The Civil War Military Career of Volney Carlisle Lewis

 

 

VC Lewis Born April 18, 1845                                                                                                          

Joined the Confederate army in Memphis May 1861 for 12 Months. 

 

Was detailed from the company in August as clerk on government boat. 

 

Was captured at Island #10 on or about 8 April 1862. 

 

 

Joined Blith’s Battalion Sept 1862. 

 

Joined Bob Pargo Co, Collins Regiment Apr 0l, 1863

 

Reorganized Feb 1st 1864 and was know as Co. G. 18th Miss,

Abe Chalmers, Col. RT Bowen and Capt. B F Tomson, O F West

18th Cav. Regt. (Organized Jan. 1865, Col. Alexander H. Chalmers; also known as Chalmer's Consolidated Cav. Regt.;

 

consolidated with 5th Cav. Regt. between Feb. and May 4, 1865; surrendered May 4, 1865)
It becomes our painful duty to chronicle the death of another one of our Confederate members

 

            Volney C. Lewis departed this life Dec. 8th, 1920 being 75 years 8 months old.

Vol Lewis was a good man and citizen and a good neighbor.  Was a man of strong convictions and had courage to sustain them.  He did service under Gen. Bragg the 1st two years of the Civil War but at time of surrender at Gainesville, Ala. May 12th 1865 was a member of Col. O F West, Capt 18th Mississippi Cavalry. McClelland’s Brig. Chalmers Div. of Forrest Cav. Corps. 

Vol Lewis loved his old comrades and was err ready to aid and assist them when called upon. 

He left quite a large family who will miss his comical and cheerful conversations

 

Peace to his ashes

 

JB Langshero

 

JW Harrison  

 

            V.C. Lewis, a Confederate veteran, who first saw service in the Army of the West under General Bragg, and for the remainder of the war was with the 18th Mississippi Regiment, under Gen. N. B. Forrest, died suddenly at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Massy, after a lifelong residence in De Soto County, Miss., where he was an honored member of the De Soto County Camp, U. C. V.  He was a brave, true and efficient soldier, and were he and his horse Joe could not go it was useless for others to try.

            On January 8, 1867 he married Miss Emma Pryor, of Cochrum, Miss., reared a large family of children, and died as he lived, universally loved and respected by his friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.  He was an intellectual and entertaining man.  His reminiscences of his experiences with the Southern army were especially entertaining and instructive, and his passing occasioned great regret to all who know and loved him.

 

He is buried in Cochrum, Miss.

 

Volney Carlisle Lewis

Born April 18,1845 in DeSoto

Married Jan. 8, 1867 to Emma Estell Pryor

Died Dec. 8, 1920

 

Emma Estell Pryor

Born Oct 17, 1846 Independence, DeSoto Co. Miss.

Died 1912

Father John Ray Pryor

Mother Abigal Woods Milem

 

Childeren of Volney Carlisle Lewis:

 

Martecai1867

EmmaLena 1869

Baby boy 1872

Asa 1874

Baby girl 1876

Valney Carlisle 1877

Mary 1879

Mattee 1882

Asa Ray 1884

John E. 1886

Annie C.1890

Margaret(baby)1893

First assignment

THE BATTLE FOR ISLAND NO. 10

        On the same day that Pope discovered the evacuation of New Madrid Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote left Cairo, Illinois bound for Island No. 10. The impressive flotilla included seven ironclad gunboats, among them the massive Benton, and ten mortar rafts, each mounting one 13-inch seacoast mortar, 95 heavy guns in all. After a brief stop at Bird's Point, Missouri to pick up Colonel Napoleon Buford's Brigade of infantry to support the fleet, the flotilla arrived above the island in the early morning hours of March 15th. Foote immediately began a bombardment of the island and the surrounding batteries, a bombardment that lasted 22 days, but it had little effect.
        Pope quickly began urging Foote to run his fleet past the batteries and join him at New Madrid, where they could cut off the Confederate force by hemming it in on the Tennessee Peninsula. Foote, overly cautious and suffering from a wound received at Fort Donelson, rejected Pope's plan, believing that it would certainly allow the destruction of the fleet. Instead he actively engaged the Confederates only once, leaving most of the bombardment to the mortar rafts.
        The one engagement was a rather heated duel between three of the gunboats and the Redan Fort on the Tennessee shore. Foote ordered the Benton lashed between two of the ironclads, a precaution in case one of the boats became disabled so it would not float downstream into Confederate hands. The three ironclads attacked the Redan bows forward, the mortars and the rest of the fleet joining in as their guns would allow, distance being the determining factor. The Redan, commanded by Captain Edward W. Rucker, was armed with three 8-inch columbiads and three 32-pounders (smoothbore) and was partially flooded. The 32 pounders were not used during the three-hour fight, unable to reach out far enough, but the huge Lady Polk, Jr., a 128-pounder on the island did join in from three miles away along with a rifled 32 in another shore battery. The Benton took three direct hits and the ironclad St Louis was struck several times. The Redan took a tremendous pounding, but the cannoneers stuck with the guns throughout the engagement and eventually Foote retired. Trudeau was elated with his troops performance, and Rucker proclaimed a hero in the Memphis papers; good news from Tennessee was badly needed and repulsing the ironclads qualified.
        The March 17th attack marked the end of Foote's offensive efforts with the gunboats, for the next few weeks most of the fleet sat idle, the Confederates called the fleet "humbug" and the Northern Press gang, which was in full force with the fleet, was not much kinder. Pope grew increasingly impatient, telegraphing Foote daily to make a move. Finally in desperation Pope ordered a canal cut across the Missouri peninsula. Col. J.W. Bissell and the Engineering Regiment of the West were put to work on March 23rd and finished the effort on April 2nd. "Canal" is somewhat of a misnomer, since the area was flooded. The major part of the work was cutting a path through the bayous, which Bissell's engineers accomplished by devising an ingenious method of cutting trees below the water line. By the time the canal was completed the river had dropped and only four small transports were able to get through to New Madrid, the ironclads draft being too great.
        Soon after the arrival of the Federal Fleet General McCown began asking his commander, Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard for reinforcements. Beauregard declined; his attention was focused on the Tennessee River and a different object at Pittsburg Landing. Beauregard did suggest that General Earl Van Dorn could relieve the besieged garrison by attacking Pope from the rear. This was impossible since Van Dorn's troops were still reeling from their defeat at Pea Ridge. At this point the Creole General's plans for the river become a little schizophrenic. His overall strategy was to build smaller garrisons, and then relieve them when they came under attack. This option was not available at Island No. 10 because of the concentration taking place in Southwestern Tennessee.
        Finally Beauregard issued a circular outlining his new plan for defense of the river, which in essence a directive on the order of retreat. McCown moved six of his regiments, two artillery companies and most of his cavalry down from Madrid Bend to Fort Pillow, for transfer over to Beauregard's army. This left about 4000 men present for duty in the entire Madrid Bend area of operations, 400 of which were unarmed. On March 31st Beauregard, apparently believing that the position could still be held until it was relieved or at least successfully evacuated, replaced McCown with Maryland native Brig. Gen. William W. MacKall. MacKall was part of Beauregard's anti-Davis clique. A West Pointer and former Lt. Col. in the Regular Army, he had served as Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of the Pacific; hardly a candidate for sacrifice.
        MacKall arrived at Madrid Bend and found his new command disheartened, poorly armed and the Confederate gunboats in the vicinity useless. Just before his arrival the Flotilla Brigade under Col. Napoleon Buford had surprised and routed Col. Ed Pickett's Confederate garrison at Union City, Tennessee and severed one important line of communication. To add to those woes, on April 1st a forty man squad from the flotilla stole down river in skiffs, surprised the sentries at the Redan and spiked the guns. Mackall's best ally was Foote's inaction, but Pope was pressing from every angle.

THE CARONDELET RUNS THE GAUNTLET

        Finally, Halleck intervened and convinced Foote to ask for a volunteer to run the batteries. A meeting was held abroad the flagship of the ironclad captains, and Henry Walke of the Carondelet volunteered his city-class gunboat for the attempt.
        Walke set to work preparing his craft for the run. All available chains and howzwers in the fleet were gathered up and used to beef up the armor. Although plunging fire was not a great concern because of the flat terrain, the hurricane deck was given an extra layer of timber. Cordwood was stacked around the boilers and a small barge was lashed to the side and loaded with hay to add further protection. The crew was armed with cutlasses, boarding pikes and axes and Walke was instructed to burn his ship rather than have it captured. The plan was for Walke to wait for a dark night and attempt to sneak past the batteries, so the steam pipes were rerouted to muffle the sound. The Carondelet weighed anchor as a thunderstorm approached on the night of April 4th, the moon well concealed. All went well until she approached the Confederate batteries when the flue caught fire and the Rebel sentries sounded the alarm. Walke shouted to his pilot, William Hoel, for "full speed." Hoel was an experienced pilot on this stretch of the river, and with the help of a boatswain's mate stationed on the forecastle, steered the craft past the Island. Despite heavy cannonading, the Confederate gunners were unable to train their guns on the ship, allowing it to pass by unharmed. Carondelet arrived at New Madrid the following morning before dawn, greeted by cheers from Pope's army.
        Pope immediately put Walke to work dislodging the Confederate counter batteries opposite New Madrid and Point Pleasant to secure his armies crossing. The Carondelet made short work of it, demonstrating the superiority of the Federal gunboats against small land batteries. The morning of the 7th a second ironclad, the Pittsburg arrived in time to cover the armies crossing into Tennessee.

THE CAPTURE OF ISLAND NO. 10

        At last the major part of Pope's army, which now numbered nearly 25,000 had arrived on the Tennessee shore. MacKall's force headed south for Tiptonville with Pope's pursuing army in his rear. A few brief rear guard actions were attempted, but the Rebel's would not stand their ground. Outnumbered and outgunned MacKall's force stopped on the western outskirts of Tiptonville the evening of the 7th. The trap was set. Colonel James D. Morgan's Brigade marched past Tiptonville on the river (east) side and occupied the South end of town and Col. Gilbert W. Cumming's Brigade moved in on MacKall from the North. MacKall had nowhere to go with Reelfoot Lake to his west. At 2 A.M. he sent word to the Federals of his surrender.
        As for the island itself, early on the 7th word reached it's acting commander Captain Andrew Jackson, Jr., the former President's step-son, that Pope had crossed the river. The Confederates quickly set to work trying to plug the river by sinking eight steamers in the channel. By late afternoon many of the heavy artillery companies, together with some of the remaining infantry began crossing Reelfoot Lake by any means available. The island was formally surrendered to Foote at 3:45 A.M. on the morning of the 8th.
        Pope reported to Halleck that he had captured 7,076 men, along with all arms and artillery. In reality it was closer to 4000. Contemporary Confederate writers during and after the war disputed Pope's figures, but most historians have accepted them at face value. The dispute is unfortunate, since the campaign was tactically brilliant, Pope's personality flaws aside. On the Confederate side some measure of success has to be considered too. After all, 4000 men kept the Army of the Mississippi at bay for 5 weeks at a time when numbers were critical in the west.
        In the final analysis, it was the one-two punch of combined operations that made the Federal Mississippi River campaign so successful. The Confederates never were able to develop a counter strategy. When Island 10 fell the Mississippi River was open all the way to Vicksburg for all practical purposes


 

Second Assignment
 
2nd Regiment Mississippi Partisan Rangers 
(First Battalion Mississippi Cavalry (Minute Men), State troops, Blythe's Mississippi Cavalry
 
 

Loring's Division (Vicksburg Campaign) March 12-19, 1863

Contributed by Steve Cole

 

Major General William Loring

1st Brigade: Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman

2nd Brigade: Brigadier General Winfield S. Featherston

3rd Brigade: Brigadier General John C. Moore

Miscellaneous Units

 

  ~~~~~~~~
Source:  The Vicksburg Campaign by Edwin Bearss 
 
~~~~~~~~

Third Assignment

COLLINS' TENNESSEE CAVALRY REGIMENT
(or PARTISAN RANGERS)

Partially organized fall of 1863; broken up February 5, 1864, and men distributed to other organizations.

On July 16, 1863, authority was given by the War Department to Lieutenant Colonel Nathan D. Collins and Captain I. H. Price to raise a regiment of Partisan Rangers in West Tennessee within the Federal lines in conjunction with Colonel R. V. Richardson, to act near and on the banks of the Mississippi River, with the understanding that when the regiment was formed and the muster rolls filed with the Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, Collins was to be appointed colonel, and Price lieutenant colonel. By the time Major General N. B. Forrest took command in Mississippi in December 1863, Collins claimed to have four complete companies, four incomplete, and other officers recruiting. It was claimed by Major General Stephen D. Lee, and Brigadier General I. R. Chalmers that Collins was recruiting in North Mississippi, within the Confederate lines, and that many of his so-called recruits were absentees from other organizations who had been tempted to desert and join Collins. General Chalmers, in a letter to the Governor of Mississippi dated January 7, 1864, stated that several companies claimed at times to be in Mississippi State Service, at other times in Collins' Command, that the companies commanded by Floyd, Perry and other officers in Collins' command had formerly belonged to Colonel Blythe's old regiment, whose term of enlistment as 12-month troops had expired; and gave it as his opinion that many of the men were claiming enlistment in Collins' command in order to escape conscription.

On February 5, 1864, in the reorganization of Forrest's forces, the command was broken up. Companies not below a certain minimum present (64 was suggested) were allowed to retain their present organization and join any other organization which was not full, subject to the approval of the commanding general. Many of the absentees were returned to their proper commands, and the conscripts turned over to the proper authorities. Individuals in companies which were broken up were allowed to select their new companies. On February 8, 1864 two companies from Collins' command were authorized to be consolidated with the 18th Mississippi Cavalry Battalion to form a regiment. The regiment was not formed at that time, but many of Collins' men were found to have served in the 18th Mississippi Battalion. Collins said there were two full companies, only one of which has been firmly identified.

 

An inspection report dated June 10, 1864, sent to Adjutant and Inspector General S. Cooper, gives a concise statement of the conditions under which this, and other fragmentary organizations, were formed: "In October, 1863, General Forrest was authorized to proceed to North Mississippi and West Tennessee to raise and organize troops. Only one organized brigade was found, that of General Chalmers, others were in a chaotic and disorganized condition, or incomplete, and claiming to be followers of different leaders. Their commanders found it impossible to keep their commands to-gether. On November 6, 1863, Brigadier General Richardson's morning report showed 826 present for duty out of an aggregate 2954 present and absent; on November 19, only 330 present.

 

"General Forrest informed the commanders that unless they assembled their commands by February 5, 1864, he would reconstruct them. They having failed to do so, General Forrest proceeded to reconstruct and reorganize all their commands into battalions and regiments. He assumed and exercised the power of appointing the field and staff officers for many of these commands. This took place primarily in troops of Richardson's Command, and some scattered bands or battalions claimed to have been raised by Collins and others. It is impossible to trace out the origin and subsequent history of these organizations. It is also impossible to reinstate them in their original condition. To do so would produce endless confusion and controversy. To avoid such, the good of the service would be best promoted by accepting the existing organizations. Legitimate authority for raising the commands cannot be produced. Richardson's own brigade, for which alone a legal color of authority for its organization can be shown, cannot stand the test of a probing scrutiny. Investigation will show that the muster rolls of his command were in many instances fictitious, and that the commissions thereof should be revoked." No muster rolls of the organization were found, and the information given herein was taken from Prisoner of War Rolls, miscellaneous records and personal papers.

CAPTAINS-W. I. Floyd, Co. "A". Organized November 25, 1863. Became Co. "H", 18th Mississippi Cavalry Battalion.

Thomas I. Morris, Co. "B". Organized November 14, 1863. Became "H", 8th Mississippi Cavalry Regiment.

Captain Manning's Company disbanded February 1864, and men collected by a Captain Rodgers, assisted by Lieutenant Douglas of Manning's Company, and became 2nd Co. "F" McDonald's Battalion of 3rd (Forrest's Old') Regiment.

Jasper G. Wilbourne, Co. "F". Wilbourne resigned January, 1864 as 1st Lieutenant Co. "E", 1st Mississippi Infantry, stating that he had been elected Captain of Co. "F" of Collins' Regiment, which he had raised on the authority of Collins. The men were probably assigned as individuals to the 18th Mississippi Cavalry Battalion.

 

These are the only companies positively identified. The letter from General Chalmers mentioned Captain Perry's company as being in Collins' command. This was probably Captain J. R. Perry, of Co. "G" 18th Mississippi Cavalry Battalion, which was formed from members of two companies of Partisan Rangers in State Service.

 

There was a Nathan D. Collins who enlisted as a private in Company I", 13th Tennessee Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Orderly Sergeant, and on the roll for November-December, 1862, was listed as a deserter. A Federal report from Union City, dated in December 1862, reported that a Lieutenant Colonel Collins of Forrest's Cavalry appeared there under a flag of truce, escorting into Federal lines paroled prisoners captured at Trenton, Tennessee (on December 20). He was not further identified, and it is possible that this was Nathan D. Collins. Collins returned to his regiment in 1863, was elected second lieutenant, and on May 13, detached, and ordered to report to Brigadier General Pillow, at Huntsville, Alabama, for recruiting service. During the latter part of 1863, he signed requisitions for forage as "Lieutenant Colonel." He returned to his regiment in 1864, and was elected first lieutenant. It seems evident that this was the same N. D. Collins of Collins' Regiment.


 

Fourth Assignment
18th Battalion Mississippi Cavalry
(aka Chalmers’ Battalion)

 

(from Dunbar Rowland’s "Military History of Mississippi, 1803-1898"; company listing courtesy of H. Grady Howell’s "For Dixie Land, I’ll Take My Stand’)

 

Company A -- no name specified (county of origin not specified)

Company B -- Porter’s Partisans, aka Porter’s Company Mississippi Partisan Rangers, and Coahoma Cavalry (raised in Coahoma County, MS)

Company C -- Carroll’s Company (raised in DeSoto, Marshall, Panola, & Yalobusha Counties, MS)

Company D -- Smith Rangers (raised in Tippah County, MS)

Company E -- Middleton’s Company (raised in Panola County, MS)

Company F -- Pettus Rangers (raised in DeSoto & Panola Counties, MS)

Company G -- Perry’s Company (raised in Panola County, MS)

Company H -- Peach Creek Rangers (raised in DeSoto & Panola Counties, MS)

Company I -- Wimberly’s Company (raised in Marshall County, MS)

Company K -- Raines’ Company (raised in DeSoto County, MS)

[no letter designation given] Phillips/Richards’ Company, aka Yazoo County Company (raised in Yazoo County, MS)

 

 Lieutenant-Colonel -- Alexander H. Chalmers. Majors -- A.H. Chalmers, William R. Mitchell. Adjutant -- S.F. Green.

This battalion was organized mainly from independent companies of partisan rangers which had been formed for the protection of the northern part of the State after the evacuation of Corinth.

Gen. James R. Chalmers was assigned to command on the northern frontier, with the duty of organizing these commands, after the Kentucky campaign of October, 1862.

A battalion was organized under the command of Major Alexander H. Chalmers, which is mentioned in the official reports, April, 1863, as with General Chalmers' command. headquarters Panola.

After Grierson’s raiders crossed the Tallahatchie, April 18, 1863, he sent a detachment toward King's bridge, against Chalmers' command. May 11, Colonel Hatch, Second Iowa Cavalry, set out from LaGrange to attack Major Chalmers at Panola, and encountered some portion of it at the crossing of Coldwater, taking three prisoners. General Chalmers followed Hatch and attacked at 2 o'clock, morning of the 14th, at Temperance Hall, again at Walnut Hill and again at the crossing of the Hecula, according to Hatch's report. Chalmers reported the capture of twelve.

With General Chalmers (at Grenada), in July, stationed at Wyatt; Webb, Middleton and J. W. Smith commanding companies: Lieut. James H. McCain, enlisting a company at Panola. Battalion actively engaged in meeting expeditions from Memphis and LaGrange.

Five companies were posted at Holly Springs, Coldwater and Wyatt, at the time of the Federal raid from the Big Black River and LaGrange, Tenn., to Grenada, August, 1863. Major Chalmers, with two companies, 94 men, guarding the river at Wyatt, fell back before one column of the enemy to find Grenada occupied by the other. The other companies did not return, but in September remnants of two companies were reported near the Memphis and Charleston Railroad.

September 10, i863, the command received the name of the Eighteenth Battalion, Mississippi Partisan Rangers. About this time Major Chalmers was authorized to increase his command to a regiment by enlistment of men not subject to conscription. The companies of Captains Middleton and McCain were then in the battalion. The companies of Mitchell and Smith were ordered to report on pain of treatment as deserters. Through these vigorous measures by S. D. Lee the battalion was enlarged. General Chalmers announced, October 7, that the battalion having been increased to six companies, Major Chalmers was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel; Capt. W. R. Mitchell, Company A, to Major. The battalion was assigned to McCulloch's Brigade of Chalmers' Cavalry, in October, 1863, the effective strength being 225.

At the Coldwater Ford, near Holly Springs, October 5, 1863, Chalmers’ Battalion was distinguished in the fight with McCrillis' Brigade of Hatch's Federal Cavalry, on a raid from LaGrange, Tenn. Both Federal and Confederate commanders agree that the battalion made a gallant charge, though they differ as to results. McCrillis retreated to LaGrange, and on the 8th made another incursion to Salem, where he took position on a ridge east of the town, and sustained an attack for several hours by General Chalmers command. McCrillis reported that his artillery fired upward of 300 rounds. After three hours' hard fighting they were driven from the position, Chalmers reported. Chalmers reported his strength at 1,200, with one piece of artillery; McCrillis his at 1,250, with sections of two batteries. The brunt of the conflict, said General Chalmers, was borne by McCulloch's Missouri Regiment, McGuirk's Regiment and Chalmers' Battalion, "and although the last two were composed almost entirely of untried men, they behaved with a gallantry equal to that which has ever distinguished the veterans of the Second Missouri Cavalry." The total Confederate loss was 1 killed, 27 wounded. Chalmers, reinforced by Richardson's command, remained in line of battle next day at Harmar's near Salem, while considerable forces of Federal cavalry moved against him, but without serious attack. He then moved to Holly Springs, and Major Mitchell, with 100 men, was sent out at night to tear up the track of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, over which General Sherman was about to move troops to the support of Rosecrans at Chattanooga. On the 11th Chalmers and Richardson attacked the fort at Collierville, Tenn. garrisoned by six companies of the Sixty-sixth Indiana, unexpectedly reinforced by General Sherman, escorted by a battalion of regulars. The fort was strong and gallantly defended, and though McGuirk captured 135 prisoners and thirteen wagons and teams, Chalmers was compelled to retire with a loss of 3 killed and 48 wounded. On the retreat Chalmers' command was engaged in battle near Byhalia and Wyatt, on the 12th. The battalion had 18 wounded in this campaign.

Later in October, being notified that Sherman was moving his troops east, Chalmers made another attempt, his plan being to demonstrate against Collierville, with the commands of Slemons and McCulloch, while Ferguson and Gholson tore up the railroad somewhere between LaGrange and Corinth. November Major Mitchell, with two companies of the Eighteenth Battalion, drove in the Union pickets at Quinn's Mill, hoping he could draw the Federals into a position favorable for attack, but they did not cross the Coldwater. November 3, 1863, Chalmers attacked Collierville, the Eighteenth Battalion forming the left wing of McCulloch’s command, which included also McCulloch's and Hovis' Regiments. After a sharp engagement of over an hour, the attack failed, and Chalmers retreated across the Coldwater, skirmishing with his pursuers at the crossing. The battalion casualties were 1 killed, 5 wounded. Though not mentioned, the battalion doubtless participated in Chalmers' raid of December, 1863, against the railroad, with fighting near Moscow, December 4.

Listed as Eighteenth Battalion, Lieut.-Col. A. H. Chalmers commanding, in organization of S. D. Lee's Cavalry Corps, January, 1864. With First Partisan Regiment, Duff's Nineteenth Battalion and Second Missouri, in McCulloch's Brigade, Chalmers' Division, Forrest's Cavalry, March 9, ordered forward to Panola to lay pontoon bridge for intended raid in Tennessee.

The battalion, with Chalmers' Division, took part in the capture of Fore Pillow, April 12, 1864, and was the first command to enter the fort, over which the battalion flag was quickly flying. There were 14 killed and 86 wounded in Chalmers' Division. Among the mortally wounded was Lieutenant Hubbard, of the battalion, a young and promising officer. General Chalmers mentioned the gallantry of Capt. C. T. Smith, commanding his escort company, who led the charge from the first to the second fort, and Private Samuel Allen of the escort, who was killed in the charge.

May 10, the battalion was attached to Duckworth's Brigade; May 21, moved to Oxford, account of Federal raid.

General Forrest, May 24, brigaded the battalion with Duff's Mississippi and Duckworth's Tennessee Regiment, under Col. E. W. Rucker. Capt. B. F. Saunders' scouts were ordered to report to Rucker, who was instructed to gather up detached bodies of men and form them into companies to raise the battalion to a regiment. This became known as the Sixth Brigade of Forrest's Cavalry. It was a part of the brigade Forrest originally organized under Colonel Neely, the other regiments being under Neely in Alabama.

General Lee sent the brigade to Booneville, June 8, to assist General Forrest against the approaching expedition under General Sturgis, then at Rienzi, and they went into line of battle at Brice's cross roads, near Tishomingo Creek, June 10, on the left of Forrest’s line. Rucker's attack, Forrest reported, was "made with vigor, rapidity and precision.'' "His brigade displayed conspicuous steadiness during the fight." The victory achieved was famous. Over 1,600 prisoners were taken and practically all the artillery and wagon train. Duff's Regiment and Chalmers' Battalion were the only Mississippi commands engaged. Chalmers had 7 killed, including Lieut. W. W. Govan, and 41 wounded.

When Gen. A. J. Smith advanced from LaGrange, Tenn., in July, 1864, Rucker's Brigade was in action near Pontotoc, skirmishing on the 12th, and on the 13th they attacked the guard of the Federal wagon train, moving from Pontotoc to Tupelo, at Bartram's shop. Smith turned at Harrisburg to face his pursuers, and took a strong position on a ridge across the road, where the Confederate troops, under Generals S. D. Lee, Forrest and Chalmers, attacked on the 14th. After the battle was begun, Rucker's Brigade advanced on the right, General Chalmers accompanying them. They moved for a long distance under fire of artillery and musketry, over plowed ground and through a cornfield, many of the men fainting in the excessive heat. "Colonel Rucker, with his little brigade, behaved with as much gallantry as men could under similar circumstances," said Chalmers, "as the heavy list of killed and wounded will prove, yet they were unable to accomplish anything." After dark, when the town was burning, General Forrest, with Rucker's Brigade, mounted, moved on the enemy's left and approached very near to his camp, eliciting the heaviest fire of small arms in the whole battle. When Smith retreated Chalmers pursued with skirmishing for two days, but was repulsed with heavy loss at each attack. The loss of Chalmers' Division was 57 killed. 255 wounded. Among the killed was Captain Middleton of the Eighteenth. Casualties of battalion, 11 killed, 62 wounded.

General Chalmers commended the rare coolness, activity and daring of his Adjutant-General, Capt. W. A Goodman, and gave honorable mention to others of his staff -- Majors B. S. Crump and A. G. Mills, Captains L. T. Lindsey and Ed Daly, Lieutenants G. T. Banks and H. Cinder of the engineer corps.

Rucker's Brigade was dissolved July 18, and Chalmers' and Duff's Battalions, returned to McCulloch’s, Brigade, Chalmers' Division. A new brigade of Tennessee cavalry was formed under Rucker, and August 30, General Forrest assigned General Chalmers to command of a division. including Rucker's and McCulloch's Brigades. McCulloch's Brigade then included the Fifth and Eighth Mississippi, First Partisans and Chalmers' Battalion, with McCulloch's Regiment.

In August Gen. A. J. Smith raided to Oxford and burned the town and Forrest, unable to give battle, raided into the city of Memphis. With Forrest in this renowned performance were the Mississippians of the Eighteenth, who lost one killed and one wounded. Entering the city, Forrest’s men sought to capture Generals Washburn, Hurlbut and Buckland, all of whom, however, escaped them. The Federal casualties were 80 killed and wounded, 116 missing. Forrest's total casualties, 9 killed, 26 wounded.

In September, McCulloch’s Brigade was sent to Mobile. The Eighth and Eighteenth Mississippi, operating in West Florida in October, 1864, encountered a Federal expedition to Milton.

Company C, at least (the escort company), was with General Chalmers in the campaign under General Forrest, with Hood's army, in Tennessee, November and December, 1864. When General Schofield was retreating in the presence of the Confederate army from Columbia to Franklin, Forrest, after driving Hatch's Cavalry back toward Nashville, attacked the infantry column at Spring Hill to hold it in check until the Confederate infantry could come up. In the evening Forrest asked Chalmers to charge, and gave him Wilson's Regiment to support his escort company, which made the charge, but found, as Chalmers had urged, that the infantry were present in force, in the woods. General Chalmers wrote in a personal letter, describing the incident as one of the most memorable feats of the war: "Lieut. Elbert Oliver, of my escort company, was shot in the foot at one side of me, and Carson, my bugler, was severely wounded on the other side of me. You (Frank Norfleet) and I together, making a circuit so as to get out of the line of fire, galloped back to General Forrest, who said to me, 'they were there sure, enough.'"

Listed November and December, 1864, as Eighteenth Mississippi Battalion Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmers commanding, in district of the Gulf. One company, 66 men, moving from Enterprise to Mobile, December 7, halted at Shubuta on account of a Federal raid. February, 1865, assigned to Stark's Brigade. March 16, 1865, at Columbus, Miss., General Chalmers ordered the battalion reorganized with part of the Fifth Regiment and Saunders’ company to form a consolidated regiment [18th MS Infantry], with the following officers: Colonel Alexander H. Chalmers, Lieutenant-Colonel J. Waverly Smith, Major W. J. Floyd.

The regiment was in the field during Wilson's raid through Alabama and Georgia in April and May, 1865, and at Maplesville, Ala., Capt. C. T. Smith's company and Forrest's escort company, General Forrest also being present, had a hand-to-hand fight with the Seventeenth Indiana Cavalry, of Wilder's Brigade.

Fifth Assignment

5th Mississippi Cavalry

Early in December 1863 the regiment participated in another raid against the railroad, Chalmers' command cooperating with the movements of S. D. Lee and Forrest. One company of the Fifth was in the gallant fight made at the Wolf River bridge, December 4, by Colonel McCulloch, against Hatch's Cavalry, in which Hatch was severely wounded.

Fifth Regiment, Col. James Z. George, part of Slemons' Brigade of Chalmers' Division, in organization of cavalry under Maj.-Gen. S. D. Lee, January, 1864. General Forrest brigaded the regiment under Col. Jeff E. Forrest. The regiment was with General Forrest in the Okolona campaign of February, 1864, which resulted in the defeat of Gen. Sooy Smith's expedition from Memphis, at the time General Sherman advanced from Vicksburg to Meridian. In the desperate fight about five miles from Okolona, February 22, where Colonel Forrest was killed, Lieutenant-Colonel James A. Barksdale, commanding the regiment, fell mortally wounded. The casualties of the regiment were 3 killed, 3 wounded, 3 missing. The regiment was with Chalmers and Forrest in the famous Tennessee raid of March and April, 1864. In the assault upon Fort Pillow, April 12, Lieut.-Col. Wiley M. Reed, temporarily commanding George's Regiment, was "shot in three places," General Forrest reported, "and it is feared that his wounds may prove mortal. The country can ill afford to lose the services of so good and brave an officer at this time."

In the engagements between Pontotoc and Tupelo, July 10-15, 1864, including the battle of Harrisburg, the regiment had 5 killed, 7 wounded.

The regiment was with Wade’s Brigade in August, 1864, contesting the advance of Hatch's Federal Division to Oxford, the main part of which town was burned August 22. They skirmished with the raiders in front of Oxford, and on the 23d attacked the retreating column at Abbeville, where the Fifth fought dismounted, and lost 4 killed, 10 wounded, 12 missing.

Return of May 10, 1864, Fifth Mississippi, Capt. William B. Peery, in McCulloch's Brigade, Forrest’s Cavalry. General Chalmers' assigned Lieut.-Col. N. Wickliffe to command, May 12. He was relieved at his own request, August 15. Maj. W. G. Henderson commanding, in Forrest's organization of August 30. Maj. William B. Peery commanding, August 31 return.

General Chalmers advanced within five miles of Memphis, October 8, but finding no opportunity for surprise, moved into West Tennessee with his escort and the Fifth Regiment.

When General Forrest took command at Florence, Ala., of Jackson's Division (with Hood's army) and his own, for the campaign in Tennessee, General Chalmers joined him with Rucker's Brigade, which included the Fifth Mississippi, with Alabama and Tennessee commands. They crossed the Tennessee River at Florence November 17, 1864, and remained several days on Shoal Creek, during which time they had several skirmishes, part of their wagon train being taken and retaken. They began the march north November 21, and on the 23d fought Capron's Brigade at Henryville, capturing 65 prisoners. General Forrest aided them by a charge with his escort. Next day they pursued the Federal cavalry into Columbia, taking 30 prisoners, but losing Colonel Dawson, of the Tennessee Regiment, killed. They skirmished about Columbia until the evacuation November 28, when they moved toward Franklin and struck the head of the Federal column toward Spring Hill, and, supported by Jackson and Buford, holding it in check several hours. In the night they were sent to intercept a Federal column, supposed to be on another road, but found nothing, the Federals moving on in the night, past the Confederate infantry, on the road upon which Rucker and Chalmers had met them. November 3o, in the assault upon the intrenched lines at Franklin, Rucker's Brigade formed on the extreme left of the line. After driving in the outposts, Chalmers reported: "My line was pressed forward until the skirmishers were within sixty yards of the fortifications, but my force was too small to justify an attempt to storm them, and I could only hold my position, which we did during the night and an early hour in the morning, when the skirmish line was pushed forward and was the first to enter the town, capturing some 20 prisoners. Our loss up to this time 116 killed and wounded." The casualties of the Fifth, included in this total, were 2 killed, 8 wounded. December 3 Rucker's Brigade took position on the Hillsboro Pike near Nashville, where the Federal troops were concentrated, and on the 6th, being relieved by infantry, moved, with two additional pieces of artillery, to the Charlotte pike, to blockade the Cumberland River. A monitor defeated and driven back on the 7th and other gunboats on other occasions. December 14, Chalmers and Rucker, with Ector’s Brigade, held a line of about four miles with 900 men. The Federal attack of the 15th opened up the Harding pike and Chalmers’ ordnance train was taken, the Federals advancing in his rear. Rucker had been lighting a gunboat on the river and cavalry on the Charlotte pike, but his men made good their retreat and were cut off from the army until the 16th, when they received orders, and moving promptly to Brentwood, rendered valuable services in protecting the wagon trains. In the evening of that day, under orders to hold the Granny White pike at all hazards, Rucker's Brigade fought desperately until after dark, when they were driven toward the Franklin pike, Rucker being wounded and captured in the hand-to-hand struggle. The loss of these two days was heavy. The remnant of the brigade was with Forrest and the rear guard on the retreat to the Tennessee River.

Companies A, B, F, G, I, of Fifth Cavalry, assigned to Armstrong’s Brigade, Chalmers’ Cavalry, February, 1865. Companies C, D, E, H, K, Fifth Mississippi Cavalry, with Lieut.-Col. A. H. Chalmers, assigned to Starke's Brigade, February, 1865.

March 1, the regiment having been consolidated, Capt. W. B. Peery, Company A, being over military age, was relieved from duty, at his own request.

In an order, March 16, General Chalmers said: "There being no field officers of the Fifth Mississippi Cavalry present and able for duty and only two companies of that regiment having 32 men present, the companies composing that regiment and not included in this order (consolidating E, H and K with Chalmers' Battalion), have been consolidated with other companies and regiments from the same State."

May 7, Gem J. H. Wilson ordered an officer sent to Forsyth, Ga., to receive the surrender of the Fifth Mississippi Cavalry.

The regiment was paroled at Gainesville, Ala., in May, 1865.