August 23, 1860
It was in February of 1861 when Cannon County voted 828 for and 1038 against separating from the U.S. government. By that very June the vote hand changed to 1149 for and 127 against. Seven infantry companies were raised under the commands of Captains Richmond Rushing, H.J. St. John, Gran Wood, Timothy Allison, M.M. Brien, Jr., James H. Wood, and John C. New. Two cavalry companies were formed under Captains H.A. Wiley and J.W. Nichols. That fall a regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Infantry was organized at Camp Smartt near McMinnville, with Colonel Benjamin Hill commanding. Cannon County would eventually furnish over 1,000 soldiers to the Confederacy. April 19, 1861 a large and enthusiastic meeting was held at Woodbury with Dr. James Gower presiding and Thomas W. Wood as Secretary. A committee consisting of M.M. Brien, Jr.; W. G. Carmichael, James H. Wood, Soloman Spicer, H.J. St. John and John S. Barton had reported a series of resolutions which were unanimously adopted. They endorsed the refusal of Gov. Harris to furnish troops for Lincoln; declared against coercion, and recommended the organization of military companies throughout the State, called for the assembling of the Legislature, and expressed the opinion that the independence of the Southern Confederacy should be recognized. Although no battles were fought in the county, skirmishes and reconnaissance movements took place. It was after the Battle of Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862 through January 2, 1863 and then Bragg's retreat to Tullahoma, that the roads through Cannon and DeKalb counties became vital to the safety of the Confederate Army. On January 1, 1863 recruiting officer, Captain Frank May, was looking for more men for the cavalry service. He had been authorized by Col. Chensuff, of Morgan's Brigade. Morgan's Cavalry Brigade had been given the responsibility of protecting the Confederate right flank from the Coffee County line to the Wayne County, KY line. It was a distance of over 100 miles. Morgan concentrated his forces in Kentucky and at two points south of the Cumberland River, one at Liberty and one at Woodbury, while he made his headquarters in McMinnville. Several skirmishes were fought along the routes in the winter and spring of 1863. In January, the Federals made two reconnaissances to Auburn, on the 21st and 22nd and on the 25th. On February 3rd through the 5th, they sent out an expedition from Murfreesboro to Auburn. On February 19th, an intense skirmish was fought on the road between Auburn and a small hill west of Milton. Morgan's forces at Liberty numbered about 600. Scouts reported the Federals, numbering 2000 to 4000 and one section of artillery, were advancing on Liberty. Morgan's cavalry, under Colonel Breckinridge, met them on Auburn Road. The Federals withdrew to Auburn in the night, and Morgan, who had dashed from McMinnville, planned to attack them there the next day. Going through Auburn, he met wounded men and horses passing to the rear, and women and children in the streets cheered him on. he faced the fleeing Federals directly on the Rutherford-Cannon County line, one mile east of Milton. There, they fought fiercely, but the Federal's withdrew again to Vaught's Hill, one mile west of Milton, and hid themselves and their artillery behind rocks in a cedar glade. Morgan reported he was about to capture the Federal force when he ran out of ammunition and had to withdraw. His losses were heavy, several officers and many men. Morgan himself had a close call. His clothing was ripped from balls. Basil Duke, in Morgan's Cavalry, cites what he calls an example of heroic but useless courage that so often characterized Morgan's officers. At one point, the Union fire was so intense that Lieutenant Colonel Martin's regiment fell back. But Colonel Martin stood his ground until he was left alone on the field, with the Federals effectively hidden in the cedar glade and behind the rocks and firing away. At a slow walk, he "rode to the pike, and with his hat off rode slowly out of the fire. He was splendidly mounted, wore in his hat a large dark plume, with himself a large and striking figure, and I have often thought that it was the handsomest picture of cool and desperate courage I saw in the war." Four skirmishes were fought at Readyville. One on June 7, 1862; October 5, 1863, October 6, 1863 and September 6, 1864. In one of these fights the Union forces were said to have been positioned on Peake's Hill, while the Confederates, under Captain Nichols, occupied Talley Hill, immediately behind Charles Ready's mill. A mile of open ground laid between them, which served as a battle ground. After the Battle of Murfreesboro (or Stone's River), a Confederate brigade under the command of Colonel Hazen retreated to Readyville and made it's headquarters at "The Corners," the home of Charles Ready. Four skirmishes were fought at Bradyville. February 16, 1863, March 1, 1863, March 25, 1863 and June 4, 1863 when the Federals sent a reconnaissance force from Murfreesboro. After the Battle of Murfreesboro, skirmishes were fought at or near Woodbury on January 19, 1863; January 24, 1863, March 1, 1863, April 4, 1863, May 24, 1863, March 25, 1863 and September 10, 1863. An expeditionary force was sent from Murfreesboro on March 3rd through the 8th and one from Readyville on April 2, 1863. On Saturday, July 12, 1862, a patrolling party of General Crittenden's Union forces at Murfreesboro entered Woodbury. Many of the male citizens were arrested on the charge of giving aid and comfort to the Rebels. Crittenden's ire had been aroused by the killing of five Union men near Lascassas, 20 miles away from Woodbury. For this, he is said to have threatened to hang 100 Rebels for every Union man killed. The Woodbury men were taken to Murfreesboro and jailed. Five prisoners held there were scheduled to be hanged at sunrise on Sunday morning. That very night Forrest entered Woodbury and was met by the women of the town, who assailed him with the cries for help. Forrest promised them he would rescue their men. Despair turned to hope, and the women brought out the dishes they had prepared for their families' Sunday dinners and fed Forrest and his men. Forrest rested for an hour, tradition says, at Hill Top, the home of James Wood. At one o'clock he left for Murfreesboro. By another circumstance on that day, John Hunt Morgan had captured a Union-held town in Kentucky. His jokester telegrapher Elsworth sent out a message on the captive telegraph wire for Union ears to hear that Forrest had just captured Murfreesboro. Forrest was a day late, but he was on his way. He arrived at Murfreesboro at 4:30 on Sunday morning, on his 41st birthday. It was half an hour before reveille, and only the cooks were astir, preparing to get breakfast. To them, Forrest's approaching cavalry on the macadamized turnpike sounded like thunder. He struck before they were out of their beds. He stormed the jail, which a fleeing guard set on fire, but his men tore open the doors with axe and crowbars before the flames could engulf the prisoners. Among them were the five men to be hanged at sunrise. At noon, Forrest sent Crittenden a terse note. "I must demand an unconditional surrender of your force," he said, "or I will have every man put to the sword. This demand is made to prevent the effusion of blood." By six o'clock, the battle was over. The Union force surrendered, including General Crittenden and nearly 1,200 men. Over $1,000,000 worth of supplies were captured or destroyed. In Nashville, General Buell ordered out a force under General Nelson to retake Murfreesboro and then McMinnville. Forrest promptly went behind Nelson and tore up railroad tracks and destroyed bridges. Military Governor Andrew Johnson thought Forrest intended to take Nashville. Basil Duke describes the biggest military action at Woodbury during the war. It occurred on January 24, 1863, between Morgan's Second Kentucky Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant Hutchinson, and a detachment of Federals sent out from Murfreesboro. The regiment was much depleted, down to less than 400 men, and was ill equipped. The Federals numbered 3000. Hutchinson held the top of a low hill on the approach to Woodbury, protected by a rock fence. He had no guns with which to answer the Federal artillery, but he held his fire until the Union forces came within range. The fight lasted an hour, during which time the Federals took the fence, but lost it to Hutchinson's forces. Colonel Hutchinson held a company of his men behind the lines to show themselves marching to impress the enemy with apparent numbers, but finally he had to give way. During the retreat, Hutchinson made a chivalric gesture, that practice of Southern officers of exposing themselves to enemy fire to encourage their men. At the conclusion of the retreat, he was "laughing gleefully" at his successful withdraw when "a ball struck him in the temple and he fell dead from his horse. His officers threw his body upon his horse and carried it off under hot fire."' Hutchinson was 24 years old. A memorial stone stands near the spot where he fell, on the south side of U.S. Highway 70S. His body was buried in the graveyard behind the Brevard house in Edgefield, but it was later moved to his home in Springfield. Not all Cannon County soldiers were in the Confederate Army. In July of 1862, Military Governor Andrew Johnson ordered Colonel William B. Stokes of DeKalb County to organize a regiment called the Fifth Tennessee Cavalry. No exact number has been found of the men from Cannon County that were in this cavalry but in 1890 there were 137 widows that were drawing pensions for services with the Union armies, nearly all of them with the Fifth Tennessee Cavalry. After the decline and almost complete disintegration of Stoke's Fifth Tennesee Cavalry, a new regiment was formed out of some of its fragments. Its base, too, was Liberty. On September 1, 1864, when the war had only six more months to run, Joe Blackburn, one of Stoke's captains and a native of Liberty, formed the Forth Regiment of Mounted Infantry. William Hathaway, another of Stoke's officers and also a native of Liberty, was one of its most prominent captains. On November 26th Blackburn was appointed Lieutenant Colonel. He was just 22 years old. This regiment was used mainly to fight Confederate guerillas in the counties of the upper Cumberland Valley. At the end of the war, Blackburn and a band of his men captured Camp Ferguson, the fiercest and most feared bushwacker of them all, who claimed to be on the Confederate side. Goodspeed says that even Rebel sympathizers were relieved by his capture. February 10, 1863 an expedition under command of Major-General J.J. Reynolds, left Murfreesboro, on the morning of Tuesday, Febuary _, which was designed to accomplish a number of objects, and was, in the main, very successful. The first day's march brought them to Auburn, where they bivouacked overnight, and captured a number of prisoners. It was there that they learned that their progres would be contested at the point where the road they were struck on was Lebanon Pike, but as usual the 'Rebs' thought it advisable to pick up and skedaddle. When the column struck the pike it filed left while the Cavalry, under Lieut. Col. Murray, pushed to the right, on to Liberty, where a slight skirmish was had with Morgan's cavalry, resulting in the precipitate flight of the enemy. Here a few more prisoners were brought in. I have not time to give all the incidents of the expedition. We marched through Alexandria, and about four miles on the Lebanon Road, went into camp, and it is here where an occurence took place which has caused me to indite this letter. Just as the men were building fires and looking out for straw, which was convenient, eleven rebels pounced on three of the boys of the 101st Indiana, and double quicking them for two or three hundred yards, placed them on their horses and made tracks for Alexandria. This was a bold affair, picking up three of our men right in our camp. Col. Hall, commanding the Brigade to which these men belonged, sent word to General Reynolds, informing him of what had happened. The General had no cavalry at his command - they having been sent to the front, and on several scouting expeditions. He requested Lieut. Edward H. Green, who was commanding his escort, to report immediately to Col. Hall. The Lieut. mustered seven or eight of his men, and on reporting to the Col., was appraised of what had occurred. The Col. told Lieut. Green, if he could bring them back, and the response was "I will try it. Col." "Apply your spurs, boys, and follow me," and away the brave Kentuckians dashed. The rebels had three-quarters of an hour the start, and we knew the guerrillas to be all around us, we felt exceedingly uneasy about the fate of the Lieut. and squad. In fact we did not expect to see them again. On they dashed through the mud at full speed, and so long and hard was the chase that all the horses gave out except the Lieutenant's and one other - still he pressed on determined to recapture our boys, or have worse. He pursued them eleven miles, and coming within range of them, fired his revolver, and the rebels taking him and his partner to be the advance of a host of Yankee cavalry, shelled out the prisoners - making them dismount, exclaiming, the Yankees are right on our heels. The Lieutenant pushed on some little distance further, and captured three guerillas. You are unable to imagine the huzzas that were made for Lieut. Green and squad, when they returned with our three boys and three "Rebs." I was standing by when Lieut. Green came up to Col. Hall, and never shall forget the excited condition of the Col., when the Lieut. remarked: "Colonel, I have executed your order, I have your men with me, together with three butternuts." The Colonel took him by the hand and thanked him undoubtedly from the bottom of his heart, observing "Lieutenant is is the most daring and brilliant achievement of the war, and I will see to your promotion." I understand that General Reynolds fully appreciates the act, and has said that Green would "lose nothing by it." Since the occurance, I have sought an acquaintance with Lieut. Green and had an interview of an hour with him, and have formed a high opinion of his qualities. He is young, about 25 years old, very modest and unassuming. Justice demands that a fearless heart, combined with superior mental qualifications, such as belong to Lieut. Green, should receive consideration at the hands of our good country. Lieut. Green is a 2d Lieutenant, belonging to the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, and it is the universal expression of officers and men of this Division, that his should straps should be changed for a higher rank. A Battallion or Regiment of Cavalry under him would do more good for the service than a dozen lime some we have. "Let justice be done, through the Heaven's fall," and by appreciating their valorous deeds, an incentive is thereby given to others. We greet your paper down here in "Dixie," and are always glad to get hold of it, because we love its tone and sentiment. A Member - 101st Indiana |
March 21, 1863 - 1st Dispatch - the expedition, which went out in the direction of Liberty on Wednesday last, was attacked yesterday morning by 2,500 mounted rebels, commanded by the guerilla General John Morgan. Our force consisted of the 105th Ohio, 80th and 123d Illinois, and 101st Indiana, besides a section of the 19th Indiana battery, and Captain Blackburn's company of cavalry, of the 1st Middle Tennessee, the whole under the command of Colonel A. S. Hall.
The expedition scouted through the country in the vicinity of Cainsville and Liberty on Wednesday and Thursday, meeting small reconnoitering parties of the enemy several times, without, however, succeeding in bringing on an engagement. Col. Hall finally determined to return to Murfreesboro, and on Thursday night he encamped with his brigade at Auburn, seven miles this side of Liberty, resuming his march early yesterday morning. He felt his way cautiously and safely as far as the village of Milton, when the rear guard was suddenly driven in by the enemy. Col. Hall at once threw out flankers to the right and left, and ordered Captain Harris' section of artillery to shell the rebels, who were rapidly advancing on the gallop. Perceiving that the enemy outnumbered him almost two to one, Col. Hall slowly fell back to the crest of the hill, where his men would have the advantage of a most admirable position, and could prevent at the same time, the disaster of being surrounded and compelled to surrender. The rebels then opened a fierce fire of shot and shall from their battery and also advanced in strength on both our flanks. Morgan evidently hoped to be able to throw our men into confusion, while they were slowly retreating to the top of the hill, and made direct charges on our lines for that purpose. Our artillery, however, forced him back and at length we occupied the hill. Col. Hall formed three separate lines of battle, and so disposed as to command every approach to the hill. At this moment of the fight the rebels made the most stubborn attempts on our right and left, but were driven back repeatedly with fearful slaughter. The soldiers of the Illinois, Ohio and Indiana regiments took deliberate aim, and at several places were forced to a hand to hand fight. They displayed the most invincible bravery. Our artillery was so handled as to do splendid execution. One of the enemy's field pieces, a rifled six-pounder, was shivered to pieces, while a shell killed the gunner belonging to another. Morgan failing to accomplish anything on our flanks, made an attack on the rear, but there also he was reached and repulsed from our commanding position. We found, in such tremendous storm of shot, that the guerrilla gangs were literally mowed down. Again and again the rebels persevered, until at length (it being two o'clock, and the fight having lasted three and half hours) Morgan withdrew his command. We supposed him to be satisfied, but in half hour he reappeared on our front with reinforcements, a regiment having arrived from Woodbury. he made a fierce attack again, but withdrew this time in the utmost confusion, leaving behind on the field of battle scores of killed and wounded. It had been a hard day for him, and for once in his career he met with an overwhelming defeat. As the defeated rebels, repulsed by a force of half their number, galloped away, our troops raised cheer after cheer, which indicated their enthusiasm and courage. During the process of the fight, Col. Hall had dispatched a courier to Murfreesboro for reinforcements. The courier magnified his talk, and represented that Col. Hall was surrounded and out of ammunition. Under these circumstances it was thought proper to send Col. Minty, with two brigades of cavalry, a brigade of infantry and a battery, to the assistance of our beleagured forces. Col Minty pushed with all possible speed, but when he arrived at the scene of light, Morgan had left. It was already nearly dark, but Colonel Minty, thinking that perhaps the rebels had not gone far, advanced with his cavalry through the village and thoroughly reconnoitered the surrounding country. Not a rebel was in sight, and our cavalry returned to the hill and bivouacked for the night. Early this morning, Col. Minty dispatched reconnoitering parties to Cainesville, Statesville and Liberty. They returned without having seen the enemy. Late in the morning, five rebel surgeons came in with a flag of truce to attend to their wounded, who had been left behind. About the same time our scourts reported that Morgan had retired several miles beyond Liberty, rendering pursuit hopeless. All our forces, including Col. Hall's gallant command, then returned to Murfreesboro. The rebel surgeons admit a loss of three Captains killed and two wounde3d; three Lieutenants wounded, one mortally; twenty-eight men killed; eighteen men mortally wounded and one hundred and fifty seriously or slightly injured. Col. Grisby, rebel, had his right arm broken, and Lieut.-Col. Napier, rebel, badly wounded in thigh, amputated. Morgan's course in this affair is severely criticized by the rebel surgeons, and they assert that it will cost him his command. 2nd Dispatch - We have some further particulars of the Milton fight. It took place on Lascassas Pike, one or two miles this side of Milton, which town is twelve miles northeast of Murfreesboro. Col. Hall was not returning, as first reported. He had intended to return some time before, but had changed his mind, and when the attack took place was marching to Liberty. The rebel force came from toward Milton. On their first appearance Col. Hall fell back some distance and then took position. Three of the rebel regiments were mounted infantry, who during the contest fought on foot. These attacked in front, while a column of cavalry attacked either flank. The _ on the right of our line repelled one of these flanking columns. they were posted in a thicket, and when the enemy came near enough, poured in upon them a single volley, which threw them into confusion, and caused them hastily to retreat, they losing, by this one volley, 7 killed, 35 wounded and about 30 horses. The exact force of the enemy was four regiments of cavalry, three of mounted infantry, one rifled cannon (12-pounder) a howitzer, and two mounted howitzers. One Captain and three Lieutenants are among the prisoners taken. Hall's expedition returned last night. His victory has increased in brilliancy and importance. There were not less than eleven rebel regiments engaged, namely: John Morgan's command, a brigade of Wheeler's Division, three regiments of Tennessee mounted infantry, and six pieces of artillery. In all about 3,700 men. The 80th Illinois was commanded by Col. Allen, and fought upon the right. The 123d Illinois was in the center and the 101st Indiana on the left. The 123d Illinois repelled the rebels, who fought on boat and assisted the 101st Indiana to drive back the enemy when they made their final grand charge to take our cannon. The 105th Ohio was held in reserve, and behaved with coolness and courage. The whole rebel force is estimated at 3,700. Dr. Keller, Morgan's surgeon, placed the rebel loss at four hundred killed and wounded. Four Captains were among the killed. Col. Grisby and Lieut.-Col. Napier were among the wounded. Lieut.-Col. Gordon and Captain J.H. Young of the Eleventh Tennessee, are prisoners. March 25, 1863 it was reported that there had been no movement of the Army of Tennessee on from Franklin towards Columbia, but on the previous Sunday it retired to Franklin. Van Dorn was still on the north side of the Duck River. Our forces occupied Florence and Tuscumbia. There had been no movement of the enemy from Corinth in this direction. General Morgan had a fight at Auburn that Friday with an overwhelming force of the enemy. He fought gallantly, killing and wounding a number of the enemy, but was at last forced to retire before superior numbers. Just before dawn on July 13, 1862, his birthday, Forrest and his men approached from the east on Woodbury Pike, capturing a Union hospital and the Ninth Pennsylvania. Forrest divided his troops into three forces to address the three remaining Union concentrations. The Ninth Michigan at Maney’s Spring defended its position forcefully, though its commanding officer, Colonel William Duffield, was wounded and taken to the Maney house at Oaklands. The Third Minnesota, to the west of the Michigan troops, held its position through sporadic Confederate attacks. Though relatively unengaged, the Minnesotan commanding officer, Colonel Henry C. Lester, refused to come to the aid of the hard-pressed Michigan troops, thus forcing the latter to surrender. Under a flag of truce, Forrest led him past the same Confederate units repeatedly, causing Lester to overestimate the number of opposition forces. Once assured of the other units’ surrender, Lester then gave up his own troops, as well as the attached Kentucky battery. He was later court-martialed for cowardice. Meanwhile, the Confederates who attacked the Federal garrison at the courthouse were exposed to Union sharpshooter fire from the cupola, and the assault to free the prisoners soon became uncoordinated and ineffectual. After several Confederate casualties, the courthouse door was finally breached and a fire kindled in the building to force the Federals to surrender. By evening, Forrest’s cavalry had captured between 800 and 1,200 Union prisoners, including Major General Crittenden and Captain Rounds, and set free the condemned citizens in the courthouse, all to the joy of the loyalist townspeople. Owing to the large number of prisoners, however, Forrest had to retreat to McMinnville, leaving Murfreesboro open again to Federal occupation. The Confederates also captured a large cache of supplies, including four pieces of artillery, all amounting to about a quarter of a million dollars. The greatest damage was the destruction to the railroad–the depot, a substantial length of tracks, and the bridge south of town were torn up or burned down. Confederate casualties numbered only about 150. The raid, also referred to as the First Battle of Murfreesboro, was the first significant operation behind Federal lines in the western theater. As Forrest’s first independent raid, its success catapulted Forrest to great renown and a promotion to brigadier general. Strategically, the raid succeeded in diverting Union regiments from reinforcing Negley’s troops at Chattanooga and disrupted Union control of Middle Tennessee by destroying communications and stores at Murfreesboro. Because the Union officers mistakenly estimated that Forrest had as many as 3,500 troops, local garrisons were called in from the Army of the Ohio to protect Nashville and Middle Tennessee. This allowed Confederate General Braxton Bragg to concentrate his forces for an August campaign into Kentucky, ultimately leading to the Battle of Perryville in October. July 25, 1862 The Athens Post The Confederate Victory at Murfreesboro We published last week a short account of a Confederate victory at Murfreesboro. Since then further particulars have been received. It was a brilliant affair. We copy the result below: The number of Yankees killed and wounded, 122, prisoners captured 1,250 - of the 3d Minnesota regiment, 600; 9th Michigan 500; 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, 150; Hewett's Kentucky Batter of 4 guns, 2 brass and 2 steel; 300 horses and mules; 60 wagons; several ambulances; and 2,000 stand of arms. The federal camps, with all their contents, embracing a large lot of new clothing, were burned, as was also the depot at Murfreesboro, containing near half a million of dollars worth of Quartermaster's and Commissary stores. Several railroad bridges near Murfreesboro were also burnt. The Confederate force loss in killed and wounded about 46. Brig. Gen. Duffield, badly wounded, was paroled and left at Murfreesboro. His brother, Adjuant Duffield, was paroled, and left in charge of him. Several Surgeons, one Captain and two Lieutenants, were also paroled at Murfreesboro. All honor to Col. Forrest and his gallant command. Suck licks as them count. On May 13, 1863 the official report at the fight at Milton was released by Capt. Alex A. Rice, A.A.G.: Having completed the reconnoisance, begun on the 18th, I hereby report the operations of my command. I left camp with two days rations in the haversack and two on pack mules, and with the following force: 123d Illinois Infantry, 18 officers, 313 enlisted men, Col. James Monroe, Commanding. 80th Illinois Infantry, 18 officers, 365 enlisted men, Col. Thomas G. Allen, commanding. 101st Indiana Infantry, 19 officers, 353 enlisted men, Lt. Col. Thomas Doan, Commanding. 105th Ohio Infantry, 18 officers, 215 enlisted men, Lieut. Col. William R. Tolles commanding. 1 Section 19th Indiana Battery, Captain S.J. Harris, commanding. Co. A. Stokes' Cavalry, Capt. Blackburn commanding, giving me a total of strength of infantry of a little over 1,300. My orders were to "reconnoitre the enemy, and strike him if the opportunity offers." On the night of the 18th, I occupied Cainesville, taking two prisoners, making that night an unsuccessful effort to surprise a small rebel camp, failing by the mistake of a guide. Early next morning I took the Statesville Road, finding the enemy's pickets, I captured two of them. At Statesville my advance was met by a force of 150 or 200 rebel cavalry; a slight skirmish took place here, in which a sharp-shooter from the 105th Ohio mortally wounded one of Philip's rebel cavalry; the enemy retired slowly down Smithsfork towards Prosperity Church on the pike. I followed very cautiously, skirmishing the ravines, and upon reaching the pike, wounded two of Smith's Tennessee cavalry and captured one. One half mile from this spot, down the valley towards Liberty, a regiment of rebel cavalry, reinforced by those whom I had driven from Statesville, was in line of battle across the valley, a small cavalry picket was also seen on the pike towards Auburn. I rested my command at Prosperity Church about two hours. Becoming entirely satisfied that a large rebel force under Morgan's command was massed in the vicinity, and that I should be attacked by the next day at farthest, I determined to choose my own ground for the engagement, and accordingly at dusk I moved my command to the high ground to the rear of Auburn, bringing me three miles nearer Murfreesboro, leaving the rebel regiment wholly unmolested, but skirmishing my way to Auburn with 40 or 50 rebels whom I found had occupied the place during the afternoon; of this force I wounded one or two and they retired on the Woodbury Pike. that night the enemy's pickets confronted mine on every road leading from my position, and a large force advanced in the night from towards Liberty and camped in the vicinity of Prosperity Church. Knowing that the enemy largely outnumbered me, I determined to draw him as near Murfreesboro as possible, and to reach a fine position near Milton, seven miles from my Auburn camp, I moved at light. Upon reaching teh high ridge three miles from Auburn I halted twenty minutes to fill canteens and view the enemy's advance. He was two miles behind me, but showed himself in no great force; making on this ridge some demonstration which would indicate a purpose to stay there. I dropped suddenly down the slope toward Milton and passed three and half miles of open, level country at a quick but steady step, occupying one hour, bringing me through Milton with the head of my column within five hundred yards of the spot I desired to reach; throwing two companies of the 123d Illinois and half of Blackburn's company of cavalry into the edge of the town as skirmishes, and posting look outs on my flanks and rear, I put a Napoleon into position, stacked arms and waited the enemy's pleasure. In twenty minutes his advance was visible in the angle of the pike beyond Milton, about fifteen hundred yards away, and was promptly scattered by a shell from Harris. A few minutes later the enemy advanced, dismounted, and attacked my skirmishers in the village. By this time a large force was visible, and two heavy columns began passing, one to my right and one to my left, on the gallop. At this moment I started three messengers for the General, to apprise him of my whereabouts, and to ask him for a reinforcement of cavalry. Placing the 80th Illinois into position to take care of my right, and the 101st Indiana to my left, I drew my skirmishers gently back, reinforcing them with three more companies of the 123d Illinois, so as to cover the center; and set Harris to shelling each column as it passed, supporting his guns by the 105th Ohio. As the heavy flank movement of the enemy made it necessary, I drew the whole command slowly back, converging my flank regiments to a line with my center along the top of the hillock, where I had determined to stand. The heavy column passing to my left was twice or three times cut in two by Harris, but from the nature of the ground was enabled to pass out of range. The column on my right was forced to come nearer, and run the terrible gauntlet of Harris' fire, who killed and scattered them at every shot, and finally ran against a volley from the 80th Illinois, which killed and wounded some 30 men and 8 horses. The terrible raking given it by the artillery, and the volley from the 80th, quite effectually extinguished its valor and boldness, so that a thin line of skirmishers, and part of Blackburn's little company, was all that was necessary to control them thereafter. Each of my regiments came into position on the crest, just as I directed, without confusion or delay, but there was no time to spare on my left; here the enemy dismounted, and advanced with all the precision, boldness and rapidity of infantry drill; the blow struck the 101st Indiana and left wing of the 123d Illinois. The first attack was at once repelled, the enemy quickly reinforcing his line of skirmishers, renewed it with double force and determination, rapidly advancing his main line. At this moment some confusion was manifested in the 101st Indiana, but the gallant example set the men by their field, staff and line officers, by the unflinching 123d Illinois, and the opportune arrival from the right of five companies, of the 80th Illinois, and one of Harris' guns, enabled me to quickly check the disorder. Every man returned to his post, and fought to the last; the enemy gained no advantage. The advance he made by it cost him dearly. The enemy now opened upon my centre with four pieces of artillery, and vigorously attacked my rear, but was repulsed at the rear by Captain Crowell, with one company of the 105th Ohio, and Captain Blackburn's company dismounted. The enemy's artillery assisted in driving the enemy from my rear. The engagement was not general. My line encircling the hillock enclosing us within five acres of space - was entirely surrounded by the enemy, and every reachable spot was showered with shot, shell, grape and canister. Meantime, Harris was not idle, with one gun on the crest, he swung it as on a pivot, and swept them in every direction; and Lt. Stackhouse, with the other gun on the pike, swept everything in his range. Artillery was never worked better. Again and again the enemy tried to break our devoted circle, and continued the unequal contest upon me steadily, from 11:30 a.,m. till 2:15 p.m., when, seeing it was of no avail, he drew off his cavalry to my front - leaving but a small force on my flanks - and desisting from the attack with small arms, continued to play his artillery till 4:30 p.m., when he finally withdrew it also. He, however, continued to so far occupy the ground outside of my lines, as to prevent me from taking his slightly wounded, or securing the arms left behind. He collected most of the arms and took away all of his men not dead or mortally wounded, except those within rifle range of my lines. The enemy left on the field of men and officers killed or mortally wounded, sixty-three, including four Captains and two Lieutenants; and from an interview with four Surgeons left by the enemy, I leared that the wounded carried away could not be less than three hundred among which were many officers, including General Morgan, slightly wounded in the arm; Col. Grigsby, arm broken; Lt. Col. Napier, thigh broken; Lt. Col. Martin, flesh wound in the back, besides many officers of lower rank. I am, myself satisfied, from a personal examination of the ground, that the enemy's loss is not less than four hundred; to this could easily have been added a large number of prisoners, if my cavalry reinfocements had reached me in due time. Col. Minty, of the 14th Michigan, commanding cavalry reinforcements reached me about 7 o'clock p.m., at dark, and after the enemy had wholly left. Col. Hambright, with his brigade of infantry, reached me within thirty minutes after the cavalry had reported. I have brought into camp fifty-three stand of arms, taken from the enemy ten prisoners and eight horses. The wounded and prisoners who fell into our hands, represent nine regiments, including three of mounted infantry, and there were at least three regiments of the enemy held in reserve during the entire engagement, one mile in front. The total force of the enemy could not have been less than 3,500. The surgeons declined to disclose the force, and one wounded officer placed it at 4,000. Among the rebel dead, was a mulatto, killed in their advance line, fully uniformed, armed and equipped. My own loss is as follows: Killed - 1 Captain and 5 enlisted men Wounded - 1 Lieutenant and 41 enlisted men Prisoners - 1 enlisted man Missing - 7 Of the number wounded, but few are serious, and many will not need hospital treatment. The missing were all inside the lines when the engagement began. They undoubtedly ran away to the rear, and are either captured or are in the woods on their way to this camp. The detailed report of regimental commanders is forwarded herewith, together with a plat of the route passed over, and of the field of battle. I directed the citizens to bury the rebel dead, and brought my own into camp. The hard fighting of the day fell upon the 101st Indiana and the 123d Illinois, but I feel profoundly thankful for the prompt and gallant cooperation which every officer of the entire command gave me, and too much praise cannot be given to the men for their so dierly conduct. Captain William R. Tuttle, of the 105th Ohio, my A.A.A.G., and Lieut. Sanford Fortner, of the 101st Indiana, my A.D.C.k rendered me the most valuable assistance on every part of the field. Captain Blackburn, of the 1st Middle Tennessee Cavalry deserves especial praise for his daring and efficient conduct during the scout and engagement. I desire also to make especial mention of private J.H. Blackburn, Co. "A" 1st Middle Tennessee cavalry, for the prompt and intelligent execution of my orders in bearing my dispatch from the point of attack to Division Headquarters, at Murfreesboro, and also, of private Edward Potter, Co. "E" 105th Ohio, for the faithful and prompt management of my train of pack mules, so placing them that not an animal was lost, and for his valuable assistance as an orderly on the field. A.S. Hall = Colonel Com'd'g Brigade On April 3, 1863 Lieutenant Colonel Isaac C.B. Suman of the Ninth Indiana Infantry made the following report from Readyville: SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my command, consisting of the Ninth Indiana Volunteers, Maj. Lasselle, One hundred and tenth Illinois Volunteers, Col. Casey, and First Kentucky Volunteers, Maj.-, in the expedition against Woodbury on the 2d instant: The Ninth Indiana moved at 1 a. m., followed by the One hundred and tenth Illinois Volunteers. At half a mile from camp I was joined by the First Kentucky Volunteers, which I placed in the rear of the Ninth Indiana and in advance of the One hundred and tenth Illinois. I followed the Woodbury pike to the crossing of Louk's (Lockes) Creek; then turned to the left, and up the creek between its banks 4 or 5 miles. Finding that my guide did not know where Somers lived, that being the point where I was to leave the One hundred and tenth Illinois (where the Auburn road crossed the one we were then on), I called up a citizen about 1 mile this side of where the roads crossed, and learned from him that the enemy had a picked. post of 2 men on the east side of the road. Lieut. [L. S. ] Nickeson having command of the advance guard, dispatched 4 men with the guide, to go in their rear. Here found that the First Kentucky Volunteers had not come up. I waited about three-quarters of an hour, and directed Maj. Lasselle to go back and order them forward; he found them within 1 mile, coming up. I then ordered the Ninth Indiana forward, when the enemy's vedettes challenged my advance guard. Lieut. Nickeson ordered his men to fix bayonets and charge them. The moon had gone down, and it was quite dark. The enemy's reserve finding my men coming in with their vedettes, jumped from their beds and ran, leaving 7 horses, saddles, and bridles, several guns, 3 pairs of boots with spurs on, 8 or 9 coats, and 5 pairs of pants, with their bedding. Being then 5 miles northwest of Woodbury, I ordered my command forward. When I came up with the 4 men who had been sent in the rear of the vedettes. I found that they had only killed 1 horse, and had captured none of the rebels, who dashed by them when they found there were only a few of them. I then moved rapidly forward till I reached a hill between the Half-Acre road and the McMinnville turnpike. From that point I could see the enemy passing out in the valley beyond. Believing pursuit useless, I ordered my command to move toward Woodbury, then distant 4 miles. Having 10 of my men mounted on the captured horses, I ordered them to scour the country and drive in toward Woodbury all the stragglers of the First Kentucky Volunteers. It appeared that the officers had no command over their men. They would sit down in the presence of their officers, and, when ordered forward, would reply, "I am tired," and remain behind. When the column arrived at Woodbury, I halted it about an hour and a half, when Gen. Hazen arrived and ordered it to camp. The Ninth Indiana Volunteers lost 1 man, who straggled from his company and has not yet returned to camp. I have no means of knowing whether the First Kentucky Volunteers brought in all their men or not. Their stragglers brought in 1 prisoner, who had lost his horse (killed in the morning). They found him somewhere in the country as they straggled through. Respectfully, I. C. B. SUMAN, Lieut.-Col. Ninth Indiana Volunteers. |
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The Fourth Tennessee Cavalry
Reunion at Woodbury on the 28th Inst.
Five Thousand People Present - Addresses by Chancellor Marks, Col. Baxter Smith and Others.
A grand reunion of the survivors of the Fourth Tennessee (Confederate) Cavalry took place at Woodbury, Cannon County, on the 28th inst., and the crowd assembled there on the occasion of it was generally estimated at 5,000 persons. The day was most auspicious, and from 7 o'clock in the morning till 10 or 11, the main roads leading into town swarmed with people coming in on foot, on horseback, in wagons, carriages, etc., till such a crowd was assembled as not been seen in years in that locality of the good people of Cannon and the surrounding counties. It was universally remarked that no more orderly and well-behaved assemblage of persons had ever met in the county.
According to the programme, the surviving members of the regiment present, to the number of 125, met in the field of Captain H.A. Wiley, on the east of the town and there formed at the sund of the bugle by James Nance, the former bugler. The men were marched around the field by Col. Baxter Smith and Capt. Geo. B. Guild, the former Adjutant, and thence down through the town and to the grounds, under the inspiration of music from a fine brass band from Murfreesboro, which played "Hail Columbia," as it passed through the square.
Reaching the grounds - a beautiful beech grove on a hillside, a short distance south west of the town - where the speaker's stand and seats were admirably arranged. Dr. H. M. Hearn, in a few neat and well-timed remarks, set forth the objects of the meeting - the principal one being meeting together of the surviving members of a former organization of men who had so long been associated together, sharing the same common dangers and privations. After doing so, he introduced as the first speaker, Col. Baxter Smith, the famous commandant of the regiment, who commenced by asking what meant the assemblage of so large a number of the people of Old Cannon and the surrounding counties on this occasion? It could not be construed as meaning that it was evidence of feelings of disloyalty to the Government, for every act of this people since the was was to the contrary, but it was a spontaneous tribute given to these men, because they had borne themselves like men in going forth to battle for what they believed to be the right and for their best efforts in that direction as long as they great civil war lasted; and, also, when the war ended these same men had, in a like conscientious discharge of duty, gone forth in the discharge of their duties as citizens with the same zeal that they had displayed in war, and had made as good citizens in peace as they had brave soldiers in war. Col. Smith spoke far more than an hour and elicited the closest attention from the large assemblage.
Adjt. Geo. B. Guild was the next speaker and was listened to with marked attention. His closing remarks were particularly beautiful and effective, viz: "Your regiment at Chickamauga, numbered nearly 900 men; surrendered at Charlotte, N.C., twenty months after, less than thre hundred. Where were your companions? A few had got tired and gone home; some had been disabled by wounds, and some had died of disease, others were languishing in Northern prisons, and many were sleeping quietly in the rude graves where you had placed them in their blankets on every field where your army had fought.
"On Fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are apread."
The rough board that you placed at their head, to direct the footsteps of inquiring friends in after years, has long since rotted down. The rains of heaven or the plowshare has leveled the little hillocks that you placed above their gallant breasts. The sacred spot where rests their clay can never be known; but there the wild flower sheds its sweetest perfume to the morning air, and the song bird warbles his sweetest lay at the setting sun; and at night the starts of heaven, as they ascend the milky way, look down and grow brighter as they pass. They have no government with lavish wealth to collect her jewels and record in monumental brass the glowry of their deeds. But in the hearts of the people of this Southland they have erected a shaft of the purest marble, whose lofty summit is bathed by the clouds, and whose foundation stones rest deep in the affections of a grateful and admiring people. And upon its snowy surface they have engraven in letters of diamond the memory of their noble deeds and virtues.
Judge A.S. Marks was the next speaker, and for an hour enchained the large audience by his eloquence. After this, dinner was announced, and the large crowd repaired near by to the tables, which were richly laden with the finest barbecue we have ever seen prepared, besides all the delicacies of the season. Here the greatest order prevailed, and the great crowd ate to satisfaction without the slight disturbance. There was plenty for all and an abundance left. After dinner the band of music serenaded at the stand, to which all again repaired. The first speaker was Gen. Jo. Palmer, who was followed by Col. Mat. Martin, both of whom delivered excellent speeches, which were well received. Maj. Albert Akers, of Nashville, was then called upon and responded in one of his happiest styles. For one half hour he was listened to, and made happy that immense crowed by his sparkling wit and well-timed sayings. After this a resolution of thanks to the managers of the affair was presented and unmaniously adopted, and the large crowd was dismissed.
At night a ball was given to the young people at the courthouse in Woodbury, and until 3 o'clock in the morning "they tripped the light fantastic toe."
In time, the reunion of the Fourth Tennessee was a grand success in every particular; and all left for their homes hoping that many such occasions would occur.
Reunion at Woodbury on the 28th Inst.
Five Thousand People Present - Addresses by Chancellor Marks, Col. Baxter Smith and Others.
A grand reunion of the survivors of the Fourth Tennessee (Confederate) Cavalry took place at Woodbury, Cannon County, on the 28th inst., and the crowd assembled there on the occasion of it was generally estimated at 5,000 persons. The day was most auspicious, and from 7 o'clock in the morning till 10 or 11, the main roads leading into town swarmed with people coming in on foot, on horseback, in wagons, carriages, etc., till such a crowd was assembled as not been seen in years in that locality of the good people of Cannon and the surrounding counties. It was universally remarked that no more orderly and well-behaved assemblage of persons had ever met in the county.
According to the programme, the surviving members of the regiment present, to the number of 125, met in the field of Captain H.A. Wiley, on the east of the town and there formed at the sund of the bugle by James Nance, the former bugler. The men were marched around the field by Col. Baxter Smith and Capt. Geo. B. Guild, the former Adjutant, and thence down through the town and to the grounds, under the inspiration of music from a fine brass band from Murfreesboro, which played "Hail Columbia," as it passed through the square.
Reaching the grounds - a beautiful beech grove on a hillside, a short distance south west of the town - where the speaker's stand and seats were admirably arranged. Dr. H. M. Hearn, in a few neat and well-timed remarks, set forth the objects of the meeting - the principal one being meeting together of the surviving members of a former organization of men who had so long been associated together, sharing the same common dangers and privations. After doing so, he introduced as the first speaker, Col. Baxter Smith, the famous commandant of the regiment, who commenced by asking what meant the assemblage of so large a number of the people of Old Cannon and the surrounding counties on this occasion? It could not be construed as meaning that it was evidence of feelings of disloyalty to the Government, for every act of this people since the was was to the contrary, but it was a spontaneous tribute given to these men, because they had borne themselves like men in going forth to battle for what they believed to be the right and for their best efforts in that direction as long as they great civil war lasted; and, also, when the war ended these same men had, in a like conscientious discharge of duty, gone forth in the discharge of their duties as citizens with the same zeal that they had displayed in war, and had made as good citizens in peace as they had brave soldiers in war. Col. Smith spoke far more than an hour and elicited the closest attention from the large assemblage.
Adjt. Geo. B. Guild was the next speaker and was listened to with marked attention. His closing remarks were particularly beautiful and effective, viz: "Your regiment at Chickamauga, numbered nearly 900 men; surrendered at Charlotte, N.C., twenty months after, less than thre hundred. Where were your companions? A few had got tired and gone home; some had been disabled by wounds, and some had died of disease, others were languishing in Northern prisons, and many were sleeping quietly in the rude graves where you had placed them in their blankets on every field where your army had fought.
"On Fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are apread."
The rough board that you placed at their head, to direct the footsteps of inquiring friends in after years, has long since rotted down. The rains of heaven or the plowshare has leveled the little hillocks that you placed above their gallant breasts. The sacred spot where rests their clay can never be known; but there the wild flower sheds its sweetest perfume to the morning air, and the song bird warbles his sweetest lay at the setting sun; and at night the starts of heaven, as they ascend the milky way, look down and grow brighter as they pass. They have no government with lavish wealth to collect her jewels and record in monumental brass the glowry of their deeds. But in the hearts of the people of this Southland they have erected a shaft of the purest marble, whose lofty summit is bathed by the clouds, and whose foundation stones rest deep in the affections of a grateful and admiring people. And upon its snowy surface they have engraven in letters of diamond the memory of their noble deeds and virtues.
Judge A.S. Marks was the next speaker, and for an hour enchained the large audience by his eloquence. After this, dinner was announced, and the large crowd repaired near by to the tables, which were richly laden with the finest barbecue we have ever seen prepared, besides all the delicacies of the season. Here the greatest order prevailed, and the great crowd ate to satisfaction without the slight disturbance. There was plenty for all and an abundance left. After dinner the band of music serenaded at the stand, to which all again repaired. The first speaker was Gen. Jo. Palmer, who was followed by Col. Mat. Martin, both of whom delivered excellent speeches, which were well received. Maj. Albert Akers, of Nashville, was then called upon and responded in one of his happiest styles. For one half hour he was listened to, and made happy that immense crowed by his sparkling wit and well-timed sayings. After this a resolution of thanks to the managers of the affair was presented and unmaniously adopted, and the large crowd was dismissed.
At night a ball was given to the young people at the courthouse in Woodbury, and until 3 o'clock in the morning "they tripped the light fantastic toe."
In time, the reunion of the Fourth Tennessee was a grand success in every particular; and all left for their homes hoping that many such occasions would occur.
At the beginning of November in 1899 Mr. Beadle recalled, "Do you know that those old days of the war appear almost like a dream? But there was nothing dream-like in the experience, I can tell you! About as close as I ever was to being killed, I suppose, was some time after the battle of Murfreesboro. I was with Morgan's command. We had had a skirmish with the Yankees at Auburn. One of our artillerymen had been killed, and we tied him on a caisson to take him with us. We passed on to Liberty, and at night retired to Snow's Hill. We were attacked again by the Federals. One of the boys who stood by the cannon to vent, or clean and cool it after each fire - he was No. 1 and I was No. 2 - was struck by a bullet and his entire hand shot off. Of course I had to take his place. Lead rained around for some time, but I escaped. No dream in that! Neither was my imprisonment on Johnson's Island afterwards a dream. Would you believe it? There were confined on Johnson's Island at the time I was there 2,500 Confederate officers - quite a little army of officers in themselves."
by Will T. Hale - This article appeared in 1909 in the Confederate Veteran I was about 4 years of age when the War between the States began, and my first memory relates to that period. The scene that impressed me was in the spring of 1861, when ex-Gov. William B. Campbell canvassed the state in opposition to secession. He spoke in our village - Liberty, TN - and the crowds must have been largely in sympathy with his views. I recall that as a parade passed our cottage I sat on the front fence waving a flat and shouting: "Hurrah for Campbell and the Union!"
My parents, afterwards entirely in sympathy with secession, had given me the flag and taught me the cry. But sentiment changed swiftly. It seemed that a few days later, though in reality it was months (maybe about June 8, 1861 when the election came off carrying the state into the League by a vote of 104,913 against 47,238) when I again sat on the front fence. there was another parade; public men were on their way to the place of speaking; and following a string band playing "Drive That Black Dog Out o' the Wilderness" came the Auburn Volunteers or militia in gorgeous uniforms of red. This time, however, I was shouting a new cry taught by my parents: "Hurrah for Jeff Davis and the Southern Confederacy!"
Almost as plainly recalled as the fiddle tunes and the uniforms of the Auburn soldiers were the performances of old Uncle Frank Foster, an enthusiastic Southerner. He was a saddler by trade, perhaps four feet six inches tall always neatly dressed and wore a stovepipe hat - probably to supplement his height! His two sons, Timothy and Irving, joined the Confederates. It was some time before they left town, and Irving's big bay horse was kept in his father's stable.This horse Uncle Frank mounted daily (his feet hardly reached below the animal's belly) and road defiantly up and down the streets. "As for Yankees," the little man roared as the passed a crowd, "I can whip half a dozen, and outrun a thousand!" He was certainly as optimistic as a youth of the same neighborhood, Will Turney, who, with the exaggeration of his time, declared that before Christmas he was going to be one of the Rebels to"eat Abe Lincoln's ear with a cracker."
It took time and a few battles to prove that the Confederates had something more than fun before them and that the Federals would not end the War in six weeks.
Mr. Foster and his family removed to Arkansas at the close of the hostilities, locating at Cincinnati. Mr. Turney, who lost an arm in the conflict, located in East Tennessee and became a successful lawyer. He died many years ago. I would like to know if any of the Fosters are yet living.
Col. William B. Stokes organized a regiment for the Confederacy, but changed his mind later and made up a Federal regiment from DeKalb and adjoining counties. The Southern sympathizers who had enlisted with him before he changed his views on reaching Lebanon joined the gallant Bob Hatson and other Confederate leaders.
Among Stokes' subordinate officers (Federal) the most conspicuous were Capts. Bill Hathaway and Joe Blackburn. The regiment was greatly hated by the other side. As to whether the hatred was merited or not, I shall express no opinion here. History will get that right. But I must affirm that as far as our family was concerned (and it was strongly for secession) Stokes, Hathaway and Blackburn never molested us.That some of their men were not worthy models by any means it would be unnecessary to say.
In Hancock's Diary, one gets an interesting record of the Cannon County Company known locally as "The Auburn Soldiers" and nick-named by fellow Confederates as "the sang diggers." I am sorry no one wrote a history of "Allison's Squad," for it kept up a continual stir around Alexandria, Carthage and Smithville. The number of this band of Confederates was small. It was made up from portions from three counties, and was on the go all the time - sometimes chased by small bands of Federals, then, getting the advantage of position, chasing the enemy back over the same road. Colonel Allison died in Texas about 1892, at the age of ninety years.
Liberty as an inland village but it was on the fine road between Nashville and Sparta. A good pike also lead from the town of Murfreesboro, The land was fertile and the best cereal crops were grown there."Hog and hominy" were plentiful, which may account for the fact that the section as not wholly avoided by the soldiers of either side. It was indeed continually occupied by one or the other. Quirk's Scouts, belonging to Morgan's command, passed a part of one winter there - a jovial, dashing, friend-making lot of Kentuckians. I once saw General Morgan there. He was passing through. General Wilder and his Ohio troops once occupied the town leaving an unpleasant memory by burning the best mill in town.
The greatest number of soldiers I had seen up to that time were the celebrated Wheeler's Cavalry and the small parties who followed it. A Liberty man named Groggin spent a few days near Bowling Green, KY at the outbreak of the hostilities. Probably he had never been more than a few miles from home before. It was a surprise to him to see so many men in one place as he saw about the fortifications at Bowling Green. So on his return he was capable of infusing hope among secessionists. He stayed overnight at Mr. Welsh's east of Lebanon, on his route home. His host expressed far for his sons who were then in the Kentucky town. Mr. Groggin was sitting cross legged before the fire and he spat into the blaze and said: "Suffer no uneasiness, Mr. Welsh. I've been to Bowling Green and I know whereof I speak. The c-o-m-b-i-n-e-d world can't take that town." I wondered if Wheeler had all the soldiers of the South bringing them through Liberty.
For two or three days and nights they were passing, it seemed to me, perhaps there was much straggling. At the tail end came Champ Ferguson's men. They had been annoyed by Stoke's regiment in White County and it was feared they would burn Liberty to ashes, it having been the home of Stokes and many of his followers. However, they destroyed only one storehouse and a bar. They wanted to find some Union men; but the Southern sympathizers assured them that all had fled, telling a fib for the sake of their Union neighbors.
Speaking of Ferguson recalls the "Battle of the Calf-Killer," or rather the tragedy. Many of the men swooped down on and killed by Ferguson on that occasion lived around Liberty. I recall seeing them brought home in wagons by their friends and relatives a few days later.
Another tragedy that somewhat affected Liberty was the destruction of what the Union people called "Pomp Kersey's gang." Kersey lived on Short Mountain, ten miles in the direction of Woodbury. His followers were mostly young men of good family. They had taken sides with the South and frequently raided Liberty and the surrounding county, for the Federals had often raided their homes on Short Mountain, sometimes taking innocent lives. Kersey's last raid was made one night, and a Union citizen of Liberty was killed. The next morning the band was pursued by Blackburn's company. The latter went up Clear Fork and Canal Creek, hearing of Kersey from time to time. Early in the afternoon they tracked their prey to a deep hollow, where every mountaineer was sound asleep, with not a picket on duty. Doubtless they had never hard that the Federals were in the vicinity when they made their raid, or they would not have been so negligent. Creeping stealthily to within gunshot, Blackburn's force took careful aim and fired. The result was awful. Only one of the hunted men escaped death, and he was not the leader.
The next day the dead men - perhaps no more than a dozen - were hauled to Liberty in an ox cart. I witnessed the unloading. The cart was driven before the door of a vacant store and the gruesome load thrown in on each other, as if their enemy were piling rails. Later they were buried in an old field, and after the war their bones were carried by friends back to their native mountain and re-interred.
I own one of the carbines used by the Federals in that man hunt, it having been purchased from the owner after the war.
The soldiers were often quartered on the citizens. I have seen as many as twenty of Quirk's scouts at our long dining table at a time, our family eating with them. One evening I heard a great rumbling sound as of a continuous thunder west of the village. The scouts jumped up from the table in much excitement. Presently, some of them returned, greatly pleased. A number of the scouts - or it may have been another body of Confederates - had captured a small train of wagons and were having it rushed to the village. That night a large box filled with dry goods was opened in our house. The beautiful tings displayed hut my eyes by the candlelight. The capturers were liberal, and presented many things to their host and hostess.
It is too painful to dwell on the individual tragedies that occurred round about. I shall close this rambling sketch with a somewhat humorous incident. Col. Stokes had married my mother's sister. He owned a fine farm and negroes three miles north of the village. As shown he was a Federal. My mother's brother, who was a "fire-eating" Rebel, owned a fine farm and negroes two miles south of the village. His father had purchased the place in 1810. My uncle had been a Democratic member of the Legislature twice before the war and Col. Stokes had been in Congress.
These brother-in-law were friendly despite politics; but Stokes' men, who did pretty much as they pleased, were ever on the hunt for the fire eater, and he was continually "skedaddling." One cold winter night he and other refugees were sleeping in a barn some miles form home, among them a man who was not very "bright." About Midnight, the crowd was awakened by the simpleton. "Git up men, git up," he whispered hoarsely. "The Yankees is coming."
"How do you know!," my uncle asked, rubbing his eyes and listening to the cold wind blowing among the hills.
"Cause I hear Patsy Scurlock's dogs barkin' away down the creek!" explained the man.
"Now if you can assure me that Patsy Scurlock's dogs bark only at Yankees I'll be willing to take this raw January air!" exclaimed uncle, and crawled back under the hay.
My parents, afterwards entirely in sympathy with secession, had given me the flag and taught me the cry. But sentiment changed swiftly. It seemed that a few days later, though in reality it was months (maybe about June 8, 1861 when the election came off carrying the state into the League by a vote of 104,913 against 47,238) when I again sat on the front fence. there was another parade; public men were on their way to the place of speaking; and following a string band playing "Drive That Black Dog Out o' the Wilderness" came the Auburn Volunteers or militia in gorgeous uniforms of red. This time, however, I was shouting a new cry taught by my parents: "Hurrah for Jeff Davis and the Southern Confederacy!"
Almost as plainly recalled as the fiddle tunes and the uniforms of the Auburn soldiers were the performances of old Uncle Frank Foster, an enthusiastic Southerner. He was a saddler by trade, perhaps four feet six inches tall always neatly dressed and wore a stovepipe hat - probably to supplement his height! His two sons, Timothy and Irving, joined the Confederates. It was some time before they left town, and Irving's big bay horse was kept in his father's stable.This horse Uncle Frank mounted daily (his feet hardly reached below the animal's belly) and road defiantly up and down the streets. "As for Yankees," the little man roared as the passed a crowd, "I can whip half a dozen, and outrun a thousand!" He was certainly as optimistic as a youth of the same neighborhood, Will Turney, who, with the exaggeration of his time, declared that before Christmas he was going to be one of the Rebels to"eat Abe Lincoln's ear with a cracker."
It took time and a few battles to prove that the Confederates had something more than fun before them and that the Federals would not end the War in six weeks.
Mr. Foster and his family removed to Arkansas at the close of the hostilities, locating at Cincinnati. Mr. Turney, who lost an arm in the conflict, located in East Tennessee and became a successful lawyer. He died many years ago. I would like to know if any of the Fosters are yet living.
Col. William B. Stokes organized a regiment for the Confederacy, but changed his mind later and made up a Federal regiment from DeKalb and adjoining counties. The Southern sympathizers who had enlisted with him before he changed his views on reaching Lebanon joined the gallant Bob Hatson and other Confederate leaders.
Among Stokes' subordinate officers (Federal) the most conspicuous were Capts. Bill Hathaway and Joe Blackburn. The regiment was greatly hated by the other side. As to whether the hatred was merited or not, I shall express no opinion here. History will get that right. But I must affirm that as far as our family was concerned (and it was strongly for secession) Stokes, Hathaway and Blackburn never molested us.That some of their men were not worthy models by any means it would be unnecessary to say.
In Hancock's Diary, one gets an interesting record of the Cannon County Company known locally as "The Auburn Soldiers" and nick-named by fellow Confederates as "the sang diggers." I am sorry no one wrote a history of "Allison's Squad," for it kept up a continual stir around Alexandria, Carthage and Smithville. The number of this band of Confederates was small. It was made up from portions from three counties, and was on the go all the time - sometimes chased by small bands of Federals, then, getting the advantage of position, chasing the enemy back over the same road. Colonel Allison died in Texas about 1892, at the age of ninety years.
Liberty as an inland village but it was on the fine road between Nashville and Sparta. A good pike also lead from the town of Murfreesboro, The land was fertile and the best cereal crops were grown there."Hog and hominy" were plentiful, which may account for the fact that the section as not wholly avoided by the soldiers of either side. It was indeed continually occupied by one or the other. Quirk's Scouts, belonging to Morgan's command, passed a part of one winter there - a jovial, dashing, friend-making lot of Kentuckians. I once saw General Morgan there. He was passing through. General Wilder and his Ohio troops once occupied the town leaving an unpleasant memory by burning the best mill in town.
The greatest number of soldiers I had seen up to that time were the celebrated Wheeler's Cavalry and the small parties who followed it. A Liberty man named Groggin spent a few days near Bowling Green, KY at the outbreak of the hostilities. Probably he had never been more than a few miles from home before. It was a surprise to him to see so many men in one place as he saw about the fortifications at Bowling Green. So on his return he was capable of infusing hope among secessionists. He stayed overnight at Mr. Welsh's east of Lebanon, on his route home. His host expressed far for his sons who were then in the Kentucky town. Mr. Groggin was sitting cross legged before the fire and he spat into the blaze and said: "Suffer no uneasiness, Mr. Welsh. I've been to Bowling Green and I know whereof I speak. The c-o-m-b-i-n-e-d world can't take that town." I wondered if Wheeler had all the soldiers of the South bringing them through Liberty.
For two or three days and nights they were passing, it seemed to me, perhaps there was much straggling. At the tail end came Champ Ferguson's men. They had been annoyed by Stoke's regiment in White County and it was feared they would burn Liberty to ashes, it having been the home of Stokes and many of his followers. However, they destroyed only one storehouse and a bar. They wanted to find some Union men; but the Southern sympathizers assured them that all had fled, telling a fib for the sake of their Union neighbors.
Speaking of Ferguson recalls the "Battle of the Calf-Killer," or rather the tragedy. Many of the men swooped down on and killed by Ferguson on that occasion lived around Liberty. I recall seeing them brought home in wagons by their friends and relatives a few days later.
Another tragedy that somewhat affected Liberty was the destruction of what the Union people called "Pomp Kersey's gang." Kersey lived on Short Mountain, ten miles in the direction of Woodbury. His followers were mostly young men of good family. They had taken sides with the South and frequently raided Liberty and the surrounding county, for the Federals had often raided their homes on Short Mountain, sometimes taking innocent lives. Kersey's last raid was made one night, and a Union citizen of Liberty was killed. The next morning the band was pursued by Blackburn's company. The latter went up Clear Fork and Canal Creek, hearing of Kersey from time to time. Early in the afternoon they tracked their prey to a deep hollow, where every mountaineer was sound asleep, with not a picket on duty. Doubtless they had never hard that the Federals were in the vicinity when they made their raid, or they would not have been so negligent. Creeping stealthily to within gunshot, Blackburn's force took careful aim and fired. The result was awful. Only one of the hunted men escaped death, and he was not the leader.
The next day the dead men - perhaps no more than a dozen - were hauled to Liberty in an ox cart. I witnessed the unloading. The cart was driven before the door of a vacant store and the gruesome load thrown in on each other, as if their enemy were piling rails. Later they were buried in an old field, and after the war their bones were carried by friends back to their native mountain and re-interred.
I own one of the carbines used by the Federals in that man hunt, it having been purchased from the owner after the war.
The soldiers were often quartered on the citizens. I have seen as many as twenty of Quirk's scouts at our long dining table at a time, our family eating with them. One evening I heard a great rumbling sound as of a continuous thunder west of the village. The scouts jumped up from the table in much excitement. Presently, some of them returned, greatly pleased. A number of the scouts - or it may have been another body of Confederates - had captured a small train of wagons and were having it rushed to the village. That night a large box filled with dry goods was opened in our house. The beautiful tings displayed hut my eyes by the candlelight. The capturers were liberal, and presented many things to their host and hostess.
It is too painful to dwell on the individual tragedies that occurred round about. I shall close this rambling sketch with a somewhat humorous incident. Col. Stokes had married my mother's sister. He owned a fine farm and negroes three miles north of the village. As shown he was a Federal. My mother's brother, who was a "fire-eating" Rebel, owned a fine farm and negroes two miles south of the village. His father had purchased the place in 1810. My uncle had been a Democratic member of the Legislature twice before the war and Col. Stokes had been in Congress.
These brother-in-law were friendly despite politics; but Stokes' men, who did pretty much as they pleased, were ever on the hunt for the fire eater, and he was continually "skedaddling." One cold winter night he and other refugees were sleeping in a barn some miles form home, among them a man who was not very "bright." About Midnight, the crowd was awakened by the simpleton. "Git up men, git up," he whispered hoarsely. "The Yankees is coming."
"How do you know!," my uncle asked, rubbing his eyes and listening to the cold wind blowing among the hills.
"Cause I hear Patsy Scurlock's dogs barkin' away down the creek!" explained the man.
"Now if you can assure me that Patsy Scurlock's dogs bark only at Yankees I'll be willing to take this raw January air!" exclaimed uncle, and crawled back under the hay.
drawn maps of the area