NOTES:
Names are spelled as found in archives and census records. Alternates are shown crossed out or in Blue.
??? indicates the names in the original roster has not been confirmed by NARA records or other sources.
The original list has been edited for corrections and re-arranged to depict the organization of the brigades.
An explanation of the identify and history of the cavalry units are explained below.
See Organization, below, for organization of units.
The following text was entered in List before the heading "2nd Division".
Names are spelled as found in archives and census records. Alternates are shown crossed out or in Blue.
??? indicates the names in the original roster has not been confirmed by NARA records or other sources.
The original list has been edited for corrections and re-arranged to depict the organization of the brigades.
An explanation of the identify and history of the cavalry units are explained below.
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' Texas 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 General 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. Commander was Col. Andrew L. Wilson. 2nd Tenn Cavalry later became known as the 22nd Tenn Cavalry or Barteau's Cavalry. 18th Tenn Cavalry or Newsom's 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. |
| Complied Summary of Casualties of
Battle of Fort Pillow |
||||||||||||||||||||
For
these statistics, KIA are those who had died by April 13th.
General Forrest had reported Lt-Col. Reed
as a KIA, but he was mortally wounded and died in Jackson. * Includes 3 soldiers on the original list but were not confirmed by NARA records. |
| Additional
Refernce Sources |
| OR - Official
Records of the War
or the orders issued by commanders. Series I, Volume XXXII , Chaper XLIV - Operations in Kentucky, Southwest Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and North Georgia. January 1-April 30, 1864. Officially titled “War of the Rebellion; A Compilation of Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies" Cornell University website provides on-line access to the Official Records. Also Google Books has some volums scanned for download. Link: ebooks.library.cornell.edu/m/moawar/waro.html |
| NR National
Archives Records - Personal military
records. The service records are obtained through the files of the National Archives which is available on Fold3.com. The information may include Name, Unit, Rank, Enlistment date and date of discharge or death. It may also include orders, forms or notes regarding the soldier. Records for captured Confederate will include the records from the US files.  Click this icon in the above
table to see one of the service records from the NARA for that soldier.TR Tennesseans in Civil War Vol II - A tabulated list of service records from NARA. Began research using this reference but rechecked names on the NARA files. |
| [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, Captain, Company F. See Stories The website for the 20 Tenn Cavalry states 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. This site also confirmed three other names. Quote from site: "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 soldiers in the 2 Missouri Cavalry. Most have one card that someone has written down all the battles and events for that soldier. The info usually continues on the back of the NARA card. Pvt Alexander Jones Howard participated in Quantrail's raid on Lawrence, KS. Also, Pvt. Thomas W. Haislip fought several battles with the 2nd Missouri Cavalry, including both Battles of Collierville and Wyatt and skirmish at 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. + Private Samuel Allen was "struck dead". + Private Andrew Jackson Grantham of 5th Mississippi Cavalry was quoted in Ward's book. William Green Middleton, Capt. of Co. E, 18 Mississippi Cavalry. His name was not on the original list but his name is mentioned in Ward's "River Run Red". A search of NARA records showed that he was wounded slightly in the arm at the Battle of Fort Pillow. |
| 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 and Lt. Burton and Lt. Hubbard of 18th Battalion. "Confederate Military History: Tennessee" mentions Lieut-Col. Wiley Reed 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. A quote from the book 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. |
| Reuben Burrow and W. R. Barron Various sources report a casualty of the 15 Tennessee Cavalry as either Reuben Burrow or W. R. Barron. It seems this is a duplication---even in the NARA files. The archival records are so few it is difficult to know for sure. [A] Genealogy research identifies a Reuben Burrow, age 21 in 1863, who was the son of a prominent church leader, Rev. Reuben Burrow of McLemoresville, TN. He enlisted on September 1, 1863 at McLemoresville, Carroll County. [B] W. R. Barron was identified as 25 years of age and enlisted on September 13, 1863 at Carroll County in Company B |
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 18 Miss Cavalry - Maj. Alexander H. Chalmers Duff's 8 Miss Cav. - Col. Wm L. Duff McDonald's Tenn Cav. Batln - Lt-Col J. M. Crews General N. B. Forrest and his Staff Forrest's Escort Co - Col. Dew Wisdom (75 men) |
Col Tyree H. Bell's Brigade (of Bufford's Division) Barteau's 2 (22)Tenn Cav - Wilson's 16 Tenn Cav - Russel's 15 (20) Tenn Cav - Newsome's 18 Tenn Cav - Col. John F. Newsom Walton's Artillery Battery - Mountain Howitzers (placed in town south of fort.) |
| 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.
|
| The McCulloch’s Col. Robert “Black Bob” McCulloch (1820-1905) was 5 years older than his cousin Lt-Col. Robert A. McCulloch. Colonel Robert was a square-built frame and had a full beard. He raised a company of Missouri State Guard Cavalry in Cooper County, Missouri. They crossed the Mississippi to join General Price and formed into the 2nd Missouri Cavalry. The 2nd Missouri Cavalry fought in many battles and campaigns under General Chalmers and later General Forrest. Some of the battles include: Fort Pemberton(MS), Elkhorn(Ark), Siege of Corinth, Booneville, Iuka, Holly Springs, Looxahoma, Waterford, Brices Crossroads, Salem, Collierville(#1), Wyatt, Collierville(#2), Moscow, Fort Pillow, Harrisburg and Memphis Raid. Lt-Col. Robert A. McCulloch (1825-1911) 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. Later, Col. McCulloch’s nickname was shortened to “Black Bob”. They fought side-by-side throughout the war and many historians have confused the two men. They are generally distinguished by their rank listed in front of their name. |
| Cost
of Okolona The Battle of Okolona was fought on February 22, a few weeks before Fort Pillow. This battle would cost General Forrest several of his commanders, including his youngest brother, whom he raised. Col. Jeffrey E. Forrest leading a brigade was killed. 2nd Brigade temporarily given to Col. Duckworth. Lt-Col Barksdale, commanding the 5th Miss. Cavalry was killed and Lt.-Col. Reid replaced him. Col. Barteau commanding Bell’s Brigade was wounded and Col R. M. Russell replaced him. Both Col. Barteau and Col. McCulloch would recover to fight again at Fort Pillow. |
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