(2nd Organization)

As the threat of war neared Tennessee, Edward D. Baxter joined the Harding Artillery, also known as Monsarrat’s Battery. Baxter was promoted to lieutenant then subsequently to the rank of captain. Sometime after the organization, the Harding Artillery was reorganized into two companies. One of these companies was placed under Baxter’s command. In the summer of 1862, while the battery was on post duty, Captain Samuel Freeman succeeded Baxter as commander of the company. At this time Baxter organized a second light artillery battery at Bethesda, in Williamson County, Tennessee. This battery was known as Baxter’s Tennessee Light Artillery Company (2nd Organization). The unit was comprised primarily of men from Dickson County, although it also included some men from other Middle Tennessee counties.

After organization, in December 1862, Baxter’s Tennessee Light Artillery Company was stationed at Shelbyville, Tennessee. Later, the battery was moved from Shelbyville to the Cumberland Gap, the vital mountain pass at the Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia borders. Here the unit spent the opening months of 1863. The battery next moved to Bean’s Station, Tennessee, where it camped for the months of March and April. By mid-May Baxter’s Company was ordered back to the strategic defenses at Cumberland Gap. The unit stayed on garrison duty the remainder of May and most of June. On June 26, the battery was forwarded to Knoxville, Tennessee. After a brief stay in Knoxville of only a few days, the battery was transferred to Sweetwater, Tennessee where it was stationed throughout the months of July and August 1863.

From Sweetwater, Baxter’s Artillery was ordered south into North Georgia, where the campaign for Chattanooga was underway. At the Battle of Chickamauga, September 19-20, 1863, Baxter’s Artillery was assigned to Major Sam C. William’s Artillery Battalion as a part of the Reserve Artillery Corps. On the second day of the battle, William’s Battalion took a position on a ridge with Preston’s Division. At this time Baxter’s Battery was detached from the battalion and was ordered to report to Brigadier General Archibald Gracie. The battery took a position on a bluff on the extreme left of the Confederate line near Lee and Gordon’s Mill. The company, armed with two 3-inch rifled guns, was engaged in this battle. The battery fired thirteen rounds of ammunition and sustained no casualties. The Battle of Chickamauga was an overwhelming victory for the Confederacy.

Now assigned to the Army of Tennessee, Baxter’s Battery was engaged in the fierce fighting on Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, November 25, 1863. With the Confederate collapse on Missionary Ridge, the battery retired south to Ringgold, Georgia. The unit remained at Ringgold from November 26 until December 8, when it was moved to the winter camp of the Army of Tennessee at Dalton, Georgia. The following day, Baxter’s Company in compliance to an order by Major General William J. Hardee turned their horses and ordnance over to the Artillery Chief of Staff. Baxter and his men proceeded to Atlanta where they had reported to Colonel M. H. Wright by December 15, til August 1864, Baxter commanded Batteries “A” and “B” in the defenses around Atlanta. With the capitulation of Atlanta, Baxter’s Artillery was moved to east Macon, Georgia, where they took up positions along the Clinton Road. Here the unit remained through November and December 1864.

Partial Roll:

• Beck, John T. 
• Brown, Benjamin F. Born December 8, 1841. Died March 21, 1937. Buried in family cemetery on Turnbull Creek. Last surviving veteran of the Civil War from Dickson County. 
• Buttrey, William G. W. Died February 5, 1864 of chronic diarrhea at Covington, Georgia. 
• Carr, George W. Died June 5, 1863 of typhoid fever at Bean’s Station, Tennessee. 
• Carr, Thomas J. Born August 23, 1842. Died December 20, 1914. Buried in Dickson Union Cemetery. 
• Dillard, John. 
• Frasher, W. P. A. 
• Hooper, T. J. 
• Hooper, William R. Died May 29, 1863 of typhoid fever at Bean’s Station, Tennessee. 
• Jackson, Richard P. Died June 10, 1863 of typhoid fever at Bean’s Station, Tennessee. 
• Lampley. A. J. 
• Lankford, Dillard H.
• Lewis, James G. 
• Lovell, Robert B. Died April 13, 1862 of typhoid fever in hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. 
• McCrary, James. Died June 7, 1863 of typhoid fever at Bean’s Station, Tennessee. 
• Moore, John. Died at Tullahoma, Tennessee April 27, 1863. 
• Parker, T. J. 
• Sears, Hiram. Died January 20, 1864 in Catoosa Hospital, Griffin, Georgia. 
• Spencer, Hiram A. 
• Terrill, Joseph R. Died May 28, 1863 of typhoid fever at Bean’s Station, Tennessee. 
• Thompson, James B. Buried in the Thompson Cemetery on Sertoma Road, near Burns, Tennessee. 
• Tidwell, S. M. 
• Welch, Wesley. 
• White, Daniel. Born 1840. Died 1925. 
• White, James P. Born February 23, 1844. Died October 6, 1925. Buried in the White Cemetery in Dickson County.

If anyone has further information such as pictures, diaries, letters, or etc., or any comments please contact me at: eleventhtn [at] hotmail [dot] com.

Todd Cathey, is a serious Civil War History Student. He is particularly interested in the Dickson area. As a result of his knowledge and generosity, he offered to create this page of information for us. It is Volunteers like Todd that make a good website GREAT! Thanks Todd!