannah, Ga., about eighteen days, drawing for his company within this period only one day's rations of bread. Christmas-day, 1864, was spent in the vicinity of Savannah without a mouthful to eat This com- pany fought the enemy at every lagoon, swamp, and river between Savannah, Ga.,
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MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
and Columbia, S. C., and skirmished with them from Columbia to Fayetteville, N. C., at which place it fought Gen. Kilpatrick's command, assisting in the capture of five hundred prisoners and the recapture of one hundred and thirty Confeder- ates who had been captured by the Federals. It participated in the fighting at Bentonville, N. C., fell back to Raleigh, N. C., and had its last fight at Beulalı- ville, N. C., where it performed important service in holding a large command of Federals in check. Having again fallen back to Raleigh, N. C., Capt. Coffee, with his company, was ordered to escort President Jefferson Davis from Greensboro, N. C., to Cokesbury, S. C. On reaching Cokesbury President Davis requested that Coffee's company continue with him to the Savannah River, which it did, and sur- rendered at Washington, Ga., May 11, 1865. Fifty-three men and officers received their paroles.
A few of Coffee's men failed to accompany him on the scout to Middle Tennes- see in July, 1864, and remained with the regiment till after the surrender. These . men were assigned to Capt. J. M. Rust's (formerly Brewster's) company, with which they remained till the close of the war. While these men were deprived of their old company comnsander and separated from their old comrades-in-arms, they were fortunate indeed in being assigned to the command of so true and faith- ful an officer as Capt. Rust and to the companionship of such brave and noble soldiers as constituted his company.
The following were the losses of Coffee's company during the war, to wit: Sick- ened and died, three; killed in battle, seventeen; wounded in battle. twenty-nine; captured in battle, eleven; other causes, thirty-seven; making a total loss of ninety- seven men.
The following is a partial list of the killed:
Private Joseph Couch, killed near La Vergne, Tenn., December 27, 1862.
Private James Fuston, mortally wounded near asylum, Davidson county, Tenn., Jannary 3, 1863, and died January 10, 1863.
Private - Davis, killed in battle at Franklin, Tenn., April, 1863.
Private Oliver E. Hendrix, killed in the advance on Chattanooga, Tenn., after the battle of Chickamanga, September 23, 1863.
Private Arthur Mercer, killed on scout in White county, Tenn., December, 1863.
Private W. E. Niblett, killed on scout in White county, Tenn., December, 1863.
Private Miles Bonnet, killed on scout near McMinnville, Tenn., December, 1863.
Private Wyatt Humble, killed on scout near McMinnville, Tenn., December, 1863.
Private George Hennessee, killed on scout near MeMinnville, Tenn., December, 1863.
From the beginning of the "Hood campaign" till the close of the war the regiment was under command of Gen. Forrest as a part of Bell's brigade, Jack- son's division. The companies of the regiment, being all from Middle Tennessee, were nearly all detailed by Gen. Hood on the campaign for important and in many instances delicate service. Their knowledge of the country and acquaint- ance with the people made their services on this campaign particularly valuable. Space is not here afforded to set forth in detail the many heroic acts of these brave and patriotic men, sent forth as individuals, as squads, as companies, and squad-
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rons to execute the orders of their superior officers. Once more on the soil of their dear old Middle Tennessee, after a long and trying exile from home, kin- dred, and friends-hoping that victory would perch on their banners, and that the cruel war would soon be over-their enthusiasm and daring knew no bounds. They had hearts for any fate, and it is no exaggeration to say that their services, so efficiently performed, were invaluable to the army.
The regiment returned with the remnant of Hood's army south of the Tennes- see River about the last of December, 1864; fought and repulsed the Federal cavalry near Leighton, Ala., in January, 1865; camped in the vicinity of West Point and Verona, Miss., during the months of February and March, 1865. About - the last of March, as a portion of Jackson's division, it was sent to meet the Wil- son raid, which penetrated the State of Alabama and captured Selma. The regi- ment did not reach Selma in time to participate in the fighting there, but on the 2d of April, as a part of Jackson's division, met and handsomely drove MeCook's division, killing, wounding, and capturing a number of the enemy. This was the last engagement in which the regiment participated.
At West Point, Miss., in February, 1865, the Tenth and Eleventh Tennessee Cavalry were consolidated, Col. Holman, of the Eleventh, being assigned to the command. Lieut .- col. Wm. E. Demoss having been previously captured, Maj. John Minor, of the Tenth, was the only field officer at the time with that regi- ment, and he retained the same position in the consolidated regiment. At the same time Capt. W. R. Garrett, who had formerly served as the Adjutant of the regiment, was promoted to the Captainey of Swaim's company. Lieut. J. M. Nevils had previously, for the most part, commanded the company. He was faithful, brave, and true. The promotion of Capt. Garrett to the Captainey of this company was most richly deserved and truly won, and was but a feeble rec- ognition of his merits as a soldier and a man. A native of Virginia, he served with distinction the first twelve months of the war as Captain of artillery in -the Army of Virginia. In their official reports of the battle near Williamsburg, Va., May 5, 1862, both Gens. Longstreet and Stuart allude, in terms of conmen- dation, to his efficiency as an officer. Referring to him and his battery of four guns, Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, in his report, says: "I will here pay a merited tribute to the excellence of the execution done by them, commanded by Capt. W. Rob- ertson Garrett, who, notwithstanding the hailstorm of bullets and shells, kept up an accurate and incessant fire upon the enemy's battery until it was silenced, and then upon his line after the brigades of infantry in the woods to the right had driven the enemy to the edge of the woods near the Telegraph road. . . The artillery thus gave most essential aid to our infantry in their advance of triumph over every position the enemy took, until he was entirely routed." A gentleman of ability, culture, and intelligence, always loyal to principle, brave in action, and faithful in the discharge of duty, his services to the regiment had been invaluable, and won for him the unbounded confidence and esteem not only of the regiment, but of all who knew him.
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