Alfred J. Vaughan

“ In writing, I have lived over again the days when the boom of cannon, the rattle of musketry and the old rebel yell were familiar sounds to our ears. If a shade of mournfulness hovers over the failure of the cause for which these brave men fought and many fell, it is not a mournfulness born of regret. When we who wore the gray put away forever the musket and sword—and let me say, my comrades, swords and muskets that had been bravely borne—we did so in sorrow but not in malice or hate. ”

“ On November 25, about noon, the Federals advanced in overwhelming numbers, and like an avalanche swept the Confederate lines from Missionary Ridge, though the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth and Thirteenth kept the Federals back in their front until flanked on their left. At this time these two regiments did some of the grandest and most heroic fighting they had done during the war, and though forced to fall back, they contested every inch of ground with that heroism which had characterized them on every battlefield. ”

“ In this battle the Thirteenth with the brigade was not actively engaged, but was held in reserve, and with the brigade acted as rear guard to the army on its march out of Kentucky.
Our march into Kentucky was an ovation. We were the first infantry troops to enter that part of the State, and as soon as we crossed the mountains and struck the Blue Grass region, the demonstration of sympathy for the South and the hearty welcome extended us filled every heart with profound gratitude. Citizens all along our line of march received us with open arms, and showed us every hospitality. ”

“ And after directing the men to fill their pockets, bosoms and hands with balls, and the ordnance officers to follow the line with all the ammunition their details could carry, I ordered the charge. With a shout that signaled victory, and an impetuosity that seemed irresistible, we dashed upon the brave Georgians, and for a few minutes the struggle was fierce and furious, desperate and doubtful. The air was white with whizzing and bursting balls; men were tripped up, knocked down, covered with snow, or run over. The writer was struck with at least a hundred balls, and his horse by as many more. ”

“ The Thirteenth Regiment, under command of Colonel John V. Wright, having been supplied with ammunition, was ordered at once to cross the river and take position on the extreme left of our line of battle near Watson's Battery. Never was a regiment more anxious or more willing to face an enemy. It was the maiden fight of the regiment and every man felt that he was "on his mettle." ”

“ The horse was christened "Chickamauga." I have lived to forget many things, but never will pass from my heart the gratitude I felt that day when my war-worn soldiers in their ragged gray gathered around me to show their love and confidence. If nothing else, that act alone makes dear to my heart every soldier of the Thirteenth Tennessee Regiment.
MY LOST LEG.
Among the most intimate friends of my evening time, I have found infinite comfort and cheer in two, who for twenty years have been a part of my life. ”

“ But they met intrenched infantry, and the concentrated fire of musketry, canister, grapeshot and shell mowed them down at every step. Yet they still struggled forward, but every Confederate stood at his post, and in a short time it was more than mortals could stand and they broke and fled, leaving eight hundred of their dead. The Thirteenth and One Hundred and Fifty-fourth were in the angle, supported on the right and left by the veterans of the Army of Tennessee. ”

“ After the battle of Chickamauga, Cheatham's Division was the first to move and to advance toward Chattanooga, to which point the enemy had retreated, and the Thirteenth was among the first to drive in the enemy's pickets from Missionary Ridge. In doing so, however, Company C of the regiment lost one of her truest and most faithful officers, Lieutenant Henry Brooks, who fell at the head of his command in the full discharge of his duty, admired and loved by his comrades and superior officers. ”

“ Dyer and myself, while walking in the rear of our line on Kennesaw Mountain, noticed that a soldier with all the canteens of his company swung around him, was going after water for his company, when a schrapnel shell came over, exploded and riddled him with balls; yet he walked, or rather ran, some little distance before falling, and then fell dead. Col. Dyer told me that he had this man in his mind's eye while running, and he expected every moment to fall dead. ”

“ Walker's staff, appeared mounted at the head of the Georgians. His coming was greeted with a tremendous shout from his men, and was answered by mine with another shout, as if to say: "We accept your challenge." Excitement was now extreme. Non-combatants had assembled by hundreds on the surrounding hills and house-tops to see the fight. General officers and their staffs, at their headquarters, had mounted their horses or ascended higher elevations to witness the impending struggle. ”

“ Some were dragged from the field, hatless and coatless, amid the greatest cheering and wildest shouts. "When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war." The battle raged till all the reserves had been brought into action, when a supreme effort was made by both sides to close the fight with victory. The writer, venturing too far into the enemy's ranks, had his horse seized by as many of them as could get hold of him, and was thrown to the ground ”

“ Vaughan has requested me to write an account of it as an appendix to his book.
In concluding this report of the celebrated snowball fight, I suppose the writer can say, without being charged with vanity, that he won more "reputation" ("that idle and most false imposition; often got without merit and lost without deserving") than in all the other battles in which he participated during the war. He is said to have performed prodigies of daring and desperation during the action, as men can generally do when there is not much danger in front, and no disgrace in defeat. ”

“ I was a disciplinarian while on duty of the strictest school, which for the first months of the war made me very unpopular with volunteer soldiers, but only one fight was necessary to satisfy them that an undisciplined army was nothing more [Pg 15] than an armed mob. Adjutant W. E. Morgan was now elected Lieutenant-Colonel, and Lieutenant Richard M. Harwell of Company E was appointed Adjutant.
After the battle of Belmont and while at Columbus, Ky., the measles broke out in the regiment, and it was a matter of surprise that there should be so many grown men who had never had the measles. ”

“ When the great soldier and leader, Joseph E. Johnston, surrendered the remnant of the Army of Tennessee, on April 26, 1865, there were left of the gallant old Thirteenth less than fifty officers and men. More than twelve hundred men had once mustered in its ranks. Throughout the four years they had fallen in battle, been stricken in camp, died on the march, and sometimes, alas! ”

“ But as there was not time to seek it with troops in a distant camp and from a different State, they concluded to fight each other. Accordingly an issue was joined between Maney's Brigade, commanded by Col. Hume Field, mounted, and Vaughan's Brigade, commanded by the writer, also mounted. The dispositions for battle having been duly made, the charge was mutually sounded, and when the opposing lines, advancing on each other with great speed and impetuosity, clashed, the shock was tremendous. Men fell right and left, in front and rear. ”

“ A conference of the officers of the divisions was called, and after a full discussion and careful consideration of the claims of each division, it was decided that one of the guns should be given to each division, and that upon it should be inscribed the name of the most gallant and meritorious soldier who fell on that battlefield. One of the guns was given to Cheatham's Division and assigned to Preston Smith's Brigade. At that time I was Colonel of the Thirteenth Tennessee Regiment and W. E. Morgan Lieutenant-Colonel ”

“ By the time the regiment reached the river reinforcements had crossed from Columbus which engaged the enemy and checked his further advance. The Thirteenth, obtaining a fresh supply of ammunition, rallied and again advanced gallantly to the contest, which had become fierce and obstinate. In a short time the Federals were driven from their position and fled to their gunboats, hotly pursued by the Confederates. ”

“ At that time it was the seventh infantry regiment organized in West Tennessee and the thirteenth in the State. It was made up of the "flower of the South" young men, most of whom were fresh from the best institutions of learning—aspiring, hopeful and ambitious—sons of men of education, wealth and influence—the very best material for volunteer service. It was composed of ten full companies—five from Fayette county, one from Shelby, one from Dyer, one from McNairy, one from Gibson, and one from Henderson, and were as follow ”

“ Night coming on, the Confederates crossed Chickamauga Creek and retired to Dalton, Ga., where our army went into winter quarters.
[Pg 32]
At Dalton General Braxton Bragg was relieved of command and General Joseph E. Johnston appointed to the command of the army. His appointment was joyfully received by the whole army. Its morale commenced at once to improve, and by early spring it was in splendid fighting condition. ”

“ On the following day, the 4th of June, the election of field officers was held, and resulted in the election of Captain Jno. V. Wright of Company F as Colonel, Captain A. J. Vaughan of Company E as Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain W. E. Winfield of Company G as Major.
The regiment was ordered at once by way of Memphis to Randolph, on the Mississippi river, when the organization was completed by the appointment of Lieutenant W. E. Morgan, Company C, Adjutant; Dr. J. A. Forbes, Company E, Surgeon; Dr. B. F. Dickerson, Company I, Assistant Surgeon; W. E. Dyer, Company G, Commissary ”

“ It was too cold to drill or to indulge in the usual out-door games, "stag dances," etc., tents being too small for these purposes. And as most of the "boys" were young men, naturally there was an accumulation of physical energy that constantly sought issue in athletic exercises. ”

“ As to the result of the fight, it may be called a drawn battle, or described by an anecdote of a darkey attached as a servant to Gen. Floyd's command in Virginia. When Gen. Floyd had been beaten and was being pursued by the enemy, the darkey moved to the rear far in advance of the retreating troops, and when he was met by a soldier going to join the command and was asked what was the news from Gen. Floyd, he did not want to admit that he had been defeated, but said: "When I lef 'em, our men wuz vancin backwards on de Yankees, and dey wuz retreatin on us." ”

“ T. B. Yancey. Company E; appointed Lieutenant in the regular C. S. Army; assigned to duty with Col. A. J. Vaughan, and, when he was promoted, was appointed on his staff; was wounded at Shiloh; postoffice, Somerville, Tenn.
T. P. Cole. Company H; appointed Sergeant-Major at organization of the regiment; elected Major at reorganization of the army at Corinth; killed at the battle of Murfreesboro.
W. Ed. Dyer. Appointed Regimental Commissary at the organization of the regiment; transferred to Gen. J. P. McGowan's Brigade; promoted to Major; died since the war. ”

“ Inspector-General on General Vaughan's staff; died since the war.
Dyer, M. B. Died since the war.
Davis, W. F. Died since the war; from Mississippi.
Davis, J. S. From Mississippi.
DeAregan, Dr. Assistant Hospital Surgeon of the regiment; died since the war.
Doyle, E. T. Canaan, Miss.; from Mississippi.
Doyle, Z. Q. Bride, Tenn.; from Mississippi.
Dennis, Charles. Died since the war; from Mississippi.
Dukes, W. A. Died in service, March 25, 1862.
Doyle, O. A. Died in service; from Mississippi.
Fuiks, Morris. Missing at Missionary Ridge; supposed to have been killed.
[Pg 57]
Fletcher, Asbury. ”