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 47
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We learned that Woolford was at Sweet Water with his cavalry, with no near- er support of infantry than Loudon; so on October 19 we crossed Hiawassee River late in the day, and marched all night to attack him. He had gone to Philadel- phia, some miles nearer Loudon, and we followed on, and when we came in range Huggins's battery opened fire and the cavalry charged upon him. Woolford en- deavored to escape with his men, but our command captured between five hun- dred and a thousand prisoners, a battery, and a large number of ambulances, wagons, horses, mules, and the entire camp as it stood, with tents up, fires bura- ing, and rations cooking. We then went into camp at the MeGee farm, on the Tennessee River, and remained several days. Here Gen. Wheeler joined us, under whom we moved on the enemy again, as he was camped near Maryville. We marched at night, and reached Maryville at daylight, immediately attacking the Federals and capturing more than two hundred men, besides horses, etc., and forcing them back to Knoxville, fighting all the way. We crossed the Holston River below the city, and aided in the siege with Gen. Longstreet, doing consider- able shelling, but with what effect I could not say.
December 1st Gen. Armstrong's division was ordered out on the road toward Cumberland Gap, where we met some Federals near Maynardsville, and had a light engagement. On the following morning we found the enemy gone, but pur- sued and came up with him, Dibrell's cavalry charging pell-mell down a narrow defile covered with ice. Near the foot of the mountain we had a lively encoun- ter, and finally drove the Federals across the Chucky River. Dick Allison was killed here. He was a noble fellow who had slipped through the enemy's lines at Nashville and joined Dibrell's brigade. The weather was now very cold, and the roads were frozen and rough. Word came that the siege of Knoxville had been raised. Having buried Dick Allison (a brave and true man) in Grassy Val- ley, we moved higher up in East Tennessee, and from time to time had various rencounters with parties of Federals at Bean's Station, Mossy Creek, Panther Springs, Dandridge, etc. We continued this character of conflict in January, 1864, along the French Broad, Chucky, and Pigeon rivers, at Fair Gardens, about Newport, etc., having a very active campaign in one of the coldest winters, with scanty clothing, but with few complaints.
In March our command left East Tennessee by way of Asheville, N. C., through the sublime mountain scenery of the "Old North State." Nature here presented a succession of views of the wildest, most wonderful beauty and grandeur. It made us feel as if we had suddenly awoke from sleep and found ourselves amidst the Alpine glory of Switzerland.
Lieut. Douglass having resigned on this trip, Sergt. Andrew B. Martin was elected to fill his place. This officer first served the Confederate cause in the Ser- enth Tennessee Infantry as Third Lieutenant; then he was Assistant Adjutant- general on Gen. Hatton's staff; was then transferred from Virginia to Tennessee, where he enlisted as a private in our battery some weeks before the battle of Murfreesboro; afterward continued with us in our various experiences until the Army of Tennessee was in front of Atlanta on its retreat through Georgia, where, without solicitation on his part, he was assigned to duty as Assistant Adjutant- general on Gen. Dibrell's staff. He never missed a fight in which the battery was engaged while he was with it. In the spring of 1865 he was transferred to Gen. Joseph Wheeler's staff, and was surrendered and paroled at Charlotte, N. C.
4. Jas
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Our battery passed from Asheville to Greenville, S. C .; then to Marietta, Ga., and joined the main army around Dalton. After a little rest we began active op- erations at the front north of Dalton, fighting first with MeCook's division near Varnell's Station, and capturing Gen. Lagrange and between two and three hun- dred men. Some days later Gens. Wheeler and Hindman attacked a force of the enemy, but failed to move them until Dibrell's brigade and Hnggins's battery were ordered on the flank, when the Federals fell back from the field. On the retreat of Gen. Johnston the battery was engaged in fighting with cavalry part of the time at Dalton and Calhoun, and at Resaca we had a severe engagement. On the night of the evacuation of Resaca Capt. Huggins was placed in command - of the artillery to cover the retreat, his force consisting of his own company and some infantry artillery. Lient. Baxter commanded our battery. It was a dole- ful, weird time, late in the night, every man at his post expectant, the guns ready for action, not a word spoken above a whisper-now and then a picket-shot, once in awhile the roar of musketry from a whole line at an imaginary foe. Finally the infantry were safely over the Oostanawla River, or so nearly so that it was safe for us to move, which we did quietly, like specters, through the gloom.
All along the line of retreat through Georgia the battery was more or less en- gaged, as at Calhoun, Carlinsville, New Hope Church, Dallas, near the Kennesar Mountain, Marietta, in crossing the Chattahoocheer, and at Roswell Factory.
As an incident of the war I will mention that in a fight with the Fourth United States Regulars James A. Neeld, of Fayetteville, Tenn., one of our best men, was killed by a saber-thrust. This occurred at Rome, Ga. Probably the largest number of deaths from saber wounds during the war were of men belonging to our battery.
Summer-time came, and Gen. Hood superseded Gen. Johnston. We were in an engagement at Dallas, and went thence to Stone Mountain, having a kard fight, and Dibrell's and Huggins's commands receiving praise for gallantry and daring. Lieuts. Baxter and Crudup handled their sections splendidly. Gen. Kelly, who was commanding our division, notified us that a large force was marching to our rear, and we were ordered to fall back to Conyers. While here Gen. Stoneman made a circuit around us and moved toward Macon, and we wished, but were not allowed, to pursue him. Capt. Huggins remained, in command of batteries, while Lient. Baxter, in charge of our battery, accompanied Gen. Williams, who was sent after Stoneman and captured him. The battery did effective service in the battle when Gen. Stoneman was captured. Baxter was wounded through his right shoulder.
We accompanied Gen. Wheeler on his raid into Middle Tennessee in August, 1864, having a heavy fight on the way at Dalton, Ga., in which we drove the en- emy into their fortifications, and would probably have captured the command, but as we learned that reinforcements were on the way to relieve the Federals, Gen. Dibrell withdrew, under orders, after losing several men. We proceeded toward Tunnel Hill, skirmishing with a large force until our wagon-train could get out of the way of danger. It is laughable to recall how the wagoners hurried and crowded forward to prevent their being left behind and captured, supposing the enemy in our rear. They whipped up their teams as if for dear life, and [ am not sure that some wagons and teams were not abandoned. We crossed the Hiawassee River above Charleston, Tenn., and continued our march by Maryville
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to Strawberry Plains, and met a force of Federals, which we drove to Knoxville. Then we marched across the mountains by Post Oak Springs to Sparta, in Middle Tennessee, moving on and capturing block-houses at Smyrna and other places, reaching the vicinity of Nashville, and passed out of this portion of the State by way of Franklin, Spring Hill, etc. Gen. Riley was wounded and left at a farm- house, where he afterward died. We crossed the Tennessee River, and pushed forward to meet Gen. Sherman's advance in Georgia. We could not check his advance, but did prevent damage to some extent by activity on his flanks. We did some fighting near Macon, in Middle Georgia, and near Griswold we had a vigorous combat with Kilpatrick. Gen. Wheeler followed him up, and came to an engagement at daylight. Dibrell's brigade charged the enemy, driving him to some temporary works, and changing position to the left, charged again and routed the foe. We overtook the Federals again at a church called Buckhead, and drove them before us, but they tore up the bridge over Buckhead Creek to gain time. Gen. Wheeler, however, used the benches of the church to fit up the bridge, so that we crossed without much loss of time. Dibrell's brigade and Hug- gins's battery were ordered to get in the rear of the enemy, and we struck their picket line and drove it on the main body protected by piles of rails, with a large field in their front. They used their artillery and small arms on us with spirit, but our reinforcements came up on their left and forced them back, while we fol- lowed until it was too dark to accomplish any thing, especially as we had been fighting all day, and were tired.
Some days after this we had an engagement with the Federal cavalry at Waynes- boro, in which Gen. Dibrell's old regiment, the Eighth Tennessee Cavalry, was in advance, and it held the foe in check until, supported by infantry, they charged and drove us to the north side of town, where the Eighth and our battery poured ball and shell into them and compelled then to fall back, until Col. MeLemore's command could remount their horses-as they had been fighting on foot. Then we quietly withdrew without being pursued.
Huggins's battery now took the cars preparatory to getting into Savannah for its defense against Sherman. On the way we were impressed with the fact that prisoners of war fare badly in the hands of men who know nothing of true sol- dierly qualities. Militia and the "bomb-proof" sort had offered indignities to some Federal prisoners who were being moved to keep out of Sherman's way, at Thomasville. When we came we made them presents of tobacco and other things, and they seemed delighted to see soldiers from the front.
Capt. Huggins reported to Gen. Hardee in Savannah, and was placed on Gen. Jackson's staff as Chief of Artillery. Lieut. Baxter took command of the battery, which he handled like an old regular, keeping the enemy driven back from his immediate front. Capt. Huggins's command embraced about four miles of de- fenses. Gleaves Me Whirter and Eli Holmes acted as couriers, and they were two as fearless boys as ever lived, carrying orders through all manner of dangerous places without hesitation. Capt. Huggins devoted his time to the defenses, strengthening them and putting batteries in position at threatened points. But Savannah became untenable, and, perfecting arrangements so as to send away what guns we could manage, the Savannah River was crossed on a pontoon bridge, Huggins remaining to the last minute to spike all pieces that we had to leave. This done, he followed the forces into South Carolina, and the army proceeded
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REGIMENTAL HISTORIES AND MEMORIAL ROLLS.
up the river, stopping occasionally to throw up earth-works in expectation of gun- boats-but none came. In this latter work the cavalry aided with the pick and shovel, and did it well, although it was unusual duty for them.
We proceeded to Augusta, Ga., and camped. In a short while the remnants of Hood's army arrived, and soon all the forces moved toward North Carolina, by way of Columbia and other places in South Carolina, and were with Gen. John- ston in the last operations of the Confederates in the spring of 1865. They sur- rendered to the Federals at Greensboro, N. C .; and, turning our guns over to the ord- nance department, we drew what rations we could conveniently carry, and started for our western homes. We avoided every place on our way where there was a Federal command, except Asheville, N. C., which point we could not get around. The reason of our avoidance of Federal commands was that we understood they would deprive ns of our horses; but at Asheville, by Lieut. Baxter, Dr. Crompton, and Capt. Huggins making intercession, we were allowed to pass un- molested. We passed around all places considered dangerous in this respect as we proceeded, leaving Knoxville to our right, crossing the river below that city, passing through Sequatchie Valley, over the mountains, avoiding MeMinnville, and coming down the Cumberland Plateau by Hickory Cove. There the com- mand divided, one part going to Lincoln county, another moving toward Nash- ville, and others seeking their various homes. Twelve miles from Nashville our party reached the residence of Capt. Huggins's sister, where we rested awhile, had refreshments for men and horses, and then bid each other a soldier's last fare- well.
Since that eventful period the men of that command have conducted them- selves like the Confederate soldiers generally, with the propriety becoming citi- zens of the country, and as a rule they have been prosperous in business.
In closing this sketch it is to be regretted that every man deserving special mention, such as Sergeants Jim Mccullough and R. A. Allison, brave and grand soldiers as they were, cannot be entered upon the record by name. Many of them suffered the supreme result of a soldier's dangerous life, and lie in unmarked graves; while others, after twenty years have come and gone, are in positions of trust, honor, and usefulness, among the most valued members of society.
JACKSON'S BATTERY-CARNES'S BATTERY-MAR- SHALL'S BATTERY.
BY L. G. MARSHALL, CYNTHIANA, KY.
JACKSON'S BATTERY.
A SINGLE field battery bore during the war the names of its three commanders in succession as above given. For two months or more at the beginning of its career it was even a heavy battery, organized in May, 1861, and manned by the thronging volunteers from various parts of the State of Tennessee; and at the in- stance of Gen. Pillow it was stationed at Randolph, thirty-three miles above Mem- phis, on the east bank of the Mississippi, and equipped with siege-pieces to com-
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mand the stream at that point. Here, under the skilled instruction of Col. (aft- erward Lieutenant-general) A. P'. Stewart, the men became expert in handling - heavy guns and in the company drill. Its first conmander was Lieut. Robert Sterling, of Jackson, Tenn., appointed by Col. (afterward General) John P. Mc- Cown, commandant of the post. Lieut. Sterling was succeeded in the commani by Lieut. (afterward Captain) John W. F. Stewart, of Memphis, a brother of Gen. Stewart. Neither Sterling nor Stewart held the command more than a few weeks, the latter being succeeded about August 10, 1861, by Capt. (afterward Gen- eral) W. H. Jackson; and on the 12th of August, by order of Gen. Pillow, the company, then named Jackson's Battery, was moved up the river to New Madrid, Mo., transformed into a liglit battery, and equipped accordingly. It had a full con- plement of horses and harness, four six-pounders, one twelve-pounder howitzer, and one nine-pounder James's rifled cannon. The heavy pieces at Randolph were soon removed to Fort Pillow, fifteen miles above, and formed part of the arma- ment of that place.
At New Madrid the drill of field artillery was begun at once under the prac- ticed and exacting eye of Capt. Jackson, who even at West Point was distinguished for his military bearing and soldierly qualities. The progress of the men in man- ual dexterity and in the management of horses was rapid. The battery was pres- ently nimble and active as possible, and though something seemingly huge to the unmilitary observer it could act on the field easily, gracefully, and effectively. The men, it is true, were already acquainted with the somewhat analogous drill of the heavy battery, but their quick success was mostly due to the qualities of their Captain, and to the valuable aid rendered by Lieut. (afterward Captain) W. W. Carnes, a native of Memphis, who was assigned to duty in the battery a day or two after its arrival at New Madrid, and who had just left the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., one month before his intended graduation. The high order of discipline here inaugurated under Capt. Jackson's administra- tion was maintained in this command to the end of the war, for the battery was always on the line when there was a line. It participated in all the general ac- tions of the Army of Tennessee, and in hundreds of skirmishes, till captured by assault near Salisbury, N. C., on the 10th day of April, 1865. It never lost its identity, though through the casualties of war all its guns were twice changed, all its horses lost, and every man who belonged to the company at Randolph in 1931 had disappeared except two, when the battery finally succumbed. The personnel of the battery and the matériel might change -- indeed, did change more than once almost totally, but never so suddenly nor so extensively as not to leave traditions of a character to control the new-comers, both men and officers. From first to last between three hundred and four hundred men were enrolled in the company, but as tlre battery never rested for the sake of rest, nor was held in reserve, dis- ease, death, and desertion demanded fifty or sixty victims annually.
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While at Randolph about eighty men belonged to the battery, of whom per- haps twenty were from Marion, Grundy, and Franklin counties, and the rest from Memphis and its vicinity. Of the officers Capt. Jackson, though a native of Jackson, Tenn., had just returned from service with the First Mounted Rifles in New Mexico, having resigned his position in the United States army to support the South in the impending civil war; Lieut. (afterward Captain) Robert Sterling was a rail- road engineer of Jackson, Tenn .; Lieut. John W. F. Stewart was a classical teacher
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of Memphis; Lieut. Wm. O. Moses was from Lebanon, Tenn. Of the non-commis- sioned officers Orderly Sergeant Day was from St. Louis; Sergeants James Bailey, William Gilliam, and John Thompson were from the vicinity of Tracy City, and had been merchants and miners; Sergeant Roe (who afterward became an ethi- cient Captain of seouts) was from Lebanon; Sergeant-major L. G. Marshall was from Memphis, where for two years he had been a political writer on the Mem- phis Daily Enquirer, and still before Professor of Ancient Languages in the Masonic College of Clarksville, Tenn. A full supply of Corporals, whose names the writ- er regrets he cannot recall, completed the staff of non-commissioned officers. All these officers, except Capt. Jackson, unless we are mistaken, held their appoint- ments from Gen. MeCown, subject to proper confirmation.
During the occupancy of Randolph, Dr. William H. Russell, the noted war correspondent of the London Times, called, in company with Gen. Pillow; and while some artillery practice with the great barbette guns was exhibited for his entertainment, one of them recoiled so violently against the chocks as actually to rise from the trunnion-beds, and, revolving on its base to the rear, dismount itself and fall to the ground. The battery men found that they were not yet above mis- takes.
On or soon after the arrival at New Madrid twenty or thirty more men were added to the battery. Finis E. White, of Paris, Ten., was transferred from the Fifth Tennessee Regiment (Col. Travis) and appointed Orderly Sergeant, and re- mained a valuable and efficient officer for years. Sergeant Day was assigned to duty in the quartermaster department. Lieuts. Stewart and Moses were assigned to important duty elsewhere, Stewart being promoted to Captain of ordnance, which position he held till his death, in 1864. First Lieutenant W. W. Carnes, as before stated, was assigned to the battery while here; so also Second Lieuten- ant (formerly Doctor) Jones; and Sergeant-major L. G. Marshall was promoted to First Lieutenant of artillery. Thus the commissioned officers in August, 1861, were: Captain, W. H. Jackson; First Lientenant, Robert Sterling; First Lieuten- ant, W. W. Carnes; First Lientenant, L. G. Marshall; and Second Lieutenant, - Jones. During the following month four more Lieutenants were added- namely, Lewis Bond (afterward Captain of ordnance), of Brownsville; James M. Cockrill, of Nashville; R. E. Foote, of Nashville; - Brown (a son of Hon. Milton Brown), of Jackson, Tenn. Men and officers were enthusiastic, and de- termined to acquit themselves as well-drilled soldiers and devoted patriots. New men continued to be enrolled nearly every day, and when, on the 5th of Septem- ber, the battery was ordered to embark for Columbus, Ky., the command num- bered probably not less than a hundred and thirty men. A landing was made at Hickman, Ky., fifteen miles below Columbus, and early next morning two Federal gun-boats hove in sight above, and seemed inclined to pass or attack the camp. The guns were placed in battery on the bluff, and a lively bombardment began on both sides. The distance, however, was too great, and the boats refused to ap- proach nearer, as the James's rifled gun, directed by Lieut. Sterling, cast its shot unpleasantly close; so nothing more was accomplished than to give the men their first view of an actual, resisting, armed enemy. The generous citizens of Hick- man warmly complimented the battery men, and said they had repulsed the ene- my gallantly and splendidly. The Confederate gun-boat "Jackson " steamed out, bearing its part in the fight, and at night moored under the bluff on which was
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established the James's rifle, which was considered an honor to the prowess of that piece, for the river was infested with hostile craft of larger size. Next day the battery began its march to Columbus over rough country roads, and arrived at its destination on the 7th of September. The people along the route were hopeful, buoyant, exultant. They believed we were equal to any thing. They wished to aid us, and esteemed it a privilege and an honor to walk along with us and sup- ply us with the choicest food they possessed, with the most delicious fruits, and all without requiring us to take the trouble of entering their houses or to lose time by pausing in the march, for it was thought the enemy was also hastening to oc- cupy Columbus. It reminded one of the Roman Consul Nero, who made the des- perate march of two hundred and fifty miles in six days, from the south of Italy to the river Metaurus in the north, to attack Hasdrubal before he could make a junction with his brother Hannibal, when the people stood by the road-side on the ronte, fed and watered the troops without stopping, carried their baggage and arms, and loaned them all kinds of conveyance. The patriotism of those Roman people bore fruit in success, but some of our old battery men who made the flow- ery march from Hickman to Columbus lived to see the day when on the march they had to take food for both men and horses by force of arms, though not within the limits of the State of Tennessee, so far as we are informed.
Having arrived at Columbus, the battery-now becoming well known as Jack- son's-was encamped in the fair-grounds on the high bluff north of the city. Here drill by piece and battery continued as more new men were received. Nine Lieutenants of artillery-five more than could have separate positions in the com- mand-now belonged to the battery; but all except Carnes,* Marshall, Bond, and Cockrill were before long put into other responsible situations. The high stand- ard of discipline maintained and the energetic military instructions given in Jack- son's Battery rendered it a very desirable school for young officers, especially as time was short and a crisis at hand.
Exactly two months after the occupation of Columbus-that is, on November 7 -at 9 o'clock in the morning, the battery, having received orders the previous night, was drawn in column ready to march at a moment's notice, and the drivers mounted, all expecting to start for Bowling Green with a large portion of the army, when artillery firing on the river announced the beginning of the action now known as the battle of Belmont. The march for Bowling Green was post- poned, and the battery soon received orders to move down to the landing at the river's edge in Columbus, and cross over in an immense steamer lying there for that purpose. The boat was soon loaded with infantry and artillery under the orders of Gen. Polk (Gen. Johnston had already gone to Bowling Green), and swung to the other shore, the battle by this time raging heavily, for other troops had gone over by other means, especially Cheatham's and Pillow's commands. But the great transport, bearing fifteen hundred infantry and two field batteries- Polk's and Jackson's-was unable to make good her landing. The heavy gang- plank was thrown to the shore; but the boat, dropping with the current, precipi- tated the bridge into the river before any thing more than a few officers with their horses had stepped across. The boat therefore put back to the Columbus side to procure another gang-plank, the shot of the enemy meantime peppering the upper
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