16th Tennessee Volunteer
Infantry Regiment
1861
Throughout
Tennessee men were gathering for war and on the 14 May
in Van Buren County many
met at Wiley Miller's with their wives, daughters and sisters along to bid them
farewell. At 1400 they marched for McMinnville 'to the music
of Alf and Joe Stipe's fiddles and Lewis Ford's drum'. Where they arrived
late in the evening.
The 10 Companies comprising the Regiment were raised throughout the State of Tennessee during May, with 952 officers and men enlisting.
Many of the men who enlisted were inducted into Tennessee forces on the 20
May by General Anderson at Camp Harris at Alistonia, where the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad crosses the Elk
river. The men formed into line
to be inspected for physical fitness. 'the maimed and stiff jointed put
forth their very best appearance, for fear of being rejected, but Oh! my, 'twas
not long until some began to make excuse'.
Company B mustered at Manchester and proceeded towards
Camp Harris on the 21 May, arriving on the 22nd. Here all began army life with its routine of drill and discipline.
All the various companied rendezvoused at Estil Springs, near Tullohama and left camp there over the 24th, 25th, and 26th, and proceeded to
Richland Station where they arrived on the 27th. Here they
drew and pitched tents.
On the 11 June 'Savage's Regiment'
moves from Richland
Station to Camp Trousdale 45 miles north of Nashville
on the Louisville and Nashville Rail Road, near the village of
Richland, now Portland. On arrival the evening
was spent
on 'hard labor clearing
and arranging our campground'.
The 13th saw a
deliberate false alarm at about 2300 and although they were at this time unarmed
the men of the Regiments 'were aroused and thrown into line with an alacrity that
would scarcely have been expected of troops who had long been inured to the
field...(ready to defend their camp with)...poles,
clubs, rocks, shovels, spades, tongs and various other implements of war'.
The 16th saw the Regiment have their first dress parade in the
evening, and on the 18th 15 men are given furloughs for home.
The 4
July, a
hot and clear day, saw the 'ladies of the Mountain District' present
the Regiment with a 'most beautiful flag' represented by Captain A. L. Davis
to Savage.
On the11th, in
the evening, a deserter was mustered out of service with his 'head bare
and half shaved, barefooted and pants rolled above the knees', and with a board
painted with red letters hung across his chest and shoulders reading 'deserter'.
20th and the Regiment received orders to be prepared to move at an hour's
warning and make a training march 'up the Louisville Railroad about three miles with guns,
knapsacks, haversacks and canteens', they were also placed into a mini Brigade comprised of themselves and the 8th Tennessee, under the command of S. R. Anderson.
On the morning of the 21st July the Regiment 'tents were struck, and the baggage placed upon the
train'.
During pouring
rain on the 22nd the Regiment left camp Trousdale at daylight and
marched to Richland Station here they boarded a train at 0800 on the train they
were drenched with rain in the open top cars
with their 'swords, knapsack and rations all wet and our
bodies thoroughly chilled'. They now passed
through Nashville at 1600, they then here they waited a while and had 'a
splendid dinner....which we enjoyed very
much. While there many of the men became beastly drunk, some of whom had to be
left in the city and many others were remarkably troublesome'. They
now continued by rail to Tullahoma where they passed through about 2100.
On the 23rd
they arrived in Chattanooga around 0900 where they waited till after 2300 before
leaving for Knoxville.
They arrived there about 1400 on the
24th. Left Knoxville about 0700, on the 25th, and arrived at Hainsville
about 2100, staying there the rest of the night.
The next day, the 26th, they marched
about a quarter of a mile from town and then pitched tents, 'and then
practiced with their muskets in the afternoon'.
On the 27th they packed up at
0500 and marched back to the railroad until 1300 when they boarded train and
left for Bristol where they arrived at 1700 and stayed all night.
They left Bristol at 1000 the next day and then
travelled all day and night until they reached Lynchburg, Virginia, about 1200 on the 29th. Detrained, marched south about three miles and pitched camp.
While on route through Tennessee
'At every town and station citizens and ladies were waving handkerchiefs and hurrahing for Jeff Davis and the Southern
Confederacy'.
On the 1 August the Regiment held elections for the adoption or rejection of the Confederate States
Constitution needless to say they adopted it.
Thus on the 2nd they struck tents at 0500, marched back to Lynchburg and
took the train for Staunton.
From here they set of for Millborough, by rail, on the 3rd arriving about 0300, on the 4th, during
that day they 'cleared off a place to camp near the depot' and 'practised shooting our
musquets'.
. On the evening of the 5th they marched three miles towards Huntersville before camping for the
night, 'on Cowlick Creek near an old school or church'. The next day,
the 6th, they marched 12 miles before camping at Warm Springs.
The 7th saw them march past Bath Alum Springs and arrive at
Back River and camp at Colonel Gatewood's (Gaitwood's) in the evening having managed only 13 miles over mountainous country. And at 0600 on the 8th continued on arriving at Huntersville where they pitched tents about one mile west of
town.
Here they joined the
command of General Loring (called the Huntersville Division) and
they were now assigned to the Brigade of Daniel S. Donelson (this was composed of the 8th
and 16th TN, 1st and 14th GA and the Greenbrier, VA Cavalry.)
Two main thoroughfares
went through were they were ' Green Bank and Green Brier Roads' the
Brigade, together with the
Forty-eight Virginia and a Georgia Regiment were left here on guard these roads.
On the 22 Aug the Regiment participated in company and regimental
drill, althouh the increasingly worse weather conditions and the health of the
Regiment was in decline with 'typhoid and bilious fevers and other diseases was
quite fatal, killing some of our best and stoutest men' with 'one
hundred men were sick and unfit for duty—ninety-six of them from diarrhea, and
four from fever' as they were camped on 'a low, wet, and spongy tract of land, very unfit for a permanent
encampment'.
Due to the Regiments
poor health Savage asked Donelson for the Regiment to camp 'on the side of
the mountain above Huntersville where the winds blew and the air was cool and
there was a spring of water almost as cold'. Donelson refused, regardless, on the 23rd the Regiment moved to a new
campground about 1/2 mile south of Huntersville on a 'very lofty hill'.
On the 24-31 the Regiment drilled with the last day of the month seeing the 'Regiment
was mustered into Confederate service by Major Canley of Tennessee'.
On the 3 September with the weather
deteriating the officers are ordered to find the wants of the Regiment as 'in
consequence of either the neglect or inability of the C. S. government to supply
our Brigade with clothing...officers will be sent...'o our homes in Tennessee
to solicit supplies from them' officers
will be sent 'to our
homes in Tennessee to solicit supplies from them'.
By
the 6th 'the Sixteenth had
seven hundred healthy men for duty' out of 952 who had volunteered in May.
On the 7 Sept they conducted Battalion Drill under
Donelson late in the evening with them on the
When on the 9th they passed Big Spring and reached the summit of the mountain after
nightfall on an an 'awful road.' On arrival some of the men were dispatched 'two or three miles to slaughter
beavers and another party sent a mile and a half for flour....by 12 o’clock at night our men were engaged in
cooking and by daylight....ready for the march.'
Here they joined the forces there under General ???? Loring.
At sunrise on the
10th the Regiment followed the 8th Tennessee down the mountain in the morning down past Big Spring marching about ten miles 'much of the time through the woods, over the mountains, and across
ravines.' Marching till after dark stopping at a Winnan's (Winnant's) Farm for the night.
On the 11th they
went down Conley's Run for a few
miles, then crossed over a mountain to Stewart's Run. When they
arrived two Companies advanced down the creek. They now came upon
suddenly upon four of the enemy's advance pickets at Matthew's House
and took them
prisoners by surprise. They advance about one mile further down when they came upon five others, were
fired upon and two killed. Colonel
Savage, and the guide Dr. Butcher, rode on after the others killed one and took the other two
prisoners.
Learning from
those captured that a Company was camped at
an old house in the valley not far below Savage set off upon his horse he came
upon them and they 'seemed to be in a bustle and confusion'. He now
put spurs to 'old George' galloping forwards at full speed and alone
whilst 'brandishing a huge pistol in the air' and commanded them to
surrender. With this many surrendered although others rushed into the
house. He now rode up to it and ordered them to throw down their arms and surrender
'or the last rascal of
you will be killed in five minutes'. With troops from the Regiment
arriving they surrendered.
In total 48
members of the 16th Ohio surrendered with the officers surrendering their sword 'one of which, a very nice one,
Colonel Savage
now wears'.
They now
marched in single file noiselessly up a mountain until 'the enemy's camp-fires of a sudden
gleamed up in the valley below us far and wide' and they now 'fell upon our arms by the
roadside and slept under a drenching rain all night'.
Cheat Mountain (Cheat Summit
Fort), 12-15 September. On
the 12th at 0400 'all were
aroused, arms inspected, and every thing put in readiness for battle before the
break of day'
The Army was ordered to retreat instead.
When this started the Regiment was
ordered 'take possession and guard the road
until the Brigade passed'. About sunrise they retiring off
down the mountain, after the Brigade had passed, their own advance guard were
attacked by about 100 men. These were quickly supported and fire 'was returned immediately by them with much
spirit'.
These they drove down the mountain and
onto the main road. Here they were engaged by a force about 300 strong at Becky's Run
about 200 yards away, they were 'sheltered by the banks and skirting
timber of a little creek that ran through the field'. The Regiment
formed battle line when 'Colonel
Savage ordered us to take them out on our bayonets. We raised the Yell and the
enemy left'.
They were to make a further stand in
some woods but were again forced to retire. This was their first fight and
the Regiment lost two killed and three wounded they had killed 14 and take 17
prisoner. During
the fight a ball passed through a blanket roll with others having
holes shot in shirts, clothing, canteens, etc.
Resuming the march at 1200 they marched about ten miles to
Snider's Hill were they camped.
Setting off again at
0300 on the 13th they march four miles to Elk Run before resting here
they captured a Company of pickets, but and
slept on their arms all night.
Leaving Elk Run on the
morning of the 14th they march to Mingo Flat, on Huntersville Pike, where they
stop near
midnight having marched through 'hard rains' 'and lay in line of battle on our arms in about one
and a half miles of the enemies breastworks'.
During the 15th they remained where
they were before marching back to the mouth of Conley's Run on the pike. On reaching the pike, about dark,
they immediately commenced a backward move for Valley Mountain. They marched until
0100 through very heavy rain and then camped for the rest of the night.
Renewing the march early next morning,
the 16th, they reached headquarters at Valley Mountain around noon and the Brigade passed on two miles further and encamped at Big
Springs.
Here they stay until the 22nd.
While here they spent their time foraging for 'chickens, vegetables, and
other luxuries' they also picked huge quantities of black berries, although
the 20th saw a picket fire a gun thus causing the Regiment to be deployed into
battle in line around 2300 and remaining there until there was no danger.
At early dawn on the 22nd they
set off from Big Spring and marched as far as Gipson's, about 10 miles, although
the rear guard had serious problems with the wagons due to the muddy
roads.
Here on the 24th they were now
temporarily transferred to Anderson's Brigade (42nd
and 48th Virginia, and the 1st, 7th and 16th
Tennessee.) Now only with 'ammunition and flour' they moved towards Little Sewell
Mountain.
The 25th saw
them march for Lewisburg in the evening, travelling 12 miles before dark and
camping 1 mile west of the road.
On
the 26th they covered 17-18 miles before camping three miles north at Mr Nickold's three miles north of Frankford passing
'a most disagreeable night, the rain
fell so incessantly that we could not build fires'.
'Col. Savage seeing his men wet
and kold give them a dram'.
On the 27th they resumed
the march early and continued until 1700
passing through Frankford, Lewisburg, before camping, having marched about 12
miles. That evening the
Regiment were lucky enough to be able to sleep in some barns.
The 28th saw them continue on another13 miles before camping near Meadow Bluff.
The 29th saw them continuing their march
arriving late at night at the top of Little Sewell Mountain having wading two swollen streams
were 'we wading two swollen streams'
before they 'pitched our camps', on the extreme right of the army. They were
only separated from Federal troops, who were only 1000 yards away, by a deep
ravine where 'by tacit consent, (they) were using water out of the
same spring'. While here they rested a few days with both sides bands serenading
the troops of both sides with such songs as 'Yankee Doodle' and 'Dixie'.
Over the next few days little was done but on the
4 October the
Army spent the day erecting breastworks 'and hoping daily that the enemy would continue his advance, and
attack us.'
On the 6th with the Federals retiring the 16th
pushed forwards 'for a mile or two' reconnoitred as far as Big Sewell before retired back to their own lines.
The 12th saw them breaking camp and marching toward Lewisburg late in the
evening only covering four miles before stopping to camp on Sewell Creek 'in a heavy
forest without tents',
From
the 13th to the 20th they remain encamped on Sewell Creek, and commence
drilling. And on the morning of the 21st they marched to Meadow Bluff, a distance of 14 miles.
On the 22nd they marched the 17 miles to Lewisburg and camped two miles the other
side, on the Huntersville Road.
The Regiment marched to Frankford
on the 23rd,
and on the 24th they left at 0900, marching through Mill Point, where
they rested before carrying on, having covered some 33 miles further.
On the 25th the Regiment arrived at Greenbrier Bridge
in the afternoon, and camped one mile from the bridge, and stayed through the following day.
During the evening of the 27th they marched
two miles north of Huntersville, where they camped on the Greenbank Road.
With the 28th seeing them reunited with their tents, and they remained in camp resting and recuperating.
They remained at Huntersville until noon on the
11 November when they struck their tents
in the rain and marched 10 miles in the direction of Lewisburg with the next day
them doing 14 miles on the 13th they marched to Frankford before camping, the arrived at Lewisburg on the 14th were they set up
camp two miles short of town.
The 15th sees
them marching through Lewisburg and camping three miles the other side.
From then until the 30th they remained in camps at Lewisburg with cold weather and occasional snow
fall. While here on the 19 November clothing arrived from home 'coats, shoes, hats, bed-clothing, and all the bodily
comforts', also 'numerous men are discharged for disabilities'.
1 December
and they leave Lewisburg and march 10 miles towards Red Sulphur
Springs crossing a river where 'some of the boys
was ducked clothes froze on them encamped on the side of the road'.
The 2nd
saw them passing Salt Sulphur Springs and camping on the roadside that
night where they were hit by a snow storm in evening. The 3rd saw them
march back 12 miles through Red Sulfur Springs, carrying on a mile and camping on level
ground.
The next day, the 4th, they set of about 1200 and marched about eight miles towards Newbern.
5 Dec they marched 12 miles through Peterstown and crossed New River at
noon in ferryboats, only managing about 12 miles before camping on
a 'ledge of loose rocks'.
The early
morning of the 6th saw them march through Parisburg and 12 miles
up New River to a bridge where they camp.
The 8th saw
them receive orders to proceed to Charleston, SC, and during the 9-10th they
cooked four days rations for the journey.
Leaving Dublin
Station at 0900,
on the 11th, they board trains arriving at Lynchburg, VA, at 1700. With a car
derailing bruising four of five men.
Due to a lack of rolling stock the
12th, with the others leaving on the 13th?, part of the Regiment set off at 0900 by rail to Petersburg, where
they arrived at 1700.
14 Dec they spent the day in Petersburg and took train at
1700 reaching Weldon at 2100. They immediately changing cars and depart again at
2200
On the 15th they
arrived at Wilmington at noon and crossed Cape Fear River at 1400. They now took
cars for Charleston, SC.
They passed Florence at
0100, on the 16th, and arrived at Charleston at 1500. Here they took quarters at the depot and ate
meal that had been prepared for them.
The
17th saw them march three miles to the Savannah Depot, camping in a pine
grove. But on the 18th they were off again leaving by rail from Savannah Depot at
1500 for Pocotaligo Depot, arriving
there at 2100.
On the 19th they
marched about five miles down the road and established a 'regular military style'
camp pitching their tents in perfect order with assigned company streets.
From the
Regiment 'two companies were sent out to Gardner's Corners, eight miles from where our command was camped and a detail was sent out from Gardner's Corners to Port Royal. Every day we did picket duty as the Yankees were in force on Buford's
Island'.
Here they now camped,
in the low-country about
Pocotaligo were the low-lands flooded with water, until the 23rd when
the Regiment was moved 'about 5 miles south from Pocotaligo on the road
leading to Mackey's Point'. Womack's and Shield's Companies were ordered
two miles further down towards the coast in a large cotton field.
While stationed in the area they got friendly with the Federal forces on Beaufort Island
'and frequently, under mutual pledges of honour, they would come over (a bridge and)....talk for an hour, exchange papers, and trade in coffee and tobacco....sometimes we swapped knives, and hats
etc.'
. On Christmas Eve
one man was accidentally shot although the officers spent the time 'almost as a holiday, having but little to do comparatively,
while we lived sumptuously on fish and oysters'.
The 28th saw a reunion with the Regiments tents, with the Regiment remaining in
camp resting and recuperating.
31 Dec And while its New Years Eve
they had Dress Parade in the evening also they 'had
an inspection of arms by Colonel Murry'.
