Sumner Co., TN--In the Civil War-- TNFlag TNFlag

Sumner County, Tennessee
In the Civil War
Chapter Thirteen

By Edwin L. Ferguson


Privately Printed by the Author, 1972

Thanks to the Ferguson family, for permission to reprint this book!


4th or 8th (Baxter Smith's) Tennessee Cavalry Regiment

Organized Nov. 24, 1862. Annulled. Organized again Jan. 23, 1863. Sumner County furnished part of one company, namely Co. K. Men from Davidson, DeKalb, Sumner and Wilson counties. As it is impossible to distinguish the respective counties from which these men came, we include the entire company.

Col. Baxter Smith; Lt. Col. Paul F. Anderson; Major, Willis Scott Bledsoe; Co. K, Capt., Paul F. Anderson and James H. Britton.

Col. Smith was captured May 9, 1863, on patrol on the Caney Fork River and Lt. Col. Paul F. Anderson commanded the regiment the remainder of the war.

The regiment had a varied experience. They left Shelbyville on way to attempt the recapture of Ft. Donelson marching 125 miles each way. Defeated at Ft. Donelson losing 26 men. Back to Shelbyville, to Woodbury where they were twice surrounded losing 80 men to Hadley's Bend on the Cumberland River where they destroyed a train of supplies. Then to Sparta, to Trousdale County, then via Beech Grove and Fosterville to Rome, Ga., another 500 miles. Then with Gen. Longstreet at Knoxville, then in the Atlanta Campaign, then into East Tenn., and Va. Fighting at Saltville, Va., then into South Carolina fighting with Gen. Wade Hampton, surrendering at, Charlotte, N. C., May 3, 1865.

Muster Roll for Co. K, 8th Tennessee Cavalry
Commonly known as the 4th Cavalry

Men from Davidson, DeKalb, Sumner and Wilson Counties.

Paul F. Anderson - Capt. Elected Lt. Col. of the regiment. After the capture of Col. Baxter Smith on Caney Fork River, May 9, 1863, was in command of the regiment. Wounded in thigh at Fort Donelson, Feb. 3, 1863, when Forrest and Wheeler attempted to recapture the fort.

James H. Britton - 1st Lt. Capt. succeeding Capt. Anderson. The company was on detached service from July 1, to Sept. 1, 1862, as escort company for Gen. Wharton, then for Gen. Hood, March 30, 1864. This gave them better arms, uniforms, etc.

William H. Corbett - 2nd Lt. Made 1st Lt. Jan. 25, 1863. Wounded at Chickamauga, Ga, Sept. 19, 1863.

Dewitt C. Anderson - 2nd Lt. Wounded in right foot and captured at Cave Springs, Ga., Oct. 22, 1864. Sent to Johnson's Island, O. Paroled June 16, 1865.

Lucilius S. Ferrell - 1st Sgt. Discharged June 1, 1863.

N. D. Young - 2nd Sgt. On detached service as clerk. Discharged on disability.

James Thomas - 3rd Sgt. Made 2nd Sgt., March 1, 1864. Paroled at Charlotte, N. C., May 3, 1865.

Thomas J. Henley - 4th Sgt. Made 1st Sgt., March 1, 1864.

John W. Bowman - 1st Corp. Made 3rd Sgt., March 1, 1864, replacing Sgt. Thomas.

J. J. Hartofeld - 2nd Corp. Made 4th Sgt., March 4, 1864. Captured at Lebanon, Feb. 7, 1863. Sent to Camp Chase, O. Exchanged.

J. E. Moore - 3rd Corp. Made 1st Corp., March 1, 1864. Captured in Wilson County, Dec. 12, 1864. Sent to Camp Chase, O.

Allen, Thomas J. - Killed on Elk River in 1863. Asst. surgeon.

Anderson, Frank - Prior service in Co. C, 11th Cavalry Battalion from which he was discharged being only 16 years old. Enlisted in this company July 1, 1862. Wounded at Murfreesboro in side and shoulder July 13, 1863, on picket duty.

Barry, William A. - Captured at Reseca, Ga., May 16, 1864. Sent to Alton, Ill. Paroled May 14, 1865.

Bedford, Thomas A. - Detailed to ordnance Department, April 5, 1864.

Bell, John Jr. - Paroled at Charlotte, N. C., May 3, 1865.

Bennett, W. H. - Name also appears as 3rd Lt. in Co. G, 9th Tennessee Cavalry.

Bolton, Alexander - On detached duty until March 22, 1864. Paroled at Charlotte, N. C., May 3, 1865.

Boone, John - Enlisted for three years or the duration.

Brown, J. S. - Name only.

Buckley, H. M. - Name only.

Buckley, John - Captured at Lavergne, Tenn. in Dec. 1862.

Burns, Joseph - Never paid. Killed at Murfreesboro, Dec. 31, 1862.

Corbett, John R. - Wounded at Chickamauga, Ga., Sept. 19, 1863. Paroled at Charlotte, N. C., May 3, 1865.

Davis, R. A. - Color Bearer. Courier. Killed at Averysboro, N. C., March 16, 1865.

Duvall, E. D. - In hospital at Charlotte, N. C., April 26, 1865, with Phthysic. Paroled May 23, 1865.

Farnsworth, Geo. W. - Wounded at Tracy City, Tenn., in 1863. Trans. to 8th Texas Cavalry in late Feb. 1864.

Goodrich, W. Bryant - Detailed as Teamster Oct. 1, 1862.

Greene, Henry - Name only.

Gregory, R. J. - Captured in Lancaster County, Ky., in Oct. 1862.

Griffin, Charles B. - Captured at Saulsbury, Tenn. April 25, 1863. Sent to Ft. McHenry, Md., then to Fortress Monroe, Va.

Guild, George B. - Elected Adjutant of regiment Feb. 16, 1865. Served with Gen. Morgan six months then enlisted in this company, April 9, 1862. Wounded slightly at Reseca, Ga., May 16, 1864. Paroled at Charlotte, N. C., May 3, 1865.

Hearne, Henry M. - Captured at Trousdale Ferry on Cumberland River by the 36th Ohio Infantry, May 29,1863. Sent to Camp Chase, O., then to Ft. Delaware, Md. Paroled April 20, 1865.

Hearn, James W. - Captured at Lebanon, Nov. 7, 1863. Sent to Camp Chase, O., then to City Point, Va. Exchanged. Killed at Tracy City, Tenn.

Hearn, Robert E. - Prior service in Co. B, 4th Tennessee Cavalry, (McLemore's). Killed at Lebanon.

Irby, Marion - Deserted in Oct. 1863.

Manson, Edward L. - Deserted April 20, 1865.

Martin, John M. - Captured at Cave Springs, Ga., Oct. 22, 1864. Sent to Camp Douglas, Ill. Paroled May 5, 1865.

Miller, Archibald - Paroled March 15, 1865, on oath.

Miller, James M. - In Wharton's and Hood's escort. Nothing more.

Mitchell, James - Returned to 20th Tennessee Infantry regiment.

Neil, William H. - Captured. Exchanged. Killed at Marietta, Ga.

Nelson, C. T. - Prior service in Co. C, 2nd Tennessee Infantry as 1st Lt. Enlisted in this company. Paroled May 3, 1865, at Charlotte, N. C.

Seat, Woodford O. - Wounded at Murfreesboro, Dec. 31, 1862. Captured at Courtland, Ala., June 29, 1864. Sent to Camp Morton, Ind. Paroled on oath March 22, 1865.

Sewell, John - Wounded while acting as courier in Dec. 1862. Detailed as R. R. engineer, Dec. 8, 1863.

Shutt, Henry F. - Captured at Charlotte, Feb. 6, 1863, on retreat from attempt to capture Ft. Donelson. Sent to Camp Chase, O., then to Rock Island, Ill. Paroled May 26, 1865.

Smith, Currin - Captured in Gwinnett County, Ga., Oct. 26, 1864. Sent to Camp Douglas, Ill. Paroled June 15, 1865.

Smith, Daniel - Captured at Trousdale Ferry on Cumberland River, May 29, 1863. Sent to Ft. Delaware, Maryland. Released Feb. 18, 1864, order Secretary of War.

Smith, Edward M. - Paroled at Citronelle, Ala., May 12, 1865.

Smith, Pallas - Captured at Murfreesboro, Dec. 31, 1862. Sent to Camp Chase, O. Exchanged. Enlisted in Co. C, 23rd Tennessee Infantry.

Stovall, William T. - Captured at Big Shanty, Ga., (Reseca), May 16, 1864. Sent to Alton, Ill., then to Point Lookout, Md. Exchanged. In hospital No. 9 at Richmond, Va, March 1, 1865, with Remittany Fever.

Stratton, S. G. - Returned from Detached service with Co. K, 27th Tennessee Infantry, March 2, 1864. Oath at Nashville, Oct. 15, 1864.

Sullins, Samuel - Deserted at Chattanooga, Sept. 19, 1863. Oath at Nashville.

Sullins, Walter L. - Prior service in Co. E, 35th Tennessee Infantry. Cannon ball knocked limb off tree at battle of Murfreesboro, falling on and severely injuring him. Paroled May 1, 1865.

Treanor, John Duke - Born in Ireland. Prior service in Co. A, of McNairy's Cavalry Battalion. Sick in 1862, and offered discharge, Refused it. Made 1st Sgt., March 1, 1864. Had been wounded and ruptured at Murfreesboro, Dec. 31, 1862. Paroled at Charlotte, N. C. May 3, 1865. Spent several years in Confederate Soldiers Home in Nashville.

Vantrease, Andrew J. - Oath June 19, 1864, to be released north of the Ohio River by order of Gen. Thomas.

Wall, William H. - Captured at Courtland, Ala., June 29, 1864. Sent to Camp Morton, Ind. Paroled May 23, 1865.

Weakley, R. W. - No record but of being in the Escort Company. This gave them better clothing and equipment.

Wharton, Jesse (Tobe) - Wounded at Murfreesboro, Dec. 31, 1862. Captured and sent to Rock Island, Ill. Killed in prison.

White, Green W. - Captured at Courtland, Ala., June 29, 1864. Sent to Camp Morton, Ind. Released on oath Feb. 4, 1865.

White, R. L. C. - Surgeon. Reported after being on detached service March 2, 1864. Served with Escort Company one month.

Williams, Henry - Died.

Williams, James - Captured at Murfreesboro, Dec. 31, 1862. Oath at Nashville March 23, 1864.

Williams, J. D. - Absent on leave.

Yarrington, Hays P. - Trans. from 8th Texas Cavalry in late Feb. 1864. Seemed to have exchanged places with George W . Farnsworth. Captured in Wilson County, March 19, 1865. Sent to Camp Chase, O.



Return to Military Information Page

Return to Sumner County Main Page