This unit is one of the more interesting formations from the state of Tennessee. The 54th Tennessee was in the process of forming in Nashville when Fort Donelson fell. The remnants of Voorhies' regiment which escaped capture were merged with the six companies already formed for the 54th, and the combined unit was named the 48th (Nixon's) Tennessee. The four companies of Voorhies' regiment would leave Nixon's regiment when the former's regiment was exchanged around Vicksburg in late 1862. This left Nixon's 48th as a six-company battalion, entirely from the 54th's original companies. I'll refer to them as the 54th Tennessee Battalion going forward, but they were still called the 48th Tennessee.
The battalion would serve with Lucius Polk's (formerly Cleburne's) Brigade at Chickamauga (I recall the 54th was detached on other duties for Stones River). Here, the battalion numbered around 170 and lost 78. The battalion was so reduced that it was consolidated with the 35th Tennessee. Colonel Nixon & Ltc. Hughs left to form a cavalry regiment to serve under Forrest. Capt. Henry G. Evans of Company I would command the remnants of the 54th Tennessee Battalion going forward.
Sometime before the Atlanta Campaign started, the 35th & 54th Tennessee were deconsolidated; the 35th was assigned as the army provost guard, while the 54th was converted into a sharsphooter battalion, and referred to as such by Cleburne. They continued until July 15th 1864. Polk was wounded, and his brigade disbanded. While the other regiments of the brigade were reassigned to other brigades, the 54th, down to 40 men under Capt. Evans (whom Cleburne petitioned be promoted to Lt. Col.), was consolidated with Voorhies' 48th Tennessee, uniting the two regiments. Evans would lead the consolidated regiment notably at Lovejoy Station, attached to Dan Reynolds' Arkansas Brigade. Evans seems to have disappeared from the records just before the Tennessee Campaign, as he is not mentioned in any capacity during this period. He definitely survived the war, providing Irving Buck with personal records to publish in his biography on Pat Cleburne. They included Cleburne's farewell address to the battalion, as well as his petition for Evans' promotion, which I'll drop here:
"COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE,
May 30, 1908.
MY DEAR CAPTAIN BUCK:
I enclose you General Cleburne's farewell address to my Regiment, (48th Tennessee), and his endorsement of my ability and worthiness of promotion. * * * While General Sherman was commander of the Army [and] stationed in New York, [at] Governor's Island, in 1884, I met him [and] was introduced by a mutual friend. General Sherman asked, 'Are you in the Regular Army, Colonel?' I laughingly replied not, and he said, 'Were you ever in the Army: (you) look too young to have been '6I — '65. I said, 'Yes, I have fronted you before this, General, on many occasions'; and he asked me when, where, and whose command? I told him with General Cleburne, and he then said, 'I want to shake hands with you again, and hats off in memory of Pat Cleburne, the ablest division commander in your army. When we met with Cleburne's division, we always had to fight'
* * *
Sincerely your friend and comrade,
H. G. EVANS,
Col. 48th (Nixon's) Tenn. Infantry
The following are copies of the two papers referred to:
HEADQUARTERS CLEBURNE'S DIVISION,
IN THE FIELD, July 15, 1864.
Special Orders
No.
By direction of General Johnston, the Forty-eighth Tennessee Regiment is relieved from duty with this Division, and will report to Brigadier-General Quarles, for incorporation with Colonel Voorhees, Forty-eighth Tennessee.
In severing his connection with the small, but noble remnant of this regiment, justice, as well as feeling, prompts General Cleburne to express his admiration of the gallant and soldierly conduct its members have ever manifested. While under his command, Richmond, Ky., Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Ringgold Gap have been inscribed upon its colors, and the names of the victories of the present trying campaign may justly be placed there.
As a battalion of sharpshooters, its courage, skill and endurance have been tested and proven in innumerable bloody skirmishes. The handful to which it is reduced attests how conspicuous a part it must have borne in building up the glorious reputation of the brigade and division which it is about to be separated from.
General Cleburne bids you a soldier's farewell, and trusts that he may deserve and retain through life the good will and kind feeling which he bears to each surviving member of the Forty-eighth Tennessee.
By command of Major-General Cleburne.
I. A. BUCK,
A. A. Gen.
For Capt. H. G. EVANS,
Commanding Forty-eighth Tennessee.
HEADQUARTERS CLEBURNE'S DIVISION,
July 16, 1864.
Captain H. G. Evans, Forty-eighth Tennessee Regiment, having been ordered to appear before the board for promotion, I take pleasure in stating that he has been under my immediate command since soon after the battle of Shiloh, a portion of which time he has been in command of his regiment, and has proven himself fully competent for the position for which he is to be examined. He is brave and intelligent in action, and a good disciplinarian in camp, and I have no hesitation in recommending his case for the favorable consideration of the board.
P. R. CLEBURNE,
Major-General
"
(Source: Irving A. Buck,
Pat Cleburne & His Command, Appendix)
See also:
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/the-bizarre-case-of-the-48th-tennessee.189224/post-2805693
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