8TH (BAXTER-SMITH) CAVALRY

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Letter from Col. Baxter Smith Dated Feb. 9. 1906  

Transcribed by Theodore Urbanski

Nashville Tenn. Feb. 9, 1906

Mr. W. H. Cubine

Nocona, Texas.

Dear friend and comrade of other days:

            It afforded me much pleasure to receive your letter of the 22 nd of Jan. ult. It came almost like a voice from the tomb---I had not seen or heard from you for so long. I am glad to hear that you are living quietly and pleasantly in so fine a country, after the adventurous life you have lived during the great civil war, and since, on the frontiers of Texas. I hope that you may spend the balance of your life in peace and happiness that your former life entitles to you.

            I remember you well as one of the bravest and most daring men in my command. There was no better soldiers in the Confederate army that were to found in your Company, B, C. H. Ingles, of the 4 th Tennessee Cavalry.

                                                                        I

            You must send me a copy of the book you speak of, and I will send you my picture, and you send yours. As you request it, I will state as officially as I can, as follows:

            W. H. Cubine was a member of Co. B, Capt. C. H. Ingles, 4 th Tennessee Cavalry, of which I was Colonel---the Regiment was formed in November 1862, and maintained its Regimental formation until the surrender, May 4, 1865.

                                                                     II

            At some period, I think in the year 1864, it may have been in 1863, W. H. Cubine was transferred from Co. B 4 th Tennessee Cavalry to, I believe, Co. D 1 st Virginia Cavalry. After that I saw no more of him during the war, nor since--In this connection it is proper to state that Company B, to which Mr. Cubine belonged, was organized in Sullivan County, Tennessee and Virginia --Mr. Cubine being a recruit from the latter State.

                                                                          III

            Mt Regiment constituted a part of Wheeler’s Corps and participated in the great battle of Murfreesboro or Stone River, Dec. 31, 1862, and Jan. 1-3, 1863-in this engagement it was said that the Confederate Cavalry did more efficient service than in any other great battle of the war.

            On the morning of Jan. 1, 1863, Wharton’s Brigade, embracing the 4 th Tenn. Cavalry, was ordered to La Vergne, fifteen miles toward Nashville, and in the rear of Rosencranz army--There it looked like the whole Federal army was in retreat--Large numbers of prisoners were taken--wagons, horses, and munitions captured. At this time an act of conspicuous bravery occurred --W. H. Cubine separated from the Regiment while it was engaging the enemy on the pike, and went around and captured a fine brass cannon, with five prisoners, and made them take the piece back and turn it over to the command.

                                                                       IV

            In the spring of 1863 while my command was a Woodbury, Tenn. On outpost duty, we were almost daily engaging the enemy in a fight. I remember well one morning W. H. Cubine and others were out in front on picket, when the enemy made a bold dash, almost surrounding the pickets, and pressing them so hard that they ran into camp, where we attended to the pursuers. In this reincounter, W. H. Cubine’s horse was killed--he was struck over the head with a saber and shot, but managed to get away.

                                                                        V

            At another time, subsequent to the above occurrence, Gen. Bragg call on Gen. Wharton for a detail of ten men to report to one Capt. Dirks to go with him into the Federal lines and into Nashville-the object being, as stated, to capture Andrew Johnson, and bring him a prisoner into Confederate lines-Dirks pretended to have deserted the Federals, and had ingratiated himself into the confidence of Gen. Bragg, and had been with him long enough to learn the full strength of the his army, his plans etc. The detail of ten men was made up of men from my Regiment, including W. H. Cubine. These men set out with Dirks for Nashville, taking a circuitous route, but these men were smart enough to discover that Dirks was a spy in disguise, and they secured enough proof on him to establish his guilt. He was taken back and tried as a spy and executed.

            There were many other acts of W. H. Cubine, demonstrating his efficiency as a soldier, that I can not now recall.

                                                Yours truly

                                                Baxter Smith

P. S. I expect to be at the New Orleans reunion, which is to take place late in April. Cant you met me there? B. S.

===========================================================================

Reference

State of Texas Confederate Widow’s Pension File # 41625   Mrs. W. H. Cubine

© Transcribed by Theodore Urbanski if any questions please e-mail me at tedsuedoghouse@sbcglboal.net

 

 

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