Diary of Corporal Lawrence Van Alstyne: Wednesday, October 1, 1862

Another hot day. How hot I don't know, but it wilted me. I tumbled down, completely used up while at drill. Several others did the same. We seem to be getting over it to-night, as the air cools off. The nights are cool, and that is all that keeps us from melting. Not cool enough, however, to stop the mosquitoes. The heat, together with our changed condition of living, is beginning to get in its work. Several are in the hospital.

Later. There is great excitement in Company B to-night. Orderly Sergeant Lewis Holmes, the one we voted to be our orderly, is to be set back and a corporal named Gilbert Kniffen is to be put in his place. As soon as the companies were organized at Hudson, we were allowed to vote which of the five sergeants of Company B should be orderly sergeant. We did not know then, but have since learned that the orderly sergeant stands next in the line of promotion to the commissioned officers. Kniffen is only a corporal, but he has friends at home who have influence, and this influence has been brought to bear so heavy that this move has been decided upon.

9 p. m. It is all over, and Lew Holmes is still orderly sergeant of Co. B, 128th N. Y. Vols. We, the enlisted men of the company, talked the thing over and decided we would not put up with it. We did not know if we would be able to prevent it, but we finally decided we would stand by Holmes, and fight the thing to a finish, whatever the outcome might be. When we spoke to Captain Bostwick he acted as if he was ashamed of himself, but he said the change had already been made and could not be unmade. We told him we could unmake it, and would, or die in the company street. So the matter rested until time for roll-call, when Kniffin came out with the book and called the name of William H. Appleby, the first name on the list. To his honor be it said, he remained silent, and was immediately put in the mule-stable, which was our guard-house. The next man's name was called, and he went to join Appleby. This went on until the guardhouse was full, when a council of the company officers was held, after which the captain gave us a lecture, telling us what insurbordination [sic] meant, and that the whole regiment, if necessary, would be used to enforce obedience. We had agreed not to talk back, but to simply refuse to answer to our names when called by Corporal Kniffin, or in any way acknowledge him as orderly sergeant, so we said nothing. The men were brought back from the guard-house, and Kniffin again called William H. Appleby. He did not answer and was again put in the guard-house. After a few more had been sent to keep him company another halt was made, the prisoners were again brought out, and the captain called the roll, when every man responded promptly. We were then ordered to break ranks and so the matter stands. But we have won our first battle, we feel sure of that, although we are warned that a company, and if necessary the whole regiment, will be called upon to shoot any who do not answer roll-call in the morning. My name is so near the bottom of the list it was not reached, and so I had nothing to do but look on and listen, but I am as determined as any, and I flap my wings and crow just as loudly as William H. Appleby does.

SOURCE:  Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 41-3

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, August 25, 1862

We drilled & elected 5 delegates from our Co to attend in this town on the 28th in Convention with the 3 other Co delegates from this Co in relation to partitioning the Governor to let us select our field officers from our ranks for our Reg. we had 30 soldiers with us for dinner. T Fee Spooner Murdock & I were chosen as the delegates

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 87

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, August 28, 1862

Afternoon we met in convention the committy from the Belair Co & ours & selected men from the ranks of the various Companies to recommend to the Governor as our field officers Chaplain &c & without my consent they recommended me for Qr Master

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 88

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, August 14, 1862

there was a large crowd of people in town our ellection for officers in our company was a spirited time D C Campbell elected Capt without opposition Miller [William M] McCreary was elected 1st Lieut & I second Lieut evening George Clark preached text Titus 2nd 14th

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 86

Diary of Private William S. White, April 30, 1861

On or about April 25th, we were ordered to the Baptist College, a large brick building at the west end of the city, where we were put through a regular course of instruction. Having had many accessions to our number, now some three hundred, we formed a Battalion of Artillery, and unanimously elected our Captain, Geo. W. Randolph, as its Major. Three companies comprised this Battalion, known as the First, Second, and Third Companies of Richmond Howitzers.

Of the First Company, we elected our former First Lieutenant, John C. Shields, one of the proprietors of "The Richmond Whig," Captain, and Edward S. McCarthy, a bold and fearless gentleman, Lieutenant.

Of the Second Company, we elected our former Second Lieutenant, John Thompson Brown, a lawyer of high standing and great personal worth, Captain. As he was then at Gloucester Point, near Yorktown, with two of our guns and about forty men, we elected no other officers for that company, leaving them to supply the deficiency themselves. Here it will not be amiss to state that this detachment of men fired the first shot in Virginia, driving back the Federal Tug “Yankee," at Gloucester Point.

Of the Third Company, we elected Robert C. Stanard Captain, Edgar F. Moseley, First Lieutenant, and John M. West, Second Lieutenant.

Being a member of the Third Company, this "Diary" will, of course, refer more especially to that company and its members. We remained at the Baptist College for a few weeks under the command of Colonel J. Bankhead Magruder, then moved our camp to Howard's Grove, on the Mechanicsville Turnpike, and finally moved to Chimborazo Hill, east end of the city, where we remained until we left Richmond for the field. About the middle of May our First Company, Captain J. C. Shields, was ordered to Manassas, much to our regret, whilst we were left in camp to become more perfect in the Battery Drill. We were under the instruction of a late U. S. Army officer, Lieutenant Smeed, and he evidently understood what he was about. Our officers and men, as yet, know but little about the "Battery Drill,” but are rapidly improving.

SOURCE: William S. White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 93-4

Diary of Private John J. Wyeth, August 20, 1862

Our company held a meeting yesterday, and chose the following as officers Captain, Spencer V. Richardson First Lieutenant, James S. Newell; Second Lieutenant, James S. Cumston.

SOURCE: John Jasper Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass. Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 5

Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Friday, August 22, 1862

John Beard paid me $4. I sold my garden for $250. Report of Indian outbreak. Great excitement. We elected our commissioned officers-Geo. Atkinson, captain; Westley Kinney, first lieutenant; N. F. Randolph, second lieutenant. We left Lake City in War Eagle.

SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 3

Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Monday, August 25, 1862

Rainy. We elected non-commissioned officers.

SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 3

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Thursday, October 3, 1861

Lieutenant Joe Wyatt (Company C) was elected surgeon of McNairy's Battalion, F. W. Hearn (Company B), Quartermaster, and M. D. A. Nolan (Company A), Commissary Sergeant.

Sergeant Major M. W. McKnight, Lieutenant George Alexander and Private T. D. Summer, all from Company E, started home on furlough.

On the 2d instant, Col. T. T. Garrard wrote to General G. H. Thomas thus:

Col. Brown has now enrolled and in camp some 250¹ twelve months soldiers. He has muskets, but no cartridge boxes, caps, pouches, nor bayonet scabbards.

Have not heard anything of the Rebels since they reached Barboursville. The last account is that some 100 or upwards were in Barboursville. (Two companies of McNairy's Battalion).

I have got Col. Brown to move all of his men to the river (Big Rockcastle, some two miles to the rear) except one company, and they are outside our camp in a rock house. We have been much annoyed by them, as well as visitors and others who were driven before the Rebels. Some of them returned this evening part of the way home, but heard of the Rebels below London, and they returned to camp. The report, I am satisfied, is false.²

And the next day, the 3d, he wrote thus in reference to Brown's men:

You will see before this reaches you that Col. Brown has moved to the river, some two miles from us. I would be afraid to place them between the enemy and our camp.

Some of his men are, I fear, a little timid, and I doubt whether or not they will do their duty on that side of us.³

And in reference to Wolford's Cavalry, on the 10th, he puts it thus:

When Captain Smith, of the cavalry, reached here (Wildcat), there was not one of Walford's men in camp, nor had there been for several days, and if my informant is correct, some of them that are now here will do no good. They were seen drunk on picket yesterday at, or near, London.⁴

On the date under which I am now writing, the 3d, Zollicoffer sent the following telegraph dispatch to General A. S. Johnston, Columbus, Kentucky:

I think I have reliable information that Camp (Dick) Robinson was 7,000 strong; 1,000 of these have gone to Lexington and Frankfort; 1,500 remain in camp, the residue believed to be certainly moving toward Barboursville to meet me. Should it appear to me expedient, I wish permission to meet them half way.⁵

On the same day Johnston replied as follows:

"Dispatch received. Exercise your own discretion in attacking the enemy."⁶

It was about this time that Captain William Ewing resigned and returned home, and William Parrish became Captain of Company C, First Battalion.

_______________

¹ It appears from the above that their force at Laurel Bridge had been overestimated. Including Walford's Cavalry, perhaps they did not exceed 500.

² Rebellion Records, Vol. IV., p. 290.

³ Ibid, p. 292.

⁴ See Rebellion Records (Garrard to Thomas), Vol. IV., p. 301.

⁵ Rebellion Records, Vol. IV, p. 435.

⁶ RebellionRecords, Vol. IV, p. 435.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 51-3

Diary of Richard R. Hancock: Friday, June 28, 1861

As Tennesseans were then offering their services faster than the state was prepared to arm and equip them, it was after hard begging that Governor Isham G. Harris gave his consent to have our company mustered into service; and as he would not receive more than seventy-six men, including the officers, eight of our company had to return home.

About eleven o'clock A. M., the Auburn Company (known afterward as the "Sangs") was sworn into service by J. G. Picket.

The following roll will be found to contain the names of the seventy-six men who were mustered into the service of the State of Tennessee for twelve months, with the present (1886) address opposite the name of each one living, so far as known. I have not been able to learn whether those whose names are followed by an asterisk (*) are dead or living; therefore, in our calculations hereafter, we will call this class the unaccounted for.

COMPANY ROLL.

Allison, T. M., Captain. Killed at home in 1862.
Summar, N. W., First Lieutenant, Auburn, Tennessee.
Alexander, George, Second Lieutenant, Cedar Creek, Texas.
Wilson, M. V., Third Lieutenant.*
ODOM, J. J.,1 First Sergeant. Died in West Tennessee in 1885.
WIDLARD, D. B., Second Sergeant, Auburn, Tennessee.
McLin, J. D., Third Sergeant, Nashville, Tenn.
Odom, John H., Fourth Sergeant, Auburn, Tennessee. Wounded at Harrisburg.
Summar, J. N., First Corporal, Auburn, Tennessee.
Davenport, George, Second Corporal, Auburn, Tennessee. Wounded at Bear Creek Bridge.
WALKER, SAM, Third Corporal, Smithville, Tennessee.
Lanear, Dick, Fourth Corporal.*
Adamson, Presley, Smallman, Tennessee.
Adamson, W. A., Smallman, Tennessee.
Ashford, Cahal. Died at home in June, 1862.
Barrett, Eli, Auburn, Tennessee. Captured in September, 1863, and taken to Camp Morton, Indiana.
BOGLE, J. M., Avoca, Benton County, Arkansas.
Cooper, A. D., Auburn, Tennessee.
Cooper, J. M. Died in 1883.
Cooper, Jim, Gallatin, Tenn.
DAVENPORT, R. Died in West Tennessee, April 7, 1885. Wounded October 26, 1863.
DOUGHERTY, J. R., Auburn, Tennessee.
Dennis, Sam,* Arkansas. Made Second Lieutenant in 1862, and wounded at Harrisburg, July 14, 1864.
Dougherty, C., Columbia, Texas.
Ewing, A. G. Committed suicide since the war.
Ewing, B. D., Lane, Hunt County, Texas.
Ewing, E. L., Lane, Hunt County. Texas. Wounded at Columbia, Tenn.
Francis, A. H., Calf Creek, Searcy County, Arkansas.
Gan, Jim. Killed by the Federals in Wilson County, Tennessee.
Hale, Josiah.* Captured at Booneville, Mississippi, May 30, 1862.
Hancock, B. A.,2 Auburn, Tennessee. Discharged in 1862.
Hancock, C. E. Died in Franklin County, Alabama, June 4, 1864.
Hancock, R. R., Auburn, Tennessee. Wounded October 30, 1864.
Hancock, W.C.2 Killed at Harrisburg, July 14, 1864.
Hannaphin, Tim.*
HARRISON, DR. J. S., McMinnville, Tennessee. Elected Third Lieutenant in 1862, and wounded at Harrisburg, July 14, 1864.
Harrison, W. W. Killed at Memphis, August 21, 1864.
Hawkins, J. E. J. Killed near Auburn, in 1864, by Federals.
Hawkins, W. W. Died since the war. Wounded at Okalona, and again at Fort Pillow, which was, perhaps, the cause of his death.
Hays, J. T. Died at home in 1861.
Hearmon, John. Died at Mill Springs, Kentucky,Jan. 6, 1862.
JETTON, Josh. Died in 1885.
Jones, Jesse, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Keaton, Coon. Died in prison, on Rock Island.
Keaton, G. C., Smallman, Tennessee.
KENNEDY, J. W. Died in Auburn, July 26, 1873.
Kennedy, L. V. Died in Texas, April 23, 1885.
Kennedy, W. C., Auburn, Tennessee.
Knight, Monroe, Huntsville, Arkanas. Discharged in 1861.
Markham, A., Smallman, Tennessee.
McAdoo, J. C., Auburn, Tennessee.
McKnight, A. B., Porterfield, Tennessee. Lost one leg in 1865.
McKnight, D. C. Drowned since the war.
McKnight, L. W. Mortally wounded at Paducah, Kentucky, March 25, 1864.
McKnight, M. W., Waxahachie, Texas.3
MILLIGAN, W. H., Auburn, Tennessee.
Mullinax, J. B., Smallman, DeKalb County, Tennessee. Discharged in November, 1861.
Nelson, P.,* Arkansas.
O'Conner, Tom, * Corinth, Mississippi.
Odom, B. F. Killed at Paducah, March 25, 1864.
ODOM, B. F. S., Hall's Hill, Tennessee.
Purnell, L. T. Died since the war.
Rich, W. E., Round Top, Wilson County, Tennessee. Wounded two miles west of Harrisburg, Mississippi, July 13, 1864.
Richardson, M. Died at home in 1861 or '62.
Smith, Bob, Liberty, DeKalb County, Tennessee. Discharged in November, 1861.
Stanly, John. Captured near home, and died in prison at Fort Delaware.
Stevens, J. W., Temperance Hall, DeKalb County, Tennessee. Captured and paroled at Okalona, Mississippi, and wounded at Paducah.
STEVENS, W. C., West Tennessee.
Summar, T. D. Died in 1871.
Talley, Dick. Died since the war.
THOMAS, C. F., Farrier, Cleburne, Texas. Wounded at Fort Pillow in 1864.
Thomas, Jim L., Greenvale, Wilson County, Tennessee
Turney, H, L. W.3 Wounded at Fort Pillow and at Memphis, August 21, 1864, and died in West Tennessee, February 16, 1880.
Willard, F. M., Milton, Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Willard, W. B., Waxahachie, Texas.
Womack, D., * Missouri.

To recapitulate, seven were killed, twenty have died, forty-one are living, and eight unaccounted for— total, seventy-six.

The following is as complete a list of the names of those who joined the Auburn Company from time to time during the war as I can now make out, after diligent inquiry among my comrades:

RECRUITS.

ALEXANDER, G. B., Oak Point, Wilson County, Tennessee.
Armstrong, Tom.*
BAXTER, H. A. Died since the war.
Baxter, J. H. Died since the war.
BLACK, W. A., Milton, Rutherford County, Tennessee.
BLACK, J. F. Died since the war.
BARRETT, A., Auburn, Cannon County, Tennessee.
Barlow, Jack, Lascassas, Rutherford County, Tennessee.
BARKER, S. (“ BABE"), Milton, Tennessee.
BRADBERRY, J. Died since the war.
BARKLEY, T. C.,* Texas.
Barkley, John T., Yorkville, Gibson County, Tennessee.
Bryson, R. Captured near home, and died in prison at Fort Delaware.
Bryson, E. D., Auburn, Tennessee.
CRANOR, Mose, Milton, Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Cavender, J. H., Dixon, Webster County, Kentucky. Lost one leg at “Tory Fight,” October 26, 1863.
Cummings, Tip, Woodbury, Cannon County, Tennessee.
Champion, J. H., Auburn, Tennessee.
Cooper, M. D. L., * Missouri.
DAVENPORT, William, Auburn, Tennessee.
DOUGHERTY, J. M., Statesville, Wilson County, Tennessee.
Duggin, P. L. Died August 29, 1867.
EWING, R. B. Died in Texas in 1876.
Elkins, T. D. (“Coon”), Woodbury, Tennessee. Wounded at Paducah, Kentucky, March 25, 1864.
Ellidge, J. B., Woodbury, Tennessee.
Francis, M. H., Auburn, Tennessee. Wounded at Harrisburg, July 14, 1864.
Francis, J. J., Wounded at Tupelo, Mississippi, May 5, 1863, and at Harrisburg.
Flowers, A. W., Ray, Texas.
Francis, M. C., Milton, Tennessee.
Francis, C. C., Auburn, Tennessee. Captured on Hood's raid.
Francis, J. D., Auburn, Tennessee.
Garrison, C., Milton, Tennessee.
GOARD, J. W. Died in 1884.
Grisham, O. N. Killed at Harrisburg, Mississippi, July 14, 1864.
GRISHAM, Ben, Russellville, Franklin County, Alabama.
Greer, John J.. Auburn, Cannon County, Tennessee. Hars, John W., Auburn, Cannon County, Tennessee.
HERNDON, JOE W.* Wounded at Harrisburg, July 14, 1864.
HERNDON, John L., Mississippi.
Hurt, T. M.*
HANCOCK, R. M. Died since the war.
Jetton, A. J., Auburn, Tennessee.
Jetton, E., Smallman, DeKalb County, Tennessee.
Knox, B. F., Milton, Tennessee.
Knight, Horace, Smallman, Tennessee.
Keaton, H., Smallman, Tennessee.
Keaton, William, Smallman, Tennessee.
LORANCE, MIKE, Porterfield, Rutherford County, Tennessee. Wounded at Harrisburg, July 14, 1864.
McKNIGHT, Jim NUTE, Milton, Tennessee.
McKnight, A. G., Porterfield, Tennessee.
McAdoo, J. N. Died January 16, 1882.
McKnight, John N., Porterfield, Tennessee. Wounded at Paducah, Kentucky.
McWhirter, Dr. W. H., Webber's Falls, Indian Territory.
McWhirter, S. A., Milton, Tennessee.
Milligan, J. A. Died since the war.
MATHES, J. R., Cainsville, Wilson County, Tennessee.
Newman, *
ODOM, JAMES H., Auburn, Tennessee. Wounded at Harrisburg: July 14, 1864.
ODOM, J. W., Auburn, Tennessee.
Opom, W. F., Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Odom, H. C. (Red), Auburn, Tennessee. Wounded at Memphis, August 21, 1864.
Odom, J. M. A., Auburn, Tennessee.
Owen, J. D., Auburn, Tennessee.
Owen, Nelse, Osage, Caryell County, Texas.
Odom, S. C., Auburn, Tennessee. Wounded at Mud Creek, and again at Paducah, Kentucky.
Odom, F. B., Fairfield, Freestone County, Texas.
Parris, Joe, McMinnville, Tennessee.
Parris, J. (Sweet), Missouri.
STEVENS, H. G., Bear Branch, DeKalb County, Tennessee. Wounded near Cherokee. Alabama, October 21, 1863
SNEED, J. H., Auburn, Tennessee. Captured and paroled at Okalona, Mississippi, in December, 1862.
Stone, J. R. Died in August, 1885.
Stone, J., Woodbury, Tenn.
Stone, William. Died since the war.
Stone, J. G. Died since the war.
Summar, J. D., Auburn, Tennessee.
Spurlock, J. M., Smallman, Tennessee.
Spicer, Sol.* Captured September, 1863, and sent to Camp Morton, Indiana.
Summar, M. P., Honey Grove, Fannin County, Texas.
Thomas, J. H. Died since the war.
THOMAS, A. J., Honey Grove, Texas. Wounded at Harrisburg, July 14, 1864.
Thomas, E. D., Auburn, Tennessee. Wounded near Cherokee, Alabama, October 21, 1863.
THOMPSON, J. B., * Texas.
Tittle, Sam, Woodbury, Tennessee. Captured in September, 1863, and sent to Camp Morton, Indiana.
Tittle, Adam, McMinnville, Tennessee.
Tedder. Frank. Died since the war.
WARREN, O. J., * Mississippi.
Webb, W. J., Aberdeen, Mississippi.
Willard, N., Fairfield, Texas. Wounded at Corinth, October 5, 1862.
Walker, Tom.*
Wamack, Anderson. Captured near home, and died in prison at Fort Delaware.
Wamack, W. L.,* Missouri. Wounded at Fort Pillow.
Willard, J. A., Fairfield, Freestone County, Texas.

Of the Recruits, one was killed, seventeen have died, sixty-two living, and twelve unaccounted for—total, ninety-two.

Add the recruits to the original company, and the result will be as follows: Eight killed, thirty-seven died, one hundred and three living, and twenty unaccounted for—total, one hundred and sixty-eight.

As several were wounded more than once, some thirty-two of the company received between thirty-five and forty wounds.

The above list speaks well for the industry and perseverance of Captain M. W. McKnight in keeping his company well recruited, as well as for the popularity of the company

The “Sangs”⁴ generally outnumbered any other company in the regiment, and yet they were never consolidated with any other company.

I learn from an old muster-roll, which has been preserved by Lieutenant J. S. Harrison, that sixteen⁵ of the original company and thirty-five⁵ of the recruits—total, fifty-one-were present at the surrender of Forrest's Cavalry, May 10, 1865. The muster-roll referred to above is dated thus: "Near Sumterville, Alabama, May 1, 1865." And upon said roll I find the names of nineteen others, who are accounted for as follows: Three (J. W. Webb, W. E. Rich,⁶ and T. D. Summer⁶) are reported “Detached by order of Lieutenant-General Forrest;" two (A. G. McKnight and B. D. Ewing⁶) are reported “Absent, waiting on wounded ;” three (A. B. McKnight,⁶ W.W. Hawkins,⁶ and R. R. Hancock^*) are reported “Absent, wounded;” six (Captain M. W. McKnight,⁶ Lieutenant H. L. W. Turney,⁶ Privates E. L. Ewing,⁶ J. H. Cavender, Mat Francis and H. C. Odam) are reported “Retired by order of Medical Board;" three (A. G. Ewing,⁶ J. H. Baxter, and John N. McKnight) are reported “Absent, sick," and two (E. D. Thomas and J. H. Thomas) are reported “Absent on parole."

Though I do not find upon said roll the names of any of the Auburn Company (J. D. McLin,⁶ C. C. Francis, Eli Barrett,⁶ and perhaps some others) who were in prison when this muster-roll was made out, I suppose they were omitted from the fact that our officers did not expect to get paroles for those in prison. But, omitting those in prison and the two already on parole, there were sixty-eight of the Auburn Company paroled at Gainesville, Sumter County, Alabama, May 10, 1865. (Gainesville is situated in the center of the western border of Alabama, on the west bank of the Tombigbee River, about forty-five miles southeast of Columbus, Mississippi.) Besides the eight killed, only about nine company died during the war. Alfred Hancock, Dr. G. C. Flowers, William A. Groom, John Overall, George Owen, George Turney, and Captain Sam Y. Barkley were with the Auburn Company from time to time during the war, and did more or less service, though they were not really members of the company. S. Y. Barkley, the last named above, was Captain of a company in Colonel E. S. Smith's regiment; and after that regiment disbanded Captain Barkley, though remaining independent, did service with the Auburn Company a good portion of the time from the fall of 1862 to the close of the war.

We remained at Nashville about five or six days. As they wanted our boots made by the penitentiary hands, we went there and had our measures taken. We moved from Nashville to Thorn Hill, near Goodlettsville, some ten or twelve miles north-east of Nashville, where we found the four following cavalry companies encamped:

The following is the muster-roll of Captain Frank N. McNairy's Company (A):

McNairy, F. N., Captain, d.
Harris, W. H., First Lieutenant, 1.
Brown, C. W., Second Lieutenant, 1.
Hicks, E. D., Third Lieutenant, 1.
Morton, G. H., First Sergeant, 1.
Roberts, William, Second Sergeant, 1.
Maxey, William O., Third Sergeant, d.
Britton, William, Fourth Sergeant, 1.
Drane, J. R , First Corporal, d.
Miliron, A. A., Second Corporal, killed at Milton.
Shute, J. M., Third Corporal, 1.
Craighead, W. J., Fourth Corporal, d.
Bender, John, Bugler, 1.
Winfrey, Andrew, Bugler, 1.
Drane, Tom, 1.
Abbay, R. H., d.
Abbay, R. H., d.
Adams, R. H., d.
Aiken, George, d.
Anderson, J. S., d.
Anderson, J. S., d.
Atkinson, T. C., d.
Bennington, Thomas, 1.
Blackman, Hays, 1.
Bolton, Alex., 1.
Brien, W. A., 1.
Buchanan, J. R., d.
Bush, G. W., d.
Campbell, Joe, d.
Clark, Charles, 1.
Crawford, Scott, 1.
Curran, J. M., d.
Curran, Pat, d.
Dashiells, G. W., d.
Dodd, B. P., 1.
Edmondson, Henry, 1.
Edmondson, W. A., d.
Ferguson, Tom, d.
French, A. H., 1.
Graves, W. H., I.
Griffin, Blank.
Grisham, W. J., 1.
Guinn, W. J.
Guthrie, W.*
Haile, G. E.*
Hallowell, B. F., 1.
Hamill, A. C.; d,
Hamill, M.*
Hancock, G. D.*
Hendricks, A. P., 1.
Hope, R. K., d.
Jackson, Andrew.*
Joplin, Thomas, 1.
Kimbro, Thomas, 1.
Marchbank, Chase, 1.
Marshall, E. S., 1.
Martin, C. C.7
Mathews, S. G., 1.
Morris, R. E. K.8
Natcher, W. K., k.
Nolan, M. D. A., d.
Paul, J. A., 1.
Payne, A. B., d.
Porch, W. A., 1.
Puckett, James.
Ridley, G. C., 1.
Ridley, J. L., 1.
Safforans, T. M., d.
Shields, John, 1.
Shilcut, T. H., 1.
Smith, E. M., d.
Smith, J. M.
Smith, Nat., 1.
Smith, P. A., 1.
Smithwick, George, d.
Steele, J. W., 1.
Steele, William.
Sykes, J. W., d.
Tate, Zack, d.
Thomas, George, 1.
Treanor, J. D.
Tucker. *
Vaughn, J. H., 1.
Vaughn, J. T., 1.
Williams, N. B.*

The following is the muster-roll of the company (B) commanded by Captain W. L. Horn:

Horn, W. L., Captain, I.
Gasby, L. L., First Lieutenant, d.
Calvert, W. W., Second Lieutenant, d.
Craft, W. H., Third Lieutenant, d.
Horn, F. W., First Sergeant, 1.
Oswell, Nick, Second Sergeant.
Pickett, J. C., Third Sergeant, d.
Horn, E. H.,* Fourth Sergeant, 1.
Frankland, J., First Corporal, p.
Rhodes, William, Second Corporal, 1.
Singleton, H. E., Third Corporal, d.
Polk, Richard, Fourth Corporal, 1.
Tate, James, Ensign, k.
Johnson, E. C., Bugler, 1.
Atilla, Frank, Drill Master, 1.
Figg, R. M., 1.
Brooks, E., d.
Armstrong, Eli, d.
Bowles, Thomas, 1.
Bowles, W. E., d.
Bowman, James, 1.
Breedlove, Stanford, 1.
Cantrell, W. H., d.
Carpenter, William, d.
Cash, Jeff, d.
Cooke, J. E., d.
Franklin, J., d.
Graves, John, 1.
Green, J.*
Hager, B. D., 1.
Hays, Mike P,, 1.
Henry, J. P.*
Hook, I. N., d.
Hunley, Ben, d.
Jackson, J. P., 1.
Johnson, Lafayette, d.
Johnson, W. D.. 1.
Kelly, Pat.*
Kenner, John, k.
Kittle, Richard, 1.
Little, David. *
Mahan, Mike. *
Mahoney, John.*
Mann, G. W., l.
McKnight, W. G., d.
Mehrenstein, M., 1.
Meyer, John, 1.
Miller, Aug., d.
Morton, S. W.*
Nellan, M.* Ford, T.*
Newbern, Thomas, 1.
Nicholson, M. R., 1.
O'Brien, John, 1.
O'Donnell, John.*
O'Hara, Roderick, d.
Overbee, Coleman,*
Overstreet, J. L., 1.
Patton, F., 1.
Powers, Pat. *
Rhodes, D. C., 1.
Rhodes, M., d.
Runnells, Sam.*
Searls, Charles, 1.
Singleton, A. J., d.
Spillers, L., 1.
Squares, Charles, d.
Stevenson, J. F., 1.
Stull, J., l.
Sullivan, Pat.*
Sutton, J. J., 1.
Tarpley, Robert, k.
Thompson, S., d.
Webb, J. B., k.
Wilson, Wallace, 1.
Wittey, Horatio, d.
Woodruff, John, 1.
Wright, H.*
Wyatt, Thomas, d.
Yates, Thomas, d.
Zachary, Wash, 1.

The following is the roll⁹ of Company C,¹⁰ & First  Battalion Tennessee Cavalry:

Ewing, William, Captain, d.¹¹
Bond, Burk, First Lieutenant, d.
House, Isaac, Second Lieutenant, d.
Wyatt, Joe, Third Lieutenant, d.
Parrish, William, First Sergeant, d.
Allen, John, Jr.
Allen, John, Sr.
Andrews, William.
Bailey, Pat.
Beech, David.
Blythe, James.
Bostick, Jonn, 1.
Boyd, D. J.
Boyd, Thad.
Brown, John.
Cathrenn, H.
Childress, George.
Childress, William.
Clouston, W. G.
Core, J. G.
Cowles, James.
Crite, J. M.
Crow, J. M.
Crump, G. R.
Crump, Marcus.
Davis, James, d.
Denton, James.
Dodson, Andrew.
Dodson, Byrd.
Dodson, Tim.
Duff, William, d.
Elliott, Joe.
Ellis, John.
Fleming, Lem.
Franklin, James.
House, Mann, d.
Hughes, Brice.
Hughes, Henry.
Hughes, James.
Hughes, Lee.
Hunt, Turner.
Jordan, G. M.
Mallory, Clem.
Mallory, John.
Malone, Hiram.
Maney, H. J., d.
Marshall, William.
McCallister, Joe.
McCrea, ——
McDowell, Sam.
McGan, J- L., 1.
McLane, Ben.
Mebane, Alex.
Merrett, David.
Merrett, J. H.
Mosley, Robert
Mosley, Sam.
Mullins, Doge.
North, J. A., 1.
Oden, Thomas.
Orum, James.
Pollard, N. N.
Reid, W. W.
Smithson, G. W.
Smithson, James.
Sounders, Mark;
Spivy, R.
Tichnenar, G. W.
Tull, Dudle.
Tullan, James.
Underwood, T. B., 1.
Williams, N. C.
Williams, Wm.
Weli, Sam.
Wray, J.

I have failed to get a full report of the living and dead of Ewing's Company.

The following is the muster-roll of Captain E. D. Payne's Company (D):

Payne, E. D., Captain, d.
Petway, R. G., First Lieutenant, l.
Ryan, J. B., Second Lieutenant, l.
Birdwell, J. W., Third Lieutenant.*
Dawson, W. R., First Sergeant.*
Smith, W. H., Second Sergeant, d.
Bevill, J. M., Third Sergeant.*
Hickman, J. A., Fourth Sergeant.*
Knote, T. L., Fifth Sergeant, d.
Walker, E. R., First Corporal.*
Petty, S. H., Second Corporal.*
Sales, W. J., Third Corporal.*
Buckner, J. H., Fourth Corporal.*
Adams, G. W.*
Alexander, J. D.*
Anderson, Alex.*
Armstrong, H. C., 1.
Blackwell, J. W.*
Blair, S. S., 1.
Bledsoe, C. P., d.
Bradley, H. C.*
Bradley, William, d.
Brien, W. A., I.
Caldwell, J. R.*
Camperry, R. J.*
Carler, William.*
Carlisle, W. G., d.
Cavender, J. C., l.
Cayee, F. J.*
Cozatt, G. W., Bugler, d.
Dobbs, J. R., I.
Drane, Thomas. *
Duncan, J. H., d.12
Forehand, Thomas. *
Fox, Thomas.
Glasco, C. L., d.
Good, G. H.*
Handy, D. S.*
Handy, G. M.*
Harbring, J.*
Haynes, J. C.*
Hays, E. C.*
Head, Robert.*
Heiss, Henry, d.
Hester, J. W., d.
Hickle, G. R. H.*
Hill, J. B.*
Houston, J. D., 1.
Hunter, William, I.
Hutchinson, W. B., 1.
Johnson, C., Farrier, 1.
Jones, J. M.*
Jones, Joseph, d.
Kirkpatrick, J. W.
Knott, R. S., 1.
Maratta, S., Bugler, d.
Marks, W. P., k.
Mayfield, W.*
McCartney, L. W., d.
Nelson, N. R., d.
Pendergras, James. *
Petty, J. M.*
Polk, J. A., 1.
Rhodes, J. B., d.
Richardson, J. R.*
Ring, A. N.*
Robertson, J. A.*
Skeggs, C. H., 1.
Smith, W. B.*
Steele, E. F.*
Underwood, F. J.*
Washburn, J. M., d.
West, E. M.*
White, Edward. *
Whittey, D. J.*
Williams, A. J.*
Woods, N.*

At Thorn Hill, during the first week of July, the five companies previously mentioned were organized into a battallion, known as the,

FIRST BATTALION OF TENNESSEE CAVALRY,

by electing the following field and staff officers :

Frank N. McNairy, Lieutenant-Colonel.
William Malcomb, Major.
E. D. Hicks, Lieutenant and Adjutant.
M. W. McKnight, Sergeant-Major.
Dr. Isaac House, Surgeon.
G. M. Fogg, Acting Quartermaster.
William Britton, Assistant Quartermaster.
Ramsey, Commissary
John Bender, Bugler.

As the Captain of Company A was elected Lieutenant-Colonel, and the Third Lieutenant of the same company was made Adjutant, therefore, by election, W. Hooper Harris became Captain, and Hays Blackman First Lieutenant, and George H. Morton was made Third Lieutenant of Company A in December, 1861.

A few days after the First Battalion had been organized at Thorn Hill, it moved from there to Camp Jackson, near Hendersonville, some five or six miles east of the former camp.

News having reached Auburn, Cannon County, that the First Battalion would start to East Tennessee in a few days, quite a number of the friends and relatives of our company (Allison's) paid us a visit, about the 24th of July, at Camp Jackson. They brought trunks and boxes filled with “good things” to eat. How, for the next three or four days, we did enjoy the company of our friends and relatives, as well as eating the good things they brought for us! Had I an eloquent pen I would here use it in describing those few but bright days. They were, in comparison with the rest of our soldier life, like an oasis in a great desert.

On the morning of the 28th most of our friends set out on their return home, and the three companies enlisted at Nashville (Harris's, Horn's, and Payne's) had previously gone to that place to visit relatives and friends before starting eastward. Allison's and Ewing's Companies were still at Camp Jackson.

_______________

¹ Those whose names are in small capitals [in this listing all capitals] were present at the surrender.

² B. A. and W. C. are brothers of the writer.

³ See Appendix A.

⁴ The above name (or rather as at first, “Sang Diggers”) was given to the Auburn Company rather as a term of derision; though, in the language of an ancient general (Epaminondas), “they did not derive any honor from the name, but they made the name honorable.”

⁵ By reference to the preceding rolls their names will be found printed in small [all] capitals.

⁶ These twelve were members of the original company.

⁷ Killed at Milton, Tennessee.

⁸ Killed at Winchester, Kentucky.

⁹ I am under obligations to J. L. McGann for this roll.

¹⁰ This company was from Williamson County, the other three from Nashville, except a few Kentuckians in Company D.

¹¹ Resigned at Cumberland Ford.

¹² Made Captain at Cumberland Ford.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 18-35

Brig. Gen. States Rights Gist to Maj. W. H. Trimmier, January 6, 1857

UNIONVILLE, January 6, 1857

AN ELECTION is hereby ordered for COLONEL to command the 36^th Regiment of S. C. M., on Saturday, the 7^th day of March next, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Col. S. M. SNODDY.

Lieut. Col. McDowell and Maj. A J. Foster are charged with the extension of this order.

By order of

STATES R. GIST, Brig. Gen.,          

9^th Brig. S. C. M.

W. H. TRIMMIER, Brig. Major.

Dec 15             47        tf

SOURCE: The Carolina Spartan, Spartanburg, South Carolina, Thursday, January 22, 1857, p. 3

Captain Charles Wright Wills: April 9, 1864

Scottsboro, Ala., April 9, 1864.

Don't be alarmed and imagine that I have “photos” on the brain. This is in all probability the last remittance of the article that I shall make you. General Corse, our old brigade commander, we think a great deal of, and would like to have you preserve his picture. The little soldier, Johnny Clem, was a sergeant at the time of the Chickamauga battle, and fought like a hero. His comrades say he killed a Rebel officer of high rank there. For his gallant conduct in that massacre, General Thomas gave him a lieutenancy and position on his staff, where he now is. He is almost a perfect image of one, Willie Blackburn, who was my orderly in the 7th.

The day of jubilee has come at this post; that is, we have, once more, something fit to eat. This is the first day since we've been here that our commissary has furnished us with aught but regular rations. We can wish for nothing now, except “marching orders.” My men are in splendid condition. Everyone of them in A1 health and spirits. All the veterans of the division are back, except the three regiments of our brigade. The 55th Illinois has at last concluded to veteran. Two hundred of them will be at home shortly. They held a new election, left Malmsberg and Chandler out in the cold, and I understand, a goodly number of their best officers besides. Men who have not been under good disciplinarians, will almost invariably, if an election is allowed, choose good fellows for officers. That is, men who allow everything to go at loose ends, who have no business whatever with commissions. Captain Milt. Hainey and Captain Augustine, I understand, are to be colonel and lieutenant colonel of the 55th. They are said to be good men and officers, and exceptions to the above, but my experience is such exceptions are rare, and I'd rather time would prove them than man's words. I believe my company would veteran, almost unanimously, to-day. I am still on court-martial duty, and having a very easy time. We seldom sit over two hours, and never more than four hours a day. The most of the cases are for desertion, and absence without leave, with occasionally a shooting or cutting affair among some drunken men. The major and several of the other officers are absent at Nashville on a shopping excursion. Captain Wyskoff is commanding. He has been trying for the last eight months to resign, but papers come back every time disapproved. It's hard work now to get out of the army. By a few items I have seen in the papers, believe the 17th Army Corps is coming up the river. Wish they would be sent here. We need another corps to move with us on to Rome. Suppose that Grant thinks he must have the 17th with him at Richmond. Operations cannot possibly commence here for 25 days yet. Wish we could move to-morrow. Colonel Wright and I were out a few miles this p. m. to see a couple of maidens. While we were enjoying our visit a party of excited citizens (all liable to the Southern conscription) rush in, and kindly invite us to go down to Fossets' in the bottom, and clean out a half dozen “guerils” who were there after conscripts. ’Twas only a half mile through the woods to Fossets’ and that was closer than we wanted to be to such a party (we had no arms). So we told the excited citizens that they and the guerillas could all go to the d---1 and we'd go to camp. Within a mile of camp we met a company on the way to look for the Rebels, but I know they might as well look for a religious chaplain in the army as for the Rebels in that swamp. There is hardly a sign of spring here yet. Have certainly never seen vegetation as far advanced North at this season as it is here now. Need a fire every day. The last month has been colder than January was. I met a woman to-day who prides herself on belonging to one of the first families of Virginia and boasts that her grandsire's plantation and George Washington's almost joined, and showed me a negro woman 110 years old, that formerly waited upon George Washington. She claims to be chivalry, par excellence. Her husband is in the Rebel Army. She lives off of the United States Commissary Department, and begs her chewing tobacco of United States soldiers. She's a Rebel, and talks it with her mouth full of Uncle Sam's bread and bacon.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 223-5

An Act to authorize the Employment of Volunteers to aid in enforcing the Laws and protecting Public Property, July 22, 1861.

Whereas, certain of the forts, arsenals, custom-houses, navy yards, and other property of the United States have been seized, and other violations of law have been committed and are threatened by organized bodies of men in several of the States, and a conspiracy has been entered into to overthrow the Government of the United States: Therefore,

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to accept the services of volunteers, either as cavalry, infantry, or artillery, in such numbers, not exceeding five hundred thousand, as he may deem necessary, for the purpose of repelling invasion, suppressing insurrection, enforcing the laws, and preserving and protecting the public property: Provided, That the services of the volunteers shall be for such time as the President may direct, not exceeding three years nor less than six months, and they shall be disbanded at the end of the war. And all provisions of law applicable to three years' volunteers shall apply to two years' volunteers, and to all volunteers who have been, or may be, accepted into the service of the United States, for a period not less than six months, in the same manner as if such volunteers were specially named. Before receiving into service any number of volunteers exceeding those now called for and accepted, the President shall, from time to time, issue his proclamation, stating the number desired, either as cavalry, infantry, or artillery, and the States from which they are to be furnished, having reference, in any such requisition, to the number then in service from the several States, and to the exigencies of the service at the time, and equalizing, as far as practicable, the number furnished by the several States, according to Federal population.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said volunteers shall be subject to the rules and regulations governing the army of the United States, and that they shall be formed, by the President, into regiments of infantry, with the exception of such numbers for cavalry and artillery, as he may direct, not to exceed the proportion of one company of each of those arms to every regiment of infantry, and to be organized as in the regular service. Each regiment of infantry shall have one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, one major, one adjutant, (a lieutenant,) one quarter-master, (a lieutenant,) one surgeon and one assistant surgeon, one sergeant-major, one regimental quartermaster-sergeant, one regimental commissary-sergeant, one hospital steward, two principal musicians, and twenty-four musicians for a band, and shall be composed of ten companies, each company to consist of one captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant, one first sergeant, four sergeants, eight corporals, two musicians, one wagoner, and from sixty-four to eighty-two privates.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That these forces, when accepted as herein authorized, shall be organized into divisions of three or more brigades each; and each division shall have a major-general, three aides-de-camp, and one assistant adjutant-general with the rank of major. Each brigade shall be composed of four or more regiments and shall have one brigadier-general, two aides-de-camp, one assistant adjutant-general with the rank of captain, one surgeon, one assistant quartermaster, and one commissary of subsistence.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the President shall be authorized to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for of the command of the forces provided for in this act, a number of major-generals, not exceeding six, and a number of brigadier-generals, not exceeding eighteen, and the other division and brigade officers required for the organization of these forces, except the aides-de-camp, who shall be selected by their respective generals from the officers of the army or volunteer corps: Provided, That the President may select the major-generals and brigadier-generals provided for in this act, from the line or staff of the regular army, and the officers so selected shall be permitted to retain their rank therein. The governors of the States furnishing volunteers under this act, shall commission the field, staff, and company officers Field, staff and requisite for the said volunteers; but, in cases where the State authorities refuse or omit to furnish volunteers at the call or on the proclamation of the President, and volunteers from such States offer their services under such call or proclamation, the President shall have power to accept such services, and to commission the proper field, staff, and company officers.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, organized as above set forth, shall, in all respects, be placed on the footing, as to pay and allowances, of similar corps of the regular army: Provided, That the allowances of non-commissioned officers and privates for clothing, when not furnished in kind, shall be three dollars and fifty cents per month, and that each company officer, non-commissioned officer, private, musician, and artificer of cavalry shall furnish his own horse and horse equipments, and shall receive forty cents per day for their use and risk, except that in case the horse shall become disabled, or shall die, the allowance shall cease until the disability be removed or another horse be supplied. Every volunteer non-commissioned officer, private, musician, and artificer, who enters the service of the United States under this act, shall be paid at the rate of fifty cents in lieu of subsistence, and if a cavalry volunteer, twenty-five cents additional, in lieu of forage, for every twenty miles of travel from his place of enrolment to the place of muster — the distance to be measured by the shortest usually travelled route; and when honorably discharged an allowance at the same rate, from the place of his discharge to his place of enrolment, and, in addition thereto, if he shall have served for a period of two years, or during the war, if sooner ended, the sum of one hundred dollars: Provided, That such of the companies of cavalry herein provided for, as may require it, may be furnished with horses and horse equipments in the same manner as in the United States army.

SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That any volunteer who may be received into the service of the United States under this act, and who may be wounded or otherwise disabled in the service, shall be entitled to the benefits which have been or may be conferred on persons disabled in the regular service, and the widow, if there be one, and if not, the legal heirs of such as die, or may be killed in service, in addition to all arrears of pay and allowances, shall receive the sum of one hundred dollars.

SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the bands of the regiments of infantry and of the regiments of cavalry shall be paid as follows: one-fourth of each shall receive the pay and allowances of sergeants of engineer soldiers; one-fourth those of corporals of engineer soldiers; and the remaining half those of privates of engineer soldiers of the first class; and the leaders of the band shall receive the same pay and emoluments as second lieutenants of infantry.

SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the wagoners and saddlers shall receive the pay and allowances of corporals of cavalry. The regimental commissary-sergeant shall receive the pay and allowances of regimental sergeant-major, and the regimental quartermaster-sergeant shall receive the pay and allowances of a sergeant of cavalry.

SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That there shall be allowed to each regiment one chaplain, who shall be appointed by the regimental commander on the vote of the field officers and company commanders on duty with the regiment at the time the appointment shall be made. The chaplain so appointed must be a regular ordained minister of a Christian denomination, and shall receive the pay and allowances of a captain of cavalry, and shall be required to report to the colonel commanding the regiment to which he is attached, at the end of each quarter, the moral and religious condition of the regiment, and such suggestions as may conduce to the social happiness and moral improvement of the troops.

SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That the general commanding a separate department or a detached army, is hereby authorized to appoint a military board or commission, of not less than three nor more than five officers, whose duty it shall be to examine the capacity, qualifications, propriety of conduct and efficiency of any commissioned officer of volunteers within his department or army, who may be reported to the board or commission; and upon such report, if adverse to such officer, and if approved by the President of the United States, the commission of such officer shall be vacated: Provided always, That no officer shall be eligible to sit on such board or commission, whose rank or promotion would in any way be affected by its proceedings, and two members at least, if practicable, shall be of equal rank of the officer being examined. And when vacancies occur in any of the companies of volunteers, an election shall be called by the colonel of the regiment to fill such vacancies, and the men of each company shall vote in their respective companies for all officers as high as captain, and vacancies above captain shall be filled by the votes of the commissioned officers of the regiment, and all officers so elected shall be commissioned by the respective Governors of the States, or by the President of the United States.

SEC. 11. And be it further enacted, That all letters written by soldiers in the service of the United States, may be transmitted through the mails without prepayment of postage, under such regulations as the Post-Office Department may prescribe, the postage thereon to be paid by the recipients.

SEC. 12. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to introduce among the volunteer forces in the service of the United States, the system of allotment among the volunteer forces in the service of the United States, the system of allotment tickets now used in the navy, or some equivalent system by which the family of the volunteer may draw such portions of his pay as he may request.

APPRoved, July 22, 1861.

SOURCE: George P. Sanger, Editor, The Statutes at Large, Treaties, and Proclamations, of the United States of America from December 5, 1859 to March 3, 1863, Vol. 12, p. 268-71

Diary of William Howard Russell: June 22, 1861

An active man would soon go mad if he were confined in Cairo. A mudbank stretching along the course of a muddy river is not attractive to a pedestrian; and, as is the case in most of the Southern cities, there is no place round Cairo where a man can stretch his legs, or take an honest walk in the country. A walk in the country! The Americans have not an idea of what the thing means. I speak now only of the inhabitants of the towns of the States through which I have passed, as far as I have seen of them. The roads are either impassable in mud or knee-deep in dust. There are no green shady lanes, no sheltering groves, no quiet paths through green meadows beneath umbrageous trees. Off the rail there is a morass — or, at best, a clearing — full of stumps. No temptations to take a stroll. Down away South the planters ride or drive; indeed in many places the saunterer by the wayside would probably encounter an alligator, or disturb a society of rattlesnakes. .

To-day I managed to struggle along the levee in a kind of sirocco, and visited the works at the extremity, which were constructed by an Hungarian named Waagner, one of the emigres who came with Kossuth to the United States. I found him in a hut full of flies, suffering from camp diarrhea, and waited on by Mr. O'Leary, who was formerly petty officer in our navy, served in the Furious in the Black Sea, and in the Shannon Brigade in India, now a lieutenant in the United States' army, where I should say he feels himself very much out of place. The Hungarian and the Milesian were, however, quite agreed about the utter incompetence of their military friends around them, and the great merits of heavy artillery. “When I tell them here the way poor Sir William made us rattle about them sixty-eight-pounder guns, the poor ignorant creatures laugh at me — not one of them believes it,” “It is most astonishing,” says the colonel, “how ignorant they are; there is not one of these men who can trace a regular work. Of West Point men I speak not, but of the people about here, and they will not learn of me — from me who know.” However, the works were well enough, strongly covered, commanded both rivers, and not to be reduced without trouble.

The heat drove me in among the flies of the crowded hotel, where Brigadier Prentiss is planning one of those absurd expeditions against a Secessionist camp at Commerce, in the State of Missouri, about two hours steaming up the river, and some twelve or fourteen miles inland. Cairo abounds in Secessionists and spies, and it is needful to take great precautions lest the expedition be known; but, after all, stores must be got ready, and put on board the steamers, and preparations must be made which cannot be concealed from the world. At dusk 700 men, supported by a six-pounder field-piece, were put on board the “City of Alton,” on which they clustered like bees in a swarm, and as the huge engine labored up and down against the stream, and the boat swayed from side to side, I felt a considerable desire to see General Prentiss chucked into the stream for his utter recklessness in cramming on board one huge tinder-box, all fire and touchwood, so many human beings, who, in event of an explosion, or a shot in the boiler, or of a heavy musketry fire on the banks, would have been converted into a great slaughter-house. One small boat hung from her stern, and although there were plenty of river flats and numerous steamers, even the horses belonging to the field-piece were crammed in among the men along the deck.

In my letter to Europe I made, at the time, some remarks by which the belligerents might have profited, and which at the time these pages are reproduced may strike them as possessing some value, illustrated as they have been by many events in the war. “A handful of horsemen would have been admirable to move in advance, feel the covers, and make prisoners for political or other purposes in case of flight; but the Americans persist in ignoring the use of horsemen, or at least in depreciating it, though they will at last find that they may shed much blood, and lose much more, before they can gain a victory without the aid of artillery and charges after the retreating enemy. From the want of cavalry, I suppose it is, the unmilitary practice of ‘scouting,’ as it is called here, has arisen. It is all very well in the days of Indian wars for footmen to creep about in the bushes, and shoot or be shot by sentries and pickets; but no civilized war recognizes such means of annoyance as firing upon sentinels, unless in case of an actual advance or feigned attack on the line. No camp can be safe without cavalry videttes and pickets; for the enemy can pour in impetuously after the alarm has been given, as fast as the outlying footmen can run in. In feeling the way for a column, cavalry are invaluable, and there can be little chance of ambuscades or surprises where they are judiciously employed; but ‘scouting’ on foot, or adventurous private expeditions on horseback, to have a look at the enemy, can do, and will do, nothing but harm. Every day the papers contain accounts of ‘scouts’ being killed, and sentries being picked off. The latter is a very barbarous and savage practice; and the Russian, in his most angry moments, abstained from it. If any officer wishes to obtain information as to his enemy, he has two ways of doing it. He can employ spies, who carry their lives in their hands, or he can beat up their quarters by a proper reconnoissance on his own responsibility, in which, however, it would be advisable not to trust his force to a railway train.”

At night there was a kind of émeute in camp. The day, as I have said, was excessively hot, and on returning to their tents and huts from evening parade the men found the contractor who supplies them with water had not filled the barrels; so they forced the sentries, broke barracks after hours, mobbed their officers, and streamed up to the hotel, which they surrounded, calling out, “Water, water,” in chorus. The General came out, and got up on a rail: “Gentlemen,” said he, “it is not my fault you are without water. It's your officers who are to blame; not me.” (“Groans for the Quartermaster,” from the men.) “If it is the fault of the contractor, I’ll see that he is punished. I’ll take steps at once to see that the matter is remedied. And now, gentlemen, I hope you'll go back to your quarters;” and the gentlemen took it into their heads very good-humoredly to obey the suggestion, fell in, and marched back two deep to their huts.

As the General was smoking his cigar before going to bed, I asked him why the officers had not more control over the men. “Well,” said he, “the officers are to blame for all this. The truth is, the term for which these volunteers enlisted is drawing to a close; and they have not as yet enrolled themselves in the United States army. They are merely volunteer regiments of the State of Illinois. If they were displeased with anything, therefore, they might refuse to enter the service or to take fresh engagements; and the officers would find themselves suddenly left without any men; they therefore curry favor with the privates, many of them, too, having an eye to the votes of the men when the elections of officers in the new regiments are to take place.”

The contractors have commenced plunder on a gigantic scale; and their influence with the authorities of the State is so powerful, there is little chance of punishing them. Besides, it is not considered expedient to deter contractors, by too scrupulous an exactitude, in coming forward at such a trying period; and the Quartermaster's department, which ought to be the most perfect, considering the number of persons connected with transport and carriage, is in a most disgraceful and inefficient condition. I told the General that one of the Southern leaders proposed to hang any contractor who was found out in cheating the men, and that the press cordially approved of the suggestion. “I am afraid” said he, “if any such proposal was carried out here, there would scarcely be a contractor left throughout the States.” Equal ignorance is shown by the medical authorities of the requirements of an army. There is not an ambulance or cacolet of any kind attached to this camp; and, as far as I could see, not even a litter was sent on board the steamer which has started with the expedition.

Although there has scarcely been a fought field or anything more serious than the miserable skirmishes of Shenck and Butler, the pressure of war has already told upon the people. The Cairo paper makes an urgent appeal to the authorities to relieve the distress and pauperism which the sudden interruption of trade has brought upon so many respectable citizens. And when I was at Memphis the other day, I observed a public notice in the journals, that the magistrates of the city would issue orders for money to families left in distress by the enrolment of the male members for military service. When General Scott, sorely against his will, was urged to make preparations for an armed invasion of the seceded States in case it became necessary, he said it would need some hundreds of thousands of men and many millions of money to effect that object. Mr. Seward, Mr. Chase, and Mr. Lincoln laughed pleasantly at this exaggeration, but they have begun to find by this time the old general was not quite so much in the wrong.

In reference to the discipline maintained in the camp, I must admit that proper precautions are used to prevent spies entering the lines. The sentries are posted closely and permit no one to go in without a pass in the day and a countersign at night. A conversation with General Prentiss in the front of the hotel was interrupted this evening by an Irishman, who ran past us towards the camp, hotly pursued by two policemen. The sentry on duty at the point of the lines close to us brought him up by the point of the bayonet. “Who goes tere?” “A friend, shure your honor; I'm a friend.” “Advance three paces and give the countersign.” “I don't know it, I tell you. Let me in, let me in.” But the German was resolute, and the policemen now coming up in hot pursuit, seized the culprit, who resisted violently, till General Prentiss rose from his chair and ordered the guard, who had turned out, to make a prisoner of the soldier and hand him over to the civil power, for which the man seemed to be most deeply grateful. As the policemen were walking him off, he exclaimed, “Be quiet wid ye, till I spake a word to the Giniral,” and then bowing and chuckling with drunken gravity, he said, “an’ indeed, Giniral, I'm much obleeged to ye altogither for this kindness. Long life to ye. We've got the better of that dirty German. Hoora' for Giniral Prentiss.” He preferred a chance of more whiskey in the police office and a light punishment to the work in camp and a heavy drill in the morning. An officer who was challenged by a sentry the other evening, asked him, “Do you know the countersign yourself?” “No, sir, it's not nine o'clock, and they have not given it out yet.” Another sentry stopped a man because he did not know the countersign. The fellow said, “I dare say you don't know it yourself.” “That's a lie,” he exclaimed; “it’s Plattsburgh.” “Pittsburgh it is, sure enough,” said the other, and walked on without further parley.

The Americans, Irish, and Germans, do not always coincide in the phonetic value of each letter in the passwords, and several difficulties have occurred in consequence. An incautious approach towards the posts at night is attended with risk; for the raw sentries are very quick on the trigger. More fatal and serious injuries have been inflicted on the Federals by themselves than by the enemy. “I declare to you, sir, the way the boys touched off their irons at me going home to my camp last night, was just like a running fight with the Ingins. I was a little ‘tight,’ and didn't mind it a cuss.”

SOURCE: William Howard Russell, My Diary North and South, Vol. 1, p. 341-5

Diary of Gideon Welles: Tuesday, August 18, 1863

Blair denounces the practice of dismissing officers without trial as oppressive and wrong. Mentions the case of Lieutenant Kelly, a Pennsylvanian, who, he says, has been unjustly treated. I know not the facts in this particular case, and am aware that a bad President or Secretary might abuse this authority, but a peremptory dismissal without trial is sometimes not only justifiable but necessary. If the authority is abused, let the one who abuses it, whatever his station, be held accountable and, if necessary, impeached.

Stanton wishes me to go with him to Fortress Monroe. Says he has a boat; wants, himself, to go down, etc.

Governor Buckingham was at my house this evening. Has come to Washington to consult in relation to the draft.

In a conversation with General Spinner, the Treasurer, a radical, yet a Democrat of the old school, he condemns the error into which we have fallen of electing too many officers by the people, especially judicial and accounting officers, who should be selected and appointed by an accountable and responsible executive. Admits his mind has undergone a revolution on this subject.

SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30, 1864, p. 406-7

Diary of Luman Harris Tenney: Wednesday, September 10, 1862

Word came to Major Burnett that the officers of the 2nd Ohio must be unanimous in choosing a colonel or someone from the regular army would be chosen. Officers met, ballot impromptu, Major Miner 7, Major Purington 7, Major Burnett 6. 1st ballot, Major Miner 7, Major Burnett 7, Major Purington 6. 2nd ballot, Major Burnett 12, Major Miner 8, Major P. having left the room, it being agreed that the one having the least votes should drop out. As agreed they made Burnett's vote unanimous. Miner seemed almost crazy, so surprised and disappointed. At 4 P. M. Major Purington left for Columbus with the papers. At 7 P. M. Major Miner started with his wife. He thought there had been underhanded work, so was going to lay the matter before the governor. If Burnett were commissioned he wished to be transferred. Nettleton stood by him. Very exciting. Officers and men full of wine and champagne at Burnett's expense. King under arrest in his tent, awful mad.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 31

Diary of Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle: Tuesday, April 28, 1863

We crossed the river Guadalupe at 5 A.M., and got a change of horses.

We got a very fair breakfast at Seguin at 7 A.M., which was beginning to be a well-to-do little place when the war dried it up.

It commenced to rain at Seguin, which made the road very woolly, and annoyed the outsiders a good deal.

The conversation turned a good deal upon military subjects, and all agreed that the system of election of officers had proved to be a great mistake. According to their own accounts, discipline must have been extremely lax at first, but was now improving. They were most anxious to hear what was thought of their cause in Europe; and none of them seemed aware of the great sympathy which their gallantry and determination had gained for them in England in spite of slavery.

We dined at a little wooden hamlet called Belmont, and changed horses again there.

The country through which we had been travelling was a good deal cultivated, and there were numerous farms. I saw cotton-fields for the first time.

We amused ourselves by taking shots with our revolvers at the enormous jack-rabbits which came to stare at the coach.

In the afternoon tobacco-chewing became universal, and the spitting was sometimes a little wild.

It was the custom for the outsiders to sit round the top of the carriage, with their legs dangling over (like mutes on a hearse returning from a funeral). This practice rendered it dangerous to put one's head out of the window, for fear of a back kick from the heels, or of a shower of tobacco-juice from the mouths of the Southern chivalry on the roof. In spite of their peculiar habits of hanging, shooting, &c, which seemed to be natural to people living in a wild and thinly-populated country, there was much to like in my fellow-travellers. They all had a sort of bonhommie honesty and straightforwardness, a natural courtesy and extreme good-nature, which was very agreeable. Although they were all very anxious to talk to a European — who, in these blockaded times, is a rara avis — yet their inquisitiveness was never offensive or disagreeable.

Any doubts as to my personal safety, which may have been roused by my early insight into Lynch law, were soon completely set at rest; for I soon perceived that if any one were to annoy me the remainder would stand by me as a point of honour.

We supped at a little town called Gonzales at 6.30.

We left it at 8 P.M. in another coach with six horses — big strong animals.

The roads being all natural ones, were much injured by the rains.

We were all rather disgusted by the bad news we heard at Gonzales of the continued advance of Banks, and of the probable fall of Alexandria.

The squeezing was really quite awful, but I did not suffer so much as the fat or long-legged ones. They all bore their trials in the most jovial good-humoured manner.

My fat vis-à-vis (in despair) changed places with me, my two bench-fellows being rather thinner than his, and I benefited much by the change into a back seat.

SOURCE: Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle, Three months in the southern states: April-June, 1863, p. 55-8

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Monday, January 25, 1864

The Eleventh Iowa Regiment was today sworn into the United States service for three years or during the war, and now we are a veteran regiment. Our company had an election of officers, but it did not amount to anything, as it was vetoed by the colonel, and men of his own choice were put into the offices. The role of officers as elected is as follows:¹

Captain S. S. McLoney

First Lieutenant William Spencer

Second Lieutenant Joseph Tomlinson

First Sergeant Lewis Elseffer

Second Sergeant David Huff

Third Sergeant Hiram Frank

Fourth Sergeant John A. White

Fifth Sergeant Alexander G. Downing

_______________

¹ The men had been promised the right to elect their own officers if they re-enlisted. — A. G. D.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 163-4

Diary of Major Rutherford B. Hayes, Monday Morning, June 10-12, 1861

Monday morning, after a few hours' rest at the Goodale or Capitol House, we went over to the governor's office and learned that the governor had made up a regiment composed of companies chiefly from the extreme northern and northeastern part of the East [State], the field officers being all from Cincinnati, to be the Twenty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for the service of the United States during the war. This regiment was to be organized under General Order No. 15, issued by the adjutant-general of the United States, May 4, 1861, and was the first regiment in Ohio in which the regiment did not elect its own field officers. We feared there would be some difficulty in reconciling the men and officers to officers — strangers — not of their own selection. . . .

Several of these companies had been in camp in Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, together, and wished to remain and act together. All the captains came into the governor's office, soon after we entered, in a state of some excitement, or at least some feeling, at finding themselves placed under strangers from a distant part of the State. We were introduced to them. Colonel Rosecrans unfortunately was not present, having not yet arrived from some military service at Washington. The governor explained to Matthews and myself that the field officers of the Twenty-third were fixed, that we were the Twenty-third Regiment, and that those captains could go into it or not as they saw fit. A little acquaintance satisfied us that our captains were not disposed to be unreasonable, that their feeling was a natural one under the circumstances, and that all ill feeling would disappear if we showed the disposition and ability to perform our duties. Captain Beatty, however, would not be content. He had been a senator in the Legislature, was fifty-five or sixty years old and not disposed to go under young men.

We took a hack out to Camp Jackson,* four miles west of Columbus on the National Road. Several companies were mustered into service by Captains Simpson and Robinson the same day. Colonel E. A. King, of Dayton, was, under state authority, in command of all the soldiers, some twenty-five hundred in number, not mustered into service. As rapidly as they were mustered in, they passed under Colonel Matthews, as the ranking field officer in United States service. Luckily, Captain Beatty was not ready for the mustering officer and we succeeded in getting Captain Zimmerman's fine company in his place. Ditto Captain Howard in place of Captain Weller.

Our mustering was completed June 11 and 12. We were guests of Colonel King (for rations) at the log headquarters and slept at Platt's. Both good arrangements. Wednesday evening, 12th, we got up a large marquee, fine but not tight, and that night I had my first sleep under canvas — cool but refreshing.

__________________

* Name changed a few days later to Camp Chase.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 26-7

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, October 2, 1861

It rained all day. The band from Tipton left for home this morning. Our company held an election this afternoon for choosing non-commissioned officers, sergeants and corporals. It was quite a political battle, the way the boys strove for the different offices.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 12