Read Ebook: Personal record of the Thirteenth Regiment Tennessee Infantry by Vaughan Alfred J

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Ebook has 1260 lines and 25874 words, and 26 pages

You will have 29 stitches on heel needle, 13 on the 2nd, 14 on the 3rd.

The heel is made by knitting the back needle backwards and forwards.

You will have 17 stitches left on heel needle.

This is done by taking up, and as you take up knitting through the slipped loops down side of heel. Be particular in taking up to put your needle through both sides of the loops.

Repeat 5th and 6th rounds until you have only 16 stitches left on 1st side needle, 23 on instep, 17 stitches on 2nd side needle. In all 56 stitches.

Repeat 6th round until your foot measures, including heel, 8 1/2 inches.

This is all knitted plain. Prepare for it by knitting to end of instep needle on same needle, knit 3 stitches off next needle. Knit plain next needle. 3rd needle. Knit plain to within 2 stitches of end, slip these two on to instep needle. You will have 28 stitches on instep needle, 28 on the back needles.

Repeat this round until you have only 8 stitches left on your instep needle, and 8 on the back needles. Slip the 8 on back needles all on one needle. Cast off by knitting back and front needles together in the usual way.

STOCKING, NO. 2.--PLAIN TOP

FANCY TOP, NO. 3

This top can be knitted as a change with either stocking leg. Same quantity of wool required.

With stocking wool cast on 78 stitches, 26 on each needle. Knit 4 rounds of k 1, p 1 alternately.

Knit 1, purl 1 alternately until your top measures 6 inches from casting on.

The rest of stocking knit according to receipt No. 1.

FANCY TOP, NO. 4

This is a very simple but effective top. With wool your stockings are to be knitted, cast on 78 stitches.

Rib, that is k 2, p 1 alternately for five rounds.

Rib, that is k 2, p 1 alternately until your top measures 6 inches from casting on.

Rest of stocking knit according to directions.

STOCKING TOPS IN FINGERING WOOL. NO. 5

No. 1

Cast on 80 stitches, 30 on two, 20 on 3rd needle, with darker Fingering.

In next round you work with both colours, carrying them on at the back. You must be particular not to pull or drag them too tightly.

The rest of stocking is knitted in Alloa yarn with needles No. 12. You can knit it either as pattern No. 1 or 2. See "Stocking Leg." Having 80 stitches on your needle, you must, in commencing the ribbing, narrow off the extra stitches.

ZIGZAG TOP IN FINGERING, No. 6

With dark wool cast on 80 stitches, 30 on two, 20 on third needle.

Repeat these two rounds.

The rest of the stocking is knitted in Alloa wool with needles No. 12, as in previous directions.

DIAMOND PATTERN TOP

With dark wool cast on 84 stitches, 28 on each needle.

You now begin the pattern. It is knitted plain in alternate colours, carrying on wool at the back.

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 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 , 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 , 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.

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