14th Tennessee Infantry Regiment

Organized June 6, 1861; reorganized April 26, 1862; paroled at Appomattox Courthouse April 9, 1865.

FIELD OFFICERS

  • Colonel-William A. Forbes, William Mc-Comb, James W. Lockert.
  • Lieutenant Colonels-Milton G. Cholson, George A. Harrell, James W. Lockert.
  • Majors-Milton G. Gholson, Nathan Bran-don, G. A. Harrell, James W. Lockert, Nathan M. Morris, James Hickman Johnson.

CAPTAINS

  • William A. Forbes, George A. Harrell, William W. Thompson, Jasper A. Waggoner, Junius Kirnble, Co. “A”. Men from Clarksville, Montgomery County.
  • Milton G. Gholson, William G. Russell, William J. Jennings, Howell H. Avrit, Co. “B”. Men from Palmyra, Montgomery County.
  • Washington E. Lowe, A. C. Dale, James M. Dale, Co. “C”. “The Pepper Guards.” Men from Robertson County
  • Hiram C. Buckner, Charles L. Martin, John W. Hagler, Co. “D”. Men from Stewart County.
  • Nathan Brandon, Clay Robertson, Nathan M. Morris, Richard C. Wilson, Co. “E”. Men from Stewart County.
  • W. Lowe, Bruce L. Phillips, Co. “F”. Men from Stewart County. This company disbanded May 23, 1863 and 32 men transferred to Co. “E”.
  • Isaac Brunson, J. H. Johnson, Harry W. Bullock, Co. “G”. Men from Montgomery County.
  • Frank S. Beaumont, James J. Crusman, William S. Moore, Co. “H”. Men from Clarksville, Montgomery County
  • William P. Simmons, William S. Winfield, Co. “I”. Men from Robertson County.
  • James W. Lockert, Thad A. Bowling, John P. Brown, Co. “K”. Men from Montgomery County.
  • E. Hewitt, John W. Mallory, Alexander F. Collins, Co. “L”. Men from Montgomery County.

Of the field officers, Colonel Forbes died September 2, 1862; Colonel McComb was appointed brigadier general January 20, 1865. Lieutenant Colonel Gholson resigned in October, 1861; Lieutenant Colonel Harrell died August 14, 1862. Major Brandon was not reelected at the reorganization; and Major Morris was retired to the Invalid Corps in August, 1864.

The eleven companies composing the regiment were organized during the month of May, 1861, and organized into a regiment at Camp Duncan, near Clarksville, on June 6, 1861. In a report dated March 31, 1864, at a camp near Orange Courthouse, Virginia, William McComb, then colonel commanding the regiment, gave the following history of its operations up to that time:

“The regiment was organized at Camp Duncan, Montgomery County, Tennessee, June 6, 1861; remained in camp of instruction until July 12, 1861, when we were ordered to Virginia, formed into a brigade with 1st (Maney’s) and 7th Tennessee Regiments under Brigadier General Sam R. Anderson. Ordered to report to General Loring, Pocahontas County, Northwestern Virginia, General Lee commanding the department. On September 5, we marched to Cheat Mountain, enduring great hardships. Returned to Middle Mountain September 17. October 1 went to Greenbrier, remained there six weeks. November 7 went into winter quarters at Huntersville, Virginia. On December 10, marched to Winchester, arrived there December 27. On January 1, 1862, General T. J. Jackson took command of the department, and the army moved to Hancock, Maryland, where we had a slight skirmish with the enemy, a few men wounded. Then to Romney, Virginia, being there about ten days, when we were ordered back to Winchester, thence to Manassas Junction, where we took railroad to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where the regiment was placed in Major General Holmes’ Division at Aquia Creek. Shortly afterwards, back to Fredericksburg, remaining there two weeks, then moved to Yorktown, joined command of General Joseph E. Johnston.

“On May 1, 1862, General Johnston commenced falling back to Richmond, the enemy following, and attacked him at West Point, the regiment being warmly engaged there on May 7, also at Echo on May 19, also a sharp engagement with the enemy at Bolton’s Bridge May 24. The regiment was engaged at the Battle of Seven Pines, May 31-June 1, 1862, where we lost heavily. Our Brigadier General Robert Hatton was killed in this fight. General Archer took command of the brigade June 3, 1862.

“The regiment took a very active part in the Seven Days’ fight before Richmond, where we suffered great loss. Adjutant R. C. Bell was mortally wounded at Gaines’ Mill June 27, 1862, and died July 17, 1862.

“After the Richmond fights were decided, the division to which we were then attached, General A. P. Hill’s, was ordered to Gordonsville and placed in (Stonewall) Jackson’s Command, who marched from there and fought the Battle of Cedar Run on August 20, 1862. The regiment participated in this battle. Lieutenant Colonel G. A. Harrell was wounded and died at Charlottesville, Virginia a few days after.

“After resting the troops and making his plans, General Lee marched on the rear of Pope at Manassas, Jackson attacking him on the 27th, this regiment being engaged in each battle for four days. Colonel W. A. Forbes was mortally wounded August 31, died September 2 at a field hospital. Adjutant G. B. Hutcheson was wounded August 31. The regiment was engaged at Prospect Hill September 1, 1862, then marched to Frederick City, Maryland, then recrossed the Potomac at Williamsport, and took an active part in the battle at Harper’s Ferry September 14-15. On 17th crossed back into Maryland, and was engaged in battle of Sharpsburg, Maryland, in which Colonel McComb (who took command on the death of Colonel Forbes) was seriously wounded.

“General Lee then crossed back to Virginia, and the regiment was engaged in the Battle of Shepherdstown, Virginia, September 21. Then fell back to Winchester, remaining there till November 22, 1862, when we marched to Fredericksburg, and the regiment was engaged in the Battle of Fredericksburg December 13, 1862.

“We then went into winter quarters at Gaines’s Station, Virginia until April 27, 1863, when we were ordered to the front. Had some skirmishing and finally engaged the enemy at Chancellorsville, Virginia May 3, where Colonel McComb was seriously wounded again. The regiment returned to its old camp at Gaines’s Station until June 1, when the army marched into Pennsylvania, where it was engaged in Battle of Gettysburg July 1-2-3, also at Falling Waters, Maryland July 14, and on our return from Maryland engaged the enemy at Gaines’ Crossroads July 24.

“General Lee fell back to Orange Courthouse, remaining there till October 10, when he advanced on Meade. This regiment then engaged at Bristol Station, Virginia October 13, after which we returned to Orange Court-house where we remained till November 26, when Meade crossed the Rapidan at Sommerville Ford. The regiment engaged the enemy at Mine Run November 27, afterward retiring to Orange Courthouse where we built winter quarters, and remained till December 14, when we were ordered to Staunton. Arrived there the 15th and marched to Buffalo Gap. After two days went back to Staunton, bivouacked four miles from there on Lexington Pike. The enemy making a demonstration from Winchester, we moved forward to reach them, and marched to Mount Crawford the first day. The next morning the regiment was ordered to the front. We engaged the enemy two miles from Mount Crawford, and drove them 25 miles. We then went back to Mount Jackson, remaining there two weeks, then returned to Staunton, Virginia. In a week were ordered to Harrisonburg, Virginia, put up winter quarters. On January 23, 1864, the following resolution was adopted unanimously; ‘Whereas, having observed with mingled pride and gratification the noble steps taken by our brother Tennesseans in General Bate’s Brigade, in initiating re-enlisting, emulating this noble example, and believing that nothing would sooner secure our independence and the blessings of an honorable peace, than by sustaining to our utmost the worthy President and his noble Commander in Chief of the Army of Northern Virginia, therefore, resolved: that we, the officers and men of the 14th Tennessee Regiment, do hereby re-enlist for the war, pledging our lives and sacred honor so long as one man is left to bear our colors, or fire a shot, they shall float defiantly the face of an insolent foe. Thereby making this regiment the first to re-enlist in the Army Northern Virginia.

“On January 25, 1864 the regiment was ordered to Mount Jackson, Virginia, to protect the flanks of General Rosser, who with his cavalry command made a successful raid into Hardy County, Virginia. Then we returned Harrisonburg, remaining there till March 1, then we marched over the Blue Ridge to Charlottesville, thence to this camp four miles om Orange Courthouse.

“I would respectfully state that a great many men have been dropped from the rolls as deserters who were permanently disabled fromm wounds received in battle. They went home on furlough, and remained there, being in the enemy’s lines they are unable to report, and do not consider it necessary to return to their command. (Signed) William McComb, Colonel.”

During the year that remained, the 14th participated in the Battles of the Wilderness, May 5-7, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 12; Cold Harbor, June 1, and the siege of Petersburg. Colonel McComb was promoted to brigadier general in January, 1865, and Leutenant Colonel James W. Lockert succeeded him as colonel of the 14th Regiment. On January 31, 1865 Captain William S. Winfield was reported in command of the 14th; on February 28, 1865, Major James H. Johnson was shown as commanding. It was actively engaged in the last battle fought on this front on April 2, 1865, and on April 9, 1865 was surrendered by Lee at Appomattox Courthouse. During all this time, and in fact throughout the whole war, the 14th Tennessee Regiment was in the same brigade with the 7th Tennessee Regiment. See the history of the 7th Tennessee for details as to brigade commanders, and brigade organizations. This service was in what was known as Tennessee Brigade. The third Tennessee regiment in this brigade was always the First Tennessee Regiment, but not always the same First. Until February, 1862 Maney’s First Tennessee Volunteers was in the brigade, but when it was ordered back to Tennessee, it was succeeded by Turney’s 1st Confederate Infantry sometimes called the 1st Tennessee Regiment, Provisional Army, Confederate States of America. At various times other regiments were attached to the brigade, but the three Tennessee regiments were always there.


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.

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