Scott Busenbark's Civil War Ancestors » Scotts Confederate

Report of Picketts Charge; Major Charles S. Peyton; 19th Virginia Infantry

40thindiana — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 23:32:03 +0000

One of the families that I really enjoy studying is the Peyton Family of Virginia. Valentine Peyton was in Virginia by 1654 and had acquired 1600 acres of land along Aquia Creek, Westmoreland County, Virginia around 1662. There were three sons of Henry Peyton of Lincolns Inn, England who came to Virginia. Two of the sons returned to England and one son; Valentine stayed in Virginia. Aquia Creek is where the Peyton family started in Virginia and grew and started to migrate West. My g-g-g grandfather John Peyton/Payton moved to Montgomery County, Indiana in 1828 from Franklin County, Kentucky. Once John moved into Montgomery County the spelling was changed to Payton. John’s grandfather Charles (b. 1746) was from Overwharton Parish, Stafford County Virginia. He migrated into Kentucky before 1800 and died in Franklin County, Kentucky before 1809. John’s Father Charles (b.1768) moved to Franklin County, Kentucky and died in 1849. The Peyton Society of Virginia is for any member of the Peyton family who can prove their line back to Valentine Peyton. There were many descendents of Valentine Peyton that served from Virginia and elsewhere during the Civil War. Most notable were Major Charles S., George Q. who kept a diary in the 13th Va which became a book “Stonewall Jacksons Foot Cavalry”, and Sergeant Lewis Peyton of the 60th VA. Inf.. who recieved special mention from his colonel for gallantry during the Seven Days Battles. Another offspring that migrated was 1st Lt. Balie Peyton Jr., 20th Tennessee; who was killed at the head of the regiment at the battle of Fishing Creek/Mill Springs, KY. Major Charles S. Peyton of the 19th Virginia Infantry left us with the official report for Garnett’s Brigade at Gettysburg. During Pickett’s Charge, General Garnett was killed and every ranking regimental officer was either killed or wounded. Command of Garnett’s Brigade went to Major Charles S. Peyton. Although a distant cousin, I still find it very interesting to know he is of the same family as my g-grandmother Flora Payton Busenbark. I am proud to be a direct decscendant of the Peyton family of Virginia.

Report of Major Charles S. Peyton, Nineteenth Virginia Infantry, commanding Garnett’s brigade, Pickett’s division.
CAMP NEAR WILLIAMSPORT, MD., July 9, 1863.

MAJOR: In compliance with instructions from division headquarters, I have the honor to report the part taken by this brigade in the late battle near Gettysburg, Pa., July 3.

Notwithstanding the long and severe marches made by the troops of this brigade, they reached the field about 9 a. m., in high spirits and in good condition. At about 12 p. m. we were ordered to take position behind the crest of the hill on which the artillery, under Colonel Alexander, was planted, where we lay during a most terrific cannonading, which opened at 1.30 p. m., and was kept up without intermission for one hour.

During the shelling, we lost about 20 killed and wounded. Among the killed was Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis, of the Nineteenth Virginia, whose bravery as a soldier, and his innocence, purity, and integrity as a Christian, have not only elicited the admiration of his own command, but endeared him to all who knew him.

At 2.30 p. m., the artillery fire having to some extent abated, the order to advance was given, first by Major-General Pickett in person, and repeated by General Garnett with promptness, apparent cheerfulness, and alacrity. The brigade moved forward at quick time. The ground was open, but little broken, and from 800 to 1, 000 yards from the crest whence we started to the enemy’s line. The brigade moved in good order, keeping up its line almost perfectly, notwithstanding it had to climb three high post and rail fences, behind the last of which the enemy’s skirmishers were first met and immediately drive in. Moving on, we soon met the advance line of the enemy, lying concealed in the grass on the slope, about 100 yards in front of his second line, which consisted of a stone wall about breast high, running nearly parallel to and about 30 paces from the crest of the hill, which was lined with their artillery.

The first line referred to above, after offering some resistance, was completely routed, and driven in confusion back to the stone wall. Here we captured some prisoners, which were ordered to the rear without a guard. Having routed the enemy here, General Garnett ordered the brigade forward, which it promptly obeyed, loading and firing as it advanced.

Up to this time we had suffered but little from the enemy’s batteries, which apparently had been much crippled previous to our advance, with the exception of one posted on the mountain, about 1 mile to our right, which enfiladed nearly our entire line with fearful effect, sometimes as many as 10 men being killed and wounded by the bursting of a single shell. From the point it had first routed the enemy, the brigade moved rapidly forward toward the stone wall, under a galling fire both from artillery and infantry, the artillery using grape and canister. We were now within about 75 paces of the wall, unsupported on the right and left, General Kemper being some 50 or 60 yards behind and to the right, and General Armistead coming up in our rear.

General Kemper’s line was discovered to be lapping on ours, when, deeming it advisable to have the line extended on the right to prevent being flanked, a staff officer rode back to the general to request him to incline to the right. General Kemper not being present (perhaps wounded at the time), Captain Fry, of his staff, immediately began his exertions to carry out the request, but, in consequence of the eagerness of the men in pressing forward, it was impossible to have the order carried out.

Our line, much shattered, still kept up the advance until within about 20 paces of the wall, when, for a moment, it recoiled under the terrific fire that poured into our ranks both from their batteries and from their sheltered infantry. At this moment, General Kemper came up on the right and General Armistead in rear, when the three lines, joining in concert, rushed forward with unyielding determination and an apparent spirit of laudable rivalry to plant the Southern banner on the wall of the enemy. His strongest and last line was instantly gained; the Confederate battle-flag waved over his defenses, and the fighting over the wall became hand to hand, and of the most desperate character; but more than half having already fallen, our line was found too weak to rout the enemy. We hoped for a support on the left [which had started simultaneously with ourselves], but hoped in vain. Yet a small remnant remained in desperate struggle, receiving a fire in front, on the right, and on the left, many even climbing over the wall, and fighting the enemy in his own trenches until entirely surrounded; and those who were not killed or wounded were captured, with the exception of about 300 who came off slowly, but greatly scattered, the identity of every regiment being entirely lost, and every regimental commander killed or wounded.

The brigade went into action with 1,287 men and about 140 officers, as shown by the report of the previous evening, and sustained a loss, as the list of casualties will show, of 941 killed, wounded, and missing, and it is feared, from all the information received, that the majority (those reported missing) are either killed or wounded.

It is needles, perhaps, to speak of conspicuous gallantry where all behaved so well. Each and every regimental commander displayed a cool bravery and daring that not only encouraged their own commands, but won the highest admiration from all those who saw them. They led their regiments in the fight, and showed, by their conduct, that they only desired their men to follow where they were willing to lead. But of our cool, gallant, noble brigade commander it may not be out of place to speak. Never had the brigade been better handled, and never has it done better service in the field of battle. There was scarcely an officer or man in the command whose attention was not attracted by the cool and handsome bearing of General Garnett, who, totally devoid of excitement or rashness, rode immediately in rear of his advancing line, endeavoring by his personal efforts, and by the aid of his staff, to keep his line well closed and dressed. He was shot from his horse while near the center of the brigade, within about 25 paces of the stone wall. This gallant officer was too well known to need further mention.

Captain [C. F.] Linthicum, assistant adjutant-general, Lieutenant [John S.] Jones, aide-de-camp, and Lieutenant Harrison, acting aide-de-camp, did their whole duty, and won the admiration of the entire command by their gallant bearing on the field while carrying orders from one portion of the line to the other, where it seemed almost impossible for any one to escape.

The conduct of Captain [Michael P.] Spessard, of the Twenty eighth Virginia, was particularly conspicuous. His son fell, mortally wounded, at his side; he stopped but for a moment to look on his dying son, gave him his canteen of water, and pressed on, with his company, to the wall, which he climbed, and fought the enemy with his sword in their own trenches until his sword was wrested from his hands by two Yankees; he finally made his escape in safety.

In making the above report, I have endeavored to be as accurate as possible, but have had to rely mainly for information on others, whose position gave them better opportunity for witnessing the conduct of the entire brigade than I could have, being with, and paying my attention to, my own regiment.

I am, major, with great respect, your obedient servant,

Chas. S. Peyton,
Major, Commanding.

Hardy M.B. Greer; 18th & 45th Tennessee Inf.

40thindiana — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:29:18 +0000

Post-war image of Hardy Greer

Hardy Greer; known as ”Bud” by friends and family, was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee January 15, 1841. He was the last child born to Nathaniel (b. 1790) and Sarah “Sallie” (Childress) Greer (b. 1792). The couple had eleven children. Nathan and Sallie both ended up in Rutherford County during the western migration of their parents from North Carolina. Sallie’s father Isham was a veteran of the Revolutionary War, as was Nathan’s father John. Nathan was also a veteran; serving in Captain Carson’s Company of Tennessee Militia. He would be present at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in Alabama.

The Greer family owned several hundred acres in northern Rutherford county. The east fork of Stones River and Bradley’s creek bordered their land. Hardy would have a lot of area to explore while young man, as well many adventures; i’m sure. By 1856 most of the children were out of the house. On August 1st of this year Hardy’s father would pass away. Nathaniel would leave 70 acres of land to Sallie and Hardy, the 1860 census shows Sarah and Hardy as the only two people in the household.

As the clouds of war gathered Hardy felt he would have to make a decision. After Tennessee voted to leave the Union, it did not take long for Hardy to enlist. He would travel to the county seat of Murfreesboro and enlist as H.M.B. Greer on May 2, 1861. The men from Rutherford County would travel to Camp Trousdale where they would be mustered into the Provisional Confederate Army. Hardy would belong to Company I (Cainsville Guards), 18th Tennessee Infantry. By September 1, 1861 the regiment was with the rest of the army at Bowling Green, Kentucky along the Green River. A defencive line had been established there to protect Tennessee from invasion. The excitement soon faded for the soldiers at Bowling Green; it was apparent to all that they would spend the winter on this line. Dreams of great battles and heroism soon gave way to sickness. First hand accounts talk about the cold and dampness along the Green River; many soldier’s would die of disease at this place. On January 20, 1861 Hardy Greer would desert from the army. Why he did is not certain. There is one clue besides spending a severe winter in Kentucky.

In early 1862 a new regiment was being formed in Murfreesboro. Hardy’s brother-in-law; James Lillard had enlisted in Company G, 45th Tennessee Infantry. The company was made up of men from Rutherford county. Hardy would join the 45th Tennessee on February 28, 1862. Maybe fate was kind to Hardy. The 18th Tennessee had been sent to help defend Ft. Donelson, which sat on the Cumberland River. The whole regiment had been captured, and sent north to Union prison camps. The 45th Regiment had not been properly trained or armed in late Febuary. Because of the Confederate defeat at Ft. Donelson, the regiment was quickly placed in Statham’s Tennessee Brigade. The brigade which consisted of the 19th, 20th, 28th, and 45th Tennessee Regiment’s, was sent to Corinth, Mississippi. A build-up of Confederate forces was taking place in order to repeal the Union invasion of West Tennessee.

On April 6, 1862 Hardy and the 45th Tennessee would face their first major battle. Shiloh would rank as one of the bloodiest battles during the war. As part of General Breckinridge’s reserve corps, Statham’s Brigade would be placed in line of battle when corps or brigade commanders needed more strength in their lines. It did not take long for the call, Hardy would soon be fighting in the “Peach Orchard” sector of the battlefield. Written accounts state that the men could tell they were close to the action. The sounds of firing on their right became louder and their step quickened. The 45th Tennessee would be engaged around the Sarah Bell Farm, taking cover is a small ravine, they started a long range shooting contest with the enemy. The men of the regiment had never been under fire before and had been little trained in school of the soldier. At one point in the battle, they accidentally fired into the backs of the advancing 20th Tennessee Regiment. The men were worried about crossing a double row fence in front of an open field where the Sarah Bell Cabins stood. Some of the men in the 45th Tennessee would start to drift back out of line; officers would heard the stragglers back.

During the fight at the Peach Orchard, an officer came up to General Joseph Johnston; overall commander, and stated there was a Tennessee regiment that would not fight. After several attempts to advance the regiment by staff members, including Governor Isham Harris of Tennessee, General Johnston approached the regiment. He was carrying a tin cup he had picked up from a Union camp and began twirling it in his fingers while the regiment was put into line. Once in line, General Johnston began riding by the 45th Tennessee, he was tapping his cup on the tips of the men’s bayonet’s. He then stated “Men, they are stubborn; we must use the bayonet.” He then brought his horse to the center of the regiment and yelled, “I will lead you!” The General then led the whole brigade forward under heavy enemy fire. General Johnston would be killed later that day leading a different brigade in the Peach Orchard.

Hardy and the 45th Tennessee learned a lot about soldiering that day. On April 7th the battle would resume, and the Confederate Army would retreat back to Corinth that day a defeated army. Battered and bruised, they would settle in for a siege. Orders came for Breckinridge’s Corps to report to Mississippi; help was needed to protect the Vicksburg area. On July 27, 1862 Breckinridge’s Corps marched out of Vicksburg, the target was Baton Rouge. On August 5, 1862 the 45th would fight again. The battle of Baton Rouge had started off well, until the Union Army was pushed back to where the Union Navy’s gunboats were. The heavy artillery fire from the ships soon pushed Breckinridge’s men back. They would retreat to Jackson, Mississippi. Back in Tennessee, Confederate General Bragg was invading Kentucky. He wanted Breckinridge and his corps back, it contained the First Kentucky Brigade. His hopes were that Kentucky citizens would flock to the colors of the First Kentucky Brigade. By the time Breckinridge reached Tennessee, Bragg had been defeated at the battle of Perryville.

Breckinridge’s Corps stayed in Murfreesboro; where the rest of the Confederate Army would gather. On December 31st, 1862 the battle for Murfreesboro was started, Hardy and the 45th Tennessee were lightly engaged on this day. On January 2nd, 1863 Breckinridge’s Corps was chosen to make an attack on the Union Army. They would have to cross a large open field and ford Stones River under fire. The attack was a nightmare; Breckinridge’s Corps was cut to pieces by Union Artillery fire in the open field. Once near Stones River the Union Infantry opened with musketry fire on the advancing Confederate columns. In this poorly conceived attack, the 45th Tennessee lost 113 men killed, wounded and missing. General Bragg would retreat from Murfreesboro with nothing to show from the fight, except a long casualty list of men he could not afford to lose.

After the battle of Murfreesboro the Confederate Army stayed in the East Central Tennessee area. At some point Hardy left the army. Perhaps a “French Leave” as soldiers called it. He was captured near his home; Milton, Tennessee on February 13, 1863. Also captured that day was a John F. Miller, Company I, 18th Tennessee Infantry; Hardy’s old regiment. No one knows the reason, desertion after a terrible battle; need of clothes; or to check on Sallie, who at the time was living in the middle of a war zone. Hardy and John were sent north to Camp Butler, Illinois. Hardy was at Camp Butler until March 14, 1863. He was then sent to City Point, Virginia where he was exchanged along with other Confederate’s for Union prisoners. It is unclear if Hardy returned to the army, no other service record exist for him after his release.

Hardy would return to the banks of Bradley’s Creek and resume farming after the war. On August 7, 1885 his mother Sallie would pass away. Hardy would marry Miss Mary Judith Nolan on September 23, 1885, they would have 7 children. Hardy Greer died in Rutherford County, Tennessee on April 26, 1901.

Written by Scott Busenbark

Stephen P. Taylor; 31st Tennessee Inf.

40thindiana — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:31:21 +0000

1864 Dalton issue flag of the 31st Tennessee Infantry

Stephen P. Taylor was born in 1837 Gibson County, Tennessee. He was the son of John D. and Mary (Pybass) Taylor. John D. was born in North Carolina circa 1807, he migrated first to Rutherford County, Tennessee and then to Gibson County, Tennesse with at least two brothers. The family owned a farm in district 12; the Tuckersville area of Gibson County. There were five children in John and Mary’s family, all appear to have helped on the farm as the family owned no slaves.

At the outbreak of the Civil War a local Militia Captain; James B. Robinson started recruiting men in the area to enlist into the Confederate Army. At one point he held a large picnic near Browning Springs in hopes of drawing recruits. Stephen Taylor enlisted as a private in this local company known as “Sons of the South” at Trenton, Tennessee on September 27, 1861. Stephen’s company was organized, along with nine other companies into the 31st Tennessee Infantry at Camp Trenton. The regiment reached the field on November 29, 1861 at Columbus, Kentucky, joining General Polk’s army for the purpose of defending the Mississippi River from invasion. They would be moved several times along the Mississippi River in early 1862; New Madrid, Missouri; Island No. 10 and Ft. Pillow. They would miss the battle of Shiloh on April 6th and 7th because of their duty at Ft. Pillow, Tennessee. During this time the regiment was reported as being “well armed with Enfield Rifles.”

After the Confederate defeat at Shiloh the regiment was moved to Corinth, Mississippi with the main body of the Confederate Army. Here they would face off with the Union Army for several weeks, Stephen and his comrade’s would be involved in several small skirmishes here.

During late April and early May there were several desertions within the regiment. One of the deserters had been the company wagoner, the job of the wagoner was to drive a wagon with the company mess equipment. Stephen would get the job, thanks in part to his relative; 1st Sergeant William W. Taylor of Company E. The new duty meant Stephen would draw extra pay, although the duty was not as easy as it sounds. It took a person who could care for and handle a team of horses. There were many hazards being in an army’s wagon train, bushwhackers, Union Cavalry raids, and moving in a long slow wagon column on bad roads.

The regiment was placed in General Alexander P. Stewart’s brigade; later led by General Otto F. Strahl of the 4th Tennessee Infantry. In later years after the war, the men would say with pride that they were in Strahl’s Brigade.

The first large battle for the regiment was at Perryville, Kentucky. The 31st Tennessee lost 100 men killed and wounded, but had shown their grit to the other veteran regiments in the brigade. The 31st would fight at Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Chickamauga, Georgia; Missionary Ridge (Chattanooga) during 1862 and 1863. After the loss of Chattanooga the army spent the winter in Dalton, Georgia. Here the army was refitted and reorganized for the upcoming spring campaign. In early May 1864 the Union Army started the Atlanta Campaign, the regiment was under fire for 100 days. They were heavily engaged at Resaca, Georgia and Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia.

By July of 1864 the Confederate Army was bottled up around the city of Atlanta. The battle of Peach Tree Creek was fought on July 20 outside of Atlanta; which ended in Confederate defeat. The Confederate Army under General John Bell Hood was going to try and push the Union Army back on July 22. Strahl’s Brigade would be in the thick of this fight. Every man was needed, including Stephen. It appears he was placed back on line with his regiment. The July 22nd battle would be known as the Battle of Atlanta. Strahl’s Brigade would attack the Union Army’s defencive line at a place Union soldier’s call Bald Hill. The attack started well, but Strahl’s line was soon broken. There were many Confederate prisoners taken, one of them was Stephen Taylor.

Stephen, along with many other prisoners,was sent to Louisville, Kentucky and then shipped to Camp Chase, Ohio. He would stay at Camp Chase until Feb. 12, 1865. He was then moved to the P.O.W. Camp at Point Lookout, Maryland. By March 1st, 1865 he had been paroled. By the time Stephen reached Tennessee the war had ended.

Stephen returned to Gibson County after the war and started farming again. He was married in Gibson County to Miss Nancy L. White, the couple had no children. Sometime after 1880 Stephen and Nancy moved to Huntington,Carroll County, Tennessee. In 1905 Stephen applied for a Confederate pension, which was granted to him. He gave the following written statement:

” I was a Confederate soldier, Company E, 31st Tennessee Infantry that enlisted (in) the service September 1861 and served through the war. I left Richmond Virginia March 1st 1865; having parole furlow for 90 days and the war closed before the furlow expired. These facts could be readily proven, but my comrades are all dead or there where abouts unknown. I am 69 years old, penny less and totally unable to do manual labor, have no estate what ever and no one legally bound for my support. I make this application only for the due necessity to which I am reduced -my post office address is Huntington, Carroll County, Tennessee.”

Stephen P. Taylor January 2, 1906

Another Confederate veteran gave a written statement to the Tennessee Pension Board on behalf of Stephen:

“I am well acquainted with Stephen P. Taylor, was with him at Richmond, Virginia March 1865. We left there on the 12th day of March, 1865 after being exchanged and went with him to Jackson, Tennessee where we parted way about March 22, 1865 when I went home to Carroll County, Tennessee. We were both paroled. I was a member of (the) 1st Kentucky Regiment; Jackson Regiment. Stephen P. Taylor belonged to (the) 31st Tennessee Regiment; Cheatham’s Command. I am well acquainted with said Taylor now and know he is in needy circumstances and a worthy old Confederate Veteran and fully entitled to state pension. I have no interest in his claim for state pension except that justice be done.”

J.T. Smith; August 5th, 1905

Stephen is assumed to have died in Carroll County, Tennessee, date unknown. There are no death records for him and no cemetery record exists for Stephen or his wife.

Written by Scott Busenbark

The Fighting Pybass Brothers

40thindiana — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:03:57 +0000

Samuel Pybass grave

James Pybass grave

: Gibson County Confederate Veterans

For myself, some of the most interesting family members that served during the Civil War has to be the Pybass brothers of Gibson County, Tennessee. I have always been drawn to these boys for some unknown reason. The parents of the Pybass brothers were Nathaniel Pybass (b. 1810 Rutherford Co. Tenn.) and Paulina Allen Vaughn, they would have a total of eleven children and settle in Gibson County, Tennessee by 1850. The boys Grandparents (authors 4th Great Grandparents) were William Pybass and Elizabeth Greer; both natives of North Carolina. They were living on the banks of Bradley’s Creek in Rutherford County, Tennessee by 1810. William enlisted in the Tennessee Militia during the War of 1812. He would not return home, he died a soldier on Feb. 6, 1815 at New Orleans. His wife would receive a soldiers pension for his service, she would later marry a Mr. James Yearwood.

Nathaniel Pybass would move his family into the West Tennessee community of Trenton, where he ran a tailor shop on the town square. At the outbreak of the Civil War his son Samuel Newell Pybass would leave his job as a tailor and enlist at the age of 23 at Germantown, Tennessee as a member of the ”West Tennessee Riflemen” on May 15, 1861, this was one of the first Confederate units raised in Gibson County. The “West Tennessee Riflemen” would become company F, 4th Tennessee Infantry. After learning drill the 4th Tenn. was moved to Columbus, Kentucky on September 5, 1861. Their mission was to fortify the high bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River; a major waterway that was thought to be the Union Army’s main route for the invasion of the south. Conditions, as well as the weather were very poor, many men became ill at this place. At some point Samuel became very sick, he would be confined to a bed in the army hospital. Samuel Newell Pybass would die of disease; inflammation of the bowels on October 18, 1861. His body was returned home and he was laid to rest in the Oaklawn Cemetery at Trenton.

On December 20th, 1862 Samuel’s brother Parks Jefferson Pybass would enlist in company F, 12th Kentucky Cavalry. Another brother; James Thomas Lewis Pybass enlisted on July 25, 1863 in company D of the 12th Kentucky Cavalry. A few companies of this regiment were raised in Kentucky, but more than one half of the regiment was raised from West Tennessee men. They would be in Lyon’s Brigade of cavalry that served under General Nathan Bedford Forrest, who’s name was known and feared by Union commanders throughout the western theater of operations. Forrest’s men carried no saber’s, they were mostly armed with captured weapons; each trooper carried a rifle musket and two revolvers. These men fought more often then not dismounted, advancing as infantry. P.J. and James would fight many actions in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. Both boys were engaged in the battle of Brice’s Cross Roads, Miss.; a battle that is still studied by military students to this day. P.J. would be captured during Forrest’s raid on Memphis, Tennessee and spend some time in a Union prison camp. By order of the Confederate War Department James would be transferred, along with the other Tennessee men in the 12th Kentucky Cavalry; into the 19th/20th Consolidated Tennessee Cavalry. James served until the surrender of Forrest’s command at Gainesville, Alabama on May 10, 1865. He would pass away July 19, 1872 at the age of 39, most likely from the hardships he endured during his Confederate service. He is buried beside his brother Samuel in the Oaklawn Cemetery; Trenton, Tennessee.

P.J. filed for a Tennessee Confederate pension, which was granted to him. On August 25, 1927 he gave a written statement of his service in the 12th Kentucky Cavalry to the Tennessee State Pension board:

” I Parks Jefferson Pybass, native of the State of Tennessee, resident at Trenton, Gibson County, Tennessee; do solemnly swear that I was born October 10, 1844, in Gibson County, Tennessee. I enlisted in the Confederate Army on December 20, 1862, in Company F, 12th Kentucky Cavalry; Colonel Faulkner, Commander; John M. Carroll, Captain; General Lyon’s Brigade. In battles at Tishomingo Creek (Brice’s Cross Roads), Harrisburg Mississippi, Athens Alabama (Sulphur Trestle), Pulaski Tennessee, Oxford Mississippi and other smaller skirmishes, was not wounded. I was captured near Memphis, held in prison at Alton, Illinois for about three months, and exchanged at City Point, Virginia. Paroled at Gainesville, Alabama.”

P.J. Pybass

After the war P.J. would return to Trenton and marry Stella Hooker, they would raise a family of two daughters. P.J. would be active in the United Confederate Veterans, attending veteran reunions. He would live a full life, passing away on September 19, 1934. He is buried beside his wife in Oaklawn Cemetery, Trenton, Tennessee.

Written by Scott Busenbark

William David Lee 52nd Tenn. Inf.

40thindiana — Wed, 28 May 2008 21:30:06 +0000

William David Lee was born in Alabama during the year 1844. He was the son of Joseph C. and Nancy (Stewart) Lee. It is not known what portion of Alabama the family lived, Joseph was a native of Tennessee and Nancy was a native of Georgia. Sometime before 1860 the family moved to Hardin County, Tennessee, settling in District 14 somewhere between Olive Hill and Clifton, Tennessee. Joseph’s listed occupation in 1860 was a carpenter, the family owned no slaves. The Family consisted of Joseph C.; 38, Nancy; 35, David; 16, Samuel; 14, Green T.; 12, Sarah; 10, Joseph; 8, Presly; 6, Mary; 4, and Martha; 2. Hardin County was still considered a wild backwoods place in 1860, the Tennessee River cuts through the center of the county which made several communities lively places in the river trade .

As war fever swept across Tennessee in 1861, the majority of the people in Hardin County had voted to stay in the Union. Many men from the county would serve in the Union Army, but many Confederate companies were raised there also. In the month of December, 1861 David had made his choice to enlist in the Confederate army. His service record states that he traveled a distance of 40 miles to Henderson Station, Tennessee and enlisted on December 4th in Captain J. A. Russell’s Company B, 52nd Tennessee Infantry. Many regiments had already been raised in the summer months and were currently in the field defending Tennessee from invasion. The 52nd Tennessee did not have much time to drill, on January 24, 1862 General Polk ordered the regiment to Danville and from there they were to go to Fort Henry on the Tennessee River, while en-route they received news that the fort had fallen . They were then ordered to Columbus, Kentucky to join the Confederate garrison there, but because of inclement weather and many of the men suffering from measles the regiment was ordered to return to their camps at Henderson Station.

On March 5th the Fifty-second was ordered to report to Corinth, Mississippi, a build-up of Confederate forces was in progress after the fall of Fort Donelson on the Tennessee River. In early April the regiment would be placed in Brig. Gen. James Chalmers Mississippi Brigade. On the morning of April 6, 1862 David was back in Hardin County, preparing to make an attack against the Union Army that occupied the southwest portion of his county; around the area of Shiloh Church. The Fifty-second was placed on the left of the brigade and marched toward Spain Field in line of battle, camps of the Union Army could be seen near the field. This first attack would be a success, the Federal soldiers in this sector were smashed and thrown into confusion as Chalmers Brigade entered their camps. Chalmers attack was soon stopped, the brigade was ordered to the Hamburg-Savannah Rd. in the area of a stream; Locust Grove Run. It was here the Fifty-Second ran into trouble; while the regiment was maneuvering to let Confederate artillery fire, they were hit in the flank by muskets of the Union infantry. General Chalmers in his after action report stated that the Fifty-second Tennessee “broke and fled in most shameful confusion.” Chalmers tried to rally the regiment several times, and finally ordered the Fifty-second off of the field. Two company’s of the Fifty-second were allowed to continue the fight, David’s Company B and Company C. General Chalmers stated the companies of , ” J. A. Russell and A. N. Wilson fought gallantly in the ranks of the 5th Mississippi. Chalmers Brigade would be engaged in several sharp fights throughout the day, ending up at the Union strong point, the “Hornets Nest.” A Federal officer stated that “the fight here was the hottest of the day” speaking of his portion in the line where Chalmers Brigade attacked. The Hornets Nest finally broke in the evening and Chalmers pushed on toward Grants last line, but because of the terrain and Federal defence there, the attack was called off. On the morning of April 7, David and his comrades awoke to find that the Union Army had been reinforced. The fight was to continue, but it was soon realized that the Confederate Army was to weak from fighting on the 6th and no significant reinforcements were coming to the Confederates aid. The retreat back to Corinth was started, David had survived his first battle, which was one of the bloodiest in the west. David service record states that on April 22, 1862 he was promoted to the rank of Corporal.

In May the regiment was in the defenses around Corinth, it was ordered to consolidate with Colonel Chester’s 51st Tennessee Infantry; the regiment would be known as the 51st Consolidated Tennessee Infantry. This meant that David’s company was also consolidated with another company of the 52nd Tennessee, he was then reduced back to the rank of private. On June 30, 1862 the 51st/52nd Tennessee was placed in General B.F. Cheatham’s Division; General Daniel Donelson’s Brigade. It moved with it’s brigade from Corinth and into Kentucky as part of Bragg’s invasion of Kentucky.

The brigade was present at the battle of Perryville, the 51st/52nd and 8th Tennessee regiments were ordered to support W.W. Carnes Tennessee Battery. When the brigade prepared for an attack on the Union line, General Donelson sent back for his two regiments that were sitting idle. They could not be found in time for the first two attacks the brigade made. Donelson was forced to make two attacks with only three of his five regiments, the understrength brigade suffered severely in the attacks. Gen. Donelson sent aides to find the two regiments, after they were found, they ”double-quicked” to the rest of the brigade. The 51st/52 Tenn. were involved in the third charge of the day. The 51st/52nd Regiment attacked uphill between the Widow Gibson’s house and the Benton Road. They helped take part ot the 19th Indiana Battery and scatter their infantry support. Donelson and A.P. Sewart’s Brigades pursued the retreating Federal infantry over the hill. They approached a second hill filled with infantry and artillery, after a short contest Donelson and the other brigades withdrew. Cheatham’s Division was to tired and battered to go any further. In this battle the 51st/52nd Tennessee reported 9 killed and 25 wounded. The Army of Tennessee would retreat thru Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, to defend Middle Tennessee, around the town of Murfreesboro. The Union Army traveled south and occupied the city of Nashville.

In late December, 1862 the Union Army started an advance on Murfreesboro, Bragg prepared to defend Middle Tennessee. The battle started as a Confederate success, as General Bragg’s columns smashed into the Union’s right flank. The Union army seemed to be routed, but a defensive line was established along the railroad and Nashville Turnpike; a circular clump of cedar trees in this part of the field was known by the locals as Round Forest. General Chalmers Mississippians attacked this point and were repulsed. It was now Donelson’s turn to attack, in this situation David’s mind must have drifted back to the attack on the Hornets Nest at Shiloh. The 51st/52nd Tennessee Regiment was split by the railroad, companies A, F,& D were on the right side of the tracks, while the bulk of the regiment; David included, was on the left side of the railroad facing the defenders of the Round Forest sector.

In James Lee McDonough’s book “Stones River-Bloody winter in Tennessee”; he gives the following account of the attack made by Donelson’s Tennessee Brigade along the left side of the railroad following the Nashville Turnpike on December 31st. “Advancing from the left side of the Cowan house were the Eighth and Thirty-eighth Tennessee regiments, along with most of Colonel Chester’s Fifty-first Tennessee. Yelling and shrieking, these Rebels moved at double-quick pace across the open fields and into the face of a raking Yankee fire. Colonel W. L. Moore was out in front, leading the Eighth Tennessee. As Colonel John Anderson watched, he saw Moore’s horse fall and thought that the colonel himself had been killed. The Eighth’s color-bearer, J. M. Rice, was shot down, but he determinedly crawled forward on his knees, still holding the colors aloft, until a second bullet killed him.

The Rebels were paying a horrible price, but onward they charged toward the cedar break south of the Round Forest. At last across the open fields, they were plunging into the Yankee-filled woods when Colonel Moore overtook his regiment. Unharmed, he had freed himself after being pinned under his dying horse and then dashed madly after his regiment. Now, sword in hand, he was once more boldly urging his men forward when he went down, shot through the heart.

Sweeping into the woods, the Confederates crashed into the Federal’s first line, which gave way before the elated attackers. A second Union line was brought forward; neither could it stem the hard-driving Tennesseans. The men in Gray had gained a temporary success, driving back Negley’s division and Cruft’s Brigade.

It was however, a heartbreaking, pyrrhic victory. The Eighth Tennessee went into the battle with 425 men, of which 306 became casualties, most of them in this devastating assault. In one of it’s companies, out of twelve officers and sixty-two men engaged, only one corporal and twenty men escaped unhurt. What happened to the Eighth Tennessee had also happened to the rest of Donelson’s Brigade. A strong Union counterattack soon drove them away from this blood-bought soil and everything, except for the dead and wounded, was just as it had been before the attack was made.”

The 51st/52nd Tennessee had gone into the fight with 270 men, it lost in killed, wounded, and missing 76 men. One of the casualties in Company B was David Lee, his service record states he was “slightly wounded” on December 31, 1862. The battle would continue through January 2, 1863, ending with General Bragg retreating to Tullahoma, Tennessee. On January 2, David’s muster sheet shows him as being “sent to the Hospital at Rome, Georgia.” David never appears as being present on the rolls of the 51/52 Tennessee after the 2nd of January, 1863.

The rest of David’s service history is somewhat of a mystery, his daughter, my GG-Grandmother Nancy A. stated that she was born ( October 3, 1865) after her father had come home from the war. A Nathan Columbus Davis of Savannah, Hardin County was asked in “The Tennessee Civil War Veterans Questionnaire” to name members of his company that he could remember. He had served in Company F, Biffle’s 9th (19th) Tennessee Cavalry. He gave many names from his company; in the first twenty names listed appears “Dave Lee” and “Sam Lee” (Vol. II, p 651). All of the men he named were from Hardin or western Wayne counties, which is where Company F was raised. Samuel “Sam” , David’s brother was a corporal in Company F, enlisting Sept. 22, 1862. Samuel only has a two page service record for almost three years of service. He was surrendered at Gainesville, Alabama on May 10, 1865. After going thru the 19th Tenn. Cavalry rolls, I found the same is true for the rest of the men in Company F. There are only one or two regimental muster sheets for each man, unless they had been captured and had a ’prisoner of war” record.

1.) The “muster in” sheet filled out at enlistment, late ‘62, early ‘63. On this first roll it lists the trooper’s name, but does not state if they were present or absent.

2.) The “surrender sheet” for Gainsville, Alabama in May of 1865.

Anyone that enlisted after early 1863 does not have a record with the company. If they joined the company later and became sick, wounded, discharged or deserted before or at the time of surrender, then there is no “Individual Service Record” for those men. I don’t know which of the above happened to David while serving in the cavalry, but the published statement from Nathan C. Davis is the only record of David’s service in the 19th Tennessee Cavalry.

After the war David married Sarah Elizabeth Lindsey; daughter of John W. Lindsey , District 2, Hardin County. David appears in the 1870 U. S. Census of Hardin County; District 14 as “William”, 26 years of age. Also in the household was his wife Sarah; age 21, with daughters Nancy; 4yrs. & Eda; 9 months old. In 1880 the family is shown as David; 35, Sarah; 31, Nancy A.; 14, Catharine; 8, Martha; 2, and Wesley Cooley; 4, who is listed as a nephew. After 1880 David and Sarah are lost in the census records forever, their whereabouts after 1880 is unknown. His Brother Green. T. Lee is buried in Dyersburg, Tennessee, and brother Samuel is buried in Los Angles, California. Joseph C. Lee, David’s father died sometime between 1860 and 1870, Nancy (Joseph’s wife) is listed as the head of household by 1870. David’s daughter Nancy is buried by her sister Sarah (Johnson) in Gibson County, Tennessee. Nancy A. died on November 2,1942 after a fall while visiting her sister in Trenton,Tennessee, she had lived in Missouri and Ohio with her son Granville Alexander.

Wherever he is, I am proud that David Lee was my Grandfather. I sometimes wish there was a grave stone, a place to plant flags, and lay flowers to his memory. As I gaze at his Civil War image I feel great pride, but I also realize that if David had lost his life at Shiloh, Perryville or Murfreesboro I would not be writing his story today. It is this thought that makes David Lee and the Civil War very real to me.

To the memory of William David Lee; by your Grandson:

Scott R. Busenbark