Organized December, 1862; consolidated with 28th Tennessee Infantry March 8, 1863 to form 28th Consolidated Tennessee Infantry Regiment. The 84th Regiment was raised by Colonel Sidney S. Stanton in the country around McMinnville in November and December, 1862, with seven companies.
FIELD OFFICERS
- Colonel-Sidney S. Stanton
- Lieutenant Colonel-R.C. Sanders
- Major-W. Gooch Smith
CAPTAINS
- W. H. McDonald, Co. “A”. Enrolled November 8 at Chestnut Mound and McMinnville, Smith and Warren Counties. Consolidated with “G” to form “E”, 28th Consolidated.
- Hugh H. Lannden, Co. “B”. Enrolled November 15, at McMinnville, Warren County. Became Co. “F”, 28th Consolidated.
- W. L. Woods, Co. “C”. Enrolled November 19, 1862 at McMinnville, Warren County. Became Co. “G”, 28th Consolidated.
- Roysden Robinson, Co. “D”. Enrolled November 27 at McMinnville, Warren County; some men from Putnam County. Became Co. “H”, 28th Consolidated.
- S.B. Whaley, Co. “E”. Enrolled November 25 at Smithville, DeKalb County. Became “I”, 28th Consolidated.
- J.G. Maxwell, Co. “F”. Enrolled December 1 from Overton County, consolidated with “B” of 28th Regiment to form “K”, 28th Consolidated. W.A. Ensor, Co. “G”. Enrolled December 22 from Putnam County. Consolidated with “A” to form “E” of 28th Consolidated.
Colonel Stanton was originally colonel of the 25th Tennessee Infantry Regiment. Both he and Lieutenant Colonel R. C. Sanders, of the same regiment, resigned shortly after the Battle of Shiloh because of some difficulty with Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke over some question of discipline. Sanders became lieutenant colonel of the 84th and Captain W. Gooch Smith, also from the 25th, became major. According to Colonel Stanton, the regiment remained in the vicinity of McMinnville until just before the Battle of Murfreesboro, joining the Army of Tennessee December 29, 1862 and being assigned to Brigadier General D. S. Donelson’s Brigade, Major General B. F. Cheatham’s Division, Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk’s Corps. Donelson’s Brigade, at this time, was composed of the 8th, 16th, 51st and 48th Regiments, plus Carnes’ Battery.
General Donelson, in his report of the battle, stated: “The 84th, being a new and very small regiment, was assigned to my command December 29, 1862, only two days before the battle. I deemed it best to leave it in the rear in support of Carnes’ Battery. Colonel Stanton’s Regiment was not seriously engaged, though I do not doubt, if an opportunity had presented itself, that both he and his men would have fought most gallantly.”
Colonel Stanton reported that the 84th never drew arms until Monday evening, December 29th and, the regiment never having been drilled in the manual of arms (loading, etc.), “I drilled the regiment all day Tuesday, on the field, under the enemy’s shells, and likewise Wednesday morning until the battle opened.” He went on to state that Carnes’ Battery having been moved off to the right, his regiment stayed in support of the Washington Battery, which was situated to his left; and later, with Colonel Savage’s 16th Tennessee Regiment, moved up to “the brick house.” “Forty of my men came up from McMinnville, got arms and accouterments, and came to us in the hottest part of the fight, while we were under heavy shelling in the open field.” He reported two men wounded.
The organization of the regiment was pronounced illegal by the War Department, and on March 8, 1863, it was consolidated with the 28th Tennessee Regiment to form the 28th Consolidated Tennessee Regiment. Colonel Stanton became colonel of the consolidated regiment. See the history of the 28th Tennessee Infantry Regiment for further history of the organization.
This unit history was extracted from Tennesseans in the Civil War, Vol 1. Copyrighted 1964 by the Civil War Centennial Commission of Tennessee and is published here with their permission. This history may not be republished for any reason without the written permission of the copyright owner.