Personal record of the Thirteenth Regiment, Tennessee Infantry

by Alfred J. Vaughan

From Shelbyville the army fell back across the Cumberland mountains, thus occupying the same position it did twelve months previous, and before it started into Kentucky. Tennesseeans for the second time saw their section abandoned, yet true to the Southern cause, cheerfully followed the fortunes of the Confederate flag.

The next important event in the history of the regiment was the hard-fought battle of Chickamauga, on September 19 and 20, 1863. It was the first battle after the two regiments had been consolidated that they had fought, and each sustained its former record and gathered fresh laurels. After two days of grand and magnificent fighting the enemy was completely routed and victory perched on the Confederate banner; but, alas! its fruits were lost by the tardy movements of the army in following up the victory. It is not for the writer to say who was at fault, but it was apparent to all that some one was to blame.

The loss in killed and wounded on both sides was exceedingly heavy, and the Thirteenth lost some of its best officers and bravest men. It was here, on the night of the first day's fight (Sept. 19, 1863), that General Preston Smith fell. The circumstances of his death are worthy of record here.

After heavy fighting all day, Cheatham's Division was formed in the second line of battle, and Preston Smith's Brigade was ordered to keep within five hundred paces of Deshler's Texas Brigade of the first line. The two lines were ordered forward with instructions to march directly to the front; but Deshler's Brigade, on account of obstructions and the irregularity of the ground, instead of marching directly to the front, obliqued to the left and passed unnoticed an isolated regiment which proved to be the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania, which had in some unaccountable manner become separated from the Federal army. Smith's Brigade, marching directly to the front, was approaching too near the first line, when Gen. Smith, thinking it was getting too close, as he supposed, to Deshler's Brigade, ordered a halt and rode forward with his volunteer aid, Captain King of Georgia, to see why, as he thought, Deshler's Brigade had halted. Riding up to the Federal regiment he was discovered to be a Confederate officer and was fired upon and instantly killed, as was Captain King. It was now becoming dark, and I being on the right, and also supposing that Deshler's Brigade had halted, I rode forward with Captain John Donaldson at my side to inquire the cause. When within thirty or forty yards of the regiment a Federal soldier jumped up from under a bush, advanced to me, supposing me to be a Federal officer, and inquired, "Where is the enemy?" Discovering his mistake, he jerked up his gun and without taking aim, fired. The load passed just in front of my breast into the body of Captain Donaldson, who fell a corpse. I ordered the Federal to be fired upon, which was done by the Twelfth Tennessee. In shooting at the Federal soldier their balls ranged into the ranks of the Federal regiment, when they called out, "Don't shoot! don't shoot! we surrender!" Whereupon I rode forward and ordered the regiment to ground arms and surrender their flag, which I received from the color-bearer, and turned over the regiment of prisoners to Captain Carthall of the Twelfth, who marched them to the rear. Thus fell General Preston Smith and his faithful aid Captain King, and Inspector-General Donaldson. I now took command of the Brigade and a short time after was promoted to Brigadier-General.

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.

The next move of the regiment was in the direction of Knoxville to reinforce General Longstreet, but on arriving at Sweetwater news was received of his repulse, and the regiment returned to the old division on Missionary Ridge.

It was now known that the Federals were strongly fortified in Chattanooga, had been heavily reinforced, and were preparing for an advance on the Confederates occupying Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. 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. Night coming on, the Confederates crossed Chickamauga Creek and retired to Dalton, Ga., where our army went into winter quarters.

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.