|
|
At the start of the Civil War, Columbia, TN native Edmund Dillahunty Baxter was newly wed and starting the practice of law in Nashville, TN. He felt his call to duty to defend the south and enlisted in the Harding Artillery, also known as Monsorrat's Battery, in 1861. This company was enlarged and divided into two companies. Baxter was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain and given command of Company B, which became Baxter's Battery, first organization.
Baxter led this battery at the Battles of Fishing Creek Kentucky as well as action around Corinth, Mississippi. In the summer of 1862, he was reassigned to post duty in Knoxville and his battery was turned over to Captain Ammariah Huggins.
In the fall of 1862, Baxter was commissioned to recruit another company of artillery. By this time, most of Middle and West Tennessee was under Union occupation, but the Army of Tennessee had returned to Middle Tennessee laying ground work for the upcoming battle at Murfreesboro. One area which was not occupied by the Federals was Western Williamson County and southern Dickson County. Several men from the area had joined various infantry and cavalry units in 1861, but the area had not been heavily recruited.
Baxter spent about six weeks recruiting in the area and enlisted about 110 men. The company was entered into Confederate service and elected officers on December 11, 1862 in Bethesda, TN and proceeded to Camp in Shelbyville. The company was not engaged in the Battle of Murfreesboro, but was listed as reserve artillery.
In January 1863, the company was ordered to Cumberland Gap and was under the command of Brigadier General Archibald Gracie of the Department of East Tennessee. While at Cumberland Gap, several expeditions were made into Kentucky. Several men deserted and were captured near Richmond, KY and sent to Federal Prisons at Camp Chase, Ohio, Johnson's Island, Ohio and Point Lookout, MD. Members of the units were also sent on expeditions in the union sympathizing countryside to forage for horses.
The company was next stationed at Bean Station, TN when an outbreak of typhoid fever occurred. Six men died of typhoid at Bean Station, two others were taken to the Fairground Hospital in Knoxville where they died. Eight men were given sick furloughs home and never returned to the company. They were listed as presumed deserters but by this time virtually all of Middle Tennessee was under Union control and return without being captured was near impossible.
In July and August 1863, the company was stationed at Sweetwater, TN. On August 6, while foraging near Knoxville, 10 more men deserted and went home.
The company moved on to Georgia and was attached to the Army of Tennessee and was placed in Major Sam William's Reserve Artillery Corps. The company was held in reserve on September 19, 1863 during the first day of the Battle of Chickamauga. On the second day, the company was placed in line of battle with Jeffres Virginia Battery on a bluff on the extreme left of the line near Lee & Gordon's Mill. The company was equipped with 2 three-inch rifles, expended 13 rounds of ammunition and suffered no casualties. In a letter home, Private John Dillard reported; "I have been a part of one of the largest battles ever fought on the southern sand and hope I never see anything like it again. I have seen men dead in every conceivable position."
The company participated in the siege of Chattanooga. Sgt. A. P. Beard, a preacher in civilian life, recorded in his diary that the troops were: "cannonading by day and praying by night."
The company was engaged with a battery of the enemy for two and a half hours in the November 25, 1863 Battle of Missionary Ridge. The company was equipped with 4 three-inch rifles, fired 55 rounds of ammunition and placed an enfadaling fire on the enemy to defend the tunnel. The company suffered no casualties and retreated down the mountain and crossed Chickamauga Creek during the night.
The company remained with the Army of Tennessee in Ringold and Dalton, GA. Until December 9, 1863 when ordered by General William Hardee to turn guns, horses and ammunition over to the Chief of Artillery and report to Colonel Wright in Atlanta for post duty.
While stationed in Atlanta, Captain Baxter was detached on a recruiting mission to replace the troops lost by disease and desertion. He recruited 40 men in Georgia and Alabama and was paying a bounty to enlist. During the siege of Atlanta, Baxter commanded batteries A & B in the line of entrenchments. At least one of his men was wounded during the siege. After the fall of Atlanta, several more men deserted and were captured near Jonesboro, GA. They were taken to Camp Douglas, IL. Two died while in prison and were buried in Chicago City Cemetery. One soldier took the oath and joined the Union Army.
After the fall of Atlanta, the company reported for post duty at Macon, Ga. where it remained for the duration of the war. The company guarded the railroad on the Clinton Road. Several of the men pulled extra duty of working in the Macon Arsenal manufacturing ammunition, for which they were paid 25 cents per day. While stationed at Macon, many of the men were admitted to Ocmulgee Hospital for treatment of diarrhea and other diseases. In a letter home, Private John Dillard wrote of Macon: "We have plenty to eat and wear. Hope we get to stay here through the winter. Water is not as good here as Atlanta. We have been having a good time eating fish."
The company was captured in Macon on April 20 & 21, 1865 by the 1st Brigade of the 2nd US Cavalry Division. The men were paroled on April 28, 1865. The Tennessee troops were sent to Chattanooga where they were given the choice of taking the oath of allegiance or going to a northern prison. Since the war was over, the men took the oath and boarded a train for home.
Captain Baxter was captured May 5, 1865 in Millegeville, GA. And took the oath of allegiance on June 16, 1865 in Nashville.
|
|
|
|
