April 2, 1865
APRIL 1865
April 1, 1865 - Skirmish at White Oak Creek
No circumstantial reports filed.
April 2, 1865 - Mourning for the Confederacy in McMinnville
Little or no change that we know of in the status of our country's fortunes in the
past few days. We received some papers yesterday. . . but beyond the rumor of
an engagement said to have taken place between Joe Johnston and a portion of
Sherman's forces at Bentonville N. C. in which the Richmond papers claim a
victory for Johnston and all the Yankee press [claim] the same for Sherman. . .
The North is jubilant at the fact (as they regard it,) that the rebellion is at its last
gasp—in desperate and final throes—that this Campaign is to finish it, and the
subjugated South is to bow at their feet entreating Peace and Pardon on any
terms. And God knows it looks that way—our cause seems hopeless enough.
We know that God can help us, if it be His will-that He can and perhaps may
lead us in a way we have not known—and we still must trust Him thro all
things. For my own part I fear we must go down. I cannot see any small clouds
like unto a man's hand upon our horizon, indicating that France will see that
her true interests in Mexico lie in befriending us—nor do I dare to hope that
Lee, great and glorious as he is, can with his little band oppose the two veteran
armies under Sherman and Grant. I long—oh! intensely to see Sherman punished—overwhelmed—annihilated in his arrogance, cruelty and assumption—
yet I may not see it. The great and good Lee may go down before these arrant
pretenders—and if he should it will be a bitter day for us all—God knows. I
have built so much upon the success of the South—it was not wise—it was
perhaps wrong too,-yet it was my last hope of Independence politically and on
independence personally. We all lay our plans, and generally our plans come to
nought. Strange that we should (as it would deem,) so generally set up our will
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 1
April 3, 1865
in opposition to His, whose weak children we are! Ho! Our Father make us
wiser, in submitting all our ways to Thine! Amen and Amen!. . .
War Journal of Lucy Virginia French.
April 3, 1865 - Skirmish at Mount Pleasant
No circumstantial reports filed.
April 4, 1865 - Report on Federal defenses from Knoxville to Cleveland on the way toward
Chattanooga
OFFICE INSPECTOR-GEN. OF FORTIFICATIONS, MILITARY DIVISION
OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Nashville, Tenn., April 4, 1865.
Maj. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS, Cmdg. Mil. Div. of the Miss. West of
Allegheny Mountains:
GEN.: I have the honor to submit the following report of my inspection of the
defense of Knoxville and the line thence to Chattanooga:
Knoxville.-This city, the keep of East Tennessee, is well fortified, and though
the works are not finished they are sufficiently advanced to admit of good
defense against coup de main or siege. The city is situated on the north bank of
the Holston. South of this river two high summits are held by strong redoubts,
finished. The seizure of these hills by an attacking force would render the city
untenable and would seriously, if not fatally, weaken the defense of the line
north of the river. Their occupation by our own forces is essential to the safety
of the city. West of Knoxville the defensive line follows the crest naturally
indicated to Fort Sanders and thence east to Fort Wiltsie. The contour of the
hills east of the city fixes the defensive line there, the prominent points serving
as sites for forts and batteries. Knoxville is mostly covered from the west and
northwest as the ground declines in front of the line. Near the depot a depression in the ridge opens the most populous portion of the place to a fire from the
north. Again the range of hills to the northeast of which Fort Smith is located
covers the city in that direction, as the ground in advance is quite low. Mayberry Hill, however, sees through between Battery Clifton Lee and Fort Fearns,
and would seriously annoy, by distant fire, movements in a part of the city. As
three heavy batteries bear upon this hill its occupation by an enemy would be
very uncomfortable, and light field pieces put in battery there would probably
be silenced. The system of defense, however, would be more complete were
Mayberry Hill and the slightly elevated ground north of the depot occupied
each by a small, strong redoubt with a deep ditch, stockade gorge, and interior
blockhouse. The immediate vicinity of the depot east and west can be floated
by dams across the two streams flowing through the city, rendering an attack
on the front of Knoxville almost an impossibility. Seven inclosed works, eight
batteries, and about two miles of infantry entrenchment constitute the defenses
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 4, 1865
of Knoxville. Fort Byington is an interior work, serving as a keep to the western portion of the line. Fort Sanders, at the apex of this line, is very properly a
bastion work. Forts Smith and Fearns are large works, the former perhaps
unnecessarily so. The latter sees well upon the south bank of the river, and
would assist Fort Lee if attacked from the east and cover the hills slopes
toward the river. These works are generally well constructed with parapet and
embrasure resentments formed of logs set vertically. The ditches are mostly six
feet deep and the scarp difficult. The infantry entrenchments connecting forts
are well flanked by re-entering batteries, and this portion of the line is as strong
as the works themselves with the exception of direct artillery fire. The flank
fire would, however, enable a small number of men to hold the line on the
same principle that a bastion work requires less garrison than a polygonal one
of the same magnitude. The entrenched line has a good command, about seven
feet, sufficient to cover troops passing in the rear. Its parapet is six feet thick,
while the batteries and forts have parapets of twelve feet at least. The lines are
generally well arranged to sweep the ground over which the enemy must
approach. On account of the usual convex sections of hill slopes it is impossible by any simple combination to sweep the approaches to works on elevation
as completely as on level ground, and the steeper the slopes the more difficult
will this problem be of solution. On a portion of the north line the hill slopes
are too abrupt and convex for thorough exposure, but the partial inundation in
front is a great protection to this part of the entrenched line. From Smith to
Wiltsie, a half mile, no infantry entrenchment has been constructed, reliance
being placed upon the water barrier as a defense. It would be a proper precaution to extend the parapet from Wiltsie to the small stream to the right of the
main road, sweeping that road by a two-gun battery. This, however, can readily
be done on the approach of an enemy in force-200 yards of the line toward the
river on the left have not been commenced. Much labor is still required to put
down platforms for the guns, build service magazines, and complete the unfinished embrasures. Those embrasures which look to the front are mostly ready
for service, but many of those intended for sweeping the ground within the
entrenched inclosure are not yet reverted. The following short description
shows the condition of each work and battery:
Fort Fearns: The breast height is entirely reverted, eighteen embrasures finished and fourteen partly reverted. About one-quarter of the parapet should be
raised two feet. The gateway is unfinished; platforms for twenty-nine guns are
required. This fort has a large well-ventilated magazine.
Battery Engle: Finished, except the platforms for eight guns.
Battery Clifton Lee: Requires platforms for twelve guns.
Fort Smith: This work requires one additional traverse, platforms for twentytwo guns, a gate, and large magazine. Four of the embrasures are not quite finished.
Fort Wiltsie: Requires a gate at entrance, a service magazine, and platforms for
its eight guns.
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 3
April 4, 1865
Battery Galpin: Has no platforms for its nine guns.
Battery Zoellner: Requires platforms for its four guns.
Battery Karnasch: Platforms for three guns needed and a few days' labor upon
the parapet.
Battery Elstner: Requires four gun platforms and some labor upon the parapet.
Fort Sanders: This large form of bastion form is intended for twenty-one guns,
the embrasures for which are nearly all finished. The work needs a good magazine and twenty-one platforms. The interior is not excavated deep enough to
give good cover to its defenders. The ditches should be deepened and the scarp
trimmed.
Battery Noble: Finished, excepting platforms for eight guns.
Battery Harker: Is in an unfinished condition. It is intended for five guns. The
parapets and embrasures need revetments.
Fort Byington: Requires a service magazine, gate, and platforms for fifteen
guns.
Forts Dickerson and Lee, south of the Holston, are finished for forty-one guns;
each possesses a good magazine. Infantry parapet connecting forts and batteries is finished excepting a portion 200 yards long on the left of the line. A deep
ditch extends from Battery Clifton Lee to the inundation in front to prevent
surprise in that direction. There is a large magazine by the road passing near
Fort Byington.
The accompanying sketch shows the general character and arrangement of the
forts and batteries just described.NOTE 1
The defensive of Knoxville, commenced by Capt. Poe, Engineer Corps, immediately after its occupation by our army, owes much of its progress to Gen.
Davis Tillson, commanding at this post during the past year. He has evinced
much skill in laying out the connecting lines, and an uncommon energy in their
execution, and it is a pleasure to bring his services in the defense of his post to
the notice of the commanding general. It would require a large army to invest
the city on the north and south banks of the Holston. If the south side is threatened, the garrison, by the aid of Forts Dickerson and Lee with temporary lines,
can hold at bay a large force. It is probable that an attacking force would take
position on the north bank of the river. In this view the inundation would prove
doubly serviceable, protecting a portion of the line and covering the valley to
the north, thus forcing the enemy to confine his attack either to the east or west
front of Knoxville. The garrison therefore will only be required to meet the
attack on a short line, simply watching the other portions of the defenses vigilantly. Hence, though the line from river to river is three miles long, the garrison need not be proportionately large-5,000 infantry with artillerists for service
of the guns will be able to hold the lines against 20,000 men. The works are
designed for 192 guns; 100 will suffice for the ordinary garrison, for should the
Page 4 — April 1865
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 4, 1865
city be threatened by an approaching army, it will doubtless be re-enforced in
time by an army with its material. The garrison of Knoxville can complete the
defensive line so nearly finished, and keep it in order, commencing no new
work.
Loudon.-At this place the railroad from Chattanooga to Knoxville crosses the
Tennessee. The preservation of the bridge across the river is necessary for supplying the forces of East Tennessee. For this purpose three redoubts on the
south bank and one on the opposite side with a stockade at the north abutment,
have been constructed. These defenses of weak profile and without blockhouse keeps have thus far protected the bridge. It is not advisable now to
strengthen them. Loudon, distant but twenty-eight miles from Knoxville, has
doubtless been indirectly covered by the large garrison of that city; besides its
insular position has only exposed it to attack from raiding parties. For the want
of a map prepared from survey I attach a sketch showing approximately the
relative positions of the railroad bridge and the redoubts defending it.NOTE 2
The railroad bridge is 1,670 feet long.
Charleston.-One small redoubt and two two story block houses defend this
position and protect the railroad bridge over the Hiawassee. The redoubts, as
built, adds little strength to the defenses, being little more than a cover to the
garrison within. A well-constructed redoubt, with an interior keep, and having
a deep, ditch with a difficult scarp and exterior obstacles, may force a division
one even a corps to the delay of a siege. Without these accessories it is little
better than a rifle-pit, and will inevitably yield to a superior attacking force. A
block house is a much better defense than these little redoubts of weak profile.
The two block-houses, one at each end of the Hiawassee bridge, have doubtless prevented raiding parties of the enemy from attempting its destruction.
Charleston is but forty-two miles distant from Chattanooga and could receive
assistance from the garrison of that depot if required. Its defenses, however,
have proved quite sufficient against raiding parties. The bridges at Loudon and
Charleston, though very important to East Tennessee, had no bearing upon the
Atlanta campaign. The motive for their destruction seems to have been insufficient to cause any serious attack upon them; besides Knoxville could be supplied by the river, if necessary. The rough sketch annexed, for want of an
accurate map, shows the defensive works at Charleston.NOTE 3 The railroad
bridge is 500 feet long.
Cleveland.-This town is situated at the junction of the railroad to Dalton with
that to Chattanooga, and is thirty miles distant from the latter city. The regiment that garrisoned this place built there two small redoubts; one about a mile
the other half a mile distant from the town. When these defenses were constructed Cleveland possessed more military importance than at present. Now
one little redoubt or a double-cased block-house will be sufficient to control
the position.NOTE 4
Tyner's Station.-At this place, nine miles from Chattanooga, there is a small
redoubt. The position is unimportant.
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 5
April 5, 1865
Dalton Railroad Junction.-Six miles from Chattanooga, where the road to Dalton branches from the road to Knoxville, is an important trestle-work. This is
securely protected by two block-houses. The railroad and telegraph stations
and water-tanks between Loudon and Chattanooga would be best protected by
block-houses, as the cheapest and most efficient defense. They require but a
few men for garrison, and are impregnable to infantry and will resist a long
cannonade from field pieces. It is not, however, advisable to make any changes
in the defenses from Knoxville to Chattanooga.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Z. B. TOWER, Brig. Gen. and Insp. Gen. of Fortifications, Mil. Div. of the
Miss.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, pp. 213-216.
NOTE 1: See Plate CXI, Map 5, of the Atlas.
NOTE 2: Plate CXI, Map 15, of the Atlas.
NOTE 3: See Plate CXI, Map 15, of the Atlas.
NOTE 4: For a sketch, see Plate CXI, Map 4, of the Atlas.
April 5, 1865 - Confederate evacuation of and Federal occupation and fortification of
TaylorsvilleNOTE 1
No circumstantial reports filed.
Excerpt from the Report of Brigadier-General Davis Tilson, U. S. Army, commanding Fourth Division, Department of the Cumberland, of Operations
March 22-May 16, 1865.
GEN.: In compliance with instructions from Maj.-Gen. Stoneman, who
directed me when no longer able to communicate with him to report to the
major-general commanding the department, I have the honor to state that my
command reached and encamped at the mouth of Roan Creek, Tenn., on morning of the 4th instant. On the 5th one battalion First U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery, 420 men, and the Fourth Tennessee Infantry, 544 men, under command of
Maj. Gray, First U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery, moved to Taylorsville, Tenn.
Maj. Gray encamped the battalion of his regiment and two companies of the
Fourth Tennessee Infantry at the cross-roads two miles southeast of the town,
and Maj. with the remainder of his regiment encamped at Taylorsville, which
had been hastily evacuated a few hours before our arrival by the enemy, 250
strong, under Col. Prentice, C. S. Army.
~~~
At all the points mentioned I examined the ground, located gave particular
instructions for building rough but formidable field-works, and directed the
Page 6 — April 1865
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 6, 1865
commanding officer to gather in as large a supply as practicable of subsistence
and forage. At Taylorsville advantage was taken of the court-house and other
buildings for defensive purposes. This camp is also being rapidly entrenched.
~~~
DAVIS TILSON, Brigadier-General Commanding Division
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. I, p. 337.
NOTE 1: Taylorsville was renamed Mountain City in 1886.
April 5, 1865 - "They killed old Dr. Simon. . . " an entry from the journal of Amanda
McDowell
The Rebels have been cutting up again. They killed old Dr. Simon, an old free
negro, or mulatto rather. A very respectable and intelligent old man considering the estimation in which darkies are held, but so far as we know perfectly
harmless and innocent of anything that could be imputed to him as a crime. I
tremble for the men that are still left, for some who have never thought of danger will perhaps be the next to fall. I wish we were safe out of the country, but
perhaps a safe place would be hard to find.
Diary of Amanda McDowell.
April 5, 1865 - The Fate of the Confederacy and the Faith of a Confederate woman in East
Tennessee
Mysterious it is to me why God permitted such a sad calamity to befall our
South. Why He permitted the noblest blood of the South to be sacrificed for the
bondage of the noble race. Many a bitter tear and sad regret has the termination
of this unhappy ending caused me.—unjust as I would deem it, if I did not
believe God had decreed it thus.
Diary of Myra Adelaide Inman.
April 6, 1865 - April 12, 1865 - Reaction, Denial and Despondency in Knoxville. Confederate
Lizzie Welcker's reaction to the sudden end of the war
April 6, 1865, The "niggers" are all—men, women and children—out today
with the 'star spangled banner' celebrating their freedom. . . When—when—
when will we be delivered?
April 7, 1865. The "news" today is that Gen. Lee has surrendered! L-a-u-g-h!!!
I feel certain (although we can't know where Gen L is) that he is in the right
place and that he and his gallant soldiers will "act well their parts"—God bless!
God revere them all!
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 7
April 7, 1865
April 12, 1865. . . Altho I feel dreadfully—my brain seems paralysed—I can
but hope that "things are not what they seem."
Lizzie Welcker Diary.NOTE 1
NOTE 1: As cited in William A. Strasser, Jr., '"Our Women Played Well Their Parts":
Confederate Women in Civil War East Tennessee,' Tennessee Historical
Quarterly, Vol. LIX, Summer 2000, Number 2, p.100, as cited from the Lizzie Welcker Diary, McClung Collection, Knoxville Tennessee.
April 7, 1865 - Report of Provost Marshal Major A. W. Billings on organization of home
guard companies in Middle Tennessee
•See April 9, 1865--Clarification on orders to organize Home Guards in Middle Tennessee
HDQRS. FIRST SUB-DISTRICT OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE, OFFICE PROVOST-MARSHAL, Tullahoma, Tenn., April 7, 1865.
Maj.-Gen. MILROY, Cmdg. First Sub-District of Middle Tennessee:
GEN.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the organization and
operations of the home-guard companies in the counties embraced in your
command: In nearly each district of the counties of Coffee, Lincoln, Bedford,
Franklin, Marshall, Grundy, Warren, and Cannon, there are from one to two,
sometimes three, companies formed. Their workings, as shown by reports and
by the great decrease of marauders, guerrillas, and the many small parties of
robbers who formerly infested these counties, is most admirable. In the counties of Bedford, Coffee, Lincoln, and that portion of Franklin where they are
organized, those terrors and pests of the country have entirely dispersed. The
home guards have through their company courts settled fairly, justly, and amicably many claims which have been brought to me as provost-marshal and
referred to said courts for adjuration. The workings of the court I find generally
restores to a great extent that good feeling and amity so essential to the welfare
of a united people. Aside from this the people or home guards have rallied to
the assistance of some of our troops, and aided and assisted in driving and killing the guerrillas, by whom our troops were at times repulsed. They have also
had encounters with the guerrillas or horse thieves by themselves, in which
they acted nobly, capturing [or] killing several guerrillas, one a noted captain,
losing several of their own men in the encounter, capturing some seven horses
in one instance and several in others. All the horses and other property captured have been returned to their original owners on proof of property adduced
before the home-guard company court. They have arrested and brought to justice four Federal soldiers, two of them deserters from the Nineteenth Regulars,
who had exchanged clothing with citizens and were endeavoring to escape.
The two other had gone about the country exchanging horses with whom they
pleased, and doing about as they pleased. These men otherwise would in all
probability [have] escaped. In no instance can I learn of a single outrage or
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 7, 1865
theft committed by members such organization. They have so rid the country,
where organized, as to render it comparatively safe for Federal soldiers to pass
through by themselves. You are aware that the officers have been selected with
an eye single to their loyalty, competency, and reliability.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. W. BILLINGS, Maj. and Provost-Marshal.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, pp. 292-293.
April 7, 1865 - Report of Surg. George E. Cooper, U. S. Army, Medical Director, Department
of the Cumberland relative to Hood's Campaign in Tennessee
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, MEDICAL DIRECTOR'S OFFICE, Nashville, Tenn., April 7, 1865.
SIR: My report of the medical department of the Army of the Cumberland
from the time of the invasion of Northern Alabama and Tennessee by the rebel
army under Gen. Hood till the defeat of the same by the Government forces in
front of Nashville, and the pursuit thereof to beyond the Tennessee river, must
be a meager and unsatisfactory one in consequence of my having been separated from the army, and not having myself been in active campaign with it
until after the battle of Franklin, Tenn., when it presented itself in the defenses
of Nashville. The proceedings of the medical corps are, however, exceedingly
well pointed out in the accompanying report of Surg. J. Theo. Heard, medical
director Fourth Army Corps, who in person accompanied that corps-all that
was left as an organized force of the old Army of the Cumberland, the Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps having been taken by Maj.-Gen. Sherman to form
a portion of the army with which he made the great raid through Georgia.
At the time of evacuating Atlanta the corps hospitals of the Army of the Cumberland were, as they had been in the summer campaign, fully organized and
equipped, and were ready to move at a moment's notice. The general field hospital, under the charge of Surg. M. C. Woodworth, was in fine condition and of
sufficient capacity to receive all the sick and wounded of the army, who, on the
breaking up of the division hospitals, might require medical treatment. Supplies of all kinds had been called for and procured by the field medical purveyor, and the army corps were amply and liberally supplied. The ambulances,
which had been greatly used during the summer campaign, were repaired and
put in as serviceable condition as the time and material on hand would admit
of. When the rebel army feel upon the line of railroad at our rear the inconvenience suffered therefrom was, as far as the medical department was concerned, in reality nothing. The only article which ran short was whisky, and
this was procured in ample quantities from the subsistence department. The
quality, though not equal to that furnished by the medical department, was
good enough for all practicable purposes.
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 9
April 7, 1865
The Fourth and Fourteenth Army Corps, having been detailed to follow Hood's
army to the rear, the sick from their division hospitals were transferred to the
general field hospital, where they were cared for as well as could be wished
for, and the troops left Atlanta entirely disencumbered with sick or wounded
men. What occurred from that time till the last days of November, 1864, is
known to me by hearsay only and from reading the reports furnished these
headquarters. For this information I refer to the excellent report of Surgeon
Heard, medical director, Fourth Army Corps, who, having been one of that little band who held the whole rebel army in check from Decatur, Ala., to Nashville, Tenn., is far more competent to make the report than I. Synchronous with
my arrival at Nashville from Atlanta and Chattanooga came reports of the falling back of our army from Pulaski, Tenn., and of heavy and continuous skirmishing with Hood's advance. On the 30th of November came the news that a
severe action had taken place near Franklin, Tenn., and that our losses in both
killed and wounded had been heavy. The medical director of the Fourth Army
Corps was immediately telegraphed to and asked if he required a hospital train,
and early next morning hospital train No. 2., was sent to Brentwood, between
Nashville and Franklin. On the night of November 30 two freight trains loaded
with wounded from skirmishes beyond Franklin, and which had been brought
to that place in ambulances, arrived here. The wounded were transferred to the
general hospitals here, and were promptly and skillfully cared for by the medical officers there on duty.
On the following day the troops arrived from Franklin, bringing with them
quite a number of wounded, but having, unfortunately, been compelled to leave
by far the greater portion in the hands of the enemy. Almost at the same time
came the troops commanded by Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith. These troops were deficient in almost everything belonging to the hospital department; they had no
organized ambulance corps or trains; there was no division or brigade organization of hospitals, but were as they had been from the beginning of the war,
and seemed to have learned nothing from experience or the example of others,
and opposed every improvement as an innovation. They had but few medical
supplies, and were wanting in almost everything which would aid them in alleviating the sufferings of the sick and wounded of their commands. It became
necessary to fit them out with all possible dispatch, which was done; and
thanks are due to Surg. Robert Fletcher, U. S. Volunteers, medical purveyor,
for his energy, efficiency, and promptness in this emergency. No one could
have performed the duties of purveyor in a manner more creditable to himself
or with greater benefit to the Government.
As soon as the troops arrived in front of Nashville they were placed in the lines
and were compelled to throw up intrenchments. They were much prostrated by
their constant harassing night and day marches from the Tennessee River to
Nashville; but, notwithstanding this, in a short time, by constant and severe
labor, works were thrown up which rendered Nashville impregnable. As the
army was short of men, it became necessary to call to the aid of the beleaguered city all the troops within call. Consequently, the different detachments
Page 10 — April 1865
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 7, 1865
of the army which left Atlanta with Gen. Sherman, and had remained behind,
in hospitals and otherwise, were organized into a temporary corps under the
command of Maj.-Gen. Steedman. This extemporized corps was without any
organization whatever, and to it was attached the regiments of colored troops.
It is impossible for me to learn if these troops consider themselves a part and
parcel of the Army of the Cumberland, or a separate command made for Col.
Mussey. I should judge them to be out of the department did I take the attention
they pay to the existence of this office as a criterion. They are more irregular in
forwarding their reports than any regiments in the Army of the Cumberland.
The weather, which, previous to the arrival of the troops, had been moderate,
became, shortly after their arrival at Nashville, excessively cold for this latitude. The result of this was much suffering on the part of the troops and the
comparative cessation of all offensive measures on the part of either army. At
this time the result of the fatigue undergone by the troops in the retreat from
Decatur and the subsequent labor in the trenches began to show themselves in
the greatly increased number of men who presented themselves for medical
treatment. Many, too, who had without detriment to their health undergone all
the hardships of the summer and fall campaign, now yielded to the effects of
the bitter cold, and diseases of the pulmonary viscera became numerous. Rheumatic affections, too, became quite prevalent. The advent of the rebel army in
front of Nashville, and the fact of entrenching itself, rendered the necessity of a
general action a moral certainty. To prepare for the sick and wounded of the
Government forces demanded a much larger amount of hospital accommodation than was at that time at the disposal of the hospital department. Anticipating a large influx of wounded, the efficient superintendent and director of U. S.
general hospitals at Nashville took possession of every building that could be
made use of for hospital purposes and had them fitted up with all possible dispatch. Consequently, some 4,000 vacant beds were at the disposal of the medical department. The Assistant Surgeon-Gen., too, anticipating the necessity,
ordered to Nashville a large number of medical officers, of whom many arrived
proper to the actions and all in sufficient time to be of the greatest service to
the wounded in the battles in front of Nashville. The medical officers of the
Fourth Army Corps, being emphatically experts in the care of the wounded
after battle, had everything prepared of prompt and efficient action. They had
supplied themselves with all the necessaries, and, in addition, had procured all
the delicacies within their reach. The result was that after the actions of 15th
and 16th of December the men belonging to the Fourth Army Corps, and all
who were brought to the field hospitals of that corps, were promptly and skillfully treated and most carefully provided for. Too much praise cannot be
awarded to the medical staff of the Fourth Army Corps for their untiring attention and skillful manner of treating the wounded in their division hospitals.
Were it not invidious to designate and particularize by name certain officers
when all are worthy, I would give a list of the medical officers who so faithfully performed their duty. This I will not do, but justice to themselves
demands that I should mention and particularize Surgs. M. G. Sherman, Ninth
Indiana Volunteers; Stephen J. Young, Seventy-ninth Illinois Volunteers; E. B.
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 11
April 7, 1865
Glick, Fortieth Indiana Volunteers, and C. N. Ellinwood, Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteers, as men deserving of more than ordinary notice. Previous to the
battles instructions had been given to the surgeons in charge to establish division field hospitals as near to the field as practicable, and strict orders were
issued directing the surgeons to operate on the field upon all requiring it, previous to transferring the men to the general hospitals in the city.
The weather, which had entirely stopped all offensive military operations, having moderated considerably, the army on the morning of December 15
marched out beyond the fortifications for the purpose of assaulting the enemy's
lines. The medical department of the Army of the Cumberland proper were
prepared to attend to any number of wounded brought in to them from the
field, and established their hospitals as near the front as the safety of the
wounded and the configuration of the country would admit of. Water being
quite plenty, position only had to be sought for. The extemporized corps, commanded by Maj.-Gen. Steedman, had no organized medical staff. This was
composed of all the surgeons who could be found unattached, in consequence
of being on leave of observe or having been separated from their regiments
which had marched from Atlanta with Maj.-Gen. Sherman. To these were
added the medical officers of the U. S. Colored Troops. This portion of the
medical staff was under the charge of Surg. Josiah D. Cotton, Ninety-second
Ohio Volunteers, who acted as medical director. Though hastily brought
together and lacking in all the appurtenances for field hospitals, the medical
officers of this command did all in their power to assist and relieve the
wounded under their charge. The only great drawback to prompt action in this
portion of the army was the entire absence of an ambulance corps. The blockade of the Cumberland River by the rebel batteries had prevented the quartermaster's department from bringing a sufficient number to Nashville. To avoid
the want of ambulances as much as possible, every one that could be found in
Nashville, no matter in what capacity used, was taken possession of and sent
into the field, to be used as circumstances might demand. This, in a meander,
served in the place of an ambulance corps, but the want of system and organization was most apparent. The soldiery wounded in the action of the 15th of
December were, on the same night, brought into the city and placed in the U. S.
general hospitals, where every necessary attention was paid them. Such as had
not been operated upon were then examined, and such measures were taken as
their cases demanded. The wounded in the action of the 16th of December,
1864, were also brought in and placed in the general hospitals. Some were
brought in by ambulances of the corps and some by vehicles, which had been
impressed for that purpose. Surg. O. Q. Herrick, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteers, superintendent of transportation of sick and wounded, made use of all
available means to remove from the field each and every wounded man found
there. This was a matter of no little labor, for the scene covered several miles,
and wounded men were in every portion of it, and the cavalry wounded even
farther distant; yet, by midday of the 17th of December all our wounded were
in comfortable hospitals, the recipients of every attention that skill and science
could furnish. The pursuit of the enemy entailed, as a necessary consequence,
Page 12 — April 1865
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 7, 1865
much more labor in the care of the wounded. The railroads were destroyed, and
all the wounded had to be transferred by means of ambulances to the hospitals
at Franklin, Columbia, and Pulaski. This was done under the supervision of
Surg. O. Q. Herrick; and too much praise cannot be given him from his untiring energy and labor in collecting and bringing in from the houses in the vicinity of the line of march the wounded of our own and the rebel army. The
cavalry in advance paid but little attention to their wounded, but left them in
houses by the roadside, to be cared for by the surgeons of the infantry troops
who were following. The Fourth Army Corps carried with them the sick and
wounded in ambulances until they arrived where proper hospital accommodations could be furnished. The Sixteenth and Twenty-third Army Corps, not
being in the advance, had no wounded to care for.
In Franklin, Columbia, and Pulaski a large number of rebel wounded were
found who had been left by their army. A sufficient number of medical officers
had been left with them to give them proper attention. These wounded were, as
soon as practicable, transferred in hospital cars to Nashville, where they were
placed in one large hospital. The medical officer in charge was directed to furnish them all necessaries and such luxuries as the condition of their wounds
required. This was done until the arrival of the Commissary-Gen. of Prisoners,
who directed that the wounded rebels should be confined to prison hospital
rations. I do not think that it is the intention of the Government to deprive
wounded men, rebels though they be, of everything needful for their treatment.
Prison hospitals being at a distance from the front, it was not expected that
wounded me would be brought there till sufficiently well to travel, when died
would be but a matter of minor import. No surgeon can give good results if he
be not allowed to use every article called for by sinking nature and to treat disease untrammeled by orders from non-professional men.
The wounded of our armies who were left at Franklin, Columbia, and Pulaski
had medical officers detailed to remain with them until the railroad should
have been repaired, when those who could bear transportation were to be
removed to Nashville. The necessary supplies were left with the sick and
wounded as far as was practicable, but not in such abundance as would have
been furnished had the railroad been intact.
The weather during the pursuit was of the most disagreeable character. Rain
fell for four successive days, and when this ceased the weather grew severely
cold. This was followed by rain, rain, rain, and as a sequence mud. Probably in
no part of the war have the men suffered more from inclement weather than in
the month of December, 1864, when following Hood's retreating army from
Nashville to the Tennessee River. The result of this weather and the hard
marching was, as might have been looked for, severe affections of the pulmonary viscera, fevers, rheumatism, and diarrheas, which served to fill the hospitals in this vicinity to their utmost capacity.
The number of men wounded in the actions in front of Nashville will never be
correctly furnished, in consequence of the character of some of the troops
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 13
April 8, 1865
engaged and their having no organized medical department. The records of this
office, as far as furnished, show for the actions from Decatur to Nashville, 402
wounded; in front of Nashville and during the pursuit of the rebels, 1,717
wounded. The wounds were caused by musketry, throwing conoidal projectiles, and by artillery of the latest and most approved character. The wounds
were received at all distances, from contact with the muzzle of the piece to the
extreme range of artillery and musketry. The character of many of the wounds
were of the most severe kind, having been received at short range, consequent
upon the peculiarity of the battle, which was a series of charges upon heavily
fortified lines held by strong forces of the enemy.
The medical officers of the Army of the Cumberland did in this campaign all
that men could do to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded soldiery, and have
only added to the envious reputation gained by them on many a former battlefield. They are skillful, zealous, untiring, and faithful, knowing their whole
duty and doing it most conscientiously. The medical officers of Sixteenth
Corps did their duty well and faithfully, but want of systematic organization
crippled their movements most perceptibly.
I will transmit the nominal list of wounded as soon as it can be made out; it will
be defective in the Cavalry Corps and in those troops commanded by Maj.Gen. Steedman.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. E. COOPER, Surg., U. S. Army, Medical Director, Dept. of the Cumberland.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 45, pt. I, pp. 107-112.
April 8, 1865 - A new hat for a Bolivar school girl
. . . I'm going to get a new hat this month, for the first time in three years. That
is a Summer hat, got a winter hat last Winter and I am really ashamed to think
of the cost, however it was $15.00, about one of the cheapest. Received a letter
from Brother Jimmie a day or two ago. He is again in bad health, unfit for field
service. . .
Diary of Sally Wendel Fentress.
April 9, 1865 - Lee surrenders to Grant, Appomattox Court House, VA
April 9, 1865 - Depredations committed by bushwhackers on Sugar Creek, and Wayland
Springs
HDQRS. SIXTH DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, MILITARY DIVISION, OF
THE MISSISSIPPI, Pulaski, Tenn., April 21, 1865.
Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE, Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Department of the
Cumberland:
Page 14 — April 1865
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 9, 1865
I have the honor to invite the attention of the major-general commanding to the
following statement of facts, submitted to me by a citizen, in whom I believe
reliance may be placed: On Sunday, the 9th instant, three soldiers, Brewer, and
Kiddy by name, with two Confederates, who would not show themselves, and
cannot therefore be identified, belonging to a company of the Second Tennessee Mounted Infantry which is stationed at Clifton, came to the house of Mr.
William Johnson, living on Sugar Creek, some eighteen or twenty miles southwest of this place, and demanded of his wife, he not being at home, $12,000
She told them she had no money, when they hung her and her daughter several
times, completing their diabolical work by each of them outraging the person
of Mrs. Johnson. From Johnson's house these men went to the house of John.
D. Wade, Johnson's brother-in law, living in the same neighborhood, and by the
same process of hanging and threats extracted $50 from him. From Wade's the
scoundrels went to P. P. Powell's, where they repeated the operation of hanging
upon him. From Powell's they went to John Guest's, whom they beat nearly to
death, and upon his entreating one of them by name to spare his life they, finding they were known, killed him; three shots were put into his body. From
Powell's they went to Dr. James McDougal's, at Wayland's Spring; the doctor
being absent, they demanded money of Mrs. McDougal, who gave them all she
had, and they left, and are supposed to have gone back to Clifton. The full
names of these outlaws as given me are Thomas Brewer, Wall Stutts, and Thomas Kiddy. It is stated to me that Lieut. James J. Brombley, of the company or
command at Clifton, knows all of these soldiers and all of the witnesses by
whom the facts can be proven, and that he discountenances, and so far as he
may, represses all such proceedings. He is suggested as a proper person to be
placed in charge of the investigation of the matter and the arrest of the offenders. The facts above recited can, I am informed, be established by the following
witnesses: William Johnson, wife, and daughter, heretofore residing on Sugar
Creek, in Wayne County, but now moving to Bedford County, between Cornersville and Shelbyville; John D. Wade, William Danley, John McClearin,
James Guest (or Gest), son of the murdered man, Richard Olive, John Wash.
Brewer, William Brewer, commonly called Budd Brewer; all living in the
neighborhood in which these outrages were committed.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. W. JOHNSON, Brig.-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, pp. 427-428.
April 9, 1865 - Clarification on orders to organize Home Guards in Middle Tennessee
•See April 7, 1865--Report of Provost Marshal Major A. W. Billings on organization of home guard companies in Middle Tennessee
HDQRS. FIRST SUB-DISTRICT OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE,
Tullahoma, Tenn., April 9, 1865.
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 15
April 9, 1865
Maj. B. H. POLK, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.:
MAJ.: Upon my return from Nashville I found here two directory orders from
you relative to home guards; one was an indorsement on an anonymous letter
from Franklin County to Maj.-Gen. Rousseau without signature of any kind,
but purporting to come from citizens of that county, complaining of my order
requiring all citizens to enroll themselves into home-guards companies for
self-defense. The indorsed order directs me to have only those enrolled that are
within the military age. The other order directs me to disband all the homeguard companies that have been formed in the different counties named in my
order, a copy of which is inclosed and also a copy of instructions to officers of
such companies. Feeling very sure that these two orders were given under a
total misapprehension of facts, and that the very best interest of our cause and
of the peace and safety of the people of the counties named in the order, who
are now nearly all organized into home-guard companies, requires that the
organization of those companies should be maintained until the militia can be
enrolled, organized, and officered, and as there is emergency in the matter, I
have ventured, without any intention of disobeying orders, to state a few facts
for the information of the major-general commanding District of Middle Tennessee, knowing that from his warm-hearted patriotism he would be the last
man to knowingly issue an order that would be in any way injurious to our
cause. As to the first order indorsed on that anonymous letter, my provost-marshal has made diligent inquiry from the leading citizens of Franklin County,
and all that have been inquired of repudiate that letter and say that it does not
express the sentiments or wishes of half a dozen men of that county—there
being nearly a unanimous feeling in favor of the home-guard companies, by
which they have been enabled to rid their county of guerrillas, thieves, and robbers, and now feel more freed from apprehension and terror of lawless men
than at any time since the beginning of the war. From the best information that
anonymous letter was written by an old hypocritical traitor by the name of
Smith, who is a vindictive rebel and has been harboring bushwhackers, and of
course is opposed to home guards and every other forcible means for the restoration of law and order and the supremacy of the Government. With all due
deference, I do not think that reasons against my order from such a source
should have been heard without at least giving me a hearing before striking. As
to the order requiring men only to be enrolled in the home guard companies
who are within the military age: My reasons for requiring all boys over fourteen to be enrolled is that I have found many of the very worst bushwhackers
between the ages of fourteen and eighteen, and have found that boys between
those ages are much more liable to be seduced away among bushwhackers than
those over eighteen; and, by having them enrolled and committed to the home
guard, they would not be in danger of being so seduced.
My reasons for requiring all men over the military age to enroll themselves in
the home-guard companies of their respective neighborhoods, was not that
they should be called on for active duty in hunting thieves and bushwhackers,
but that all the men of every neighborhood should be required to commit them-
Page 16 — April 1865
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 10, 1865
selves against thieves, robbers, and guerrillas and in favor of law and order.
The old men by giving their influence, sending information, assisting to settle
neighborhood difficulties in their companies, courts, &c., can be of invaluable
service to their companies. As to the order disbanding these companies which I
have been at so much labor to organize, I would respectfully refer the majorgeneral commanding in the first place to a copy of a report from my provostmarshal inclosed, stating some of the services rendered by these companies.
They are not intended as military organizations in the full sense of that term, by
any means, as they are not required to drill; they are not required to go out of
their own neighborhoods, except in chase of marauders; they are not required
to leave their houses or their schools, except when called on by their officers to
defend themselves against thieves, robbers, and guerrillas. My order simply
requires each neighborhood to organize themselves for their own safety against
thieves, robbers, and cut-throats, and they have done it most efficiently. They
have in many instances united with my scouting parties, furnished them
guides, accompanied and assisted them against guerrillas. They have frequently, without any assistance from the military, pursued bands of thieves and
bushwhackers for days, armed with shotguns and squirrel rifles, fought with
them, whipped them, recaptured stolen horses and other property, and have
killed, captured, and handed over or driven out these lawless men from their
neighborhood. They know their haunts and have broken them up. In short, they
have made themselves the open, active enemies of guerrillas, are openly committed against them; and to disband these companies now before the militia are
enrolled, organized, and officered would be to throw them into the hands of
these exasperated cut-throats. I am very sure that the major-general commanding does not desire to occasion such a calamity to the people of the counties
surrounding this post, who have been trying, under my order, to restore law
and order and protect themselves. There being no civil officers of law in force
on any of the counties named in my order except Bedford, the disbanding of
the companies would be a calamity, for the loss of the company courts of nothing else, as by these courts the people are enabled to settle all neighborhood
difficulties and save the military a world of trouble, as we were formerly troubled by hundreds of complaints that are now settled by the company courts. I
therefore respectfully ask that the order disabling the home guards be suspended till the militia are enrolled, organized, and officered and civil law
restored. A petition asking this would, if circulated, be almost unanimously
signed by the people of the counties named, as I am well assured.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
R. H. MILROY, Maj.-Gen. of Volunteers.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, pp. 291-292.
April 10, 1865 - Negroes escorted by Federal cavalry from Virginia to East Tennessee
Excerpt from the Report of Brig. Gen. Alvan C. Gillem, U. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Division, District of East Tennessee, of operations in the
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 17
April 10, 1865
Expedition from East Tennessee into Southwestern Virginia and Western North
Carolina, March 21-April 25, relative to escort of Negroes from Virginia to
East Tennessee, April 10, 1865:
On the 10th [of April] we moved south, arriving at Germantown at 12 m. The
number of negroes who were following the column had increased to such an
extent as to endanger the safety of the command in case it should become
closely engaged with the enemy. Several hundred were sent from this point to
East Tennessee under a sufficient guard for their protection. They all reached
their destination in safety, and most of those fit for military service, I have
since learned, are now in Col. Bartlett's One hundred and nineteenth, U. S. Colored Troops.
~~~
ALVAN C. GILLEM, Brig.-Gen., U. S. Volunteers, Cmdg. Division.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. I, p. 332.
April 10, 1865 - Thirty-six gun salutes ordered in Knoxville to observe Lee's surrender
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 22. HDQRS. DISTRICT OF EAST TENNESSEE,
Knoxville, Tenn., April 10, 1865.
Semi-official information having been received at these headquarters of the
surrender of Lee and his army to Lieut.-Gen. Grant, it is hereby ordered that a
salute of thirty-six guns be fired from each fort and battery in this district.
By command of Maj.-Gen. Stoneman:
H. G. GIBSON, Col. Second Ohio Heavy Artillery and Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 368.
April 10, 1865 - April 15, 1865 - Guerrillas attack St. Paul, Anna Everton, Sylph along
Hatchie River
•See April 16, 1865--Burning of Federal steamer St. Paul in the Hatchie River, Tenn.
Excerpt from the report of the Captain of the St. Paul relative to guerrilla
attacks, April 10-15, 1865, on the St. Paul, Anna Everton, and the Sylph on
Hatchie River:
~~~
On Monday, the 10th instant, Lieutenant. . . Luxton, who claimed to belong to
Bill Forrest's command, and a half-brother of General Forrest, with 6 men,
came on the steamer St. Paul at Brownsville Landing' said they had gone down
on the Elwood and protected her out. Left Brownsville on Tuesday, the 11th,
stopped at Lowry's Landing, waiting for cotton. They shot one of the deck
hands at Lowry's and he either got overboard himself and swam ashore or they
threw him overboard. On Wednesday, the 12th, 6 more men came on board
Page 18 — April 1865
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 11, 1865
with horses at Lowry's and got off at Bond's Landing; claimed to belong to. . .
[W. C. ] Quantrill's guerrillas. On the 15th met steamer Sylph. . . below Bragg's
Landing in possession of party of about 20 of Quantrill's men. . . took possession of the Anna Everton. . . They put the freight ashore and tore up the cabin,
bar, etc.; said they intended burning her. Started up the river with her to go to
the Sylph. Said they intended burning both boats. The St. Paul came down to
Morgan's Landing. . . they burned the St. Paul Sunday morning at that point.
~~~
Navy OR, Ser. I, Vol. 27, p. 148.
April 11, 1865 - "EXTRAORDINARY DUPLICITY-CHAPLAIN ALBERT GRIFFITH
BRIBES THE GUARD AND ESCAPES-HIS CAPTURE AND TRIAL."
The first publication of the arrest of Albert Griffith, Chaplain of this post,
charged with purloining soldiers' letters and commissary stores, was made in
the DISPATCH about six weeks ago. Since that time several very exciting incidents in which he was connected, have occurred, and his name has been kept
prominently before public in a very unenviable light. In our issue of Saturday
[8th], we published a startling account of the suicide of the Chaplain by drowning, and, as we supposed at the time, conferred upon him the last sad rites of
sepulture, throwing the mantle of charity over his sacrilegious career as a minister of the gospel, since he his spirit had taken its flight to "that bourne from
whence no traveler (excepting Griffith) returns." It has since transpired that
this arch villain, instead of "drowning his sorrows and shame in the placid
waters of the beautiful Cumberland," succeeded in bribing the guard, who was
an unsophisticated substitute or drafted man, we are not certain which, and
effected his escape. The guard was completely duped by the fascinating and
touching appeals of the recreant Chaplain, and in an evil moment compromised
his honor and duty as a soldier by allowing him to at large. It seems that Griffith, who is evidently an adept in crime, had laid all his plan to successfully
carry out this extraordinary scheme. He left a letter, directed to the Provost
Marshal, in the hands of the guard which purported to be his last will and testament, and fully instructed his dupe how to break the intelligence of his sad fate
to the military authorities, so that no suspicion would be aroused. Accordingly,
the guard hastened to the Provost Marshal, and with a woe-begone countenance, and apparently much agitated, conveyed the tiding of his misfortune in
conducting the prisoner to the place of trial. He told a very plausible story, and
in such a frank and honest manner that not the slightest doubts were entertained of its veracity. His bewildering gaze followed the prisoner to the water's
edge, and after a tremendous leap and plunge, the "sinner sank to rise no
more." He watched for him to come up, but all that was left to tell the sad tale
was the hat of the Chaplain, which majestically floated on the placid waters, as
if nothing had occurred. It all appeared like a dream to the guard, as he beautifully remarked, but this case clearly proves that dreams not unfrequently "go
by the contraries."
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 19
April 11, 1865
But to make a long story short, the guard, and (as novelists would say) follow
the flight and adventures of our hero. Griffith, after successfully accomplishing
this deep-laid scheme, threw himself, as it were, into the very jaws of his enemies. As the sequel will show, this extraordinary sharper, while he conceived
and carried out the most original and astonishing pieced of deception perhaps,
ever practiced in this or any country, nevertheless set the very trap by which he
was re-arrested, and evinced an ignorance which strangely contrasts with the
plan of his escape. He went to the house of man living near the picket lines,
and without any knowledge of his character or proclivities, told him that he
was a Rebel deserter, and being dissatisfied with his lot, desired to return, but
had no pass to get through the lines. He requested the man to go to the Provost
Marshal and procure a pass for him, giving a fictitious name. His new dupe, as
he supposed, consented, but instead of carrying out his instruction, repaired to
the guard at the picket post to whom he related all the circumstances, and his
suspicions as to the character of Griffith. The guard, in company with several
soldiers, returned with the man to his house, and to the utter astonishment of
the wiley Chaplain, he was again placed in the clutches of the law he has outraged. He was conducted to Captain Goodwin's office, but no suspicions were
entertained at this time that he was the veritable, resuscitated Chaplain Griffith.
Indeed, it was believed on every hand that the story of the guard was true.
Upon interrogating him, it leaked to that the prisoner was none other than the
Chaplain, who, it was supposed, had cheated the law, but not the d___l. When
accused, he made a clean breast of it, and confessed the whole affair, at the
same time endeavoring to exculpate the guard, who had, in attempting to give
him his liberty, lost his own. Griffith was placed in close confinement, and the
guard arrested and heavily ironed. When told that the Chaplain had come to
life, he stoutly insisted that he saw him jump in the river and sink, and affected
not to believe anything to the contrary, until confronted by Griffith, when he
"wilted."
Yesterday morning [10th] the case of Chaplain Griffith was called up by the
Civil Commission, and the prisoner produced-a live man with quivering flesh
on his bones, and heated blood coursing his veins-looking, however, haggard
and distressed in body and mind. The trial opened in the morning and occupied
the Court during the day. Judge J. C. Guild appears for the defence. It will be
continued to day, and as this tribunal sits with open doors, the public can gratify their curiosity in hearing this singular case and seeing the prisoner. Griffith
is a small man, with a round and full developed head, indicated more than ordinary intelligence. His countenance is very sanctimonious, but upon close scrutiny it will be observed that he has a keen, piercing blue eye, in which mischief
unmistakably lurks. His forehead in high and recedes, with light hair, inclined
to curl. During the trial, he frequently dictated questions to his counsel in the
examination of witnesses, and apparently watched the proceedings with great
care, availing himself through his counsel of every favorable point that might
rebound to his advantage.
Nashville Dispatch, April 11, 1865.
Page 20 — April 1865
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 12, 1865
April 12, 1865 - SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 95; reorganization of the Memphis Enrolled Militia
SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 95. HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,
Memphis, Tenn., April 12, 1865.
I. The Fourth Regt. Enrolled Militia, Col. W. C. Whitney commanding, and the
Third Regt. Freedmen Enrolled Militia, Col. Henry von Heyde commanding,
and the Railroad Battalion, commanded by Maj. Farrell, are hereby disbanded,
and all ordnance and ordnance stores will be turned over to the U. S. ordnance
officer, and all quartermaster's stores to the depot quartermaster. All persons
enrolled in either of the above regiments who are not Government employes or
in the employ of the city government, will enroll themselves at once in one of
the remaining militia regiments. Quartermasters, commissaries, and other persons employing persons in behalf of the Government or city, will require their
employed to surrender up their militia passes and receive in place certificate
that they are in the employ of the Government.
~~~
By order of Maj. Gen. C. C. Washburn:
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 333.
April 12, 1865 - Restoration of Civil Law
RESTORATION OF CIVIL LAW.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,
NASHVILLE, TENN., April 12, 1865.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 21.-A large portion of Northern Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Western North Carolina being now within the lines of the
Federal army, the Major-General commanding desires to restore the authority
of the civil law in several counties of these States embraced within this department at as early a period as possible.
It is accordingly recommended that all duly authorized Judges, Sheriffs, Commissions, Justices of the Peace, and other officers who may be in those counties, immediately proceed to enter upon and perform the duties of their
respective offices, according to the laws of the State in force at the beginning
of the war as far as it may be found practicable.
Whenever vacancies in country offices exist, it is enjoined upon the loyal people of the neighborhood to hold regular elections and select officers competent
to reorganize the civic courts and uphold the authority of the laws.
Commanding officers of all military districts and posts are directed to protect
the civil authorities as far as may be consistent with the interests of the service,
and to cooperate with them in restoring order.
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 21
April 14, 1865
At the breaking of out of the rebellion against the National Government, the
people of Northern Alabama and Georgia, and Western North Carolina overpowered by the Tide of secession were among the fast to desert the cause of the
Union; and the Commanding General of the Department, confidently hopes
that they will be among the first to return to their allegiance, and assist in the
restoration of peace with enforcement of the law. By command of Major-General Thomas.
New York Times, April 17, 1865
April 14, 1865 - General Orders, No. 43, relative to the lifting of restrictions on the use of
gold in business dealings
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 43. HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,
Memphis, Tenn., April 14, 1865.
Any military restrictions heretofore existing in this district in regard to dealing
in gold are hereby removed, and the same is subject solely to the orders and
regulations of the Treasury Department.
By order of Maj. Gen. C. C. Washburn:
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 356.
April 14, 1865 - Skirmish at Mount Pleasant
No circumstantial reports filed.
April 14, 1865 - A Bolivar school girl grieves for the Confederacy
. . . In spite of my resolution to be always happy, this news has cast such a
damper over my spirits that I am really sick enough to go to bed."Oh, Heaven
my bleeding country save!" Richmond has fallen. General Lee Surrendered
with the whole army. Gens. Fitzhugh Lee and H. P. Hill among the killed. In
vain can we search the history of the world from the beginning to find such
chivalry and heroism as the Southern people have shown during the long and
bloody conflict. Look at Gen. R. E. Lee, J. E. Johnston, N. B. Forrest and all
the other officers and soldiers of the Confederacy. . . Frank got a paper and
read us the despatches between Gens. Lee and Grant. Oh that mine head were
waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep over the fall perhaps of the Confederacy.
Diary of Sally Wendel Fentress.
April 15, 1865 - Anti-guerrilla scout from Shield’s Mills to Allen’s Bridge, East Tennessee
No circumstantial reports filed.
HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, FOURTH ARMY CORPS, Shield's Mills, East
Tenn., April 16, 1865.
Page 22 — April 1865
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 16, 1865
Lieut. Col. J. S. FULLERTON, Asst. Adjt. Gen. and Chief of Staff, Fourth
Army Corps:
Your order to send the teams to assist Tillson is obeyed. Maj. Cox has returned
with the Eighty-fourth Regt. Illinois Infantry. Went to Allen's Bridge, found
nothing, but has reliable information that from 200 to 300 guerrillas have their
camp and place of rendezvous at Newport, on the French road, about twenty
miles from here.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
N. KIMBALL, Brig.-Gen., Cmdg.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 366.
April 15, 1865 - Unsuccessful Federal anti-guerrilla scout to Johnston's and Allen's bridge
over Chucky River
No circumstantial reports filed.
HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, FOURTH ARMY CORPS, Blue Springs,
Tenn., April 16, 1865.
Lieut. Col. J. S. FULLERTON, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Fourth Corps, Greeneville,
Tenn.:
COL.: I have the honor to report that in compliance with the dispatch from the
major-general commanding, dated the 15th, I sent the Twenty-fourth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Maj. MacArthur commanding, accompanied by a sergeant and twelve men of the Eighth Tennessee Cavalry, familiar with the
country and people, to Johnston's and Allen's Bridge, over the Chucky. The
major has reported that five guerrillas of Tulle's band, from Hamilton, Cocke
County, Tenn., were at the bridge on Friday last. The party is said to be camped
at or near Hamilton, and to number from 100 to 200. Johnston's two sons are
said to belong to the band. One of them an officer. Johnston and Allen are represented to be rich rebels. The scout was not successful.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. L. ELLIOTT, Brig.-Gen., U. S. Volunteers, Cmdg.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 366.
April 16, 1865 - Reaction to news of the murder of Abraham Lincoln
Pretty day. Easter Sunday. Mr. Guthrie came over from town this morn,
informed us that Lincoln was shot Friday night at the theatre, died at 7:30
o'clock Saturday morn. Secretary Seward was stabbed whilst in bed, was not
killed. Wilkes Booth was the perpetrator of the deed, assisted by others whose
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 23
April 16, 1865
names as yet are not known. Cannons were fired every half hour at Chattanooga all day. . .
Diary of Myra Adelaide Inman.
April 16, 1865 - Burning of Federal steamer St. Paul in the Hatchie River, Tenn.
Report of Acting Rear-Admiral Lee, U. S. Navy, with enclosures, referring
also to the probable destruction of steamers Sylph and Anna Everton.
FLAGSHIP BLACK HAWK, Mound City, April 20, 1865.
SIR: Acting Master James Fitzpatrick, commanding U. S. S. Siren, reports,
under date of 16th April, the burning of the steamer St. Paul and the capture
and probable burning of the steamers Sylph and Anna Everton by guerrillas, in
the Hatchee River, on the morning of the 16th instant.
Under Major-General Washburn's General Order No. 31, of which I enclosed a
copy, boats have been ascending the Hatchee for trading purposes.
I enclose a copy of Acting Master Fitzpatrick's report.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, yours,
S. P. LEE, Acting Rear-Admiral, Commanding Mississippi Squadron.
Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.
[Enclosures.]
U. S. S. SIREN, Mississippi River, April 16, 1865.
SIR: I have just been informed of the capture and burning of the steamer St.
Paul by a party of guerrillas whilst up the Hatchee River, also of the capture of
the steamers Sylph and Anna Everton. Below please find statement of the captain of the St. Paul:
On Monday, the 10th instant, Lieutenant [Joseph] Luxton, who claims to
belong to Bill Forrest's command, and a half brother of General Forrest, with 6
men, came on the steamer St. Paul at Brownsville Landing; said they had gone
down on the Elwood and protected her out. Left Brownsville on Tuesday, the
11th, stopped at Lowry's Landing, waiting for cotton. They shot one of the
deck hands at Lowry's and he either got overboard himself and swam ashore or
they threw him overboard. On Wednesday, the 12th, 6 more men came on
board with horses at Lowry's and got off at Bond's Landing; claimed to belong
to Lee's company of [W. C. ] Quantrill's guerrillas. On 15th met steamer Sylph
aground below Bragg's Landing in possession of party of about 20 of Quantrill's men. Three miles below, at Bryant's Ferry, another party, about 20 of
Quantrill's men, under Jo. Lee, took possession of the Anna Everton; Jo. Lee
was on board. They put the freight ashore and tore up the cabin, barn, etc.; said
they intended burning her. Started up the river with her to go to the Sylph. Said
they intended burning both boats. The St. Paul came down to Morgan's Landing (which is about 40 miles from the mouth), and they burned the St. Paul
Page 24 — April 1865
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 16, 1865
Sunday morning at that point. Saw citizens who reported seeing smoke from
the other two boats; that they were fired Sunday morning. Quantrill's men captured the Anna Everton and Sylph, and Lieutenant Luxton's men the St. Paul.
Believe this was the real Luxton. He was joined by two or three others at Morgan's Landing. Part of the crew of the Anna Everton came on the St. Paul to
Morgan's Landing.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES FITZPATRICK, Acting Master, Commanding.
Commander A. BRYSON, Comdg. Essex and 8th Dist., U. S. S. Fairy, Mound
City, Ill.
Report of Acting Rear-Admiral Lee, U. S. Navy, transmitting additional report
from the commanding officer of the U. S. S. Siren, showing that the steamers
Sylph and Anna Everton were not destroyed.
FLAGSHIP TEMPEST, Mound City, April 26, 1865.
SIR: Referring to my No. 183, of 20th instant, reporting the destruction of the
steamer St. Paul and the probable destruction of two other steamers by guerrillas in Hatchee River, I enclose a report (copy) from Acting Master Fitzpatrick,
commanding U. S. S. Siren, dated 22d April, respecting an expedition sent by
Brigadier-General [E. D. ] Osband to Brownsville, one column of which captured the guerrilla who has been passing for Luxton, but whose proper name
was Wilcox, who burned the St. Paul. He was immediately hung by General
Osband's order. It appears from this report that the Sylph and Anna Everton
were not burned, but had come out of Hatchee River.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, yours,
S. P. LEE, Acting Rear-Admiral, Commanding Mississippi Squadron.
Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.
[Enclosure.]
U. S. S. SIREN, Off Randolph, Tenn., April 22, 1865.
SIR: I most respectfully make the following report:
April 19 an expedition under command of Brigadier-General Osband started
for Brownsville, Tenn., in three columns; one from this place, one by way of
Hatchee River, and one from Fulton, Tenn.
They returned this afternoon, having been successful in capturing 1 colonel, 1
major, 4 captains, 2 lieutenants, and 12 men, and killing General Shelby's adjutant. One of the men captured is the fellow that has been passing for Luxton.
General OsbandNOTE 1 hung him from a cottonwood tree at this place this
evening [22nd]; his body is still hanging from the tree.
He confessed to burning the St. Paul and to killing one man on board of her.
His proper name is Wilcox. His father lives in Memphis, Tenn.
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April 1865 — Page 25
April 16, 1865
The steamers Anna Everton and Sylph were not burned by the guerrillas. They
came out of Hatchee River this afternoon.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES FITZPATRICK, Acting Master, Commanding.
Commander A. BRYSON, Commanding Essex and Eighth District, Mound
City, Ill.
Navy OR, Ser. I, Vol. 27, pp. 146-149.
NOTE 1: E. D. Osband, Brevet Brig.-Gen. In command of the Third U. S. Colored
Cavalry, District of West Tennessee. Osband is not referenced in Generals
in Blue.
April 16, 1865 - Parade and badges of mourning for man and horse prescribed in Memphis
in honor of Abraham Lincoln
HDQRS. CAVALRY DIV., DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis,
Tenn., April 16, 1865.
COMDG. OFFICER, FIRST BRIGADE:
COL.: In memory of the immortal man murdered upon the 14th instant, the
troops of this command will parade mounted to-morrow morning, the 17th
instant, at 10 a. m. promptly, upon the open ground at the south extension of
Shelby street. Each officer and enlisted man will wear upon his left arm and
upon his saber hilt the appropriate badge of morning. Upon the forehead of
each horse and attached to the bridle will be fastened a festoon, one-half of
black carpe and one-half of white cambric, each three inches wide and one
yard long. Sabers will be carried in reserve when the command "march" is
given.
By order of Bvt. Brig. Gen. E. D. Osband:
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 375
April 16, 1865 - Observing Lincoln's death in Pulaski
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 51. HDQRS. 6TH DIV., CAVALRY CORPS, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Pulaski, Tenn., April 16, 1865.
In honor to the memory of Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth President of the United
States, of whose death official notice has been received, the general commanding directs that on to-morrow all drills and other duties except those which are
indispensable, such as picket and interior guard, be suspended throughout this
command; that religious services be held in every regiment having a chaplain;
that the public offices, all stores, shops and other places of business and amusement at this post be closed, and that the day be scarcely observed, both by citizens and soldiers, in a manner becoming the mournful occasion. The provost-
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 17, 1865
marshal and the officer of the day for the post are enjoined to see that this order
is duly observed. This order to be read at the head of every regiment and
detached company in the command at the dress parade of this day.
E. T. WELLS, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 367.
April 17, 1865 - General Orders, No. 44, pertaining to public mourning for Abraham Lincoln in Memphis
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 44. HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,
Memphis, Tenn., April 17, 1865.
The nation mourns the untimely and violent death of the late President of the
United States, Abraham Lincoln, and the late Secretary of State, William H.
Seward. All officers of this command will wear the usual badge of mourning
upon the left arm for thirty days from the date of this order. As a mark of
respect to the illustrious dead the public buildings of the city and all places of
military business will be closed this day from sunrise to sunset. The funeral
gun will be fired at every half hour, beginning at sunrise to sunset. The funeral
gun will be fired at every half hour, beginning at sunrise and ending at sunset
of this day.
By order of Maj. Gen. C. C. Washburn
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 389.
April 17, 1865 - Commencement of mopping up against Confederate guerrillas in East Tennessee
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Nashville, April 17,
1865.
Brig. Gen. DAVIS TILLSON, Greeneville, East Tenn.:
(To be forwarded.)
On receipt of this make disposition of your force so as to hold East Tennessee
against roving bands of guerrillas. Gen. Stanley has been ordered to this place
with his corps. Communicate with Gen. Stoneman as soon as you can, and
inform him that I wish him to dispose his entire force to the best advantage to
preserve order in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina and to put down
guerrillas, as in a short time there will be no formidable force east of the
Savannah River. We have Selma and Mobile.
GEO. H. THOMAS, Maj.-Gen., U. S. Army, Cmdg.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 381.
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April 1865 — Page 27
April 17, 1865
April 17, 1865 - General Orders No. 45, commencement of mopping up operations in West
Tennessee
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 45. HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,
Memphis, Tenn., April 17, 1865.
The fall of Richmond and the capture of the principal rebel army and all the
fortified places in the so-called Confederacy east of the Mississippi River, the
utter and hopeless prostration of the rebel power, make it apparent that all further fighting on the part of Confederate soldiers within this military district
must be from a spirit of pure malice and revenge of for purposes of robbery
and plunder, and not in any hope of accomplishing any public good to any
State or government. Those who now continue to fight after the liberal terms
that have been offered can only be regarded as guerrillas and murderers. There
are some small parties of such men roving about West Tennessee, keeping the
citizens in a state of excitement and alarm, and who claim when captured to be
treated as prisoners of war. All such are notified that if captured within the limits of this military district after the 25th instant they will not be treated as prisoners of war, but will be held for trail as felons and common enemies of
mankind. Persons found bearing arms without competent Federal authority
will be subject to the provisions of this order. This order is not intended to discourage any from laying down their arms and receiving the amnesty of the
President, but to declare that such as are in West Tennessee and do not do it,
but continue in open hostility, shall not be exchanged or allowed to take the
oath of amnesty after their capture, but shall be tried and punished in accordance with their deserts.
By order of Maj. Gen. C. C. Washburn:
WM. H. MORGAN, Maj. and Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 389.
April 17, 1865 - Return of loyalty to the Union in Memphis and request to rescind resignation of Major-General C. C. Washburn
HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis, Tenn., April 17,
1865.
Maj. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS, Cmdg. Department of the Cumberland:
GEN.: On the 12th instant, I sent forward to you my resignation as major-general, to take effect on the 1st day of May. The citizens here, without distinction,
have signed a request to me to withdraw my resignation and the desire seems
very general that I should not leave them at this time. In obedience to that wish
and in view of recent events, I beg to request that my resignation may be withheld for a short time, say until the 1st day of June, unless developments in the
meantime enable me sooner to retire. The news of the assassination of the President was received here yesterday morning and cast the deepest gloom over the
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 17, 1865
entire community. A meeting of the old citizens, many of them Southern sympathizers, was at once called and was very largely attended and appropriate
resolutions passed. The entire city is draped in mourning and the most loyal
citizens in the Union could not give greater evidence of regret. All business is
suspended here to-day, pursuant to the action taken by the meeting yesterday.
I am, general, your obedient servant,
C. C. WASHBURN, Maj.-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 382.
April 17, 1865 - Growing realization of the Confederacy's downfall in Bolivar
Yes the last two or three days all the bad news has been confirmed and contradicted so often that if it does not turn out as we heard through Yankee papers, I
will never believe another thing they publish in regard to the rebellion being
crushed. . .
Diary of Sally Wendel Fentress.
April 17, 1865 - "For truly secession has been the greatest tyrant that ever reigned over this
country." News of the fall of the Confederacy reaches the Cherry Creek
community in White County, an entry in the journal of Amanda McDowell
The girls keep my ink and things carried off so that I cannot get to write when I
want to. There is some great news. I have been looking for a grand smash up
for sometime, things have been so still. And [I] guess from all accounts that the
great Southern Confederacy is about "gone up for ninety days" as the boys say.
The news is (and it is corroborated and told over by every new arrival from
Nashville) that Lee, his whole army, Petersburg, Richmond, and some say
Davis himself is taken. The latter item is hardly true, but the rest is true, I
expect. Some are already rejoicing over the downfall of their oppressors. For
truly secession has been the greatest tyrant that ever reigned over this country.
For my own part, I try not to rejoice at any one's downfall, but only so far as I
think will be for the good of their own souls. But I do rejoice in the prospect for
peace. Some think it will certainly be made. I fear we are going to be disappointed by will live in hope. Newton Camron got home yesterday. He has been
in prison, but was exchanged and made tracks for home. A year or two ago he
felt awfully disgraced because P. came home from the Southern army. I wonder
how his pulse beats on the subject now. He says Stephen Williams will be at
home in a few days.
Diary of Amanda McDowell.
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April 1865 — Page 29
April 17, 1865
April 17, 1865 - Revocation of Amnesty Oaths
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 22. HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Nashville, Tenn., April 17, 1865.
Whereas, certain rebels, former residents of the State of Tennessee and other
portions of the Department of the Cumberland, having cast their lot with the
Southern Confederacy in rebellion against the Government of the United
States, and countenanced that rebellion by their presence within its limits, and
frequently by their active assistance during the present war, and having
recently become convinced that all attempts to establish such Confederacy
must and have proved vain and futile, and now wishing to secure themselves in
the full possession of their property and all the rights of good and loyal citizens
of the United States, have returned within the Federal lines and taken the
amnesty oath, at places sometimes remote from their former places of residence, and where they are known, without the knowledge and consent of the
major-general commanding the department, not, as is believed, from love of
their country or repentance for their past recreancy; it is hereby—
Ordered, That all amnesty oaths administered to any person or persons not
bona fide deserters from the rank and file of the rebel army, and with the consent of the major-general commanding, no matter where or by whom administered, since the 15th of December last, are hereby revoked and pronounced null
and void, and hereafter no amnesty oath administered to persons coming to or
living within this department will be regarded or considered valid, unless taken
with the knowledge and consent of the commanding general of the same.
By command of Maj.-Gen. Thomas:
WM. D. WHIPPLE, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, pp. 377-378.NOTE 1
NOTE 1: See also: New York Times, April 18, 1865.
April 18, 1865 - "The enemy were concealed behind some houses, and waited until the patrol
got to within 100 yards of them, when they charged." The last Civil War
skirmish in Tennessee, near GermantownNOTE 1
APRIL 18, 1865.-Skirmish near Germantown, Tenn.
Report of Capt. George W. Smith, Eleventh New York Cavalry.
HDQRS. DETACHMENT ELEVENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY, Germantown, Tenn., April 19, 1865.
CAPT.: I have the honor to report that yesterday as the patrol was marching
from Germantown to Collierville it was attacked by a force of the enemy about
six miles from Germantown. The force of the enemy is variously estimated
from 60 to 100 strong, while the patrol was but eighteen strong, under Lieut.
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 18, 1865
John H. Mills, D Company, this regiment. The enemy were concealed behind
some houses, and waited until the patrol got to within 100 yards of them, when
they charged. Lieut. Mills drew his men in line, but, after delivering a volley
with their carbines, found he would be overpowered be a far superior force,
and ordered his men to fall back to the camp at Germantown. He was closely
pursued by a well-mounted portion of the enemy to within about two miles of
this place (Germantown). The attacking party are supposed to be a part of
Ford's command. Those of our men who fell from their horses, or were poorly
mounted, were shot. Those who were killed or wounded were robbed of everything, they (the rebels) even taking the boots from some of the dead. . . I have
just received a telegraph from Maj. Morgan, in which he, by order of Gen.
Washburn, directs that no patrols will be sent less than fifty men. I have but
190 men available for duty. Out of that my picket, thirty-two men daily; my
scouting parties, thirty men daily, and all the camp duties, have to be taken,
leaving me no force at all with which to operate to any advantage. I know of
fifty men who are mounted on horses which are serviceable, that are in the
camp at the headquarters of the regiment at Memphis. If I can have those men
and 100 dismounted men for camp duties, I can operate against these guerrillas
to advantage, as I have reliable information concerning their haunts.
Hoping that my request for a few more men may meet your approbation and
that it may be complied with at your earliest practicable convenience, I have
the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. W. SMITH, Capt., Cmdg. Detachment Eleventh New York Cavalry.
[Indorsement.]
HDQRS. CAVALRY DIVISION, DIST. OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis,
Tenn., April 24, 1865.
Respectfully forwarded for the information of the major-general commanding
District of West Tennessee. The additional mounted men asked for have been
ordered. I must ask that the detail of fifty men for each patrolling party be
countermanded, as we have not a sufficient number of men in the command—
mounted—to obey the order.
E. D. OSBAND, Brevet Brig.-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. I, pp. 512-513.
NOTE 1: The skirmish near Germantown was fought nine days after Lee had surrendered.
April 18, 1865 - A convert to Roman Catholicism in Bolivar
. . . Irene McNeal told me that Clara Peters was very anxious and intended
joining the Roman Catholic Church. I believe I never was more hurt and surprised in my life before. We warned her before she started. . . Told her of the
facinating service, the hypocrisy but apparently love they would manifest
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 31
April 18, 1865
toward her until she became one of them. I am astonished at Clara. I understand she wrote her father a letter in which she said, if not a Roman Catholic,
she would be an infidel and believed that was the only true and apostolic
church.
Diary of Sally Wendel Fentress.
April 18, 1865 - Military observance of the Funeral of Abraham Lincoln in the 6th Division,
Cavalry Corps
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 52. HDQRS. 6TH DIV., CAVALRY CORPS, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Pulaski, Tenn., April 18, 1865.
In pursuance of instructions from the War Department, to-morrow, being the
day appointed for the funeral of the late President, will be a day of rest
throughout this command. All drills and other unnecessary labors will be suspended. A salute of twenty-one minute guns will be fired at meridian.
By order of Brig. Gen. R. W. Johnson:
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 395.
April 18, 1865 - Report on the defenses of Chattanooga
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR-GEN. OF FORTIFICATIONS, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Nashville, Tenn., April 18, 1865.
Maj. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS, Cmdg. Mil. Div. of the Miss. West of
Alleghany Mountains:
GEN.: I have the honor to submit the following report of my inspection of the
defenses of Chattanooga and of the line thence to Bridgeport:
CHATTANOOGA.
This city lies between Cameron Hill on the west and high ground on the east.
Cameron Hill, nearly a mile long, rises abruptly from the low bank of the Tennessee and falls in a succession of spurs to the level of the plain toward Lookout Mountain. The high ground east of the city is much lower than Cameron
Hill. It consists of several elevations stretching toward Mission Ridge, between
one and two miles, till they are lost in the plain. The main line of works inclosing Chattanooga consists of four redoubts, four batteries, and about two miles
of infantry parapet, and rests its flanks upon the Tennessee. The redoubts and
batteries have high commands and heavy parapets. Their ditches are six feet
deep with scarp too steep generally to be run over. These four redoubts were
designed with block-house keeps, three of which have been constructed. This
interior defense serves as a bomb-proof, encourages the garrison to defend the
parapet till the last moment, and enables them from their loop-holed citadel to
drive the successful assailant back into the ditch. When well covered from fire
and substantially built it is a great accession to a redoubt. The parapets of thaw
works around Chattanooga, excepting only that of Fort Jones, have been
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 18, 1865
cheaply reverted with boards and scantling. In Battery Erwin and on the river
front of Fort Carpenter embrasures have been constructed. All other guns
deliver their fire en barbette. By this arrangement a good command is attained,
but the exposure would be too great in close attack. In the advanced works
embrasures should have been constructed. Forts Crutchfield and Lytle, the battery next toward the railroad, and Battery Erwin are finished. Fort Jones has so
far progressed that its battery in the salient can be used if necessary. The left
face is but half completed and the gorge has not yet been commenced. Reverting the parapet with dressed stone has delayed this work. Lunette O'Meara,
through not quite finished, is available. Battery Bushnell is in an unfinished
state. The infantry entrenchment where completed has the same steep ditch and
cheap revetment as the redoubts. With the exception of the break in the line on
either side of Fort Jones this entrenchment around the city, through in several
places unfinished, is a serious obstacle to pass under the close fire of the contiguous batteries and that of the line, itself, even through thinly manned. In
truth, this single defensive line around Chattanooga, if completed as designed,
will be sufficient against coup de main, and ought to stand a long siege against
largely superior numbers. It is a wise precaution, however, to place in the rear
of such defensive line two redoubts as citadels, which, should the first line be
penetrated, would be able to drive back the assailants and restore the superiority of the defenders. There are four redoubts and a strong block-house within
the main defensive line of Chattanooga, giving it an excess of strength. Three
are finished and the fourth, Fort Putnam, is inclosed and could in a few days be
made available. Fort Carpenter, near the river, has a good command upon the
opposite bank of the Tennessee, and was doubtless designed with that view.
Outside of the inclosing line of works around the city are two advanced forts of
bastion from, each possessing a block-house keep. These two works cover the
city so favorably as to shut out the probability of an attack upon it. If these
works were improved by clearing out and deepening the ditches and by putting
the guns in embrasure they could only fall by siege. Three 100-pounder rifled
Parrott guns have been placed on Cameron Hill. From this high position they
see over the defensive line in almost every direction. Each redoubt and fort of
the Chattanooga defenses has a dry and well-constructed magazine. A large
depot magazine 150 feet long and 22 1/2 feet wide has been built high up on
the slope of Cameron Hill. Some further embankment is necessary to make the
top bomb-proof. The site is inconvenient for the transfer of ammunition, but
was selected to bring it within a large work originally contemplated to crown
this hill as a citadel. This for this unnecessary and has not been commenced. To
the north of the Tennessee River crowning the hill top one mile and a half distant from the south bank are five small single block-houses. They are not
essentially to the defense of Chattanooga, but serve simply as strong picket
positions. In fine, Chattanooga is trebly guarded, and were the rebellion still
showing the same front as during the Atlanta campaign, this important depot, if
moderately garrisoned, would be beyond the reach of attack.
Water-works.—In the ravine between Cameron Hill and the spur upon which
Fort Carpenter stands is a large machine-shop, containing turning lathes, plan-
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April 1865 — Page 33
April 18, 1865
ing machine, a grist-mill, steam boiler, and the pumps for forcing the water of
the Tennessee over the ridge above, and even to the summit of Cameron Hill, if
needed. These water-works, though started under the auspices of Gen.'s Rosecrans, Morton, and W. F. Smith, have been mostly executed under Col. Merrill's direction. The machinery was obtained from workshops and foundries in
Atlanta and Chattanooga, and was fitted and sent up by mechanics from the
engineer regiment. The outlay for pipes and bands has been the only expenditure made excepting that for nails, spikes, and glass necessary for the building
and the construction of the water tanks, about the size of those used at railroad
stations. Had Chattanooga remained as it formerly stood, a secondary base to a
grand army and a vital point on the great eastern and western route, the building of these works would have proved very useful. One pipe laid from the tank
on the ridge to the ordnance, quartermaster, and commissary storehouses, and
thence to the railroad buildings, would be great security in case of fire, and
would furnish water to the railroad, engines which now are obliged to run over
the road two miles and a half to the foot of Lookout Mountain to fill their boilers. The major-general commanding the Department of the Cumberland
directed labor on the waterworks to be continued, with a view to protecting the
public buildings against fire. The policy of further expenditures in laying pipes
is at least doubtful. The decision of this question, as well as the execution of
the work if required, rests with the chief quartermaster of the department.
Pontoon shop.—This building, erected by engineer troops, is convenient for its
object. The workshops of the engineer department at Chattanooga are simple in
construction and economically built. In the building containing the waterworks several pieces of machinery have been arranged and put in working
order; but as this machinery was seized from the rebels and fitted by engineer
soldiers, it has involved little outlay on the part of the Government. The timber
used in engineer constructions at Chattanooga was obtained from trees cut
down in the vicinity of the Tennessee River and sawed by engineer soldiers.
Engineer and pioneer soldiers and soldiers of the line have done all the work
on the fortifications. I omitted to state that the bridge across the Tennessee is
guarded with much precaution by stockades on the piers and by a well-constructed, double-cased block-house near the north abutment. The work at Chattanooga, commenced under Gen.'s Morton and W. F. Smith, have been mostly
directed by Col. Merrill.
DEFENSES OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.
The delightful climate of Lookout Mountain caused its selection as the site of a
large hospital for wounded and sick soldiers. This hospital is situated one mile
and a half distant from the north point of the crest. The position is defended by
a rifle-pit across the ridge with emplacements for two batteries about half a
mile south of the hospital. A small redoubt with interior block-house keep
occupies the high part of the ridge toward Lookout Point. These defenses, with
the forces usually in garrison on Lookout Mountain, are sufficient to protect
the hospitals against raiding parties. Two little redoubts on the line of rifle-pits
Page 34 — April 1865
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 18, 1865
would have added vastly to the strength of the line and secured the hospital
with a smaller garrison. These are not required now.
WHITESIDE.
The trestle-work across the ravine of Running Water is 780 feet long and 116
fee high in the center. Four double-cased block-houses on the slopes of the
ravine see every part of this important structure, and are themselves well covered against artillery fire, unless brought so near as to expose the gunners to the
murderous fire of the garrison from the loop-holes. Another block-house holds
the high hill crest three-quarters of a mile distant that looks down the ravine
toward the bridge. Its fire, through distant, would annoy an enemy coming
from the east, which is the more natural line of approach to this position. No
raiding party with field pieces could destroy this bridge thus protected.
Besides, the position is but fourteen miles distant from Chattanooga on the east
and Bridgeport on the west, and is difficult of access for the lack of wagon
roads. All the small bridges across streams between Chattanooga and Bridgeport are protected by double-cased block-houses substantially built. These
defenses have proved efficient. They have not even been attacked.
Col. Merrill has been advised to finish the redoubts on the defensive line of
Chattanooga nearly completed, with the least possible expense, and to commence no new works. The accompanying general sketch exhibits these defense
with which the commanding general is already familiar. The special drawings,
though not minute, given generally the forms of the redoubts and batteries and
the positions of the guns, magazines, and block-house keeps. Col. W. E. Merrill, chief engineer, Department of the Cumberland, gave me every assistance
needed in making my inspection and supplied drawings from which those
accompanying this report have been copied.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Z. B. TOWER, Brig.-Gen. and Inspector-Gen. Fortifications, Military Division
of the Mississippi.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, pp. 390-393.
April 18, 1865 - April 22, 1865 - Anti-insurgent patrols, Fulton and Van Buren's landings,
Tipton County, along Hatchie River to Brownsville, and Randolph, execution of guerrilla leader
SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 102. HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,
Memphis, Tenn., April 18, 1865.
For the purpose of capturing Quantrill and his band of about sixty men now
operating on the Hatchie River, and Mat Luxton, with his band of about twenty,
now operating in the same region, and other enemies, the following troops, will
be sent out, viz.,: Two hundred and fifty cavalry on the steamer John Raine,
upon which they will embark at 5 p. m. to-day; 350 cavalry on barges in charge
of steamers Raine and Cleona at same hour. The steamers will proceed up the
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 35
April 18, 1865
river and land the troops on the barges at Randolph, and will then proceed
immediately to Fulton and land the troops on the steamer. The steamer will
then return to Fulton. The troops landed at Fulton will dash forward to Ripley
and Brownsville, and will send a party to Brownsville Landing same night,
where they will meet the steam-boats of the expedition. Two hundred of the
troops landed at Randolph will dash forward to Covington, and will scour the
country and reach Brownsville Landing same night. One hundred and fifty
cavalry will dash forward, via Portersville or Beaverdam, to Brownsville
Landing, and pursue, destroy, and kill all guerrillas they may find. The steamers Cleona, Dove, and Pocahontas will proceed to-night at 5 o'clock up the
Mississippi and Hatchie rivers, each with fifty cavalry and fifty infantry on
board, and will form a junction with the rest of the command at Brownsville
Landing. From that point the commander of the expedition will move as the
object of the expedition may require, and will return to Memphis overland or
by boat and barges as may be thought best. The cavalry will take three days'
rations, and two days' rations of forage will be placed on one of the Hatchie
boats, and three days' rations for the men. All commanding officers are
enjoined to maintain the strictest discipline and allow no marauding or ill treatment of citizens, but citizens must be required to give information in regard to
guerrilla whereabouts so far as they know, or they will be regarded as harboring and encouraging them.
By order of Maj. Gen. C. C. Washburn:
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 406.
HDQRS. CAVALRY DIV., DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis,
Tenn., April 22, 1865.
Maj. W. H. MORGAN, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.:
MAJ.: I have the honor to report that in obedience to Special Orders, No. 102,
from your headquarters, I proceeded as follows: By steamer John Raine and
barges, Fourth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry (250 men), Maj. Search; Third U. S.
Colored Cavalry (250 men), Lieut.-Col. Cook; by steamers Sallie List, Dove,
and Pocahontas, Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Cavalry (200 men), Maj. Davis.
Disembarking the Third U. S. Colored Cavalry at Randolph, Lieut.-Col. Cook
proceeded, via Covington, to Brownsville Landing, capturing one _______
Wilcox, alias J. M. Luxton, who was in command of seven others, whom he
was unable to capture. He could not reach Brownsville Landing, the country
being flooded. Lieut. Col. Funke, in command of the troops sent up Hatchie
River, proceeded up the Hatchie River, but the boats being unwieldy, pilots not
acquainted with the river, made but little progress, and in order to reach
Brownsville Landing to co-operate with the Fourth Illinois Cavalry he disembarked at Van Buren's Landing, marching from there to Brownsville, arriving
there on the 21st. The Fourth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, Maj. Search, disembarked at Fulton, which place was reached on the 19th at 12 p. m. At 3 p. m.
the command moved to Brownsville, reaching that place at daylight on the
20th, capturing at that place nine prisoners (as per inclosed roll of prisoners of
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 19, 1865
war) and Col. B. J. Lea, Capt. E. J. Martin, commissary of subsistence, and
Lieut. S. M. Russell. The Fourth and Eleventh Illinois returned to Fulton in the
afternoon of the 22d and embarked. The Sylph and Annie E, with Dove, Pocahontas, and Sallie List arrived at mouth of Hatchie River at about the same
time. Arriving at Randolph, Wilcox, alias Luxton, was tried by drum-head
court-martial. . . and at 6.30 was by my order hung by the neck until he was
dead, and left hanging as a warning to his brethren in crime. The command
arrived at Memphis with total loss of one man accidentally wounded and left.
Eight horses died from buffalo gnats, and gained on the expedition twelve
horses. People of the country were extremely friendly, and those in the vicinity
of Brownsville can hereafter, in my opinion, take care of themselves. I am
under obligations to the commanding officers of gun-boats 57 and 58 for valuable assistance.
I am, major, respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. D. OSBAND, Brevet Brig.-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, pp. 441-442.
Report of James Fitzpatrick, Acting Master, commanding U. S. S. Siren, Off
Randolph, Tenn., April; 22, 1865
Sir: I most respectfully make the following report:
April 19 an expedition under command of Brigadier general Osband started for
Brownsville, Tenn., in three columns; one from this place, one by way of
Hatchee River, and one from Fulton, Tenn.
They returned this afternoon, having been successful in capturing 1 colonel, 1
manor, 4 captains, 2 lieutenants, and 12 men, and killing General Shelby's
adjutant. One of the men captured is the fellow that has been passing for Luxton. General Osband hung him from a cottonwood tree at this place this
evening; his body is still hanging from the tree.
He confessed to burning the St. Paul and to killing one man on board of her.
His proper name is Wilcox. His father lives in Memphis, Tenn.
The steamers Anna, Everton, and Sylph were not burned by the guerrillas. They
came out of Hatchee River this afternoon.
Very respectfully, our obedient servant,
JAMES FITZPATRICK, Acting Master, U. S. S. Siren.
Navy OR, Ser. I, Vol. 27, p. 149.
April 19, 1865 - Ceremonies in Memphis memorializing Abraham Lincoln's death ordered
SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 103. HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,
Memphis, Tenn., April 19, 1865.
~~~
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 37
April 19, 1865
VI. As a mark of respect to the memory of our beloved Chief Magistrate, lately
stricken down by traitors' hands in the height of his glory and usefulness, all
public business in this military district will be suspended to-morrow. All military in Memphis not on duty will form in procession at 10 o'clock on Shelby
street, the head of the column resting on Union street, and will move at 10.30
o'clock in accordance with an order of march which will be duly promulgated.
The militia who do not belong to any of the various societies will turn out and
form on Union street, head of column on Front street. A funeral gun will be
fired every half hour from sunrise until sunset from Fort Pickering. Brig.-Gen.
Chetlain, commanding the post and defenses of Memphis, will have charge of
the procession and direct its movements.
~~~
By order of Maj. Gen. C. C. Washburn:
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 413.
April 19, 1865 - Commencement of anti-guerrilla mopping up near Greeneville
HDQRS. DISTRICT OF EAST TENNESSEE, Knoxville, April 19, 1865.
Col. J. H. PARSONS, Cmdg. Ninth Tennessee Cavalry, Camp at Boyd's Ferry:
COL.: Brigadier-Gen. Tillson, whose command is now on its return to this
post, has notified me that he desires no movement of troops at this post. Your
regiment will therefore remain quietly in camp until I can consult the general.
You will, however, send a detachment of the regiment to Greeneville large
enough with the detachment there to make a full company with three efficient
officers. You will direct the officer selected for the command to hunt up and
chastise all guerrillas in that region, the mode and manner of doing so to be at
his discretion. Peaceable citizens must not be disturbed, nor any depredations
committed upon private property. All supplies of subsistence or forage taken
for the use of the troops must be receipted for on the proper blanks.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. G. GIBSON, Col. Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, Cmdg.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, pp. 409-410.
April 19, 1865 - News of the end of the war reaches an incredulous Madison County farmer
. . . Mart. . . says it is not so that Lee has been captured, on the contrary formed
a junction with Johns[t]on & ruined Sherman. There was a paper in town yesterday, the Cairo Eagle, in mourning for the death of Lincoln & Seward, said to
be assassinated about the 15th by Booth an actor. . . Dr. Brown stopped here. . .
said he saw a paper in town. The Memphis paper states that Johns[t]on. . .
surrendered. . . Kirby Smith. . . surrendered. . . and Forrest was on his way to
Vicksburg to surrender. . .
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 19, 1865
I gave these items as [a] sample of what [the] papers contain, not a word of
truth in them.
Robert H. Cartmell Diary.
April 19, 1865 - News of Lincoln's assassination reaches a Bolivar school girl
Abraham Lincoln is reported to have been murdered together with Seward and
his son, Andrew Johnson is suspected. . .
Diary of Sally Wendel Fentress.
April 19, 1865 - Guerrilla attack on railroad train near Morristown and civilian accountability
No circumstantial reports filed.
KNOXVILLE, April 20, 1865.
Maj. Gen. G. H. THOMAS:
The guerrillas threw a train off the track at midnight last night near Morristown, burned thirteen cars and injured the engine. The train was not guarded.
The wreck is cleared and trains are all in motion. Trains hereafter will be
guarded, and rebel citizens, of which there are none other from New Market to
Morristown, held accountable for outrages.
D. S. STANLEY, Maj.-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 414.
April 19, 1865 - An appraisal of Nathan Bedford Forrest
Forrest—The Guerrilla Chief.
After the storm of this Revolution has swept over the insurgent States, and the
institution that struck so fierce a blow, at the has been itself trampled over by
the heel of victory it will remain for some future Hancroft to analyze and portray the features of that old plantation style which is already a thing of the past.
The future historian will, if his research and analysis be successful, find the
two salient features of Southern life and the two elements of its military power
were, on the one hand, the aristocratic pride of Virginia, and, on the other, the
reckless ruffians and cut-throat daring of the Southwest. And, as it were opportunely for his purpose, he finds two military chieftains, each masterly in their
way, around whom he may group these contrasted systems of society—Robert
E. Lee, the Virginia Commander, and Forrest, the guerrilla leader of the Southwest. Lee, the grandson of a bosom friend of Washington—full of revolutionary tradition, full of State pride, a grave taciturn, composed and dignified
soldier, is the proper type of whatever is best and most worth of pride in old
Virginia. Around him now rally the wrecks of those ancient families who were
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April 1865 — Page 39
April 19, 1865
rich and proud when Gov. Dinwiddie spoke of George Washington as a "young
man of promise." Patrick Henry told stories over the counter of his country
store. Forrest, of obscure family, and with floating habits of life—a gambler, a
duelist, a negro trader and sharp speculator, yet possessed the brute courage
and tireless energy, is a fit successor of Jim Bowie, and ought to carry at his
waistband the identical butcher knife to which that great ruffian first gave
name.
And yet so precisely have these bloody days of Southern revolution suited the
development of his character, that now this well-dressed and well-mounted
adventurer has developed into a great cavalry leader, and won for himself a
name in military history beside the names of Marion and Murat. How sudden
and how imposing are the revolutions developed by a great war. We could have
predicted that the plain simple direct and mildest businessman named U. S.
Grant, printed on the right upper corner of his broker's card in St. Louis in
1860, would in four years stamp that name in gigantic capitals on the roll of
great warriors, beside the names of Hannibal and Turenne, and Gustavus Adolphus and Cromwell, and Washington and Jackson?
The boys of the next generation will take an unwholesome but absorbing interest in reading such legends as may drift down the rude stream of our border
history, telling of Crockett and how he hunted and fought bears and Indians,
and how, as civilization crowded upon the rough border, he roved to wilder
scenes and fell fighting a swarm of Mexicans with clubbed rifle at the capture
of the Alamo.
They may read, too, of Bowie and his bear-fights and the great knife he hammered out of an old trap, and his duels, and his street-fights, and his Indian
fights, and how he, too, migrated to the bloody border, and surrounded his life
over the bodies of a dozen dead Mexicans, fighting "game to the last" at the
Alamo.
The last of this redoubtable line of bowie-knife heroes is Forrest.
For some years before the rebellion, Forrest was well known as a Memphis
speculator and Mississippi gambler. His associates were Mississippi steamboatmen, Tennessee negro traders, river gamblers, and plantation speculators.
He was for some time Captain of a boat that ran between Memphis and Vicksburgh, and, if stories are true, made it quite as much to his interest to pass his
nights at the card table in the cabin as on the hurricane deck. These winnings
were held with a thrift now usual in such cases, and regularly invested in
"choice lots of negro slaves" regularly who were carried to the large plantations down this river and sold to his friends, the cotton planters, at a handsome
advance on their cost in Tennessee. As his fortune thus increased he engaged in
plantation speculation, and, in 1860 was the nominal owner of two plantations
not far from Goodrich's Landing, above Vicksburg, where he worked some
hundred or more slaves.
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 19, 1865
This gave him admission to society and grade above his river associates, and
he began to cover the hilt of his six-shooter and keep his bowie knife more
concealed. Burt when after the election of Mr. Lincoln, in the fall of 1860,
Yancey and Gov. Harris and Jeff. Davis took the stump through the southwest
for secession, the fighter got the better of the speculator, and Forrest at once
developed that taste and talent for bloodshed, which amounts almost to military genius. The same qualities that made him a cool fighter with the bowie
knife, and a winner at the card table, gave him steady nerve in a cavalry charge,
and enable him to withdraw his forces in time to assure a retreat when he finds
himself outnumbered.
Forrest began at the foot of the ladder. He enlisted as a volunteer private in the
first or about the first infantry regiment that was recruited in Memphis at the
first firing of the Southern heart. But his qualities as a horseman and a fighter
soon attracted notice and he was made Captain of a cavalry company. Promotion came as he was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment.
He took his first lessons in the cavalry skirmish on the line of the Green River,
when Buell advanced on Bowling Green in the Winter of '62.
When Grant won his first laurels and struck his first great blow at the rebel
cause at Donelson, Forrest was senior Colonel, commanding a brigade and
after the surrender headed his first charge, cut his way through the Union lines,
and withdrew his brigade in safety to the mountains of East Tennessee. South
after he made a swift and stealthy march on Murreesboro, caught the good easy
[?] commander on the post a napping, and carried the town by a sweeping
charge. Then he was been ranging from the Ohio River on the north to the
banks of the Tombigbee and from the mountains of North Carolina to the Valley of the Mississippi, now making a raid two hundred miles into our lines,
now hanging a citizen, defiant and dangerous I on the rear of a retreat; now
driving back Smith in disorder; and now falling back himself but fighting
every mile before Grierson, now charging with five hundred picked men
through the streets of Memphis, and escaping with trivial losses, and as the
darkest and most damning of his rebel exploits, charging into Fort Pillow, and
after the outnumbered garrison had ceased firing were wholly at his mercy,
permitting his flushed and demonized crew to shoot, stab, roll down the bank
and tow into the river six hundred victims.
So far war has proved the most regularly successful and the most dangerous of
all the rebel cavalry leaders. He is more collected, deliberate and defiant than
was that romantic their and good-natured freebooter, Jack Morgan.
He commands a much larger force, and wields it with more power and skill
than Mosby. He fights harder, and is more sullen and defiant in retreat than
Stuart. He is more brilliant and effective than Wheeler. When this war subsides
from regular filed land post strategy into irregular, predatory and guerrilla warfare, the probability is that Forrest may act independently of Law, and draw
around him all those fierce, disappointed and reckless spirits who may escape
from the withering volleys and crushing charges of Grant and Sherman.
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April 19, 1865
Lee is too calm a man, and too orderly and well grounded in military first principles, to fight after systematic strategy becomes quite hopeless; and Beauregard, though a good engineer, is not a leader of men. But Forrest lives to shed
blood, and is quite likely to keep on killing on out of pure revenge, after the
Southern Confederacy has been swept into the limbo where are congregated all
the dreams of fools.
"Gone glimmering 'mid the dreams of things that were.
A schoolboy's tale, the pageant of an hour"
In person Forrest is formidable, not to say impressive. He is a little over six
feet in height, strongly built, and without looking at all plump, weights about a
hundred and seventy five. He appears to be thirty-eight years of age, in the perfection of vigorous manhood, insensible to fatigue, incapable alike of sympathy, or weakness, or fear.
He is a consummate horseman and a deadly pistol shot. Yet his control over
men is absolute for he takes no airs, will talk familiarly with any of his men,
and never, by his actions reminds them of the military interval [?] that separates a lieutenant-general of cavalry from a private in the ranks. The outlines of
his face are handsome and the expression generally pleasant. But now and
then, when roused a little, or issuing a positive command the devil in him lights
up his eye with a fearful gleam, and you can see the terrible legend that the
Almighty stamped upon the brow of the first murderer, "A Man of Blood."
While genial with his men he is often exacting and savage with his officers.
Disobedience of a gleam of insubordination in an officer, he visits not by the
tedious machinery of even a drum-head court-martial. He knows a more summary method.
On one occasion he reprimands a young lieutenant: in language of great severity, and the officer, stung by the insulting words, was for a moment overcome
by the passion and drew his pistol. Instantly the bloody chieftain walked, deliberately up to the offender, drew his bowie-knife, and using his immense physical superiority to the uttermost, literally cut the poor fellow to the ground and
after his death stab had been given, plunged the reeking dagger again and again
to the hilt in the quivering flesh, and when his hellish revenge was sated, coolly
wiped the dripping blade, returned it to the wasteband of his pantaloons and
rode away quietly as though he had shot a yelping cur.
Such is the essential cut-throat fierceness of his nature!
Forrest is indifferent to the pleasure of the senses, a spare eater and abstentious
in his habits. But he loves strong, nervous and muscular excitements. When he
hears the sharp vollies of the closing fight, and sees now and then a horses,
with empty but blood stained saddle coming galloping to the rear, his impatience sometimes gets the better of his discretion; his hand, before he knows it,
is on the hilt of his revolver, and he will wheel away and dash in where the
fight is thickest. Yet like every successful gambler he keeps a good eye on the
main chance, and is hardly the man to throw away his life at the head of a for-
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 20, 1865
lorn hope. The likelihood is rather that like other hard fighting knights of the
Bowie knife, he will drift away with some of his followers into the far Southwest, and become a Mexican adventurer or a Nicaraguan filibuster.
Very effective for the quiet and order of the Southwest will be the Minnie ball
so fortunately aimed as to pierce the heart of N. B. Forrest.
New York Times, March 19, 1865.
April 19, 1865 - April 23, 1865 - Expedition from Memphis to Brownsville, MississippiNOTE 1
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 48, pt. I, p. 184.
NOTE 1: All action took place in Mississippi.
April 20, 1865 - Mopping up against guerrillas, Rutledge and Talbot's Station in East Tennessee
No circumstantial reports filed.
SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 90. HDQRS. DISTRICT OF EAST TENNESSEE,
Knoxville, Tenn., April 20, 1865.
I. Col. Joseph H. Parsons, commanding Ninth Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry,
will order a company of his regiment to proceed immediately to Talbott Station
for the purpose of pursuing and chastising the guerrilla band which attacked
and destroyed the train near that place yesterday. No quarter will be given to
these or any band of guerrillas infesting that region of country.
II. A company of the Ninth Tennessee Cavalry will be selected by the colonel
of the regiment to proceed to the town of Rutledge on Sunday, the 23d instant,
for the purpose of protecting the loyal citizens at that place and neighborhood
during the session of the court to be held there during the coming week.
III. The commanding officer of these detachments will be held responsible for
the conduct of their men and must permit no depredations upon private property to be committed. All supplies procured for the troops must be properly
receipted for on the proper blank forms.
IV. The Seventh Indiana Battery Light Artillery (dismounted) is hereby
assigned to the Fourth Division, Department of the Cumberland, and will take
post at Sweet Water, Tenn., and relieve the Tenth Ohio Battery, which will proceed with its guns to London, Tenn., and report to the commanding officer of
that post for duty. The Seventh Indiana Battery will be assigned to a brigade by
orders from division headquarters.
~~~
By command of Maj.-Gen. Stoneman:
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 420.
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April 1865 — Page 43
April 20, 1865
April 20, 1865 - News of the Lincoln assassination assessed by a Bolivar school girl
. . . Report is confirmed as to Abraham Lincoln's assassination also Seward's. It
is supposed by Yankees to be Booth the great tragedian. The tragedy surpasses
any ever known before, even Caesar's. Dressed Warren's doll this evening. Finished the skirt of blue checked gingham also. . .
Diary of Sally Wendel Fentress.
April 21, 1865 - Guerrilla activity on the Obion
No comprehensive reports filed.
Excerpt from the Report of Acting Master Fentress, U. S. Navy, commanding
U. S. S. Mist, regarding the general movements of that vessel, giving information obtained.
U. S. S. Mist
Off Barefiled's Point [Ark.], May 4, 1865
Sir:
. . . I continue to cruise from Osceola to Gayoso Landing. . . I keep generally
under easy steam, and anchor but a very short time at any one place. One of the
most important places on my beat is the mouth of the Obion River. Quantities
of supplies are landed there, and some cotton is shipped from there almost
every week. Steamers will not risk landing at that point without my
protection. . .
Several gangs of. . . desperadoes, well armed and mounted, and commanded
by a Captain Lee, formerly with the Tenth New Jersey Volunteers (U. S. ).
These are up the Obion, and on the 21st day of April last they boarded the
steamer Panola. . . and after searching her, and finding no money or supplies,
allowed her to proceed. . .
~~~
I have the honor, sir, to be your most obedient servant,
Walter E. H. Fentress, Acting Master, Commanding U. S. S. Mist.
Navy OR, Ser. I, Vol. 27, pp. 185-186.
April 23, 1865 - News of the assassination of Lincoln reaches Lucy Virginia French
A great tragedy has been enacted, since my last writing, in the assassination of
Lincoln and Seward. The first we heard of it was on last Thursday evening. I
was out in the front yard clipping some cedars when the Col. came to the
door—he had just come up from the garden, in his shirt-sleeves—and he said
very quietly, "Well, Lincoln's dead!" I had not the smallest idea it was true.
Mrs. Myers sent Billy out to tell us. The Col. went in town directly to learn the
particulars. The story then ran that Lincoln and Johnson had been at the theatre
Page 44 — April 1865
TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 23, 1865
together—a man had rushed up and stabbed both—killing Lincoln and mortally wounding Johnson, and the assassin had himself been killed on the
instant. That was all anybody knew. Next day, in addition, comes the report
that Seward had his throat cut also—then I didn't believe any of the story.
Thursday, however, a courier came from Tulahoma -and Mollie came up from
Woodbury. The story then ran that Lincoln and Mrs. L. went to the theatre-Mr.
L. was shot in the head in his box by Wilkes Booth a son of Booth, the actor,
and that he escaped on a fleet horse. The same evening Seward's room was
entered—his two sons were murdered and he himself had his throat cut from
ear to ear. Andy Johnson and Gen. Grant were included in the conspiracy, but
they escaped, and Andy was inaugurated next day—Thus goes the rumor, and
we've heard nothing more of any account. There was intense excitement in
Nashville—some 10 men killed for rejoicing over Lincoln's death. Gen. Milroy, at Tullahoma also had some of his soldiers shot for the same, it is said. We
are told that about 30 citizens of Nashville were arrested because they implicated Andy in the assassination of "Honest Abe." Some person in Murfreesboro took the crape from their doors, which had been placed there by military
order—the houses were entered and the furniture destroyed or carried off. In
town here many put mourning on their doors—both parties, but no such order
was issued. The soldiers, however, exerted themselves to draw citizens into
some expression of joy over the tragedy—so that they would have a pretext for
ill using them. I feel that it is dreadful,-a tragedy solemn even to awfulness.
War Journal of Lucy Virginia French.
April 23, 1865 - April 26, 1865 - Scout from Pulaski to Rogersville, Alabama
APRIL 23-26, 1865.-Scout from Pulaski, Tenn., to Rogersville, Ala.
Report of Capt. Albert L. Hathaway, Eighth Michigan Cavalry.
HDQRS. EIGHTH MICHIGAN CAVALRY, Pulaski, Tenn., April 29, 1865.
CAPT.: I have the honor to report that I left camp of the Eighth Michigan Cavalry on Sunday, the 23d instant, with fifty men and proceeded in the direction
of Lamb's Ferry by the way of Gilbertsborough and Rogersville. Arriving at
the ferry on the second day, saw a small party of Confederate cavalry near the
ferry, numbering about nine men, but did not succeed in capturing any of them
as they were well mounted. From all the information I could get I learned that
Maj. Gilbert had a small command of about thirty men on the south side of the
Tennessee River near Lamb's Ferry. They have a ferry-boat and come over this
side of the river in small parties and are scouting around the country between
the Tennessee River and Sugar Creek. I could not learn that they were doing
any damage or troubling any person. I do not think there are over ten Confederate soldiers at any one time over this side of the river in the vicinity of Lamb's
Ferry or Sugar Creek. I returned to camp on Wednesday, the 26th instant, having been absent from camp four days on the scout and traveled about 100
miles; which is respectfully submitted.
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 45
April 25, 1865
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. L. HATHAWAY,
Capt. Company I, Eighth Michigan Cavalry.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. I, pp. 513-514.
April 25, 1865 - An End to Amnesty Oaths
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Nashville, May 25,
1865
Maj.-Gen. MILROY,
Tullahoma:
No more amnesty oaths will be administered to either soldiers or citizens, and
all are repudiated and annulled which have been taken since the 15th day of
December last.
GEO. H. THOMAS, Maj.-Gen., U. S. Army, Cmdg.
OR, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 905.NOTE 1
NOTE 1: Referenced in neither the OR nor Dyers Battle Index for Tennessee.
April 25, 1865 - ca. May 15, 1865 - Anti-guerrilla scout, Holston River and Cumberland
Mountains
No circumstantial reports filed.
KNOXVILLE, April 25, 1865—9 p. m. Maj.-Gen. THOMAS:
In obedience to your instructions per telegraph received yesterday. . . I. . . have
sent the Ninth Tennessee Cavalry to scout the country between the Holston and
Cumberland Mountains. In that region there are still two guerrilla parties
reported. Had given instructions to take no prisoners. Bartlett's Second North
Carolina is ordered into the mountain region east of here with orders to scour
that region as far as the Georgia line, and Kirk's Third North Carolina is to perform the same duty north of the French Broad.
GEO. STONEMAN, Maj.-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 465.
April 25, 1865 - Anti-guerrilla expedition to Bigg's Cross-Roads, Williamson County
ordered
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Nashville, April 25,
1865.
Brig. Gen. R. W. JOHNSON, Cmdg. Post of Pulaski:
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 26, 1865
GEN.: The bushwhackers are investing the neighborhood of Bigg's CrossRoads, upper end of Williamson County, out on the Nolen pike, thirty-two
miles from Nashville. The major-general commanding is informed that they
are committing all kinds of depredations, and directs that you send to that
neighborhood a sufficient force of cavalry to drive them out of the country.
You will please refer to Mr. Alfred Ogilvie for further information.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. D. WHIPPLE, Brig.-Gen. and Chief of Staff.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 465.
April 26, 1865 - Capitulation of the Army of Tennessee near Durham, N. C.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 47, pt. III, pp. 312-315.
April 26, 1865 - Anti-guerrilla mopping up initiative on East Bank of Holston River
HDQRS. DISTRICT OF EAST TENNESSEE, Knoxville, Tenn., April 26,
1865.
Col. J. H. PARSONS, Cmdg. Ninth Tennessee Cavalry:
SIR: If the Rogersville Branch Railroad is in such condition as to enable you to
procure supplies at its terminus, I wish you to move with your whole regiment
to the east bank of the Holston River. Arrived there, you will leave all your
impediments on the east side, and with the mounted portion of your regiment
you will cross the river and thoroughly scour and clear of guerrilla and other
bands of outlaws all that portion of East Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia
lying between the Holston River on the east and the Cumberland Mountains on
the west. In the performance of this duty you are authorized and instructed to
use the utmost vigorous and severe measures. The persons with whom you
have to deal are outlaws so long as they are at liberty, and as such should be
treated. When taken prisoners they must be treated as prisoners, and are entitled to trial, which takes time and entails trouble and expense. Give them to
understand that no false mercy will be shown them and no prisoners taken, and
that every man found in arms under whatever pretense, and acting without
authority from Federal officers or the legally constituted authorities of the State
of Tennessee, will be treated as a public enemy and an outlaw and killed like a
mad dog by any one who meets him. See that your command does not interfere
in any way, either in their persons or their property, with the peaceably disposed, and with those who stay at home and mind their own business. In case
the railroad is not in running order to the Holston River you will make your
depot camp at or near the Rogersville Junction, from which point you will
draw your supplies. You will give all the aid and assistance in your power to all
civil officers in the execution of their functions, and urge upon the people the
necessity of re-establishing civil authority and the supremacy of State laws as
soon as possible, and before the U. S. forces are disbanded or withdrawn from
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 47
April 27, 1865
this section of the country. Make me, either by courier or telegraph, a daily
report of your operations.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, &c.,
GEORGE STONEMAN, Maj.-Gen., Cmdg.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, pp. 475-476.
April 27, 1865 - Affair on Mississippi River, loss of the Sultana near Memphis
Report of Actg. Ensign James H. Berry, U. S. Navy.
U. S. IRON-CLAD ESSEX, Memphis, Tenn., April 27, 1865.
SIR: I was aroused from my sleep this morning by a call from Mr. Earnshaw,
who informed me that the steamer Sultana had blown up and was burning at a
short distance up the river, and that the river was covered with drowning men. I
ordered all the boats manned, which was done immediately, and I went in the
cutter, which boat was the first ready, and we went out to the middle of the
river. The morning was very dark, it being about one hour before daylight, and
the weather overcast, and the shrieks of the wounded and drowning men was
the only guide we had. The first man we picked up was chilled and so
benumbed that he couldn't help himself, and the second one died a short time
after he was taken on board. We soon drifted down to Fort Pickering, when the
sentry on the shore fired at us, and we were obliged to "come to" while the
poor fellows near us were crying out and imploring us for God's sake to save
them; that they couldn't hold out much longer. We pulled a short distance
toward the shore and hailed the sentry, who ordered me to come on shore, Dan
who, it seems, had not hailed me before, or if he had his hail had been drowned
by the groans of the men drowning in the water. I asked the sentry why he had
fired at me, and he said that he had obeyed his orders. I told the sentry what
had happened, and that I was picking up drowning men. The sentry did not
give me any answer, and we went out again to the middle of the river, where
we fell in with the gig laying near a lot of drift which was covered with men
drowning, who were so benumbed that my boats' crews were obliged to handle
them as if they were dead men. Before we had taken in half of them another
shot was fired from the fort, and came whistling over our heads, and I saw that
they were determined to make me come ashore. It was not daylight, and though
our two boats and a steam-boat's yawl which came out to lend us a hand, made
a large mark to shoot at, I would not leave the poor fellows in the water to
attend the sentry on shore. When the day began to dawn the cries of the sufferers ceased, and all who had not been rescued had gone down, and I, fearing that
I might be fired at again, went to the shore, and when I saw the sentry he had
again raised his musket, and I called out to him not to shoot, and at the same
time told the sentry, who was a negro, that if there was an officer there I wished
to see him. A man came down and told me that he was an officer. I asked him
why I had been fired at. He said that his orders were to fire on all skiffs. I told
him that these boats were not skiffs; that they were a man-of-war's gig and cut-
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 27, 1865
ter, and again reminded him of what had happened, and of the drowning men
whose cries he could not help hearing, and for the sake of humanity why could
he not execute his orders with some discretion in a time like this. He said that
he had as much humanity as any one, and if firing at me he had only obeyed
orders. I saw a number of skiffs and other boats laying hauled up out of the
water, and from appearances no one had made any attempt to launch them, and
I reminded him that that did not look much like humanity. No one at the fort
offered to do anything for the suffering men in our boats except the watchman
of the coal barges, who, with the assistance of some of my men, built a fire on
the shore, and I left a few of the rescued men by it, who wished to remain, and
the others I had put on board vessels near by, where they were well cared for. I
then crossed the river, and after looking carefully around I returned on board,
having taken out of the water sixty men and one lady.
I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES H. BERRY, Acting Ensign and Executive Officer.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 48, pt. I, pp. 220-221.
HDQRS. FORT PICKERING, OFFICE SENIOR SURGEON, Memphis,
Tenn., April 29, 1865.
Capt. L. METHUDY, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.:
SIR: I have the honor to report that on the morning of the 27th instant I was
called from by bed at about 5 o'clock by a messenger informing me that a large
number of "half-drowned men" were on the river bank in the fort requiring
medical assistance. This was the first intimation that I had of the result of the
blowing up of the steamer Sultana. Repairing as quickly as possible to the river
I found there many of the victims of the explosion. Capt. Methudy, acting
assistant adjutant-general, on the staff of Col. I. G. Kappner, was there before
me, and was giving such directions to the men of the garrison then present as
he thought might conduce to the comfort of the rescued men. Many of them
were seriously injured by scalding and contusions, and all were shivering with
cold, being still in their wet clothing; but large fires were blazing and stimulants administered. Having no clothing for these men in the fort, and many of
them needing treatment in the hospital, I immediately returned to my office
and wrote a note to Surgeon Irwin, U. S. Army, and superintendent general
hospitals, stating the facts and requesting him to send ambulances, and blankets. In a very short time these arrived. In the meantime, learning that a large
number of the unfortunate men were in the hospital of the Third U. S. Colored
Artillery (Heavy), at the upper end of the fort, I went there and found twentyfive of them, many occupying the beds of my patients, who willingly gave
them up to their greater need. Acting Assistant Surgeon Tindall and the hospital steward, Mr. Thomas Whitten, were busy dressing wounds. All here were
supplied with coffee and other stimulants. A message from Capt. Stevens,
Third U. S. Colored Artillery (Heavy), informed me that several men were in
his battery (M) who needed help. I went there, but found that he had procured
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April 1865 — Page 49
April 27, 1865
an ambulance and sent them to the Adams Hospital. Returning to the river at
the time of the arrival of the ambulance train from the City, I found there Col. I.
G. Kappner, Maj. Williams, Lieut.'s Copeland, Atlee, Helm, Newman, Wyckoff, Wilson, and Yates. There were others, but these I remember distinctly,
being brought directly in contact with them. The teams of the quartermasters,
Helm and Atlee, were on the ground, but were not needed, except the two
ambulance teams. Lieut. Wyckoff, provost-marshal of the fort, supplied many
of these men with breakfast. All officers present were busy in rendering such
assistance as was in their power. Seven men remained in the fort at 9 a. m.
These I sent in ambulance to the office of Superintendent Irwin, surgeon, U. S.
Army. In conclusion permit me to say that, so far as my observation went, all
persons connected with this garrison, from the colonel commanding down to
the rank and file, were deeply interested in the pitiable condition of these
unfortunate men, and that all, to the best of their ability, did their whole duly in
ministering to their wants.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. HOOD, Surgeon, Third U. S. Colored Arty. (Heavy), and Senior Surgeon.
~~~
FORT PICKERING, Memphis, Tenn., April 30, 1865.
Capt. L. METHUDY, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.:
CAPT.: I have the honor to report that on the morning of the 27th instant I was
officer of the day and made my rounds between 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning.
As I was going toward Battery A I met a guard, who told me that a steam-boat
had blown up and some of the passengers were floating down and were being
picked up. I immediately went to Battery A, found some five or six soldiers
from the wreck. These men had dry blankets furnished them and were walking
around to keep warm while fire was being built. Lieut.'s Yates and Wilson had
coffee made and given them, and those that were burned taken into quarters
and their parts that were burned dressed and flour put on each. I then went to
Quartermaster Helm and had him send some whisky down for them. The quartermaster's employes, under Mr. Hare, did good service in rescuing the soldiers, who were well taken care of. . . All that were rescued near the upper part
of the fort were taken to the hospital immediately, where dry clothes and beds
were given them. I saw all that were rescued in the fort, and I must say they
were exceedingly well taken care of; officers and men were making every
exertion to make them comfortable.
I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. C. MOONEY, Capt., Third U. S. Colored Artillery (Heavy).
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 48, pt. I, pp. 223-224.
HDQRS. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis, Tenn., May 14,
1865.
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 27, 1865
Brig. Gen. W. HOFFMAN, Commissary-Gen. of Prisoners, Washington, D. C.:
GEN.: Twelve commissioned officers and 757 enlisted men make the total of
paroled prisoners saved from the steamer Sultana.
C. C. WASHBURN, Maj.-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 48, pt. I, p. 441.
April 27, 1865 - Capture of guerrilla leaders near Rutledge
RUTLEDGE, TENN., April 27, 1865.
Maj.-Gen. STONEMAN, Cmdg. District of East Tennessee:
GEN.: I have the honor to report that I have been scouting the country on both
sides of the mountains; that I have captured two very notorious characters—Dr.
J. P. Legg and P. H. Starnes—and sent them to Knoxville by Lieut. Henry E.
Jackson, of the Ninth Tennessee. Since I captured Legg and Starnes the
remaining guerrillas want come in and give themselves up, but they are afraid
that they will be executed for what they have already done. I have five prisoners who gave themselves up, and they say all the rest of them would come in if
they knew that I would spare their lives.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. W. HARRINGTON, Capt. Company G, Ninth Tennessee Cavalry.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, pp. 490-491.
April 27, 1865 - John Wilkes Booth and Roman Catholicism, a Bolivar school girls thoughts
Dreary and dark this whole day has been, and I have been so sad. When unconsciously a thought of the unhappy situation of our beloved country crosses my
mind my felling are such as would almost cause a heart to break which is
weighed down by such calamity. But the heart of the whole nation seems callous from familiarity with oppression, degradation, misery, and humiliation.
Humiliation that no nation under heaven ever experienced, oppression far more
grinding than that under which our forefathers labored, degradation more humble than the honest menial ever knew, and misery that no human mind can ever
conceive of unless as participant. Saw a paper this evening containing a letter
from John Wilkes Booth in which he intimated his intention of doing some
desperate act of revenge for the tyranny practiced upon the people of the South.
His name should be written on the highest pinnacle of fame for that one deed.
He has sacrificed more than any one of his contemporaries, sacrificed his profession which brought him twenty thousand [dollars] a year, home, friends,
family, all for the purpose of ridding the world of the most consummate villain
under the sun. Heard more concerning Clara Peters. She writes her father that
the Jesuits are the finest, most holy people on earth, and begs him to send her
two little brother for (I suppose) the Roman Catholic Jesuits to raise. Warns her
father of the nearness of the latter days and tells him he had a great deal better
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April 28, 1865
be preparing himself for eternity than seeking to enrich himself with earthly
goods. . .
Diary of Sally Wendel Fentress.
April 28, 1865 - Report of the Office of Inspector-General of Fortifications, Military Division of the Mississippi, relating to Middle Tennessee
NASHVILLE, TENN., April 28, 1865.
Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE, Assistant Adjutant-Gen. and Chief of Staff:
GEN.: I inclose, for the information of the major-general commanding, my
inspection report of the defenses of Bridgeport and of the railroad line thence
to Nashville, with accompanying drawings.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Z. B. TOWER,
Brig. Gen. and Insp. Gen. of Fortifications, Mil. Div. of the Miss.
[Inclosure.]
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR-GEN. OF FORTIFICATIONS, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
Nashville, Tenn., April 28, 1865.
Maj. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS, Cmdg. Mil. Div. of the Miss. West of the
Allegheny Mountains:
GEN.: I have the honor to submit the following inspection report of the
defenses of Bridgeport and of the railroad line thence to Nashville:
~~~
DECHERD
Is thirty miles from Stevenson and eighty-two from Nashville and about seven
miles from the dividing ridge through which the tunnel passes. The country
from Stevenson is closed in by high hills and almost without inhabitants.
Decherd is the principal intermediate stopping place between Nashville and
Chattanooga, but has no military importance further than that which arises
from the necessity of distributing forces at intervals along the line of railroad.
One redoubt with a block-house keep would have been sufficient for this place.
Its defenses consist of two polygonal breast-high inclosures, respectively 20
feet and 100 feet in diameter, and of a square stockade. These structures are not
entitled to the appellation of redoubts. Decherd requires no additional works
now.
ELK RIVER,
Five miles from Decherd, the largest stream between Bridgeport and Nashville,
is spanned by a bridge 480 feet long, resting upon four stone piers and four
wooden trestles. The bridge is protected by two double-cased block-houses,
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 28, 1865
which are sufficient. On a hill about 800 feet distant is a large redoubt with
good ditches, built by the soldiers. It has no keep, however, and uncles strongly
garrisoned would be rather prejudicial than otherwise to the defenses of the
position. Although this bridge could be quickly replaced if destroyed, much
inconvenience would have resulted from two days' delay during the Chattanooga campaign. It was necessary, therefore, to protect so large a bridge
against raiding detachments and guerrilla bands.
TULLAHOMA
Is six miles from Elk River and sixty-nine from Nashville. Being a large village, a garrison was necessary to control it and the guerrillas of the vicinity. It
also covered to some degree the crossings of Elk and Duck
Rivers, a few miles distant on either side. Near the station is a small stockade,
and half a mile distant is a large bastion fort, nearly 300 feet square on the curtain lines, built by the rebels. This fort stands on the general level of the tableland. It has no bomb-proof keep, and its magazines was badly constructed. At
each salient and each shoulder angle there is a gun platform, and on the parapet
merlons have been raised to cover the gunners. With an interior block-house it
would have been a very strong work.
DUCK RIVER.
Across Duck River is a bridge 353 feet long resting on twelve trestles. It is protected by a double-cased block-house. For greater security to this important
bridge another block-house was commenced last winter. From Tullahoma to
Murfreesborough the road required protection from the numerous guerrillas
that infested the country. Small garrisons at the stations and in the blockhouses at the numerous river crossings guarded the road. The towns being
small, no forts were built to control them.
MURFREESBOROUGH.
The city of Murfreesborough is situated about one mile and a half southeast of
Stone's River. The country round about is generally level, and was formerly
populous. One large fort near the city and depot, garrisoned by a regiment,
would have controlled the place and neighborhood. A double-cased blockhouse would have been sufficient to protect the trestle bridge across Stone's
River, 218 feet long. While Gen. Rosecrans' army was encamped in the vicinity, Fortress Rosecrans, inclosing 200 acres on either side of Stone's River, was
constructed under the direction of Gen. St. Clair Morton, of the Corps of Engineers. This large work is composed of a series of bastion fronts, with small,
irregular bastions and broken curtains; or more properly it may be described as
consisting of lunettes connected by indented lines, having in the interior four
rectangular redoubts, and one lunette as keeps to the position. In large permanent works, with high scarps, the ditches are swept by guns in the flanks,
because the depression of the guns prevent the canister-balls from rising above
the parapet. In field forts, with ditches only six feet deep and long curtains,
opposite flanks cannot fire in the same manner as in permanent works without
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April 28, 1865
risk to the defenders; but by breaking the curtain line the ditches are swept by
close musketry. This is the manner of flanking the ditches of Fortress Rosecrans. Its lines give powerful cross fires and direct fires, both of artillery and
infantry, on all the approaches. Placed on the crests of the elevations, they not
only command the distant country, but effectually sweep the gentle slopes
within canister-range. This fortress could not be taken except by siege, if properly garrisoned and well defended. The parapets have high commands and
when built were well revetted with fascines. The work has many traverses,
covering against ricochet fire. Most of the guns are in embrasures, made with
gabions. Lunettes Thomas and McCook and the four interior redoubts have
large block-houses in the form of a cross. The magazines, except in Fort Brannan, are small. That in Lunette Mitchell is subject to being flooded, and is consequently useless in the wet season. The ditches of the redoubts are not so well
preserved as those of the main lines. In fact the exterior slopes of the parapets
and the scarps have taken the natural slopes, about 45 degrees. These redoubts,
however, are strong against attack, being defended by large keeps, which
deliver their fire upon every part of the interior. It requires much labor to keep
so large a work in repair; small portions of the parapets have sloughed off, due
to frosts and heavy rains. These effects were especially noticeable in Lunettes
Mitchell and McCook. Some thirty feet of the parapet revetment of Lunette
Thomas had fallen down, when I inspected March 10. Parts of the revetted
traverses in Lunette Negley were badly broken down, and I have been
informed that the heavy and uncommon rains since have caused some further
damage. Temporary field-works are liable to frequent injury by storms. The
garrison should keep them in order. Those that have been built for two or three
years, of perishable material, must necessarily require repairs; gabions, fascines, boards, and nails, in contact with wet earth and exposed to the air, will
decay rapidly, and in consequence parapets and embrasures crumble down and
magazines leak. This large work, originally built as a refuge for the army in the
event of disaster, is not needed in the present condition of the rebellion. The
interior redoubts ought to be kept in order. A small garrison sufficient to hold
them will control the neighborhood. At the date of my inspection Fortress
Rosecrans was occupied by three artillery companies and mounted fifty-seven
guns. The city was held by infantry. The depots were not within the fort. The
accompanying drawing is well executed, and shows the positions and lines better than they can be described.
LAVERGNE.
Is fifteen miles and a half from Nashville. It has a redoubt which has not been
garrisoned for a long period. In truth the town is desolate and requires no
defenses.
BLOCK-HOUSES.
Before Hood's invasion there were seven block-houses between Nashville and
Murfreesborough to protect the railroad bridges across the streams; six of these
were abandoned to avoid the capture of the garrisons, and were in consequence
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TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
April 29, 1865
burned by the enemy; the seventh, at Overall's Creek, stood a heavy attack
until the enemy were driven away by a sortie from the garrison of Fortress
Rosecrans. Between Murfreesborough and Bridgeport there are twenty-nine
railroad bridges protected block-houses. These are mostly double-cased. Two
large artillery block-houses defend the south bridge over the Tennessee, and
ten have been erected to protect the bridges between Bridgeport and Chattanooga. Thus in the line between Nashville and Chattanooga the bridges and
trestle-works, whose preservation was essential to the running of the road,
have been effectually protected against guerrillas and raiding parties of cavalry
by forty-seven block-houses, mostly double-cased. These block-houses always
resist and drive off the infantry. Field pieces, unless in numbers, and of the caliber of 12-pounders, cannot reduce them. They have performed a most important service, and it was a very happy application of the double-cased blockhouse. Had they not been used it would have been necessary to have built small
redoubts with single block-houses inside as keeps. The rectangular form of the
block-house is defective, as the fire on the capital is a single musket. Those
now in process of construction are octagonal. No new defensive works are
required on this line. Drawings of Bridgeport, Stevenson, and Murfreesborough accompany this report.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Z. B. TOWER, Inspector-Gen. of Fortifications, Mil. Div. of the Mississippi.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, pp. 499-503.
April 28, 1865 - The end of the war is accepted by a Madison County farmer
Lizzie came from school this evening says there is news in town. The substance as she gives it, is that there is to be no more fighting & peace is to be
made. If true it would be glorious news, even considering the future is no easy
one. . .
Robert H. Cartmell Diary.
April 29, 1865 - Continuation of Guerrilla Activities near Mulberry Gap
RUTLEDGE, TENN., April 29, 1865.
Maj.-Gen. STONEMAN, Cmdg. District of East Tennessee:
GEN.: I have the honor to report all quiet as far as my scouts have reached. I
hear of guerrillas committing some depredations near Mulberry Gap. I don't
think they will remain there. The citizens here express a desire for this place to
be permanently garrisoned until the guerrillas are entirely destroyed. We
should like very much to have some small rations here; salt, especially, is very
much needed. The men are in good health. If I had all my sick here from Cantonment Springs and Knoxville they would do much better than there.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK
April 1865 — Page 55
April 29, 1865
J. W. HARRINGTON, Capt. Company G, Ninth Tennessee Cavalry.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, pp. 519-520.
April 29, 1865 - Returning Confederate soldiers required to take the oath of allegiance in
East Tennessee
CHATTANOOGA, April 29, 1865.
Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE, Chief of Staff:
There are large numbers of paroled rebel soldiers from Lee's army and Forrest's here and coming into our lines at all points, who are utterly destitute, and
who will inevitably be driven to stealing and robbery, if not bushwhacking,
unless they can be permitted to go to their homes or be provided for in some
manner. What shall I do with them?
JAS. B. STEEDMAN, Maj.-Gen.
KNOXVILLE, April 29, 1865—12.55 p. m.
Maj.-Gen. THOMAS:
Your telegram received. Numbers of men have come into East Tennessee with
authority from Gen. Grant to go to their homes, which are in East Tennessee.
Do your instructions include such persons; and if so, shall they be sent without
the limits of the State? There are others whose homes are in Georgia, Alabama,
and the other Southern States. They are penniless and without food, and must
live by begging or stealing. Can I issue such persons a limited amount of
rations and send them by rail to Dalton and get rid of them; also obnoxious and
troublesome characters?
GEO. STONEMAN, Maj.-Gen. of Volunteers, Cmdg.
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Nashville, April 29,
1865.
Maj.-Gen. STONEMAN, Knoxville:
By decision of the Attorney-Gen., no Confederate is entitled to come into a
loyal State on his parole. He will have to take the oath of allegiance to the
United States to enable him to remain. You are authorized to give a limited
amount of subsistence to such rebel soldiers who have to pass through East
Tennessee to get to Georgia and Alabama. They must not be allowed to stop on
the way.
GEO. H. THOMAS, Maj.-Gen., U. S. Army, Cmdg.
Send the above to Gen. Steedman and Gen. R. S. Granger entire. Send the first
sentence to Gen. Washburn.
GEO. H. THOMAS, Maj.-Gen., U. S. Army.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, pp. 518-519.
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April 30, 1865 - Surrender of guerrillas along the Clinch River
No circumstantial reports filed.
RUTLEDGE, TENN., April 30, 1865.
[Maj.-Gen. STONEMAN, Cmdg. District of East Tennessee:]
GEN.: I have the honor to inform you that I have been constantly scouting both
sides of the Clinch. There are but few guerrillas remaining in this vicinity, they
having nearly all left since I came here. I have endeavored to carry out your
instructions, but it is necessary to explain why I have taken some prisoners.
When I found those men, the most of them had hidden or otherwise disposed of
their arms, and others came and gave themselves up. I had not sufficient evidence at the time of their being bushwhackers or guerrillas, until they were
identified by citizens who knew them to be such. In this manner several have
come into my hands as prisoners. The most noted of these are Dr. J. P. Legg
and P. H. Starnes, whom I captured north of the Clinch. I sent them to Knoxville by Lieut. Jackson and squad of Ninth Tennessee Cavalry. I have seven
prisoners now at this place, which I send to Knoxville by Sergt. Edward Stokeley and squad of my company. I have just received orders from Col. Parsons to
move, with my company, to Bull's Gap, which has created especially those
grand jurors and others who are witnesses against prominent rebels. Many of
the citizens have called on me this morning and desired me to state to the general commanding that their lives will be endangered by the removal of the soldiers from the place. On their behalf, if it is not inconsistent with the service, [I
request] that my company be ordered to garrison this place until it may be considered safe without a military force.
I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. W. HARRINGTON, Capt. Company G, Ninth Tennessee Cavalry.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 49, pt. II, pp. 528-529.
April 30, 1865 - Arrest of women for "rejoicing over the death of Lincoln."
On that morning, Mollie was carried away to Tullahoma—she and Mrs.
McMillan having been arrested by order of Gen. Milroy on the evening of the
29th (Saturday). The charge was "rejoicing over the death of Lincoln." It seems
that Mollie heard some days before that she had been reported for that at Lewis
head-quarters, by a boy who came up with her from Woodbury. She had gone
to Mrs. Grizzel's (where the boy lived, he was a bound boy) to attack him about
it-he denied it all until he was black in the face, and said it was a Mrs. Boyd
(who also came up with them,) who did the reporting—saying that she heard
Mollie tell Jane Morford after they had gone to bed—that "When she heard
Abe was dead she waved a Secesh-flag!" The Commandant of the post hated
M. because she and other rebel girls had declined calling on Miss Sullivan
because she drove out with him! Consequently, with Lewis personal pique and
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April 30, 1865
Clift persuasion —her case sent to Milroy—who sent for them. Seven armed
men (!!!) were sent under an officer to arrest her! One, lone woman! The Lieut.
Mollie says, looked ashamed of the array, and quite plagued when she quietly
remarked that "really it was amusing to think she was so formidable—she had
never though of it before." Everything was raked up against her that could beas it was merely a case of personal pique and they pounced on the first excuse
they could get to arrest her. The day Mollie and Mrs. McMillan went to Grizzell's to give the boys some of their mind about his lying, there was a woman
there—a Mrs. Bell who went on in their presence to bewail her lot—she was a
prisoner and so ill—threatened by the Yankees, and she cried and sobbed wonderfully over her troubles. When M. and Mrs. Mc. Rose to leave this woman
came forward—shook hands with them—and told M."she hoped she would
have no further trouble" etc. Mr. And Mrs. M. had said nothing—but as soon as
they were gone-what does she do but ups and reports to the powers that be—
and old Miss Boyd, a tale-bearing woman as Wash calls her was hurried in, and
M. arrested! After the ladies were taken off—the greatest efforts were made by
Lewis to get evidence against Mollie but he failed. They even sent for old Mrs.
Long—way on the road away down the road to Woodbury—as well as for Jane
Morford but both of these evidenced for instead of against her. It was a all a
made up thing—the old spy had not caught up and body and had been here a
month, she was not getting her rights as to pay, she thought—consequently the
little reports concerning M. and Mrs. Mc. Were magnified into a few mountains of falsehood and conjecture and sent flaming to Milroy. Lewis having a
personal pique at Mollie caught at it as a god-send, and to gratify his own malice determined to put it thro. He did his best—and that proved one of the best
of failures. Milroy's' scout, John Lee, who was to take them down to Tulahoma, boarded sometimes at Henderson's—Mr. H. is M's friend and from him
Lee was prepossessed in her favor—he was melted down too—when he saw
them all crying at Mrs. Myers when M. left—going up the Ambulance just
after he had put her in—he looked up in her face and said with a smile "Never
mind Miss, I'll bring you back in a day or two, or my name is not John Lee."
And it was principally to his reckon so that M. was indebted for her release—
for he had great influence with Milroy and tho there was no evidence against
M. worth 5 cents. Lee had to tell Milroy it wasn't worth a d__n or that discriminating officer would never have seen it. They are indebted to Captain Cain for
a quiet good word in their favor tho he claimed no credit for doing anything
and for kind words to themselves. What he did, was done for their sakes alone
and not for no interested motive. Joe Clift on the contrary had an interest of his
own to subserve—and yet in doing this, he also served them. He did them the
great favor to tell them exactly how they would be treated and how they must
act, which was of the greatest benefit. Said he "There is no evidence you of any
account it seems for Col. and Mrs. French's letter—no need for you to lay the
case before Rousseau—at present—they will try to scare you with Camp
Chase—and [the] Nashville Penitentiary but don't you give way an inch—
stand your ground—don't say much—be pleasant—give Billings rope and he'll
hang himself." Clift was getting up evidence against Billings and Milroy him-
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April 30, 1865
self for abuse of their office as they had had him arrested for disobeying orders
and he wanted M. to give him all Billings irrelevant questions and talk to her,
which she put in writing for him. I will get M. to give me a written statement of
the whole affair—I mean to use it some day. Armstrong wrote down to Milroy—I wrote to Mollie, and on the way they came home—Armstrong was
going around with a petition getting all the "Loyal Ladies" to sign it—except
the Clifts. I was out in the yard in the evening when I saw the Col. come
around the bluff—and a lady with him, I knew the rebel dress-the grey dress
and grey hat and plumes—it was Mollie! I had spent that afternoon—or the
most of it writing a letter to Milroy—a long mile document, and the Col. was
going down to Tulahoma in the morning to see if he could not get the ladies
released. . . But, as it turned out this was not necessary, they were at home. M.
and I like to have never gone to bed that night—she had so much to tell me and
so many funny things to say about those fools Gen. & P. M. of Tulahoma.
War Journal of Lucy Virginia French, entry for May 10, 1865.
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