The 23rd Tennessee Infantry Regiment was organized on July 31, 1861 at Camp Trousdale, Sumner County, Tennessee with ten companies of approximately 100 men each. Re- organized on May 8, 1862 under command of Gen. Bragg's plan of a complete re-organization of all armed forces. Consolidated with the 17th Tennessee Infantry in 1863.
It gave a good account of itself at Shiloh, Tenn. April 6- 7, 1862. With 570 men engaged it came out of the battle with 327 effectives. Then in Bragg's Invasion of Kentucky was present at the surrender of the Union forces at Munfordville, Ky. and taking an active part in the battle at Perryville, Ky. with 201 men engaged of which 52 were casualities. At Murfreesboro with 272 engaged, lost 63 men. Next we find them at Hoover's Gap, Tenn. losing five more. At Chickamauga, Ga. with 26 men sent to the rear barefooted, 181 were engaged, with ninety-eight casualities.
They were detached from the Army of Tennessee and sent with Gen. Longstreet in his campaigns in East Tennessee, fighting at Ft. Loudon, Bean's Station, Walthall Junction, Swift Creek and Drury's Bluff, Va. Then on to Richmond and the fighting around Petersburg, Va. They had their regimental colors captured at Petersburg and were surrendered at Appamattox Court House, Va. April 11, 1865.
It is very easily seen that very few were at the surrender in Virginia.
The following men were from Sumner County either before or after the Civil War.
Muster Roll For the 2nd Co. A of the 23rd Tennessee Infantry
This company was recruited in Trousdale and Sumner Counties when Trousdale was still a part of Sumner, Macon, Smith and Wilson Counties.
Henry B. Haynie - Capt. Discharged May 10, 1862. See 9th Cavalry.
John G. Lowe - Capt. Succeeding Capt. Haynie. Promoted to Major of the regiment. Captured June 17, 1864 in the Campaign around Petersburg, Va. Sent to Johnson's Island, Ohio. Paroled in June 1865.
Robert A. Burford - 1st Lt. Discharged May 2, 1862.
Wm. S. Bowman - 1st Lt. May 8, 1862 succeeded Lt. Bransford. Capt May 1, 1864 succeeding Captain Lowe. Captured at Hatcher's Run, Va. April 2, 1865. Sent to Johnson's Island, Ohio. Paroled June 18, 1865.
James Baker - Bvt. 2nd Lieutenant. Discharged May 10, 1862.
Allen Brackinridge - Bvt. 2nd Lt. Enlisted at Camp Trousdale, near Portland, for 10 months. Re-enlisted. Due Bounty for re-enlistment. In hospital Oct. 30, 1862. In General Hospital No. 4 at Richmond, Va. Aug. 15, 1864. Paroled by Medical Board Nov. 20, 1864 on Epilepsy and chronic diarrhea. Paroled at Greensboro, N. C. May 2, 1865.
George W. Davis - 1st Sgt. Discharged July 27, 1862.
Robt. M. Bowman, Sr. - 1st Sgt July 27, 1862. Prior service in Co. A, 8th Tennessee Infantry, in which he was a Corp. Trans. to this company June 1, 1862. Deserted June 22,1862. Returned to duty in Sept. 1862. Wounded at Chickamauga, Ga. Sept. 19, 1863. Sent to hospital. Paroled at Apparnattox Court House, Va. April 9, 1862.
J. T. Bonnum - 2nd Sgt. Name only, no record located.
Thos. E. Bradley - 3rd Sgt. May 8, 1862. 2nd Lt. April 17, 1863. Enlisted Aug. 23, 1861. Wounded in left shoulder by cannon ball at Chickamauga, Ga. Sept. 19, 1863 and captured. Sent to Johnson's Island, Ohio. Point Lookout, Md. While at Johnson's Island was vaccinated for smallpox which was in the experimental stage at that time. Was held as hostage under fire of Confederate Artillery for 90 days on Morris Island on a diet of corn meal and pickles. Paroled June 9, 1865. Residence Dixon Springs, then part of Sumner County now Trousdale County.
Marion J. Belcher - 4th Sgt. to May 8, 1862. Enlisted July 26, 1861. Discharged on disability from frozen feet and eyes injured on retreat from Bowling Green, Ky. in Feb. 1862. Enlisted in Co. H, 9th Tennessee Cavalry, see also.
Edward L. Bradley - Corp. May 8, 1862. 3rd Sgt. April 17, 1863. 2nd Sgt. Sept. 1, 1863. Killed at Chickamauga, Ga. Sept. 19, 1863.
Sanders B. Davis - 5th Sgt. Enlisted for 10 months. Re-enlisted and due $50 bounty. Wounded in right thigh at Petersburg, Va. Jan. 10, 1865. Sent to Chimborazo General Hospital No. 4 at Richmond, Va. Returned to duty Jan. 16, 1865. Paroled June 9, 1865.
James M. Bradley - 5th Sgt July 1, 1863. Captured at Petersburg, Va. June 17, 1864. Sent to City Point, Va. to Point Lookout, Md. and Elmira, N. Y. Paroled June 9, 1865.
Samuel A. Black - Corp. 2nd Corp. May 1, 1863. Captured at Hatcher's Run, Va. April 2, 1865. Sent to City Point, Va. then to Point Lookout, Md. Paroled June 22, 1865.
James K. Beasley - Corp. to May 8, 1862. Replaced by E. L. Bradley. Discharged as a non-conscript July 16, 1862. Then 16 years old.
Joseph H. Banks - Corp. Killed at Perryville, Ky. Oct. 8, 1862.
Samuel M. Bransford - Corp. Trans. from Co. A, 8th Tennessee Infantry June 1, 1862. Captured at Chickamauga, Ga. Sept. 19, 1863.
Alexander, Richard C. - Enlisted for ten months. Re-enlisted. Due bounty of $50. Commissary Sgt Oct. 1, 1863. Quartermaster Clerk Nov. 4, 1863. New clothing issued March 31, 1864. In different hospitals from April 7, 1865 to June 15, 1865. One a Union hospital at Point of Rocks, Va., Confederate Hospital at Farmville, Va. Paroled, sick, at Farmville, Va. then to the U.S. Hospital.
Armstrong, Moses G. - Detailed as Enrolling Officer Jan. 24, 1863. Detailed to Provost Guard at Wartrace, Tenn. May 17, 1863. Deserted from the picket line at Signal Hill, Va. Sept. 15, 1864. Captured as a deserter and sent to Cleveland, Ohio.
Bell, John H. - Discharged as a non-conscript July 30, 1862. Enlisted in Co. E, 44th Consolidated Tennessee Infantry.
Bowman, James P. - Enlisted at Gallatin 1861. Deserted June 22, 1862. Returned to duty Sept. 9, 1862. In Chimborazo Hospital No. 4 at Richmond , gunshot wound in the face, at Hatcher's Run, Va. April 2, 1865. Given a 60 furlough. War ended while on furlough.
Bowman, Robert M., Jr. - Trans. from Co. A, 8th Tennessee Infantry June 1, 1862.
Bradley, Samuel M. - 3rd Sgt. Went all the way to parole at Appamattox Court House, Va. April 9, 1865.
Bradley, William H. - Wounded in left hand on Sept. 29, 1864 at the seige of Petersburg, Va. Sent to Chimborazo Hospital No. 4 at Richmond, Va. Given a 35 day furlough Oct. 14, 1864. Paroled at Appamattox, Va. April 9, 1865.
Brimm, William M. - Shown on roll through Oct. 1863.
Brooks, William H. - Corp. Wounded in hand at Shiloh April 6, 1862. Finger lost. Disabled 4 months. Deserted June 22, 1862. Captured as a deserter. Sent to Ft. Delaware, Md. then to Fortress Monroe, Va. Paroled on oath at Aikin's Landing, Va. at the mouth of the James River. Started home, sick. Taken off the train at Lynchburg, Va. and put in a hospital. Then via Bristol and Knoxville where transportation was furnished to Gallatin.
Buie, John A. - Enlisted at Gallatin in Co. A, 8th Tennessee Infantry. Trans. to this company June l, 1862.
Cage, Samuel A. - Deserted at Nashville Feb. 14, 1862 during retreat from Bowling Green, Ky.
Cage, Thomas D. - Listed as discharged as a non-conscript July 3, 1862.
Calhoun, Sidney R. - Enlisted July 31, 1862 for six months.
Chambers, John - Listed in hospital at Columbus Ga., and Dalton Ga., with acute rheumatism. Left, sick at Chattanooga when Bragg retreated.
Collingsworth, C. M. - Detailed as Teamster May 25, 1862. Deserted at Charleston, Tenn. Sept. 6, 1863. Captured by Union forces as a Confederate deserter on Goose Creek near Hartsville. A horse thief. Stole horses at Gallatin Sent to Rock Island, Ill.
Corley, Seth M. - Enlisted for ten months. Discharged as a non-conscript July 16, 1862. Age 17. Enlisted in Co. B, 9th Tennessee Cavalry, see also.
Cosby, Thomas Wm - 1st Sgt. to May 8, 1862. Discharged as a non-conscript July 16, 1862. Enlisted in Co. D, 9th Tennessee Cavalry, see also.
Davis, Rufus B. - Enlisted at Camp Trousdale Aug. 24, 1861 for 10 months. Re-enlisted. Bounty due. Paroled at Appomattox, Va. April 11, 1865.
Day, Henry C. - Enlisted for 10 months. Re-enlisted and due $50 bounty. Deserted Sept. 1, 1863 and enlisted in Co. E, 4th Tennessee Infantry.
Day, William C. - Enlisted for 10 months. Due $50 bounty for re-enlisting. Detailed as Regimental Wagoner by order of Col. Cantrell. Captured at Hatcher's Run, Va. April 2, 1865 and sent to Point Lookout, Md. Paroled June 26, 1865.
Dillard, Samuel K. - Reported missing at Murfreesboro Dec. 31, 1862. Had been captured. Exchanged. Sick in hospital at Petersburg, Va. where he died May 16, 1863.
Dickerson, John M. - Enlisted for 10 months. Re-enlisted due $50 bounty. Re-enlisted again. Due another $50 bounty. Wounded at Chickamauga, Ga. Sept. 19, 1863. Sent to a hospital. Captured at Petersburg, Va. June 17, 1864.
Dickens, James - Deserted June 28, 1862. Enlisted in Co. F, 9th Tennessee Cavalry, see also.
Duke, Henry M. - Enlisted for 10 months. Due $50 bounty for re enlisting. In hospital June 30, 1862. Captured June 17, 1864 at Petersburg, Va. Sent to City Point, Va and then to Elmira, N. Y. where he died of Smallpox April 30, 1865. Grave No. 2768.
Hicks, Gideon - Deserted July 27, 1862. Enlisted in Co. B, 4th Tennessee Cavalry (Murray's) which later became Co. H, 22nd Infantry Battalion. Made 2nd Lt.
High, Charles D. - Enlisted at Gallatin Aug. 23, 1861. Shot through right arm at Shiloh April 6, 1862. Shot through leg at Chickamauga, Ga. Sept. 20, 1863. Wounded at Hatcher's Run, Va., (Petersburg), April 2, 1865. On Confederate roll of honor for Gallantry in Action. Paroled April 9, 1865, at Appomattox, Va. From Hartsville.
Hines, Thomas L. - Wounded at Chickamauga, Ga. through left elbow joint Sept. 20, 1863. Sent to Ocmulgee hospital at Macon, Ga. Captured at Hatcher's Run, Va., (Petersburg), April 2, 1865. Sent to Point Lookout, Md. Paroled June 27, 1865.
Hines, John O. - Enlisted for 10 months. Due $50 bonus for re-enlisting. Deserted. No date given.
Holt, John J. - Listed in hospital at Careyville, Miss., where he died April 15, 1862.
Lee, John F. - Enlisted in July 1861. Discharged as a non conscript at Tupelo, Miss. July 3, 1862. Enlisted in Co. F, 9th Tennessee Cavalry, see also.
Ligon, Augustus D. - 5th Sgt May 8, 1862, at re-organization. Discharged at Wartrace, Tenn., April 29, 1863. Hired a substitute.
Moore, John H. - Detailed as Wagoner. Killed at Chickamauga, Ga. Sept. 20, 1863.
Moore, William - In regimental band. Absent from Nov. 10, 1862 to Nov. 22, 1862. Deserted Sept. 6, 1863 at Charleston, Tenn.
Payne, Jordan - Wounded severely in body at Murfreesboro Dec. 31, 1862 and died.
Phillips, Leighton - Dangerously wounded in body at Murfreesboro Dec. 31, 1862. Discharged on disability.
Piper, William W. - Listed in hospital at Tunnel Hill, Ga. May 18, 1863. Detailed as Teamster Feb. 21, 1864. Captured at Petersburg, Va. Sent to City Point, Va. then to Elmira, N. Y. Was captured June 17, 1864. Exchanged Feb. 25, 1865. Paroled on April 9, 1865.
Reed, Thomas - Died in hospital in Miss. May 15, 1862.
Turnstall - Paroled at Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865.
Wright, Grundy - Enlisted for 10 months. No further record.