Eli Swihart, 47th Indiana Inf.

47th Indiana Infantry Monument at Vicksburg, Miss.

Eli Swihart was born February 25, 1820 in Ohio. He was the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Palmer) Swihart.During the 1850’s some of the Swihart family stared to migrate west into northern Indiana. By 1860 Eli and his wife Elizabeth (Goble) owned a farm in Turkey Creek Township, Kosciusko Co., Indiana with their five children Mary Jane, William, Lucinda, Lydia A. and Samuel L. During 1861 the Civil War had started, it appears Eli was more interested in his family and their farm than enlisting in the Army at his age. Although one of Eli’s younger brothers, George had already enlisted in the 89th Indiana Infantry in Jay Co, Indiana. During 1862 the Federal government instituted the draft. In October of that year Eli was notified that he had been drafted for a period of nine months. On October 16, 1862 Eli Swihart at 43 years of age, reported for duty. He along with several others from Kosciusko Co. were placed in company D; 47th Indiana Infantry Regiment which was already in the field.

Eli and the rest of the new men would be shipped south to Helena, Arkansas were the 47th Regiment was stationed until the end of February 1863. In March the regiment was sent to General U.S. Grant, who was building the army up for a push to take Vicksburg, Mississippi. April 30th, 1863 the 47th Indiana, along with the rest of the army crossed the Mississippi river and landed at the little hamlet of Bruinsburg and started to push inland. On the morning of May 1, the regiment found itself at a place called Port Gibson. Confederates were found in strong defencive positions; while the terrain in the area did not allow much manuvering room to attacking troops. The Union Army attacked and Eli saw his first action. By evening the Confederates had withdrawn, but the battle at Port Gibson had been a hard back and forth fight for both sides; the 47th Indiana had played a large roll in the fight. Grant continued to push into Mississippi, going through Raymond and Jackson.  As the army was getting close to Vicksburg, the Confederate Army was making plans to push Grant away for good by massing troops for an attack. On May 16 the Confederate Army was found near a place called Champion Hill around Baker’s Creek. This would prove to be the battle for Vicksburg; Eli and the 47th Indiana found themselves engaged in heavy combat, sometimes hand to hand throughout the day. The losses were heavy for both sides, but the Union Army had pushed the Confederates back to their Vicksburg defences. By late May Grant was at the gates of Vicksburg, on two separate occasions he tried to take the city by force and was pushed back each time. The Army settled in for a siege during some of the hottest months in Mississippi. Eli and the 47th Indiana would be digging trenches for their protection and approach trenches toward the Confederate works. The regiments position was across from Fort Garrott, a strong Confederate earthwork. From late May and throughout June Eli would find himself under fire almost daily and exposed to the elements of a Mississippi summer. On July 4, 1863 the city of Vicksburg had fallen, the soldiers of the 47th Indiana must have been very excited at the Confederate surrender. Eli had lived to see Vicksburg fall and must have been thinking about going home as his time in the army had almost expired. July 16, 1863 was the day Eli had been waiting for, he was discharged honorably and would be sent home.

It is not known when he arrived home or how his health was, but seeing his family again must have been a joyous moment. Sadly on August 23, 1863, after living through the marches, battles and trench warfare of the Vicksburg Campaign, Eli Swihart died at his home. It would have been easy for Eli to have avoided the draft or deserted somewhere along the trip south. He must have felt a sense of duty, his government had called him and he would serve. In his nine months of service Eli saw more action than some soldiers did in four years, unfortunatly for his family, the campaign took years off of his life. Eli was laid to rest in Mock Cemetery, Kosciusko County, Indiana. 

Written By Scott Busenbark

Francis M. Jeffery, 38th Illinois Inf.

“The History of DeWitt County Illinois”

F.M. Jeffery was born in Fayette County, Indiana, September 21st, 1832. The family is Scotch descent on the paternal side. William Jeffrey, the great-grandfather of the present family, emigrated from Scotland to America, and was a soldier of the Revolution. He settled in New Jersey when William, the grandfather, was born. He moved to Utica, New York, where William, his son, and the father of Francis M. was born. The grandfather was a soldier of the war of 1812, and also in the Indian wars, and was at the battle of Tippecanoe. In 1811 he moved to Fayette County, Indiana, and remained there until 1856, when he came to Illinois and settled in this township. He married Ruth Allen, of New York, by whom there were four sons and four daughters. William, the father of F. M., was the eldest son. He was born in Utica, New York, October 27th, 1807, and died August 23d, 1877. He came to Waynesville Township in 1837, and has followed his trade of tanning, subsequently engaging in farming. He married Harriet DeCamp, who was born March 2d, 1813. She still survives her husband. By that marriage there were twelve children-four sons and three daughters still living. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of the children. He worked with his father at the tanning business, and on the farm until 1856, then went to carpentering, and continued at the trade until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted for three years in Co. “F” 38th Reg’t. Ill. Vols. The regiment became part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Army Corps. He participated with his regiment in the hard fought battles of Fredericktown, Champion Hills, Stone River, Liberty Gap, the first and second battles of Corinth, then in the Atlanta Campaign, Mission Ridge, Chickamauga, and Jonesboro, where the time of service of the regiment expired. He was wounded at the battle of Perryville, where the command was repulsed in their attempt to capture a battery. He received two wounds at Stone River. At the battle of Liberty Gap he was one of the sixty men who volunteered to capture a battery. They succeeded, but it cost them one-fourth of the men in killed and wounded. In that desperate undertaking Mr. Jeffrey was wounded in the head. After he was mustered out he returned home and resumed his trade of carpentering in which he still continues. On the 25th of December, 1850, he married Miss Sarah McEntire. She died in March 1857. Two children by that marriage both died. On July 21st, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Alice Kidd, who was born in Miama County, Indiana. She is the daughter of Captain Edmund Jones Kidd, a native of Carolina County, Virginia. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, with the rank of Captain. His wife, and the mother of Mrs. Jeffrey, was Christiana DeCamp, of Vermont. The DeCamps are of French ancestry. There have been born to Mrs. Jeffrey, four sons and four daughters, two sons and two daughters living. Their names in the order of their births are Roxie B., Mabel St. Clair, Edmund Ernest, and Charles Kidd Jeffrey. On the subject of religious belief, Mr. Jeffrey subscribes to none of the formulated creeds, but believes that in doing unto others as you would have others do unto you, is contained the genuine essence of true religion. He is member of the order of I. O. O. F. and Encampment, and belongs to Prairie State Lodge No. 104 and Encampment, No. 23, Atlanta, Illinois. Politically, he has been a Republican since that party came into existence and supported John C. Fremont for President in 1856. This, in short, is a brief history of Mr. Jeffrey. He was a gallant and brave soldier, and is a good citizen, an honest man, and as such enjoys the confidence and esteem of the entire community.

Hiram Palmer 100th Indiana Infantry

Hiram H. Palmer, one of the highly esteemed citizens of Anderson, Ind., belongs to an old English Puritan family of North Carolina. He was born Jan. 21, 1844, in Canton, Ohio, son of George and Catherine (Hoover) Palmer.

Christopher Palmer, grandfather of Hiram H., was a native of Lancaster county, Pa., but after marriage he removed with, his family to Stark county, Ohio, near Canton, where he cleared up a farm of 250 acres, becoming one of the substantial citizens and good, practical farmers of that section. He served during the Mexican war. His children were: Christopher, John, Henry, George, Christina and Rebecca. The father of these children died on his farm in Ohio, an aged man.

George Palmer, father of Hiram H., was also a native of Lancaster county, Pa., and as a boy removed with his parents to near Canton, Ohio, where his agricultural operations were commenced, but in 1844 he removed to near Auburn, in the woods of DeKalb county, Ind., making the trip by horses and wagons. There he cleared 120 acres of wild land, and he died on his farm aged seventy-two years. A Presbyterian in religious belief, he was a good and pious man, and assisted in building the church of his denomination in that section. In politics he was a Democrat.

Mr. George Palmer was twice married, and his first wife, who died in Ohio, left him these children: John, Elizabeth and Mariah. He married (second) Catherine Hoover, daughter of Judge Jacob Hoover (whose wife was a Nusbaum), for many years Judge of the Common Pleas Court of Stark county. To this union there were born: Elias, Lucinda, Margaret, Matilda, Lewis, Hiram H., Mary, Anthony and Ferdinand.

Hiram H. Palmer was four years of age when the family located in Indiana, and he was reared amid pioneer surroundings in DeKalb county, attending the district school in the winter months and working on the farm during summers, as was the custom of the pioneer Indiana farmers’ boys. He went to Auburn when about seventeen years old, and had worked for about one year at the trade of bricklayer, when, Aug. 6, 1862, he enlisted as a private of Company A, 100th Ind. V. I., to serve three years or during the war, his term of service expiring after two years and nine months. He was mustered out at Washington, D. C., June 8, 1865, receiving his honorable discharge at Indianapolis, Ind. He participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Jackson, Colliersville, Stockdale No. 4, Holly Springs, Corinth, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Marietta, Atlanta Campaign, New Hope Church, Kenesaw. Mountain, the last battle of Atlanta, Sherman’s March to the Sea, Savannah, Goldsboro and Cumberland Gap. He took part in the Grand Review at Washington. At Missionary Ridge he was called by a Confederate soldier, who was wounded, and asked for a drink of water. As he was about to go, after having given his enemy all the water in his canteen, the Confederate raised his gun and attempted to shoot him, but the quick action of Lieut. Vesey of the 6th Iowa, who struck the Confederate on the head with his sword, probably saved Mr. Palmer’s life. He received a scalp wound in the charge at Missionary Ridge, and was also slightly wounded in the left shoulder, which necessitated his confinement in the hospital at Memphis, Tenn., for one month. He was also in the hospital at Grand Junction, Tenn., for three months, suffering from typhoid fever with complications. He was ever a faithful, brave and active soldier, and earned promotion to the rank of duty sergeant, serving for about two months on the staff of General Grant, at Washington, about the time of the close of the war.

After the war was over Mr. Palmer returned to Auburn, Ind., and later worked at the slater’s or roofer’s trade in Toledo, Ohio, but again engaged in bricklaying, at which he continued for five years. In 1872 he went to Chicago, where two years were spent, at the end of which time he returned to Auburn for one year, then going again to Toledo, he remained there three years, and the next eighteen years were spent in Auburn in contracting. He has also resided in Fort Wayne, Muncie and Indianapolis, following contracting at all of these places, but in 1899 he came to Anderson, where he is still in active business, having erected many fine buildings here.

Mr. Palmer was married (first) July 23, 1871, at Fort Wayne, Ind., to Cordelia Worley, born near Massillon, Ohio, daughterof Samuel T. and Rebecca (Dickerkoof) Worley, and to this union there were born: George W., who served two years in the U. S. regular army; Milford S.; Harry W., who served in the Spanish-American war in Cuba with a good record; and Maggie A. The mother of these children died in December, 1886, in Fort Wayne. Mr. Palmer was married (second) at Fort Wayne, Ind., Aug. 14, 1893, to Mary C. Walker (nee Daly), born March 11, 1847, in Franklin county, Pa., daughter of William G. and Mary C. (Bowen) Daly, the former of Irish and the latter of German descent.

William G. Daly was born June 30, 1825, and died March 8, 1877. He was the son of William Griffith and Mary (Locke) Daly, natives of Ireland, who came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, the son being born in Franklin county. He owned a farm in that county, but sold it and located in Indiana Dec. 25, 1857, purchasing a farm of eighty acres in the woods of Noble county, half of which property he cleared. He sold this and soon after located in Whitley county, near Columbia City, where he was living in August, 1862, at the time of his enlistment in Company B, 74th Ind. V. I., for three years or during the war. He served until the close of the struggle, being honorably discharged at Washington. For eight months he was color bearer of his regiment, two other color-bearers having been shot, and while thus serving his country he received a wound from which he never fully recovered. He participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Bull Run, Chattanooga, Burnt Hickory, Gumberland Gap, Lookout Mountain, Raleigh, and the Atlanta Campaign, including Sherman’s March to the Sea. He was married in Pennsylvania to Mary C. Bowen, born in 1827, in Germany, daughter of Jacob and Ann Mary Bowen, and she died Feb. 19, 1899, in the faith of the Dunkard Church. Mr. Daly was a Presbyterian. Jacob Bowen was educated in Germany for the Catholic priesthood, but on coming to this country became a weaver which trade he followed for some time, but later he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Noble county, Ind., where he died.

Mrs. Palmer’s first marriage was at Columbia City, Whitley Co., Ind., Sept. 27, 1866, to Lewis J. Walker, a farmer of that county, and to them were born these children: John A. whose death occurred in his twenty-sixth year Cora J., who died when twenty-one years of age; Ella S., who died aged fifteen years; Lewis J. Walker died in Columbia City, Ind. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs Palmer.

Mr. Palmer is connected with the G. A. R., as officer of the day of Major May Post, of Anderson. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, at Muncie, and the I. 0. 0. F., al Fort Wayne. Mrs. Palmer is a member of the Woman’s Relief Corps, and active in the proceedings of that organization. She and her husband are both active in the work of the Catholic Church in Anderson, of which they are consistent members and liberal supporters. They are very well known in society circles of the city, and have a large number of warm personal friends. Mr. Palmer is a Republican in his political belief, but takes only a good citizen’s interest in public matters.

William Garvin 96th O.V.I.

96th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Monument at Vicksburg

The History of Marion County Ohio

WILLIAM GARVIN, (Claridon Township) of the firm of Garvin & Weis carriage and wagon makers, was born in Franklin County, Penn., June 13, 1835. His parents, Henry and Catherine Garvin, were natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married. They came to Seneca County, Ohio, in 1852 or 1853, and resided near Tiffin for eighteen months, when they moved to Fremont, Ohio, where his wife, Catherine, died in 1873, aged sixty-eight years. He, died in 1883, aged eighty-five years. William Garvin received a common school education, and at the age of sixteen commenced learning his trade, at Green Castle, Penn. After completing the same, he removed to Cardington, Ohio, where he was employed at his trade for six years, at the expiration of which time he removed to Marion. October 20, 1857, he was married to Ann L. Wilcox, who was born September 14, 1837. She was a daughter of Jacob and Rebecca Wilcox. This union was blessed with three children, only one of whom is living, namely, Harry D., born November 6, 1858. Mrs. Garvin died April 17, 1862, and April 8, 1869, Mr. Garvin was married to Susan Hock, a daughter of John and Almira Hock, by whom he has had three children-George, born January 11, 1870; Laura B., April 5, 1873; and Lee M., born December 5, 1877. Mr. Garvin remained in Marion Until 1862, when he enlisted in Company E, Ninety-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry and participated in the following battles of the rebellion: Vicksburg, Sabine Cross Roads, Forts Morgan and Gaines, the taking of Mobile, etc. His term of enlistment for three years having expired, he was honorably discharged from the service at Camp Chase, Ohio. He then returned to Marion, and moved to Claridon in 1867, where he has since resided and been engaged in business. The present firm gives employment to eight hands. Mr. Garvin has served the township as Township, Clerk four years. Is a Democrat, a member of the F. & A. M. and of the United Brethren Church (History of Marion County, Ohio.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Leggett, Conaway & C0. 1883

Stephen Cook 123rd O.V.I.

Stephen Cook (BACKGROUND)

The History of Wyandot County Ohio

STEPHEN R. COOK, son of L. H. and Sabina (Adams) Cook, was born February 8, 1841. He resided with his parents till he joined the army in 1862, enlisting in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Enlisting as private, he was soon promoted to Orderly, participating in the battles of Winchester, New Market, Piedmont, Lynchburg, Snicker’s Gap, Berryville, Opequan, Fisher’s Hill, Cedar Creek, Petersburg and Hatcher’s Run. Being wounded at Cedar Creek, he was compelled to lie in a hospital six months, after which he was honorably discharged, having served three years. Returning home, he was married, June 17, 1869, to Miss Ann E. Bowman, daughter of T. N. and Eliza (Gib. son) Bowman (see sketch), and two children have been born to them – George B., May 23, 1875, and Helen E., March 29, 1878. Mrs. Cook was born January 26, 1847. He inherited twenty acres of his present farm, to which be has since added twenty, all valued at $70 per acre. Mr. Cook is a strong Republican. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Upper Sandusky.

Zephaniah Crain 10th Indiana Inf.

Zehpahiah H. Crain was born in 1818 at Warren County, Ohio. He was the son of Elihu Crain/Crane (b. 1777), the family moved to Montgomery County, Indiana sometime before 1830. Elihu was one of the founding members of the Sugar Creek Baptist Church in 1823, according to church records. The family farmed in Walnut Township around the area of Fredericksburg; modern day Mace. Zephaniah married Sarah J. Busenbark; daughter of Redden Busenbark on February 25, 1848.  Zephaniah’s farm was about 1/2 mile northeast of Fredericksburg, modern day Interstate 74 cuts through Zeph’s home place.

With the Civil War already in progress, many of the three month regiments had returned home, their term of enlistment had expired. Most of these regiments would re-organize for three year service. In Montgomery county the 10th Indiana Infantry was recruiting men for three year service. At the age of 42; Zephaniah made the 4 mile trip to Crawfordsville and on September 18, 1861 enlisted in the “Crawfordsville Guard”. After the company was organized, the recruits traveled to Lafayette, IN. and went into quarters at Camp Tippecanoe for training. They were designated  as Company B, 10th Indiana Infantry. The regiment would soon be off to Kentucky; where they were still learning to be soldiers.

Zephaniah soon found himself in eastern Kentucky, around the area of Somerset. On the morning of January 19, 1862 Zeph and the rest of the regiment were sleeping in their camp near Logan’s Cross Roads. They were awakened by the sounds of musket fire, the Confederate Army was attacking the Union camps in this area. The 10th Indiana was quickly formed in line of battle and marched toward the skirmish line, they would be one of the first infantry regiments engaged at the battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky. The 10th Indiana was in for a long day; Zephaniah’s company would be in the thick of the fight throughout day. Company B had the highest causality’s in the  10th Regiment; 3 killed and 21 wounded, one of whom was Zephaniah. He had been hit by a ball on the left wrist at some point in the battle, but would soon recover. General G.H. Thomas had led his Union troops to victory, and the men had proven themselves soldiers to their commander; they had stood their ground and fought well.

The 10th Indiana would march into Tennessee, across the Shiloh battlefield and south to Corinth, MS. where the Union army was laying siege to the Confederate Army that had retreated from Shiloh. By May 30, 1862 the Confederates had evacuated the works and would move to Chattanooga, then north into Kentucky. Confederate General Bragg had hopes of pushing the Union Army out of Kentucky, and hoped to draw thousands of new recruits into his army. The Union Army started to move north also, the race to Louisville would be on between the two armies. The Federals would reach the city first, Zephaniah , with the rest of the army had made a forced march through Kentucky under severe drought conditions. The troops were re-equipped and marched out of Louisville in search of the Confederate Army.

By the evening of October 7, 1862 the 10th Indiana was near the town of Perryville, Kentucky. Part of the Confederate Army was found drawn up in line of battle close to town. The 10th Indiana was posted near one of few water supplies in the area; Doctor’s Creek. As the drought continued, water was a precious commodity to both armies. Early on the morning of 8th Confederate troops were placed on Peter’s Hill, which overlooked Doctor’s Creek. Zephaniah’s regiment was ordered around 5 A. M. to engage the enemy posted on Peters Hill.  The regiment of Confederate Infantry that Zephaniah and the 10th Indiana would face was the 5th Arkansas Infantry.

 Following is the after action report of Colonel William Kise; 10th Indiana Infantry. …….. “Nothing further occurred until 5 A. M. when the regiment was formed in line of battle and moved across an open field about a half-mile, when the skirmishers under Captain Johnson were again fired upon by the enemy. I arrived on the field at 7 A. M. and took command. Soon after I relieved Captain Johnson’s company of skirmishers by sending forward Company B, Captain Goben, to take their place, which position Captain Goben maintained, skirmishing with the enemy occasionally until about 12 o’clock noon, when by your order, moved the regiment out of the woods, across an open field under fire of shot and shell from a battery of the enemy. Crossing a rail and stone fence, and ascending a steep hill, followed to our left, and somewhat in our rear by the Eighty-sixth Illinois under command of Colonel Irons.

We came upon a force of the enemy outnumbering us, who at once opened a galling fire upon us which was returned by my regiment.

Company B, Captain Goben being the left flanking company and near where the enemy was in heavy force under cover of a rail fence and under the slope of a hill sustained the brunt of the battle, suffering the loss of four killed and three wounded; but the captain leading his men stood up resolutely, and after my regiment had obstinately contested the ground for twenty minutes, the enemy gave way and fled in confusion, leaving their dead and wounded on the field.”

At some point during the charge up Peter’s Hill, Zephaniah received a severe wound. It was not by enemy artillery or muskets; but by someone from his own company.  In Zephaniah’s pension paperwork, the regimental surgeon; under oath, explains what happened that day. ” That at the battle of Perryville in the state of Kentucky on the 8th day of October 1862, while making a charge on the enemy, Zephaniah H. Crain, a private in Co. B, of said 10th Reg’t. Ind. Vols., while in the service of the United States and in the line of his duty was injured in the left eye, by being struck in the eye by a bush which was violently jerked down by one of the men of said company, who had seized hold of the brush to aid himself in climbing the hill.

I treated him for said injury for only a few days and then submitted him to the General Hospital. On account, and by reason of the injury above described, said eye inflamed and the sight of said eye was thereby entirely destroyed.”

Zephaniah would be in the hospital for several months, Perryville would be his last battle. He was not finished with the military though, he was transferred to Company A; 8th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps, October 1, 1863. The Veteran Reserve Corps (V.R.C.) were soldiers who could not perform normal field duties, they were used as guards of prisoners or placed at other low key duty stations to free up fit troops for the field.  When his term of 3 years came up, he re-enlisted in the  V.R.C., he would muster out in 1865, it seems that serving his country was important to Zephaniah.  As stated before he applied for a soldiers pension and it was granted to him. In his later years his eye wound was still giving him trouble, a doctor stated that it had “sunken back in the socket and still drained fluid.” Zephaniah Crain lived the rest of his life with scars from a random battlefield accident, he would carry a small part of Perryville with him until his death. He was proud of his service; belonging to the Grand Army of the Republic, Abe Lincoln Post #24 in Mace, Indiana. Zephaniah died a widower on August 23, 1898, he is buried in the Mace K of P Cemetery. His daughter Malinda married Samuel Landis Busenbark in Montgomery County, Indiana.

Scott Busenbark

William David Lee 52nd Tenn. Inf.

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