Smyrna Lions, seniors partnering for bean dinner
SMYRNA – The Smyrna Lions Club and Senior Center will hold their annual bean dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.
Tickets for the popular event, to be held at LifePoint Church on Legacy Drive, are $6 each and available at the door. The menu includes white beans, corn bread, cole slaw, assorted homemade desserts and a beverage. Carry-outs are also available.
Proceeds will benefit the Lions Club’s sight projects and the senior center.
Our mission is to be a useful resource for the city of Smyrna, TN and surrounding areas.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Beans, Beans, good for the heart.
Our local Smyrna Lions will be hosting a Bean Dinner this coming Friday. This is a real hands on group and worthy of your patronage and support.
Ham Breakfast Saturday
Make plans for Saturday as the Masonic lodge is holding a ham breakfast that morning.
Sam Davis Masonic Lodge to host ham breakfast Saturday
SMYRNA – Sam Davis Masonic Lodge #661 is having a country ham breakfast on Saturday [MARCH 3rd] from 6 to 10 a.m. The lodge is located on Nissan Drive across from the old Food Lion store on Mary Law Drive.
They will be serving country ham, scrambled eggs, grits, milk gravy and biscuits, potato wedges, coffee and orange drink. The cost is $8 per person.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Need a car, truck or van?
The town of Smyrna auctions off it's surplus property through govdeals.com. This is for worn out government vehicles, seized vehicles and misc. equipment.
Here is a screen shot of the first page of three showing what is currently up for bid. Click to enlarge.
If interested go to Govdeals.com and register to bid.
Here is a screen shot of the first page of three showing what is currently up for bid. Click to enlarge.
If interested go to Govdeals.com and register to bid.
Boards and Committees applications
It's that time of the year again when application for the following boards, commissions, and committees are accepted. I myself served three years on the Storm Water advisory committee and enjoyed the heck out of the experience.
I believe the deadline for applying is March 5, and the application can be found here (PDF warning). Good luck!
Town of Smyrna Citizen Board Appointments coming up at the March Meeting Apply at http://www.smyrnatn.org/ :Some committees require more time to prepare and a good deal of knowledge on some subjects like Planning. If this is your first time to volunteer and you've not been involved in the 'process' before you likely will not get planning or zoning, but the other boards are good ones to get your feet wet.
a. Appointment of two (2) members to the Packaged Liquor Board to serve four (4) year terms ending 2016.
b.Appointment of one (1) member to the Board of Zoning Appeals to serve three (3) year term ending 2015.
c.Appointment of two (2) members to the Citizens for Sister City Relations to serve three (3) year terms ending 2015.
d.Appointment of two (2) voting members and one (1) non-voting member to the Parks Advisory Board to serve two (2) year terms ending 2014.
e.Appointment of two (2) members to the Planning Commission to serve two (2) year terms ending 2014.
f.Appointment of two (2) members to Project Assistance to serve three (3) year terms ending 2015.
g.Appointment of three (3) members to the Board of Adjustment & Appeals to serve three (3) year terms ending 2015.
h.Appointment of one (1) member to the Beer Board to serve a four (4) year term ending 2016.
i.Appointment of three (3) members to the Storm Water Advisory Committee to serve two (2) year terms ending 2014.
j.Mayor to appoint two (2) members to the Historic Zoning Commission to serve five (5) year terms ending 2017.
k.Appointment of two (2) members to the Industrial Development Board to serve six (6) year terms ending 2018.
l.Appointment of three (3) members to the Arts Commission to serve one (1) year terms ending 2013 and four (4) members to serve two (2) year terms ending 2014.
m.Mayor to appoint one (1) member to the Smyrna Housing Authority to serve five (5) year term ending 2017.
See Boards, Committees, and commissions link on left hand side of home page
I believe the deadline for applying is March 5, and the application can be found here (PDF warning). Good luck!
Friday, February 24, 2012
Event reminder for tomorrow
The Smyrna Local Library is offering free tax preparing assistance.
Free Income Tax PreparationThis is just one of many services the Smyrna Public library offers.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25; March 10, 17, 31 | 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
VITA tax preparers will be on hand to do free tax preparation. Each Saturday they are at the library, registration begins when the library opens. THERE IS NO PRE-REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT.
The following fomrs are NOT eligible for preparation: Schedule C with losses, advanced Schedule D forms, SS-5, 8606, 8615, and SS-8. For married filing jointly, both spouses must be present. Please bring all Form W-2's and 1099's, information for all other income, deductions/credits, previous year's return, proof of account for direct deposit (voided check, etc.), Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification notices/cards for filers, spouses, and all dependents, proof of ID, total paid to daycare providers with their tax ID numbers, birth dates for all parties ont he return and proof of foreign status if applying for ITIN.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Traffic alert.
Beginning Thursday, February 23, 2012, at 8:30 AM and continuing until approx. 2:00 PM, CSX will be closing Enon Springs Road West from Lowry Street (41/70) to Hazelwood Drive while they make necessary repairs to the railroad crossing. Local traffic will be allowed from Hazelwood Drive only as far as CSX Railroad. Please use Washington, Hazelwood and McNickle as alternate routes. Speed limit in construction zones is 15 MPH and will be strictly enforced.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Academy sports coming to town - UPDATE
The last town council meeting had listed a planned revision request for a new store on Weakly Lane. I was not sure if I had heard the name correctly but it sounded like Academy Sports. This is a growing and large line of stores like Bass Pro shop near Opryland. I went to their website and could not find anything on Smyrna there until I looked at their job listings. Unless there is a second Smyrna in Tennessee, we are already listed for people who wish to apply for jobs.
Click to enlarge
I'm not sure how many people one of their stores employ, not the planned opening date, but this is great news as this store covers the shortage of a sports store and a gun store.
Yippee!
UPDATE:
Their planned site will be on the side road where Lowes is and right behind Wendys on Sam Ridley Blvd...this is from the town planner for Smyrna.
Click to enlarge
I'm not sure how many people one of their stores employ, not the planned opening date, but this is great news as this store covers the shortage of a sports store and a gun store.
Yippee!
UPDATE:
Their planned site will be on the side road where Lowes is and right behind Wendys on Sam Ridley Blvd...this is from the town planner for Smyrna.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!
I'm not sure who is putting this job fair on. I saw that Mike Sparks had posted about this on his Facebook page and found information on it at CareerBuilder.com.
JOB DESCRIPTIONWhile it does look like a temp service fair, a job is a job.
JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!
Come One – Come All – Rutherford County Job Fair!
Smyrna Town Centre
100 Sam Ridley Parkway
Smyrna, TN 37167
February 22nd
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Staffmark has JOBS in Rutherford County! Now is the time to get your foot in the door with great companies!
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Positions available include all shifts, ranging from $8.50 to $15.00 per hour!
If you have experience with the following, we want to see YOU!
Picking and Packing
RF Scanner
Warehouse Production
Forklift, Reach Truck, Cherry Picker, and/or Electric Pallet Jack
Inventory Control
Shipping and Receiving
Material Handling
Assembly
Don’t Miss It!
Equipment donation to the SFD.
Firehouse Subs made an equipment donation to the LaVergne and Smyrna fire departments.
FIREHOUSE SUBS® HEATS UP THE CITY OF LAVERGNE AND SMYRNA FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH MORE THAN $25,000 WORTH OF LIFE-SAVING TOOLS
FIREHOUSE SUBS PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION COMES TO THE RESCUE WITH OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE EQUIPMENT
SMYRNA, Tenn. - Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is awarding much needed equipment to the City of LaVergne Special Operations and the Smyrna Fire Department during a joint ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012 at the Firehouse Subs in Smyrna. Otherwise unavailable due to fire district budget constraints, the departments benefit with equipment worth more than $25,000. A Polaris Ranger including hitch, pre-runner kit, trailer and landscaping cage worth $16,814 will be awarded to The City of LaVergne Special Operations. The donated vehicle will greatly increase the city's rescue capability in response to off-road incidents and the transportation of vitctims. While the Smyrna Fire Department will benefit with five QRae II gas detectors and five Auto Rae starter kits worth $8,517. The detectors will assist the department in identifying carbon monoxide in victim's and fellow firefighter's blood stream. Since 2005, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has donated $228,116 to public safety entities in Tennessee.
Firehouse Subs is renowned for hearty, oversized portions and piping hot subs. The founders' 200-year firefighting heritage inspired the formation of the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which provides funding, resources and support to public safety entities.
"We are truly serving subs and saving lives," said Mark Watson, franchisee of the Smyrna Firehouse Subs location. "Our Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation's support of our local heroes impacts us all."Each restaurant recycles leftover, five-gallon pickle buckets and sells them to guests for $2. Donation canisters on register counters explain the non-profit's mission and collect spare change, while the round up program allows guests to literally "round up" their bill to the nearest dollar.
The presentation takes place at the Firehouse Subs located at 337 Sam Ridley Parkway in Smyrna. Attendees to the event include local firefighters and their families, franchisee Mark Watson, area representative Bob Conochalla, and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation development manager Meghan Bender.
In 2005, Firehouse Subs created the non-profit, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, with the mission to provide funding, life-saving equipment and educational opportunities to aid first-responders. Through the non-profit 501(c)(3), Firehouse Subs has given more than $3.5 million to hometown heroes, including fire and police departments and EMS organizations.
Firehouse Subs, founded in Jacksonville, Fla., by former firefighting brothers Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, is a 490-unit fast casual restaurant chain. Firehouse Subs offers oversized portions of premium hand-sliced meats, steamed to make the flavors burst, then piled high with fresh produce atop a toasted sub roll. The restaurants reflect the authentic firefighter heritage, as well as the founding family's 200 years of firefighting service.
For more information on Firehouse Subs or this donation, please visit Firehousesubs.com, Facebook.com/firehousesubs or follow on Twitter at @firehousesubs.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Event reminder for tomorrow
The Smyrna Local Library is offering free tax preparing assistance.
Free Income Tax PreparationThis is just one of many services the Smyrna Public library offers.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25; March 10, 17, 31 | 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
VITA tax preparers will be on hand to do free tax preparation. Each Saturday they are at the library, registration begins when the library opens. THERE IS NO PRE-REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT.
The following fomrs are NOT eligible for preparation: Schedule C with losses, advanced Schedule D forms, SS-5, 8606, 8615, and SS-8. For married filing jointly, both spouses must be present. Please bring all Form W-2's and 1099's, information for all other income, deductions/credits, previous year's return, proof of account for direct deposit (voided check, etc.), Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification notices/cards for filers, spouses, and all dependents, proof of ID, total paid to daycare providers with their tax ID numbers, birth dates for all parties ont he return and proof of foreign status if applying for ITIN.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Event reminder for tomorrow
The Smyrna Local Library is offering free tax preparing assistance.
Free Income Tax PreparationThis is just one of many services the Smyrna Public library offers.
Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25; March 10, 17, 31 | 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
VITA tax preparers will be on hand to do free tax preparation. Each Saturday they are at the library, registration begins when the library opens. THERE IS NO PRE-REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT.
The following fomrs are NOT eligible for preparation: Schedule C with losses, advanced Schedule D forms, SS-5, 8606, 8615, and SS-8. For married filing jointly, both spouses must be present. Please bring all Form W-2's and 1099's, information for all other income, deductions/credits, previous year's return, proof of account for direct deposit (voided check, etc.), Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification notices/cards for filers, spouses, and all dependents, proof of ID, total paid to daycare providers with their tax ID numbers, birth dates for all parties ont he return and proof of foreign status if applying for ITIN.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Valentine's Movie Event
The Smyrna Public Library is hosting a romantic and learning event as one of the great romance movies of all times is shown for your enjoyment.
Singin' in the Rain
February 13, 5 p.m.
Vanderbilt music professor Michael A. Rose will be our guest speaker as we view the classic Gene Kelly film Singin' in the Rain. Bring your sweetheart to the final event of the Walter King Hoover Winter Reading Program, and enjoy the show. Popcorn will be provided!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Smyrna in the Civil War IX
Later in the book a small section goes into details on some of the company commanders. Here is the part about Mr. Gooch.
LIEUT.-COL. JNO. S. GOOCH.
In the beginning of hostilities between the States the subject of this sketch, Lieut.-Col. John Saunders Gooch, was a student at the Military Academy at Nashville, Tenn. His friends at his home near Smyrna, Tenn., organized a company and elected him captain in his absence, without his knowledge, and unsolicited. He accepted the honor thus conferred.
The company was sent by the proper authority to Camp Trousdale, where it was drilled and organized into the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment of Volunteers, Battle's regiment, his company being Company E. The regiment was ordered to Virginia, but was stopped at Bristol, and ordered into Kentucky through Cumberland Gap.
At Fishing Creek or Mills Springs, Ky., Captain Gooch, in leading his company in a desperate charge, received a severe wound, which at the time was thought to be fatal. His men rescued and brought him off the field, as they thought in a dy1ng condition. He rallied, however, and was furloughed.
At the organization of the army at Corinth, Miss., during his absence, he was elected lieutenant-colonel of his regiment in his nineteenth year, showing the regard and esteem in which he was held by his comrades in arms.
He rejoined the army at Vicksburg, Miss., where his regiment had been sent, and reported for duty, but on account of his wound, which was in an unhealed condition, and no prospects for an early recovery, he resigned his commission, and was honorably discharged from the army.
It was many years after the close of the war before he recovered from his wound. Since the war he has remained on his farm near Smyrna, and represents the true type of a Southern gentleman.
Well that is it for the history of the men of Company E. Many left and few returned. Either by bullet, cannon or illness they fell far from home. While Sam Davis gets much of the glory in the history of the Civil War in Smyrna, the number of young men who also fell is staggering.
LIEUT.-COL. JNO. S. GOOCH.
In the beginning of hostilities between the States the subject of this sketch, Lieut.-Col. John Saunders Gooch, was a student at the Military Academy at Nashville, Tenn. His friends at his home near Smyrna, Tenn., organized a company and elected him captain in his absence, without his knowledge, and unsolicited. He accepted the honor thus conferred.
The company was sent by the proper authority to Camp Trousdale, where it was drilled and organized into the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment of Volunteers, Battle's regiment, his company being Company E. The regiment was ordered to Virginia, but was stopped at Bristol, and ordered into Kentucky through Cumberland Gap.
At Fishing Creek or Mills Springs, Ky., Captain Gooch, in leading his company in a desperate charge, received a severe wound, which at the time was thought to be fatal. His men rescued and brought him off the field, as they thought in a dy1ng condition. He rallied, however, and was furloughed.
At the organization of the army at Corinth, Miss., during his absence, he was elected lieutenant-colonel of his regiment in his nineteenth year, showing the regard and esteem in which he was held by his comrades in arms.
He rejoined the army at Vicksburg, Miss., where his regiment had been sent, and reported for duty, but on account of his wound, which was in an unhealed condition, and no prospects for an early recovery, he resigned his commission, and was honorably discharged from the army.
It was many years after the close of the war before he recovered from his wound. Since the war he has remained on his farm near Smyrna, and represents the true type of a Southern gentleman.
Well that is it for the history of the men of Company E. Many left and few returned. Either by bullet, cannon or illness they fell far from home. While Sam Davis gets much of the glory in the history of the Civil War in Smyrna, the number of young men who also fell is staggering.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Smyrna in the Civil War VIII
The writer of the history of Company E takes a moment to add some personal commentary as the war is over and many friends and neighbors have been lost. This is the next to final section about the men of Company E. I hope you've enjoyed this. A lot of the names in the unit are now part of the history of Smyrna in the businesses and the names of roads.
PERSONAL:—Justice demands "Honor to whom honor is due." Captain J. S. Gooch, although a mere boy at the beginning of the war, was chosen to the command of Company E, and to his credit it must be said, that he made an excellent officer. He was an ideal officer as long as he commanded the company. His men loved and obeyed him for his manly and sterling qualities as such. He commanded us in only one fight, in which he was severely wounded, in gallantly leading his men on a desperate charge. No man or officer behaved more gloriously on the battle field of Fishing Creek, than did Captain Gooch. As a proof of his sterling qualities as a man and officer, he was chosen to the Lieutenant Colonency of the Regiment at the reorganization of the army at Corinth, Miss.
He resigned his commision as Lieutenant Colonel at Vicksburg, Miss., owing to his inability for service, caused from the wound received at Fishing Creek. He still lives on his farm near Smyrna, Rutherford Co., Tenn., and is respected by all who know him. As he made a good soldier, so he naturally makes a good citizen.
W. T. RIDLEY.
We could write a long time portraying the many good and noble qualities of Capt. W. T. Ridley of Company E, 20th Tennessee Regiment. He assisted in organizing the company and was chosen as one of its Corporals. At the re-organization at Corinth, Miss., he was chosen 1st Lieutenant. At Vicksburg, Miss., Capt. Ralston resigned, and Ridley was promoted to the Captaincy, which he held to the close of the war. He was in nearly every battle in which the company engaged. (He was sick when the battle of Baton Rouge was fought.)
He was probably the best known man of his rank in Breckinridge's or Bates' divisions. He was noted for his cool courage and quick decision.
On the field of battle no one ever saw him excited. He was as brave as a Spartan; no braver man ever lived; he knew not the word "fear." He was kind, gentle, and as chivalrous as a knight. On the march, or in camp with his men, he was more a pleasant companion, than a military commander, yet his wish was law for his ccmpany ; he was the arbiter in all the differences that came up amongst his men; he had a keen sense of justice and the personal rights of each individual, and never censured a man for asserting his rights, even though in doing so he may have trampled on technicalities with which he had no patience.
Captain Ridley, though then a young man, took almost paternal care, not only of the company as a whole, but of each individual. To illustrate: Two of the men were quarreling; one applied an insulting epithet to the other, for which he was struck a dangerous blow with the butt of a gun; Captain Ridley immediately arrested the offender, and sent him to the "guard house," but five minutes later he was at the " guard house" and had the culprit released, giving as his reason: "I would have knocked him down myself. I can not punish a man for what I would certainly do myself."
Though a brave man, no braver soldier ever lived; yet he was kindness itself. No man could be more alive to the joys or sorrows of his men, and they not only obeyed, honored, and respected him, but they loved him. He was scrupulously true to every trust, and never forsook a principle, or failed a friend; he was an ideal man and soldier.
Captain Ridley died at his home in Williamson County, April 21, 1902. His loss is deeply felt by a host of friends, especially by the living members of Company E, every one of whom will willingly attest to the truth of every word of the above.
Captain Ridley was dangerously wounded at Missionary Ridge in the head, and while being borne from the field was wounded a second time, this time in the leg. He never recovered from the effects of these wounds. When he died he was filling the office of County Trustee of Williamson County.
PERSONAL:—Justice demands "Honor to whom honor is due." Captain J. S. Gooch, although a mere boy at the beginning of the war, was chosen to the command of Company E, and to his credit it must be said, that he made an excellent officer. He was an ideal officer as long as he commanded the company. His men loved and obeyed him for his manly and sterling qualities as such. He commanded us in only one fight, in which he was severely wounded, in gallantly leading his men on a desperate charge. No man or officer behaved more gloriously on the battle field of Fishing Creek, than did Captain Gooch. As a proof of his sterling qualities as a man and officer, he was chosen to the Lieutenant Colonency of the Regiment at the reorganization of the army at Corinth, Miss.
He resigned his commision as Lieutenant Colonel at Vicksburg, Miss., owing to his inability for service, caused from the wound received at Fishing Creek. He still lives on his farm near Smyrna, Rutherford Co., Tenn., and is respected by all who know him. As he made a good soldier, so he naturally makes a good citizen.
W. T. RIDLEY.
We could write a long time portraying the many good and noble qualities of Capt. W. T. Ridley of Company E, 20th Tennessee Regiment. He assisted in organizing the company and was chosen as one of its Corporals. At the re-organization at Corinth, Miss., he was chosen 1st Lieutenant. At Vicksburg, Miss., Capt. Ralston resigned, and Ridley was promoted to the Captaincy, which he held to the close of the war. He was in nearly every battle in which the company engaged. (He was sick when the battle of Baton Rouge was fought.)
He was probably the best known man of his rank in Breckinridge's or Bates' divisions. He was noted for his cool courage and quick decision.
On the field of battle no one ever saw him excited. He was as brave as a Spartan; no braver man ever lived; he knew not the word "fear." He was kind, gentle, and as chivalrous as a knight. On the march, or in camp with his men, he was more a pleasant companion, than a military commander, yet his wish was law for his ccmpany ; he was the arbiter in all the differences that came up amongst his men; he had a keen sense of justice and the personal rights of each individual, and never censured a man for asserting his rights, even though in doing so he may have trampled on technicalities with which he had no patience.
Captain Ridley, though then a young man, took almost paternal care, not only of the company as a whole, but of each individual. To illustrate: Two of the men were quarreling; one applied an insulting epithet to the other, for which he was struck a dangerous blow with the butt of a gun; Captain Ridley immediately arrested the offender, and sent him to the "guard house," but five minutes later he was at the " guard house" and had the culprit released, giving as his reason: "I would have knocked him down myself. I can not punish a man for what I would certainly do myself."
Though a brave man, no braver soldier ever lived; yet he was kindness itself. No man could be more alive to the joys or sorrows of his men, and they not only obeyed, honored, and respected him, but they loved him. He was scrupulously true to every trust, and never forsook a principle, or failed a friend; he was an ideal man and soldier.
Captain Ridley died at his home in Williamson County, April 21, 1902. His loss is deeply felt by a host of friends, especially by the living members of Company E, every one of whom will willingly attest to the truth of every word of the above.
Captain Ridley was dangerously wounded at Missionary Ridge in the head, and while being borne from the field was wounded a second time, this time in the leg. He never recovered from the effects of these wounds. When he died he was filling the office of County Trustee of Williamson County.
Event reminder
Today is the first day of the Weapons Through Time Temporary Exhibit that is open for Saturdays and Sundays only.
Weapons Through Time Temporary Exhibit
Saturdays and Sundays in February 2012
The Sam Davis Home in Smyrna, Tennessee is excited to announce a special exhibit honoring the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War during the month of February 2012. Military and non-military weapons used during the past 150 years will be displayed on Saturdays and Sundays only. Admission to this exhibit is included with the purchase of a regularly priced museum tour or full tour.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Smyrna in the Civil War VII
The Battle of Nashville and retreat are now in their future.
The army was now making history fast and we could remain home only for a day or two. The boys knew Bate was largely outnumbered at Murfreesboro and hurried to their places. The battle of Overall's Creek was fought, and Adjutant Thoma B. Fowler lost a leg. In a day or two after, the second battle of Murfreesboro was fought; Colonel Shy commanded the consolidated Regiment, some of the men had not yet returned, Lieutenant Pete Edwards of Company D and Lieutenant W. E. Brothers of Company E were the company commanders. Brothers commanded companies E and H, till the close of the Nashville campaign. The battle was lost to us, not through want of courage on the part of men, nor of skill and tact on the part of General Bate,—but simply because we did not have men enough. In addition to the lack of men it was December, and the men were poorly clad, many were bare-foot, many had their feet wrapped in "green hides'' fastened on with whangs cut from the same, called mocasins, while others had their feet wrapped in rags from cast off clothing. Washington crossing the Delaware and marching on Trenton is noted in history, is represented on canvass, and celebrated in song and story; but that was a dash across the river, a short, quick march, a sharp fight, and then return; in all only two days,—while Hood's campaign lasted more than a month, during which time, three severe battles were fought, leagues of hard marching were made, with his men poorly clad and fed, in a severe mid-winter campaign of rain, sleet, snow and freeze, as were Washington's and yet who ever saw a representation of their suffering on canvass? Who ever heard a song commemorating that campaign; but the patriotism and fortitude of its participants, under all the privations they endured is worthy of highest commendation. There is another feature about this campaign that all the writers seem to have over-looked. Hood's men were for the most part men of intellect, more so than an army usually is. There were few illiterates,—they were of a class of men that go to make a country.
Now these men were veterans. For four years they had been marching and fighting, studying the game of war practically; they knew when they crossed- the Tennessee river what a perilous thing it was, they knew that it was almost the last hope of a dying Confederacy, and they knew too how poorly prepared they were for such a venture. They knew when the battle of Franklin was over, though a signal victory, was in reality a defeat. They knew after the battle of Murfreesboro how badly we needed reinforcements, and they knew there were none for us to get; yet knowing this they closed in around Nashville, where the enemy were re-enforcing every day, as cooly and cheerfully as if everything promised victory. The wonder is, that men could continue to battle against such odds.
The night before the battle of Nashville, our division (Bate's) was moved from the extreme right of the army to the left of the Granny White pike. Our company was near the top of the hill. When we took our position there were no earth works, so we at once gathered up old logs and stones such as were at hand, and placed them for protection. After a while we borrowed some picks and shovels from the Florida Brigade, and worked with them best we could, but the ground was hard and rocky, and we had accomplished but little when we had to return the tools. We laid down to sleep; R. J Neal, W. E. Brothers and W.' W. Batey of Company E, together with N. G. Kimbro and John Davis, unarmed recruits for our Company E. Company H was with us, and we numbered seventeen in all in both Companies.
We knew that something decisive would be done on the morrow. We had a little fire at our feet, and three blankets for the five men, but the enemy's sharp shooters began to fire at the light and we had to extinguish the fire. NexL morning Kimbro and Davis being unarmed, were sent to the rear, until guns could be secured for them. The enemy was seen in our front some distance off. We at once noticed that we had built our works too far back on the hill, for we could not see the enemy after they reached the foot of the hill, until they would be close upon us, but it was too late to remedy the mistake now; for as soon as they could see, the sharpshooters commenced to entertain us, the enemy using their artillery also. We had none in position with which to reply; finally, with the exception of a few of our sharp ahooters with "Witworth Rifles" we almost ceased to fire at them, but when the "Witworth's" were fired they were answered with shells.
Our sharpshooters finally used our works from which to fire. The enemy now turned their artillery on Companies E and H. The logs and stones were knocked down in a " giffy," and most of the men in the two companies were wounded. We made our way up to the next company on our left and claimed protection with them; some of the wounded climbed over the hill in search of our field hospital, but from the time our works were demolished, to the time they made a general charge on us, it was not exceeding five minutes; they came in overwhelming numbers, having massed under the hill in our front. We could fire only one volley at them before they were upon us. We gave them that volley in "great shape," but did not check them. Seven stands of colors passed over our works. Our men, some of them, performed acts of heroism and valor, that to this day seems more like a dream than a reality when we think of it.
The enemy poured over our works in great numbers; our men at first, fought with clubbed guns, but for an instant—and then —they broke, Yankees and Confederates all mixed up—the Confederates trying to get away, and the Yankees trying to stop them. Both parties had fired their guns and neither had taken time to re-load. Gradually we unmixed ourselves from them. Our channel of escape would have been through the gap in which the Granny White Pike passes, but the enemy were already in possession of that gap ahead of us; we bore to the left, crossed the pike, and went along the foot of the ridge until we reached the Franklin pike. Many of the men rallied in small numbers and would turn and fire on the enemy, thus checking them in a measure; but the enemy were coming up the Franklin pike, too, and many of the men who had been checking their pursuers, were either captured or compelled to climb the steep hill on the right. No general attempt was made to rally until we reached the vicinity of Brentwood. Here order was partially restored, and we commenced the retreat from Nashville.
Of the seventeen men in Companies E and H, we never knew what became of all of them. Lieutenent Brothers was not seriously wounded and escaped just before the final rush. R. J. Neal, having exhausted his ammunition (he was on skirmish line), started for more, and this doubtless saved him. W. W. Batey was severely wounded and left for dead, was made prisoner and recovered. The two recruits, Kimbro and Davis, were not seen any more after being sent to the rear. But now we left our homes again, the cloud over the Confederacy lower and darker. The men were worn down with almost continued marching and fighting for months.
Yet, true to their colors they marched away from home again on the retreat, sadly it is true, but determined to stand by St. Andrew's cross to the last man. And this they did without complaint. They blamed nor censured no one — all believed that every one from commander-in-chief to the private soldier had done his best and accepted the result as the fate of war. GLORIOUS OLD BOYS!
The companies had now become so small that the Regiment was but little more than a few messes. Some of the companies had no commissioned officers left; but every man and officer had an individuality that made it a remarkable set of men. Every one of these knew his duty just as well as if he had borne a commission; he was just as prompt to do his duty as was the officer. They were quite different from the young men and beardless boys, who left home nearly four years ago. Time had made them men. The usage and customs of war, and its privations had inured them to such hardships as but few men could bear, and made them Veteran soldiers. The weakly and delicate ones had yielded to their ailments. Those remaining were physically perfect, and their morals were as good as when they left home.
We returned South through Franklin, Columbia and Pulaski, recrossing the Tennessee River near Bainbridge, continued on to Corinth, Miss., and after a short stay there, proceeded to West Point, where Hood's Army took the cars for South Carolina, and on to Bentonville, North Carolina, where the Company E was represented in the last battle of the war by Lieut. M. M. Sanders, R. J. Neal and Jack Hartman. Lieutenant Sanders commanded a company of "galvanized Yankees" — (Federal soldiers who had joined our army to get out of prison ) in this fight, and of course was not with the Regiment. Jack Hartman was Ordnance teamster and as usual, was at his post of duty with his Ordnance wagon. Neal was the only man of Company E in regimental line. Lieutenant Sanders was wounded in this battle. Those "galvanized Yankees" gave him credit for being the gamest man that ever took them into battle. He certainly put them in and made them do splendid fighting. Soon after this battle Gen. J. E. Johnston surrendered us to Sherman, near Greensboro, N. C.
Lieut. W. E. Brothers was present as a supernumerary officer. Just before the surrender all the Tennessee troops had been consolidated into four regiments, which left quite a number of supernumerary officers who were allowed to choose any branch of service they preferred, and Brothers was in this number.
Jack Hartman was present as Ordnance teamster, and R. J. Neal represented the rank and file of the original Company E in line with a gun. Lieutenant Sanders was absent under treatment for his wound. He was also a supernumerary. Our old Regiment, the Twentieth, formed Company D of the (nev.7) 4th Tennessee, Capt, C. S. Johnson of old Company B commanding. R. J. Neal was first Sergeant; the other officers and non-commissioned officers not recalled. Thirty-four men of the original Twentieth Tennessee were all that answered to roll call when the end came. After receiving our paroles we marched from Greensboro to Salisbury, Statesville, Morganton, Marion, Asheville,and Marshall, N. C, thence across the mountains to Greenville, Tenn. From Greeneille we were sent by rail to our respective homes. W. E. Brothers, R. J. Neal and Jack Hartman being all of old Company E present, got off the cars at Lavergne, Rutherford County, Tenn., Hdrtman going north to his home, Brothers and Neal going south to their homes.
Of the forty nine men who got on the cars June 7th, 1861, Brothers was the only one here on the return, Neal having gone out a little later and Hartman yet later. We do not mean that all the forty nine except Brothers had been killed. Many had been killed, many had sickened and died, many were disabled with wounds, some had been transferred, some were in prison, and some had deserted.
We can't recall just how many were enlisted in the company first and last. At Camp Buckner it was a large company, but we had men both before and after, that never saw Camp Buckner.
We must have had first and last, not less than one hundred and forty men. We sincerely regret being unable to recall each and every one, for doubtless we may fail to mention some of our most worthy men. But it has been forty long years since, and time has dimmed our memory. Yet we don't fail to remember that it hurts to be forgotten. If we have failed to recall some, which we know we may have done, it is certainly not our fault. We would not intentionally do injustice to, or mistreat the memory of any one.
The army was now making history fast and we could remain home only for a day or two. The boys knew Bate was largely outnumbered at Murfreesboro and hurried to their places. The battle of Overall's Creek was fought, and Adjutant Thoma B. Fowler lost a leg. In a day or two after, the second battle of Murfreesboro was fought; Colonel Shy commanded the consolidated Regiment, some of the men had not yet returned, Lieutenant Pete Edwards of Company D and Lieutenant W. E. Brothers of Company E were the company commanders. Brothers commanded companies E and H, till the close of the Nashville campaign. The battle was lost to us, not through want of courage on the part of men, nor of skill and tact on the part of General Bate,—but simply because we did not have men enough. In addition to the lack of men it was December, and the men were poorly clad, many were bare-foot, many had their feet wrapped in "green hides'' fastened on with whangs cut from the same, called mocasins, while others had their feet wrapped in rags from cast off clothing. Washington crossing the Delaware and marching on Trenton is noted in history, is represented on canvass, and celebrated in song and story; but that was a dash across the river, a short, quick march, a sharp fight, and then return; in all only two days,—while Hood's campaign lasted more than a month, during which time, three severe battles were fought, leagues of hard marching were made, with his men poorly clad and fed, in a severe mid-winter campaign of rain, sleet, snow and freeze, as were Washington's and yet who ever saw a representation of their suffering on canvass? Who ever heard a song commemorating that campaign; but the patriotism and fortitude of its participants, under all the privations they endured is worthy of highest commendation. There is another feature about this campaign that all the writers seem to have over-looked. Hood's men were for the most part men of intellect, more so than an army usually is. There were few illiterates,—they were of a class of men that go to make a country.
Now these men were veterans. For four years they had been marching and fighting, studying the game of war practically; they knew when they crossed- the Tennessee river what a perilous thing it was, they knew that it was almost the last hope of a dying Confederacy, and they knew too how poorly prepared they were for such a venture. They knew when the battle of Franklin was over, though a signal victory, was in reality a defeat. They knew after the battle of Murfreesboro how badly we needed reinforcements, and they knew there were none for us to get; yet knowing this they closed in around Nashville, where the enemy were re-enforcing every day, as cooly and cheerfully as if everything promised victory. The wonder is, that men could continue to battle against such odds.
The night before the battle of Nashville, our division (Bate's) was moved from the extreme right of the army to the left of the Granny White pike. Our company was near the top of the hill. When we took our position there were no earth works, so we at once gathered up old logs and stones such as were at hand, and placed them for protection. After a while we borrowed some picks and shovels from the Florida Brigade, and worked with them best we could, but the ground was hard and rocky, and we had accomplished but little when we had to return the tools. We laid down to sleep; R. J Neal, W. E. Brothers and W.' W. Batey of Company E, together with N. G. Kimbro and John Davis, unarmed recruits for our Company E. Company H was with us, and we numbered seventeen in all in both Companies.
We knew that something decisive would be done on the morrow. We had a little fire at our feet, and three blankets for the five men, but the enemy's sharp shooters began to fire at the light and we had to extinguish the fire. NexL morning Kimbro and Davis being unarmed, were sent to the rear, until guns could be secured for them. The enemy was seen in our front some distance off. We at once noticed that we had built our works too far back on the hill, for we could not see the enemy after they reached the foot of the hill, until they would be close upon us, but it was too late to remedy the mistake now; for as soon as they could see, the sharpshooters commenced to entertain us, the enemy using their artillery also. We had none in position with which to reply; finally, with the exception of a few of our sharp ahooters with "Witworth Rifles" we almost ceased to fire at them, but when the "Witworth's" were fired they were answered with shells.
Our sharpshooters finally used our works from which to fire. The enemy now turned their artillery on Companies E and H. The logs and stones were knocked down in a " giffy," and most of the men in the two companies were wounded. We made our way up to the next company on our left and claimed protection with them; some of the wounded climbed over the hill in search of our field hospital, but from the time our works were demolished, to the time they made a general charge on us, it was not exceeding five minutes; they came in overwhelming numbers, having massed under the hill in our front. We could fire only one volley at them before they were upon us. We gave them that volley in "great shape," but did not check them. Seven stands of colors passed over our works. Our men, some of them, performed acts of heroism and valor, that to this day seems more like a dream than a reality when we think of it.
The enemy poured over our works in great numbers; our men at first, fought with clubbed guns, but for an instant—and then —they broke, Yankees and Confederates all mixed up—the Confederates trying to get away, and the Yankees trying to stop them. Both parties had fired their guns and neither had taken time to re-load. Gradually we unmixed ourselves from them. Our channel of escape would have been through the gap in which the Granny White Pike passes, but the enemy were already in possession of that gap ahead of us; we bore to the left, crossed the pike, and went along the foot of the ridge until we reached the Franklin pike. Many of the men rallied in small numbers and would turn and fire on the enemy, thus checking them in a measure; but the enemy were coming up the Franklin pike, too, and many of the men who had been checking their pursuers, were either captured or compelled to climb the steep hill on the right. No general attempt was made to rally until we reached the vicinity of Brentwood. Here order was partially restored, and we commenced the retreat from Nashville.
Of the seventeen men in Companies E and H, we never knew what became of all of them. Lieutenent Brothers was not seriously wounded and escaped just before the final rush. R. J. Neal, having exhausted his ammunition (he was on skirmish line), started for more, and this doubtless saved him. W. W. Batey was severely wounded and left for dead, was made prisoner and recovered. The two recruits, Kimbro and Davis, were not seen any more after being sent to the rear. But now we left our homes again, the cloud over the Confederacy lower and darker. The men were worn down with almost continued marching and fighting for months.
Yet, true to their colors they marched away from home again on the retreat, sadly it is true, but determined to stand by St. Andrew's cross to the last man. And this they did without complaint. They blamed nor censured no one — all believed that every one from commander-in-chief to the private soldier had done his best and accepted the result as the fate of war. GLORIOUS OLD BOYS!
The companies had now become so small that the Regiment was but little more than a few messes. Some of the companies had no commissioned officers left; but every man and officer had an individuality that made it a remarkable set of men. Every one of these knew his duty just as well as if he had borne a commission; he was just as prompt to do his duty as was the officer. They were quite different from the young men and beardless boys, who left home nearly four years ago. Time had made them men. The usage and customs of war, and its privations had inured them to such hardships as but few men could bear, and made them Veteran soldiers. The weakly and delicate ones had yielded to their ailments. Those remaining were physically perfect, and their morals were as good as when they left home.
We returned South through Franklin, Columbia and Pulaski, recrossing the Tennessee River near Bainbridge, continued on to Corinth, Miss., and after a short stay there, proceeded to West Point, where Hood's Army took the cars for South Carolina, and on to Bentonville, North Carolina, where the Company E was represented in the last battle of the war by Lieut. M. M. Sanders, R. J. Neal and Jack Hartman. Lieutenant Sanders commanded a company of "galvanized Yankees" — (Federal soldiers who had joined our army to get out of prison ) in this fight, and of course was not with the Regiment. Jack Hartman was Ordnance teamster and as usual, was at his post of duty with his Ordnance wagon. Neal was the only man of Company E in regimental line. Lieutenant Sanders was wounded in this battle. Those "galvanized Yankees" gave him credit for being the gamest man that ever took them into battle. He certainly put them in and made them do splendid fighting. Soon after this battle Gen. J. E. Johnston surrendered us to Sherman, near Greensboro, N. C.
Lieut. W. E. Brothers was present as a supernumerary officer. Just before the surrender all the Tennessee troops had been consolidated into four regiments, which left quite a number of supernumerary officers who were allowed to choose any branch of service they preferred, and Brothers was in this number.
Jack Hartman was present as Ordnance teamster, and R. J. Neal represented the rank and file of the original Company E in line with a gun. Lieutenant Sanders was absent under treatment for his wound. He was also a supernumerary. Our old Regiment, the Twentieth, formed Company D of the (nev.7) 4th Tennessee, Capt, C. S. Johnson of old Company B commanding. R. J. Neal was first Sergeant; the other officers and non-commissioned officers not recalled. Thirty-four men of the original Twentieth Tennessee were all that answered to roll call when the end came. After receiving our paroles we marched from Greensboro to Salisbury, Statesville, Morganton, Marion, Asheville,and Marshall, N. C, thence across the mountains to Greenville, Tenn. From Greeneille we were sent by rail to our respective homes. W. E. Brothers, R. J. Neal and Jack Hartman being all of old Company E present, got off the cars at Lavergne, Rutherford County, Tenn., Hdrtman going north to his home, Brothers and Neal going south to their homes.
Of the forty nine men who got on the cars June 7th, 1861, Brothers was the only one here on the return, Neal having gone out a little later and Hartman yet later. We do not mean that all the forty nine except Brothers had been killed. Many had been killed, many had sickened and died, many were disabled with wounds, some had been transferred, some were in prison, and some had deserted.
We can't recall just how many were enlisted in the company first and last. At Camp Buckner it was a large company, but we had men both before and after, that never saw Camp Buckner.
We must have had first and last, not less than one hundred and forty men. We sincerely regret being unable to recall each and every one, for doubtless we may fail to mention some of our most worthy men. But it has been forty long years since, and time has dimmed our memory. Yet we don't fail to remember that it hurts to be forgotten. If we have failed to recall some, which we know we may have done, it is certainly not our fault. We would not intentionally do injustice to, or mistreat the memory of any one.
Tax preparing assistance
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Thursday, February 2, 2012
Smyrna in the Civil War VI
Today more fighting and a return home in what they called 'French Leave"...A term I've not heard before.
At Dalton we went into winter quarters, each mess built its own house, and the styles of architecture were something wonderful, they would doubtless have astonished the Greeks and Romans. At any rate the houses kept us fairly dry and comfortable. We drilled here by Companies, Regiments, Brigades, Divisions and Corps, and when the campaign opened next spring the discipline was splendid, and we were prepared to meet Sherman. While here at Dalton, Sergt. A. J. Irwin was made Lieutenant to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Lieut. J. W. Peyton, who was killed at Chickamauga.
Revival services were carried on most of the time while at Dalton, and many of the men professed religion and united themselves with the various churches; and none of them were ever known to repudiate their faith either while soldiers or afterwards as citizens. Here too, we had the big " Snow ball battle."
Spring now opened, Johnston and Sherman had been preparing for their famous "one hundred day's campaign" which now began of which history furnishes no parallel, since the retreat of "the ten thousand" under Xenophen. Sherman came up to our front at Mill Creek Gap, north of Dalton. Johnston met him, but Sherman flanked by passing to our left through Dug Gap and aimed to intercept Johnston at Resaca, but when he got there Johnston was in his front; here he made an effort to drive Johnston out of his works, but failed, and in that failure, he learned a lesson he seemed never to have forgotten. We punished him severely for his conduct on this occasion; we also sustained considerable loss. With his much greater army he continued to march around our flank. Johnston would fall back just far enough to bob up in his front every, time, skirmishing every day, in fact just about all the time. But no decisive battle was fought. Johnston was not strong enough to attack and Sherman seemed afraid to risk it.
We battled along until we reached Kennesaw Mountain. Capt. Ridley had not been able for duty on this campaign. Lieut. Sanders was absent sick, and Lieut. Brothers was in command. A shell from the enemy exploded in our works, killing Wiley Griggs and wounding eight others of company E among whom were R. J. Neal, Sam. Walden, Sam. M. Jamison, Andrew Robertson and others not recalled. We had to remain in the works till nightfall on account of the enemy's sharp shooters. We then, with the aid of the infirmary Corps, got the wounded out and buried Griggs. Griggs was perhaps the most inoffensive man in the company. He was always quiet, always in his place and never complained; he was in addition to this, one of the bravest men in the company. He was one of the men who porfessed religion and joined the church at Dalton, and no man ever doubted his sincerity; he ever quietly lived up to it — peace to his memory. The campaign proceeded; almost daily we skirmished and neared Atlanta, and finally we crossed the Chattahooche River.
Johnston was succeeded by Hood, then came "Peach Tree Creek." In all of this campaign with the exceptions noted, Company E was, as far as recalled, fortunate. We had some of our men captured, but Geo. W. Walden was the only one recalled.
After Peach Tree Creek, Hardee's Corps, to which we belonged, marched around Sherman's left wing, and on July 22, 1864, charged him in his works. We carried the works and drove them furiously, killing General McPherson, but one Divison of our Corps suffered serious loss, (that of Cleburne). He lost perhaps half of his men captured, but we recaptured most of them together with several hundred prisoners. In this engagement Lieut. A. J. Irwin was killed, another good man, gallant officer and generous comrade.
After this we were placed on the extreme left of Hood's army, when on the 6th day of August 1864, we had a brilliant engagement with the enemy. We were deployed as a heavy skirmish line. We had excellent works, with "head logs." There was some timber in our front and the undergrowth had been cut down to obstruct the enemy's advance. We were told that we must hold that line at all hazards. So we made up our minds to stay there. They first advanced with a double skirmish line; we drove that back inflicting a heavy punishment upon it. Then they came with a solid line of battle, determined to dislodge us, but we drove that back with heavy loss. Next, they made a third assault,; this time they come with two solid lines of battle, and some of them reached our works, but none ever got over. We poured the shot into them in a manner simply terrific, and forced them back with terrible slaughter. Up to this time we had not lost a man, while the enemy lay dead and wounded by hundreds in our front. We captured three stands of colors from them. After the fight was over, our Regiment was sent out in front to pick up the stragglers that might be left skulking in the brushes. One of these skulkers shot George Castleman of Company B in the thigh. R. J. Neal, who was with Castleman fired obliquely at the blue coat, when P.S. Latimer told him to "look out." He looked forward and saw a Yankee aiming at him. He dropped on his knees and was loading his gun when the fellow fired, striking him in the right shoulder.
These were the only casualties of our Regiment, while those of the enemy could be counted by the hundreds. Report said the 8th Federal Tennessee Regiment went into that charge with more than eleven hundred men, and after the charge could muster only fifteen. One of the stands of colors captured belonged to that Regiment. We were now drawn back to the main line on the left. Sherman commenced to flank again, and we were sent with Hardee's Corps to Jonesboro to meet the flank movement. We attacked them in their entrenched lines, and were repulsed with heavy loss, and retired to within our own works. While the 20th lost many of its best men, Company E had no casualties that can now be recalled. Next day we were on the skirmish line and the enemy charged us, but their greatest effort was against Cleburne's front, where they were partially successful, but they paid dearly for their success. Cleburne never failed to punish them when they brought up in his front.
On this day Company E was three times driven in while skirmishing across an open field, without the loss of a man, and at nightfall held the line we had in the morning. After dark we were withdrawn from the skirmish line, and when we reached the position our main line had occupied in the morning, we found it abandoned; and the troops were retiring to Lovejoy Station, where we followed. On this night, Hood was retiring from Atlanta, burning all his stores and destroying his magazines. Atlanta was twenty miles distant, but the fires made a great light, and the burning of the magazines made almost a perpetual roar; the sights and sounds of which, coupled with our retreat, made it a night never to be forgotten.
The next morning found us at Lovejoy Station; we were ready for the enemy when they overtook us, but the day was spent in manuevering and heavy skirmishing. Here we were joined by Hood with the main army. From here our Regiment was sent to Griffin to intercept stragglers from the army leaving Atlanta. We performed this duty, and in a few days we returned to Lovejoy Station, then we learned the enemy had gone back to Atlanta. We followed as far as Jonesboro, then moved west to Palmetto, on the Atlanta and West Point Railroad. Here President Jefferson Davis came to us and reviewed the army, and planned "Hood's Campaign into Tennessee." From Palmetto we moved North, crossing the Chattahoochie River on a pontoon bridge. The one hundred day campaign was ended, and no gen14:
eral engagement had taken place. The battles of Peach Tree Creek, the one on July 22nd, July 28th, and Jonesboro were only partial engagements, as on the Confederate side only Hardee's Corps had been engaged in the first and last, and the left wing of the army in the other. Yet it had been one hundred days of continued skirmishing, often amounting to the proportions of a spirited battle; the losses of the two armies in killed, wounded and missing aggregating more than if a general engagement had taken place, and until Joe Johnston was removed the enemy loss was much the heaviest.
We now entered on a new campaign. Hood, after crossing the Chattahoochie River moved along parallel with the W. & A. Railroad, occasionally sending in a detachment to tap the railroad, as at Altoona and -Resaca. We marched around Rome, and again tapped the railroad at Dalton, capturing a regiment of negroes and destroying a great deal of railroad track. Above Dalton we turned to the the left and passed through Lafayette, and near Gadsden, Ala., we crossed over Sand Mountain, and came in touch again with the enemy at Decatur, but continued west along the M. & C. Railroad to Tuscumbia.
Here we remained a few days, while our pontoon bridge was being placed across the Tennessee River. One bright November morning we crossed over and found ourselves in Florence. We remained here a few days and started North on the Waynesboro road. When we crossed the line into Tennessee it was snowing. We passed through Waynesboro and continued North until one afternoon we came to the place looking off over Duck River valley. It was the more inspiring from the fact that for several days we had marched through a very poor country, and on very short rations, (three sinkers per day—to those who don't understand, a sinker is a biscuit made from unbolted wheat flour without milk, grease, salt or soda). Our losses had been continued and heavy, and we had no chance to recruit. All the companies were very small. Company E and Company H had been thrown together as one company. Capt. Tom Caruthers of Company H commanding, Second Lieutenant W. E. Brothers of Company E second in command, First Lieutenant M. M. Sanders of Company E being absent on detached service.
We found the enemy at Columbia ready to meet us, but we crossed the river above, (Hardee's Corps, in command of Cheatham), and struck for Spring Hill in their rear. We reached there in good time, and by all means should have fought them in open field, instead of at Franklin in their fortifications next day. But we didn't and the reason for not doing so has always been a mystery to the rank and file of the army. We bivouacked in line parallel with the turn pike, only two or three hundred yards away and let them pass undisturbed with all their wagons and supplies to their strong hold at Franklin. This was a fatal blunder. Next morning we took the road for Franklin. Our division turned to the left and moved so as to leave Franklin to our right, halting and fronting the town, our Company E having the Bostick House on our right. We moved forward, straight towards the Carter House. There was a body of men to our left, between us and Harpeth River, supposed to be dismounted cavalry. They advanced with our line and did good work. When the enemy opened fire on us, we charged straight ahead, but they had placed obstructions in the way, over which we could not pass. This we saw too late and it caused our line to break, but it was reformed again near the Bostick House. There was a depression between the enemy and the creek that runs north past the Bostick House, here about one hundred men were rallied by Adjt. Tom Fowler, Lieut. Pete Edwards and W. E. Brothers. By lying down we were not visible to the enemy, and when a new line to our right charged, this hundred men charged again. Of course we were repulsed, but rallied again in the depression, but finally gave it up and rejoined the command. It was on the first charge and when nearest the enemy's works that Capt. Todd Carter dashed through our lines on his horse with drawn sword, made stra1ght for his father's house, and met his death as it were, on the very threshold of his parental home. He was perhaps not more than fifty feet from us when he fell; his horse was seen to plunge and we knew he was struck. Captain Carter was thrown straight over the horse's head, his sword reached as far as his arm would allow toward the enemy, and when he struck the ground he laid still, and his brave young life went out almost at the door of his home. The sight of home and all that makes home dear, and that home in possession of the enemy caused him to forget himself, and under the impulse of the moment he rushed to certain death. In this action Chrisman of Company H was killed, Captain Caruthers was wounded, W. D. Martin of Company E was wounded, R. J. Neal of Company E was struck three times in the engagement, but never left the field, the wounds being slight, P. S. Latimer of Company E was slightly wounded, but did not leave the field, other casualties not recalled.
The next day the twentieth Tennessee, was placed on provost duty, but so many of the men lived in and around Franklin, that soon the regiment was short in numbers, the boys quietly took "French leave" to visit their homes. They were not blamed at all, especially as they all returned in a few days.
On the second morning after the battle of Franklin, Bate's division moved towards Murfreesboro, and when opposite Nolensville Company E being almost home, took "French leave" for a day or two. We had been gone almost two years, and so many did not return that the Company was now only a little squad, that could be more than counted on the fingers, but for those who did return.it was joy to get back home, but sad indeed to think what had become of so many who did not return.
At Dalton we went into winter quarters, each mess built its own house, and the styles of architecture were something wonderful, they would doubtless have astonished the Greeks and Romans. At any rate the houses kept us fairly dry and comfortable. We drilled here by Companies, Regiments, Brigades, Divisions and Corps, and when the campaign opened next spring the discipline was splendid, and we were prepared to meet Sherman. While here at Dalton, Sergt. A. J. Irwin was made Lieutenant to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Lieut. J. W. Peyton, who was killed at Chickamauga.
Revival services were carried on most of the time while at Dalton, and many of the men professed religion and united themselves with the various churches; and none of them were ever known to repudiate their faith either while soldiers or afterwards as citizens. Here too, we had the big " Snow ball battle."
Spring now opened, Johnston and Sherman had been preparing for their famous "one hundred day's campaign" which now began of which history furnishes no parallel, since the retreat of "the ten thousand" under Xenophen. Sherman came up to our front at Mill Creek Gap, north of Dalton. Johnston met him, but Sherman flanked by passing to our left through Dug Gap and aimed to intercept Johnston at Resaca, but when he got there Johnston was in his front; here he made an effort to drive Johnston out of his works, but failed, and in that failure, he learned a lesson he seemed never to have forgotten. We punished him severely for his conduct on this occasion; we also sustained considerable loss. With his much greater army he continued to march around our flank. Johnston would fall back just far enough to bob up in his front every, time, skirmishing every day, in fact just about all the time. But no decisive battle was fought. Johnston was not strong enough to attack and Sherman seemed afraid to risk it.
We battled along until we reached Kennesaw Mountain. Capt. Ridley had not been able for duty on this campaign. Lieut. Sanders was absent sick, and Lieut. Brothers was in command. A shell from the enemy exploded in our works, killing Wiley Griggs and wounding eight others of company E among whom were R. J. Neal, Sam. Walden, Sam. M. Jamison, Andrew Robertson and others not recalled. We had to remain in the works till nightfall on account of the enemy's sharp shooters. We then, with the aid of the infirmary Corps, got the wounded out and buried Griggs. Griggs was perhaps the most inoffensive man in the company. He was always quiet, always in his place and never complained; he was in addition to this, one of the bravest men in the company. He was one of the men who porfessed religion and joined the church at Dalton, and no man ever doubted his sincerity; he ever quietly lived up to it — peace to his memory. The campaign proceeded; almost daily we skirmished and neared Atlanta, and finally we crossed the Chattahooche River.
Johnston was succeeded by Hood, then came "Peach Tree Creek." In all of this campaign with the exceptions noted, Company E was, as far as recalled, fortunate. We had some of our men captured, but Geo. W. Walden was the only one recalled.
After Peach Tree Creek, Hardee's Corps, to which we belonged, marched around Sherman's left wing, and on July 22, 1864, charged him in his works. We carried the works and drove them furiously, killing General McPherson, but one Divison of our Corps suffered serious loss, (that of Cleburne). He lost perhaps half of his men captured, but we recaptured most of them together with several hundred prisoners. In this engagement Lieut. A. J. Irwin was killed, another good man, gallant officer and generous comrade.
After this we were placed on the extreme left of Hood's army, when on the 6th day of August 1864, we had a brilliant engagement with the enemy. We were deployed as a heavy skirmish line. We had excellent works, with "head logs." There was some timber in our front and the undergrowth had been cut down to obstruct the enemy's advance. We were told that we must hold that line at all hazards. So we made up our minds to stay there. They first advanced with a double skirmish line; we drove that back inflicting a heavy punishment upon it. Then they came with a solid line of battle, determined to dislodge us, but we drove that back with heavy loss. Next, they made a third assault,; this time they come with two solid lines of battle, and some of them reached our works, but none ever got over. We poured the shot into them in a manner simply terrific, and forced them back with terrible slaughter. Up to this time we had not lost a man, while the enemy lay dead and wounded by hundreds in our front. We captured three stands of colors from them. After the fight was over, our Regiment was sent out in front to pick up the stragglers that might be left skulking in the brushes. One of these skulkers shot George Castleman of Company B in the thigh. R. J. Neal, who was with Castleman fired obliquely at the blue coat, when P.S. Latimer told him to "look out." He looked forward and saw a Yankee aiming at him. He dropped on his knees and was loading his gun when the fellow fired, striking him in the right shoulder.
These were the only casualties of our Regiment, while those of the enemy could be counted by the hundreds. Report said the 8th Federal Tennessee Regiment went into that charge with more than eleven hundred men, and after the charge could muster only fifteen. One of the stands of colors captured belonged to that Regiment. We were now drawn back to the main line on the left. Sherman commenced to flank again, and we were sent with Hardee's Corps to Jonesboro to meet the flank movement. We attacked them in their entrenched lines, and were repulsed with heavy loss, and retired to within our own works. While the 20th lost many of its best men, Company E had no casualties that can now be recalled. Next day we were on the skirmish line and the enemy charged us, but their greatest effort was against Cleburne's front, where they were partially successful, but they paid dearly for their success. Cleburne never failed to punish them when they brought up in his front.
On this day Company E was three times driven in while skirmishing across an open field, without the loss of a man, and at nightfall held the line we had in the morning. After dark we were withdrawn from the skirmish line, and when we reached the position our main line had occupied in the morning, we found it abandoned; and the troops were retiring to Lovejoy Station, where we followed. On this night, Hood was retiring from Atlanta, burning all his stores and destroying his magazines. Atlanta was twenty miles distant, but the fires made a great light, and the burning of the magazines made almost a perpetual roar; the sights and sounds of which, coupled with our retreat, made it a night never to be forgotten.
The next morning found us at Lovejoy Station; we were ready for the enemy when they overtook us, but the day was spent in manuevering and heavy skirmishing. Here we were joined by Hood with the main army. From here our Regiment was sent to Griffin to intercept stragglers from the army leaving Atlanta. We performed this duty, and in a few days we returned to Lovejoy Station, then we learned the enemy had gone back to Atlanta. We followed as far as Jonesboro, then moved west to Palmetto, on the Atlanta and West Point Railroad. Here President Jefferson Davis came to us and reviewed the army, and planned "Hood's Campaign into Tennessee." From Palmetto we moved North, crossing the Chattahoochie River on a pontoon bridge. The one hundred day campaign was ended, and no gen14:
eral engagement had taken place. The battles of Peach Tree Creek, the one on July 22nd, July 28th, and Jonesboro were only partial engagements, as on the Confederate side only Hardee's Corps had been engaged in the first and last, and the left wing of the army in the other. Yet it had been one hundred days of continued skirmishing, often amounting to the proportions of a spirited battle; the losses of the two armies in killed, wounded and missing aggregating more than if a general engagement had taken place, and until Joe Johnston was removed the enemy loss was much the heaviest.
We now entered on a new campaign. Hood, after crossing the Chattahoochie River moved along parallel with the W. & A. Railroad, occasionally sending in a detachment to tap the railroad, as at Altoona and -Resaca. We marched around Rome, and again tapped the railroad at Dalton, capturing a regiment of negroes and destroying a great deal of railroad track. Above Dalton we turned to the the left and passed through Lafayette, and near Gadsden, Ala., we crossed over Sand Mountain, and came in touch again with the enemy at Decatur, but continued west along the M. & C. Railroad to Tuscumbia.
Here we remained a few days, while our pontoon bridge was being placed across the Tennessee River. One bright November morning we crossed over and found ourselves in Florence. We remained here a few days and started North on the Waynesboro road. When we crossed the line into Tennessee it was snowing. We passed through Waynesboro and continued North until one afternoon we came to the place looking off over Duck River valley. It was the more inspiring from the fact that for several days we had marched through a very poor country, and on very short rations, (three sinkers per day—to those who don't understand, a sinker is a biscuit made from unbolted wheat flour without milk, grease, salt or soda). Our losses had been continued and heavy, and we had no chance to recruit. All the companies were very small. Company E and Company H had been thrown together as one company. Capt. Tom Caruthers of Company H commanding, Second Lieutenant W. E. Brothers of Company E second in command, First Lieutenant M. M. Sanders of Company E being absent on detached service.
We found the enemy at Columbia ready to meet us, but we crossed the river above, (Hardee's Corps, in command of Cheatham), and struck for Spring Hill in their rear. We reached there in good time, and by all means should have fought them in open field, instead of at Franklin in their fortifications next day. But we didn't and the reason for not doing so has always been a mystery to the rank and file of the army. We bivouacked in line parallel with the turn pike, only two or three hundred yards away and let them pass undisturbed with all their wagons and supplies to their strong hold at Franklin. This was a fatal blunder. Next morning we took the road for Franklin. Our division turned to the left and moved so as to leave Franklin to our right, halting and fronting the town, our Company E having the Bostick House on our right. We moved forward, straight towards the Carter House. There was a body of men to our left, between us and Harpeth River, supposed to be dismounted cavalry. They advanced with our line and did good work. When the enemy opened fire on us, we charged straight ahead, but they had placed obstructions in the way, over which we could not pass. This we saw too late and it caused our line to break, but it was reformed again near the Bostick House. There was a depression between the enemy and the creek that runs north past the Bostick House, here about one hundred men were rallied by Adjt. Tom Fowler, Lieut. Pete Edwards and W. E. Brothers. By lying down we were not visible to the enemy, and when a new line to our right charged, this hundred men charged again. Of course we were repulsed, but rallied again in the depression, but finally gave it up and rejoined the command. It was on the first charge and when nearest the enemy's works that Capt. Todd Carter dashed through our lines on his horse with drawn sword, made stra1ght for his father's house, and met his death as it were, on the very threshold of his parental home. He was perhaps not more than fifty feet from us when he fell; his horse was seen to plunge and we knew he was struck. Captain Carter was thrown straight over the horse's head, his sword reached as far as his arm would allow toward the enemy, and when he struck the ground he laid still, and his brave young life went out almost at the door of his home. The sight of home and all that makes home dear, and that home in possession of the enemy caused him to forget himself, and under the impulse of the moment he rushed to certain death. In this action Chrisman of Company H was killed, Captain Caruthers was wounded, W. D. Martin of Company E was wounded, R. J. Neal of Company E was struck three times in the engagement, but never left the field, the wounds being slight, P. S. Latimer of Company E was slightly wounded, but did not leave the field, other casualties not recalled.
The next day the twentieth Tennessee, was placed on provost duty, but so many of the men lived in and around Franklin, that soon the regiment was short in numbers, the boys quietly took "French leave" to visit their homes. They were not blamed at all, especially as they all returned in a few days.
On the second morning after the battle of Franklin, Bate's division moved towards Murfreesboro, and when opposite Nolensville Company E being almost home, took "French leave" for a day or two. We had been gone almost two years, and so many did not return that the Company was now only a little squad, that could be more than counted on the fingers, but for those who did return.it was joy to get back home, but sad indeed to think what had become of so many who did not return.
More solar for Smyrna
The Rexall drug store building on Lowry and the Schneider Solar plant were the two big solar projects in Smyrna I knew about. It seems there is now a third one...and it's BIG!
At 11 a.m. Wednesday, the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new solar facility, located at 688 Fitzhugh Blvd.The included image is impressive.
The one-megawatt solar farm is a partnership between the Airport Authority and Soltas Smyrna, LLC, and is a part of the TVA Generation Partners Program. TVA buys the renewable generation from the distributor for its Green Power Switch program.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Smyrna in the Civil War V
Lack of supplies and fighting starts taking a toll on the men.
While stationed here our army was re-organized. Thomas B. Smith of Company B was made Colonel; J. S. Gooch of Company E, Lieutenant Colonel; F. M. Lavender of Company H, Major; Lieutenant Harvey Ralston was made Captain of Company E; W. T. Ridley was made first Lieutenant; M. M. Sanders, Second Lieutenant; and Jo. W. Peyton, Third Lieutenant; Frank B. Croslhwait was made First Sergeant; P. Latimer, Second Sergeant; W. E. Brothers, Third Sergeant; aud W. W. Batey, Fourth Sergeant; W. D. Martin, and others not recalled were made Corporals.
Gehl. Beauregard determined on changing his base, now dropped back to Tupelo, Miss., and from Tupelo, Breckinridge's Division was ordered to Vicksburg, Miss. We moved west through Potontoc to Abbeville where we took the cars to Jackson, thence to Vicksburg, where we did picket work for about six weeks, and drank bad water until only a few of us were able to answer at "roll call."
We met with no casualities at Vicksburg, notwithstanding we were constantly shelled by the lower federal fleet.
One day we were ordered on board the cars, but only four of Company E were able to go; other companies being just as bad off as ours. We went to Tangipaho, La. Here we left the cars, and Company E left one of her four men and started to Baton Rouge, La., with three men, but when we reached Amite River we left another member of Company E sick, the two remaining, W. E. Brothers and W. W. Batey, went on.
We halted at Comite Bridge and started at two o'clock next morning to surprise the enemy. We moved rapidly until within three miles of the enemy, a swamp on one side and a cane field on the other, when suddenly a dreadful roar was heard just ahead. Brothers was left file next the field when everything pressed his way. Just then some one yelled "Yankee Cavalry!" Brothers tripped and fell, the boys jumped over him as he made it on " all fours" to the fence. He tried to climb it, but the rails were rotten and would break and he would drop back. The boys on the other side had commenced to shoot, and Brothers was afraid they would hit him, and at the same time he was expecting some Yankee to chop his head off with a sabre. He dropped back close up in a corner of the fence, and as he saw a man passing on a horse he shot at him. Just then Col. Smith, commanded the men to cease firing, as they were our own men, and he hoped no man in the 20th had fired a gun. Brothers hopped out of his corner, his gun still smoking, and promptly replied that he did not think any man in the 20th had fired. Smith reported this to Breckinridge and was complimented for the good behavior of the 20th Tennessee. But we soon moved on and a little after daylight we formed our line and marched straight ahead through the cane field into the edge of Baton Rouge, then we moved to the left, then forward again through the enemy's abandoned camp.
Here we halted, and then charged driving the enemy, and when we had re-arranged our line we were not ordered forward again, as the enemy now had the protection of their fleet, and the " Arkansas Ram " which was to have assisted us had been destroyed. The battle of Baton Rouge was a brilliant engagement, but was useless as our gunboat failed to show up. W. W. Batey commanded Company E in the latter part of the engagement, as W. E. Brothers had retired from the field with a chill on his hands, the first one he ever had, (perhaps in keeping cool in action, he had over done it, and got too cool).
We then retired to our camp, and in a few days went to Port Hudson, La. Lieut. M. M. Sanders with other convalescents had now rejoined us. Our company had no casualties on this campaign. In a short while we were ordered to Jackson, Miss., and after resting and taking quinine for a few weeks, were ordered on the cars to Holly Springs, or near there. Here we remained only a few days, when we started to re-enforce Bragg in Kentucky. While at Jackson, Miss., they were exchanging prisoners at Vicksburg. /Spivev Stanfieldlwho was captured at Fishing Creek came in, and to our great joy and surprise, W. A. Vardell came in too; he had been left for dead at Shiloh and his name had been dropped from the roll.
We left Holly Springs on the cars and returned through Jackson, then to Mobile, Montgomery, Atlanta, and Knoxville. Here we learned of the battle of Perryville, Ky., and that Bragg was on his way back to Tennessee. We then proceeded to Murfreesboro, where we remained until joined by Bragg's main army from Kentucky. Our regiment being near their homes, most of them were allowed, a few at a time, to visit their homes for a few days. The 20th and 45th Tennessee Regiments were sent to Stewart's Creek on the Nashville Pike to support our cavalry who were at Lavergne.
Many of Company E lived near here, and it was impossible to keep them in camp, but they would not stay away long at a time, and could hardly be missed. One day we were double quicked down to Lavergne, the enemy had driven our cavalry out, and when we formed and went in the enemy were going out on the other side, but they had fired the village as they went out, the greater portion of it being in flames as we went in. We returned to Stewart's Creek and in a few days went back to Murfreesboro where the great battle was soon to be fought. The boys had all been home, after an absence of about twentytwo months.
The enemy came up in our front on Dec. 29th, 1862, and on the 30th there was a good deal of skirmishing and cannonading. We were still in Breckinridge's division, on the extreme right of the army, and on the east side of Stone's River. The battle opened proper on the extreme left, on the morning of the 31st. We were not engaged until in the after-noon of that day, when we were double-quicked to the ford of the river, waded it, and moved to the left, crossed both turn-pike and railroad and started directly forward at the enemy. On account of the railroad our regiment moved in line behind the one that should have been next on our left, until we came under fire, then we moved to the right and came into our place between the river and railroad at Cowan's Pond. (Cowan's house had been burned.) We now charged the bluff, and after a sharp fight held it, but we could not cross the field, and were forced back under the bluff on account of a portion of our brigade giving way on our left and letting the enemy in behind us. But our regiment killed, wounded, and captured a great many of the enemy. Our loss was also quite heavy. Lieut. F. B. Crostwaite was killed. Lieut. M. M. Sanders and W. P. Neal were wounded, with others not recalled.
That night we were withdrawn further to the left into the cedars, where we remained during the day of January 1st, 1863 and the morning of January 2nd. Early in the afternoon of the 2nd, we were hastily withdrawn from the advanced line and rapidly marched across the river at the same ford we waded before, and down to the Mitchell House, where we, being on the extreme right, were the last to get into line of battle. But we immediately moved forward, crossed a high fence, then straight across a field to the crest of a low wooded ridge; this crest had a few trees that were mixed with bushes and briars, and was not more than one hundred yards in width. The enemy was drawn up with this in their front, and just as we came to the timber they fired. We dropped down, returned the fire and then charged. The enemy broke and fled across the open field towards the river. They had a second line mid-way of the field. We broke this too, and still pursuing, we struck a third line near the river, and they all went down under the bluff together, as we again dashed forward. As we pursued them across the field, we had left a line of Federals behind that now over-lapped us, but some of our Cavalry dismounted and chased them across the field. They were to our right, but really we were in advance of them, and they took shelter behind Ross' Gin. It was here that Frank Battle, carrying the colors, found them so badly shot and torn as to be hard to handle, and having gone some fifty yards in advance, dropped down, the colors falling on him. We thought he was killed, and Capt. W. T. Ridley rushed out to get the colors but Frank jumped up and commenced to wave them. He had only been tieing the fragments together.
But now the enemy had his time. We had only a few pieces of artillery, while the Federals had fifty-eight pieces on the bluff opposite us. They opened on us furiously, and we could do nothing more than go back across the field, through the timber bated breath we watched to see the result (no enemy in our front). Steadily Dea's men with their weak line fired into that brave, as well as overwhelming host of the enemy. We saw them as they staggered up to the half-finished rifle pits, a few passed on, then three stands of Federal colors in a bunch, mounted the works.
Dea's line was broken, not to their discredit however, for it would have taken more men to have done more. They were too heavily outnumbered. The Yankees first turned right and left, flanking our men out of the ditches. They next went for a battery, in position between Dea's and Tyler's Brigades. Our men wheeled two guns and fired, at not more than a hundred feet distance at the Yankees, but many of them were now over the works, and they rushed at the battery with fixed bayonets. The cannoniers fought them with their swab sticks, but they were soon overpowered and killed or captured with their guns. Every survivor deserved a medal, and every one killed, a monument. The enemy now turned the guns down our trenches, and who can tell the suspense until they fired? Fortunately it was infantry and they could no.t sight a cannon with any degree of accuracy, and the charges of canister, for the most part went wild, one charge however tearing up a large stump in the rear of Company E. Colonel Shy commanded us to move out by the left flank. We moved a short distance, and were commanded to move by the left flank again, which threw us into line again at an "about face." As we were moving back we noticed that our entire line south toward's Bragg's headquarters was broken and our men in full retreat. As we moved back our brigade continued to fire at the pursuing enemy, until we got them checked, in a measure, and other brigades now began to reform, and order was partially restored. Colonel Shy discovered our field band in the rear, and ordered them to play " Dixie." This seemed to do more toward rallying the men than all else. We came to a field, and just across this was General Bragg, sitting on his horse with a large flag, appealing to the men to stand. Finley's Brigade now reformed, and our brigade was placed with the field in our front, Finley to our left, but before we finished our formation the enemy advanced on us.
Night was fast approaching, and they made no determined charge, but kept up a pretty heavy firing, until darkness had gathered around us, so we were firing only at the flashes of each other's guns. It was thus that the enemy was checked, giving the left wing of the army a chance to cross the Chickamauga river. Just here quite a singular incident occured :— Capt. W. G. Ewing of Co. A, not knowing the men on our right were gone, and hearing a command on his right, stepped out and asked what command it was. The answer being 18th Regt. Mich. State. He immediately reported to Col. Shy, who commanded us "about face, forward march," and off we started on quick time, but some of the Yankees were suspicious and fired at us in the dark. Ewing's Company fired back, when Lieut. Brothers of company E innocently yelled out, "you are shooting at our own men." Shy and Ewing repeated it, and luckily for us the Yankee officers heard it, and believed it and repeated it to their men, saving us from a scathing fire at close range. We did not wait for explanations, but crossed the Chickamauga river that night and retreated along the W. & A. railroad by Ringold, Tunnel Hill, and finally rounded up for the balance of the winter at Dalton, Georgia. Company E had borne its part well in this unfortunate battle. Captain W. T. Ridley was wounded in the head, and as he was being borne from the field another shot struck him in the leg, from these wounds he never fully recovered. George W. Davis and O. C. Holland were captured, other losses of the Company are not recalled.
While stationed here our army was re-organized. Thomas B. Smith of Company B was made Colonel; J. S. Gooch of Company E, Lieutenant Colonel; F. M. Lavender of Company H, Major; Lieutenant Harvey Ralston was made Captain of Company E; W. T. Ridley was made first Lieutenant; M. M. Sanders, Second Lieutenant; and Jo. W. Peyton, Third Lieutenant; Frank B. Croslhwait was made First Sergeant; P. Latimer, Second Sergeant; W. E. Brothers, Third Sergeant; aud W. W. Batey, Fourth Sergeant; W. D. Martin, and others not recalled were made Corporals.
Gehl. Beauregard determined on changing his base, now dropped back to Tupelo, Miss., and from Tupelo, Breckinridge's Division was ordered to Vicksburg, Miss. We moved west through Potontoc to Abbeville where we took the cars to Jackson, thence to Vicksburg, where we did picket work for about six weeks, and drank bad water until only a few of us were able to answer at "roll call."
We met with no casualities at Vicksburg, notwithstanding we were constantly shelled by the lower federal fleet.
One day we were ordered on board the cars, but only four of Company E were able to go; other companies being just as bad off as ours. We went to Tangipaho, La. Here we left the cars, and Company E left one of her four men and started to Baton Rouge, La., with three men, but when we reached Amite River we left another member of Company E sick, the two remaining, W. E. Brothers and W. W. Batey, went on.
We halted at Comite Bridge and started at two o'clock next morning to surprise the enemy. We moved rapidly until within three miles of the enemy, a swamp on one side and a cane field on the other, when suddenly a dreadful roar was heard just ahead. Brothers was left file next the field when everything pressed his way. Just then some one yelled "Yankee Cavalry!" Brothers tripped and fell, the boys jumped over him as he made it on " all fours" to the fence. He tried to climb it, but the rails were rotten and would break and he would drop back. The boys on the other side had commenced to shoot, and Brothers was afraid they would hit him, and at the same time he was expecting some Yankee to chop his head off with a sabre. He dropped back close up in a corner of the fence, and as he saw a man passing on a horse he shot at him. Just then Col. Smith, commanded the men to cease firing, as they were our own men, and he hoped no man in the 20th had fired a gun. Brothers hopped out of his corner, his gun still smoking, and promptly replied that he did not think any man in the 20th had fired. Smith reported this to Breckinridge and was complimented for the good behavior of the 20th Tennessee. But we soon moved on and a little after daylight we formed our line and marched straight ahead through the cane field into the edge of Baton Rouge, then we moved to the left, then forward again through the enemy's abandoned camp.
Here we halted, and then charged driving the enemy, and when we had re-arranged our line we were not ordered forward again, as the enemy now had the protection of their fleet, and the " Arkansas Ram " which was to have assisted us had been destroyed. The battle of Baton Rouge was a brilliant engagement, but was useless as our gunboat failed to show up. W. W. Batey commanded Company E in the latter part of the engagement, as W. E. Brothers had retired from the field with a chill on his hands, the first one he ever had, (perhaps in keeping cool in action, he had over done it, and got too cool).
We then retired to our camp, and in a few days went to Port Hudson, La. Lieut. M. M. Sanders with other convalescents had now rejoined us. Our company had no casualties on this campaign. In a short while we were ordered to Jackson, Miss., and after resting and taking quinine for a few weeks, were ordered on the cars to Holly Springs, or near there. Here we remained only a few days, when we started to re-enforce Bragg in Kentucky. While at Jackson, Miss., they were exchanging prisoners at Vicksburg. /Spivev Stanfieldlwho was captured at Fishing Creek came in, and to our great joy and surprise, W. A. Vardell came in too; he had been left for dead at Shiloh and his name had been dropped from the roll.
We left Holly Springs on the cars and returned through Jackson, then to Mobile, Montgomery, Atlanta, and Knoxville. Here we learned of the battle of Perryville, Ky., and that Bragg was on his way back to Tennessee. We then proceeded to Murfreesboro, where we remained until joined by Bragg's main army from Kentucky. Our regiment being near their homes, most of them were allowed, a few at a time, to visit their homes for a few days. The 20th and 45th Tennessee Regiments were sent to Stewart's Creek on the Nashville Pike to support our cavalry who were at Lavergne.
Many of Company E lived near here, and it was impossible to keep them in camp, but they would not stay away long at a time, and could hardly be missed. One day we were double quicked down to Lavergne, the enemy had driven our cavalry out, and when we formed and went in the enemy were going out on the other side, but they had fired the village as they went out, the greater portion of it being in flames as we went in. We returned to Stewart's Creek and in a few days went back to Murfreesboro where the great battle was soon to be fought. The boys had all been home, after an absence of about twentytwo months.
The enemy came up in our front on Dec. 29th, 1862, and on the 30th there was a good deal of skirmishing and cannonading. We were still in Breckinridge's division, on the extreme right of the army, and on the east side of Stone's River. The battle opened proper on the extreme left, on the morning of the 31st. We were not engaged until in the after-noon of that day, when we were double-quicked to the ford of the river, waded it, and moved to the left, crossed both turn-pike and railroad and started directly forward at the enemy. On account of the railroad our regiment moved in line behind the one that should have been next on our left, until we came under fire, then we moved to the right and came into our place between the river and railroad at Cowan's Pond. (Cowan's house had been burned.) We now charged the bluff, and after a sharp fight held it, but we could not cross the field, and were forced back under the bluff on account of a portion of our brigade giving way on our left and letting the enemy in behind us. But our regiment killed, wounded, and captured a great many of the enemy. Our loss was also quite heavy. Lieut. F. B. Crostwaite was killed. Lieut. M. M. Sanders and W. P. Neal were wounded, with others not recalled.
That night we were withdrawn further to the left into the cedars, where we remained during the day of January 1st, 1863 and the morning of January 2nd. Early in the afternoon of the 2nd, we were hastily withdrawn from the advanced line and rapidly marched across the river at the same ford we waded before, and down to the Mitchell House, where we, being on the extreme right, were the last to get into line of battle. But we immediately moved forward, crossed a high fence, then straight across a field to the crest of a low wooded ridge; this crest had a few trees that were mixed with bushes and briars, and was not more than one hundred yards in width. The enemy was drawn up with this in their front, and just as we came to the timber they fired. We dropped down, returned the fire and then charged. The enemy broke and fled across the open field towards the river. They had a second line mid-way of the field. We broke this too, and still pursuing, we struck a third line near the river, and they all went down under the bluff together, as we again dashed forward. As we pursued them across the field, we had left a line of Federals behind that now over-lapped us, but some of our Cavalry dismounted and chased them across the field. They were to our right, but really we were in advance of them, and they took shelter behind Ross' Gin. It was here that Frank Battle, carrying the colors, found them so badly shot and torn as to be hard to handle, and having gone some fifty yards in advance, dropped down, the colors falling on him. We thought he was killed, and Capt. W. T. Ridley rushed out to get the colors but Frank jumped up and commenced to wave them. He had only been tieing the fragments together.
But now the enemy had his time. We had only a few pieces of artillery, while the Federals had fifty-eight pieces on the bluff opposite us. They opened on us furiously, and we could do nothing more than go back across the field, through the timber bated breath we watched to see the result (no enemy in our front). Steadily Dea's men with their weak line fired into that brave, as well as overwhelming host of the enemy. We saw them as they staggered up to the half-finished rifle pits, a few passed on, then three stands of Federal colors in a bunch, mounted the works.
Dea's line was broken, not to their discredit however, for it would have taken more men to have done more. They were too heavily outnumbered. The Yankees first turned right and left, flanking our men out of the ditches. They next went for a battery, in position between Dea's and Tyler's Brigades. Our men wheeled two guns and fired, at not more than a hundred feet distance at the Yankees, but many of them were now over the works, and they rushed at the battery with fixed bayonets. The cannoniers fought them with their swab sticks, but they were soon overpowered and killed or captured with their guns. Every survivor deserved a medal, and every one killed, a monument. The enemy now turned the guns down our trenches, and who can tell the suspense until they fired? Fortunately it was infantry and they could no.t sight a cannon with any degree of accuracy, and the charges of canister, for the most part went wild, one charge however tearing up a large stump in the rear of Company E. Colonel Shy commanded us to move out by the left flank. We moved a short distance, and were commanded to move by the left flank again, which threw us into line again at an "about face." As we were moving back we noticed that our entire line south toward's Bragg's headquarters was broken and our men in full retreat. As we moved back our brigade continued to fire at the pursuing enemy, until we got them checked, in a measure, and other brigades now began to reform, and order was partially restored. Colonel Shy discovered our field band in the rear, and ordered them to play " Dixie." This seemed to do more toward rallying the men than all else. We came to a field, and just across this was General Bragg, sitting on his horse with a large flag, appealing to the men to stand. Finley's Brigade now reformed, and our brigade was placed with the field in our front, Finley to our left, but before we finished our formation the enemy advanced on us.
Night was fast approaching, and they made no determined charge, but kept up a pretty heavy firing, until darkness had gathered around us, so we were firing only at the flashes of each other's guns. It was thus that the enemy was checked, giving the left wing of the army a chance to cross the Chickamauga river. Just here quite a singular incident occured :— Capt. W. G. Ewing of Co. A, not knowing the men on our right were gone, and hearing a command on his right, stepped out and asked what command it was. The answer being 18th Regt. Mich. State. He immediately reported to Col. Shy, who commanded us "about face, forward march," and off we started on quick time, but some of the Yankees were suspicious and fired at us in the dark. Ewing's Company fired back, when Lieut. Brothers of company E innocently yelled out, "you are shooting at our own men." Shy and Ewing repeated it, and luckily for us the Yankee officers heard it, and believed it and repeated it to their men, saving us from a scathing fire at close range. We did not wait for explanations, but crossed the Chickamauga river that night and retreated along the W. & A. railroad by Ringold, Tunnel Hill, and finally rounded up for the balance of the winter at Dalton, Georgia. Company E had borne its part well in this unfortunate battle. Captain W. T. Ridley was wounded in the head, and as he was being borne from the field another shot struck him in the leg, from these wounds he never fully recovered. George W. Davis and O. C. Holland were captured, other losses of the Company are not recalled.
Sense & Sensibility
From our local Theater company comes a new production.Records were broken when Lamplighter’s Theatre Company hosted the 2009 world premier of Paula K. Parker’s sparkling stage adaptation of “Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.” Lamplighter’s Theatre is now proud to present the world premier of Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility. And the timing couldn’t be better, with performances situated around the Valentine holiday.This is a wonderful resource for our community and I am glad to assist anyway I can to help them.
Set in early 19th century England, “Sense & Sensibility” follow the trials and tribulations of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne – two women who have very different ideas about the propriety of love. Elinor is temperate and rational, while Marianne is fueled by youthful passions. Cast out from their childhood home by the whims of fate, the sisters still manage to attract suitors.
Elinor’s quiet beauty attracts the equally quiet and reserved Edward Ferrars, while Marianne’s impulsive zest for life draws the attention of both the heroic Colonel Brandon and the charming but roguish John Willoughby. But there are a multitude of obstacles on the road to romance in this delightful, new stage version of the beloved Jane Austen novel.
Veteran actor/director Shannon Spencer, takes the director’s chair for the Jane Austen classic. Spencer is no stranger to area theatre goers having recently seen onstage as ‘Sheila’ in Lamplighter’s Theatre Company’s poignant production of “The Boys Next Door.”
Lamplighter’s Theatre Company’s production of Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility runs February 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 & 19. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 pm; Sunday performances are at 4:30 pm.
Lamplighter’s Theatre is located on the campus of Springhouse Worship and Arts Center at 14119 Old Nashville Highway, Smyrna, TN. Tickets are available at www.ticketsnashville.com. For more information contact Lamplighters Theatre Company at (615) 852-8499(TIXX), or visit us online at www.Lamplighterstheatre.com.
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