Tennessee Civil War Sites

[larry_cockerham]

James Clark penned his last wartime epistle to Martha in January 1865 from the Clayton Hospital Mess at Columbus, Georgia. He noted that he had been wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro, a slight wound in the wrist. He wrote, "I was so exposed coming out of Tenn. that it became very sore.... Many men have lost their toes & some their entire feet." Reynolds's Brigade officially made the transition to become Palmer's brigade during this time. Joseph Benjamin Palmer, 1825-1890, having a name very similar to the organizer of the 58th North Carolina has caused some confusion in records relating to the regiment. Palmer, a prewar Unionist, attorney, and politician entered the Confederate Army upon Tennessee's secession. He led a consolidated brigade in the Franklin- Nashville Campaign, but was detached during both big fights. His command, attached to Edward Walthall's Division did take part in covering the retreat. In the final reorganization of the Army of Tennessee he was placed in command of a brigade composed of the remnants of 38 Tennessee regiments and two battalions. His brief association with the men of Reynolds' Brigade went well, but he lost them in the April 9, 1865 reorganization…. Jeffrey Craig Weaver ]
December 8.--Lieutenant-General Lee made a demonstration on his extreme left to-day, driving in the enemy's pickets without any show of resistance, and establishing his own line in the pits from which he had driven the pickets of the enemy. General Forrest was ordered to drive the enemy back to Murfreesborough, and then give him an opportunity to leave the town in the direction of Lebanon, if he chose. He was also directed to return Bate's division and Sears' brigade to the army, keeping Palmer's (Brown's old) brigade and Mercer's, which was ordered to him to-day, and what artillery he might deem necessary, another division to be sent to him to supply the place of Bate's when the latter shall have joined the army.
December 9.--All quiet in front. General Forrest advised by General Hood that another division would not be sent him to supply the place of Bate's [division] and Sears' brigade, other dispositions being made to prevent the enemy from re-enforcing Murfreesborough, and in the event of evacuation to secure his defeat. Palmer's and Mercer's brigades ordered to strongly fortify themselves on Stewart's Creek, or at La Vergne, as General Forrest might deem best, "to constitute a force in observation of the enemy," and a brigade of cavalry to picket in the neighborhood of Lebanon.
December 10.--Generals Stewart's and Lee's corps retired their lines a short distance for the purpose of convenience to wood. No change otherwise. Reports received of the concentration of the enemy's cavalry at Edgefield, and General Forrest directed to meet and drive them back should the force attempt to cross the Cumberland River above. Circular issued to corps commanders directing the construction of self-supporting detached works--General Stewart to select all good points in rear of his left; General Cheatham, all good points in rear of his right; and General Lee, all good points in rear both of his right and left flanks, for the construction of these works.
December 11.--No change in the lines.
December 12.--No change to report. General Hood telegraphed to General Beauregard "for all available cavalry to be sent to this army as soon as Sherman completes his raid."
December 13 and 14.--No change in the line.
December 15.--The enemy attacked both of our flanks this morning about the same time, and was repulsed with heavy loss on our right, but toward evening he succeeded in driving in our infantry outposts on the left.
December 16.--A general attack was commenced early this morning on our entire line, and all the enemy's assaults repulsed with heavy loss, till 3.30 p.m., when our line suddenly gave way to the left of the center, causing in a few moments our lines to give way at all points, our troops retreating rapidly and in some 'confusion down the Franklin pike. The army camped all along the pike from Brentwood to and including Franklin. Army headquarters at Mrs. Maney's, near Franklin. General Forrest was advised through a staff officer (Captain Cooper) of the retreat of the army, and directed to make disposition of his troops for protecting it.
[Insert- from General George H. Thomas Jan 20 1865 report: “General Wilson's cavalry, dismounted, attacked the enemy simultaneously with Schofield and Smith, striking him in reverse, and gaining firm possession of the Granny White pike, cut off his retreat by that route. Wood's and Steedman's troops, hearing the shouts of victory coming from the right, rushed impetuously forward, renewing the assault on Overton's Hill, and although meeting a very heavy fire, the onset was irresistible, artillery and innumerable prisoners falling into our hands. The enemy, hopelessly broken, fled in confusion through the Brentwood Pass, the Fourth Corps in a close pursuit, which was continued for several miles, when darkness closed the scene and the troops rested from their labors. As the Fourth Corps pursued the enemy on the Franklin pike, General Wilson hastily mounted Knipe's and Hatch's divisions of his command, and directed them to pursue along the Granny White pike and endeavor to reach Franklin in advance of the enemy. After proceeding about a mile they came upon the enemy's cavalry, under Chalmers, posted across the road and behind barricades. The position was charged by the Twelfth Tennessee Cavalry, Colonel Spalding commanding, and the enemy's lines broken, scattering him in all directions and capturing quite a number of prisoners, among them Brig. Gen. E. W. Rucker.”]

[Insert from William T. Sherman writing to U.S. Grant on
December 16 from Savannah: “I myself am somewhat astonished at the attitude of things in Tennessee. I purposely delayed at Kingston until General Thomas assured me that he was all ready, and my last dispatch from him of the 12th of November was full of confidence, in which he promised me that he would ruin Hood if he dared to advance from Florence, urging me to go ahead, and give myself no concern about Hood’s army in Tennessee. Why he did not turn on him at Franklin, after checking and discomfiting him, surpasses my understanding. Indeed, I do not approve of his evacuating Decatur, but think he should have assumed the offensive against Hood from Pulaski, in the direction of Waynesburg, I know full well that General Thomas is slow in mind and in action; but he is judicious and brave, and the troops feel great confidence in him. I still hope he wiall outmaneuvre and destroy Hood.”]
December 17.--The march was continued toward Columbia--Stewart in front, Cheatham next, and Lee in the rear, with Chalmers' and Buford's cavalry. General Lee's rear harassed considerably by the enemy's cavalry near Spring Hill. Lieutenant-General Lee slightly wounded. The army camped between Franklin and Spring Hill in the order of march. Army headquarters at Spring Hill.
December 18.--Stewart's corps marched in front to-day, camping in line of battle on Duck River. Cheatham camped on Rutherford's Creek, and General Lee between the creek and Franklin. Army headquarters at Mr. Vaught's, Columbia.
[Insert- from George H. Thomas Jan 20 1865 report: “On the 18th the pursuit of the enemy was continued by General Wilson, who pushed on as far as Rutherford's Creek, three miles from Columbia. Wood's corps crossed to the south side of Harpeth River and closed up with the cavalry. The enemy did not offer to make a stand during the day. On arriving at Rutherford's Creek the stream was found to be impassable on account of high water, and running a perfect torrent.

[larry_cockerham]

December 19.--Army headquarters still at Mr. Vaught's. The army, and such trains and artillery as were not crossed over yesterday, occupied the day in crossing Duck River--Lee first, Cheatham next, and then Stewart. The enemy's cavalry appeared on opposite side of Rutherford's Creek.
[Insert – from General George H. Thomas Jan 20 1865 report: “During the 19th several unsuccessful efforts were made by the advanced troops to cross Rutherford's Creek, although General Hatch succeeded in lodging a few skirmishers on the south bank. The heavy rains of the preceding few days had inundated the whole country and rendered the roads almost impassable. Smith's and Schofield's commands crossed to the south side of Harpeth River, General Smith advancing to Spring Hill, whilst General Schofield encamped at Franklin”]
December 20.--Everything over the river this morning. The march was resumed on the Pulaski pike--Lee in front (Stevenson commanding), Cheatham next, and General Stewart in rear. General Forrest, with his cavalry and a division of infantry under command of Major-General Walthall (composed of Ector's, Strahl's, Maney's, Granbury's, and Palmer's brigades), directed to oppose the advance of the enemy's cavalry. General Stevenson's corps camped within two miles of Pulaski, and the other two corps in his rear, and in order of march. Army headquarters at Mr. Jones', Pulaski.
[Insert – from General George H. Thomas Jan 20 1865 report: “On the morning of the 20th General Hatch constructed a floating bridge from the debris of the old railroad bridge over Rutherford's Creek, and crossing his entire division pushed out for Columbia, but found, on reaching Duck River, the enemy had succeeded the night before in getting everything across, and had already removed his pontoon bridge; Duck River was very much swollen and impassable without a bridge.”]
December 21.--Army headquarters still at Mr. Jones', Pulaski. Stevenson's corps marched across Richland Creek and went into camp; Cheatham's and Stewart's corps camped on this side.
[Insert – from George H. Thomas Jan 20, 1865 report: “The weather had changed from dismal rain to bitter cold, very materially retarding the work in laying the bridge, as the regiment of colored troops to whom that duty was intrusted seemed to become unmanned by the cold and totally unequal to the occasion. On the completion of the bridge at Rutherford's Creek sufficient material for a bridge over Duck River was hastily pushed forward to that point, and the bridge constructed in time to enable Wood to cross late in the afternoon of the 22d and get into position on the Pulaski road, about two miles south of Columbia. The water in the river fell rapidly during the construction of the bridge, necessitating frequent alterations and causing much delay. The enemy, in his hasty retreat, had thrown into the stream several fine pieces of artillery, which were rapidly becoming uncovered, and were subsequently removed.”]

[Forrest and his cavalry, and such other detachments as had been sent off from his main army whilst besieging Nashville, had rejoined Hood at Columbia. He had formed a powerful rear guard, made up of detachments from all his organized force, numbering about 4,000 infantry, under General Walthall, and all his available cavalry, under Forrest. With the exception of his rear guard, his army had become a disheartened and disorganized rabble of half-armed and barefooted men, who sought every opportunity to fall out by the wayside and desert their cause to put an end to their sufferings. The rear guard, however, was undaunted and firm, and did its work bravely to the last.

During the 23d General Wilson was occupied crossing his command over Duck River, but took the advance on the 24th, supported by General Wood, and came up with the enemy just south of Lynnville, and also at Buford's Station, at both of which places the enemy made a short stand, but was speedily dislodged, with a loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Our advance was so rapid as to prevent the destruction of the bridges over Richland Creek. Christmas morning, the 25th, the enemy, with our cavalry at his heels, evacuated Pulaski, and was pursued toward Lamb's Ferry over an almost impracticable road and through a country devoid of subsistence for man or beast.]
December 22.--Army headquarters at Pulaski. Stevenson's corps was directed to move forward on the Lamb's Ferry road, in rear of the pontoon train, and camped about eight miles from Pulaski. General Stewart's corps camped in rear of Stevenson's about six miles from Pulaski, and General Cheatham's on Richland Creek, in the immediate vicinity of town. The wagon train ordered to move at daylight toward Bainbridge, by the Powell road.
December 23.--Army headquarters on Powell's Ferry road, six miles from Lexington, Ala. The army, after the day's march, camped as follows: Stevenson's corps at the intersection of the Lamb's Ferry road with the Powell road, four miles from Lexington; General Stewart in rear, on the Lamb's Ferry road; General Cheatham moved on the Lawrenceburg road.
December 24.--Army headquarters at Mr. Joiner's, eleven miles from Bainbridge, on the main Bainbridge road. Stevenson's corps reached and camped on Shoal Creek and Stewart's in his rear. General Cheat-ham not yet come into the main road from the Powell road.
[Insert- George H. Thomas Jan 20 1865 report. This must have been the battle with Forrest at Anthony’s Hill: “During the afternoon Harrison's brigade found the enemy strongly intrenched at the head of a heavily wooded and deep ravine, through which ran the road, and into which Colonel Harrison drove the enemy's skirmishers; he then waited for the remainder of the cavalry to close up before attacking; but before this could be accomplished the enemy, with something of his former boldness, sallied from his breast-works and drove back Harrison's skirmishers, capturing and carrying off one gun belonging to Battery I, Fourth U.S. Artillery, which was not recovered by us, notwithstanding the ground lost was almost immediately regained. By night-fall the enemy was driven from his position, with a loss of about 50 prisoners.”]
December 25.--Army headquarters at Bainbridge, on the Tennessee River. The pontoon was being laid across the river as rapidly as the arrival of the boats would allow. General Cheatham came into the main road this morning, and in rear of Stevenson's corps moved to the river, where a line covering the bridge was formed, Cheatham occupying the right and Stevenson the left. General Stewart's corps, upon arriving at the point where Cheatham's corps came into the main road, was put into position so as to protect both roads.
December 26 to January 2, 1865, inclusive.--The pontoon was completed by daylight on the 26th instant, and the army was occupied two days in crossing--Lee's and Cheatham's corps on the 26th, and Stewart's and the cavalry on the 27th. On the 28th the pontoon was withdrawn. The march was resumed, upon striking the Memphis and Charleston railroad, immediately down the road, in the order of crossing the river, to Burnsville, Miss., where, on the 31st, a circular was issued to corps commanders, directing further movements, as follows: "Lee's corps to move to Rienzi, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, Cheatham's corps to move to Corinth, and Stewart's corps to remain at Burnsville until further orders." Cheatham's corps arrived and established camps at Corinth on January 1, and Lee's and Stewart's corps at their respective destinations on January 2, 1865. Army headquarters were at Tuscumbia from the 26th to the 28th of December, inclusive. On the 29th General Hood, with Colonel Mason and his personal staff, remained during the day at the terminus of the railroad near Tuscumbia, awaiting the train, which did not arrive until late at night. He reached Burnsville on the evening of the 30th, remained there until the morning of the 2d of January, and from thence came by cars to Corinth. [28 Dec Hood’s trains passed through Leighton, 29 Dec Gen. Thomas abandoned pursuit]
TWO ARMIES ON THE SAME ROAD
CHAPTER II
As you have seen earlier in this document, much has been written concerning the travels and travails of the Army of Tennessee leading up to and including the retreat from the Battle of Nashville into North Alabama. In most references, the story stops at the Tennessee River on December 28, 1864. This broken, bloody, but still viable Confederate army was not completely beaten, just against the ropes. There was more war to be fought; they were not down for the count. There were still two armies, Blue and Gray, still traveling the same roads, often with fatal results. I believe that Whitfield Monroe Parker remained with the 63rd Virginia until the time of the battle at Bentonville before making his way on some mighty sore legs back to the green South Holston River Valley in the Wyndale community, a few miles south of Abingdon, Virginia. James Patterson Cockerham was to remain in service with the 10th Tennessee Cavalry until August 1865 when he returned to his family in the foothills of the Blue Ridge near Elkin in Wilkes County, North Carolina. It would have perhaps been better if these two and the half dozen or so others responsible for my presence on this earth had never left their homes in the Appalachian mountains. Duty did not allow that option.
Following is a series of chronological references taken from many sources, mostly official records or regimental histories.

The ITINERARY OF CHEATHAM’S CORPS was condensed from a journal kept by Major Henry Hampton. This outline of the movement of Cheatam’s Corps gives a good idea of the movement of the 63rd and 54th Virginia regiments between January and May 1865. Reorganized as the 54th Virginia, the men of the 63rd remained in LEE’S CORPS of the re-organized Army of Tennessee. The various Divisions and Corps of the Army of Tennessee moved generally on the same path through Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and on to the end of the war in North Carolina. Many of the following notes are from that journal. The Journal of the Army of Tennessee, previously presented, stops with the crossing of the Tennessee River at Bainbridge, Alabama. Here is the rest of the story.

December 28, 1864 The Army of Tennessee completed their crossing of the Tennessee River at Bainbridge, Alabama and loaded their pontoons on wagons before heading off toward haven in Mississippi.
[Insert- General George H. Thomas Jan 20 1865 report: “General Wood's corps kept well closed up on the cavalry, camping on the night of December 25 six miles out from Pulaski, on the Lamb's Ferry road, and pursuing the same route as the cavalry, reached Lexington, Ala., thirty miles from Pulaski, on the 28th, on which date, having definitely ascertained that the enemy had made good his escape across the Tennessee at Bainbridge, I directed ****her pursuit to cease.”]
[The enemy's cavalry, under Roddey, was met at Leighton, with whom Colonel Palmer skirmished and pressed back in small squads toward the mountains. Here it was ascertained that Hood's trains passed through Leighton on the 28th of December and moved off toward Columbus, Miss. Avoiding the enemy's cavalry, Colonel Palmer left Leighton on the 31st of December, moved rapidly via La Grange and Russellville and by the Cotton-gin road, and overtook the enemy's pontoon train, consisting of 200 wagons and 78 pontoon-boats, when ten miles out from Russellville. This he destroyed. Having learned of a large supply train on its way to Tuscaloosa, Colonel Palmer started on the 1st of January toward Aberdeen, Miss., with a view of cutting it off, and succeeded in surprising it about 10 p.m. on the same evening, just over the line in Mississippi. The train consisted of 110 wagons and 500 mules, the former of which were burned, and the latter sabered or shot]

[larry_cockerham]

One of these challenges was Anthony’s Hill just five miles down present-day highway 11. The infantry under General E.C. Walthall which included Palmer’s Brigade (that carried Private Whitfield Monroe Parker) and the cavalry of General N.B. Forrest noticed that this hill provided a natural cover to slow the advancing US 4th Cavalry under General James H. Wilson. The ensuing battle provided the capture of one of Gen. Wilson’s prize cannons and resulted in the deaths or wounding of at least 43 Confederates. The 63rd VA lost the services of Mitchell M. Bryant of Moccasin Gap, Virginia in that struggle. Mitchell had been reported in the Watts Hospital at Birmingham, AL back on 11 Nov 1864 a little over a month prior to his death. Much of this hearty little army under Walthall and Forrest must have been walking wounded who were four hundred miles from their homes in the Holston Valley and under the care of the only Confederate force left for their protection. Mitchell Bryant and 42 others lie at rest in the cemetery on Chestnut Grove Road adjacent to the Anthony Hill Church around the corner on Fall River Road. These men were buried soon after the battle by local residents and their graves were preserved on the Reynolds family farm. Identities of several of these Confederates have been preserved largely through the efforts of Tim Moore and Jim Burgess of Giles County, TN.

[scone]

The road of High Hopes and sorrows..

Or as you call larry. " two armies on the same road"


Thank for sharing.

I recived my 140th franklin Re-enactment Dvd yesterday. The Documentary on the battle of franklin itself is a must see. Rob Hodge & Wide Awake have made another classic.

Although I didnt catch my self in any of the footage I did see several others in my unit. and people i know.

regards, Steven

[larry_cockerham]

Much of this hearty little army under Walthall and Forrest must have been walking wounded who were four hundred miles from their homes in the Holston Valley and under the care of the only Confederate force left for their protection. Over four hundred of these infantry serving in the rear guard action were considered as “ineffectives”. Whit Parker and Mitchell Bryant were probably in that number since both had previously been recorded receiving medical treatment for severe wounds.

Proving that he had compassion as well as grit, Forrest commandeered several supply wagons and dumped their low priority goods, thus making a place for the "ineffectives" to ride and stay with the column. Tim Morrison wrote that “these ‘ineffectives’ exhibited great bravery and determination in battle and responded to General Forrest's faith in them.

Mr. Tim Morrison has provided this local knowledge concerning Anthony’s Hill:

“Pvt. Bryant and 42 others lie at rest in the Chestnut Grove Cemetery on Anthony's Hill, almost on their battleground. These Confederate soldiers were buried soon after the battle by local residents. Many wounded in the ambush died later, but some were probably stragglers that could not retreat any further with the column and perished at Anthony's Hill. The Chestnut Grove Methodist Church, established in 1859, cared for these graves and collectively referred to them as the "old Confederates." From the 1950s and well into the 1990s, Houston Newton and "Mac" Reynolds (of African descent) cared for the cemetery and preserved the knowledge of these soldiers for the present generation. Mr. Newton was buried in the cemetery he so lovingly cared for in 1998. Mr. Reynolds is buried a short distance from Anthony's Hill in the local black cemetery. The Reynolds family still owns the land where the ambush took place on that Christmas Day. The well preserved road that led the Army of Tennessee to their destiny can still be walked. Identities of the sixteen Confederates were researched and recorded by Tim Burgess of Hendersonville, TN. Tim Morrison of Fayetteville, TN, discovered, coordinated, and directed the placement of 43 Confederate headstones that replaced primitive fieldstone markers and concrete blocks. These two men were joined by many other volunteers from multiple Sons of Confederate Veterans camps in marking, preserving, and honoring these fallen Confederate soldiers.

[scone]

Just South of Anthony Hill is is Minor hill Which was the Site Wre Boy hero of the Confederacy Sam Davis was Captured Nov. 19th 1863.. There is a marker making the spot that hje was captured.

Regards, steven

[showmegal]

Great info on Tenn sites! Hoping to head to Tenn and Georgia this summer. Am I right in remembering that Shy's Hill used to be called Compton's Hill? Blue and Gray magazine had a haunted places issue years ago that included a piece about Colonel Shy and his grave at his homeplace being vandalized. I think I remember it saying his iron coffin with a window over his face was displayed at the Carter House. Has anybody seen it? Also, is Shy's Hill easy to find from whatever interstate runs through Nashville? Thanks for any info !

[scone]

Showmegal,

You are correct Compton's hill is Now known as Shys Hill. and Col. Shy's Coffin is in the Carter House Museum. Grave Robbers did the damage to his Coffin If I remember correctly. Be it vandels or grave robbers neither one is any worse than the other in my book and should all be hung on the spot.

I have been Shys hill and have seen the Coffin in the Carter house Museum ..

Shy hill is rather easy to get to from I-65..

Check out the Battle of Nashville Preservation societry website at
www.BONPS.org

And make sure you look under Bonps Feature section.


If I may be of any more help Just ask.

Regards, steven

[showmegal]

Thanks, Steven! Will probably pick your brain some more as trip gets closer! Is Shy's homeplace privately owned? Visiting his grave is probably out of the question. Do you know anything about Forrest's boyhood home? I think it's open to the public but am not sure.

[scone]

'I'm not really sure of the location of the Shy Home. The Forrest boyhood home I think is open for tours. I havent been there myself but I beieve that Larry on the board here has been there..

The Sons of Confederate Veterans has a Forrest homecoming event in july this year . Larry may have some info on that as well.

Regards, Steven