Category Archives: Civil War

The Burning Of Clifton

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The Burning Of Clifton

by William R. Morris

Originally published in the “Wayne County Historian”

Volume 2, Number 2, June 1989

War is never a good thing, especially for the people caught in its path. The Tennessee River town of Clifton, Tennessee seemed to be caught in the path sporadically throughout the Civil War. A tragic turn of events occurring in February 1863, left some of the residents of Clifton homeless.

The Civil War brought a hard life to John Newsom. John answered his new country’s call for volunteers by joining the 6th Infantry Regiment of the Provisional Army of Tennessee. John was soon made Captain of Company F of that unit. In a short time the 6th Infantry was placed into Confederate service.

Although the 6th Tennessee Infantry Regiment rendered good service early in the Civil War, it was nearly destroyed during the Battle of Shiloh. The regiment withdrew from the battle having suffered nearly 500 casualties of its 851 men. Captain Newsom’s company was disbanded and its surviving members assigned to other units.

Brigadier General Gideon J. Pillow, finding Newsom without a command, authorized him to form a new cavalry regiment behind the lines for Confederate service. Newsom, now having been appointed a colonel, not only began recruiting, but engaged in military operations against Federal units in the area. February 1863 found Newsom and a number of his men in Clifton. Clifton, just the month before, had been the location of Confederate General Nathan B. Forrest’s temporary brigade headquarters after his Christmas raid through west Tennessee.

The 3rd Michigan Cavalry Regiment came into Middle Tennessee after a good deal of hard campaigning. The regiment had participated in the siege of New Madrid, the siege of Island Number 10, and the siege of Corinth, Mississippi. The 3rd continued its actions against the Confederates in middle and west Tennessee and northern Mississippi. There is little doubt that such continuous fighting shaped these Grand Rapids citizen soldiers into war-hardened veterans.

The State of Michigan saw to it that its 3rd Cavalry was exceptionally well equipped. They had been furnished with the new Sharps breach loading rifles and carbines. This weapon allowed the cavalryman to rapidly reload far faster than the normal muzzle-loaders of their opponents. The regiment had also bee issued a number of the new multi-shot Colt Revolving rifles. They were also furnished a large number of various types of handguns (revolvers).

By way of comparison, the normal Confederate cavalry regiment was equipped with what weapons they could get. Normally they would use various kinds of shotguns, flintlocks, and other assorted muzzle-loaders. Confederate troops continued throughout the war to arm themselves with what Union weapons they could capture or pick up from the battlefields. There is little question that during February 1863, the 3rd Michigan Cavalry had Newsom’s cavalry outgunned.

On 13 February 1863, a Tuesday, the 3rd Michigan Cavalry sent out a scouting party from Lexington, Tennessee towards Clifton. The party was composed of companies A, B, K, and L of the 3rd Michigan and SGT Mize and 14 men from the 7th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment (US Volunteers), acting as guides. The group was under command of CPT Cicero Newell.

On 19 February, the group approached Clifton from the west die of the river. Newell had received word that “…the noted Colonel Newsom …” and his men, which were considered to be guerrillas, could be found at “the old haunt, Clifton”.

While scouting the vicinity some of Newell’s men found a sunken flatboat, about 20 miles above Clifton. Newell formed a plan of attack. Leaving SGT Vowell and 6 men from Company K to bail out and refloat the flatboat, Newell made the appearance of returning to Lexington. When the local residents were apparently convinced of this action, and Newell was out-of-sight of the populace, he hid his men in the forest until nightfall. He then returned to the river with his men where he met SGT Vowell, now about four miles above the town with the flatboat. Newell found the boat to be too small to carry his whole command. With time running short, Newell could only make one crossing of the river. Taking 60 troops with him, Newell crossed the river, leaving the remainder on the west side. On landing, precious time was lost as the party was delayed in the swamps near the town. However, they were able to surround the town shortly before dawn.

As dawn broke, Newell began his surprise attack on the sleeping Confederates. The attack was fast and furious, catching many of the rebels still asleep in bed. The Confederates fought back, but it was over quickly. As a result of the attack, Newell’s party captured 54 of Newsom’s force and a number of their horses. Newell was wounded in the attack and CPT Frederick C. Adamson assumed command of the party. With the capture of the rebels, the town of Clifton was set ablaze.

As the town burned, the US Gunboats “Fairplay”. “Lexington”, St. Clair”, Brilliant” and “Robb” approached along the river. The little fleet was on their way up the river to check reports of Confederate activity. The group was under the command of Lieutenant Commander Leroy Fitch who observed CPT Adamson signaling him to land. On his landing, Fitch spoke with Adamson and was made to understand what had just occurred. Adamson feared a Confederate counterattack and requested Fitch’s assistance in crossing the river with his force and the captured horses. Adamson was also uncertain if he could safely return to Lexington with so many prisoners. Fitch agreed to assist in the crossing and to take care of the prisoners for Adamson. Col. Newsom, who had been captured, was found to be severely wounded and was paroled and released at Clifton.

Later that afternoon Fitch transported 40 of Adamson’s dismounted troops to Eagle’s Nest Island in search of additional rebels and their stores. This party later returned having found neither men nor supplies. Adamson withdrew his party to Lexington.

Was it necessary that Clifton be burned? Little now exists to give a valid answer either way. It is known that in February 1862, the Captain of the US Gunboat “Tyler” confiscated a large amount of supplies at Clifton. Supplies which he felt were destined for the rebels. Contemporary reports tend to indicate that the residents of Clifton were housing Newsom’s force. The Union troops may have felt that the town was composed of Confederate sympathizers. On the other hand, it is known that in July 1863, after a battle near Jackson, Tennessee the 3rd Michigan Cavalry was accused of the drunken looting of a millinery store in Jackson. Whatever the reason, the burning left the residents of Clifton without their homes for the winter.

Sources:

The Civil War Centennial Commission Of Tennessee, Tennesseans In The Civil War, Part I, University of Tennessee Press, Nashville, TN 1984

Michigan Civil War Centennial Observance Commission, Small Arms Used By Michigan Troops In The Civil War

Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium Of The Of The War Of The Rebellion, Morningside Bookshop (reprint 1978)

U.S. Government, Official Records Of Union And Confederate Navies In The War Of Rebellion: Naval Forces Of Western Waters, Government Printing Office, 1896

U.S. Government, War of Rebellion, A Compilation Of The Official Records Of Union And Confederate Armies, Washington, DC

Robertson, Jno., Adjutant General, Michigan In The War, W. S. George & Co., Lansing, MI 1882.

The War In The Backwaters

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The War In The Backwaters

by William R. Morris

This article was originally published in “The Wayne County Historian” Vol. 2, No. 2, June 1989

During the Civil War many small skirmishes were fought in and around the city of Clifton, Tennessee. Among those military actions was an extended fight occurring in late July of 1864, between Col. Jacob Biffle’s 19th (9th) Tennessee Cavalry, C.S.A., and Col. John Murphy’s 2nd Tennessee Mounted Infantry, US Volunteers, as well as the U.S. Navy gunboat “Undine”.

Clifton, a town located on the Tennessee River in the northwest corner of Wayne County, had been occupied as a military post by the 2nd Tennessee Mounted Infantry since late December 1863. The garrison was roughly located on a small knoll behind the Clifton Presbyterian Church. As part of his duties, Col. Murphy, commander of the Clifton post, would send detachments of his force on patrols, scouting the area to gather information, forage, and, on occasion, to skirmish with regular and guerrilla Confederate forces.

Since the fall of Fort Donalson in February, 1862, the US Navy had sent frequent gunboat patrols up and down the Tennessee River. These boats would travel the river to gather intelligence, and on occasion, do battle with Confederate military forces on shore. When possible they would stop at Union military posts, like Clifton, to render assistance.

Biffle’s Cavalry Regiment, formed in late 1862, was involved in numerous raids and battles during its service under Generals Nathan B. Forrest and Joseph Wheeler. Although records reflect that in late 1864, the unit was involved in actions occurring in Georgia, there also exist records indicating that a least a portion of the unit was in the Wayne County area of Tennessee in late July. Biffle’s Cavalry regiment, as well as the 2nd Tennessee Mounted Infantry, were composed primarily of men from Wayne County, Tennessee.

On Friday, 22 July 1864, after a skirmish at Clifton with Confederate forces in which SGT Barnett Hughes of Company I was wounded, and the enemy beaten back, Col. Murphy began to separate his force. Col. Murphy left Clifton with two companies of his regiment to establish his new headquarters at Section 54 of the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad. Murphy left the remainder of his command at Clifton under Major James M. Dickerson.

On the 23rd of July, another skirmish occurred. During the course of this fight, Ephrim Brown and Daniel McGee, both of Company A, 2nd Tennessee Mounted Infantry [afterwards referred to as TMI], were killed. Brian Frankham of Company D, TMI, was captured.

On Sunday, 24 July, no military actions occurred at Clifton, However, Col. Murphy’s detachment had run into trouble. As the two companies and headquarters staff neared the Hickman County town of Centreville, they were attacked by the Confederates. Company F’s William Porter was captured and William Campbell was killed.

The following day the U.S.S. “Undine” (No. 55), an eight gun, US Navy gunboat, arrived at Clifton. The vessel was under the command of Acting Master John L. Bryant. During the afternoon, the “Undine” prepated to leave Clifton. In the process of backing from the bank, the boat struck a snag, tearing a two feet long hole in the bottom. Despite all his efforts, Bryant became aware that keeping the boat afloat was a lost cause. He ordered his sailors to begin dismounting the boat’s cannon and to land the ammunition and stores.

The boat sank on a slant in water four to nineteen feet deep. Bryant dispatched his acting ensign, J. P. Neave, and four men to seek naval assistance.

On Tuesday, the 26th, Biffle was again in position to attack the post at Clifton. Dickerson had met with Bryant and had taken two of the 24 pound howitzers back to the stockade along with a squad of sailors to assist in mounting the cannon. Bryant meanwhile had mounted two additional cannon on the riverbank to cover not only the roads leading to the river, but the west bank of the river opposite Clifton.

Wednesday, while activity inside the stockade remained relatively quiet, events continued to happen. Bryant’s crew placed their salvaged stores and ammunition in a house near the riverbank. Company F had left the post en route to Col. Murphy’s location at Centerville. As that company neared Centerville, Pvt. Paskel Moore was killed in action with the enemy.

Fighting resumed around the post on the 28th. Men from Company H, 2nd TMI were engaged with the surrounding Confederate cavalry. Company I managed to leave the post to join Col. Murphy. Bryant’s men were involved in removing iron and coal from around the “Undine’s” boilers when they saw the U.S.S. “Elfin” (No. 54) approaching. The “Elfin” was returning with Ensign Neave and the four sailors Bryant had sent for help. Bryant was probably relieved to know that help was on the way.

Little occurred on the 29th. The salvage efforts continued on the “Undine”. There was a lull in the fighting around the post. Company F, 2nd TMI, had arrived at Centreville.

Biffle’s attack on Clifton rapidly escalated on the 30th of July. True to the proven battlefield experiences gained from his service under General Forrest, Biffle demanded the surrender of the post. At 6:30 A.M., Biffle sent a message under a flag of truce to Post Commander, Major Dickerson, in which he demanded the surrender of both the town of Clifton and the garrison located there. Biffle gave Dickerson twenty minutes to decide his men’s fate. In order to further pressure Dickerson, Biffle also demanded that all the citizens of the town be allowed to leave as he intended to shell it immediately. This demand was similar to ones made of Federal troops by General Forrest throughout the war. On this occasion the demand proved a useless tactic since Dickerson refused to respond. Dickerson’s decision was no doubt influenced by the presence of the “Undine’s: formidable 24 pound howitzers. The soldiers and sailors prepared for the attack. Although the Union men continued to man their posts through the day and into the night, no general attack ever came.

On 31 July 1864, the attack at Clifton ended. Additional naval vessels arrived and with their crews’ assistance and equipment, Bryant managed to refloat the “Undine” and make temporary repairs. The boat’s stores, guns and ammunition were taken with the “Undine” when she left Clifton. Companies A, B, C, D, and E (2nd TMI) remained at Clifton, while Companies F, G, H, I, and K joined Col. Murphy and established camps in and around Section 54 of the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad. Biffle’s regiment withdrew.

In a short time, events leading to General Forrest’s attack on the Union supply depot at Johnsonville would bring all three of these units together again. Biffle’s cavalry would return with vengeance. Murphy’s regiment would suffer its greatest loss. The “Undine” would become part of the only naval force in history to belong to and be operated by a cavalry unit. But those are other stories.

Sources:

Brownlow, James P., Report of The Adjutant General Of The State Of Tennessee Of The Military Forces Of The State From 1861 To 1866, S.C. Merce, 1866.

Civil War Centennial Commission of Tennessee, Tennesseans In The Civil War, University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, TN, Second Printing 1984.

Henry, Robert S., “First With The Most” Forrest, Broadfoot Publishing Co., 1987

U.S. Government, Official Record of Naval Forces On Western Waters, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, n.d.

U.S. Government, Compiled Service Records Of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Serviced in Organizations From the State of Tennessee, National Archives, Microfilm Publication 395, Roll 136.

“The Clifton Mirror”, March 23, 1906.