Part 1

Transcriber's Note: Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

PERSONAL RECORD

OF THE

THIRTEENTH REGIMENT, TENNESSEE INFANTRY.

BY ITS OLD COMMANDER.

Price, 75 cents.

PRESS OF S. C. TOOF & CO. MEMPHIS. 1897.

MOST AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED TO THE NOBLE MOTHERS AND WIVES OF THE TRUE AND HEROIC MEN WHO FOR FOUR YEARS FOLLOWED THE CONFEDERATE FLAG, AND WHO WERE WILLING TO LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF THAT CAUSE THEY BELIEVED RIGHT AND JUST.

A. J. VAUGHAN.

PREFACE.

_MY OLD COMRADES_:

In writing out this record I have gone back to the morning time of my own life, and lived once more in that other day that not only tried, but proved men's souls. Insignificant as my work may appear as a literary production, it carries with it the most sacred memories of the past. In writing, I have lived over again the days when the boom of cannon, the rattle of musketry and the old rebel yell were familiar sounds to our ears. If a shade of mournfulness hovers over the failure of the cause for which these brave men fought and many fell, it is not a mournfulness born of regret. When we who wore the gray put away forever the musket and sword--and let me say, my comrades, swords and muskets that had been bravely borne--we did so in sorrow but not in malice or hate. And today, I am sure, where one of the old regiment lingers yet a little while this side of the dark river, he accepts in good faith the terms of his parole, and is a peaceful and faithful citizen of the United States; not only faithful, but as loyal to the stars and stripes as we were once to that other flag which we followed for four long years, and which was woven from an honest belief of a people's need.

Now, to my old comrades, whether in flesh or spirit, to whom this little compilation has carried me back with such tremendous force, and to keep alive whose fair fame I have written, I can only say as my last words--God bless you!

A. J. VAUGHAN.

The Thirteenth Regiment,

TENNESSEE INFANTRY.

This was one of the regiments that made Cheatham's Division, and Smith's-Vaughan's and Gordon's Brigades so famous in the Army of Tennessee. It was organized and mustered into service on the third day of June, 1861, in answer to a call of Governor Isham G. Harris for seventy-five thousand volunteers. At that time it was the seventh infantry regiment organized in West Tennessee and the thirteenth in the State. It was made up of the "flower of the South" young men, most of whom were fresh from the best institutions of learning--aspiring, hopeful and ambitious--sons of men of education, wealth and influence--the very best material for volunteer service. It was composed of ten full companies--five from Fayette county, one from Shelby, one from Dyer, one from McNairy, one from Gibson, and one from Henderson, and were as follow:

Company A, Fayette Rifles, Captain William Burton of Somerville, Tenn.

Company B, Macon Grays, Captain J. L. Granberry, Macon, Tenn.

Company C, Secession Guards, organized at Germantown, Tenn., and composed of Mississippians and Tennesseeans, Captain John H. Morgan, Horn Lake, Miss.

Company D, Yorkville Rifles, Captain John Wilkins, Yorkville, Tenn.

Company E, Dixie Rifles, organized at Moscow, Tenn., and composed of Tennesseeans and Mississippians, Captain A. J. Vaughan, Marshall county, Miss.

Company F, Wright Boys, Captain Jno. V. Wright, Purdy, McNairy county, Tenn.

Company G, Gaines Invincibles, Captain W. E. Winfield, LaGrange, Tenn.

Company H, Yancey Rifles, Captain Robert W. Pittman, Hickory Withe, Tenn.

Company I, Forked Deer Volunteers, Captain G. S. Ross, Forked Deer, Tenn.

Company K, Dyer Grays, Captain S. R. Latta, Dyersburg, Tenn.

On the following day, the 4th of June, the election of field officers was held, and resulted in the election of Captain Jno. V. Wright of Company F as Colonel, Captain A. J. Vaughan of Company E as Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain W. E. Winfield of Company G as Major.

The regiment was ordered at once by way of Memphis to Randolph, on the Mississippi river, when the organization was completed by the appointment of Lieutenant W. E. Morgan, Company C, Adjutant; Dr. J. A. Forbes, Company E, Surgeon; Dr. B. F. Dickerson, Company I, Assistant Surgeon; W. E. Dyer, Company G, Commissary; L. B. Cabler, Company A, Regimental Quartermaster; Peter Cole, Company H, Sergeant-Major; and W. D. F. Hafford, Chaplain.

The regiment remained at Randolph engaged in drilling, camp duty, etc., until July 26th, when it was ordered to New Madrid, Mo., and placed in a brigade under command of Colonel J. P. McCown, who, under orders from General Gid. J. Pillow, was about to make a campaign into South-west Missouri to prevent reinforcements being sent to the Federal General Lyons, then operating in that section.

On the 18th of August, 1861, the troops were moved in the direction of Benton, Mo., where the Thirteenth Regiment arrived on the 19th. This was the first campaign or march of the regiment, and though in the middle of summer during a severe drouth, under a burning sun and over roads shoe deep in sand and dust, it was cheerfully performed, and showed an endurance and fortitude rarely witnessed in new troops. The object of the campaign being accomplished, the command returned to New Madrid on Sept. 2, and on the following day the regiment was ordered to Hickman, Ky., where it was placed in Cheatham's Brigade. At Hickman, on Sept. 4, 1861, the regiment for the first time caught a glimpse of the "boys in blue" and saw the first "burning of gunpowder," which was an artillery duel between the Federal gunboats and the Confederate land batteries; but it was at long range, no damage was done, and the gunboats were soon withdrawn up the river.

About this time General Leonidas Polk, commanding the Mississippi Department, determined to occupy Columbus, Ky., and ordered General B. F. Cheatham to proceed at once to that point, where the Thirteenth Regiment arrived Sept. 6, 1861, and was among the first, if not the first, to occupy that important position. Nothing but camp duty, throwing up heavy fortifications and hard and constant drilling occurred in the regiment until Nov. 7, when it was reported that the enemy in heavy force was advancing on Columbus on both sides of the river. The long roll was sounded and every regiment reported at once and fell into line on its parade ground. All were excited and anxious to meet the enemy. Soon it was ascertained that a heavy force had disembarked from their gunboats above and were moving down to a point near Belmont, on the opposite side of the river.

The Thirteenth Regiment, under command of Colonel John V. Wright, having been supplied with ammunition, was ordered at once to cross the river and take position on the extreme left of our line of battle near Watson's Battery. Never was a regiment more anxious or more willing to face an enemy. It was the maiden fight of the regiment and every man felt that he was "on his mettle." Though our position was an unfortunate one--in an open field, the enemy being under cover of thick woods--this regiment met the advance with the steadiness of veterans and held its position and fought while comrades fell on every side until the last round of ammunition was exhausted, and the order given to fall back to the river. By the time the regiment reached the river reinforcements had crossed from Columbus which engaged the enemy and checked his further advance. The Thirteenth, obtaining a fresh supply of ammunition, rallied and again advanced gallantly to the contest, which had become fierce and obstinate. In a short time the Federals were driven from their position and fled to their gunboats, hotly pursued by the Confederates. At their gunboats, such was their haste, confusion and disorder that they did not attempt to return the fire. The Federal loss here, as in previous engagements, was heavy.

The loss of the Thirteenth Regiment was heavy; out of one hundred and fourteen killed and wounded, thirty-four were killed on the field, among them the very best men of Tennessee. Their names should never be forgotten, and are as follow:

Company A--A. Middlemus, First Sergeant; A. J. McCully; Mike McCully; Matthew Rhea, First Lieutenant commanding.

Company B--F. M. Stockinger; W. H. Burnett, Second Corporal.

Company C--Arthur R. Pittman; J. W. Rogers; Robt. F. Dukes, Lieutenant; J. P. Farrow; J. W. Harris.

Company D--W. H. Parks; W. H. Polk; Jno. H. Shaw; Albert G. Zaracer; B. M. Dozier.

Company E--S. J. Roberson; Geo. R. Tiller; E. Wales Newby.

Company F--H. H. Barnett; E. H. Hill; John A. Jones, Sr.; C. H. Middleton.

Company G--P. N. D. Bennett; Jno. Mayo; Jno. C. Penn.

Company H--George Hall; Wm. J. Dunlap.

Company I--C. C. Cawhon; L. F. Hamlet; John G. Nesbit; H. H. Waggoner; James Hamlet.

Company K--Y. W. Hall; K. A. Parrish; Jas. L. Smith.

J. P. Farrow and Wm. J. Dunlap were the first men in the regiment who yielded their young lives in battle to the Confederate cause, and were killed by the first volley of the enemy's fire.

Early in action Colonel John V. Wright was painfully injured in the knee by the fall of his horse which was shot under him. I, who then took command of the regiment, had two horses shot under me: the first at the very commencement of the engagement; the second (which had been cut out of Watson's Battery after its men had been driven from their guns) was shot just as I reached the river bank.

Never did men display more heroic courage and deport themselves in a more soldierlike manner, and while it is impossible in this brief sketch to refer to all the acts of devotion and fidelity to the Southern cause performed by the officers and men of this regiment, Lieutenant Matthew Rhea certainly deserves special mention. As soon as the regiment took position in line of battle, in command of his company (A) he was sent to the extreme left of our line with instruction to extend his line to the river, which he did. By some means the enemy got in between him and the regiment, thus cutting him off. Though surrounded he continued to fight, and rather than surrender his sword, which had been worthily worn by his grandfather, he fell at the hands of the enemy. A braver, truer or more faithful officer never fought for any cause.

About this time, if not on the very day of the battle of Belmont, Colonel John V. Wright was elected to the Confederate Congress, and resigned his position as Colonel of the regiment. No man ever stood higher in the estimation of his soldiers or was more beloved by them.

Upon the resignation of Colonel Wright I was unanimously elected Colonel of the regiment. I was a disciplinarian while on duty of the strictest school, which for the first months of the war made me very unpopular with volunteer soldiers, but only one fight was necessary to satisfy them that an undisciplined army was nothing more than an armed mob. Adjutant W. E. Morgan was now elected Lieutenant-Colonel, and Lieutenant Richard M. Harwell of Company E was appointed Adjutant.

After the battle of Belmont and while at Columbus, Ky., the measles broke out in the regiment, and it was a matter of surprise that there should be so many grown men who had never had the measles. So many were down at one time that there were scarcely enough well ones to wait on the sick, and many died.

Early in the spring it became necessary to move our lines further south, and Columbus was evacuated March 12, 1862. The Thirteenth was ordered to Union City, and four days later to Corinth, Miss., where it arrived March 19, 1862. Before leaving Columbus, however, there had been some changes made in the command. General B. F. Cheatham had been promoted to a division commander, and the Thirteenth was assigned to Colonel R. M. Russell's Brigade, General Chas. Clark's Division. In this brigade and division the regiment remained until after the battle of Shiloh.

About this time the enemy was known to be landing and concentrating a large force at Pittsburg Landing, on the Tennessee river. It was determined by Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, who had been placed in command, to give battle; so on the 3rd of April, 1862, the regiment, with the whole army, was moved toward the point of attack, but heavy rains and bad roads prevented forming line of battle until the evening of the 5th of April. That night a council of war was held, and though some officers were opposed, an attack was determined upon.

On the morning of the 6th, just as the sun in all its splendor was rising above the horizon, and while in the second line of battle, General Clark rode up to us and stated that Marks' Louisiana Regiment had been repulsed, and asked, "Can you take that battery yonder, which is annoying our troops so much?" Having such unlimited confidence in the Thirteenth, I replied, "We can take it." Whereupon the regiment was moved by the right flank, under cover of a hill, until in proper position, and then fronted the battery and advanced rapidly up the hill. All was well until the crest of the hill was reached, when the enemy opened fire with canister, grape and musketry, which was so severe that it literally tore the regiment in two. But, though, for a moment checked, nothing daunted, our officers and men gallantly stood their ground, and poured into the ranks of the enemy such deadly volleys as to cause them to waver, and then with the "rebel yell" rushed so impetuously upon them that they could no longer stand, precipitately fleeing and leaving battery and dead and wounded on the field.

This was indeed a brilliant charge, and only equaled on that battlefield by the charge made shortly afterward by that magnificent regiment, the Fourth Tennessee. But the loss to the regiment was terrible; some of Tennessee's best blood was shed here, and many a noble spirit sank to rise no more.

The balance of the day the regiment, though not actively engaged, was for the most time under heavy fire in changing and shifting positions and in supporting and relieving other troops. It was present and assisted in capturing Gen. Lew Wallace[A] and his brigade late in the evening on the bank of the Tennessee river, to which point we had driven the enemy. Here, because of the steep bluff, the gunboats could not reach us, and a rain of iron and lead passed over our heads until late in the night. Under orders the regiment retired from the river bank and bivouaced for the night in the enemy's camp, rich with quartermaster's stores, commissary supplies and sutlers' goods.

[Footnote A: By oversight I have printed on page 16 the name LEW WALLACE. Of course it should have been GEN. PRENTICE.]

Every officer and soldier of the regiment sank to sleep serenaded by the guns from the river, and supposed that the battle was won and the victory ours. But how sadly disappointed next morning, when it was known that Buell had arrived and crossed the river that night with his whole army, and was drawn up in line with fresh troops to renew the contest. Though not anticipating such a state of affairs, the regiment was formed by early dawn and moved forward to meet the enemy as proudly and defiantly as on the day before. But their batteries, within easy range and supported by columns of infantry, opened such a terrible fire of grape and canister that we were forced to retire and seek shelter beyond the next ridge. By this time the whole Confederate forces were hotly engaged, and from right to left was one continuous roar of artillery and musketry. The struggle was terrific, and closer and harder fighting was never done on any battlefield; and though the enemy were held at bay from early dawn till nearly noon, it was apparent that the unequal contest could not be much longer maintained. So the Confederate forces were gradually withdrawn, and the army returned to its old camp grounds at Corinth, Miss. No attempt was made by the enemy to follow. The first day's fight of this battle was the grandest of the war--less friction, more concert of action, more thorough co-operation and better generalship displayed--everything moved with clock-like precision--a master mind directed the whole until General A. S. Johnston fell.

Throughout the two days' fight every officer and man of the Thirteenth did his whole duty, as shown by the heavy loss in killed and wounded. We lost one hundred and twelve men killed and wounded, and of this number forty-two fell dead on the bloody field, thus sealing their devotion with their lives to the cause they believed right. Their names deserve to be remembered by their countrymen, and are as follow:

Robert Thompson, B. F. Eaton, H. B. Hunt, R. Harrison, J. M. Moore, James Moore, N. Matthews, R. M. Thompson and Lieut. C. H. Whitmore of Company A; J. G. Babbett, Lieut. S. B. Dugan and Henry Walker of Company B; W. B. Dukes, C. P. Graham, H. J. Hutchinson, Thos. Rainey (color bearer) and W. L. Stokes of Company C; Second Lieut. W. F. Cowan, First Lieut. J. W. Cunningham, R. D. Eaton and Capt. John A. Wilkins of Company D; D. C. Arnett, D. C. Bull, J. C. Black and M. C. Grisson of Company E; M. Donelly, J. N. Guthrie, Jno. Morgan, William Saunders, J. D. Springer and B. Thomas of Company F; M. M. McKinstry, J. H. Brown and J. O. Winfield of Company G; E. O. Chambers, S. O. Cole, D. R. Royster and Carr Young of Company H; Jno. Mitchell, Lewis Roberson, J. N. Vandyke and G. W. Borger of Company I; Carroll Chitwood of Company K.

From the opening to the close of this engagement I was most ably and efficiently assisted in the management and direction of the regiment by Lieut.-Col. W. E. Morgan, Adjutant R. M. Harwell, and Major W. E. Winfield. Adjutant Harwell was painfully wounded in the first engagement but remained at his post of duty until the close of the struggle. Lieut.-Colonel Morgan and Major Winfield had their horses shot, and I had two horses shot under me and was struck by a spent ball that did no serious harm.

While at Corinth, the period for which the regiment had enlisted having expired, it re-enlisted for the war and reorganized. Company A, from some disaffection or dissatisfaction, refused to reorganize, and was consolidated with Company D, and the deficiency supplied by the admission of Company L, Zollicoffer's Avengers, Captain C. B. Jones, of LaGrange, Tenn. On the 28th of April, 1862, the reorganization was perfected by the election of the following officers: I was unanimously re-elected Colonel; W. E. Morgan unanimously re-elected Lieutenant-Colonel; Sergeant-Major P. H. Cole elected Major; Lieut. R. M. Harwell re-elected Adjutant. Many changes were made in line officers, but the writer has no data from which to supply them. While at Corinth the regiment, from the use of bad and unhealthy water, suffered very much with sickness, and many were furloughed on sick leave to recuperate for the summer campaign.

The enemy in the meantime having recovered from the severe blow received at Shiloh commenced to advance on Corinth by gradual approaches, and by the latter part of May was in the vicinity of that place. The regiment was daily engaged in heavy skirmishes, and sometimes in sharp engagements but with small losses. On May 13, 1862, Corinth was evacuated, and the Thirteenth fell back by way of Baldwin to Tupelo, Miss. Here, with good water, the health of the regiment improved rapidly, and with strict discipline and constant drilling we soon became one of the crack regiments in that army.

About this time General Charles Clark, commanding the division, was assigned to another department, and his division broken up and assigned to other commands. The Thirteenth was assigned to Cheatham's Division and General Preston Smith's Brigade, which, on July 10, 1862, was ordered to report to General E. Kirby Smith at Knoxville, Tenn., who was about to make a campaign into Kentucky. Everything being ready the Thirteenth, with the forces under General Smith, moved on the 13th day of August into Kentucky by way of Wilson Gap, and on the 18th of August arrived at Cumberland Gap after a weary and toilsome march of five days. From this point by way of Manchester the forces were moved in the direction of Richmond, Ky. The enemy was watching the movement, and had sent forward General Bull Nelson with a large force of infantry, artillery and cavalry to check our advance. A battle was now imminent.

Early on the morning of August 30 the army was put in motion, and by 8 o'clock while marching up the road a shell from the enemy's battery not far off came whizzing over the head of our advancing column and exploded high in the air. The Thirteenth with the other regiments of the brigade immediately deployed in line of battle on the right of the road, when Allen's sharpshooters under command of Lieut. Creighton were sent forward and deployed as skirmishers, with instructions to feel the enemy and develop their position. This being done the regiment with the brigade was ordered to advance, and in a short time a most terrific fire was opened by both sides from one end of the line to the other. The enemy occupied a strong position and stubbornly held their ground, but onward the Confederates continued to march, when, with a charge and a yell in front and a volley on their flank, which General Smith with the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Sr. had succeeded in reaching, the enemy precipitately fled, hotly pursued and pressed by the Confederates. The enemy lay thick upon the field, and their loss was heavy. The Thirteenth's loss was also heavy in officers and men, and among them some of Tennessee's best and bravest soldiers.

It was in this first engagement that Lieutenant Edward Lanier of Company G was killed, a young, brilliant and gallant officer who, had he lived, would either as citizen or soldier have inscribed his name high up on the roll of fame. Gifted by nature, young, aspiring and ambitious it seemed hard that he should have been stricken down at the very threshold of his manhood. A truer soldier never shed his blood on his country's altar. Here, too, General Pat Cleburne was wounded in the mouth, and had to retire from the field, whereupon the command of the division devolved upon Brigadier-General Preston Smith, and that of the brigade on me, and that of the regiment on Lieutenant-Colonel W. E. Morgan.

The enemy after retiring a couple of miles made a second stand, but so impetuous was the second attack that after a short engagement they broke in disorder and confusion, and did not halt until at or near Richmond, where for the last time they made a stand, and it was here that they were completely routed and demoralized.

This was the most complete victory gained during the war in which the Thirteenth participated. Nothing escaped. All the enemy's artillery, their artillery horses, their transportation, quartermaster and commissary supplies, together with all their camp equipage fell into the hands of the Confederates. In this engagement our forces captured and paroled more officers and men than General E. Kirby Smith had in his command. The Thirteenth did its whole duty, as attested by the killed on that battlefield as follow: R. A. Donalson, W. L. Fullerton, S. G. Lawrence, Company A; T. F. Gaither, Company B; W. L. Rhodes, Company C; Jas. J. Lawrence, W. H. Minter, Company D; T. M. Ballard, Company E; H. L. Winningham, Company F; Lieutenant Edward Lanier, Edward Dicks, Company G; Wm. Claiburn, R. H. Crouch, Company H; John Reed, R. R. Stone, B. F. Holtom, Company I; John H. Gates, B. G. Sims, H. A. Gray, J. S. Jenkins, M. R. Winfield, B. W. Wilkerson, Company L.