Contributed by Scott Brian Webb
Jesse Webb, my 2nd great grandfather, was a volunteer in the Union Army, Company "E", 2nd Regiment of the Tennessee Regular Cavalry.
Born on March 15, 1843 as the first child of Thomas "Tom Cat" Webb and Anna Giles.
The 1850 US Federal Census states his residence as the District 11, Cocke, Tennessee.
The 1860 US Federal Census states his residence as the District 8, Cocke, Tennessee.
September 16, 1862 Jesse volunteered for the Union Army and became part of Co "E", 2nd Regiment, TN Regular Cavalry, Union Army, Civil War.
Married Lavenia (Vena) Stiles sometime between 1866 - 1868.
The 1870 US Federal Census states his residence as the District 12, Cocke, Tennessee.
The 1880 US Federal Census states his residence as the District 12, Cocke, Tennessee
The 1891 Tennessee Census states his residence as the District 12, Cocke, Tennessee
Died March 13, 1899
May 9, 1899 - Lavenia Webb filed for Jesse Webb's pension as his widow.
- According to family history, Jesse, a trader, was known to carry large sums of money in his saddlebags. He left home early one morning to engage in a business transaction in Newport. He did not come home that night. The next day Jesse's body was found floating in the Pigeon River between the communities of Denton and Bluffton. He had been murdered. His horse was found nearby with empty saddlebags. Jesse's son, Elijah Berry Webb, had some role in local law enforcement (believed to be part of the sheriff's office) at the time of the murder and was instrumental in the tracking down and apprehension of Jesse's two killers returning them to Newport to face the judicial system.
Widow's Pension Document
Pension Document
Military Grave Marker Document
Second Cavalry. - Col., Daniel M. Ray, Lieut. Col., William R. Cook Majs. George W. Hutsell, Charles Inman, William R. Macbeth, William F. Prosser.
This regiment was organized at Cumberland Gap in the months of Aug. and Sept., 1862, and was composed of loyal citizens of Knox, Blount, Sevier and surrounding counties, numbering in the aggregate about 1,175 men.
Shortly after the organization of the regiment, Gen. Morgan began his retreat to the Ohio River and the 2nd cavalry, although dismounted, rendered efficient service in protecting the flank and rear of the retreating column. Not long after its arrival at Gallipolis, Ohio, it was ordered to Louisville, where it was mounted and armed, and pushed on to join Rosecrans at Nashville.
It arrived in time to participate in the battle of Stones River, where it lost several officers and men. From that time until June 23, 1863, with the remainder of the Federal cavalry under Gen. Stanley, it was employed on the front and flanks of Rosecrans' army, doing severe duty. At the latter date it moved with the army from Murfreesboro to Tullahoma and pursued Bragg across the Cumberland Mountains.
About July 10 it was ordered to report to Gen. Sheridan for special duty, and was employed in the vicinity of Bridgeport, Ala., and Chattanooga until the early part of September when it rejoined the cavalry under Gen. Stanley and participated in the battle of Chickamauga. After doing some escort duty it was ordered to Washington and Kingston and assisted in the defense of the latter place against Gen. Wheeler.
It was then ordered to Nashville, hastily refitted and forwarded to Gen. William S. Smith at Memphis for an expedition into Mississippi, in the course of which it participated with credit in engagements at Okolona, West Point, the Tallahatchie River and elsewhere.
In June, 1864, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th regiments of Tennessee cavalry, with Battery A of the 1st Tenn. light artillery, were ordered to northern Alabama and remained on duty in that district until the end of the year.
In the numerous engagements with the Confederate cavalry during that time the 2nd cavalry displayed great gallantry and received the commendation of all the general officers under whom it served. In the pursuit of Hood's retreating army from Nashville the command to which it was attached marched 280 miles in 7 days and nights of unusually severe weather, and during that time were engaged in six different actions, capturing a large number of prisoners and material of every description.
From Jan. to July 1865, the regiment was on duty at Vicksburg and New Orleans, and was then mustered out.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 382
Battles Fought
- Fought on 1 Jan 1863 at Stones River, TN.
- Fought on 26 Oct 1864 at Decatur, AL.
- Fought on 17 Dec 1864 at Nashville, TN.
All Rights Reserved. The information contained within this web site, may be used by individual researchers, libraries and genealogical societies, however, commercial or for-profit use of this information is strictly prohibited without prior permission. If copied, this copyright notice, must appear with the information. The copyright of the actual information, documents or images contained here is held by the submitter.