Polk County

Andrew Jackson Williams was born July 29, 1846 in the house he had always lived, it being the residence built by his father John Williams, prominent in the early settlement of Polk County. When A. J. was 17 year old, in 1864, he volunteered into the confederate service in Company A, Second Tennessee Cavalry. He was in the 70 days fighting of the hundred days it took the Union army to go from Dalton to Atlanta, participation in the battles of Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, and Stone Mountain, and with only 40 survivors of his company was paroled at Charlotte, N. C., on May 3, 1865.

He was elected a Justice of the Peace in the Benton District in 1880 and was elected Chairman of the County Court by his fellow members. He resigned to accept an appointment to the position of County Clerk and was re-elected by the people for a full term. He was appointed Clerk and Master in Chancery Court to succeed M. H. Hancock about 1898, a position he resigned from in 1922 because of ill health. He had for 60 years collected information about the Civil War locally and in 1923 has published his "Confederate History of Polk County, Tennessee".

A. J. Williams died in 1925 at his home three miles East of Benton following partial paralysis of more than a year.

Elections and Separation

Four tickets were presented at the Presidential election of 1860. The Democratic party split in two. Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, was the candidate of the Northern wing and John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, the candidate of the Southern wing. Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, was the candidate of the Republican party. John Bell, of Tennessee, was the candidate of the Constitutional Union Party. The Republican candidates, Lincoln and Hamlin, were elected.

South Carolina adopted an ordinance of secession December 20, 1860; in the month of January, 1861, secession ordinances were passed by the States of Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana; Texas, on February 1, 1861; but Tennessee was not yet ready for secession.

On February 22, 1861, the question of calling a convention looking to the secession of Tennessee was voted down by a large majority, Polk County giving a majority against calling a convention. A Majority of the stanch citizens of the county still held to the Union.

Early a Federal fleet was ordered to reinforce and provision Fort Sumter, in South Carolina, and Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard, commanding the Confederate forces at Charleston, summoned Major Anderson, who was in command of the fort, to surrender. Anderson refused, and on April 12 the Confederates opened fire upon the fort, and on April 14 the fort surrendered. President Lincoln immediately called for seventy-five thousand volunteers to coerce the Southern States which had adopted ordinances of secession.

The firing on Fort Sumter and its capture, and the action of the President in calling for troops to coerce the Southern States, created intense excitement throughout the State of Tennessee and swept away the majority recorded in February for the Union. Governor Harris convened the Legislature in extraordinary session, and on May 6, 1861, the Legislature adopted an ordinance of secession from the Federal Union. This action of the Legislature was ratified by the voters of the State on June 6 following by a majority of more than sixty thousand, Polk County giving a large majority in favor of separation.

Vote of Polk County, June 8, 1861, on separation or no separation: For separation, 738; against separation, 317. Four other East Tennessee Counties favored separation: Meigs- for, 481; against, 267. Rhea-for, 360, against, 202. Sullivan-for, 1,886; against, 627. Monroe-for, 1,096; against, 774.

It will be remembered that two companies were organized and left the county before the vote on separation was taken on June 8, 1861.

Vote for President, 1860: Breckinridge, 825; Bell, 396; Douglas, 63, Total, 1,284.

Population of Polk County: 1840, 3,570; 1850, 6,338; 1860, 8,726; 1870, 7,369; 1880, 7,269; 1920, 14,161.

Third Tennessee Regiment

The first company from Polk County left for Knoxville on the 13th of May, 1861, under the command of John F. Hannah. After this company left, another was made up, which was organized on the 16th day of May, 1861, by the election of E. P. Douglass, Captain; J. S. Hodge, First Lieutenant; R. W. Haney, Second Lieutenant; A. D. Donaldson, Third Lieutenant; J. W. Fender, First Sergeant; T. N. Lawson, Second Sergeant; G. W. Clemmer, Third Sergeant; F. M. Longley, Fourth Sergeant; G. W. Morris, Fifth Sergeant.

Quote from Sergeant Clemmer's diary:
"On the evening of the 27th of May the Company to pay their last tribute of respect to that place and its inhabitants. The citizens of the town and surrounding country flocked to the place to take a long leave of their sons and friends who were embarking in the cause of their threatened country. A torchlight procession was formed with the Company in front, the ladies in the center, and the citizens (men and boys) in the rear. The procession being formed, the torches all burning and every door and window brightly illuminated with candles they marched through the different streets of town and, being but a few days after the State of Virginia had withdrawn form the old Union, the procession marched to the tune of 'Old Virginia'. The night was beautiful, and the scene grand and exciting. At one time the procession extended around the entire public square. The doors and windows were filled with young ladies and little girls with their hands full of bouquets which they cast in the way of the volunteers. After marching around for some time, we heard some speeches from S. A. Smith, J. L. Milburn, and others. About eleven o'clock the procession was dismissed, and all retired to take their usual repose in sleep."

May 28 this company left Benton, crossed the Ocoee River, and proceeded to Erby Boyd's, where breakfast had been prepared, and after breakfast they marched to Charleston, where they took the cars for Knoxville.

On May 29 these first two companies from Polk County, commanded by Captains John F. Hannah and E. P. Douglass (or Douglas), were mustered into the service of the State of Tennessee, on the same day with eight other companies commanded by Captain Reese, from Knox and Jefferson Counties; Captain Wash Morgan, form Monroe County; Captain McCamey, form Blount County; Captain Vaughn, from Monroe County; Captain Dill, from McMinn County; Captain Mar, from Monroe County; Captain Lillard, from Meigs County; Captain Matthews, from Sullivan County.

These ten companies were organized into a regiment, and elected John C. Vaughn, of Monroe County, Colonel; J. J. Reese, of Jefferson County, Lieutenant Colonel; Wash Morgan, of Monroe County, Major, Hannah's company became Company D of the regiment, and Douglass' company became Company C. Lieut. I. G. Cross was appointed Adjutant, and Rev. Bebriah Frazier, of Company I, was appointed Chaplain.

The regiment left Knoxville for Virginia after a military league had been formed with confederate authorities, on June 2, 1861, and was mustered into the Confederate States' service at Lynchburg, VA., June 6, 1861, as the Third Tennessee Regiment, Turney's being the First and Maney's the Second. These regiments were organized as a part of the Provisional Army of Tennessee before the ordinance of secession had been ratified by the ballot box. Afterwards, John C. Brown, who subsequent to the war served two terms as Governor, organized another Third Tennessee Regiment, which was know as "Brown's Third Tennessee."

On June 2 the regiment was ordered to Lynchburg, VA. On the way from Knoxville to Lynchburg one of the cars broke down, throwing itself and two other boxes off the track. About fifteen members of the regiment were wounded, one of whom afterwards died. On the 12th the regiment left Lynchburg to join General Johnston's Army at Harper's Ferry. At Manassas Junction they took the Manassas Gap Railroad and proceeded to Strausburg. From there they marched to Winchester. About that time General Johnston burned the bridge at Harper's Ferry and was falling back to Winchester. June 14 they were ordered to Romney.

On June 18 Colonel Hill sent out a detachment of men under Colonel Vaughn. They left camp at 8 p.m., marched to New Creek Depot where they arrived at sunrise next morning. As they approached the place they saw a number of Yankees on the other side of the river, employed in guarding the bridge. They fired a few rounds at the Yankees, put them to flight, and took two pieces of artillery and stand of colors. On the morning of the 21s of June the regiment was again ordered back to Winchester. On the evening of the 7th of July, S. S. Matlock, one of Company C, who was one of the color guards, was taken with a pain in the side which afterwards resulted in his death. He is believed to be the first victim of the Civil War from Polk County. July 18 General Johnston marched with all his forces to join General Beauregard at Manassas. The regiment marched to Piedmont, VA., where the soldiers were placed upon cars on Sunday, July 21, and started to Manassas Junction, where they landed about twelve o'clock. They then marched to the battle field at Manassas. The brigade was composed of three regiments: Third Tennessee, First Maryland, and Tenth Virginia; Colonel Elzy, of the First Maryland in command. Gen. Kirby Smith met the brigade on arrival of the train and took command. General Smith, knowing the desperate situation of the Confederates, hurried the command at a double-quick of five miles in the broiling sun, and within an hour struck the enemy on the left and rear of Gen. T. J. Jackson's Brigade. Without halting, General Smith ordered a charge, and broke the enemy's line.

In this battle "Spanish John," a member of Company D, was killed, and was the first victim on the battle field from Polk County.

President Davis, in a message sent the next day to Richmond, said: "Indeed, we were saved from defeat only by the promptness of Gen. E. Kirby Smith, who, acting without orders and moving by a change of direction, succeeded in reaching the battle field in time to avert a disaster."

The dust raised by the brigade, and the "rebel yell", as they wheeled into line and started on the charge without halting, helped to impress on the Federals that heavy reinforcements had arrived. Gen. Smith was severely wounded in the charge, and Colonel Elzy assumed command of the brigade. When the Federal lines gave way and the rout began, the Tennessee boys forgot the hardships of the day and pursued the flying Federals until darkness put a stop to the foot race. Barrel after barrel of handcuffs were captured. Just what General McDowell intended to use these for is hard to tell, as no explanation of this unusual equipment for an army has ever appeared. The Third Tennessee Regiment did picket duty along the Potomac River for several months after the battle of Manassas.

In February, 1862, the regiment was ordered to East Tennessee, and while on a march in Brimstone Valley, Scott County, Tenn., Lieut. B. F. Taylor, of Company I, was killed; assassinated by a coward known in the sixties as a "bushwhacker."

The regiment was a Big Creek Gap (now the city of La Follette) when its term of service expired. The men reenlisted almost to a man. At the reorganization of the regiment J. C. Vaughn was reelected Colonel; N. J. Lillard, of Meigs County, was elected Lieutenant Colonel; and D. C. Haskins, of Polk County, was elected Major. D. M. Blevins, of Company I, was made Adjutant of the regiment. Dr. A. C. Blevins, who had been a Lieutenant in Captain Crawford's Company from Rhea County, was appointed Surgeon of the regiment by Colonel Vaughn.

At the reorganization of Company C the following commissioned officers were elected: J. F. Fender, Captain; A. D. Donaldson, First Lieutenant; Gid Smith, Second Lieutenant; Goodson Flemming, Third Lieutenant. Noncommissioned officers: Gasper N. Grady, First Sergeant; Isaac Dennis, Second Sergeant.

At the reorganization of Company D the following commissioned officers were elected: B. F. Gaddis, Captain; D. W. Haskins, First Lieutenant; J. W. Rymer, Second Lieutenant; Paul Parks, Third Lieutenant. Paul Parks held his commission only a short time. He resigned and went home. John S. Pickel was elected Third Lieutenant, and served as such until the close of the war. Captain Gaddis was killed at Vicksburg, Miss. Lieut. D. W. Haskins left the company at Loudon, Tenn., in the fall of 1863, and never returned. The Company was then commanded by Lieut. J. W. Rymer until the surrender in May, 1865.

Shortly after the battle of Tazewell, August 6, 1862, Colonel Vaughn was promoted to Brigadier General, and N. J. Lillard was promoted to Colonel; D. C. Haskins was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel; Captain Morelock was made Major; later Morelock resigned, and Captain Sam Tool was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel; Captain Morelock was made Major.

On the 6th day of August, 1862, the Third Tennessee Regiment, on the hill east of Tazewell, Tenn., met General DeCoursey's brigade; four regiments and a battery of artillery, and defeated them in an open-field engagement. The regiment suffered severely in the loss of some of its best officers and bravest men. Capt. I. G. Cross, of the Meigs County Company, was killed. Company I lost four men, killed on the field, besides her gallant captain. After this engagement, the regiment followed the Federals to Cumberland Gap and assisted in the siege of that stronghold until General Morgan escaped to the mountain.

The Third Tennessee Regiment followed Gen. E. Kirby Smith through Bragg's campaign in Kentucky.
In December, 1862, the Third Tennessee Regiment was ordered to Vicksburg, Miss., and was engaged in the battles of the campaign around Vicksburg previous to the "siege," and took an active part in that, the greatest siege of the Civil War, losing heavily from the balls of the enemy, but more from disease, super induced by exposure in the ditches, want of rations, and impure water they were forced to drink. After forty-seven days of heroic struggle, hunger and disease did for the Vicksburg garrison what General Grant with is one hundred thousand men had failed to accomplish; forced a surrender.

The Third Tennessee Regiment entered the campaign in March, 1863, with 970 men, and surrendered July 4, 1863, with 558 men. Three days before the surrender, General Pemberton sent to his subordinate officers a confidential inquiry as to the condition of their men and the advisability of an attempt to force their way through General Grant's lines. The men had then been subsisting for days on clay peas and poorest kind of mule meat. General Reynolds, commanding the Fourth Brigade of General Stevenson's Division, composed of four East Tennessee Regiments; the Third, Thirty-First, Forty-Third, and Fifty-Ninth; replied to this confidential inquiry as follows:
"Owing to the reduced quantity and quality of the rations on which my men have subsisted for more than six weeks, to their close confinement in the trenches, constant exposure to the intense heat of the sun and frequent rains, and to impure water they are obliged to drink, they are much reduced in strength, and in many instances entirely prostrated, and it would be utterly impossible for them to make a forward march of any distance. Many of my men are in the hospital, and many of those reported for duty in the trenches are extremely weak and unable to undergo the slightest fatigue. Perhaps, on an average, two hundred men from each of my regiments, animated by patriotic motives and a desire to be free, might be able to make a march of ten or fifteen miles and still be in a condition to give battle to the enemy, but hardly more that that number. I regret to say that two-thirds of my men are unable to endure a march of ten miles."
"A. W. Reynolds, Colonel, Commanding Fourth Brigade."

This report of General Reynolds is copies from page 349 of Series 1, Volume 24, of Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, published by authority of an Act of Congress, and is copied here to show why General Pemberton surrendered his army instead of trying to force his way through Grant's lines. What was true of one brigade was true of all others under Pemberton's command at the time.

Major Boyd, Captain Gaddis, and Lieutenant Codey fell during the siege

After the surrender, the regiment was paroled, and later went into parole camp at Decatur, GA. An exchange was effected about the 1st of October, 1863. Then the regiment went to Knoxville with Longstreet, and took part in the engagement at Bean's Station. Soon after this regiment was mounted and served as mounted infantry, surrendering, however, as cavalry. After procuring horses, the regiment was engaged in the battles of Morristown, Bull's Gap, Greeneville, Duvalt's Ford Piedmont, and Marion, and engagements in the Valley of Virginia in Early's campaign in the summer of 1864.

The Third Tennessee was at Christianburg, VA., when news of Lee's surrender at Appomattox reached us. General Preston, in command of the forces in Southwest Virginia, decided to surrender, or, rather, disband, and allow his troops to make their way home. The infantry and dismounted cavalry were left at that point, and Generals Vaughn and Duke, with the mounted men, started across the mountains to North Carolina, hoping to reach General Johnston's army. The Third Tennessee reached Charlotte, N. C., on the 22d day of April, 1865. At that point the command met President Davis and his Cabinet. Vaughn's and Duke's brigades were joined by a part of Dibbrell's command, and went with President Davis and his Cabinet, acting as an escort for them, and guarding what was left in the Confederate Treasury.

They arrived at Washington, GA., on the 4th day of May, and President Davis there decided to abandon any further effort to go to the Trans-Mississippi Department, and advised a surrender of the troops that had loyally followed him after the surrender of General Johnston. The Confederate Treasury was emptied and the funds divided amongst the soldiers, each man receiving $28.25, officer and men receiving the same amount. President Davis and family left them at Washington, and were soon afterwards captured.

General Vaughn went to Augusta and arranged terms of surrender, and on the 8th day of May, 1865, Companies C and D were paroled at Washington, GA., and started for home on the 9th day of May, arriving at Benton the 14th day of May, 1865, four years form the time they left home.

These two companies were principally composed of young men from the west end of Polk County, but there were some old gray-haired men in each of the companies who served the first term of the enlistment for twelve months and were discharged. Several members of these companies were killed in battle. Captain Gaddis was killed at Vicksburg, Miss.; S. A. Gray, of Company C, was killed at Vicksburg, Miss.; John Marrow and Sam Reid, Jr., were killed at Piedmont, VA., in 1864; William Grady was killed at Wytheville, VA., later; George Ray was shot in Bradley County, at the Dan Goins place, and died a few days later. This is all I now remember of belonging to these two companies who where killed in battle.