NOTES:
Names(in black) are as they appear and in the order on the list. Changes are in Blue.
??? indicates the names in the original roster has not been confirmed by NARA records or other sources.
Alternate names for cavalry units are explained below.
See Additional Information below on Pvt John Bond and Pvt W.H. McLinn.
See Organization, below, for organization of units.
The following text was entered in List before the heading "2nd Division".
Names(in black) are as they appear and in the order on the list. Changes are in Blue.
??? indicates the names in the original roster has not been confirmed by NARA records or other sources.
Alternate names for cavalry units are explained below.
See Additional Information below on Pvt John Bond and Pvt W.H. McLinn.
See Organization, below, for organization of units.
The following text was entered in List before the heading "2nd Division".
"The 18th Miss Battalion was in the engagement
but
has not been reported as yet.
W. R. Hodprach - Chf. Surg.
Chalmers Div., Forrests Cavl."
|
Identification of Units
Willis' Battalion was orginally part of Waul's Texas Legion; consisting of infantry, 6 companies of cavarly and artillery. Later the cavalry were seperated and identified by its commander, Colonel Leonidas Willis. Duff's Battalion began as 19 Battalion Mississippi Cavalry and was later identified as 8 Mississippi Cavalry. Commander was Lt-Col. William L. Duff. 18 Miss Cavalry was also known as 18 Battalion Mississippi Cavalry. It was commanded by Maj. A. H. Chalmers, brother to Gen. J. R. Chalmers . 15 Tenn Cavalry - The records for the soldiers listed above as being with this unit were actually members of 20th (Russell's) Tenn Cavalry. The 15th (Stewart-Logwood's) Tennesse Cavalry was later supplemented by men from several of the Tennesse regiments. Commander was Col. Francis M. Stewart. 16 Tenn or Wilson's Cavalry was also known as 21 (Wilson's) Tenn Cavalry was formed in Feb. 1864. It merged with 21 Tenn Cavalry or Barteau's Cavalry. Commaner was Col. Andrew L. Wilson. 2nd Tenn Cavalry later became known as the 22nd Tenn Cavalry or Barteau's Cavalry. 18th Tenn Cavalry also known as the 19 Tenn Cavalry. Later merged with the 20th (Russell's) Tenn Cavalry. Commander Col. John F. Newsom. 7th Tenn Cavalry also known Duckworth's Cavlary under Colonel Leonidas Duckworth and had combined with 6 Tenn Cavalry and 7 Tenn Cavalry. During Forrest's West Tennessee Raid, the 7th Tennesse Cavalry(US) surrendered to Duckworth's 7th Tennessee Cavalry (CS) at Union City. Forrest's Escort Company was a group of 75 men who remained from the original Forrest Regiment and served as personal guard for General Forrest. By 1863, they were armed with the best weapons and carried sabers. One member was Col. Drew Wisdom. The Escort was also known as Jackson's Company, MacDonald's Cavalry and also part of 3 Tenn Cavalry at various times. |
| NEW Complied Summary of Casualties of
Battle of Fort Pillow |
||||||||||||||||||||
For this study, KIA includes those receiving mortal wounds.
|
| Additional
Information from other Sources |
| OR - Official
Records of the War
or the orders issued by commanders. Cornell University website provides on-line access to the Official Records. |
| NR National
Archives Records - Personal military
records. The service records was obtained through the files of the National Archives. The information may include Name, Unit, Rank, Enlistment date and date of discharge or death. It may also include orders, records or notes regarding the soldier. If he is a captured Confederate, it will include the records from the US files.  Click this icon in the above
table and it will view the NARA
service record for that soldier.TR Tennesseans in Civil War Vol II - A tabulated list of service records from NARA. Cross-checked as many as 50 names with this reference but all are not indicated. |
| [20TN] -
Information from website on 20th Tennessee Cavalry: 20 TENN CAV . This website has info on men who served in the 20th Tennessee Cavalry with data from National Archive records for individual soldiers. This site has names of soldiers wounded or killed at Fort Pillow who match with the names on the above roster; only the unit is different. Most of the ones listed above as being in 15th Tenn were included in the roster for 20th Tennessee Cavalry. Link: http://home.olemiss.edu/~cmprice/cavalry/bio_w.html Excerpts from two records: J. Cardwell Wilson, Company F. Enlisted September 20, 1863 in Henry Co., TN, by Col. Bell for 3 years. Appointed Captain September 20, 1863. "Died Apl. 16, 1864 of Wounds received at Fort Pillow, Apl. 12, 1864". Described as 25, blue eyes, dark hair, dark complexion, 6 ft. He was the brother of Col. Andrew N. Wilson, who commanded the 16th Tennessee Cavalry. Previously served as 2nd Lieutenant, Company "G", 5th Tennessee Infantry to June 30, 1863. Wilson enlisted in the 5th Tennessee Infantry (Corporal, Co. B) in 1861. He was elected Lieutenant in 1862 and wounded and captured at Perryville (KY, Oct. 1862). Before his exchange, the regiment was consolidated and his position eliminated. Thus, after exchange he recruited a company for the 20th and became its captain. He was shot through the lungs at Ft. Pillow "while charging at the head of his company. He was carried by his men on stretchers eighteen miles to Dr. Brodie's, where he died after lingering several days" on April 16, 1864. Two of his men ("Hard" Wilson and Smith Randle) were detailed to wait with him. The next day Bell's Brig. moved back to West Tennessee and recruited their stock about 10 days when it was ordered to Fort Pillow. Company A, 15 Tenn. Cav. had two men & one Lieut. wounded slightly, to wit. R.H. Goodman & privates Tandy Holman & G.W. Robertson. It was a total loss to the Federals while our loss was comparatively none, only about 15 killed. After the dead were buried and the spoils gathered up we moved back to Brownsville, Tenn. when we were ordered to Miss. On reaching Holly Springs, Miss. we were ordered back to Dyer and Gibson counties where we remained up to 30th of April 1864 conscripting. Wm. Gay, Capt. Co. A, 15 Tenn. Cav. Regt. |
| [2M] -
Information from website on 2nd Missiouri Cavalry: 2 Missouri Cavalry External Link: http://www.members.tripod.com/2ndmocavcsa/ This is a site for a re-enactment group but includes a page of Original Roster of the soldiers who served during the war. I was able to match 14 of the 16 soldiers on my list. However two that did match did not have a match with their rank: example, corporal versus captain. National Archives records includes more details of the troopers in the 2 Missouri Cavalry. Pvt Alexander Jones Howard participated in Quantrail's raid on Lawrence, KS. Also, Pvt. Thomas W. Haislip was fought several battles with the 2nd Missouri Cavalry, including both Battles of Collierville and Wyatt and skirmish ast Moscow, Tenn. |
| (7T)
-
Information from website for 7
Tennesse Cavalry Battalion also known as 2 Tennesse Cavalry. External Link: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnsumner/fg12d.htm The following names seem to be a match or of interest. + John R. BrinkIey - 3rd Corporal. Made 1st Sergeant, at reorganization, replacing Austin. Wounded at Fort Pillow, TN, April 10, 1864. Left at Brownsville, Tennessee, unable to be moved. + J. K. Brinkley (duplicate of above?) - Wounded at Fort Pillow, TN, April 12, 1864. Cared for by Henry A. Brinkley, + Henry A. Brinkley - Detailed as nurse for J. K. Brinkley, who was wounded at Fort Pillow, Tennessee. + Robert Douglas - Wounded at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, April 12, 1864. + James M. Link - Wounded at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, April 12, 1864. Paroled at Gainesville, AL, May 10, 1865. Compare this to National Archive (NR) records that lists a J. C. Brinkley of Co. C, who was left in W. Tenn. NARA records state Lt-Colonel Leonidas Willis resigned his command on Feb. 4, 1865. |
| HC
- Information from book "Hancock's Diary"
or A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry. This is a diary of a member of Barteau's 2nd Tennesee Cavalry regiment published in 1877 and is available free on Google Books. In the chapter on Fort Pillow he lists the casualties of the regiment. The diary gives detail of one of the casualties as follows: "William Duke's leg was broken near the ankle joint by a firle-ball, and after examination and conultation our surgeons decided to amputate his foot. As soon as Duke learned their decision he called on D. B. Willard ( a member of Company C who carried him from the field) to hand him his pistol, and said, "I'll shoot the first man who attempts to cut off my foot." "If you don't want it cut off it will not be done," said Willard. By request of Duke, Willard made some splinters, and finally the surgeons assisted in bandaging his leg, and the result was he soon got well, and thus saved his foot." The diary also stated 1st Lt George Leave "fell mortally wounded by a canister-shot". NARA records show a 1st Lt. George Love of Company D was killed. |
| R3 -
Information from book "River Run Red",
published in 2005. ISBN
0-670-03440-1. + Lt.-Col. Wiley Martin Reed, commander of the 5th Mississippi Cavalry, was standing next to Lt. N. B. Burton about 80 yards from the fort's parapets. Both were struck by a volley. Lt-Col. Reed was severely wounded and Lt. Burton was killed. Lt.-Col. Reed was taken to Jackson, TN, where he died after 19 days of excruciating pain. An Atlanta newspaper dated 1877 said his body was moved to Nashville for re-internment 13 years later. + Captain J. Cardwell Wilson was shot through the lungs. He was taken 18 miles to a farm where he died 6 days later. + Private John Beard of 20th Tennessee killed while assaulting the fort. + Private Reuben Burrows of the 15th Tennessee killed while assaulting the fort but he is not on list. + Private Samuel Allen was "struck dead" but his name does not appear in the above list. + Private Andrew Jackson Grantham of 5th Mississippi Cavalry was quoted in Ward's book. |
| MAT - Source "Military Annals of Tennessee". This is a thick 700+ pages of history of units of Tennessee, similiar to Dunbar Rowland's history of Mississippi. The cavalry regimental histories were sketchy but would include names of officers and occassional history and maybe names of those killed in action. This book has some good information on the 2nd, 15th and 16th Tennessee Cavalry Regiments. |
| CH -
Source "Confederate Military
History". Originally published in 1880's, the series was divided by the State and recorded their contribution to the war. Some volumes have unit histories. Each state includes biographies of leaders in the back. "Confederate Military History: Mississippi" mentions death of Lt.-Col Reed (Reid) and Lt. Burton and Lt. Hubbard of 18th Battalion. "Confederate Military History: Tennessee" mentions Lieut-Col. Wiley Reid was a Cumberland Presbyterian minister (page 282). "Confederate Military History: Missouri" - Includes a biography of Col Robert McCulloch. |
| "Military Annals of
Carrol County" is a small publication that documents the service
of the citizens of Carroll Country, MS in various wars. The text states that “Mr. Cole of Black Hawk was killed at Collierville”. This refers to the battles of |
| John Bond,
Pvt of Co. G, 16 Tennessee Cavalry. Lynn Shaw, a local historian at His National Archive record shows he was "left by order of Gen Chalmers" when the returned to |
| W. H.
McLinn,
Pvt of Co. H, 16 Tennessee Cavalry. The original list had a questionable entry for his name. His name appeared as killed in action in Military Annals of Tennesee. NARA recorrds confirmed his last name was McLinn and the company and regiment matched. The problem is the dates recorded for his enlistment and death and the muster roll does not make sense. According to NARA entries, Pvt McLinn enlisted on May 1, 1864, and reported for muster on May 31, 1864, but was killed at Fort Pillow on April 12, 1864. |
| William
Green Middleton,
Capt. of Co. E, 18 Mississippi Cavalry. R3 - or "River Run Red" His name was not on the original list. The following account was found in Ward's "River Run Red". Capt. Middleton was at Battle of Fort
Pillow, where he came upon one of three runaway slaves from the family
plantation of his father Holland Middleton of Panola County, MS. The three
slaves were Adam, Simon
and Essex Middlton
and all had joined
Company
C, 6th US Colored Heavy Artillery. Essex was the only one of the three black
soldiers to have survived the battle. Capt. Middleton found Essex after the battle and the
bodies of his two brothers were found by the river. Capt. Middleton returned Essex back to their plantation before he
himself was killed at Battle of Harrisburg.
When I pulled up the NARA card for Capt. Middleton, I discovered he was wounded slightly in the arm at the Battle of Fort Pillow. He was added to the list which brings it to a total of 100 casualties. |
Return to Main Menu
| Organization of
Confederate forces General Forrest's Cavalry Corps First Division - Gen. R. Chalmers 1st Brigade - Col. J. J. Neely 2nd Brigade - Col Robert McCulloch |
Second Division - Gen. Bufford 3rd Brigade - Col. A. P. Thompson 4th Brigade - Gen. Tyree H. Bell |
| Forces Attacking
Fort Pillow commanded by Gen. R. Chalmers Col. Bob McCulloch's Brigade (of Chalmers' Division) 2 Missouri Cav - Col Robert A. McCulloch Willis's Texas Cav - Lt-Col Leonidas Willis 5 Miss. Cav - Lt. Col. Wiley M. Reed Duff's 8 Miss Cav. - Col. Wm L. Duff McDonald's Tenn Cav. Batln - Lt-Col J. M. Crews |
Col Tyree H. Bell's Brigade (of Bufford's Division) Barteau's 2 (22)Tenn Cav - Wilson's 16 Tenn Cav - Russel's 15 Tenn Cav - General Forrest and his Escort Company Walton's Artillery Battery - Mountain Howitzers (Artillery did not arrive due to heavy rains.) |
| Fort
Pillow State Historic Park (external link) The Tennessee State park is a 1,646-acre park located on Mississippi River about 60 miles north of Memphis, TN on Hiway 51 near Henning. The park has an Intrepretive Center & Museum, a Nature Center, campgrounds and hiking trails covering the three tiers of breastworks that was constructed there during the war. Check out my
photos
of Fort
Pillow State Historic Park at Photos.
|
| General
James
Ronald Chalmers James Ronald Chalmers was a lawyer and a district attorney in Marshall County, MS, before the war. He started war in the infantry. At Shiloh he was a Brigadier General and briefly in command of Colonel Forrest. On March 9, Forrest replaced Chalmers with Robert McCulloch. Forrest ordered Chalmers to join him for his West Tennessee raid. General Chalmers is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis along with Col. Clark R. Barteau, who commanded the 22nd Tennessee Cavarly. |
| The McCulloch’s Col. Robert “Black Bob” McCulloch was 5 years older than his cousin Robert A. McCulloch. Colonel Robert was a square-built frame and had a full beard. He raised a regiment in Missouri that was called the “Missouri Mongols”. He had been wounded at Tupelo, and wounded in the hand at Harrisburg. The 2nd Missouri Cavalry were mustered into service at the same place and date as Quantrill’s cutthroat band. Robert A. was ganglier build. He was wounded in the stomach at Wilson’s Creek in August 1864 Originally, the older Robert McCulloch was called “Black-haired Bob” and the Robert A. was called “White-haired Bob” since his hair was turning grey. They fought side-by-side throughout the war and many historians have confused the two men. Later, Col. McCulloch’s nickname was shortened to “Black Bob” in reference to fighting under the black flag---taking no prisoners. Lieut-Col. Wiley M. Reed The loss of commander of the 5th Mississippi Cavalry was mentioned in General Forrest's correspondance on the results of Fort Pillow. The "Confederate Military History: Tennessee" mentions Lieut-Col. Wiley Reid was a Cumberland Presbyterian minister (page 282). It also states that Lieut. Col. Reed investigated the series of atrocities of Col. Fielding Hurst of the 6th Tennessee(USA) Cavalry. This report was passed on to General Forrest and can be found on page 118, Vol. XXXII, Part 3 of Official Records of the War. Col. Reed was mortally wounded in the Battle of Fort Pillow. His men took him to Jackson where he suffered for another 2 weeks. On May 1st, General Forrest lead a funeral procession for him on the day they departed for their return to Mississippi. |
| Cost
of Okolona The Battle of Okolona would cost General Forrest several of his commanders. Col Jeffrey E. Forrest leading a brigade was killed. Command of 2nd Brigade was given to Col Duckworth. Lt-Col Barksdale, commanding the 5th Miss. Cavalry was killed. Lt.-Col. Reid replaced him. Col. Barteau commanding Bell’s Brigade was wounded and Col R. M. Russell replaced him. |
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