Statewide County TN Archives Military Records.....Chapter IX 
Civilwar 1st TN Cavalry (Union)
************************************************

Copyright.  All rights reserved.

http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm

************************************************



File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 12, 2007, 8:07 pm

Chapter IX
CHAPTER IX.

HOW CHRISTMAS WAS SPENT—BATTLE OF MOSSY CREEK— DEATH OF CAPTAIN CANNON AND

LIEUT. COX—A GALLANT CHARGE—INDIAN FIGHTING IN THE MOUNTAINS —CAPTURING A WAGON

TRAIN.



    McCook's division moved at daylight on the morning of the 25th, along the

Mossy Creek road, with LaGrange's Second Brigade in the adavnce, and when within

two and a half miles of Mossy Creek, LaGrange encountered the advance of

Armstrong's division. After a brief skirmish the enemy fell back, Lilly's

battery firing a few shots to hurry them along. On reaching Mossy Creek, McCook

halted his division and formed it in line of battle across the valley a short

distance below town.



    The First Tennessee was formed in line to the left of the railroad. A

skirmishers' line was thrown out, and the men ordered to dismount, and in this

position we remained during the day. It was a cold, raw day, with a keen,

cutting wind sweeping up the valley like a Kansas cyclone, and as no fires were

allowed we passed a very uncomfortable day. This was our second "Merry

Christmas" spent in the field, and as we looked back we remembered that just one

short year ago we were being transported down the Ohio River to Louisville.



    This was a day of merriment and rejoicing all over the land. Great feasts

were to be served in cheerful homes around blazing fires, but soldiers in the

field were differently situated, for sometimes they would feast for several days

in succession and then starve as many. But on this occasion the First Tennessee

had a feast that they were not ashamed of, namely, raw bacon, hard tack and cold

water.



While our Christmas dinner was not sumptuous, yet it was healthful and easily

prepared, and we were thankful to be permitted to take this simple meal in peace.



    We bivouacked on the field, and the next morning moved through Mossy Creek

and went into camp about one mile beyond, and to the left of the railroad. Our

camp was in a heavy grove of timber, which afforded the troops some protection,

as it was still very cold. The next two or three days were spent in picketing,

scouting and skirmishing. The hard realities of active campign life were now

upon us, in the midst of bitter cold weather, with bad roads, scanty rations and

a hostile foe near by. Indeed, it was a "Valley Forge" to us, yet with all these

hardships thrust upon us we loved the old flag and the cause we were fighting

for, and responded to duty cheerfully.



    Longstreet's cavalry, which was greatly superior in numbers to ours, lay at

that time only a short distance above our camp and was commanded by General W.

T. Martin, and was composed of the divisions of Morgan, Armstrong, Ransom and

Wharton. The only troops that were confronting this large body of cavalry at

that time were Mc-Cook's division and a small brigade under the command of

Colonel Palmer, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, the remainder of the cavalry,

Army of the Ohio, being stationed at other points.



    On the morning of the 29th, General Sturgis, who was in command of all the

cavalry then operating in East Tennessee, learned that a brigade of the enemy's

cavalry had moved to Dandridge, and decided to surprise and destroy it. He sent

the most of the cavalry off on this "Tom Fool" trip, leaving only Campbell's

brigade to hold Mossy Creek. The whole camp was astir early in the morning, and

at 5 o'clock LaGrange's brigade left their camp above Mossy Creek, with one

section of Lilly's battery, and moved toward Bay's Mountain to support a

movement that was to be made on Dandridge by Wolford's cavalry, Army of the Ohio.



    This left only the small brigade of Colonel Campbell to cover the entire

front of our camp and hold the valley. Campbell's brigade was encamped near the

Morristown road and about two miles east of Mossy Creek. The First Tennessee and

the Second Michigan were formed in line of battle across the valley early in the

morning, the First Tennessee on the right, between the railroad and the

Morristown road, with the Second Michigan on our left. The wagons had been sent

to the rear early in the morning. The Ninth Pennsylvania and the three remaining

guns of Lilly's battery were placed in position a short distance east of Mossy

Creek.



    As soon as all the troops had reached their respective positions, Campbell

moved up the valley with the First Tennessee and Second Michigan. About a mile

beyond our camp, Campbell halted his brigade and threw out a line of

skirmishers. He remained in this position until about 10 a. m., when word was

sent in by his pickets on the Morristown road that the enemy was advancing in

force, with eight or ten pieces of artillery. The enemy continued to advance,

and after driving in the pickets encountered his skirmishers, which were some

distance out.



    There was a sharp, rattling fire along the skirmish line, after which they

fell back, closely followed by the enemy in line of battle, with flags waving

and arms flashing in the sunlight. It was an exciting moment, and we began to

think that it was another Dandridge scrape. But Campbell was equal to the

occasion. Seeing that his little brigade was greatly out-numbered, he gave

orders to fall back. The enemy pressed forward, showing several lines of battle,

and with superior numbers attempted to out-flank him, at the same time using his

artillery at close range.



    We fell back to the residence of Stokely Williams, a large, two-story, brick

house, and during the engagement it was struck several times by flying shells.

Here Campbell was compelled to halt his brigade and fight. The enemy was close

upon us and at the same time opened a severe fire from a battery at close range,

and soon the air about us was filled with missiles of all sizes, shapes and

kinds, "whirling and whizzing," producing a most unearthly sound, a sound that

would chill the blood of the bravest veteran. Some of our boys at the pack-train

went so far as to investigate these strange-sounding missiles when they had,

like "grandfather's clock," stopped short never to go again, and reported that

Longstreet was shooting railroad iron at us.



    Colonel Campbell ordered the First Tennessee to charge the enemy on the

right of the brick house, which it did with a yell, driving back their center

and halting their whole line. At the same time the Second Michigan, which was

fighting dismounted, opened a destructive fire with their Colt's rifles at close

range, which completely staggered their line. During this temporary check,

Campbell ordered his brigade to fall back and take up a new position near where

Lilly's battery and the Ninth Pennsylvania were stationed, hotly contesting

every inch of ground as he fell back.



    Lilly's battery was on a slight elevation between the railroad and the

Morristown road. The First Tennessee was placed in line in front of the battery

and in a slight depression, with the right of the regiment resting on the

railroad; the Second Michigan and the Ninth Pennsylvania were on our left. Our

lines were hardly formed when the enemy opened on us with ten guns, and it began

to look like the regiment and battery would be swept from the field. It was the

most terrific artillery fire the regiment had ever been under, but we lay there

and took it all, not firing a shot.



    It was exceedingly monotonous lying there taking all their old scrap-iron,

giving nothing in return. Men and horses were going down at almost every

discharge. Corporal W. W. Wells, Company D, was the first victim, his body being

almost cut in two with a solid shot. It was three guns against ten, but all this

time Captain Lilly's three-inch Rodmans were speaking in thunder tones, whose

iron throats had carried death and destruction to the enemy on other fields,

while his men and horses were being cut down— yet, strange to say, not one of

his guns was silenced or disabled during this unequal contest.



    Once more the order came to fall back, and as we moved to the left, the

solid shot and exploding shells went crashing through the trees, doing no harm

except cutting off limbs and tearing up trees. The enemy now seemed more bold

and defiant, and with superior numbers expected to win an easy victory. We moved

only a short distance to the left, where a new line of battle was formed, with

the First Tennessee in the center. Our lines were hardly formed when the enemy

came charging upon us in such overwhelming numbers that we were driven back and

the day seemed lost. The enemy used every effort to confuse and break our

retreating lines, but all their attempts were fruitless.



    Oh, how we longed for the old Second Brigade of our division! The day was

fast wearing away and the sun was almost lost behind the western hills, and

whatever was to be done must be done quickly, or the day would be lost. The

fighting was severe all along the line, and we were again compelled to yield

ground, falling back a short distance to the edge of the woods. The enemy,

seeing us falling back, now rushed on after us with their well-known "rebel

yell," and when they reached the edge of the wood Colonel Brownlow ordered his

troops to fire, but, disregarding the effects of so hot a fire, they continued

to advance.



    Colonel Brownlow, seeing the boldness and courage that the enemy were

displaying in still advancing upon him under so hot a fire, suggested to

Campbell the propriety of making a spirited saber charge, believing this to be

the only means of saving the day, as "desperate diseases require desperate

remedies." Colonel Campbell remarked that such a line of battle could not be

broken by a cavalry charge. Colonel Brownlow, realizing the danger of delay and

the importance of immediate action, assumed the responsibility of ordering a
charge.



    The order was given to draw sabers, and with a yell the First Tennessee,

with its well-known gallantry, rushed upon the enemy in one of the most daring

charges of the war.   The spirit, courage, boldness and audacity with which the

charge was made has scarcely ever been equaled in the war, and the important

effect that it produced was a matter of astonishment to those who witnessed it.

We drove the enemy back into the woods, retaking a part of the lost ground, but

were forced back with some loss, bringing back as prisoners, however, one

officer and twenty-five enlisted men.



    At this critical moment a portion of Mott's brigade, Second Division,

Twenty-third Corps, came upon the field. Cavalry, infantry and dismounted men

now charged upon the enemy, who began to show signs of wavering, pouring volley

after volley into their ranks, driving them through the woods in great

confusion. The Second Brigade, which had been recalled, now reached the field

and entered heartily into the chase, which was continued for some distance,

halting only when it became too dark to distinguish friend from foe.



    This was one of the most spirited and hotly contested cavalry engagements

that occurred during the East Tennessee campaign, and considering the severe

fire to which the regiment was exposed for so long, its escape from great loss

was one of the many "lucky ones." The First Tennessee does not claim all the

honor or to have done all the fighting on that day, yet it is true that the

regiment bore an honorable part and fully sustained the brilliant reputation of

the old "Volunteer State." General Martin had in this engagement the divisions

of Morgan and Armstrong, numbering at least six thousand men, and with this

superior force no doubt expected to win an easy victory.



    The casualties of the First Tennessee in this engagement were as follows:



    Killed and Died of Wounds—Company D, First Lieutenant Geo. W. Cox, Corporal

W. W. Wells and Private Henry Wampler; Company I, Corporal Andrew J. Drake and

B. F. Hansford (died in hospital at Knoxville, date unknown); Company C, Captain

Elbert J. Cannon (mortally wounded, died December 31), and Thos. G. Farrow;

Company E, Robert A. Vaughn; Company G, L. L. Cope.



    Wounded—Company A, William Simpson; Company F, Sergeant James Higgs and John

Sweeney; Company C, Geo. W. Troutt and Henry O. Newman; Company K, Sergeant

Alfred F. Rhea and Harvey Bales; Company G, Sergeant Frank Cunningham

(severely); Company M, Elihu McNeece.



    Killed and died of wounds, two officers and seven enlisted men; wounded,

nine enlisted men; total, eighteen.



    The First Tennessee lost some of its best and bravest men in this

engagement. Captain Cannon and Lieutenant Cox were the first officers of the

First Tennessee to fall in battle, and both fell leading their men in the moment

of victory. They were officers of great promise, full of energy and thoroughly

patriotic, were model soldiers, were men of unflinching courage and

uncompromising integrity. They fell in the discharge of their duty, and their

sudden removal at that moment was a loss we all keenly felt. Their vacant places

cannot be filled, and the regiment mourned their loss.



    Captain Cannon and Lieutenant Cox were two of the original officers of the

regiment. Captain Cannon was a Jefferson county man, and was killed almost in

sight of his home. On the death of Captain Cannon, First Lieutenant Jacob K.

Lones assumed command of Company C, and was shortly afterward promoted to

captain. A. J. Gahagan was promoted from second to first lieutenant after the

death of Lieutenant Cox.



General McCook, who commanded the divisoin at the battle of Mossy Creek, makes

mention of the gallantry of the First Tennessee in his report, as follows: "The

gallant First Tennessee Cavalry and their brave young commander, Colonel

Brownlow, added new laurels to their brilliant reputation by the splendid saber

charge they made. Among the other brave men whose loss we are called upon to

mourn are Captain Cannon and Lieutenant Cox, First Tennessee Cavalry, who fell

at the head, leading a charge of their soldiers." Major H. C. Connelly,

Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry, in a well-written article on "Campaigning with

Burnside in East Tennessee," makes honorable mention of the gallantry of the

First Tennessee at Mossy Creek. He says: "General Elliott, commanding a fine

division of cavalry from the Army of the Cumberland, reinforced us. * * * On the

morning of December 29, Longstreet advanced with most of his cavalry, a division

of infantry and two batteries of artillery. Our loss this day was about one

hundred killed, wounded and missing. The enemy lost from two hundred to four

hundred. We buried twenty of their dead. In this fight the First Tennessee

Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Jim Brownlow, made a saber charge which did honor

to this dashing officer and his soldiers."    *    *    *



    "The neighing troops, the flashing blade,

        The bugle's stirring blast,

    The charge, the dreadful cannonade,

        The din and shout are past."



    Soon after the battle of Mossy Creek, the Confederate cavalry fell back to

Morristown and we spent the remaining days of the year quietly in camp. Drills

and dress-parades were almost forgotten and were things of the past. Everyone

doubtless remembers the first day of January, 1864— Happy New Year—as the cold

one. It is very forcibly fixed in the minds of the men composing the First

Tennessee, for a heavy detail was made from the regiment for picket duty on the

first day of the year. The night was exceedingly cold, and many of the men were

badly frost-bitten on the picket-line.



    The cold continued, with light falls of sleet and snow. The 30th dawned

bright and clear, but by night the wind changed to the north, causing the

mercury to fall from fifteen to twenty degrees below zero. It was so cold that

the ponds from which we obtained our supply of water were frozen up,

consequently it was no uncommon thing to see half a dozen men at a time cutting

holes through the ice for water. Our rations were short, but we ate our parched

corn and pork and, forgetting for the time being our own suffering and

privations, thought of the loved ones at home, who possibly knew nothing of our

real wants, and, uncertain of our fate, would at this season of festivities find

little cheer at the table and fireside.



    On the 14th day of January, the First Tennessee moved with the remainder of

the cavalry to Dandridge, where forage was more plentiful. In a few days we were

joined by Grainger's Fourth and portions of the Ninth and Twenty-third Corps,

all under the command of General Park, numbering in all about 20,000 men. This

move was made on account of the concentration of Longstreet's army at

Russellville and the pushing forward of Hood's and Buckner's divisions to

Dandridge to reinforce Martin's cavalry, which was in camp near the latter place.



    We remained in camp near Dandridge until the middle of January, when the

First Tennessee was detached and sent to the mountains of North Carolina to

fight a body of Indians and irregular troops under Vance and Thomas. We broke

camp and forded French Broad River at Evans' Island, and marched to Atchley's

mill, on Pigeon River, three miles below Sevierville, where we camped for the

night, after a cold and disagreeable march of eighteen miles. At this place we

were joined by the Fifteenth Pennsylvania and the Tenth Ohio Cavalry, under

Colonel W. J. Palmer, Fifteenth Pennsylvania.



    Word reached our camp that a band of Indians and some white troops, under

the command of General R. B. Vance, had crossed the Smoky or Blue Ridge

Mountains, and were encamped on the headwaters of Cosby's Creek, in Cocke

county. Colonels Brownlow and Palmer broke camp at daylight and "marched rapidly

toward the enemy's camp, which they expected to surprise and capture.



    We were the first Union soldiers to carry the "old flag" among these loyal

and patriotic people, and were warmly received and ably assisted by them, as

they knew the country well.



    The roads were exceedingly rough and hilly, and with the mercury down below

zero our march was cold and cheerless and at the same time dangerous, for on all

sides of the narrow, winding roads the water was converted into ice by nature's

own process, making it hard for our horses to keep J:heir feet. We marched along

the narrow, ice-covered road, admiring the beautiful scenery of these

"sky-kissed hills," whose craggy peaks were whitened with snow, singing as we

marched along:



    "I love thy rocks and rills,

     Thy woods and templed hills,

     My heart with rapture thrills,

     Like that above."



    This meditation was interrupted and cut short by a scout who dashed up and

reported that the Indians were advancing upon us. Our little army was formed in

line of battle and skirmishers thrown out, and after waiting a short time for an

attack we were ordered forward and soon came in sight of their camp, when the

whole command was ordered to charge. With a wild hurrah we made for their camp,

when they broke and quickly fled into the hills and up the mountain, uttering as

they ran the most hideous and warlike yells that we had ever heard.



    We pursued them to the top of the mountain, killing and capturing a few, but

the greater portion made their escape by hiding in the thick growth of laurel

that completely covered the side of the mountain. Some of the Indians were

killed for refusing to surrender, they having been taught that the "Yankees"

would kill them on sight, and, not being familiar with Indian warfare, the boys

kept up the fire as long as a redskin was in sight. From the prisoners taken, we

learned that they were made to believe that they were fighting for the old flag,

but said the flags did not look alike. They seemed to admire the rich colors of

our company guidons as they fluttered in the mountain breeze.



    After the Indians had been driven across the mountain, we returned to our

camp below Sevierville. This expedition was quite successful and was made

without loss to our ranks. Our camp had hardly got quiet when word was sent to

our commanders that a wagon-train belonging to Longstreet's army had crossed to

the east side of French Broad River, a short distance above Dandridge, for the

purpose of collecting forage and supplies for his army. The two resolute

colonels determined to capture the train, and early on the morning of the 22nd

the men were aroused by that old, familiar call, "boots and saddles," and in a

short time Brownlow and Palmer were leading their troops rapidly toward the

point where the train was reported to be.



    The wagons were overtaken some distance above Dandridge, near Muddy Creek,

and the entire train, teamsters and train-guard, which consisted of a detachment

of the Second South Carolina Infantry and some Tennessee troops, were captured.

The train was some distance from the river when overtaken by us, and was moving

along leisurely, not thinking for once that the "Yankees" were so close by, and

the first warning of our approach was the yell and the keen crack of our carbines.



    The brave wagon-guard refused to surrender the wagons without resistance,

and in the brisk skirmish that ensued several were killed and wounded and the

remainder captured. The First Tennessee had two men wounded. Private Thos. D.

Brogden, of Company F, was severely wounded in the right shoulder and left

thigh, making him a cripple for life. The wagons were nearly all branded "U.

S.," and were captured only a few months before from the Union army near Bean's

Station, the whole bearing the marks of the axe made by the teamsters trying to

cut them down before capture. They were well filled with all kinds of supplies.

The teamsters were ordered to turn the wagons around and for the time being

drive for "Uncle Sam."



    Longstreet, in reporting the matter, says: "Twenty-eight of our wagons were

captured on the south side of French Broad on the 22nd. They were foraging and

had neglected to get the usual guard. We lost our teams with our wagons and got

none to replace them."



    On our way back we could hear the distant boom of cannon in the direction of

New Market and Strawberry Plains, and learned from our scouts that the Union

forces were falling back to Knoxville, pursued by Longstreet.



    We camped for the night a short distance from Fair Garden, and early the

next morning moved back to our old camp at Atchley's mill, where we were joined

in a few days by the remainder of our division and Wolford's cavalry, Army of

the Ohio, who came up from Knoxville by way of Trundell's Cross Roads.



    McCook, in his report, says: "The First Tennessee and Colonel Palmer's force

are out after a forage train, and I think will get them, unless the guard is too

strong." A detachment of the First Tennessee captured on this trip Captain

Bennett, commissary on General Benning's staff, Hood's division, and seven men

who were out looking for forage.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:



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.



File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/statewide/military/civilwar/other/u1sttncav325nmt.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/tnfiles/

File size: 24.1 Kb