4TH INFANTRY REGIMENT

MEMORANDA

Tennesseans in the Civil War
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The Fourth Tennessee Infantry was recruited under the direction of Col. Daniel Stover, of Carter County, Tennessee at Louisville in the Spring of 1863. It was composed wholly of exiles from East Tennessee, who were brought out of the rebel lines by officers and pilots sent in for that perilous undertaking. The marches of the various companies were made entirely by night, the men lying concealed in caves and in the forests during the day to elude the pursuit of the “rebel” conscript officers. On the 29th of May the regiment left Louisville, and was mustered into the United State service in the June following. On the 9th of September, 1863, the regiment, under the command of Major M. L. Patterson, marched to McMinnville, Tenn, when, on the 3rd of October following, after two hours hard fighting against a rebel force of ten thousand men, under General Wheeler, it was captured and paroled. The rebels robbed the soldiers of their money, clothing, shoes, watches and other valuables, and turned them loose hatless, shoeless and almost naked. Major Patterson and Captain (afterward Colonel) Reeves, with forty men, returned to Nashville and the remainder of the regiment, with few exceptions returned to their homes in East Tennessee, then occupied by General Burnside. The regiment was thus completely broken up for the time. Upon the arrival of Major Patterson in Nashville, a Court of Inquiry was appointed to examine into the circumstances connected with the surrender of the post at McMinnville. The investigation lasted several days, and the proceedings were sent to Major-General Thomas, who thereupon issued the following order:

GENERAL ORDER NO. 264

The record of a Court of Inquiry, convened to investigate the conduct of Major Patterson, Fourth East Tennessee Volunteers, and the circumstances attending the surrender, on the 3rd of October, of the post and garrison at McMinnville, of which he was the commanding officer, having been carefully examined by the General Commanding, he is satisfied that Major Patterson acted to the best of his judgment, and is therefore exonerated from all charges in connection therewith.
By command of MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS
(Signed)
C. GODDARD, A.A.G.

Major Patterson proceeded to Camp Nelson, KY. To reorganize the regiment, where many of the soldiers reported immediately for duty, the paroles being invalid, being given in violation of the Cartel. On the 20th of January, 1864 the regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, Third Division, Twenty Third Army Corps. On the 20th of February, a brigade of the enemy’s cavalry charged on our pickets south of the Holston river. The rebels were driven back, losing several killed and fifteen prisoners. Our loss was two killed and three wounded. On the withdrawal of Major-General Schofield’s army from upper East Tennessee, the regiment was sent to Loudon, and thre companies, under Major Reeves, to Kingston. Major Patterson, being promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy, was detached to command the brigade, with headquarters at Loudon. Here the regiment remained on duty until November, 1864, when the post was broken up, and the troops ordered to Knoxville. Lieutenant-Colonel Patterson was put in command of a brigade consisting of the Fourth Tennessee and Third North Carolina Infantry, and marched through the mountains, without baggage or rations, except what our troops could gather on the route, to Paint Rock, N.C., for the purpose of cutting off the retreat of the rebels from General Stoneman, who was to attack them about Union or Carter Stations. On their march they skirmished occasionally with rebel scouts, and captured fifteen of their number. They also routed the rebels at Warm Springs, and captured a large quantity of salt. The expedition ended about the 10th of January. Major Reeves took three hundred men and marched to Greenville, to hold the election for the ratification of the amended Constitution, February 22, 1865. On their way, they had two fights with the rebels, who had determined to prevent the election, but without avail. On the reorganization of the army, the Fourth Tennessee Infantry was incorporated with the Third Brigade, Fourth Division of the Army of the Cumberland. It then marched to the passes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, on the North Carolina and Virginia border, to protect the rear of General Stoneman’s expedition, then penetrating the heart of North Carolina. It was stationed at Taylorsville, and remained there until after the surrender of the rebel army under General Lee. Thence it went to Jonesboro, where it performed post duty until it was ordered to Nashville, in July, to be mustered out.

Colonel Daniel Stover, who organized the regiment, fell a prey to consumption at an early period, and died without an opportunity of doing service in the field. His resolute will, moral courage, self-sacrificing spirit, and many social virtues, render his untimely death a source of deep regret to many who had anticipated for him a useful and honorable career as a patriot soldier.

 

 

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This page was last updated on Friday, February 25, 2005.