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 35
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In the space here allotted it is not possible to give the achievements of each of the companies while on detached service during the war. While cach has a his- tory identified with the regiment as heretofore given, at the same time each has a distinctive history in a measure separate from it, and to which reference has not been made, except in a few instances suggested by the connection. From some
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MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
of the companies very meager reports have been furnished the writer, so that in a large measure he has had to rely on his recollection of events, which, after the lapse of twenty years, has doubtless failed to serve him in many instances. The rosters, muster-rolls, orders, and reports were lost or destroyed by the casualties of war. He has derived much assistance from the diary of John W. Jordan, pri- vate in Capt. Miller's company, and from brief reports made him by Capts. Mar- tin, Coffee, Garrett, Perkins, and Rivers. The writer believes that the companies alike deserve equal credit, and if greater prominence has been given some com- panies or individuals than to others doubtless as meritorious, it is only because more data have been furnished by some than others. For this the writer cannot be blamed, since he tried to get from all the companies alike full reports; besides, not one-half the achievements worthy of record could be compressed in this brief sketch, so that the duty of selecting such as might prove of most interest has de- volved upon the writer. In the performance of this duty he may have, and doubtless has, made many mistakes.
Martin's company suffered casualties as follows:
Killed.
Second Lieutenant A. S. Chapman, killed at Fort Donelson, February 3, 1863. Private Hill Roy, killed at Fort Donelson, February 3, 1863.
Private F. L. Swanson, mortally wounded in a charge on Hillsboro pike, nine miles from Nashville, March 25, 1863.
Private Thomas Allen, killed at Bainbridge, Ala., in April, 1863.
Private Jerome B. Dodson, killed at Mossy Creek, East Tennessee, December 27,1863.
Private Edward H. Pointer, killed on Lick Creek, Hickman county, Tenn., after he had surrendered, May 7, 1864.
Wounded.
Private A. C. Terrill, at Fort Donelson, February 3, 1863.
Private W. L. Nicholson, at Sand Mountain, in Streight's raid, May 1, 1863.
Private W. J. Terrill, near Triune, Tenn., in June, 1863.
Private James Boxley, at Mossy Creek, Tenn., December 24, 1863.
First Lieutenant Thomas Banks, at Dalton, Ga., May 9, 1864.
Private W. M. Simmons, at Dalton, Ga., May 9, 1864.
Captured.
Private Randall Gillespie, at Mossy Creek, East Tennessee, December 29, 1863.
Private Tyree Holland, near Calhoun, Ga., May 17, 1864.
Private Robert Rogers, near Calhoun, Ga., May 17, 1864.
Private Thomas E. Caperton, near Calhoun, Ga., May 17, 1864.
Private Morris L. Bond, on picket at Poe's Cross-roads, August 21, 1863.
Private J. A. McGann, near Franklin, Tenn., June, 1863.
Private John Blackburn, near Franklin, Tenn., June, 1863.
Private R. G. Blackburn, near Franklin, Tenn., June, 1863.
Private John Murphey, near Thompson's Station, July, 1864.
Died.
Private Carroll Sparkman, near Parrottsville, East Tennessee, March, 1864. Private Wm. L. Shaw, near Columbia, Tenn., February, 1863.
-
709
REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
Total killed, six; wounded, six; captured, nine; died, two; total casualties, twenty-three.
Private Edward H. Pointer, a young man of intelligence and promise, was murdered by the Federal troops after he had. surrendered. They took his own pistol and shot him. Pointer was on detached service as a scout, and was capt- ured at or near the house of Mr. Bradford, on Lick Creek, in Hickman county, Tenn., on the 7th of May, 1864. The company who murdered him is said to have been commanded at the time by one Captain or Lieut. Creecy.
Martin's company did much valuable special and detached service which there is not space here to recount. Only a few days before the surrender, and about the last of April, 1865, Gen. Forrest selected Capt. Martin, with his company, to perform a delicate and important work connected with the service, and of special interest to Tennesseans. This mission, requiring a week for its execution, was performed in a prompt and satisfactory manner. Though never having in any instance violated the usages of civilized warfare, nor tolerated it in his men, this brave and noble officer was compelled to suffer the pain and mortification of hav- ing his dwelling-house burned and his wife and five little children turned out-of- doors by Federal troops without food, shelter, or clothing, while he was far away in the South with his command, battling for what he believed was the right. This helpless family were denied the privilege of saving from the devouring flames a few articles of necessity, and were relentlessly driven out. Some of the officers, be it said to their credit, protested against this outrage on civilization, and turned away from the sickening sight, saying they would have no lot or part in it. The name of the officer directing this outrage is withheld, but can be easily learned from almost any person living in the vicinity of Thompson's Station, Tenn., near which place the house was burned.
Lieuts. Banks, Chaney, and Critz were good and true officers, and rendered Capt. Martin efficient service in the command of the company. Special commendation is due Lieut. John M. Critz for his faithfulness, bravery, and devotion to duty.
PERKINS'S Co. I.
Capt. Thomas F. Perkins, jr., the commander of this company, was eighteen years old when he entered the service in June, 1861, and had just graduated at the Western Military Institute, at Nashville. He was active in recruiting for an artillery company, of which Richard Green was chosen Captain and himself First Lieutenant. The battery had six guns. Shortly after the organization of the company Capt. Green died, and the command devolved upon Lient. Perkins. It took conspicuous part in the first battle at Fort Donelson, losing eight men killed and fourteen wounded. The men and guns were surrendered, with the other Con- federate troops, at Fort Donelson, but Capt. Perkins, after three days of impris- onment, made his escape. He came back to his home in Williamson county, and lost no time in recruiting and organizing an independent cavalry company of six- ty-five men. On the day after the organization of the company, in July, 1862, armed with eleven shot-guns and about as many pistols all told, this company, under command of Capt. Perkins, at Brentwood attacked a company of Federal cavalry of eighty men-guarding a foraging-train of thirty wagons, loaded with corn and meat taken from the citizens of that neighborhood-killed eight of the enemy, captured the Captain (Garrett) and seventeen of his men. In this action
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MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
Lieut. Kirby and three men of Perkins's company were wounded. Perkins's com- pany burned the wagons and carried off about one hundred and fifty mules. A few days afterward Perkins's company, on the Charlotte pike near Nashville, sur- rounded and captured a Federal picket post, killing two of the Federals and capt- uring seven. ' A. M. Davidson, the pilot, was mortally wounded.
In October, 1862, Perkins's company, in connection with Capt. Hayes Black- burn, burned the bridge across Big Harpeth, below Franklin, Tenn., and on the some day attacked and defeated a large foraging party, guarded by about three hundred infantry, killing and wounding a number of the enemy and capturing one Major, two Captains, one Lieutenant, and fifteen men.
In the latter part of June, 1863, this company attacked about two hundred of the enemy on Col. John Overton's farm, killed two, captured twenty whites and about one hundred and fifty negroes, and about one hundred wagons and teams. On the night of the same day, at Franklin, a detachment of the company, under Capt. Perkins, captured a picket post, including the Captain commanding, a Ser- geant, and a Corporal. .
In trying to get South with a number of the wagons and prisoners which had been taken in the vicinity of Nashville and Franklin, the company was overtaken about the 1st of July at Pulaski, and was forced to abandon the prisoners and wagons, losing seven men captured. It was with difficulty that the company reached the south side of the Tennessee River, being so hard pressed by the ene- my. In all these operations Capt. Perkins was materially assisted in the com- mand by his brave and dashing officers, Lieuts. John Bostick, M. Kirby, and Sol. Rozell.
In December, 1863, while recruiting in Middle Tennessee under orders from Gen. Wheeler, Capt. Perkins was captured; incarcerated for fifteen days in the jail at Franklin; came near being hanged by the Federal authorities on the charge of bush-whacking, being mistaken for another man of the same name; was sent to the penitentiary at Nashville, where he was imprisoned about a week; was car- ried thence to the military prison at Louisville, where he remained four weeks; was ordered to Camp Chase, Ohio, as a prisoner of war; effected his escape at Sey- mour, Ind., and made his way back to Louisville, where he was again captured; was then chained to a thirty-two-pound ball and carried to Camp Chase, where he remained two months; thence he was taken to Fort Delaware; again made his escape through a net-work of guards, and was captured while trying to swim the bay with canteens tied about his body for buoys; was selected, with six hundred other Confederate officers, for retaliatory purposes, and placed in front of Forts Gregg and Wagner, exposed for forty-eight days to the fire of the Confederate guns; again attempted his escape by trying to swim to the shore with the aid of a life-preserver; drifted on an island, where, after five days, he was picked up in a famished condition. In July, 1864, he was sent to Fort Pulaski, at the mouth of the Savannah River. While on the way he again attempted his escape by sawing a hole in the hull of the ship; was detected and taken from the ship and placed in the casemate of the fort, where he remained four weeks. With two hun-
. dred others he was again chosen for retaliatory purposes, carried to Hilton Head, and placed in close confinement; cut a hole with his pocket-knife through the floor of the cell and, with Gen. Fowlk, of North Carolina, made his escape; was captured and taken back; again escaped by putting on a Federal uniform;
711
REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
was again captured; was then placed in a log cell four feet square, kept there about four weeks, and fed through the cracks, without bed-clothing, and with no room to lie down. About this time he, with others, was sent to Fortress Monroe for exchange. Out of the two hundred prisoners originally confined at Hilton Head only about ninety-six were able to be moved, the others being either dead or sick. On reaching Fortress Monroe, instead of being exchanged, he was car- ried on to Fort Delaware, where he remained till the 20th of June, 1865, when he was released from prison, and returned to his old home in Williamson county, Tenn.
Perkins's company, while on detached service, killed, wounded, and captured about five hundred men of the enemy; and lost in killed, wounded, and captured about twenty-five men, a list of whom, except to a very partial extent, has not been furnished the writer.
GORDON'S CO. E.
The following is a partial list of the casualties of this company :
Killed.
Second Lieutenant Henry Collins, at Fort Donelson, February 3, 1863.
Private John T. Dillahay, at Fort Donelson, February 3, 1863.
Private Brant Tillman, at Fort Donelson, February 3, 1863.
Private John Camper, near Moulton, Ala., on Streight's raid, May 1, 1863.
Private Wm. Ballentine, at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.
Wounded.
Private John Rambo, at Fort Donelson, February 3, 1863.
Private Tobe Malone, at Fort Donelson, February 3, 1863.
Private Thomas T. Martin, at Fort Donelson, February 3, 1863.
Private Mirabeau Gordon, at Dandridge, Tenn., January, 1863. Private Claton Stroud, near Dandridge, Tenn., January 29, 1863.
Private James C. Pickens, at Resaca, Ga., May 13, 1863.
Private Wade Terry, at Resaca, Ga., May 13, 1863.
Captain Andrew R. Gordon, at New Hope, Ga., May 31, 1863.
Private C. Buford, at New Hope, Ga., May 31, 1863.
The names of the captured have not been furnished.
This company was a splendid body of men, who fought well and did much spe- cial service, an account of which has not been furnished for this sketch. After Capt. Gordon was wounded the command of the company devolved upon Lieut. James M. Edmondson, who was always true and faithful. Lieuts. Robert Gordon and George Rothrock were also excellent officers-brave and true.
This company is mentioned by Capt. James Rivers in his report as having be- haved with great gallantry on Streight's raid, a number of interesting incidents being detailed by him. This company, in connection with Capt. Rivers's com- pany, did excellent service in holding the bridge across Town Creek against a su- perior force. A number of the enemy were killed and wounded.
RIVERS'S Co. K.
The following is a partial list of the casualties of this company:
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MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
1
Killed.
Private Wm. Gordon, near Cornersville, Tenn., December, 1862.
Orderly Sergeant Wm. MeNairy, near Chattanooga, Tenn., September 23, 1863. Private James Newton Paisley, at Unitia, Tenn., November 1, 1863.
Others were killed, and a number wounded and captured, but their names have not been furnished the writer.
This company did much special service, and always did its whole duty in bat- tle. Gen. Forrest sent Capt. Rivers, in command of his own and Gordon's com- pany, to hold and prevent the crossing of a large Federal force over Old Town Creek; also by a gallant charge this same squadron rescued from the enemy Capt. W. H. Forrest, who was badly wounded on Sand Mountain during the Streight raid.
On the 12th of July, 1863, Gen. Bragg sent Capt. Rivers into Middle Tennessee with important papers. Gen. Forrest selected him as the most suitable man that could be found for the mission, and went with him in person to Gen. Bragg. Middle Tennessee was wholly in possession of the enemy. Capt. Rivers per- formed the prescribed work satisfactorily, and returned within a month, having ridden in all over eight hundred miles to make the round trip.
GARRETT'S Co. B.
There were no better fighting men in the regiment than this company (for- merly Swaim's). Till Capt. Garrett was promoted to the Captaincy and took command it was for the most part commanded by Lieut. J. M. Nevils, than whom there was no truer or better soldier. Capt. Garrett commanded it from February to May, 1865, a period of about three months. Capt. M. M. Swaim was wounded at Fort Donelson, Feb. 3, 1863, and was not with the command a great deal after- ward. There were a number of casualties to the company, but a list of them has not been furnished.
MILLER'S Co. C.
The following is a partial list of the losses of this company:
Killed.
Private Ephraim Sheffield, at Dandridge, Tenn., January, 1864.
Private Alf. Snell, at Guntersville, Ala., February, 1865. Private W. Bruce, at Guntersville, Ala., February, 1865.
Wounded.
Private John Bailey, at Thompson's Station, Tenn., April, 1863. Private A. B. Robinson, near Acworth, Ga., May 28, 1864. Private A. J. Cole, near Acworth, Ga., May 28, 1864.
Captured.
Privates J. Z. B. Hunter, J. C. Williams, Robert Bailey, Jos. Billington, Ed- ward Royster, John Bruce, W. S. Fisher, Wesley Williamson, Enoch Kelley, Dade Smith, Sergt. P. M. W. McConnell, Lient. Wm. W. Braden, Lieut. Frank Rainey, and two others whose names are not remembered, at Middleton, Tenn. . Jan. 31, 1863.
Private Whit. Ransom, on Sand Mountain, on Streight raid, May 1, 1863.
Private John A. Taylor, near Chattanooga, Tenn., August, 1863.
1
713
REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
Privates Joseph Bugg and Frank Williamson, at Mossy Creek, Tenn., Dec 20, 1863.
Privates Thos. Boyd, Rex. Drumright, Wm. King, Elias King, and Thomas Apperson, at Morganton, Tenn., Dec. 29, 1863.
No truer patriot fought under the Stars and Bars than Capt. Miller. He was an old man-some sixty years of age. He had served as Colonel of the Seventeenth Tennessee Infantry the first year of the war. Ordinarily this would have sufficed a man of his age. Not so with Capt. Miller. He felt it to be his duty to fight till the last, and he surrendered his company on the 11th day of May, 1865, when the war was over. No danger was so great or hardship so trying as to daunt this patriot of lion heart, and right faithfully did his company follow him. This com- pany, it may be safely stated, performed services inferior to none in bravery and efficiency.
RUST's Co. L.
No list of casualties has been furnished from this company (formerly Brew- ster's). The loss in killed, wounded, and captured was heavy. The men of this company were brave and faithful. Lieut. Rust was an excellent officer, and al- ways at his post. Too much could not be said in his praise. Lieut. J. B. Wood, a good officer, assisted in the command. The other officers named in the roster were not long with the command.
LYTLE'S Co. D.
The following is a partial list of the casualties to this company:
Killed.
Private James (Buck) Smith, near Dalton, Ga., May, 1864. Private Thos. King (scout), Guntersville, Ala., December, 1863. Private Eldridge Smotherman (scout), Guntersville, Ala.
Wounded.
Private A. J. Baugh, at Adairsville, Ga., May, 1864.
Captured.
Privates Frank Turner, James Smotherman, Alonzo McClain, near Fosterville. Tenn., on the Hood campaign. They were condemned to be shot by the Federal General Vancleave, commanding at Murfreesboro; were taken to the place of execution, when Gen. Rosecrans countermanded the order, and they were re- manded to prison. Smotherman died in prison.
Capt. Lytle was not much with the company, on account of sickness. Capt. Cooney and Lieuts. I. H. Butler and N. P. Marable were brave, faithful, and etti- cient. There were no braver or more patriotic mien in the service than this com- pany. It performed much valuable detached service, and it is regretted that an account of such service has not been furnished. It is remembered that private James (Buck) Smith was killed in battle in front of Dalton, Ga., May 9, 1863, and that its aggregate of losses in killed, wounded, and captured was perhaps as great as any other company in the regiment.
Situated as was the Confederate cavalry-for long periods without a base of sup- plies-keeping it in supplies was an Herculean task, requiring untiring energy, constant watchfulness, and ceaseless labor. It would be improper to close this
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MILITARY ANNALS OF TENNESSEE.
sketch without special mention of Sergt. R. Pitts Brown, of Capt. James Rivers's company, in the ordnance department; Sergt. C. S. Williamson, of Capt. J. T. Martin's company, privates John W. Jordan and Joe Brittain, of Capt. T. C. H. Miller's company, in the quartermaster's department; Sergt. Joseph L. Baugh, of Capt. Lytle's company, and John Clint Johnson, of Capt. Andrew R. Gordon's company, in the commissary department. The regiment was often compelled to subsist for months at a time on the country through which it passed or in which it was encamped. It is difficult to appreciate the magnitude of the labors per- formed by these noble men in providing food for man and beast. Often they were compelled to divide with the citizen the little pittance left him. It was always done, however, without harshness or cruelty, and by their kindness and courtesy they did much to mitigate the hardships which they were compelled to inflict on the people; and they won the esteem and confidence of the citizens wherever it was the fortune of the command to be cast. In the quartermaster's department privates Burke Bond and Coge Alexander, of Capt. Martin's company, from time to time rendered valuable assistance. Private Burke Bond, in the absence of Ad- jutant Garrett, frequently acted as Adjutant of the regiment. He had the capac- ity to fill well any position in the regiment, and was always ready to perform cheerfully any duty assigned him.
HOLMAN'S BATTALION-"PARTISAN RANGERS."
This battalion was raised under commission from J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War of the Confederate States, bearing date June 27, 1862, directed to Maj. D. WV. Holman, who had the twelve months previous served in the Army of Vir- ginia as Major of the First Tennessee Infantry (Col. P. Turney's regiment). The battalion consisted of four companies, to wit:
1. Captain Jacob T. Martin's company, one hundred and forty men. Enlisted in Williamson county, Tenn., in the month of August, 1862.
2. Captain Moses M. Swaim's company, one hundred men. Enlisted in Mar- shall county, Tenn., in the month of August, 1862.
3. Captain Andrew P .. Gordon's company, one hundred and sixty men. En- listed in Giles county, Tenn., in the month of September, 1862.
4. Captain James Rivers's company, one hundred men. Enlisted in Giles county, Tenn., in the months of September and October, 1862.
About the middle of October, 1862, the battalion was organized, went into camp, and for about one month was subjected to drill and military discipline preparatory to active field duty. While thus engaged details were called for to assist in en- forcing the conscript law and arresting deserters from the army. In arresting one Wm. Meadows, a deserter, private Wm. Gordon, of Capt. Rivers's company, was killed near Cornersville, Tenn. Meadows shot him from a crack in his house, for which he was tried by court-martial at Murfreesboro a few days afterward and shot. A few days before the killing of Gordon, Meadows had shot and severely wounded private - Malone, of Capt. Gordon's company.
About the 1st of December, 1862, Maj. Holman, with his battalion, reported for duty to Maj .- gen. Joseph Wheeler, in compliance with orders received by him from Maj .- gen. John C. Breckinridge commanding at Murfreesboro. Gen. Wheel- er, with his command, was encamped in the vicinity of La Vergne. The battalion
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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
was on duty near La Vergne for two or three weeks, and participated in several skirmishes between La Vergne and Nashville.
About the middle of December Gen. Wheeler ordered Maj. Holman, with his battalion, to make a reconnoissance to the enemy's left. This could not be suc- cessfully done except at night and by traveling through woods and unfrequented routes. Procuring a guide familiar with the country, the command moved with rapidity till within a few miles of the Federal camps at MeWhirtersville; then, by crossing Stone's River where there was no regular ford, and moving as noise- lessly as possible, about two o'clock in the morning the command passed between a large body of Federal infantry and cavalry and their pickets, without being sus- pected or giving alarm. Passing near the Federal camps while the Federal sol- diers were soundly asleep, information as to their strength, position, etc., was ob- tained. Daylight being near, it was impossible for the battalion to escape capt- ure except by recrossing the river at a ford guarded by Federal pickets. No time was to be lost, and the battalion moved promptly in the direction of the pick- ets. When within a few steps of them they ordered the command to halt. They were evidently puzzled to know the meaning of the movement, or whether friends or foes approached, till ordered to surrender. They declined to surrender, but opened fire. Martin's company, which was in front, responded with a well-di- rected fire from their double-barrel shot-guns. Some of the pickets made their escape through the thick underbrush, bat the most of them, with their horses, were killed or wounded. One of the Federal soldiers fell mortally wounded in the little fire by which he was warming. The Confederates took him out of the fire and laid him near his dead and dying comrades. Gathering up the improved arms left scattered around, and such horses as were not killed or badly wounded, the battalion recrossed Stone's River, and moved briskly in the direction of its camps till out of reach of the enemy, who had been thoroughly aroused by the firing, as indicated by the sound of drums and bugles.
On the 22d of December Gen. Wheeler ordered Maj. Holman to the extreme Federal right, at and beyond Franklin, to find out as much as possible as to the Federal strength and movements. While on this scout, and on the 25th of De- cember, the battalion encountered a large foraging party within about eight or ten miles of Nashville on the Nolensville pike. Ten Federals were killed, and eleven prisoners, five wagons, and a number of mules captured. The casualties to the battalion were only slight. The battalion returned to Murfreesboro on the night of the 29th of December, reaching there just in time to make the raid with the remainder of the cavalry under Wheeler in the rear of Rosecrans's army. Tak- ing the Lebanon turnpike, the rear of Rosecrans's army was reached before day- light. Shortly after sunup the Federals at Jefferson, about two thousand strong, were encountered. They fought stubbornly for about an hour, but were compelled to yield. Here many prisoners, wagons, mules, etc., were captured. La Vergne was soon reached, where the enemy was in some force. The Nashville and Mur- freesboro turnpike was full of wagons for several miles carrying supplies to the Federal army, which had passed on toward Murfreesboro. The heavy escorts guarding the train at first contested the capture of the wagons, but they were soon beaten and many of them taken prisoners. The wagons and contents were burned. The mules drawing them were taken loose and brought away for the use
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