RECORDS: Elijah F. Tucker Autobiography, 1877, Hart County, KY --------------------------------------- Submitted by Kate Beaugrand Cook Date: August 02, 2001 --------------------------------------- From: Autobiography of Elijah Fisher Tucker, reprinted 1961 by G. Tucker Smith, Shawnee Mission, KS Elijah Fisher Tucker was b. Green Co., KY on 6/10/1842 in the old Fisher area, 4 mi. N of Campbellsville, KY (now Taylor Co., which was organized 1847). He was s/o William & Malinda Tucker. Wm. Tucker b. 11/17/1806; d. 6/2/1877; his parents from NC and they died when children were young. Wm.'s mother may have been a Parsons. Wm. had 4 brothers: Epps, Pascal, John & Richard; and 3 sisters: Mildred, Jane & Harriet. Mildred m. Tapley Gupton; Jane m. Thos. Towns; Harriet m. John Wood and was m/o James M. & Henry C. Wood (he died in Campbellsville, KY). Elijah's mother was Malinda Sherrill (b. 7/20/1808 and d. 4/1/1889; d/o Wm. & Mildred Sherrill, from VA). Malinda and Wm. were m. 1828; raised 8 children (6 sons/2 daus). 1: Lucy Gains Tucker (1830-1881) m. John A. Tresenriter 2: Wm. Pascal (1831-1912) 3: Robert Mason (1833-1903) 4: Thompson Cornelius (1835-1858) 5: Benjamin Granderson (1837-1847) 6: Elijah Fisher Tucker 7: Harding Thomas (3/9/1845-2/22/1924) 8: Mary Mildred (11/9/1849-4/29/1889) m. Haydon Tucker Grandmother Sherrill was Mildred Botts before marriage. Uncles, Benj. Granderson Thompson & Mason W. Sherrill were prominent citizens in their time. Elijah's parents move from Taylor Co. to Greensburg in 1852 (Elijah was 10 yr. old). He was educated in local schools. His father, Wm. was jailer of Green Co. 1862-1866. In 1860-1861, Elijah worked in J. A. Tresenriter, his bro-in-law's blacksmith shop. In early 1861 he made profession of faith and joined Baptist church; baptized by Dr. Henry McDonald. 1861 (Civil War) he enlisted in US Army 9/20/1861 in Co. E, 13th Regt. of KY Vol. Inf. Reg't officers were: Col. Edw. H. Hobson; Lt. Col. John B. Carlile; Maj. Wm. E. Hobson, & Dr. Chas. D. Moore (surgeon). Thos. O Moore was the 1st Capt. of Co. E and after followed by James W. Woodward, Samuel Bottom and Nathaniel Frank Twyman (each was Capt. of Co. E). Elijah was elected 2nd Sgt. of the Co.; Reg't camped, drilled and did scout duty @ Greensburg, Campbellsville & Green Riv. bridge till 2/14/1862 when they went south for battle; passed through Bowling Green, Nashville & Franklin, TN; arrived @ Shiloh battlefield 12:00 night of 4/6/1862. Early AM 4/7, they were ordered forward to the line of battle; engaged till about 3:00 PM, when the enemy retreated; many men lost @ Shiloh. Elijah received gunshot wound across his forehead and his life was spared by enameled leather capbrim which caused the shot to glance off, although he was knocked to his knees and disoriented for a while. The ball hit a 2nd man who was killed instantly. They pursued the enemy 20 mi. to Corinth, MS. Abt. 6/1862 they marched to Battle Creek, TN and camped @ banks of TN Riv. In Aug. they marched in pursuit of Gen. Bragg's army into KY; @ Elizabethtown Bragg continued to Bardstown and Co. E proceeded to Louisville by way of West Point. A few weeks later Bragg evacuated Bardstown and moved to Perryville, KY; Co. E pursued to Perryville and Bragg took a stand; battle fought 10/8/1862; Co. E lay in line of battle all day but never ordered into the fight. Bragg retreated, Co. E. pursued to Wild Cat Mtn., near Livingston KY; this was the last engagement with Bragg before he escaped over the mtns into E. TN. Co. E returned to KY and stayed on guard of RR bridges and were scouts till 8/1863; then they crossed the Cumberland Mtns into E. TN (through Knoxville to Lowden, TN) for a month; fell back to Knoxville, pursued by Gen. Longstreet's outfit. Co. E engaged 11/14/@ Huff's Ferry/Huff's Hill; many killed in a 10-15 min. engagement. Co. E. retreated toward Knoxville; engaged! in battle @ Lenoir Station & Campbell's Station during retreat; hard battle @ Knoxville 11/29/1862 (sic) and city was surrounded by Longstreet; in state of siege over 1 mo., short on rations and near point of surrender when Gen. Grainger relieved them, raising siege. Stayed @ Knoxville, Strawberry Plains & Mossy Cr.. all winter; camping in (dog) tents 1/1/1864. In 1/1864, Elijah was detailed for recruiting service and came back to Greensburg, KY; while @ home he was bestman for friend Avelett H. Calhoon to Bettie Hagan 3/1864. In Apr. he returned to reg't @ Buzzard Roost Mtn. GA, entering into Atlanta Campaign; engaged in fights, skirmishes or on march nearly everyday till after battle of Jonesboro, GA (8/31). Battles engaged in: Buzzard Roost, Resaca, Kenesaw Mtn., Peach Tree Cr.., Howard House, Atlanta, & Jonesboro, GA. After 8/31/1864, reg't returned to KY, accompanying remains of Capt. G. W. Gallop (killed @ Jonesboro, brought to KY for burial). Elijah received 2 ! small wounds during Atlanta Campaign, one across back of head @ Kenesaw Mtn., and one across left knee @ Howard House. He was promoted to 1st Lt. 6/1862 (during Atlanta Campaign) from 1st Sgt. After returning to KY, was on provost duty @ Bowling Green & Louisville, KY, guarding bridges; mustered out 9/1864. During provost duty, was promoted to Capt. of the Co. and went to Lexington, KY where he mustered out. Reg't was mustered out 1/12/1865. Through the entire war, he was in the company of his brother, Harding T. Tucker, who enlisted w/him on 9/20/1861 and served in same Co. and Regt. and mustered out same day. End of Part One. Continued in Part Two. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization orpersons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************