ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT.

It now became necessary for every Union man who had shown any respect for the Federals, or "Yankees," as they were called, to leave the country. Thousands had already gone, and most of those who had remained had been subject to greater danger and hardships than even active military service would have entailed. Many boys 14, 15 and 16 years old at the beginning of the war, were now old enough, and were eager to join the army. The leading men in Carter and Johnson Counties, now that an opportunity had come, and knowing they could no longer remain at home to protect their families and assist the families of those already in the field, upon hearing of the advance of Gen. Burnside's army, began to recruit men for the Federal service, and one or two companies were partially formed and organized in the mountains. There had been no time since the beginning of the war when the Federal Government needed troops worse than at this period, and though a single regiment was but an insignificant fraction of the vast army that was now battling for the Union, every patriot felt that he could no longer withhold his services with honor to himself. While many loyal men had already joined the Federal army, and were fighting their country's battles on many battlefields, the men who were now to compose the Thirteenth Regiment of Tennessee Union Cavalry had rendered important service in many ways. They had burned the bridge, engaged in the Carter county rebellion, and by their presence at home, had kept a large force of rebels constantly engaged in watching them. When reminded in a pleasant way by some of our comrades who joined the army at an earlier date, that we did not go into the service until the war was nearly over, we tell them that is true, and a great pity, too, as the Rebellion did not begin to collapse until the "Thirteenth" entered the field. Even after this regiment left Carter County there were Union men left there who did as noble service as those in the field, in caring for the families of the soldiers and feeding many of them, and protecting and advising them as far as they could. Mention will be made of many of these brave men in the chapter of "Heroes and Heroines."

Col. John K. Miller, of Carter County, was authorized to raise a Regiment of Cavalry by Governor Johnson. Col. R. R. Butler, of Johnson County, was also authorized to raise a Regiment of Cavalry. Col. A. D. Smith, 3. W. M. Grayson, Samuel E. Northington, J. N. Norris and others of Johnson County, and H. C. Smith, C. C. Wilcox, L. W. Fletcher, William and D. B. Jenkins and others of Carter County, were all active at this time in enlisting men for the army. It was not long until several hundred men were enlisted. Among the men enlisted were quite a number of loyal men from Western North Carolina, some of whom had done service in the Carter County rebellion, and now learning that Burnside had occupied East Tennessee came to join the Union standard.

The Federal forces, under Gen. Shackelford, Gen. S. P. Carter, Col. Foster and others, had advanced as far east as Abingdon, Virginia, driving in the rebel pickets at that place when they were ordered back to the defense of Knoxville.

The men who had been recruited for the 12th Tennessee Cavalry (afterwards changed to the Thirteenth) joined the retreating Federal forces at Johnson's Depot and Jonesboro and fell back with them to Greeneville, Tenn.

Having drawn our first rations at the latter place from the United States Government, as well as frying pans and some old Springfield rifles, we date the beginning of our service at Greeneville, and the time September 3oth, 1863, and take the liberty henceforth to use the first personal pronoun being now a part of the organization soon to be mustered into service as the Thirteenth Regiment of Tennessee Cavalry, U. S. A.

On the night of September 3oth the enemy were actively pushing our forces. Equipped now with frying pans and old rifles we began our first retreat, in the night. Rumors of fighting, verified by the sound of musketry in our rear, was a new experience to most of us, and somewhat alarming. Though not yet mustered into service, like young Prince Napoleon at Sedan, we were receiving "the baptism of fire;" but we reached Bull's Gap in safety, and with no loss except frying pans and perhaps a few muskets that some of us threw away to accelerate our speed.

Here we rested, little thinking that this dreary looking place was to cut such a figure in the future history of our Regiment. Such of the frying pans as had not been thrown away in our flight from Greeneville were brought into use.

On the night of Oct. 2d we were loaded into some old flat cars and taken to Strawberry Plains where we arrived just before daylight. The nights were growing cold now, and using the tactics of Col. Woolford, "we scattered out" and "huddled up" in straw piles, or any old barns or houses that would afford us a place to take a little rest and sleep.

The next day, learning we were to remain here for sometime, the men set about erecting rude huts or shanties out of such material as they could find, to protect them from the rain and the sun, which, at midday, still poured its effulgent rays upon the shadeless plains with uncomfortable warmth. We were without equipments of any kind, except the muskets, and what were left of the frying pans, and such blankets as we had brought from home. Some of the men had also brought their horses with them when they left home.

We were at this time dependent, to a great extent, on foraging for subsistance for ourselves and horses, that, too, in a country that had been largely stripped by both armies. Men unused to cooking made most amusing and ridiculous efforts to prepare their meals and keep their scanty wardrobes in order, with the very few of the necessary conveniences for this purpose. We were a motley crowd, presenting little appearance of soldiers, or giving little promise that we ever would be.

It might be in order just here to compare our home-leaving with that of our comrades of the North, or the Confederate soldiers in the South.

They were usually uniformed, equiped and at least partially drilled in camps near their homes. They generally spent several weeks in camp, provided with tents and all the accessories to make a soldier's life as comfortable as possible. Their friends visited them, often bringing delicacies to eat and little mementoes of love. When they were ordered to the front they were presented with beautiful banners, often the handiwork of fair and loving hands ; large crowds gathered at the railroad stations, or places of embarkment, to bid them goodby ; and with the sound of music and amidst the waving of flags, with the kisses of loved ones warm upon their lips, and the blessings of parents, wives, sisters and sweethearts they were speeded on their journey in comfortable coaches.

How different with us! Hastily getting together a few articles of clothing, a blanket, and perhaps a little lunch, if we had the time, we hurriedly left our homes. With a hasty kiss and pressure of our loved ones. to our hearts we were gone. Tramping over rugged roads, toiling over hills—foot-sore and weary, our first introduction to military service was the sound of musketry, and the roar of artillery.

The time was spent at Strawberry Plains in making such efforts as we could to maintain discipline and order as far as possible without any authorized officers, and in making ourselves as comfortable as we could. Recruiting officers were sent back and men were continually joining us from the upper counties and Western North Carolina.

THE REGIMENT PARTIALLY ORGANIZED.

While we were at Strawberry Plains Gen. Burnside and his staff went east on the train, the Union forces not having all fallen back yet as far as Knoxville.

Col. Miller now had perhaps 500 or 600 men who had been recruited for the 12th Tennessee Cavalry. These men were mostly from Carter and Johnson Counties, some from Western North Carolina and a few from other counties in East Tennessee. Alexander D. Smith, of Johnson County, was the choice of the Regiment for Lieutenant-Colonel, and Johnson County being entitled to that position he received the appointment.

While the service of the Field and Staff dated from October 28, owing to some delay in obtaining a mustering officer, they were not mustered until November.

In the meantime, Col. A. D. Smith, who had been serving as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment, was taken seriously ill and died at the home of Mr. McBee at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, November 3, 1863. Much regret was expressed throughout the Regiment upon learning of the death of a man who was well known and held in high esteem by all the Carter and Johnson county men.

Hamilton C. Smith, of Carter county, a brother of Col. A. D. Smith, had the appointment of Major in the Regiment, but was taken sick with fever at Strawberry Plains, and never became able to serve. He was afterwards Chancellor of the First Chancery Division of Tennessee for many years, and was among the most prominent citizens of East Tennessee. He has been dead (1902) a number of years.

Upon the death of Colonel Smith, Colonel R. R. Butler's recruits were attached to the Regiment and he was commissioned and mustered as Lieutenant-Colonel. The number of the Regiment was changed to the Thirteenth.

The following are the names and rank of the officers of the Field and Staff of the Thirteenth Regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, mustered into the service of the United States at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, by Captain Ogden, U. S. Mustering Officer, to date from October 28, 1863, and to serve three years, or during the war.

FIELD AND STAFF.

John K. Miller, Colonel.
Roderick R. Butler, Lieutenant-Colonel.
James W. M. Grayson, Major.
Brazillias P. Stacy, Adjutant.
James H. Conkling, Quartermaster.
Joel H. Williams, Commissary.
William H. Matlock, Surgeon.
James M. Cameron, Asst. Surgeon.
Alfred T. Donnelly, Sergeant-Major.
Charles Lefler, Commissary Sergeant.
Larkin P. Blackburn, Hospital Steward.
Oliver C. Butler, Saddler Sergeant.
Jordan J. Heck, Blacksmith Sergeant.

At this time few of the companies had a sufficient number of men to entitle them to a full complement of officers, hence the Regiment was not fully organized until it reached Camp Nelson, Ky. The names of the company officers with rank and date of muster will appear with the rolls of the companies.

Our officers and men were ignorant of the arts of war, and knew very little about military rules and discipline. A few were elected to office under the impression that having attended the old militia musters they might be useful in drilling the men, but the tactics used in the old muster days were now out of date, and antiquated, and these men were found to be not only useless as drillmasters, but found it most difficult to acquire the new methods of drill laid down in the modern tactics. There were a few men with us, however, who had seen service and were very useful at this time. Among these men were Patrick F. Dyer, who had been captured at the first battle of Bull's Run, taken to Saulsbury prison and made his escape into East Tennessee just before the organization of the Regiment.

Col. John K. Miller, who had always been a civilian, and was therefore inexperienced in military affairs, upon the recommendation of Gen. Samuel P. Carter, appointed as his Adjutant B. P. Stacy, who had seen service a: Sergeant-Major of the 7th Ohio Cavalry. Adjutant Stacy joined us at Strawberry Plains and proved a most gallant and efficient officer, as will appear later on.

The Regiment made some progress in drill and discipline while at the Plains, and the verdancy that characterizes the new recruits began to wear off to some extent.

An extended notice of the death of Col. A. D. Smith will appear among the "Sketches of Officers" in another chapter. Other deaths in the Regiment at Strawberry Plains were privates David N. Gourley and James Williams. The latter assisted in burning the bridge at Zollicoffer. Both were brave boys and were the first of the Regiment to die.

Gen. Burnside fell back to Knoxville and began to make preparations for the defense of the city, which was threatened by Gen. Longstreet. There were no Federal troops east of us now, placing us in an extremely serious situation. After some fighting at Kingston and Campbell's Station Burnside fell back to Knoxville, and Longstreet, following, invested the city. We were only 18 miles distant, and a small force either from Longstreet's army, or any rebel force that might come from the east were liable to capture us at any moment. Being practically unarmed we were in no condition to defend ourselves against any armed force, however small.

In this dilemma several days passed, leaving us in great suspense, knowing if we were captured most of us having been conscripted would be treated as deserters from the Confederate army.

Col. Miller, appreciating the danger of the situation, called  a council of the officers and it was determined to send a detachment of men through Gen. Longstreet's lines to Knoxville to advise Gen. Burnside of the situation, and ask for instructions and orders. Volunteers were called for and a number of men readily assented to make the dangerous trip. Lieut. D. B. Jenkins, of Company C, and Lieut. B. F. Ferguson, of Company F, volunteered to lead the detachment. This detachment, numbering about 20 men, left Strawberry Plains about 4 o'clock p. m. on the 21st of November and made its way down the Holston river, reaching the vicinity of the enemies' lines at a point four miles east of Knoxville. Lieuts. Jenkins and Ferguson ascertained from Union people in the vicinity the position of the enemy, and selecting the weakest point in his line charged the position and succeeded in reaching the city, and reported to Gen. Burnside. Receiving instructions these men again made their way through the enemies' lines back to Strawberry Plains, arriving there in safety at 'I o'clock P. M. on the same day.

Gen. Burnsides gave Col. Miller instructions to either make his way to Knoxville, or take the Regiment to Camp Nelson, Ky., by way of the Cumberland Gap.

Knoxville was now closely invested, and the Federal army reduced to short rations. On the one hand, the possibility of being captured in the attempt to reach Knoxville and our men, most of whom had been conscripted in the Confederate army, treated as deserters, or, escaping this contingency, Knoxville itself falling into the hands of the enemy. On the other hand we were illy prepared to make the long journey to Kentucky in the cold weather, now approaching, most of us on foot, poorly clad and without tents or other protection from the cold.

After some discussion it was at length decided to make our way to Camp Nelson.   Rev. Wm. Rogers, of Knoxville, an ex-chaplain of the Mexican War and a Union man of unquestioned courage, was sent out with Lieut. Jenkins to pilot us into Knoxville, and when we decided to go to Camp Nelson he went with us as far as New Market, Tenn. We left Strawberry Plains about 12 m. o'clock on the night of November 21, 1863, carrying with us our few effects—some on foot, others on horseback— and began the toilsome march of 170 miles over rough roads, across rugged mountains, through mud and rivers and streams and without rations or any adequate protection from the weather.