{⋆★⋆} BG Vaughn, John C.

John Crawford Vaughn

Born: February 24, 1824
Vaughn 1.jpg


Birthplace: Monroe County, Tennessee

Father: James Alfred Vaughn 1798 – 1868
(Buried: Madisonville Cemetery, Madisonville, Tennessee)​

Mother: Mary “Sarah” Jane Crawford 1796 – 1856
(Buried: Madisonville Cemetery, Madisonville, Tennessee)​

Wife: Florence Jones Vaughn 1844 – 1896
(Buried: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Thomasville, Georgia)​

Children:

John Crawford Vaughn Jr. 1872 – 1934​
(Buried: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Thomasville, Georgia)​

Education:

1830 – 1841: Attended Bolivar Academy​

Occupation before War:

Served in the Mexican War rising to Captain​
Participated in the California Gold Rush unsuccessful​
Owner of Hotel and Railroad in Sweetwater, Tennessee​
1856 – 1862: Sheriff of Monroe County, Tennessee​

Civil War Career:

1861: Recruited two units in Monroe County, Tennessee​
1861 – 1862: Colonel of 3rd Tennessee Infantry Regiment​
1861: Participated in the skirmish at New Creek​
1861: Participated in the First Battle of Bull Run​
1862: Fought against the Union Army at Scott County, Tennessee​
1862: Participated in the Battle of Tazewell, Tennessee​
1862: Helped to regain control of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee​
1862 – 1865: Brigadier General in the Confederate Army Infantry​
1863: Participated in the Vicksburg, Mississippi Campaign​
1863: Surrendered at Vicksburg, Mississippi​
1863: Participated in the Skirmish at Philadelphia, Tennessee​
1863: Participated in the Knoxville Tennessee Campaign​
1864: Participated in the Skirmish at Bull's Gap, Tennessee​
1865: Escort for President Jefferson F. Davis​
1865: (May 10) Surrendered to the Union Army​

Occupation after War:

1865: Indicted for Treason in Tennessee​
Lived in Thomasville, Georgia​
1871 – 1873: Tennessee State Representative​
1874 – 1875: Lived in Thomasville, Georgia​

Died: September 10, 1875

Place of Death: Thomasville, Georgia

Cause of Death: Meningitis

Age at time of Death: 51 years old

Burial Place: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Thomasville, Georgia
 
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Vaughn is the subject of a very interesting short biography The Last Confederate General (so-called because of his duty escorting Davis on his attempted escape) and this portrait by noted artist Don Troiani called simply General of the Confederacy:

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Before I read that book (and it was a good one) I knew so little about Vaughn. He seemed to be involved in so many of the really great, and important events of the war. He had a very colorful career.
 
The Last Confederate General: John C. Vaughn and His East Tennessee Cavalry by Larry Gordon

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John Crawford Vaughn was one of the most famous men in Tennessee in the mid-nineteenth century. He was the first man to raise an infantry regiment in the state--and one of the very last Confederate generals to surrender. History has not been kind to Vaughn, who finally emerges from the shadows in this absorbing assessment of his life and military career. Making use of recent research and new information, Larry Gordon's biography follows Vaughn to Manassas, Vicksburg and other crucial battles; it shows him as a close friend of Jefferson Davis, and Davis's escort during the final month of the war. And it considers his importance as one of the few Confederate generals to return to Tennessee after Reconstruction, where he became President of the State Senate. Gordon examines Vaughn's (hitherto unknown) location on the field of crucial battles; his multiple wounds; the fact that his wife and family, captured by Union soldiers, were the only family members of a Confederate general incarcerated as hostages during the Civil War; and the effect of this knowledge on his performance as a military commander. Finally, the book is as valuable for its view of this little understood figure as it is for the light it casts on the culture of his day.


From the Wayback Machine...

The Last Confederate General: John C. Vaughn and his East Tennessee Cavalry
By Larry Gordon

John Crawford Vaughn seems to have been just about everywhere during the war, although his military record was not that impressive. This mainly seems to be because he did not have as many resources to work with as the Union did. Vaughn raised the 3rd Tennessee Infantry in Eastern Tennessee at the outbreak of the war. He led the regiment successfully in a small action at Little Creek, in what would be West Virginia. Then his men were part of the force that arrived from the Valley and helped turn the tide at First Manassas. His regiment would return to East Tennessee and win a battle near Cumberland Gap that earned Vaughn a promotion to brigadier general. After that he commanded a brigade of East Tennessee troops: the 60th, 61st and 62nd Tennessee. This force was routed at Big Black River Bridge in the Vicksburg Campaign, with the 60th and 61st surrendering. After the siege Vaughn was sent back to East Tennessee and commanded forces that tried to deal with the local Union guerrillas. Then he suffered through the loss at Piedmont. While he received much blame at the time Gordon argues quite well that the Confederates were outgunned and outmanned and that Vaughn does not deserve much blame for what transpired. After a poor performance cooperating with D.H. Hill at Lynchburg, Vaughn turned in a solid effort in Early's invasion of Maryland. After that campaign he was sent back to East Tennessee and suffered his worst loss at Morristown on Oct. 28, 1864. There his lack of military training showed as he left a superior position, one that protected his flanks, for one that allowed the Union enough space to use their superior numbers to attack those flanks. Vaughn lost four cannon, 85 dead and 225 captured from his force of roughly 2,000. No mention is made of how many wounded he had, but it must have been at least a 100. The Union lost eight killed and 18 wounded. Vaughn performed better when he was leading smaller-scale guerilla style operations in East Tennessee, mostly with cavalry. He earned a reputation as a brutal guerrilla fighter as his men gave no quarter when dealing with bushwhackers, though this was partly because they received no quarter either. At the end of the war Vaughn served for a few weeks as part of Jefferson Davis' party traveling towards Texas. Vaughn is connected to some of the myths of the lost Confederate gold because of this, but no one will ever know the truth of that story. In many respects Vaughn was like most other Confederate generals. He was a capable leader who was neither exceptionally good nor bad at warfare. One part of Vaughn's story that is unique. He was the only general on either side whose family was captured and imprisoned. In July 1864 they were arrested and sent to Jeffersonville, Ind. The Vaughn women were released sometime in September, but Vaughn's father was kept in prison until the war was over. I think Gordon did an admirable job with a tough figure. Vaughn was neither a great general nor a really horrible general. He did a terrible job at Morristown and his defeats at Big Black River Bridge and Piedmont were more the result of his commanders' actions than anything he did. When he commanded small forces in small battles he was quite often successful. He did his best work in East Tennessee and has largely been lost to history. Most buffs have probably seen his name a time or two but do not know much about his whole story. Now they can learn more about this man. It's not a great book or an instant classic, but it is a solid biography of a lesser-known general.

Reviewer:
Nicholas Kurtz

Nicholas Kurtz graduated from the University of Colorado-Denver in 2001 with a B.A. in history. He loves wandering battlefields and is an aspiring author. Although he finds all aspects of the war interesting his primary interest is the Western Theater.


Cheers,
USS ALASKA
 
While serving in the Shenandoah in 1864 parts of Vaughn's command was dismounted and served as infantry. He seems to have taken blame for 'Grumble' Jones' defeat at Piedmont though his degree of responsibility is questionable. Vaughn seems to have performed well at Monocacy and Kernstown, but Ramseur blamed him for underestimating the Federal strength leading to the Confederate defeat st Rutherford's Farm. At the end of July he was disabled by having his foot crushed against a stump and left the Shenandoah to recover.
 
8/27/63 Hqs, Sweet Water, Tenn. John Vaughn to President Davis- Agreeably to your request I write you. On my return from Richmond Gen Bragg ordered parole camps to be established in East Tenn for the seven East Tenn Regts from Vicksburg, but he has now ordered them to Atlanta, which will have a bad influence, as they are not yet exchanged & their homes are threatened. I fear one-half of them will not leave East Tenn.
We are now threatened by the enemy from Ky, but their advance has not yet reached the Tenn line. Gen Bragg has withdrawn his forces south of the Tenn River; no effort of the enemy yet to cross. Gen Buckner has moved all his forces from Knoxville & vicinity south of the Tenn River also, & his Hqs now is at Loudon, 30 miles south of Knoxville. All Gov't stores are being removed from Knoxville. The RR Co's are moving their effects also. A perfect panic exists now in this Dept.
A great many beef-cattle, hogs, & other supplies have been abandoned, & will fall into the hands of the enemy, which could have been saved. I think moves have been made here lately that have done much damage to our cause. Our people are desponding very much. East Tenn should be held at all hazards, as we cannot afford to lose it & its advantages to us in many respects, which I need not enumerate to you. I feel that if we cannot hold East Tenn we cannot hold any State.
There appears to be a general feeling among the soldiers that Buckner & Bragg will fall back. Our army can be reinforced here as well or better than at any other point. An army can be fed here better than at any other point. You need not be surprised to hear of the RR being in the hands of the enemy at any time between London & Wytheville, Va. The Union men about Knoxville & upper East Tenn feel certain that East Tenn will be in Federal hands soon.
I am glad to say that the letter of Mr. Foote is condemned here among Southern men, & he could not get half the vote here today that he did at the time he was elected. A great many murders & robberies are being committed throughout East Tenn by bushwhackers.
I hope that Gen Bragg may be able to defeat the enemy & drive them back. I regret very much that my command is not exchanged so we could help defend our own homes. God, I believe, is with us in our struggle & all will yet be right.

[1st endorsement]: For attention as to rendezvous of Vaughn's Bgde. It would seem to me well to have Vaughn's old Regt restored to his command. J. D.

9/15/63 [2nd endorsement] Gen Cooper submitted to the President. The 3rd Tenn Regt, formerly Vaughn's Regt, is in the Bgde of Stevenson's Div, the Bgde commanded by Col Reynolds. Vaughn's present Bgde, of Stevenson's Div, consists of the 60th, 61st, & 62nd Tenn Regts. These are all the Regts belonging to his Bgde. Reynolds Bgde, Stevenson's Div, consists of 3rd Tenn Vaughn's old Regt & the 31st, 42nd​ [43rd​], & 59th Tenn.

Gregg's Bgde consists of five Tenn & one Texas Regt. I would propose that Vaughn's old Regt, now in Reynolds' Bgde, be transferred to Vaughn's Bgde, & that one of the Tenn Regts in Gregg's Bgde be transferred to Reynolds. Vaughn's Bgde was ordered to reassemble in East Tenn, at such place as Gen Buckner might designate. But if the men have been seized by the enemy & their paroles taken from them, it will prevent their reorganization.

[3rd endorsement] AG: Proposed transfers approved. Let them be ordered to reorganize.
 
In a special order dated July 24, 1864, Major General William T. Sherman ordered the arrest of John Vaughn's wife, Nancy, his three daughters and his father, James Vaughn on charges of corresponding with enemies beyond Federal lines. The family was transported from their home in Sweet Water TN to Nashville and then to Jeffersonville IN were the were imprisoned. By methods unknown arrangements were made for the release of Nancy and the children. They were passed through Confederate lines near Richmond at the end of September. James Vaughn, however, remained in Federal custody until the end of the war.
 
John Crawford Vaughn and the death of "home- grown Yankee", Joe Devine :

Joseph M. Divine

"Affiliation: Union Unit: Third Tennessee Mounted Infantry Regiment Rank: Deputy Provost Marshal
During 1864, Confederate guerilla raids threatened Federal control in East Tennessee. Federals appointed a provost marshal and deputies and formed a regiment to contain Confederate action. Divine served as a deputy provost marshal and organized the Third Tennessee Mounted Infantry Regiment, carrying out strict Federal policies in dealing with Confederate sympathizers. Those who denied allegiance to the Union or gave aid or information to Confederate troops or bushwhackers faced arrest or deportation. Orders came in June 1864 for the deportation of the family of Confederate Gen. John C. Vaughn, setting the stage for vengeful retaliation. Though evidence implicating Divine as the cause of the family's deportation either doesn't exist or is yet undiscovered, Vaughn placed blame squarely on Divine, referring to him as "my personal enemy for many years." Confederate forces in East Tennessee harassed Divine and burned his house. Allegations that Divine used his power to influence court decisions and intimidate citizens made him an unlikable character for Confederates in East Tennessee. This tension continued after Divine and his men mustered out and Federal occupational forces withdrew from Monroe County. A Confederate guerrilla force operated well into 1865, exacting revenge. After the murder of a fellow deputy provost in January 1865, Divine hid in the cellar of Dr. Joseph Upton's house in Madisonville. A detachment of 20 to 30 guerrillas arrived looking for Divine, found his hiding place, and demanded his surrender. Divine killed a man sent to bring him out, and the detachment threatened to burn the house. Upton pleaded with Divine to surrender, promising that Divine would be treated as a prisoner of war, and Divine surrendered. Despite the promise of fair treatment, Divine was forced to run between two horses with ropes around his neck from Madisonville to Good Springs, approximately 20 miles, struck by bayonets and pistols all along the way. As his captors camped, Divine escaped. Five men captured him, beat him to death, and dumped his body in a field. The murder of Joseph Divine is a seminal example of the unmitigated violence and vengeful retaliation in East Tennessee during the war".


John C. Vaughn was reportedly born in the Upton house, where Devine was captured. I had several ancestor/ relatives, including the father of my maternal great-grandmother, that served in the Union 3rd TN Mounted Infantry. Most were rebel deserters.

I also had Confederate ancestor/relatives that served under General Vaughn.

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