DeKalb County History

STOKES'S CAVALRY.

THE Fifth (Union) Regiment of Tennessee Cavalry, sometimes called the First Middle Tennessee Cavalry, was organized at Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Carthage, from July 15, 1862, to March 26, 1864, to serve three years, and was mustered out of service August 14, 1865. The regiment consisted of twelve companies and was recruited by Col. William B. Stokes, acting under authority from Military Governor Andrew Johnson. The regiment was in various battles and skirmishes during the latter part of 1862 and was in the battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone's River. >From that battle till the close of the war the regiment was employed mainly in detachments in the eastern part of Middle Tennessee. One battalion was stationed at Shelbyville for some time and was in several skirmishes there. The other portion of the regiment was stationed at Carthage and was kept busy also, as, among other duties, it was required to carry the mail from that point to Gallatin. A portion of Stokes's command, under Captain Cain and Lieutenant Carter, was in the battle of Lookout Mountain. A part was also at Chickamauga and Chattanooga under Lieuts. Wingate T. Robinson and Nelson. Subsequently the regiment was ordered to Sparta, Tenn., to break up the guerrilla bands under Ferguson, Hughes, and Bledsoe, a contest in which no quarter was given.

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After this it was ordered to Nashville, where, under Lieut. Col. W. J. Clift, it participated in the battle in front of that city. Upon the removal of the command to Nashville, Colonel Stokes was assigned to command the forces at Carthage. Three of Stokes's regiments-Company A, J. H. Blackburn, captain; Company B, Shelah Waters, captain; and Company K, E. W. Bass, captain-were made up of DeKalb County men.

There were some resignations from thi s regiment in 1864, and a new regiment was formed by J. H. Blackburn. Colonel Stokes resigned March 10, 1865, but was breveted brigadier general by President Andrew Johnson. Other resignations from Stokes's original regiment were: Maj. Shelah Waters, January 24, 1865; Capt. John T. Armstrong, April 7, 1865; Capt. J. H. Blackburn, June 5, 1864; Capt. James T. Exum, March 10, 1865; Capt. Monroe Floyd (who married Captain Blackburn's sister), May 11, 1865; Capt. Robert E. Cain, July 13, 1865. First lieutenants resigned: W. M. Beasley, October 16, 1862; James Worthan, March 21, 1863; H. L. Newberry, April 8, 1863; William L. Hathaway, April 10, 1864; Sylvanus Puckett, September 1, 1864; Thomas A. Beaton, January 6, 1862; A. A. Carter, February 21, 1865; James L. Hix, May 12, 1865; J. T. McIntyre, July 2, 1865; L. L. Faulkner, July 16, 1865. Second lieutenants resigned: J. M. Phillips, Marshall B. Truax, C. T. Martin, E. H. Stone, W. J. Bryson.

Those discharged were: Second Lieuts. James H. Gossett, March 3, 1863, R. C. Couch, April 25, 1863

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(but recommissioned first lieutenant September 4, 1863), and Charles T. Martin, May 20, 1863 (but recommissioned second lieutenant September 4, 1863).

Those killed were: Capt. A. T. Julian, near Hillsboro, Tenn., March 18, 1863, and Surgeon J. B. Moore, killed by guerrillas September 5, 1864.

Dismissals were: Capt. E. W. Bass, December 4, 1864; First Lieuts. R. H. Sivley, January 10, 1864, John T. Van Keren, December 14, 1864, and E. Chastaine, September 25, 1864.

First Lieut. Robert A. Shepard was cashiered in January, 1863.

Maj. John Murphey on May 15, 1864, was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the Second Regiment of Mounted Infantry, and on February 7, 1865, Capt. Thomas Waters was promoted to major of the Fourth Regiment (Blackburn's) of Tennessee Infantry.

William J. Clift was appointed lieutenant colonel June 30, 1864.

John Wortham on July 1, 1864, and Faver Cason on June 24, 1865, were appointed majors.

The following captains were appointed some months after the regiment was organized: W. O. Rickman, April 22, 1863; R. C. Couch, September 10, 1863; James Clift, March 26, 1864; H.N.T. Ship, July 1, 1864.

W. P. Hough was made first lieutenant November 11, 1862; W. B. Pickering, adjutant, June 9, 1863. Second lieutenants: W. H. Nelson, August 6, 1863; Wingate T. Robinson, August 9, 1863; J. B. Raulston, September 10, 1863; W. G. Davis, July 10, 1864; E.

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H. Gowen, December 14, 1864; C. W. Stewart, regimental quartermaster, February 8, 1865.

Later appointments of second lieutenants were: Elisha P. Reynolds, January 23, 1863; John B. Turner, August 9, 1863; J. W. Mallard, November 4, 1863; Henry H. Morris, January 1, 1864; H. M. Marshall, February 28, 1864; John J. White, July 10, 1864; J. W. Bryan, February 7, 1865; G. B. Johnson, February 22, 1865.

Four of Stokes's officers were marked missing on the rolls: Capt. T. C. Davis, since October, 1862; Capt. E. G. Fleming, since December 1862; Second Lieut. A. C. Denson, since October, 1862; Second Lieut. Carl D. Brien, since June 1863.

General Stokes was born in Chatham County, N.C., September 9, 1814, and died at Alexandria, Tenn., March 20, 1897. As shown in the sketch of Temperance Hall, his widowed mother located on her husband's land near that village, where she remained until her death, in 1853. This section was attached to DeKalb County in 1850, so that the county claims William B., Jordan, and Thomas Stokes among its pioneer citizens. In 1832 General Stokes married Paralee, daughter of Col. Abraham Overall. Farming for several years, he began his political career in 1849 as Representative of DeKalb County. He was twice elected to the House and twice to the Senate, and, defeating John A. Savage for Congress in 1859, was reelected. He served in Congress two years after the war, and he was the nominee of his party for the governorship in 1870. Until 1868 he resided there miles north of Liberty,

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Facing page 188, photo captioned:
GEN. W. B. STOKES
FIFTH TENNESSEE REGIMENT, FEDERAL CAVALRY
FROM PORTRAIT LOANED BY MRS. LEATH CALHOUN, NASHVILLE

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when he removed to Alexandria, where he devoted himself to the practice of law.

In the memoranda of the volume by Adjutant General J. B. Brownlow giving the rolls of Tennessee Federals for 1861-65 it is said of Stokes's Regiment that it was in the routing of Colonels Bennett and Ward on the Dickerson Pike in September, 1862; in the defeat of Colonel Dibrell, driving him out of Neely's Bend, in October, 1862; in the battle with Forrest on the Franklin Pike, and drove him from the field at Lavergne. It was in numerous skirmishes around Nashville and on Big Harpeth in the same year; fought at Triune December 27, 1862, and was in the battle of Murfreesboro from first to last; a part, under Colonel Murphey, was at Bradyville; and, under Colonel Blackburn, a part was in the battle of Milton and in numerous engagements around Liberty and Snow's Hill. The muster rolls of his three DeKalb County companies are given below:

Company A, officers: Lieutenants, W. G. Davis, John J. White; sergeants, J. B. Allison, Robert A. Smith, F. M. Close, Hamp Woodside, Thomas E. Bratten, J. W. Thomas, Riley Dale, Lee Lafever; corporals, John Neal, W. R. Bratten, W. J. Watson, J. W. Jones, John Garrison.

Privates: W. D. Davis, J. White, J. A. Allen, R. A., Smith, T. E. Bratten, J. W. Thomas, Riley Dale, Lee Lafever, John Neal, W. R. Bratten, W. J. Watson, J. W. Jones, John Garrison, Sol A. Neal, Thomas Kirby, E. C. Edwards, J. M. Allen, W. G. Allison, William Arnold, Lige Bryant, James Blythe, Calvin Blythe,

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P. Bozarth, Pete Brazwell, J. M. Brazwell, N. H. Craddock, J. W. Crook, J. R. Corder, Jim Carney, Thomas Cripps, Fred Chest, Joseph Davis, Reuben Davis, William Davis, D D. Driver, J. Estes, W. R. Farler, Jap Fitts, W. J. Givan, Jonathan Griffith, J. M. Hays, Jasper Hays, Joe Hendrixon, James Hollandsworth, H. N. Hill, C. D. Hutchens, J. H. Hendrixon, Wilson Hendrixon, William Hill, H. James, M. F. Jones, W. H. Jackson, John Keef, John Lynch, J. B. McGee, James McGee, J. A. Mahan, William Manared, Elisha Morris, Mon Malone, W. S. Parker, A. W. Patterson, D. C. Patten, W. J. Pugh, Hiser Richardson, B. F. Read, A. A. Robinson, Thomas Self, J. S. Shehane, Peter Starnes, James Smithson, Monroe Spencer, J. J. Smith, W. G. Smiley, Wilson Taylor, J. C. Vickers, Thomas Vinson, William Warford, G.P.W. Williams, J. W. Wooden, Oscar A. Woodworth, W. H. Word, J. B. Yeargin, J. H. Blackburn, Monroe Floyd, W. L. Hathaway, J. J. Evans, J. H. Gossett, J. T. Exum, A. J. Garrison, L. N. Woodside, Martin E. Quinn, E. H. Stone, James H. Blackburn, George Adamson, C. M. Brown, W. W. Govern, R. M. Hawkins, Henry Malone, Ed Pennington, Josiah Youngblood, Elijah Yeargin, J. Murphy, P. M. Radford, James H. Bratten, William A. Dale, D. A. Davis, Joseph Adamson, David Barr, Hiram Barret, William Bullard, J. M. Campbell, T. J. Chapman, A. G. Davis, R. H. Green, G. H. Leaver, S. J. McCalib, R. S. Neely, G. W. Robinson, J. B. Scott, J. M. Smith, A. M. Stone, W. J. Vickers, S. M. Williams, Joseph Wilcher, A. Yeargin, James Garrett, Elisha Kerly, F. C. Overcast.

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Killed: J. B. Moore, by guerrillas, 1864; W. J. Vickers, by guerrillas, 1863. Died: Joseph Adamson, David Barr, Joseph Bryant, April, 1863; Andrew George, 1861.

Company B, officers: Lieutenants, E. H. Gowan, J. W. Bryan; sergeants, T. W. Kenner, J. W. McDonald, W. Wood, Ralph Compton, J. W. Saulmon, W. F. Turner; corporals, J. W. Brown, H. McClure, P. Horley, T. A. Morris, J. Cothran; bugler, J. C. Haley.

Privates: M. A. Alder, W. H. Anderson, S. P. Burchett, I. W. Baker, D. H. Brewer, Thomas Borum, R. I. Bell, J. T. Ballance, E. Burnett, T. B. Brown, J. H. Brockett, L. W. Cherry, J.W.B. Davis, Zach Davis, Arch Davis, Anderson Davis, T.M.D. Earhart, Horace Francis, S. L. George, I. T. Goodson, L. M. Green, Jerome E. Goodner, J. Hale, Eli Herron, Wilson Herron, J. G. Jennings, Frank Johnson, Thomas Ketchum, J.K.C. Lance, E. H. Linton, John Morris, A. J. Merrill, A. C. Mayer, S. McDermot, W. Melvin, James Manus, John Oakley, Thomas Rogers, M. Rohelia, G. M. Robertson, John Robinson, David Redd, James Sands, Elgin Sands, W. Singleton, James Strauther, G. W. Tuck, James Talley, B. C. Vinson, J. Waggoner, J. W. Westfall, Taylor Warren, N. Winnett, C. T. Winnett, James Winnett, John Williams, T. A. Welland, M. F. Young, J. Nems, Henderson Smith, Thomas Davis, H. L. Newbury, W. W. Barker, Alex Davis, T. H. Berry, J. T. Thompson, S. B. Whitlock, W. G. Davis, A. Ham, T. B. Oakley, James Oakley, J. P. Paty, Thomas Reeves, John Simpson, R. Wadkins, Shelah Waters, Thomas Waters, John Everett, J. M.

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Hutsell, R. P. Mayer, E. H. Gowan, J. E. Pendergrass, W.H.C. Young, B. F. Bowar, J. A. Ellis, Cass Goad, M. F. Hale, J. L. Laurance, J. M. Shairts, W. L. Thompson, H. B. Thomas, F. M. Ensory, P. Giller, A. J. Hesson, Joseph Hester, J. C. Yell, P. M. Gascock, J. M. Groop.

Killed: J. E. Pendergrass, Murfreesboro, 1863; J. L. Laurance, in Lookout Valley. Died: W.H.C. Young, in prison January 12, 1863; B. F. Bowar, May 23, 1863; J. A. Ellis, M. V. Hale, J. M. Shairts, November 14, 1862; W. L. Thompson, December 29, 1863; Cyrus Y. Goad.

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Company K, officers: Captain, E. W. Bass; lieutenants, W. T. Robinson, John B. Turner, J. H. Smith; sergeants, J. L. Rollins, W. R. Lewis, Marion Cubbins, John A. Bass, W. H. Trammel, James H. Overall, R. M. Johnson; corporals, William Davis, Wells Barrett, G. B. Pedigo, T. N. Close, Alex Petty, John Tarpley, W. R. Caplinger; bugler, John C. Bennett.

Privates: J. B. Turney, Harvey Smith, J. L. Robinson, W. R. Lewis, Marion Cubbins, John A. Bass, W. H. Trammel, J. H. Overall, R. M. Johnson, William Davis, J. T. Meares, Wells Barrett, G. B. Pedigo, T. N. Close, Alex Petty, John Tarpley, W. R. Caplinger, J. C. Bennett, T. D. Oakley, B. J. Holloman, H. Y. Yeargin, Chris E. Adamson, John Adamson, W. T. Alexander, H. C. Alexander, Thomas Alexander, F. M. Allen, James Brent, Nathan Blythe, W. C. Bennett, John Case, J. G. Close, John Caplinger, John Coley, T. J. Davis, James Davis, Elam Edge, Denton

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Griffith, George Henley, George Hickman, W. L. Hail, W. H. Hays, Charles Hill, Reuben Hail, Thomas Hendrixson, R. Hinesly, J. H. Hicks, W. P. Hawker, J. M. Jones, Wesley Jennings, W. J. Jones, James A. Jones, W. H. Jones, James Lee, J. R. League, J. B. Lemmons, Blueford Mathis, Alex Manners, J. Mullican, L. H. McGinnis, G. B. Mahan, W. H. Pedigo, T. J. Perkins, James Petty, Joseph Pistole, William Patterson, John Parker, Travis Tarpley, A. J. Pugh, Matlock Roberts, W. A. Sullivan, Anthony Stanley, Noah Smith, John Taylor, J. P. Tomlinson, William Trusty, R. B. Waller, E. B. Watson, J. B. Wilson, E. W. Bass, Hinton A. Hill, James McMillin, J. J. Ross, Wiley Snow, James Williams, A. C. Rogers, R. H. Ponder, David Grandstaff, George C. Turney, W. C. Crossland, N. Alexander, James Baugh, W. H. Christian, David A. Farmer, James Gibson, James Hail, Jonathan Jones, T. J. Pistole, H. C. Richards, Alex Stanley, R. Pendergrass, Henry Stayner, Emanuel Williams. Killed: David Grandstaff, G. C. (Kit) Turney, James Baugh, D. A. Farmer, Joseph Hail, Jonathan Jones, T. J. Pistole, James Fuston, Alex Stanley, Calf Killer battle, February 22, 1864; H. C. Richards, by accident, Carthage, 1864. Died: William Crossland, of wounds at Carthage, 1864; W. H. Christian, of wounds, 1864.

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