Wednesday, April 22, 2015

4.22.2015, Tennessee Civil War Notes

1861 - 1864

  

1861

        22, Anxious telegram communication between Governor Isham G. Harris and L. P. Walker, Secretary of War, relative to need for arms in Tennessee

NASHVILLE, April 22, 1861.

L. P. WALKER:

Have you any arms that you can spare to Tennessee? If so, of what character? I know of no market at which they can be procured immediately.

ISHAM G. HARRIS.

MONTGOMERY, April 22, 1861.

Governor ISHAM G. HARRIS, Nashville, Tenn.:

Some days ago I ordered 1,500 muskets and some heavy guns to Memphis. In my dispatch to-day I propose to furnish the three regiments asked for. If more can be done for you, you may rest assured it shall be.

L. P. WALKER.

NASHVILLE, April 22, 1861.

L. P. WALKER:

Can you send me an experienced ordnance officer to supervise, for a short time, the casting, testing, &c., of ordnance? It is indispensable.

ISHAM G. HARRIS.

MONTGOMERY, ALA., April 22, 1861.

Governor ISHAM G. HARRIS, Nashville:

Will send you ordnance officer as soon as one can be had. You may rely on this.

L. P. WALKER.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 52, pt. II, pp. 63-64.

22, Orders to establish a Confederate recruiting rendezvous in Memphis

ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, Montgomery, April 22, 1861.

Capt. W. S. WALKER, Monticello, Fla.:

SIR: At your earliest convenience you will repair to Memphis, Tenn., and there establish a recruiting rendezvous for the Army of the Confederate States. As that State has not yet formally constituted itself a part of this Confederacy, you will exercise due caution in carrying on your duties. It is not apprehended, however, that you will meet with any serious difficulty in procuring the services of good men nor be interrupted in your duties. The men are to be engaged and properly examined by a competent medical man, after passing which examination they are to be sent in squads to Baton Rouge Barracks, to report to Capt. Frazer, by whom they will be enlisted and supplied with clothing. In addition to your duties at Memphis you will establish branch rendezvous on a convenient line of communication with that city within a distance of 100 miles, more or less, at such points as by observation you may deem well adapted for engaging good men.

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector Gen.

OR, Ser. I. Vol. 52. pt II, p. 64.

        22, "To seek out and sustain, if need be, the families of those who go forth to battle for 'Our Country's' rights, to give immortality to those who fall in our defense, and welcome to our firesides the toil-worn soldiers who have suffered and bled for us." Formation of the Ladies' Soldiers' Friend Society of Nashville

NASHVILLE, Monday April 22, 1861

The ladies of Nashville met pursuant to adjournment, Mrs. A.W. McCall in the Chair.

The Committee on Organization made the following report:

Whereas, We are now compelled to regard the South and the South only as "Our Country," and as it is now in great danger; therefore

Resolved, That we pledge our all in support of her glorious cause, and in order that we may do more efficiently what we ought , we organize ourselves into a Society to be called, "The Soldiers' Friend Society of Nashville."

Resolved, That the officers of the Society shall be a President, ten Vice Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall discharge the duties, usually assigned to such officers.

Resolved, That the objects of this Society shall be,

First, To make up clothing for our soldiers' to prepare lint, bandages, and whatever else may be required to promote the comfort of the noble volunteers.

Second, To raise money, in order to carry out the purposes of t his Society; and

Third, To seek out and sustain, if need be, the families of those who go forth to battle for "Our Country's" rights, to give immortality to those who fall in our defense, and welcome to our firesides the toil-worn soldiers who have suffered and bled for us.

The Committee on Organization beg leave to report the following persons as permanent Officers of this Society;

President- Mrs. Jas. K. Polk

Vice Presidents- Mesds. Thomas Claiborne, Jno. M. Bass, Paul F. Eve, Henry Middleton Rutledge, John Shelby, Daniel Graham, Aaron V. Brown, Andrew Jackson, Robert Bell, Daniel Craighead.

Secretary-Mrs. M.A. Knox

Treasurer- Mrs. J.A.S. Acklin

Committee to superintend making up Clothing: Meds. L.C. Nicholson, M.B.S. Lawrence, Randall W. McGavock, George Cunningham, R.C. Foster, 3d, George Seiper, Mary Crockett, Joseph Henning.

Committee to see after the wants of the families of Volunteers:

Meds. R. M. Porter, L.C. Huston, Byrd Douglass, D.F. Carter, James Plunkett, James B. Craighead, William Cooper, E.P. Fort, S.R. Cockrill, Nathan Gibson, Irby Morgan, W.G. Harding.

Committee to superintend, the preparation of lint, bandages, &E:

Misses Jane Thomas, Anna Lou, Eve, Mollie Martin, Mary L. McGavock, Mary Hadley, Medora Carter, Anna Green, Pattie Anderson, Mary M. Elliott, Minnie Truledge, Felicia Bass, Maggie Knox, Ida Hamilton.

Committee to raise money:

Meds. J.H. Williams, H.S. Foster, Lyzinka C. Brown, James M.  Hamilton, L.H. Lanier, John J. McCann, Alexander McCall, Washington Barrow, Matthew Watson, Tom Smith, S.R. Anderson, Edwin Hickman, Hill McAllister, R.C. McNairy, Granville P. Smith, C.E. Hillman, Joseph Horton, John Overton, A.L.P. Green, John B. Everett, William Stockell, C.K. Winston, A.J. McWhirter, Richard Cheatham, Jas. Hoggatt.

Which, on motion, was unanimously adopted.

The Committee on Resolution made the following report, which was unanimously adopted:

On motion, all who desired to co-operate with the Society in its labors were requested to give their names to the Secretary, when two hundred and four ladies, being all that were present, immediately enrolled themselves.[1]

The following communication, from the Tennessee Division, No. 30, Sons of Temperance, was received, and ordered to be entered on the minutes:

"Sons' Hall," MASONIC TEMPLE,

Saturday, April 20, 1861

Mrs. James K. Polk, President Ladies' Southern Rights Association:

At a meeting of Tennessee Division, No. 30, of the Sons of Temperance, held this evening, it was unanimously voted that "Sons' Hall," in the Masonic Temple, be tendered your Association for its meetings.

By order of the Division.

Respectfully,

J. HENRY CURREY, R.S. pro tem.

Upon a call being made for subscriptions, between $800 and $1,000 were immediately subscribed, the ladies, young and old manifesting, the greatest enthusiasm.

On motion, the Society adjourned to meet on call of the President, through the city papers.

M. A. KNOX, Secretary

Nashville Daily Gazette, April 24, 1861

 

1862

 

        22, Military Governor Johnson favors releasing local Confederate sympathizer Gen. Murray contingent upon his taking the oath of allegiance to the United States

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Nashville, Tenn., April 22, 1862

Col. MATTHEWS [Provost Marshal].

DEAR SIR: From all that I can learn in connection with Gen. Murray's arrest I am thoroughly satisfied that it would be the better policy to release him upon condition of his renewing his allegiance to the Government and entering into security for a reasonable amount for the faithful observance thereof. I should not hesitate in taking this course if I had caused the arrest to be made. His release will accomplish far more than sending him away. He is a mere militia general, elected by the people, authorized by the militia law and commissioned by the Governor. He was never in the Confederate service as I understand who are to be sent away. I think it would be better to make some examination of their cases before giving them so much importance. It is much better to keep some here so far as affecting the public mind than to send them away. Many of these men are not known beyond their immediate neighborhood, and can exert no influence whatever upon the State or beyond its limits. I think that you or some other person ought to be authorized to make a partial examination at least of these cases before they are dignified with a trip examination at least of these cases before they are dignified with a trip North or any other point beyond the limits of the State.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ANDREW JOHNSON.

P. S.-I hope that you will submit this letter to Capt. Greene as I understand he has control of these cases. If he has not such control then to Gen. Dumont.

A. J.

OR, Ser. II, Vol. 3, p. 470.

        22, Plea to General Beauregard to expedite exchange of Clark's Regiment composed of Henry County citizens captured at the fall of Island No. 10

MEMPHIS, April 22, 1862.

Gen. G. T. BEAUREGARD.

DEAR SIR: I trust you will not consider the application I am about to make as officious or improper. I desire to ask your early effort toward effecting an exchange for our prisoners recently captured at Island No. 10, in the Madrid Bend. My apology for the request may be found in the fact that one of the regiments, commanded by Col. John M. Clark, is composed entirely of citizens of Henry County, Tenn., the county in which I reside. I am personally acquainted with very many of them and cherish for all of them the deepest sympathy and highest regard. I do not know that my humble services could be available in any way toward the accomplishment of the desired object, but would willingly render any aid in my power. I have just returned from Richmond and beg to tender you my heartfelt thanks for your patriotic, able and chivalrous defense of our great valley. Long may you live to wear the chaplet your arms have won, and may its garlands grow greener and fresher as they grow older.

Your friend and obedient servant,

JON. D. C. ATKINS.

[Indorsement.]

Answer: He has already sent to offer to exchange prisoners but for the present the enemy decline. He desires me to thank you for your kind wishes.

OR, Ser. II, Vol. 3, p. 856.

        22, Life in the Midst of Death; the Birth of Baby Empress

The Empress…left Pittsburg Tuesday noon, with three hundred and fifty-seven patients….On board was also a party of nurses and other assistants from St. Louis. During the passage a number of amputations were performed, and ten of the patients died.

In the midst of the scene of suffering and death, a woman on board, the wife of a missing soldier who was in the fight at Pittsburg, gave birth to a female infant. The woman accompanied or closely followed her husband to Pittsburg, and, on the second day of the fight, while the conflict was raging around here, was engaged in searching for him on the battle-field. While thus employed she received a gunshot wound--a flesh wound only--in the breast. Failing, at last, to find her husband, in despair she took passage on the Empress. Her child received the name of the steamer.

The missing father is said to be a Polander or Norwegian, with a long name, which our informants find it impossible to remember.

Chicago Times, April 22, 1862. [2]

22, Observation on cotton

We have no sort of feeling for a man whose head is filled with cotton, or a woman whose bosom is ditto.

Nashville Daily Union, April 22, 1862. [3]

        22, Picket skirmish at Fort Pillow, [see April 12 1862– June 5, 1862, "U. S. Naval Operations on the Mississippi River against Fort Pillow, including engagement at Plum Point Bend, May 10, 1862," above]

No circumstantial reports filed.

        22, Reported conflict over abolition between Kentucky and Indiana regiments in Clarksville

From Clarksville.

Gentlemen from Clarksville report a fight having taken place among the Federals garrisoning that place, a few days since. A quarrel arose between a Kentucky and Indiana regiment upon the slavery question, which resulted in a battle between them, in, which twenty were killed and between forty and fifty wounded. The Inianians too the ultra abolition position. Great dissatisfaction is reported to exist everywhere in the Federal ranks on the abolition measure posted by the Federal Congress.

Memphis Daily Appeal, April 22, 1862. [4]

 

 

1863

 

        22, Skirmish at Hartsville

No circumstantial reports filed.

        22, Skirmish at McMinnville [see April 19, 1863, Federal attack upon Celina above]

        22, Coercing loyalty

At Nashville...by order of Brigadier-General R. B. Mitchell, all white persons over the age of eighteen years residing in the lines of his command were compelled to subscribe to the oath of allegiance or non-combatant's parole, or go South.

Rebellion Record, Vol. 6, p. 66.

        22, A Traveler's Observations on the Life of Confederate Soldiers in Middle Tennessee

Tullahoma, Tenn., April 22, 1863.

We arrived here, as I predicted, on Sunday night. We came through with a whiz—resting not night or day, excepting a few hours to cook. Those who travel now-a-days should bring their own victuals cooked. There is nothing to eat in the wayside hotels or taverns. I was swindled twice into hotels on the way and got nothing to eat. The best way is to go into the eating-room, look at the victuals on the table, if you like the spread sit down, if otherwise, leave.

* * * *

But let me now tell how vain hospitable hopes were quickly blighted by a Tennessee matron. We had bivouacked to cook and rest for a night, when I went to a comfortable looking house, where there was a well, and sent in my Ethiope [sic] to beg the loan of a tub to wash my feet in.

The tub came, with a message from madam that she wished to see me as soon as convenient. What could she want? Of course, thought I, she means to invite me to tea, if not to a bed, and my fancy began to revel in the anticipated comfort. I came, I saw—but didn't conquer; for all that she wanted was to request me to put a guard over her premises, to protect them from the soldiers! Such is life! But I comfort myself with the thought that she did not see me, for it was dark, and no candle lighted.

But enough of women for the present. The greater part of the way from Chattanooga to Tullahoma is through the Alleghany [sic] mountains. It abounds in the wildest and most irregular and chaotic aspects of nature. High overhanging cliffs of granite, narrow and tortuous cuts along the bases of the eternal and adamantine hills, bridged chasms and abysses, deep valleys and high, bald mountain peaks, make up the chequered scene….

* * * *

Tullahoma is in the level plain between the Allegheny and Cumberland Mountains. The surface of this wide plain is very level, and but for the dense woods covering it, would be a fine field for cavalry exploits. As it is, cavalry and artillery are almost useless. Query—has at here ever been a cavalry charge in any of our great or considerable battles? [emphasis added] I have never heard of one. The fact is, that we have always had too much of "the cavalry." One infantry soldier is worth five cavalry men, and costs only one third the money.

I do not mean to deny or disparage the achievements of Wheeler, Forrest, Stuart, Van Dorn, and others. They are brilliant, great and important. But the truth is, that their commands are not really cavalry—they are mounted infantry, who ride for celerity, but actually fight on foot. What downright nonsense to speak of cavalry attacking gunboats, forts and towns! And yet the telegrams are full of such flap doodle. The only use of cavalry horses in battle is to charge in heavy masses on the enemy, in which the horse is the means of offence more than the sabre or pistol. [emphasis added] For no other use is it excusable to expose horses to the perils of battle. If cavalry fight infantry or artillery, except by charging them, the cavalry are inevitably whipped. Let not my gallant cavalry friends take offense. I admit their gallantry, but I deny their usefulness, and I am uttering military truths for the good of the country. I am not willing to see the forage of the country consumed by cavalry horses, which render no adequate service. I would advise the voltigeur[5] plan, which might be made very effective. Of course, I do not mean to say that we should have no cavalry, but that we should have much less of it. The properties it bears to the other arms is much too large, considering the aspects of our country and its supplies of grain. We have here large numbers of cavalry men who have outlived their horses, and are afoot. They grumble furiously of being put into infantry service. Let them be added to the horse-cavalry as voltigeurs. [?]

Tullahoma is about an average specimen of the "ram-shackling" villages that dot the railroads. The citizens are all gone, and the houses are occupied by the Generals and their staffs. There is no market, and nothing to eat, except army rations. Those seem to be abundant, especially bacon and meal. We get no more beef—bully for that. The good luck of the 38th is yet unchanged. Just at the desirable moment, when Mobile is getting hot and dull, we are transferred to this elevated, healthful, pleasant region. The air is cool, sweet and bracing, the water unsurpassed, the feed plentiful and substantial, though lacking variety, and the prospect ahead very exhilarating. Altogether, we are lucky to get away from Mobile. A city is so demoralizing, so fatal to discipline. Though we sigh for "the girl we left behind us," yet the parting is for our own and our country's good.

The amusements here are running rabbits and sham battles. A general whoop announces the discovery of a rabbit, when he is surrounded, and rarely escapes. The first rabbit jumped yesterday ran near me, and with a rock I brought him down the first try. He made a good stew. Rabbits sell for $12 a dozen. The sham battles are fought by opposing brigades or divisions, with blank cartridges. A good battle is to come off on Friday, of which there was a rehearsal yesterday. I am not a participant, but hope to "be there to see." It is said that fine ladies come from Huntsville, Columbia, McMinnville and Shelbyville to see these battles, and a gay time is had. There is, in consequence, a good deal of "courting down in Tennessee." A dashing, young, bachelor General is said to be the marked-out victim of the aspiring ladies who have "button on the brain," and that they are sending him the tenderest missives. Two of "the staff" have given $1000 for a fine carriage to ride the ladies in.

There is a girl in the neighborhood reputed to be worth half a million of Confederate dollars. If any of the staff get her, the stock in the carriage will be a good investment. There is a high cascade in a mile and a half of the place, which is said to be a "romantic" and favoritere [sic] sort for "loviers. [sic]" We are so closely confined to camp that there is no opportunity to see much. [emphasis added

No officer or soldier can be absent but two hours at a time, and then only by permission by his General. I have to sleep in my clothes, minus shoes and cap only, to be ready to jump up harnessed in a moment, in answer to the long-roll.

What a chaos, a hurly burly, is a great camp! Everybody is asking, but nobody answering questions. It is nearly impossible to find anybody or any place or thing. I was a couple of hours hunting up the Inspector General. I asked a fellow at the Inspector's house where he was, and he didn't know, had just arrived himself, and asked me if I were not Governor of the town, whom he wished to see. Everybody is a wag, or a malicious snarler, and won't tell you anything. "Whose regiment is that," some one asks."—"Our'n" is the proving answer. All about the village are such inhospitable notices as this—"Animals hitched here will be cut loose." Sardines are held at $24 a (full) box, and inferior funked [sic] tobacco at $5 a pound….

Bayonet.

Mobile Register and Advertiser, April 29, 1863.[6]

        22, "We have been most vigorously following our accustomed duty, only, it has changed from scouting and picketing to brisk skirmishing and hard fighting." The First East Tennessee Cavalry [U. S.] in Middle Tennessee

Letter from First East Tenn. Cavalry

Camps 1st East Tenn. Reg. Cavalry

April 22, 1863.

Mr. Editor:

We have, for sometime, been intending to communicate to your columns, a few items of interest which we have recorded from time to time since we entered this State. In so doing we hope to extend the information of our older and benefit our younger friends, with whom we once mingled in a far different capacity from that we are now called to fill.

Since the first of January we have occupied an important and responsible position in this regiment. Our commanders are Col. Robert Johnson son of our Governor, and James P. Brownlow is now in command of us, Col. J. having had permission to raise a brigade of cavalry.

This regiment was formed in Eastern Kentucky, defended Cumberland Gap for six months, and in Sept. 1862 retreated to Ohio, being compelled to evacuate from want of food and ammunition and being pursued and harassed all the way by the invaders and rebel sympathizers of Kentucky.-Since then they were ordered to Camp Dennison Ohio, mustered out of Infantry and in Cavalry, the first of December. We left for Dixie the last Sabbath of '62, came to Louisiana; from thence to Nashville the 12th of January. After a long and wearisome as well as a wet and cold march of fifteen days through the rebel (line cut off) snow rain and wind we entered the Capital of Tennessee the 28th, weary and sick, many of the men's feet having been frozen that day. Before the expiration of twenty-four hours we were sent scouting with "three days' provisions."  Until February 11, we were on our horses more than two thirds of our time, night and day. After scouring the country about the city for 20 miles round, we were ordered 12 mile south, to join  Stedman's Brigade, thence to this place-Triune-just 23 miles due south of Nashville and exactly between Murfreesboro' and Franklin. We have been most vigorously following our accustomed duty, only, it has changed from scouting and picketing to brisk skirmishing and hard fighting.

One not accustomed to such a life as we lead finds much to complain of, if he is so disposed and is destitute of patriotism. He who complains and is continually grumbling with camp life, marches, scouts and duty necessary to military departments, is not patriot and ought not to be among us, but sent beyond the lines, there to act or die without the privilege of uttering a murmur. A good soldier is never heard to complain of poor living, poor quarters or poor accommodations for sleeping.-  Such men are no benefit t our army but hindrance, worse and an armed foe. We are "down front," in every sense of the word as we stand face to face with the rebels about every other day.-Since our first skirmish with them in this vicinity they have retreated more than twenty miles. We are not unfrequently out on scouts three, four and at one time eight days, forty-eight hours of which we nor our horses had a bite to eat.

Like our friends at home, we used to think, before coming into the army, that generals with their forces moved very slow and wondered why a forward movement was not made. Our friends now write to know why we don't move up. Could such inquiries come within our lines and see for one day what an army or even a thousand men demand, it would silence all wonderings and wishing "they'd move on."  For sometime past, until within three weeks, we have assumed the defensive entirely, for what purpose is best known to our worthy and competent Gen. Rosecrans. He keeps his own counsels, knows his own plans and wisely prohibits reporters from deceiving and injuring the anxiety of the public. Recently it appears that we have taken the offensive and were permitted to make an attack, gobbling up a hundred rebels, killing twenty-three, and severely wounding many others. We had but one battalion out, who met and defeated twice our number with the above result. Since that, which occurred about the first of March, we have been engaged in more than a dozen fights, in which we captured eight commissioned officers and above two hundred privates all belonging to Van Dorn, Wheeler, Forest and Steven's commands,  We could mention many other interesting instances of battled but have no room. Our regiment has done good service and would have accomplished much more had our General permitted us to act. The rebels say they did not come to fight the East Tennesseans but the Ohio troops.

Van Dorn & Co. are hovering round our front and we except them to attack us shortly. We are ready for any of his forces and are confident of success should they attempt it.

We are temporarily connected with this Division for which we do all the picketing, scouting and skirmishing. With reference to the duty we perform our General remarked after a skirmish the witnessed that, "he had been in the field for twenty-six months and had had a great deal to do with cavalry, but had never seen cavalry before," that "he never saw blood drawn with the saber," and that "we did more than could be expected from a brigade."  In all our attacks and skirmishes since coming into this State we have lost but three killed, one taken prisoner and eleven wounded.

The health of our own men is excellent and all are in good spirits hoping to return to their homes soon. Not a man of us but has been driven from his home in East Tennessee by the rebels, and we are the only men in the field whose homes are in their possession and whose families are at their mercy.

I will hereafter communicate to the columns of your excellent paper once in a while if you desire.

B.

The Farmer's Cabinet, April 22, 1863.


1864

 

        22, Entry in Alice Williamson's Diary, Sumner County

No arrests have been made yet on account of the "butcher at Fort Pillow." Don't be uneasy gentlemen your time will come soon.

Williamson Diary

        22, Skirmish on Duck River

No circumstantial reports filed.

        22, Confederate reconnaissance near Cleveland

CLEVELAND, TENN., April 22, 1864

Col. J. B. DORR, Cmdg. First Brigade:

The colonel commanding directs me to say that from information received at these headquarters it is evident that the enemy are making a reconnaissance in the direction of Cleveland, caused probably by the reconnaissance of Col. LaGrange. He directs that you cause the pickets on the Spring Place road, with the posts thrown out therefrom, to be strengthened by an additional detail of 40 men, to be relieved or ordered in the morning, should nothing occur to make it necessary to continue the re-enforcement. They will be instructed to exercise the utmost vigilance, and at 3 a. m. they will start patrols out on the Spring Place road and also on the Dalton road so as to prevent the possibility of surprise.

I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ROBERT LE ROY,

Capt. and Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. III, p. 445.

        22, Federal pursuit of guerrillas, Columbus across the Hiwassee

HDQRS. SEVENTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, Columbus, Tenn., April 22, 1864.

Brig.-Gen. WAGNER:

GEN.: I have the honor to report "all quiet" on the Hiwassee, except some little excitement caused by rather bold and frequent stealing of mules by persons supposed to be connected with guerrillas from below. I learn also from refugees in to-day that in the vicinity of Ducktown the people were expecting a raid to-day or to-morrow by a force of about 100, under command of a certain notorious Dr. Young. I don't get reliable information of any particular evidence of the movement further than the expectations of the people there. Among the refugees in to-day was a gentleman of more than ordinary intelligence and shrewdness, and apparently better posted up in matters pertaining to the rebel army than any one I have before met with. His statement is that the nominal force of Johnston's army, as shown by the muster-rolls last month, was, 42,000 all told, but constantly diminishing by desertion, sickness, &c. I desire instructions whether to continue my report direct to you, and where. I have reported daily, but get no answer whether my dispatches reach you.

Your obedient servant,

JASON MARSH, Col., Cmdg. Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteers.

8 O'CLOCK A. M .

P. S.-I am just in receipt of reliable information that a squad of rebel cavalry, 50 or 60, are dashing through 5 miles above me, making for my picket station at Savannah. I have dispatched two companies in pursuit.

J. M.

HDQRS. SEVENTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS,

Columbus, Tenn., April 22, 1864.

Brig.-Gen. WAGNER:

GEN.: As I stated in my dispatch of this morning, I sent two companies in the quickest possible time to the point where the rebel cavalry seemed, by their inquiries, to be making for the purpose of crossing the Hiwassee. On arriving there it was ascertained that they proceeded in that direction as far as Goley's Mill, about 3 ½ miles from this point, and about the same distance from Savannah, and then struck for the trail over the mountain; judging from their inquiries at different points, I concluded they would make for the crossing called Broad Shoals, about 12 miles, and might not get there before night. As soon as I learned their apparent course, I dispatched 30 men to Broad Shoals, in the hope of intercepting them during the night. As yet (midnight) I have not heard from the expedition. From entirely reliable information, they consisted of 64, divided into two squads, thoroughly armed, but very much jaded out.

The most correct account I can get of their companies is that they come from the direction and within about 4 miles of Riceville; beyond that I have not been able to trace them. The boldness and success of the affair demonstrates the necessity of having more force, and particularly some cavalry, in this vicinity, if it is important to prevent such raids or to have the present command here at all safe. It was their declared intention, before they got to Goley's Mill, to pounce upon my force at Savannah and capture them. I can't think why they changed their purpose, as I can see no reason why they should not have succeeded and got off before I could have rallied any force to stop them. I am satisfied that Goley aided them all he could. What shall I do with such men, when I have good reason to suspect them?

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

JASON MARSH, Col., Cmdg. Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteers.

P. S.-I desire instructions whether furlough are still granted under the order giving 5 per cent. I am told that order has been suspended, but I can find no official notice of it among my papers.

J. M.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. III, pp. 451-452.

        22, Dr. F. Noel Burke appointed Health Officer for Memphis

"Special Orders, No. 99"

By this important document published in another column of our today's issue,[7] it will be seen that Surgeon F. Noel Burke has been duly appointed Health Officer for the city, and is instructed to proceed immediately to the discharge of his duties. All orders and instructions given by him and approved by the commanding officer of the District in regard to the police and sanitary arrangements of the city, will be carried out by all persons, civil and military, and when necessary, enforced by the military authorities. This is an office which has already been too long vacant, and now that it is filed by the appointment of Surgeon Burke, this competent gentleman will doubtless find many duties to perform, which have arisen from past neglect, and rendered more difficult by an over laxity in the municipal regulations heretofore. All the difficulties, however, we trust will soon be overcome, and the condition of our city materially improved. Dr. Burke is a gentleman who we deem fully sufficient for the labors of the responsible position to which he has been assigned, and we trust he may be abet in these labors not only by the authorities, but by every good citizen of the community, as it is a matter in which we all have an interest.

Memphis Bulletin, April 22, 1864.

        22, The dust problem in Memphis

"Street Sprinkling"

We have suffered much this spring from dust-it is a nuisance that annoys all, and is damaging to many. Pedestrians are [stifled?] in the streets; storekeepers' goods are injured; the flour barrel and the contents of the ladies' wardrobes alike participate in the too free distribution of real estate. Dust is the portion of the unhappy souls and daughters of men before their time; the proper time is understood to be when "dust to dust" is pronounced over the remains of defunct mortality beside its final resting place. Having often been inquired of upon the subject, we yesterday made some investigations from which we learn that improvements have been made in the machinery at the landing, by which a liberal supply of water will be on hand at that tank at the foot of Madison street. An agent is now out ascertaining whether the residents in the principal streets will contribute to extend the sphere of street sprinkling, so that the extent to which the dust is to be laid, will depend upon the people paying for the necessary work. The baths at the tank are in full bloom [?], and there is a probability of warm baths being introduced.

Memphis Bulletin, April 22, 1864.

        22, Federal relocation of indigent inhabitants at Fayetteville

HDQRS. TWENTIETH CORPS, Lookout Valley, Tenn., April 22, 1864

Brig. Gen. A. S. WILLIAMS, Cmdg. First Division, Twentieth Corps:

GEN.:

* * * *

The indigent inhabitants at Fayetteville will be sent to Nashville, and until further orders the two companies of Tennessee Cavalry will take post at Tracy City and the senior officer be instructed to report by letter to Maj.-Gen. Rousseau, at Nashville, for further orders.

* * * *

H. W. PERKINS, Lieut.-Col. and Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. III, p. 444.

        22, "Counterfeits."

The city is being flooded with counterfeit $20 Treasury notes. The engraving is pretty well executed, and likely to deceive a casual observer, but by comparing the genuine spurious, the fraud can be easily detected by its general appearance; the Goddess of Liberty is somewhat different, and inferior to the genuine; some of the figures are badly executed, and the signature is bad, particularly the F. Business men who are desirous of comparing them may well call upon Sanford & Co., bankers and brokers, College street.

Nashville Dispatch, April 22, 1864.

        22, Bigamy in Nashville, a comedy of errors

"Rather Muddled"

Night before last [20th], a lady residing in South Nashville, named Fly, and whose husband has been absent in the Rebel ranks nearly three years, got married to a private soldier of the Federal army. Yesterday her husband was captured, or deserted, and early in the day he sent an epistle of sweet things to his wife, one of which was that he should take the oath of allegiance and Fly into her arms. But the woman protested against any and all such proceedings, contending that she was no longer a Fly. She informed the new partaker of her joys what had transpired, who, thinking there would be a muss, in which an infuriated husband might get the best of it, stated his intentions as honorable, and as proof thereof, was willing to cry quits, and forfeit the realization of all his ecstatic anticipations. But the wife gave a groan, and swore fidelity to her new found love, and swore, further that the original Jacob should never again enter her abode. This case promised a rich denouement, and will be a godsend to gossips.

Nashville Dispatch, April 22, 1864.

        22, "Military Items."

Twenty-three Federal deserters were forwarded to their regiments this morning.

Geo. Smith, of the 4th U. S. Cavalry, was arrested yesterday and sent to the Penitentiary for forging discharge papers.

Sergeant G. Sanderson, company B, 4th Iowa Infantry, was stabbed in the neck yesterday by a guard at the barracks. The guard will be tried by court [sic] martial today.

Three prisoners of war were brought in yesterday, and will be forwarded this morning.

A. M. Bailey, a rebel soldier, charged with murder and highway robbery, is being tried by the Military Commission.

W. C. Raylor is released upon bail, to be tried by the Court at Murfreesboro next month.

Nashville Dispatch, April 22, 1864.

        22, "Counterfeit Hundreds."

Jacob Hanlon, who keeps a store at No. 4 Market street, a few night's ago sold a pair of shoes to a man named Geo. Kelly, and received in pay a hundred dollar bill, which proved to be bogus. He charged but three dollars for the shoes, and therefore gave in change ninety-seven dollars. Hanlon was before the Provost Marshal yesterday, but no Geo. Kelly can be found.

Nashville Dispatch, April 22, 1864.

        22, "We are temporarily connected with this Division for which we do all the picketing, scouting and skirmishing." News from the First East Tennessee Cavalry

Letter from First East Tenn. Reg. Cavalry

Camps 1st East Tenn. Reg. Cavalry. April 22, 1864,.

Mr. Editor:

We have, for some time, been intending to communicate to your columns, a few items of interest which we have recorded from time to time since we entered this state. In so doing we hope to extend the information of our older and benefit our younger friends, with whom we once mingled in a far different capacity from that we are now called to fill.

Since the first of January we have occupied an important and responsible position in this regiment. Our Commanders are Col. Robert Johnson son of our Governor, and James P. Brownlow, the youngest son of the Parson-the noted patriot of East Tennessee and the undaunted and fearless editor of the Knoxville Whig. Col. Brownlow is now in command of us, Col. J having had permission to raise a brigade of cavalry.

This regiment was formed in Eastern Kentucky, defended Cumberland Gap for six months, and in Sept. 1862 retreated to the Ohio, being compelled to evacuate from want of food and ammunition and being pursued and harassed all the way by the invaders and rebel sympathizers of Kentucky.- Since then they were ordered to Camp Dennison, Ohio, mustered out of Infantry and in cavalry, the first of December. We left for Dixie the last Sabbath of '62, acme to Louisiana; from thence to Nashville the 12th of January. After a long and wearisome as well as a wet and cold march of fifteen days through the rebel neutral State through snow rain and win we entered the Capital of Tennessee the28th, weary and sick, many of the men's feet having been frozen that day. Before the expiration of twenty-four hours we were sent scouting with "three days' provisions." Until February 11, we were on our horses more than two thirds of the time, night and day. After scouring the country about the city for 20 miles round, we were ordered 12 miles south, to join Stedman's Brigade, then to this place-Srieme [sic] [Triune] – just 23 miles due south o Nashville and exactly between Murfreesboro and Franklin. We have been most vigorously following or accustomed duty, only, it has chance from scouting and picketing to brisk skirmishing and hard fighting.

One not accustomed to such a life as we lead finds much to complain of, if he is so disposed and is destitute of patriotism. He who complains and is continually grumbling with camp life, marches, scouts and duty necessary t military departments, is no patriot and ought not to be among us, but sent beyond the lines, there to act or die without the privilege of uttering a murmur. A good soldier I never heard to complain of poor living, poor quarters or poor accommodations for sleeping-Such men are no benefit to our army but hindrance, worse than an armed foe. We are "down front" in every sense of the word as we stand face to face with the rebels about every other day.-Since our first skirmish with them in this vicinity they have retreated more than twenty miles. We are not unfrequently out on scouts three, four and at one time eight days, forty-eight hours of which we nor our horses had a bite to eat.

Like our friends at home, we used to think, before coming into the army, that generals with their forced moved very show and wondered why a forward movement was not made. Our friends now write to know why we don't move up. Could such inquirers come withng our lines and see for one day what an army or even a thousand men demand, it would silence all wonderings and within "they'd move on." For sometime past, until within three weeks, we have assumed the defensive entirely, for what purpose is best known to our worthy and competent Gen. Rosecrans. He keeps his own counsels, knows his own plans and wisely prohibits reporters from describing and injuring the anxiety of the public. Recently it appears that we have taken the offensive and were permitted to make an attack, gobbling up a hundred rebels, killing twenty-three, and severely wounding many others. We had but one battallion out, who met and defeated twice our number with the above result. Since that, which occurred about he first of March, we have engaged in more than a dozen fight, in which we capture d eight commissioned officers and above two hundred privates all belonging to Van Dorn, Wheeler, Forest [sic] and Stevens commands. We could mention many other interesting instances of battles but have no room. Our regiment has done good service and would have accomplished much more had our General permitted us to act. The rebels say they did not come to fight the East Tennesseeans by the Ohio troops.

Van Dorn & Co. are hovering round our front and we expect them to attack us shortly. We are ready for any of his forces and are confident of success should they attempt it.

We are temporarily connected with this Division for which we do all the picketing, scouting and skirmishing. With references to the duty we perform our General remarked after a skirmish he witnesses that, "he had been in the field for twenty-six months and had a great deal to do with cavalry, but had never seen cavalry before," that a "he never saw blood drawn with the saber," and that "we did more than could be expected from a brigade." In all our attacks and skirmishes since coming into this State we have lost but three killed, one taken prisoner and eleven wounded.

The health of our men is excellent and all are in good spirits hoping to return to their homes soon. Not a man of us but has been driven from his home in East Tennessee by the rebels, and we are the only men in the field whose homes are in their possession and whose families are at their mercy.

I will hereafter communicate to the columns of your excellent once in a while if you desire.

B.

The Farmer's Cabinet, May 7, 1864.

 

 

 



[1] So soon after the Confederate victory at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor (April 12-13, 1861) these females, the crème de la crème, and crème de la crème "wannabes" demonstrated their support for the Confederacy. Few of them, it is believed, actually volunteered in the hospitals or took poor soldiers' families in, but the talk was noble and at this stage of the war all that was needed was cheap noble talk and the formation of such vacuous social organization. Perhaps they did so in order to anticipate class anger that might percolate  from below and thus assuage it and their guilt that those they purported to assist were in no way their equals and would not be so treated.

[2] As cited in: http://www.uttyl.edu/vbetts.

[3] As cited in: http://www.uttyl.edu/vbetts.

[4] As cited in PQCW.

[5] Light infantry, a military concept born of the innovations of Napoleonic France. See: R. Ernest Dupuy and Trevor N. DuPuy, The Enclyclopedia Of Military History From 3500 B.C. To The Present, Second Revised Edition, (New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1986), pp. 665, 782.

[6] As cited in: http://www.uttyl.edu/vbetts.

[7] Not found, nor is this order found in the OR.

 

James B. Jones, Jr.

Public Historian

Tennessee Historical Commission

2941 Lebanon Road

Nashville, TN  37214

(615)-770-1090 ext. 123456

(615)-532-1549  FAX

 

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