Roane County TN Archives Military Records.....War Between The States 
Civilwar 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com November 6, 2005, 8:40 pm

War Between The States
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES



    The men of Roane County were always ready to volunteer to defend any cause

that they felt was just, so when war was declared in 1861 many of Roane County's

sons volunteered either for service in the Federal or Confederate Army. Many

families were split, brothers and cousins fighting against each other. When the

election was held on May 6, 1861 for the people of the state to decide upon the

question of secession, and the question of representation in the Confederate

Congress and the adoption of the provisional Constitution of the Confederate

Government the result in Roane County was as follows: Separation 454,

Representation 436, No Separation 1568, No Representation 1580.



    The first Union Regiment of Tennessee was organized by Robert King Byrd, of

Roane County, at Camp Dick Robinson, August 1861. He was made a Colonel with

James T. Shelley, of Roane Co., as Major.



    In March 1862 Major Shelley organized the 5th U. S. Reg., Tenn., Inf., and

was its Colonel. This Regiment was composed of soldiers from several Tennessee

Counties and was in the battles of Stone River, Missionary Ridge, Nashville and

other places.



    The 1st. U. S. Regt., with Col. R. K. Byrd in command was under fire at Wild

Cat, at Mill Spring, in the capture of Cumberland Gap, where it remained until

the evacuation of the Post by General Morgan, who retreated to Ohio. Went on the

expedition to Kanawah Valley, was at the Battle of Stone River. Entered East

Tennessee under Gen. Burnside's Command and was at the seige of Knoxville.

During the winter of 1864 was stationed at Kingston, and in the spring of 1865

entered the Atlanta Campaign, until just previous to the surrender of the City

the greater portion of the regiment was discharged on account of the expiration

of their term of service. While at Cumberland Gap a detachment of this and the

2nd. Reg. consisting of 69 men captured an important out post of the

Confederates without a single loss. For this exploit a complimentary notice was

read on dress parade by order of General Morgan.



    The 43rd Tenn. Regiment (Confederate) was organized in November 1861 with J.

W. Gillespie as Colonel. After .service in East Tennessee, the Regiment was

reorganized May 1862 and sent to Humphrey Marshall's Brigade in Virginia, but

soon after joined Bragg's Kentucky Brigade. In December was transferred to

Vicksburg to hard service. In May 1863 moved to Fort Gibson to oppose Grant's

advance and fought at Champion Hill, then retreated to Vicksburg and surrendered

early in July. The Regiment was exchanged and ordered to reenforce Longstreet at

Knoxville. Seven months was spent in East Tennessee on out post duty. The 43rd.

fought around Washington, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Fisherville, White Post and

other places in Virginia, returning to East Tennessee in the fall of 1864,

fighting at Morristown and Russellville. Learning of General Lee's surrender it

moved south to join Johnson, but at Charlotte, N. C., met President Davis and

served as his escort until his capture. Was paroled May 1865.



     The 36th Tenn. Reg. (Confederate) was organized July 30, 1862 with R. G.

Fain as Colonel and was composed of men from Roane and other Tenn. Counties. The

Regiment operated in East Tennessee under Lieutenant Colonel W. H. Wilkerson,

and was in the battles at Chickamauga, Fort Sanders, Bean's Station, Dewy Bluff,

Wathall's Junction and Petersburg in Virginia. Part were captured Apr. 5, 1865

and the remainder surrendered at Appomattox.



     The 26th Tenn. Reg. (Confederate) was composed of men from Roane and other

adjacent counties. It was organized Sept. 6. 1861 at Knoxville with John M.

Lillard as Colonel. It was captured at Ft. Donaldson and taken to Northern

prisons, exchanged and was at Vicksburg Sept. 1862 Col. Lillard was mortally

wounded at Chickamauga and was succeeded by R. M. Saffell. It fought at the

Battle of Missionary Ridge, spent winter of 1863-64 in North Georgia. Was in the

battles of Atlanta, Jonesboro. Lovejoy, Nashville and Franklin. Col. Shaffell

was killed at Bentonville, N. C., and was succeeded by Col. A. F. Boggess who

also fell in a fight after Gen. Lee's surrender and before the troops at that

point heard of it. The Regiment surrendered in April 1865.



Additional Comments:
From:



Part Two



The History of Roane County Tennessee 1801-1870

by

Emma Middleton Wells



Printed by

The Lookout Publishing Company

Chattanooga, Tennessee



(1927)

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