Statewide County TN Archives Military Records.....Dedication And Chapter I 1902
Civilwar 1st Regt., TN Vol. Cavalry
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Dedication And Chapter I
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.





CHAPTER I.



EAST TENNESSEE UNIONIST—ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT—FIRST CAMP—DRILLS AND

PARADE—ORDERED TO THE FRONT—FIRST ALARM—ORGANIZATION OF THE SEVENTH

DIVISION—NIGHT MARCHES.



    When the reverberations of Sumter's guns came sweeping across the valleys

and the mountains the loyal people from all parts of the Union thronged to the

field to assist in protecting the inheritance bequeathed to them by their

forefathers.



    They were so patriotic and eager to enlist that for the time being they even

forgot the luxuries, pleasures, and comforts of their homes. In no part of the

country did this dastardly act arouse a greater feeling of patriotism than was

manifested in East Tennessee. It brought thinking people to a full realization

of a stern duty that awaited every true patriot. The whole country was wild with

excitement, as a terrible war seemed inevitable.



    When the President called for men to put on the harness of war he designated

no particular class of people. Men came from the farm, shop, store, office, yes

and even the professional man was seen to enter the ranks. All classes were

represented in the great and growing army that soon rivaled that of Napoleon I.



    History affords no parallel to the universal and hearty response made by the

loyal men of the nation to the support of the government in the great Civil War

between the North and South. The bombardment and fall of Fort Sumter threw the

whole country into great excitement. Immediately after this noted event

President Lincoln called for seventy-five thousand volunteers for the

suppression of the rebellion. Tennessee's quota was two regiments, and at that

time if the loyal and patriotic people of East Tennessee had been given an

opportunity to respond to this call, ten regiments could have been furnished

from this division of the State.



    The inhabitants of this section were mostly Whigs and the descendants of

frontiersmen and Indian fighters. They were full of patriotism and had been

taught from childhood to resent an insult, and especially one to the flag of

their country, the emblem of liberty. They were trained also to the use of the

rifle, consequently were excellent marksmen. They were the direct descendants of

the brave men who fought at and destroyed Furgeson's army at King's Mountain,

and Packenham at New Orleans. It was therefore not unnatural that they should be

aroused by this great insult to their country's flag and the great shock that

this event produced, when the news was flashed across the country that Fort

Sumter had been fired upon.



    In no part of the country had the people been more loyal than here in East

Tennessee. In every war since Tennessee became a State we find her sons ready

and willing to go forth and die if need be for the old flag. We make the modest

claim that in no part of the country was there manifested greater indignation at

this treasonable act, and a greater determination to resent the insult to the

nation, than here in East Tennessee.



    They sprang to the "call to arms" like their forefathers and poured out

their blood for the preservation of the Union. No one can forget the great

excitement this event produced and the enthusiasm of the loyal people of the

United States to stand by the government in the dark days of 1861.



    The same patriotic spirit that had always characterized Tennessee in former

wars in coming to the defense of the old flag now manifested itself again. In

the war with Mexico it is said that the spirit for volunteering was such that it

became a question not as to who must go, but who may go.



    The following telegram was sent by the Secretary of War to the Governor of

Tennessee:



                  WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 15, 1861. 

To His Excellency, Isham G. Harris, Governor of Tennessee:

     Call made on you by to-night's mail for two regiments of militia

for immediate service.

                           SIMON CAMERON,

                                  Secretary of War.



    Governor Harris was absent when the call came, but on his return sent the

following answer:



          EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Nashville, Tennessee, April 17, 1861. 

Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.:

     Sir: Your dispatch of the 15th inst, informing me that Tennessee is called

upon for two regiments of militia for immediate service, is received. Tennessee

will not furnish a single man for the purpose of coercion, but 50,000 if

necessary for the defense of our rights and those of our Southern brothers.

                                           ISHAM G. HARRIS,

                                           Governor of Tennessee.



    Tennessee was at that time one of the States of the Union, and the Secretary

of War had a right to call upon Tennessee for troops. Tennessee had always been

very patriotic, and the readiness with which it had always responded to the

calls and came to the defense of the country, when threatened either by a

foreign or a savage foe, had won for it the name of "The Volunteer State."



    It was one of Tennessee's grand and patriotic citizens, as well as soldier,

who exclaimed, "The Union! It must and shall be preserved!" This was the iron

man who led his Tennessee riflemen to victory at New Orleans, defeating the

flower of the English army.



    The Eastern division of the State was strongly Whig, and when war threatened

the destruction and dismemberment of the Union this element took a strong and

decided stand against secession. This division of the State was also full of

brave and patriotic leaders, and no people were more true and devoted to them

than the Union men of East Tennessee. Among them we find such patriots as Rev.

W. G. Brownlow, O. P. Temple, Horace Maynard, Andrew Johnson, John M. Fleming,

Samuel Pickens, T. A. R. Nelson, Rev. W. B. Carter, and a host of others who

risked their lives and their property that the honor and reputation of "The

Volunteer State" might not go down in shame and dishonor at this perilous moment.



    The following is a portion of a long series of resolutions passed by one of

the many conventions held by the Unionists of East Tennessee:



     "That the Legislature of the State, without having first obtained the

consent of the people, had no authority to enter into a 'military league1 with

the Confederate States against the general government, and by so doing to put

the State of Tennessee in hostile array against the government of which it was,

and still is, a member. Such legislation in advance of the expressed will of the

people to change their governmental relation was an act of usurpation and should

be visited with the severest condemnation of the people. Resolved, further: That

the action of our State Legislature in passing the so-called 'Declaration of

Independence,' and in forming the military league with the Confederate States,

and in adopting other acts looking to a separation of the State of Tennessee

from the government of the United States, is unconstitutional and illegal, and

therefore not binding upon us as loyal citizens."   *   *   *



    In the meantime, Isham G. Harris and other leaders tried to sell Tennessee

"lock, stock and barrel" to Jeff Davis & Co. They attempted to make the Union

people believe that the State had seceded because a partisan Legislature had

secretly passed ordinances of secession. The loyal people of East Tennessee

remained true to the Union, and Governor Harris, finding that he was unable to

subdue these liberty-loving people, sent armed troops into East Tennessee, with

orders to disarm the Union people. In the enforcement of this tyrannical order

no Union man was allowed to escape search, and if arms were found in his

possession they were taken.



    As the clouds of war grew darker, and the thunder from the battlefields

pealed louder, these East Tennessee Unionists became more bitter and defiant.

Twiggs had traitorously turned over all government property placed in his charge

to the so-called Confederate government, consisting of arms, stores and

ammunition. The loyal people of East Tennessee did not approve of such a course

and determined never to submit to this attempt to take away their liberty,

destroy the government and fasten the yoke of slavery upon them.



    There were numerous conflicts between the loyal sons of East Tennessee and

the armed Confederates in the execution of the order, and often a hearty

reception would be given them and a variety of keepsakes and reminders in the

nature of wounds, bullets and buckshot.



    Armed bands of the enemy roamed over the country, pilfering, robbing and

murdering peaceful citizens. Martial law was declared in East Tennessee;

provost-marshals and enrolling officers were appointed in every town and county,

and these were composed usually of the bitterest and most oppressive men in the

Confederacy.



    Colonel W. B. Wood, Sixteenth Alabama, commanding the post at Knoxville in

the fall of 1861, wrote to Adjutant-General Cooper at Richmond as follows: "Five

hundred Union men are now threatening Strawberry Plains, fifteen hundred are

assembling in Hamilton county, and there is a general uprising in all the

counties. The whole country is now in a state of rebellion and the mountaineers

will whip Zollicoffer as soon as they get ammunition."



    Then came the destruction of the bridges along the East Tennessee & Virginia

railroad, one of the main lines connecting Richmond and the Gulf States. This

was followed by the execution of Henry Fry and J. M. Hensie at Greeneville, C.

A. Hawn, Jacob Harmon and his son Henry at Knoxville. The charge against these

men was bridge-burning, yet there was no positive proof that any of them had

burned or attempted to burn a bridge. Hundreds of prominent citizens were

arrested on some "trumped-up charge" and sent south to Tuskaloosa, Ala., a

prison well known to the loyal people of East Tennessee, where, by cruel and

inhuman treatment, scores died.



    Among those sent from East Tennessee were Hon. Montgomery Thornburgh,

attorney-general of his judicial circuit; Hon. Samuel Pickens, state senator,

and Hon. Levi Trewhitt, a very old man and a well-known lawyer. To add further

insult to these loyal and patriotic citizens they were sent south in filthy

stock-cars. Among those who died in this prison was Attorney-General Thornburgh.

Dr. William Hunt and Hon. Levi Trewhitt died from cruel treatment.



    The jail at Knoxville was full to overflowing with Union men. Ministers who

dared to pray for the success of the Union army, or for the preservation of the

government, were arrested and thrown into prison.



    The loyalty of these mountain people to the old flag was a menace to the

Confederates and the cause of much bitterness. Every able-bodied man under the

age of forty-five was required to go into the rebel army, and the Union men who

had remained at home up to this time began to drop out of sight. Pilots or

guides, as they were called, were in great demand to take these loyal men beyond

the lines. The secret means of escape to the Union lines was termed "The

Underground Railroad," and the secret method of communication, "The Grape-vine

Telegraph."



    In the meantime the East Tennessee & Virginia railroad was kept busy

transporting troops from the South to Virginia. This was witnessed by the loyal

people with a strong feeling of dissatisfaction, and in order to put a stop to

it they planned the destruction of the bridges. In the attempt to destroy the

bridge at Strawberry Plains there was a considerable fight between the guard and

the Union men, in which both sides had men wounded.



    These outbreaks created great excitement and alarm, and were committed, not

in the spirit of wanton destruction, but of real war upon an enemy and for the

sole purpose of interrupting the military communications of the Gulf States with

Richmond and of enabling the Union army to enter East Tennessee.



    Martial law was declared in Knoxville and Union people's houses were

arbitrarily entered night and day by the soldiers, who demanded their arms and

ammunition. This attempt to disarm the people was denounced, as they doubted the

right to take away their arms, as they were looked upon as a household necessity.



    Shortly after the election on the 8th of June a mass-meeting of the Union

people was called to meet at Strawberry Plains, seventeen miles northeast of

Knoxville, to condemn the action of Governor Harris in declaring the State out

of the Union, contrary to the voice of its qualified voters. The meeting was

largely attended and was held in a grove a short distance east of the village,

near the railroad. During the progress of the meeting a regiment of "Louisiana

Tigers" passed by on the cars. They had been notified of the meeting before

leaving the station, and under a full head of steam and with loaded muskets on

they came. When opposite the place where these patriots were quietly discussing

the action of Governor Harris they opened fire. This fire was promptly met with

volleys from all kinds of firearms and a rush for the train. Several men who

were near the track attempted to wreck the train by placing cross-ties on the

rails. There were no casualties on the Union side, and as the train kept moving

there was no means of knowing whether any of the "Tigers" were hurt or not, but

the sides of the cars were perforated with bullets.



    The nearest point to the Union camps was in the State of Kentucky, and to

reach them the mountains and a hostile enemy must be passed. The vigilant foe

kept every gap well guarded, and capture meant death or long confinement in some

loathsome prison. Those who are familiar with the topography of the country

between Tennessee and Kentucky will remember that Cumberland Mountain is well

flanked with hills and ridges, all of which must be crossed in passing from one

State to the other. But with all their watchfulness and the dangers incident to

such an undertaking, thousands left their homes, made their way safely across

the cold and cheerless mountains, reached the Union camps and enlisted in the

army, shedding their blood in defense of the old flag.



    The most of these long and dangerous marches were made by night, to better

escape the watchful eye of the enemy. These midnight tramps were made in

companies of fifty to one hundred, and even larger numbers were safely taken

through the lines. It was no uncommon thing for pitched battles to occur between

these East Tennessee Unionists and the Confederates. The majority of these

expeditions were successful, but a few were disastrous. The Union people of East

Tennessee believed that when their liberty was taken from them there was nothing

left worth living for, and, in the language of Patrick Henry, it was "Give me

liberty or give me death."



    The greatest secrecy was required in making these trips, and all loud and

boisterous talking had to be repressed. But when the point was reached where it

was safe to give expression to pent-up feelings the men would break forth in

loud huzzas, singing as they marched along, "We are coming, Father Abraham,

three hundred thousand more." It is rather a remarkable fact that East Tennessee

in 1861, with a male population of forty-five thousand between the ages of

twenty and fifty, should furnish for the Union army thirty-five thousand

volunteers—not a conscript among them—besides hundreds that enlisted in

Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois regiments, for which Tennessee received no

credit.



    Tennessee was the last State to "seceed," or more truthfully speaking,

"forced out of the Union," and this act was not a voluntary one, but was

accomplished by force of arms. This shameful act occurred on the 8th day of

June, 1861, almost two months after Fort Sumter had been fired upon. Rev. N. G.

Taylor, a Bell elector on the Presidential ticket in 1860, made use of the

following strong language in a speech delivered in Knoxville: "The people of

East Tennessee are determined to maintain the Union by force of arms against any

movement from the South throughout their region of country to assail the

government at Washington with violence, and that the Secessionists of the cotton

States, in attempting to carry out their nefarious designs to destroy the

Republic, would have to march over my dead body and the dead bodies of thousands

of East Tennessee mountaineers slain in battle."



    In August, 1861, Colonel R. K. Bird, of Roane county, organized the First

Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers at Camp Dick Robinson, Kentucky. The following

September the Second Regiment Tennessee Volunteers was organized at the same

camp by Colonel J. P. T. Carter, of Carter county. In February, 1862, Colonel L.

C. Houk, of Anderson county, organized the Third Tennessee Volunteers at Flat

Lick, Kentucky. In March, Colonel Robert Johnson, of Greeneville, organized the

Fourth Regiment Tennessee Volunteers at Camp Garber, Kentucky. The following

November the regiment was mounted and equipped for the cavalry service and was

mustered as the First Tennessee Cavalry. Camp Garber is about one mile northwest

of Flat Lick, on the main road leading from Barboursville to Cumberland Gap.



    The men composing the regiment were principally from the counties of

Bradley, Knox, Union, Grainger, Jefferson, Greene, Hawkins and Hancock. Colonel

Johnson's paternal notoriety made him quite popular and influential. His father,

Andrew Johnson, when the war broke out, bore the proud distinction of being the

only Southern Senator who retained his seat in the Senate after his State had

seceded. Colonel Johnson was authorized by E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to

recruit a cavalry regiment, but from some cause the government did not arm and

equip it for that branch of the service at the time of its organization.



    Being the fourth regiment organized from the State, "Number 4" was assigned

to it and entered of record, and up to November was known as the Fourth

Tennessee Volunteers. Recruits came in rapidly, it then being understood that

the regiment would soon be mounted, and with the Tennessee boys the idea of

"riding instead of walking" was quite a popular one. The first company organized

for the regiment was Company A, yet the first seven companies were organized

during March and April. The following is the original list of company officers

and the order in which they were recruited:



COMPANY A.

     Captain, Charles L. Barton; First Lieutenant, John H. Trent; Second

Lieutenant, Moses Wiley.



COMPANY B.

     Captain, Richard M. Baldwin; First Lieutenant, Gideon Wolf: Second

Lieutenant, George Odom.



COMPANY C.

     Captain, James P. Brownlow; First Lieutenant, Morgan T. Burkhart; Second

Lieutenant, Elbert J. Cannon.



COMPANY D.

     Captain, Alfred J. Lane; First Lieutenant, W. R. Willoughby; Second

Lieutenant, George W. Cox.



COMPANY E.

     Captain, Henry G. Flagg; First Lieutenant, Charles H. Burdick; Second

Lieutenant, William Thurman.



COMPANY F.

     Captain, Thomas J. Capps; First Lieutenant, Robert A. Wooten; Second

Lieutenant, John A. Gray.



COMPANY H.

     Captain, John A. Gray (promoted from second lieutenant Company F to captain

Company H); First Lieutenant, Calvin M. Dyer; Second Lieutenant, Edward Simpson.



    The above companies were organized at Camp Garber and all sworn into the

United States service for three years or during the war. The Fourth Tennessee

was not mustered at its organization owing to the fact that no mustering officer

was present to perform that duty. By this simple process these patriotic

citizens who had made their way through the lines were converted into United

States soldiers, and were now subject to orders and discipline from all superior

officers. Colonel Johnson appointed the following commissioned and

non-commissioned staff officers: Adjutant, Lieutenant James O. Berry;

Quartermaster, Lieutenant Robert Howell; Surgeon, Pleasant W. Logan;

Sergeant-Major, M. C. Williams.



    These were the first line and staff officers, and as vacancies occurred they

were filled by promotion. No more staff officers were elected or appointed for

some time, because the regiment was not filled up to a war standard. Uniforms,

blankets, knapsacks, haversacks, canteens and cooking utensils were issued to

the men and active preparations commenced to fit up the regiment for the field.

All will doubtless remember how strange and yet how proud most of us felt when

dressed for the first time in our bright, new uniforms. But oh, the horrible

misfits! The pants were either too long or too short, the hats too large or too

small, the coat-collars so high and stiff that we could scarcely turn our heads

at the command eyes right, or left, while the tips of the fingers of a

short-armed fellow could hardly be seen on account of the length of the sleeves.

If a long-armed fellow drew a short-sleeved coat he never had to roll up his

sleeves for a fight.



    Our first camp was on high ground and well laid out, with a wide street

between each row of tents. The big white Sibley tents were well stretched and

put up in parallel rows as straight as a "bee-line," which added greatly to the

appearance of the camp. About fifty Harper Ferry muskets were issued to the

regiment for picket and guard duty, and on discharging the piece there was

almost as much danger in the rear as at the muzzle, so great was the recoil.

Camp life was a new experience to the men and it took some little time for the

boys who had been accustomed to pleasure and the comforts of pleasant homes to

adapt themselves to the various changes, but before the end of their first

year's service they had learned by hard experience that camp life, no matter how

rigid the orders were, was one of ease and comfort as compared with their

experience at the front. Old Mother Earth was our bed, and but little complaint

was heard among the men.



    Military discipline was immediately commenced. There were but very few of

the officers or men in the regiment who had any military knowledge, consequently

the awkward squad was always very large and well attended. The drummers beat

reveille in the morning. This was followed by roll-call, sick call, or

"quinine-call," as the boys named it, guard-mounting and drilling six hours each

day.



    On every hand it was, "Right face, left face, about face, eyes right, eyes

left, heads up, men, heads up, forward march, backward march, company right

wheel, left wheel, halt, parade rest," day after day until the long, shuffling

gait was changed to the quick, firm step of a soldier. Our camp was a long

distance from the railroad, consequently all of the supplies had to be

transported in army wagons over bad roads. Large working details were made from

the regiment and sent to London, where the men built miles of dirt and corduroy

roads along Laurel river. All the worst places received our careful attention,

so that by the middle of May the roads had sufficiently dried out so that our

teams could draw a well-loaded wagon to camp.



    Here is where the government mule comes in for his share of honor in helping

to put down the rebellion. A mule is a mule the world over, but none is equal to

a government mule. It was hard to get along with him, but it seemed utterly

impossible to get along without him. He endured more abuse and insults than all

of the army put together. He never talked back, but would "kick back" in spite

of kind treatment. The army mule has never had justice done him and it is

doubtful if the war could have been carried on without him. He fell in battle

like other soldiers, and his remains make the Q. M. mile-posts. Often after a

hard day's work in front of a U. S. wagon he made his supper from dry leaves or

dead grass, with the feed-box or wagon-tongue for dessert.



    It is only after the last army mule has passed beyond the cruel treatment of

the army teamster that we begin to appreciate how much we owe him. Let a

monument be built to the memory of the unpraised, unbreveted, unpensioned army

mule, the real hero of the war. The army mule never dodges or runs from

anything, as it has a battery of its own, and is very effective at close range,

seldom missing its aim. Bands of music, the rattle of drums and the roar of

artillery have no effect on him, but like a true soldier he stands his ground

and makes his influence felt in many ways.



    In March, 1862, General Buel, who at that time was in command of the

Department of the Ohio, issued an order for the organization of another

division, to be known as the "Seventh Division, Army of the Ohio," and assigned

as its commander Brigadier-General Geo. W. Morgan, a veteran officer who had

seen service in the war with Mexico.



    Early in April, Morgan moved a portion of his command to Cumberland Ford,

nine miles southeast of Flat Lick, and at once assummed command of all the

troops then operating in Eastern Kentucky. The Cumberland Valley was almost

destitute of supplies, the productions of that region having been exhausted by

the enemy the preceding year. Forage for the teams and rations for the troops

had to be hauled from fifty to sixty miles, over almost impassable roads. Heavy

details were constantly employed upon the main road and for a time it looked as

though the regiment would be compelled to battle with the mud instead of the

enemy. As the different regiments marched by, clad in their bright, new

uniforms, and with the bright barrels of their Enfield rifles gleaming in the

bright sunlight, we became dissatisfied with our "job" and longed to break camp

and go to the front, as we did not enlist to work on the public roads.



    The first death in the regiment was Joel M. Jarvis, Company B, who died of

measles at Barboursville, Kentucky, April 12, 1862.



    How our memory lingers around our first camp as we recall the many pleasant

days spent at Camp Garber while recruiting was going on, and the men put through

the drill so essential for troops that are to take the field. Rumors frequently

reached camp that the regiment would soon receive marching orders. The routine

duty consisted of six hours' drill each day, with dress parade, guard and picket

duty.



    The following promotion and appointment were made in the Fourth Tennessee:

Adjutant James O. Berry was promoted to major, and John Hall, of Knoxville, was

appointed adjutant.



    Early in May, General C. L. Stevenson, who was holding Cumberland Gap with a

Confederate force of six or eight thousand men, moved up and made an attack on

General Morgan's camp. At midnight an order reached Colonel Johnson's camp. The

order was for him to move his regiment at once in light marching order. The

officers passed from tent to tent and yelled out: "Strike tents and fall in,

boys!" The men crawled out immediately and fell into line. The whole camp was

wild with excitement, but no order was ever more quickly or cheerfully obeyed.



    The Fourth Tennessee up to this time had not been armed, though the guns

were then at Flat Lick, but had not been issued to the men. The teams were

harnessed and in a short time were on the way to Flat Lick for the guns. On

returning to camp the boxes were opened and soon the bright barrels of the

Austrian rifles were seen flashing in the light of the blazing camp-fires.

Twenty rounds of ammunition were issued to each man and about 2 a. m. the

regiment left camp and, marching through Flat Lick, took the main road leading

to Cumberland Ford. A drenching rain set in shortly after leaving camp, making

marching very unpleasant and laborious. The night was of an inky blackness and

the road rough and slippery, and every now and then a comrade would lose his

footing and fall sprawling in the mud. This would provoke a laugh, and during

that night's march the Third Commandment was no doubt often violated.



    But the regiment trudged along through the rain and mud and by 8 a. m.

reached Cumberland Ford, hungry, haggard, and somewhat dilapidated, and found

the Union camp in excitement and the troops under arms. The attack proved to be

only a feint, and after some light skirmishing the enemy fell back and all was

again "quiet along the Cumberland." The Fourth Tennessee was halted, guns

stacked and the troops ordered to cook breakfast, which consisted of hot coffee,

bacon broiled on pointed sticks and laid out on crackers—familiarly known as

"hard tack"—and what a breakfast it was, to hungry soldiers.



    This was a new experience, and as soon as this hasty meal was disposed of

the men lay down on the wet ground and soon welcome sleep blotted out the

recollections of the night march. Late in the afternoon the wagons reached the

regiment, a camp was selected and tents put up, and while admiring the location

and beautiful appearance of our second camp an order came to strike tents and

march at once to Woodbine, about thirty-eight miles northwest of Cumberland

Ford. This move was made to head off John H. Morgan, the daring Confederate

raider, who was reported to be moving toward Morgan's line of communication.



    The Fourth Tennessee was now about to enter upon its first campaign, and it

is rather a singular fact that all of the first marches should be made at night,

but like true soldiers the men sadly but resolutely obeyed the order, and

without rest from the hard and fatiguing march of the preceding night marched

out singing, "Hoe your cakes and scratch your gravel, In Dixie's land we are

bound to travel." There was but little complaint in the ranks, and the

cheerfulness with which the men responded to duty laid a foundation on which the

splendid record was built during its three years' service.



    Colonel Johnson moved his regiment from camp late in the afternoon of the

7th and marched all night, reaching Barboursville the next morning. Here a short

halt was made to allow the men to rest and prepare breakfast, after which the

march was resumed, and by the middle of the afternoon the regiment reached

Woodbine. Colonel Johnson selected his camp near a large spring and in a

beautiful orchard. The trees were in full bloom and old Mother Earth richly

carpeted, while from among the blooming trees the merry songsters enlivened the

evenings with their sweet music. Pickets were thrown out on all the roads and

once more the Fourth Tennessee, tired and foot-sore, settled down in camp.



    While at this place the regiment had its first alarm, and the prompt manner

in which the boys turned out would have put to shame a veteran organization.

Colonel Johnson had previously instructed the pickets, and between midnight and

day the men were aroused by their officers and sharp firing on the picket line.

The officers were shouting to the men, "Fall in! Fall in! We are attacked!" and

as we were expecting to be attacked by John H. Morgan none but the officers knew

any better. Every man was up in an instant, and seizing his musket and the first

article of clothing that was handiest, rushed for the parade-ground, some

dressing as they ran, while others fell into line without shoes or hats on.



    By this time the firing had reached the colonel's quarters, and he and his

staff came on the gallop to the place where the regiment was being formed, and

immediately ordered it to double-quick down the Somerset road, with Company C,

Captain Jim Brownlow commanding, in the advance. After moving down the road

about half a mile, Colonel Johnson halted the regiment and formed it in line of

battle across the road. All this time the men in the ranks were wondering why

the order to load was not given. After standing in line of battle for about an

hour, Colonel Johnson marched the regiment back to camp and ordered the men to

sleep on their arms the remainder of the night; and it is doubtful if ever there

was a more wide-awake regiment than the Fourth Tennessee during the rest of the

night.



    The regiment remained at this place until the middle of May, during which

time it kept up its daily drill and dress parade. On the 15th, Colonel Johnson

was ordered to move his regiment to London, eighteen miles north of Woodbine.

Camp was broken at dark and after a very hard night's march over a rough and

hilly country the Fourth Tennessee reached London at 8 o'clock the next morning

and went into camp on the left of the town. Nothing worthy of mention occurred

at this place, our time being spent in skirmish drill and target practice.



    From this place the Fourth Tennessee was ordered to Barboursville, a

beautiful little town located on the road leading to Cumberland Gap and

twenty-five miles from London. This march was made in daylight. The regiment lay

here until the first of June. General Morgan now began the concentration of his

army at Cumberland Ford for his proposed move upon Cumberland Gap, as enough of

supplies had been collected to warrant him in making this move. The first of

June, Colonel Johnson was ordered to move his regiment to Cumberland Ford and

here the Twenty-fifth Brigade was organized.



    The Seventh Division as originally organized was composed of four brigades

of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, four batteries of artillery, with engineer

and signal corps attached, as follows:



    Twenty-fourth Brigade, Brigadier-General S. P. Carter commanding: 1st Tenn.,

Colonel R. K. Byrd; 2nd Tenn., Colonel J. P. T. Carter; 7th Ky., Colonel T. T.

Garrard; 49th Ind., Colonel James Kegwin.



    Twenty-fifth Brigade, Brigadier-General Jas. G. Spears commanding: 3rd

Tenn., Colonel L. C. Houk; 4th Tenn., Colonel Robert Johnson; 5th Tenn., Colonel

Jas. T. Shelly; 6th Tenn., Colonel Joseph A. Cooper.



    Twenty-sixth Brigade, Colonel John F. De Courcey commanding: 16th Ohio,

Lieutenant-Colonel G. W. Bailey; 22nd Ky., Colonel D. W. Lindsey; 42nd Ohio,

Colonel L. A. Sheldon.



    Twenty-seventh Brigade, Brigadier-General A. Baird commanding: 33rd Ind.,

Colonel John Coburn; 14th Ky., Colonel J. C. Cochran; 19th Ky., Colonel W. J.

Landrum; 6th Ky. Cavalry, Colonel Reuben Monday.



    Artillery: 1st Wis. Battery, Captain J. T. Foster, six 20-pound Parrott

guns; 7th Mich. Battery, Captain C. H. Lanphere, six 6-pound Rodman guns; 9th

Ohio Battery, Captain Wetmore, two 20-pounders and two 12-pound Howitzers; eight

heavy seige guns. Lieutenant Dan Webster.



    Engineer Corps, Captain W. F. Patterson.



    Signal Corps, Lieutenant H. G. Fisher, three officers and ten men.



    Morgan's division had an aggregate strength of twelve thousand five hundred

men, the majority of whom were new troops, but brave and resolute. Later on in

the war the troops composing the division made gallant records in the armies of

the Tennessee, Cumberland and Ohio. Upon their victorious banners were inscribed

the battles of Vicksburg, Donelson, Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Resaca,

Picket's Mill, Kennesaw Mt., Peachtree Creek, Ezra Church, Franklin, Nashville

and a score more of important battles fought by the men composing this division.



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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