Statewide County TN Archives Military Records.....Chapter V 1902
Civilwar 1st TN Cavalry (Union)
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Chapter V
CHAPTER V.

TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGN-THE ADVANCE-GUY'S GAP-TEN THOUSAND CAVALRY ON A WILD

CHARGE-WHEELER FORCED TO SWIM DUCK RIVER-BRAGG LEAVES TENNESSEE -HISTORIC

CAMP-MOVEMENTS OF THE CAVALRY-CONCENTRATION AT STEVENSON-PREPARING FOR AN ADVANCE.



    On the 23rd day of June, the First Tennessee struck tents and with the

remainder of the cavalry moved out along the Eaglesville turnpike, encountering

the enemy near Eaglesville. After a brisk skirmish, the enemy fell back toward.

Rover, pursued by Campbell's brigade. The enemy kept a battery on the turnpike,

which annoyed our advance a great deal, and when pressed too close it limbered

up and moved to the rear. In the middle of the afternoon the enemy made a stand

near Rover, and a sharp engagement ensued, in which they were repulsed and

driven from the field in confusion.



    The First Tennessee was on the right of the line during the engagement, and

after the enemy had fallen back,, and while waiting for orders to advance, the

enemy appeared upon the right flank of the regiment and opened a brisk fire,

followed by a charge upon our line, but before they reached us, Colonel Brownlow

changed front and drove them back in confusion. In this engagement, the First

Tennessee lost two killed-Reuben DeBoard, Company E, and James Kirkpatrick,

Company H. In this action, Colonel Brownlow's horse was shot from under him.



    Just here I want to relate an incident that occurred during the wild charge

of the enemy upon the First Tennessee. A single horseman, well mounted, was seen

to leave the ranks of his friends and dash at our line as if he meant to capture

it. As he passed the First Tennessee, hundreds of shots were fired at him, but

still he came dashing along, and when in front of the Second Michigan, they

opened fire, and still the horse charged madly on, bearing his rider, who seemed

to have a charmed life. The firing ceased, and all were amazed to think a man

could escape instant death amid such a shower of lead. At last his wild charge

ended and the wonderful mystery was fully solved. Both bridle reins had been cut

by a bullet and his horse, in the excitement, refused to cease charging, and all

that the rider could do was to grasp the pommel of his saddle and "hang on"

while running the gauntlet. His clothes were perforated with bullets, his horse

wounded in many places, but, strange to say, the man's body was not touched. It

is doubtful if he breathed at all during his charge on Campbell's brigade.



    The brigade bivouacked on the field, and early the next morning the march

was resumed, passing through Versailles and on to Middleton, where Campbell's

brigade overtook the enemy and a sharp engagement ensued during a drenching

rain. Stanley's cavalry was now on the extreme right of the Union army, and had

in the two days driven the enemy's cavalry toward Guy's Gap, on the Shelbyville

turnpike.



    Heavy rains continued to fall, making all roads impassable except the

turnpikes. Our bivouacs were indeed unpleasant, being in mud and rain, with no

covering save wet blankets and ponchos, but the First Tennessee had long since

learned by hard experience that a good, comfortable bed could be made by placing

two rails side by side.



    It was General Rosecrans' plan to make a strong demonstration on Bragg's

left with the cavalry and a portion of his infantry, while he, with the

remainder, would make a bold move on Manchester, compelling him to give up his

strong position at Tullahoma. Early on the morning of the 27th, Stanley moved

his cavalry from Christiana to Guy's Gap, followed by the reserve corps, under

Grainger. This part of Bragg's line was held by Polk's corps, with all of

Martin's and a portion of Wharton's division of cavalry under Wheeler, well

posted in Guy's Gap. Stanley formed his cavalry in line of battle within one

mile of the Gap in two lines division fronts. Occasionally the sun would peep

through the flying clouds to witness this great war pageant of ten thousand

cavalry marching in perfect order with bands playing and colors flying. As the

long lines of blue moved forward in line of battle, fields of young growing corn

and the golden wheat ready for the sickle rapidly disappeared under the steady

tramp, tramp of thousands of horses.



    A line of skirmishers was thrown out, and the column ordered forward. The

Confederates, from the crest of the hill, could witness all of our movements,

and as the advanced line approached, the enemy opened fire with artillery and

small arms, which was answered from the lines of blue with Parrott guns and

carbines. At the Gap a few scattering shots were exchanged, then all became

quiet, the enemy having fled in hot haste to their second and strongest line.

Stanley moved his troops forward on the trot, a battery was wheeled into

position in the Gap on the Shelbyville turnpike, and as the exploding shells

were striking terror to the retreating Confederates our bands played "Yankee

Doodle" and "Dixie" in grand style.



    After a short halt, General Stanley ordered his victorious troops forward

again, this time to charge a line of rifle-pits a short distance in his front

and extending across the turnpike. The command was deployed in line of battle,

and at the order, "forward march," the troops moved toward the works. The sight

was grand, as it was rare-cavalry about to charge, mounted, a line of

rifle-pits. "Steady, men, steady!" was repeated along the line as we approached

the works, expecting every moment the dreaded grape or the "singing Minie." On

we went and not a shot was fired except from the skirmish-line, which in the

center waxed warm. The line continued to advance and still no pitiless storm of

lead or screeching shell greeted us. After moving over rocks, through brush and

timber, the works were reached and no enemy in sight, the rifle-pits being

entirely deserted.



    General Stanley ordered immediate pursuit to be made with Minty's brigade,

Second Division, supported by Campbell's brigade, First Division, closely

followed by the whole corps. The charge of Stanley's ten thousand horsemen was a

grand and imposing sight, and to be seen was never to be forgotten. The charge

was made in column of fours. It was seven miles to Shelbyville, and the enemy

were so hard pressed that they were unable to make a stand and only fired a few

shots from their artillery. More than once on this long charge were they

compellel to move their artillery rapidly to the rear to prevent capture.



    At Shelbyville, Wheeler made a desperate attempt to check the advance of the

Union cavalry long enough to allow his artillery and men to cross Duck River,

which at that time was considerably swollen by the recent rains. Wheeler placed

a battery in the public square and opened fire on our advance. There was quite a

brisk engagement at this point between Minty's brigade and the advance of

Wheeler's cavalry, in which the enemy were badly whipped and driven toward Duck

River with the loss of several hundred prisoners. The fleeing enemy were now

pursued by the brigades of Campbell and Minty, and at Duck River bridge three

guns and five hundred men were captured.



    Hundreds of Wheeler's men, finding themselves cut oft from the bridge, their

only means of crossing, and being hard pressed, plunged into the swollen stream,

where scores were drowned in their attempt to gain the opposite side. The rout

was so complete and the flight so hurried that it is said General Wheeler

himself only escaped by swimming the river.



    While the battles of Guy's Gap and Shelbyville do not take high rank as

leading engagements, yet the achievements of Stanley's cavalry on the 27th of

June were very important to the success of Rosecrans' movement, for the left of

Bragg's army was completely routed and driven back over ten miles, with severe

loss in men and artillery. This splendid Union victory had a depressing effect

on Wheeler's cavalry, which up to that time were thought to be invincible.



    Shelbyville is a beautiful little town, located on Duck River, and is at the

terminus of a branch road that leaves the Nashville & Chattanooga railroad at

Wartrace, and at the time of this our first visit the Union people of this loyal

town displayed hundreds of national flags from their windows and house-tops,

that had long been concealed, and made the 27th of June seem like a Fourth of July.



    After a rest of two days, General Stanley set his column in motion for

Manchester on the 30th. The First Tennessee moved with the remainder of the army

over the almost impassable roads, through mud and rain, reaching Manchester the

last day of June. The most of this march was made over dirt roads, and when we

reached the "barrens," the dividing line of the hills bordering on Cumberland

Mountain and the fertile lands of Middle Tennessee, the rain of the past week

had made this whitish soil as soft and spongy as a swamp into which artillery

and wagons cut to the hub. Even our horses could only pass over with the

greatest exertion.



    Both flanks of Bragg's army being turned, he was now compelled to abandon

Tullahoma, which he did on the 30th, and retreated toward Decherd. On the 2nd

day of July, we left Manchester and moved through Estell Springs, fording Elk

River, and moved on to Decherd and Cowan, on the Nashville & Chattanooga

railroad, to find that Bragg had crossed the mountain, and once more Middle

Tennessee was in possession of the Army of the Cumberland.



    At the crossing of Elk River, a very sad and peculiar death occurred in

Company C. The First Tennessee was fording the river, which was considerably

swollen by the recent rain, and just as Company C reached the opposite bank,

Private Calvin Walker fell from his horse and expired without uttering a word,

and opposite his name the following entry was made: "Died from heart failure."



    When it was learned that Bragg had crossed the mountain, the cavalry

returned to Decherd Station. Nothing of special interest occurred at this place

except a national salute fired by our batteries in honor of the glorious Fourth.

After a short rest at Decherd Station, the First Tennessee, with the remainder

of the cavalry, moved through Winchester to Salem, where the regiment enjoyed a

few days of rest and recreation.



    In this brief campaign General Rosecrans lost eighty-five men killed, four

hundred and eighty-two wounded, and thirteen captured. The loss of killed and

wounded in Bragg's army is unknown, but he left behind him one thousand, six

hundred and thirty-four officers and men as prisoners, eight cannon and three

siege guns.



    Before leaving Salem, we received the glorious news of the two great Union

victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg on July 4th, in honor of which a national

salute was fired.



    On the 12th, General Stanley again put his cavalry in motion for Huntsville,

by way of New Market, reaching the former place on the 14th. It was near the

latter place that General R. L. McCook was cruelly and savagely murdered by

"bushwhackers," about a year before. He was riding at the time in an ambulance,

prostrated by sickness, and some distance in advance of his brigade. On account

of this atrocious act, all houses, out-buildings, barns and fences were entirely

destroyed near where he was killed, making the country look desolate.



    Huntsville is a beautiful little town, surrounded by rich and fertile

fields, while from its center a large, magnificent spring furnishes not only the

inhabitants with pure, crystal water, but in addition furnishes the power that

forces the water to the people. Our stay at Huntsville was cut short by an order

to move to Fayetteville, camping for a short time north of town. In a few days

the First Tennessee, with the remainder of the division, struck tents and moved

back to Salem, by way of Gum Springs, going into camp near Winchester. This camp

and the incidents that happened there, over thirty-five years ago, are still

fresh in the memory of the men composing the First Division, and will be

remembered by that gallant body of men until the final muster-out.



    General Mitchell was a rigid disciplinarian, and at this place he seemed to

have all the West Point rules transferred to our camp, and, so far as we know,

he enforced them. He would have reveille sounded at 3 o'clcok each morning, and

the sleepy soldiers were compelled to get up and put on all implements of war,

saddle their horses, roll up overcoats and blankets and strap them to their

saddles, form in line and stand "to horse" until daylight. When taps, or

lights-out was sounded, every light was expected to be put out immediately; in

fact, some of the boys declared that the guard would start on their rounds to

see that the order was strictly complied with before the last sound of this

beautiful call had died away in the distant hills. And if a soldier was found

with a light burning in his tent, he was taken to the provost-marshal's

headquarters and there either tied up by the thumbs or made to carry a rail from

three to five hours.



    On the march, no straggling was permitted, not even for the purpose of

securing water to drink, and if a soldier was found away from his command

without permission, he was dismounted and forced to march the remainder of the

day in the rear of the army. But the men learned that "the way of the

transgressor is hard," and "the wages of sin is death," and that when orders are

violated those who do so must suffer the consequences. Three things are

necessary to make good soldiers. The first thing is discipline; the second,

discipline; the third, discipline; and it was not long until the boys fancied

the three things were subject to multiplication several times. We were awakened

by discipline; roll-call, guard-mounting, drill, cooking beans and bacon, were

all done by discipline as well. But one truthful thing can be said to the credit

of the First Tennessee, and that is, it did not furnish any more material for

violations of these orders than other regiments of the division.



    The last of July, the division was again ordered to return to Fayetteville,

going into camp between the Winchester turnpike and Elk River, and just east of

the stone bridge. This camp was in a grove of magnificent oak and beech trees,

whose spreading branches protected the troops from the hot rays of the sun,

while old "Mother Earth," which was richly carpeted with a soft coat of grass,

made a bed much more preferable than the soft side of two fence rails. This was

also a historic camp, being the same ground that was used by General Jackson as

a rendezvous for his army at the time of the outbreak of the Creek Indians, in

October, 1813.



    There had been numerous outrages committed by the Creek Indians, and on the

30th of August, 1813, Weatherford, a noted chief, led about seven hundred

warriors against Fort Mimms, which was garrisoned by one hundred and fifty men,

under Major Beasley; but, after a brave and determined resistance, the fort was

captured and all the garrison was massacred except seventeen, who made their

escape. All eyes were now turned to Jackson and his faithful soldiers, who had

hardly reached their homes from a campaign against the Indians. In his call for

five thousand militia, General Jackson said: "Already large bodies of hostile

Creeks are marching to your borders, with their scalping-knives unsheathed, to

butcher your women and children: time is not to be lost. We must hasten to the

frontier, or we shall find it drenched in the blood of our citizens. The health

of your general is restored-he will command in person."



    General Cocke commanded the troops from East Tennessee. General Coffee was

sent to Huntsville, Alabama, with his mounted volunteers, and on the 11th of

October he sent word to Jackson that he was about to be attacked by one thousand

Creek warriors. This word reached Jackson's camp at Fayetteville, and he at once

put his army in motion for Huntsville, making the entire distance of thirty-two

miles in less than five hours. General Jackson was a noted Indian fighter, and

his faithful militia, in the war with the deluded Indians, won for themselves a

bright reputation, making a "Tennessee rifleman superior to a Wellington

invincible."



    In 1811, General Jackson was at Natchez, Mississippi, on business, and on

his return home he was asked by an agent of the Choctaw Indians if he had a

pass, to which he replied with spirit: "Yes, sir; I always carry mine with me; I

am a free-born American citizen, and that is a passport all over the world."



    This was a good place to camp, for it was



    Water to the right of you!

    Corn to the left of you!

    Fence-rails in front of you!



And into this camp of water, corn and fence-rails, rode the brave First

Tennessee. Forage was plentiful, and during the two weeks of rest and inactivity

our horses recruited up and were in good condition when the next move was made.

Nothing of special interest occurred while the regiment lay in this "summer

resort," as the boys called it, the idle hours of the men being spent in bathing

and fishing. There was a large flouring mill on Elk River, below the stone

bridge, which was impressed and set to work for "Uncle Sam," grinding wheat and

corn for the army. A detail was made from Company C and placed in charge, and as

fast as the grain was brought in, it was converted into flour and meal and

issued to the army.



    On the 10th day of August, Mitchell's division was ordered to Huntsville,

where it remained for two days, when the regiment moved, with the remainder of

the division, by slow and easy march, along the Memphis & Charleston railroad,

to Stevenson, Alabama, by way of Paint Rock, Larkinsville, Scottsboro and

Bellefonte, reaching Stevenson on the 15th. Here the Memphis & Charleston and

the Nashville & Chattanooga railroads unite, and, after winding around the base

of Lookout Mountain, enter Chattanooga on a single track.



    On the 17th, the First Tennessee was ordered to Bolivar, where for a short

time it was actively engaged in scouting, picketing and guarding the ferries and

fords along the Tennessee River. The last of the month the regiment returned to

Stevenson and went into camp near Caperton's Ferry, on the Tennessee River. The

railroad to Nashville had been repaired and the welcome sound of the locomotive

was greeted with cheers as the great iron monster rolled into the Union camp

each day, loaded with supplies for the army, which then lay near Stevenson, the

left extending to Bridgeport and up Sequatchie Valley toward Jasper.



    General Rosecrans had successfully maneuvered Bragg out of Tullahoma and

forced him, by flank movements,, to cross the Tennessee River. Chattanooga now

became the objective point, but the topography of the country around Chattanooga

was such that to capture it by direct attack would cost weeks of hard, patient

labor, beside the loss in men, for Bragg had made good use of his time in

strengthening this great stronghold. Cumberland Mountain, Walden's Ridge and the

Tennessee River were between Rosecrans and Chattanooga, each forming the first

great barrier. These mountains, with subordinate hills, were greatly in the way

of a direct and successful advance upon Chattanooga, especially with a large

army, encumbered with wagons and artillery.



    Chattanooga at that time was a very important place, not only as a great

military point, but was also a great distributing place, it being the main

gateway east and south, and in order to obtain this great prize without forcing

Bragg into battle behind his works, General Rosecrans resorted again to his

well-known flank movement to dislodge his antagonist.



  The route to Bragg's left flank was rough and mountainous and was almost

destitute of water, as well as forage. Sand and Lookout Mountains, with their

steep and rugged sides, with bad roads, presented a barrier almost too great for

an army to undertake, and especially when all the supplies and ammunition must

be transported across them in army wagons. This alone was a serious question,

and no doubt cost General Rosecrans a great many sleepless nights. The rainy

season was over, and September came in, hot and dry, insuring good roads so

indispensable for the successful and rapid movement of the Union army for

Bragg's left and rear. The Army of the Cumberland, under Rosecrans, lay along

the southwest side of the Tennessee River: the greater portion, however, was at

Stevenson and Bridgeport.



Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT OF

Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry



IN THE GREAT WAR OF THE REBELLION,

WITH THE ARMIES OF THE OHIO AND CUMBERLAND,

UNDER GENERALS MORGAN, ROSECRANS,

THOMAS, STANLEY AND WILSON.



1862-1865.



BY



W. R. CARTER, COMPANY C.



ILLUSTRATED.



KNOXVILLE, TENN.:



GAUT-OGDEN CO., PRINTERS AND BINDERS.

1902.



Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1896, by

W. R. CARTER,

in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C.





TO THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE FIRST TENNESSEE CAVALRY; TO THE MEMORY OF OUR

DECEASED COMRADES AND THEIR KINDRED; TO THE MARTYRED PATRIOTS OF EAST TENNESSEE

WHO DIED ON THE GALLOWS AND IN PRISON, AND TO THE LOYAL AND PATRIOTIC PEOPLE WHO

SYMPATHIZED WITH THEM, THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, IN FRATERNITY,

CHARITY AND LOYALTY, BY THE AUTHOR.

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