Murder At Nickajack Gap?

[TerryB]

I spent a lot of time researching this, but, alas, have not been able to publish it. Therefore, I posted it to my blog. I'm hoping to add balance to charges that an indirect ancestor shot two or more Federal troopers after they surrendered and were being hustled back to Tunnel Hill for interrogation. The allegation was that they were not running fast enough to keep up with their mounted captors. Up until now, the only information available was from Union sources, mainly the OR. I believe there was a deliberate effort to destroy all Confederate records of the incident, and I most strongly suspect W.W. Mackall of being the person responsible for that. His letters to his wife contain a gap that I find unexplainable, given that he wrote her practically every day. This 30+ day gap ends with some remarks by Mackall that show him deeply troubled by something.

http://myrebelroots.blogspot.com/

 

[Bob Owen]

Interesting blog. I was just curious if Nickajack Lake is associated with Nickajack Gap.

 

[TerryB]

Interesting blog. I was just curious if Nickajack Lake is associated with Nickajack Gap.

I don't know, but if it's in Catoosa County, probably so. It's not on the map I include.

 

[leftyhunter]

My understanding of the partisan/insurgent war in Mo and Northern Ark was he who surrenders had best have their will in order. Union troops were authorized per Gen. Halleck to shoot captured CSA insurgents if they were out of uniform its in the OR's. Quantrill figured turnabout is fair play. Hilderbrand in his biography edited by Kirby Ross claims he twice paroled the same pair of Union soldiers. Not that that I am telling you anything you don't know. The only rule in the partisan/insurgent war in Mo and Northern Ark was to come home to mama in one piece.
Leftyhunter

 

[TerryB]

The Northern press were already printing every one-sided reports about Fort Pillow that they could get their hands on, so it surprises me that there was so little about Nickajack in the same papers. One or two full articles and a smattering of two or three line "clippings" are all I've found so far. Of course, nothing I've found in the Southern press says much other than Col. Ross, under Wheeler's orders, attacked the Federal pickets at Nickajack Gap, each giving a slightly different casualty count. Only "Gentillus," writing in the Atlanta-based Memphis Daily Appeal, even hints at the darker side of the story. Either he was there or heard it first hand, possibly from Vincent himself; and he wrote his account on the day of the raid, while the details were fresh.

I've already created a thread here that asks whether the 10th Ohio Cav retaliated in kind, as was reported (without any source) in an academic paper written in the 1980s. You also read in the histories of the 92nd Ill that they used the battle cry "Remember Nickajack!" in the largest of Kilpatrick's recons through the gaps early in May. They say they only used that battle cry once, but don't go into any details about what it meant. The clear implication is that they took no prisoners that day.

 

[CMWinkler]

Great story, Terry. Thanks.

 

[Yankeedave]

That's very interesting article. I would add that any slacking on some occasions could lead to ones death, even within ones own command. there was some tough men back then I swear!

 

[TerryB]

That's very interesting article. I would add that any slacking on some occasions could lead to ones death, even within ones own command. there was some tough men back then I swear!

Some of Forrest's men were captured, members of Freeman's Battery, by either the 4th US or the 4th Michigan (the reports vary). The same thing happened to them, but one of them, a surgeon, lived to tell the tale. Freeman was one of the killed.

 

[TerryB]

I've never been satisfied with the ending, mostly because I was trying to keep the piece to under 4,000 words. Now, I've gone back and rewritten it. I think it's a much stronger closing, and I say that the ultimate responsibility should rest with Col. Ross, the commander of the raid. That's something I've thought for some time, but never put it in the piece until now.

 

[Yankeedave]

your a good writer there Lt. i was thinking of Sheridan's Trevillians Raid. His rear guard was shooting men and horses. It's in Wittenburg's book. good read also.

 

[TinCan]

Interesting blog. I was just curious if Nickajack Lake is associated with Nickajack Gap.

Don't think so Bob. The Gap is in Georgia while the lake runs along the river at Chattanooga.

 

[TerryB]

Don't think so Bob. The Gap is in Georgia while the lake runs along the river at Chattanooga.

Thanks. I also know there's a cave called Nickajack Cave, but not sure exactly where it is.

 

[TerryB]

Some of the characters I found in the story were very colorful or interesting. Captain Swearingen was supposedly captured by guerrillas and held for ransom until his new bride worked out an exchange. After the war he was supposedly wanted by Governor Brownlow, so the couple lit out for Texas in the dead of the night, going through Alabama. During the 1878 yellow fever outbreak, he left Austin for Holly Springs to treat the sick. He later went on to become the chief medical officer for the State of Texas.

Reuben Ross won honors at Fort Donelson, and was allowed to remain at home in Clarksville on parole after the surrender. He seems to have violated his parole by carrying his arms and equipment with him on one of his trips north to report in. After they arrested him and sent him to Camp Chase, he engaged in a letter writing campaign to Federal officers, including Halleck in Washington, trying to explain why he was not guilty. He even offered to escort some ladies to Richmond and bought arms for some Confederate officer. He then wrote Halleck that he looked forward to seeing him in Washington--all while on parole or in Camp Chase. He was very likely the last Fort Donelson prisoner to be released. In October 1862, he shows up in Richmond and gives his excellent account of the fighting at Donelson. He then served with Forrest, later with Wheeler, and ran spies for both of them.

 

[DaveBrt]

There are many Nickojacks in northwest Georgia. One was the Nicojack Railroad. The road connected the coal mines, in far northwestern Georgia, to the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad at Shellmound, Tennessee. The road was incorporated in 1856 as the Nicojack Railroad & Mining Co. The road was probably in operation by November , 1856. The mines, on Raccoon Mountain, were the property of the father of Confederate General Gordon, Zachariah Gordon. The mines were later (during and after the War) known as the Castle Rock Coal Company and remained in operation until at least the mid-1870's.

 

[damYankee]

This may shed some light on Nickajack,

http://loststates.blogspot.com/2011/04/forgotten-union-state-in-confederate.html

http://www.thecivilwaromnibus.com/articles/123/the-lost-state-of-nickajack/

http://www.1stalabamacavalryusv.com/1sthistory.aspx

 

[TerryB]

One of the most stunning things to me is the lack of Confederate documents or reports. I may already have said this, but I believe W.W. Mackall was in the best position to destroy reports. When asked for a report, Wheeler alluded to one Lt. TB Mackall, the chief of staff's nephew and ADC, was preparing. What happened to that report? What happened to Lt. Joe Vincent's records for March/April 1864? Why don't we have a report from Col. Ross? Why no report from Col. Anderson or Gen. Davidson? I realize that Confederate record keeping was at its low point in 1864-65, but plenty of records do exist. Mackall's records are extensive, including his letters to his wife. He wrote her practically every day, yet there is a gap of over a week in those letters, and we don't hear anything from him again until several days after the incident. At that point, his letters are moody, he quotes the scriptures (something rare for him), he references a 16 mile ride over the mountains to confer with Hardee and Davidson ( Ross's commander), and he speaks of spending a sleepless night. In the OR, he sends several dispatches to Wheeler insisting that Wheeler report to him because he has important matters to discuss. Wheeler seems to have ignored every one of these dispatches. What I'm alleging is that the pattern of missing records screams that they are missing for a reason. In posting here and at my blog, I'm hoping someone will find the report or letter that could lay the blame squarely where it lies. In the meantime, I have to hold Col. Ross responsible since he was the commander of the raid. This was not some action that took place over a large area, and only darkness would have obscured the field (for possibly two hours). Ross could not necessarily be everywhere and see everything, but he was in command and it took place on his watch.

Lt. T.B. Mackall's diary is missing the pages for late April 1864. Why am I not surprised?

 

[TerryB]

Lt. Thomas B. Mackall made two interesting diary entries:

Dalton Ga, Friday, May 6, 1864

Gen Allen gives acct of a scout who learned from citizens that enemy were moving troops back to Chattanooga for Va. Maj Lee states enemy falling back. Inquiry of Wheeler if it's true? Answer no word !
Not a thing has been ascertained by Wheeler's Cav--inaction---[ or possibly inactive]

Saturday, May 7, 1864

Enemy advanced in force from on Ringgold road this side T. Hill, near Nickajack Gap at night.

 

[Barrycdog]

I know Nickajack Mountain is in Cobb County off Roswell Road, Nickajack like Kennessaw was an Indian Chief. The Chief Kennesaw was killed by a hunter,. I am not sure of the story on Nickajack. There was an Indian Chief named Proctor in Acworth. Of course many Indian names including Chattahoochee ( flowering rock) Etowah (dead wood) Euharlee (she laughs while she runs) etc etc

 

[Barrycdog]

Daily Intelligencer, September 22, 1863 Page 2


General Forrest in the front attacked the enemy seven miles from Chattanooga. General Wheeler was guarding the gaps on our left, and had a skirmish with the enemy's cavalry which had advanced towards Lafayette, and the citizens were reported running from that place.

It is supposed that the strong resistance made by the enemy is to cover Rosecrans retreat, but it is impossible to get any certain information from the numerous rumors afloat, It is reported that we lost a Tennessee General Yesterday, name not recollected on Friday, the 18th, the fighting was so very severe. It occurred in front of Leet's tan yard, 7 miles from Ringgold, and 4 miles from Nickajack Gap. It is reported that Walthalls brigade lost 73 out of one regiment.

 

[TerryB]

Daily Intelligencer, September 22, 1863 Page 2


General Forrest in the front attacked the enemy seven miles from Chattanooga. General Wheeler was guarding the gaps on our left, and had a skirmish with the enemy's cavalry which had advanced towards Lafayette, and the citizens were reported running from that place.

It is supposed that the strong resistance made by the enemy is to cover Rosecrans retreat, but it is impossible to get any certain information from the numerous rumors afloat, It is reported that we lost a Tennessee General Yesterday, name not recollected on Friday, the 18th, the fighting was so very severe. It occurred in front of Leer's tan yard, 7 miles from Ringgold, and 4 miles from Nickajack Gap. It is reported that Walthalls brigade lost 73 out of one regiment.

Suggest you correct "Leer's tan yard" to "Leet's tan yard."