Part 2

In this battle I received from the hands of a captain of an Indiana company a beautiful and highly ornamented sword, which had been presented to him by the citizens of his town when he started to the war. After the first attack the Federal captain was retreating with his company when he was shot in the leg. Unable to proceed further a private of the Thirteenth ran up to him and ordered the surrender of his sword. This he refused to do, saying that he would surrender it to an officer, but never to a private. This so enraged the private that he was in the very act of shooting him when I rode up and ordered him not to shoot a prisoner, whereupon the officer extended to me his sword, and thanked me for saving his life. I wore this sword a long time, but while on leave of absence left it in charge of a young Confederate officer who, being insulted by a negro, broke it over his head.

After the battle of Richmond the Thirteenth with the brigade marched to Lexington, Ky.; thence to Cynthiana, thence to Covington, thence to Frankfort, and joined Gen. Bragg's army just before the battle of Perryville, where it rejoined Cheatham's Division.

The next engagement was the battle of Perryville, which was fought on October 8, 1862. In this battle the Thirteenth with the brigade was not actively engaged, but was held in reserve, and with the brigade acted as rear guard to the army on its march out of Kentucky.

Our march into Kentucky was an ovation. We were the first infantry troops to enter that part of the State, and as soon as we crossed the mountains and struck the Blue Grass region, the demonstration of sympathy for the South and the hearty welcome extended us filled every heart with profound gratitude. Citizens all along our line of march received us with open arms, and showed us every hospitality. When we halted for the night, droves of fattest cattle, herds of the fattest sheep, and wagonloads of corn and hay, were driven to our camp. Even the women--God bless them--brought to our soldiers the delicacies of the table and garden. We thought that Kentucky was ours, and that no Federal force would invade her beautiful territory; but, alas! how soon the scene shifted.

The retreat out of Kentucky was one of greater trial and hardship than any march made during the war. Over a rough and barren country, without shoes and thinly clad, with scarcely anything to eat, the suffering was great, yet it was borne with fortitude and without a murmur.

The regiment, with the army, reached Knoxville on October 24, 1862. From Knoxville the Thirteenth was moved by rail to Tullahoma, where it received a fresh supply of clothing, blankets, shoes, etc., which was so much needed. After a few weeks' rest we were marched to Murfreesboro, where we arrived the latter part of November, 1862. It was here that smallpox broke out in the regiment, and it was detached from the brigade, but by strict quarantine and vaccination it was soon checked--not, however, without the loss of some good soldiers.

Early on the morning of December 30, 1862, we commenced that hard-fought and stubbornly-contested battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone River. It was a most terrific contest--one that brought forth those shining and brilliant qualities of the Southern volunteer which made him so renowned in the Mexican and other wars. In the absence of Brigadier-General Preston Smith, I was in command of the brigade and Lieutenant-Col. W. E. Morgan in command of the regiment. In this fight the Thirteenth, as in every other from Belmont to Murfreesboro, took an active part, and did its whole duty and gathered fresh laurels. It was the most satisfactory fight, both to the officers and men, that was made by the regiment during the war. With the exception of a slight check in the morning, it drove the enemy from every position from early dawn till late in the evening; and though every inch of ground was fiercely contested, the regiment never faltered, but onward like an avalanche it swept everything before it. I had two horses shot under me, and the horse of every field and staff officer of the regiment was killed.

In this engagement I witnessed an exhibition of discipline and coolness that I never saw on any other battlefield. We had in our front and opposed to us a brigade of United States Regulars; they were formed in two lines of battle some distance apart. Firing as we advanced, their first line waited until we got within easy range and then coolly delivered their fire; without waiting to reload they faced to the rear and double-quicked through their second line and reformed in line of battle. The second line then awaited our approach, and though their men were falling fast around them, they coolly delivered their fire and retired through the first line and reformed in line of battle; and thus they continued to fire and fall back until they were driven across a large field. Their lines were plainly marked by their dead, who lay thick upon the ground.

These were Americans fighting Americans--the one, the trained soldier, who fought because he was ordered to do so, and because of the old flag and that Union which he believed ought to be eternal; the other, the Southern volunteer, who fought because he believed that his home and fireside were invaded and that his constitutional rights were trampled upon. Both exhibited a courage which commands the world's admiration.

In this battle a battery of four beautiful Napoleon guns was captured from the Federals. Four divisions of our army claimed to have participated in the capture, and each division laid claims to the battery. A conference of the officers of the divisions was called, and after a full discussion and careful consideration of the claims of each division, it was decided that one of the guns should be given to each division, and that upon it should be inscribed the name of the most gallant and meritorious soldier who fell on that battlefield. One of the guns was given to Cheatham's Division and assigned to Preston Smith's Brigade. At that time I was Colonel of the Thirteenth Tennessee Regiment and W. E. Morgan Lieutenant-Colonel; but in the absence of Gen. Preston Smith I commanded the brigade and Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan the regiment. He fell in the first day's fight, and by unanimous consent his name was inscribed upon the gun, and read as follows: "Lieutenant-Colonel W. E. Morgan, Thirteenth Tennessee Regiment, Pres. Smith's Brigade, Cheatham's Division, Polk's Corps." This gun was assigned to Scott's Battery, and at the battle of Chickamauga it was skillfully handled and did effective work in checking the advance of the Federals; but when Gen. Grant attacked our lines at Missionary Ridge, it was recaptured by the Federal forces, and today it stands a silent sentinel in the beautiful "Park of Gettysburg." Captured and recaptured on two famous battlefields, it stands there a proof of the heroism of both sides; it stands there as ready to do service for the stars and stripes as it once did for that other flag which lived its brief life always in the storm of battle, and which, without dishonor, was laid aside and folded forever, with no other stain upon its fold than that of heroes' blood shed to give it life.

Here it was that Lieutenant-Colonel W. E. Morgan, the pride of the regiment and the hero of so many brilliant achievements, fell mortally wounded; he fought his way up from Lieutenant of his company (C) to Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, and no promotion was ever more deserved. Major P. H. Cole also fell in this battle; he, too, deserves the gratitude of his countrymen for the faithful discharge of his duty. It was here, too, that Private W. A. Abernathy was killed; though a mere youth he was endowed with all of those sterling qualities which make heroes; he was every inch a soldier; whether on the march, in the camp, or on the field of battle, he was the life and pride of his comrades; though offered promotion he always refused, saying he preferred fighting in the ranks. Here, too, J. A. Stone, though severely wounded, bound up his wounds and returned to his company, remaining with it and leading every charge during the day.

Upon the fall of Lieutenant-Colonel W. E. Morgan and Major P. H. Cole, R. F. Lanier, senior Captain, the bravest of the brave, took command of the regiment and led it throughout the remainder of the fight with skill and judgment, and made for himself a character for dash and daring that followed him throughout the war; no man in the army of Tennessee was more devoted to the Southern cause.

The regiment went into this battle with two hundred and twenty-six officers and men, and lost in killed and wounded one hundred and ten. Twenty-eight were killed and their names should be ever remembered with affection. They are:

J. C. Kelly, Company A; G. H. Adams, Logan McKinstry, W. B. Reed, W. R. Carter, J. C. Tharp, E. M. Waller, Company B; Boggan Cash, Wayne Holman, Lieutenant-Colonel W. E. Morgan, Captain John H. Morgan, Palmer P. Tuggle, Company C; W. A. Abernathy, William Greene, Company E; M. N. Burns, Company F; J. W. Jones, Otey Gloster, W. H. Simmons, Company G; Maj. P. H. Cole, T. J. Forgey, S. D. Aikin, Company H; J. McLaughlin, D. R. Tillman, J. H. McLaughlin, Company I; James F. Dukes, Carter E. Skipwith, Company K; R. J. Bailey, Company L. Boggan Cash was the only one whose fate was not absolutely known. He was in every charge of his company and could not have been wounded or captured, as none of the ground fought over was reoccupied by the enemy. He was a brave and true soldier and always at his post of duty.

On the night of the first day's fight General Preston Smith returned to the brigade and assumed command, and I returned to the regiment. In the second day's fight the regiment was not actively engaged and lost no men. On the night of January 2, 1863, the regiment with the brigade was withdrawn toward Murfreesboro, and the retreat to Shelbyville commenced, which point the regiment reached the next day and went into camp. The enemy did not attempt to follow.

At Shelbyville the Thirteenth and One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Sr. Regiments, having become so reduced in numbers, were consolidated. I was retained as Colonel. Captain R. W. Pittman of the Thirteenth, who had been promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, was retained with same rank, and Major John W. Dawson of the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Sr. as Major. Though consolidated, neither regiment ever lost its identity, and each was known to the close of the war by its original regimental appellation. From Belmont to Murfreesboro they had fought side by side on every battlefield. In daylight or in darkness, in victory or in defeat, they had stood shoulder to shoulder. Each knew the worth and value of the other and both had but one purpose in view--and that purpose, even to the extent of their lives, was to maintain the honor of Tennessee and uphold the Confederacy. From this time to the close of the war the history of the two regiments was one common history. The glory of the one was the pride of the other, and neither ever lost hope until the Confederate banner went down forever.

From Shelbyville the army fell back across the Cumberland mountains, thus occupying the same position it did twelve months previous, and before it started into Kentucky. Tennesseeans for the second time saw their section abandoned, yet true to the Southern cause, cheerfully followed the fortunes of the Confederate flag.

The next important event in the history of the regiment was the hard-fought battle of Chickamauga, on September 19 and 20, 1863. It was the first battle after the two regiments had been consolidated that they had fought, and each sustained its former record and gathered fresh laurels. After two days of grand and magnificent fighting the enemy was completely routed and victory perched on the Confederate banner; but, alas! its fruits were lost by the tardy movements of the army in following up the victory. It is not for the writer to say who was at fault, but it was apparent to all that some one was to blame.

The loss in killed and wounded on both sides was exceedingly heavy, and the Thirteenth lost some of its best officers and bravest men. It was here, on the night of the first day's fight (Sept. 19, 1863), that General Preston Smith fell. The circumstances of his death are worthy of record here.

After heavy fighting all day, Cheatham's Division was formed in the second line of battle, and Preston Smith's Brigade was ordered to keep within five hundred paces of Deshler's Texas Brigade of the first line. The two lines were ordered forward with instructions to march directly to the front; but Deshler's Brigade, on account of obstructions and the irregularity of the ground, instead of marching directly to the front, obliqued to the left and passed unnoticed an isolated regiment which proved to be the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania, which had in some unaccountable manner become separated from the Federal army. Smith's Brigade, marching directly to the front, was approaching too near the first line, when Gen. Smith, thinking it was getting too close, as he supposed, to Deshler's Brigade, ordered a halt and rode forward with his volunteer aid, Captain King of Georgia, to see why, as he thought, Deshler's Brigade had halted. Riding up to the Federal regiment he was discovered to be a Confederate officer and was fired upon and instantly killed, as was Captain King. It was now becoming dark, and I being on the right, and also supposing that Deshler's Brigade had halted, I rode forward with Captain John Donaldson at my side to inquire the cause. When within thirty or forty yards of the regiment a Federal soldier jumped up from under a bush, advanced to me, supposing me to be a Federal officer, and inquired, "Where is the enemy?" Discovering his mistake, he jerked up his gun and without taking aim, fired. The load passed just in front of my breast into the body of Captain Donaldson, who fell a corpse. I ordered the Federal to be fired upon, which was done by the Twelfth Tennessee. In shooting at the Federal soldier their balls ranged into the ranks of the Federal regiment, when they called out, "Don't shoot! don't shoot! we surrender!" Whereupon I rode forward and ordered the regiment to ground arms and surrender their flag, which I received from the color-bearer, and turned over the regiment of prisoners to Captain Carthall of the Twelfth, who marched them to the rear. Thus fell General Preston Smith and his faithful aid Captain King, and Inspector-General Donaldson. I now took command of the Brigade and a short time after was promoted to Brigadier-General.

After the battle of Chickamauga, Cheatham's Division was the first to move and to advance toward Chattanooga, to which point the enemy had retreated, and the Thirteenth was among the first to drive in the enemy's pickets from Missionary Ridge. In doing so, however, Company C of the regiment lost one of her truest and most faithful officers, Lieutenant Henry Brooks, who fell at the head of his command in the full discharge of his duty, admired and loved by his comrades and superior officers.

The next move of the regiment was in the direction of Knoxville to reinforce General Longstreet, but on arriving at Sweetwater news was received of his repulse, and the regiment returned to the old division on Missionary Ridge.

It was now known that the Federals were strongly fortified in Chattanooga, had been heavily reinforced, and were preparing for an advance on the Confederates occupying Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. On November 25, about noon, the Federals advanced in overwhelming numbers, and like an avalanche swept the Confederate lines from Missionary Ridge, though the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth and Thirteenth kept the Federals back in their front until flanked on their left. At this time these two regiments did some of the grandest and most heroic fighting they had done during the war, and though forced to fall back, they contested every inch of ground with that heroism which had characterized them on every battlefield. Night coming on, the Confederates crossed Chickamauga Creek and retired to Dalton, Ga., where our army went into winter quarters.

At Dalton General Braxton Bragg was relieved of command and General Joseph E. Johnston appointed to the command of the army. His appointment was joyfully received by the whole army. Its morale commenced at once to improve, and by early spring it was in splendid fighting condition.

Early in May, 1864, the enemy 100,000 strong made an advance, and it was supposed from the overwhelming numbers of Sherman's army that he would give battle in front of Dalton, but after trying two or more days to dislodge the Confederates, he commenced his flank movement under cover of Rocky Face Ridge. This forced the withdrawal of the Confederates from Dalton to Resaca. The Thirteenth and One Hundred and Fifty-fourth were the first to arrive at Resaca, where they found General Canty's Division skirmishing with the enemy. The enemy was held in check until sufficient reinforcements arrived to drive Sherman back through Black Snake Gap. It was here that the writer, standing by the side of General Johnston (who was intently watching the skirmish line), heard him say that never in his life had he seen skirmishers behave better, or handled with more skill, and turning to the writer, asked: "Do you know to what command they belong and who is their commander?" The writer replied that they were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel John W. Dawson and belonged to the Thirteenth and One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Tennessee Regiments, Vaughan's Brigade, Cheatham's Division.

From Resaca the regiment fell back to Adairsville, where it had a sharp engagement and inflicted a heavy loss upon the enemy. Thence to Cassville, where everything indicated a pitched battle, and never was the regiment, in fact, the whole army, in better condition. Its morale had improved every day since Johnston assumed command, and it was confidently believed by both officers and men that whenever battle was given, victory was certain. But from some cause battle was not given. It was here that the Thirteenth and One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiments had the highest compliment paid them during the war. After the line of battle was formed and every brigade and division in position, General Cheatham was ordered by General Johnston to furnish the best regiment in his division to bring on the engagement. The Thirteenth and One Hundred and Fifty-fourth were furnished.

The next hard fighting done by the regiment was at New Hope Church and Lost Mountain, then on the Kennesaw line at what was known as "dead angle." It was here that Hooker, with that splendid fighting corps of his, made the attack and was so signally repulsed. In column seven lines deep, with not a cap on the guns of the first two lines, he attempted to storm our position. Never did men march into the very jaws of death with a firmer tread and with more determination than did the Federals to this attack. But they met intrenched infantry, and the concentrated fire of musketry, canister, grapeshot and shell mowed them down at every step. Yet they still struggled forward, but every Confederate stood at his post, and in a short time it was more than mortals could stand and they broke and fled, leaving eight hundred of their dead. The Thirteenth and One Hundred and Fifty-fourth were in the angle, supported on the right and left by the veterans of the Army of Tennessee.

While occupying this point the writer received orders from headquarters that the safety of the army depended upon holding this position, and that it must be held if it required the sacrifice of every man in the regiments. This order was communicated to the men and their unanimous response was that "we will stay here." A few days after this the army fell back and took position twelve miles below Marietta, Ga., at Vining station on the railroad to Atlanta. It was at this point, on the fourth day of July, 1864, while the regiment and brigade were resting in the trenches behind a battery that the writer lost a leg by the explosion of a shell from the enemy's battery, which released him from field service during the remainder of the war. Hence I had no personal knowledge of the movements of my old command after this date.

In a short time after this, Colonel George W. Gordon, of the Eleventh Tennessee, was promoted to Brigadier-General and took command of the brigade. The Thirteenth and One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiments were under his command at the crossing of Chattahoochee, at Peach Tree Creek, with Hardee on the twenty-second of July, in the defenses of Atlanta, at Jonesboro, at the capture of Dalton, at Spring Hill, at the bloody battle of Franklin, in front of Nashville, in the retreat out of Tennessee, and at Bentonville, N. C., the last battle of the war. From Belmont, Mo., the first engagement, to Bentonville, N. C., the last, this regiment shed luster upon the soldiery of Tennessee, and well merited the compliment of General Joseph E. Johnston when he said: "They were unsurpassed by the Old Guard of Napoleon, or the army that Wellington marched out of Spain into France."

When the great soldier and leader, Joseph E. Johnston, surrendered the remnant of the Army of Tennessee, on April 26, 1865, there were left of the gallant old Thirteenth less than fifty officers and men. More than twelve hundred men had once mustered in its ranks. Throughout the four years they had fallen in battle, been stricken in camp, died on the march, and sometimes, alas! in prison. Faithful always, only a handful were left when the curtain was rung down on the awful drama. I was not there to see the old flag furled, the guns grounded, and the swords handed over; but I know that the same heroism, fortitude and love were with the remnant, as had been with those who four years before had marched away from home at the call of country and of duty.

ROSTER OF OFFICERS OF The Thirteenth Regiment, TENNESSEE INFANTRY, C. S. A.

FIELD AND STAFF.

CAPT. JNO. V. WRIGHT. Elected Colonel at organization of the regiment; fought in the battle of Belmont; elected to the Confederate Congress, and resigned; Washington, D. C.

CAPT. A. J. VAUGHAN. Elected Lieutenant-Colonel at organization of the regiment; elected Colonel on resignation of Col. Wright; re-elected Colonel at reorganization of the army at Corinth; promoted to Brigadier-General after the battle of Chickamauga; lost a leg at Vining station, below Marietta, Ga., on July 4, 1864; Memphis, Tenn.

CAPT. W. E. WINFIELD. Elected Major at organization of the regiment; was in the battles of Belmont and Shiloh; resigned at reorganization of the army at Corinth; died since the war.

LIEUT. W. E. MORGAN. Appointed Adjutant at organization of the regiment; elected Lieutenant-Colonel after the battle of Belmont; re-elected Lieutenant-Colonel at reorganization of the army at Corinth; was killed at Murfreesboro.

LIEUT. R. M. HARWELL. Appointed Adjutant of the regiment after the battle of Belmont; re-elected Adjutant at reorganization of the army at Corinth; appointed Aid-de-Camp to Gen. Vaughan; painfully wounded at Shiloh; died in service.

T. B. YANCEY. Company E; appointed Lieutenant in the regular C. S. Army; assigned to duty with Col. A. J. Vaughan, and, when he was promoted, was appointed on his staff; was wounded at Shiloh; postoffice, Somerville, Tenn.

T. P. COLE. Company H; appointed Sergeant-Major at organization of the regiment; elected Major at reorganization of the army at Corinth; killed at the battle of Murfreesboro.