This was the first campaign the 16th Tenn. was involved in. They lost a large numbere of men from illness at Warm Springs, Va., but were first engaged in combat int he Mountains of WV. On Sept. 11, 1861 while in the enveloping force of the Cheat Mt. attack, they found themselves deep behind enemy lines. Col. Savage, commanding the regiment in Donelson's Brigade rode forward with one company of his regt and one of the 8th Tenn. Regt. He single handedly captured about 60 Federal troops at a samll house in a hollow near Becky's Run (a creek) just off of Cheat Mt. He drew his revolver and rode amongst them shouting surrender or my men will kill everyone of you!
They captured these men and then they spent the night on the top of a ridge after nearly marching into the federal lines in the darkness. That night, a bear walked through their line of battle creating quite an uproar. The following morning they woke up early and commenced to dry their flint-ock muskets that they were armed with, but before dawn a figure was seen approaching through the mist.
Luckily, Lee had ensured that all men on the enveloping force be equipped with a piece of white cloth on their hats to identify friend from foe. That morning, the pickets of the 16th nearly shot and killed Lee and his entire staff - but luckily, due to this recognition system, they were identified as friendly.
Lee rode forward and met with Savage and Donelson, and oweing to a failure on another part of the line, Lee called off the attack. The regiment retreated off the hill with their left in front, when they realized enemy soldiers were at the bottom of the ridge, with two companies in front as the van guard, the regiment dropped knapsacks and charged down the hill attacking the Feds in a small field at the bottom.
Now let me just insert the events that took place that day. The following is from a compilation of material I am doing on the 16th Tennessee Infantry Regt.:
2-Sept 12-Thur-cloudy but more pleasant-"At four o'clock this morning all were aroused, arms inspected, and every thing put in readiness for battle before the break of day..."(16)
10-“It had rained continually throughout the night, and, having flint-lock muskets, which had been loaded the evening before, the loads had become wet, and the first thing the men did in the morning was to extract the charges from their guns and put them in good order. They had all kept their powder dry, and having rubbed up their guns and examined their flints they awaited the signal for attack.”(43)
16-“As signs of day appeared next morning Savage passed the sentinels and followed the top of the mountain some half mile to where it terminated in a precipice some hundreds of feet above the valley of Tygert’s River. From this he had a good view of the Yankee camp at Crouch’s, and was of the opinion that there might be from three to five thousand men there. Returning, a sentinel told him General Lee was in camp and an inquiry had been made for him. He reported what he had seen of the Yankee camp to General Lee, who inquired of the conduct of the men should a battle occur. Savage replied: “The men are all right. Guns are wet; as soon as this rattle of ramrods ceases they are ready for battle.”(99)
2-"Just as the scattering rays of the morning sun began to make their appearance over the eastern hills, to the great surprise of the whole command, Gen. Lee and staff rode to the head of the brigade and gave orders for our retreat".(16)
21-“This was the first time I had seen him. He is a fine looking man near six feet high – a little heavy and well proportioned – eyes blue and steady – without whiskers – nothing fantastic in dress – but neat and comfortable and has somewhat the appearance of a Frenchman – He strikes you at once as a general.”(7)
8-"About daylight Gen. Lee passed up the line. It was the first time any of us had ever seen him, and we were much impressed with his fine appearance, which at once inspired us with confidence. He and his staff had lain that night at some hay-stacks in the narrow valley about a half mile down in our rear. Not long after sunup the information came through our pickets that the enemy had appeared in this little valley below...".(337)
8-"As a badge of distinction by which to tell our own forces from the enemy in emergencies, we were all required to wear a piece of white cloth tacked in front of our hats. This precaution served us a good purpose the morning Gen. Lee and staff came riding up the mountain so early from where he had camped at the hay-stacks. As they approached in the gray twilight some of our guard were sure they were enemies and wanted orders to fire on them, but I waited and was soon relieved by seeing their badges".(338)
10-“As soon as General Lee arrived at the top of the mountain he ordered General Donelson to withdraw his brigade into the valley, with his left in front.”(46)
21-“After waiting impatiently to hear the opening of our cannon by Gen. Loring, until 8 o’clock, and seeing it would not be done, we were ordered to move back from our position – the left now being in front.”(8)
10-Jackson’s Division was to have initiated the attack that morning, but finding a much heavier force than expected-well fortified with a completed fort and artillery-Jackson chose not to make the assault.(45-6)
16-“General Lee directed Savage to move his regiment, and take possession and guard the road until the brigade passed. The Sixteenth Regiment had two companies in the rear guard, with two vedettes.”(99)
2-"About sunrise we moved down the mountain in single file, left now in front. We had scarcely begun to move however, before our rear guard, (now become van.) met a company of about one hundred men, detached from the mountain to come to the camp in the valley...".(17)
21-“The intelligence had come, however, from one of our pickets stationed at base of the mountain near a field that a body of the enemy were collecting in the field. Captain Dillard and Captain Johnson and Captain York were ordered to proceed under Col. Savage ahead of the Brigade as the advance guard and which they immediately did and had not gone far before the firing of our pickets at the foot of the mountain informed us of the presence of an enemy and the advance guard went double quick to the foot of the mountain in about three-fourths of a mile and just before reaching the field there was a brisk fire opened upon Captain Dillard’s company which was a little distance in advance of Captain York’s, which was returned immediately by them with much spirit.”(8)
8-“... Col. Savage was immediately ordered to take two companies and reconnoiter. Capt. York's and my company were selected, and down the mountain we went at quick-time, as our pickets now fired on their advance-guard, coming on our trail up the hill, killing two.”(337)
16-“The firing was rapid.”(99)
10-“The Federals had not learned our position, and fired a volley at the Sixteenth, but the bullets hit in the treetops. Some of the boys seemed amused at such wild shooting, and shouted to the Yankees at the top of their voices that they were shooting into the treetops. A moving fight now began, though no line of battle was formed. The men, as they did in Tygart’s Valley the day before, began to throw down their knapsacks and blankets, and to divest themselves of all incumbrances. The Federals were at one point were within a few steps of us, but were firing at random, the smoke of the guns and the report being the only means of distinguishing their true position.”(47)
4-"About this time we heard the firing about 100 yards below us and we were satisfied that our vedettes had fired on the enemy. Our company and Capt. Dillard's were ordered to attack them, and on our way passed 2 wounded Yanks."(#5)
16-“The Yankees were driven down the mountain and down in the main road.”(99)
8-"As we got down to a fence at a field, we were fired on by the enemy about three hundred strong, some two hundred yards off, sheltered by the banks and skirting timber of a little creek that ran through the field. We soon formed line in the field, and the work commenced in good earnest. The enemy having the decided advantage in position, we were soon ordered to charge, and so we did with a wild yell…”(337)
21-“… the firing was kept up for some minutes when Col. Savage, seeing the enemy had the advantage in position, ordered Captain Dillard and Lieut. Johnson to charge them, which they did promptly with that wild shout and a rush that characterizes true Tennesseans throughout the fighting world.”(8)
10-“Colonel Savage ordered a charge. With his shrill and commanding voice he gave the command, “Charge the ****ed rascals, and pack them off on your bayonets!”(48)
4-"Col. Savage ordered us to take them out on our bayonets. We raised the Yell & the enemy left."(#5)
8-“… but before we reached the creek they fled to the woods a little distance away, and after a short stand disappeared in the thick forest".(337)
21-“… they broke in confusion for tall timber, which luckily for them, was not far behind them and then they got behind a fence flap and renewed the fire and kept it up for several minutes at our men, who were now still advancing in the open field. They soon took the hint, however, that they would have to come to close quarters and disappeared in the mountains leaving 14 killed in the field and there were several wounded, three or four of whom were picked up by General Anderson’s command that evening as they were endeavoring to make their way through the mountains. One who was either braver or slower than his comrades remained concealed at the Run for some time and on attempting to regain his company was fired on so fiercely that he dodged behind a stump for protection and threw up his hands in submission. Captain Dillard ordered his men to cease firing and by a motion of his sword ordered the Ohio red head to approach, which he did over a distance of one hundred yards and delivered himself a prisoner. Sixteen others were also taken prisoners. We had but one killed and one wounded notwithstanding the atmosphere seemed to be surcharged with Minnie slugs. During the action a ball passed through Lieutenant Sadler’s blanket and others had holes shot in shirts, clothing, canteens, etc. The one killed was a private belonging to Captain Meadows company, who had got into the field. The one wounded belonged to Captain Dillard’s company and was probably shot by one of our own troops who were coming down the mountain and mistook the advance guard in the field for the Yankeys and but for the precaution of Col. Savage who stopped them from firing at the point of the sword there would probably have been serious damage done us.”(9-10)
8-"There were thirteen killed and wounded, and seventeen captured. We lost only two killed and two or three wounded".(337)
10-“It did not exceed ten minutes duration…”(49)
16-“The Sixteenth lost one man at the foot of the mountain, a detail burying him while Savage with his guard held the road.”(99)
4-Alfred Martin, of Company __ and brother of Mose, Jessee and Lawson from Van Buren County, was the first man killed in an action against the Federals.(#5)
16-“The brigade lost no time in getting away, General Lee riding in front and leading it. Stewart’s Run was not seen, and the march continued on another road to the point that Donelson had been directed to hold.”(99)
8-"This was our first fight, and we then regarded it as an affair of considerable magnitude, receiving praise all round for coolness and courage. ... We all had flint-lock muskets, and they had all got wet the previous night. During the fight, Lieut. Denton, of my company, by no means an expert with a gun, got hold of one by some means during the fight and proceeded to load and fire rapidly. Directly a difficulty got up somehow between him and his gun, and he went backward flat on the ground, the gun over his head, and the blood ran freely from his face. I thought he was shot and went to him. On inquiry, he said he was not shot, but that he could not account for the sudden mystery by any reasoning, except a treacherous ball from the enemy had struck his faithful musket in the muzzle and driven her backward over him, "gouging" his forehead with the **** as she went. But some of larger experience with this peculiar weapon hinted that perhaps he had loaded faster than he had fired, until really the breech became the "business end" of his piece; and with some reluctance he accepted the theory".(337-8)
10-The equipment and blankets that had been dropped to expedite their movement down the mountain could not be retrieved, as a Federal force occupied the ridgeline where they were left only minutes before.(50)
8-"... about 12 o'clock our command fell back, and marched about ten miles to Snider's Hill and camped".(338)
2-"...we resumed the retreat in the direction of Big Spring, and after marching till the day was well nigh spent we halted at _________ and fed, the now very hungry brigade, on saltless beef,..."(17)
10-“As the men were hungry as well as weary, they broiled their beef upon the coals and ate it.”(50)
2-"This being the first march this part of our men were ever on, absent from the supply train, and not supposing they would be allowed to suffer, had wasted their rations, or rather, eat them up at the outset of the march and had consequently, become very hungry - we called it starving".(17)  |
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