Hi folks,
I'm from Eaton, Gibson County Tennessee and I am interested in any information on the 47th Infantry , CSA.
It was formed from men from GIbson, Dyer and Obion counties.
Thanks
Forty-seventh Tennessee Infantry
Chickamagua after battle report:
Report of Col. William M. Watkins, Forty-seventh Tennessee
Infantry, commanding Twelfth and Forty-seventh Tennessee
Infantry.
HDQRS. TWELFTH AND FORTY-SEVENTH REGT.'S,
In the Field, in front of Chattanooga, September 30, 1863
COL.: I beg leave to submit the following short report of the
action of the regiments under my command (the Twelfth and
Forty-seventh Tennessee) in the battle of Chickamauga on the
19th instant:
Under orders from Brig. Gen. Preston Smith, I formed my
regiments on the left of One hundred and fifty-fourth and
Thirteenth tennessee, having the Eleventh Tennessee on my
immediate left. In this order at 12 noon we began the advance,
and moved forward to a position about 400 yards from the
enemy, who seemed to [be] intrenched, having an open field
between us, except a few yards of timber next to the enemy's
line. Here the One hundred and fifty-fourth and Thirteenth Tennessee,
by a wheel on its right pivot, separated from my command, while my
command and Eleventh tennessee moved straight forward, the Eleventh
Tennessee halting in a drain, by which it was to some extent
protected from the enemy's fire.
My regiments were moving forward to the enemy when I was
ordered by Capt. Donelson to fall back to the fence, which I
endeavored to do, but before my regiments were quite back to
the fence, I was ordered by Capt. Harris (assistant
inspector-general) to move forward, and I was moving forward
to the position on prolongation of the line of the Eleventh Regt.
when I was ordered by Gen. Smith to fall back to the fence,
which I did, and here held my regiments, protected in a measure
by the low fence, until Gen. Strahl's brigade passed before us
and we were ordered to retire. All these movements were
executed under a very heavy fire both of musketry and artillery,
killing 1 captain and 3 lieutenants, besides wounding other
officers in my command. After retiring near a half mile from
the field, other efforts to dislodge the enemy proving ineffectual,
the enemy advanced upon our lines, and my regiments were held
in position to check the advance of the enemy.
In this position we lay all evening, during which Capt. James N.
Watkins was killed and several men wounded. Just before dark
Gen. Deshler's brigade was ordered before ours and to move
upon paces. Moving thence through thick undergrowth we soon
[came] upon Gen. Deshler's brigade, and halted a few minutes
for him
to get his distance from us, when, moving on again in the
dark, my command being charged with the direction, I came
upon a body of men, and supposing them to be a part of
Deshler's brigade I halted, and Gen. Smith rode to the front of
my command to inquire the cause of Deshler's halting again,
when he called Col. Vaughan to him, and soon discovered
himself in the midst of a Federal brigade, who fired upon him,
instantly killing him and 2 of his staff. Discovering this to be a
force of the enemy, we, in connection with the One hundred and
fifty-fourth and Thirteenth Tennessee, captured a large number
of prisoners (say some 300 or 400), and recaptured a number of
Deshler's men, who had just been captured by the enemy. A
number of prisoners, together with a stand of colors captured
from the enemy in front of my command, were sent by Col.
Vaughan, then commanding brigade, under charge of Capt.
Carthel, of my command, to the rear. At this place we halted and
rested for the night.
It gives me pleasure to bear testimony to the coolness and
resolution of the brave troops under my command, who,
notwithstanding the very heavy fire they moved under for two
hours, and in spite of the derangement of conflicting orders, still
kept in position and held themselves constantly in order both in
the dark and light.
There was in my command 11 killed, 2 of whom were captains
and 3 lieutenants; remainder privates. The wounded and missing
is 76.
I am, sir, respectfully, &c.
W. M. WATKINS,
Col., Comdg. 12th and 47th Tennessee Regt.'s.
Col. A. J. VAUGHAN, JR., Comdg. Brigade.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 111-51 KY., SW. VA., TENN., MISS., N. ALA, AND N. GA. [CHAP. XLII.
[Series I. Vol. 30. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 51.]