16th Tennessee Volunteer
Infantry Regiment
1862

        At the Coosaw River (Port Royal Ferry), 1st January.  At 1400 the Regiment were ordered up to support  at Gardner's Corner about nightfall.  The Confederate troops had fallen back to here and the Regiment were put into line in front of Gardner's Corner.
        At dawn of the 2nd with no Federal attack the Regiment were sent to reconnoiter, with the Regiment advancing on either side of the causeway.  Not finding the enemy the whole force retired 'about four miles 'to a point where the Mackay's Point Road intersected with the Port Royal Road and formed line of battle.'
        On the 3rd they still stayed where they were awaiting the enemy but after three or four days were ordered to return to their main camps.
        On the 6th some of the Regiment went out to investigate the area between their camp and the Coosawhatchie River.  With the weather good 'E' Company began to construction a fort at Rocky Point.
        The 8th had some of the Regiment were bombarded at Mackay's Point from 1300 until 1700.  Continued to build the fort and on the 29th took possession of some artillery pieces.
        A detail was sent to Mackay's 'upper dwelling'  on 8 February to repel a landing, which failed to materializes.
        During their time in South Carolina the Regiment was divided into detachments at different points, with the Federal fleet sailing up and down the coast threatening landings, the Regiment made many 'long, hurried marches through the heavy sand to oppose them.'
        While early in March the Regiment were moved to Grahamsville, SC.  Here they were 'quartered in snug cabins and fared sumptuously.'  Here some of the men re-enlisted but formed a cavalry company.
        Ordered to Corinth, Mississippi, that 'sickly, malaria spot fit only for alligators and snakes', they left Grahamsville on the 10th April they entrained and arrived at Charleston at 0800 and left for Augusta, Ga. at 2200 where they arrived at 0300.  The next day at 0830 they left for Atlanta arriving at 2000.
        On 14 April they left Atlanta at 0400 on the Chattanooga Railroad and arrived at Marietta at 1700.  Daylight found them at Dalton.  Here they were ordered to return to Atlanta and go to Corinth via Mobile, Ala.
        On 15 April at 0800 they left Dalton and arrived at Atlanta at 1900.  About this time their train ran off the rails killing one man and wounding others.
        Leaving Atlanta at 0300, 19 April, they arrived at Montgomery at 1500.  Here they boarded the steamer 'Jeff Davis'  and at 1800 left for Mobile. They arrived at Mobile at 1400 on the 21st.
        They left Mobile at 1600, 22 April, arriving at Meridian midnight arriving at Corinth on the 23rd.  By this complicated route they joined the Army of Tennessee, under P.G.T. Beauregard.  Here they remained part of Donelson's Brigade, Benjamin Cheatam's Division, Polk's Corps.  Hardee's Corps was on the right in front of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, Braxton Bragg's Corps in the center, and the Corps across the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.
        28 April and there was heavy skirmishing!
        Siege of Corinth, 30 April - 30 May.  In a bombardment while they were at Farmington, lasting from 1600 until 1700, on the 3 May the Regiment lost some killed, wounded and others taken prisoner. They were now sent out to do picket duty on the Purdy Road but on the 7th relieved and returned to camp.
        On the 8th May, while stationed at Corinth, the Regiment had it's enlistment extended, much to the dissatisfaction of many, and was re-organised, re-electing Colonel Savage commander.
        On the 9th, at 0400, they were sent to the front line but returned at 0600 when nothing untoward happened on the night on the 13th they were sent three miles north of Corinth to the front lines and once again nothing happened and returned to camp at 1100 on the 14th.
        Again on the 18th and once more rushed to the trenches at daylight and stayed there 'with the weather very dry and water very very scarce.'
        The 19th saw the Regiment sent out on picket in the afternoon with false alarms all the time.
        Skirmishing started quite early on the 20th although on the 21st everything was quiet and they were relieved in the afternoon and at 1800 they returned to camp.
        Roused up very early morning on the 22nd they 'marched about four miles double quick a good portion of the way.'  Going into line of battle they moved to with 400 yards of the enemies front  awaiting the order to attack.  Skirmishing continued all day before they retired to the trenches and then back to camp.
        But on the 23rd they doubled quick to the trenches once again but after a wait of several hours but no attack developed they then went back to camp and turned in for the night.
        The 24th 'was a very dull day indeed' as was the 25th.
        On the 26-7 they were sent to the trenches and out on a skirmish line until about 1600, especially those with 'long shooting guns.'
        The 28th saw a Federal attack on the left about 1000 north of Corinth, at Bridge Creek, this was stopped.  With this a counterattack was thrown in in which the Regiment participated of which a member stated that 'bullets and grape (were) in among us pretty thick.'  The attack lasted until 1500 with the loss of  three men killed a few wounded with the Regiment.  In the end 'the Federals dug up so close that at places we could throw  a stone into their entrenchments.'  Relieved in the evening they returned to camp.
        On the 29th they were again sent to the trenches when all was very quiet during morning.  Ordered out of the works at about sundown.  And at 2200 they 'marched all night, and late into the morning' as the Army started to withdraw.  Every member was ordered to cheer as the trains arrived to cover the evacuation and make the Federal forces think that reinforcements were arriving.  The 'Division marched up near Corinth, when our Regiment turned abruptly to the right and marched through a deserted country....' 
        During Corinth they had suffered an unknown number of casualties.
        In May the Brigade consisted of the 2nd, 8th, 15th, 16th and 154th Tennessee Infantry Regiments, and Carnes' Tennessee Battery. By June 15, 1862, the 154th had been replaced by the 51st Tennessee. By June 30, the 2nd was no longer shown as part of the brigade.
        The 30th found them about 5 miles from Corinth crossing Smith's Bridge over the Tuscumbia River at 0600. They now destroyed the bridge and felled trees to block the road, this was completed about 0800, before resting in the swamp all the rest of the day and the following one.
        The day of 1 June saw them on picket duty along the river bank before setting off about 1300 when they marched all night in the direction of Okalona, at one time repulsing Federal scouts.  They traveled about 20 miles 'in almost famishing condition, without making any halt.'
        On 2nd they set of at 0500 and continued the march through heavy rains until nearly nightfall but had only covered 10 miles. Here they drew the first rations for many days.
        They now moved off on the 3rd at about 0800 going just three miles before stopping some three miles to the west of Baldwin Station.
        They had a quiet day on the 4th but on the 5th they were sent two miles north to Twenty Mile Creek on picket duty, where they spent all day and until 1600 on the 6th when they returned to their previous camp near Baldwin Station.
        On the 7th they moved out at 1300 (2000?) and marched eight miles in the direction of Tupelo.  The following day they were up before daybreak and marched eight or ten miles and camped near Satitatigo railroad station, staying here on the 9th.
        They set of at daylight on the 10th reaching Tupelo about 1400 after marching about 15 miles here then crossed the railroad and marched north four or six miles before pitching tents on Town Creek.
        On the 11th and 12th they do nothing but the 13th sees them doing skirmish drill, the 14th to the 23rd sees them doing Company drill in the morning and Battalion drill in the afternoon.
        In the morning of the 25th the Regiment was reviewed by Colonel Savage and in the afternoon by General Polk but 'I think our Regiment made a poor show.'   They now again drill over the next few days.
        Between the 24th and 28th June different Companies march to Bear Creek on picket duty.  And on the 30th they participated in a grand review of the army.
        On the 1 July orders were read out to the Army that Braxton Bragg had taken command of the Army.
        All is quiet over the next few days except for some drill and on the 9th Brigade drill, the first time for many.
        The 22nd saw the Regiment march to Tupelo where they boarded a train for Mobile, leaving at 0900 where they arrive about 2100 on the 23rd.  Most leave Mobile on the boats 'Senator and Virginia.'
        On the 24th the remainder of the Regiment leave at 1400 on the steamer 'Dawrence' for Montgomery Station where they boarded a train for Montgomery itself.  Here most arrive at 0900 on the 25th, with the remainder at 1800 on the 26th.
        The 27th sees them leaving after dark for West Point, distance 187 miles, where they arrive sometime in the night.  Here they stay until 1700 the next day before setting off again, passing through Lagrange before dark, and arriving in Atlanta some time in the night.
        On the 29th they left Atlanta about 0700 for Chattanooga, 138 miles away, where they arrive about 1700.  They now march some 16 mile from there and they camped to the east of the town, at the western base of Missionary Ridge.
        While at Chattanooga many of the men were visited by their families, who brought food, clothing and other necessities but on the 10th they leave the camps.
        On the 16th they left their camps about 0800 crossing the Tennessee River at Chattanooga in a ferry boat about 1400.  They then marched about 2 miles and camped. 
        The 17th saw them move about four miles and do picket duty on the Chattanooga-McMinnville road, at a place known as Stringer's.
        While staying in place the next day the 19th saw them leave about 1000 today marching to Dallas, 12 miles above Chattanooga, where the camped in the woods.
        The 20th saw them doing nothing but the 21st drilling but 'our Company officers cannot drill in the skirmish drill at all and do not try to learn it.'  
         The Friday of 22nd saw them awakened early, about 0400, and warned they would be setting off early, but didn't leave till 0800. They marched about eight or nine miles and camped at Blue Springs.
        From the 23rd until the 26th, inclusive, nothing much happened but 'a very flowery sermon preached' both morning and evening on the 24th.
        Set off south? on the 27th they camped at Wallace Chapel but at 0500 on the 28th when they marched up the Washington Road about 8 or 10 miles with the Regiment in the rear of most of the Division.
        The 29th and 30th saw nothing but drill in the morning but set out on a march of eight miles on the 30th.
        On the 31st they were roused about 0230, and set of at 0300, Company I was detailed to guard the wagon train, crossing Walling's (Walden's) Ridge, the Cumberland Mountains, covering a distance of about 16 miles and camped in Sequatchy Valley in about 4 miles from Pikeville.  While here volunteers were recruited from within its ranks for the artillery, with whom they served the rest if the war.
        1st September saw them setting of about 0400 and marching in the Sequatchy Valley to Pikeville.  From here they set off at 1800 up the mountain, 'it is about 9 miles long and very rough we were tired out when we reached the summit.'  Here they rested for a short time before continuing on down the mountain to Cane Creek where they arrived between 0700 and 0800, and camped for the day.
        Set off at 0800 on the 3rd and reached Sparta by 1400 after a march of 11 miles.  When there they marched two miles on the Gainsboro Road and camped arriving 'all tired and completely exhausted'.  Awaiting them were 'women and children on the roads to greet their loved ones' with food etc.
        The 4th saw picket duty picket duty about two mile south of Sparta.
        On the 5th the 'citizens are thick in camps came in to see their friends and relations.'
        On the 6th they set off at 0700 and marched north for 17 miles on the road  to Gainesboro travelling through Brookers Hill and doing about 17 miles before camping.
        The 7th saw them set off at 0500 and they reached Gainsboro at 1500 they now marched two miles west and camped on the south side of the Cumberland River.
        On the 8th they didn't start till about 0100 and then crossed the Cumberland River by wading then on up Jinnys? Creek before camping, having covered about nine miles. There was a continual visit from relations.
        The 9th saw them up at 0300 and marching up the creek and had them advancing through Bardstown and on into Kentucky where they camped one mile south of Tompkinsville having covered about 21 miles.
        Left to sleep in on the 10th they only provided some guards for the Divisions wagon train but set off from Tomkinsville about 1300 on the 11th on the Louisville road but only traveled 11 miles before camping.
        They set of on the 12th in the morning pretty early arriving at Glasgow a little before dark and camped near the town on the Bowling Green road.
        With nothing happening on the 13th and only moving camp a short distance on the 14th but the 15th saw them on the move at 1200 marching through Glasgow and out onto the Louisville Pike road where they marched until about 2100 or 2200, some 12 to 15 miles, before stopping.
        Siege of Munfordville, 14-7 September.  Here 'about 4,500 Yankees had repulsed some of our cavalry' so a brief siege followed, with the garrison, under John T. Wilder, surrendering after two days on the 17th, they were guarding a railroad bridge over the Green River.
        On the 16th they marched at daybreak on up the Pike about 2 miles before turning off and marching  near 15? miles in a great circuit so as to get in the rear of the Federal camps at Woodsfordville, near Mumfordville, on the Green River.  Arriving in the vicinity of Mumfordville about 2100 the Brigade was involved in a friendly fire incident that saw one killed and 8 others wounded.
        The 17th saw them sleeping until daybreak before moving up with the Division in reserve.  While here Mumfordville surrendered.  They now set off up the Louisville road before retiring back to within about one mile of Mayanardsville? before camping.
        That day the Army now moved up the railway to Bacon Creek but in the belief that the Federal forces were on their way to Mumfordville the Army returned there on the morning of the 18th.  Here they spent the day in battle line.  After waiting all day they now again advanced to Bacon Creek.  The Army now moved up the Louisville and Nashville Railroad during the 20th.
        As they neared Louisville it was realised that the Federal forces going to reach before them and the Army now marched to Bardstown where they reached about the 25th.
        They camped at Bardstown until they moved out on the morning of the 5 October passing Fredericksburg and Springfield, here they camped for the night.
        The 6th they marched by way of Perryville to Danville and camped the night.
        On the morning of the 7th they resumed their march this time to Harrodsburg where they arrived at 1500.  At 1700 or 2000! they set out the 12 miles to Perryville.  The Division is originally placed on the left of the Corps but with Bragg's arrival he orders it on a two mile march to the extreme right where they arrived about midnight there 'our Division was drawn up in battle line and there slept upon our arms till near daylight.'  They were positioned with the rest of the Corps in reserve placed upon an elevation behind the town.
        Perryville (Chaplin Hills), 8 October.  About 0900 the Corps moved from the rear of Perryville with the Division moving to the extreme right.  With the Regiment positioned as the right hand unit of the Brigade, which was the right hand Division, of the right hand Corps, on the right of the Army.
        About 1600 the Division is ordered to take a ridge held by William R. Terrill's Brigade, James S. Jackson's Division. They double forwards nearly one mile across fields.  Here they removed all surplus equipment, knapsacks, blanket rolls etc.  They now moved forwards the first 600 yards through a small wood and across Wilson's Creek, reforming in a depression about 300 yards from the enemy who are concealed in a wood and supported by artillery at both ends.
        They now set off, with the 15th Tennessee on their left, to engage the enemy to their front this was a seven or eight gun battery, under Charles C. Parsons, at the extreme left of the wood.  The Regiment came under a 'murderous fire upon them with musketry and artillery from right, left and center. The ranks of the 16th Regiment were moved down at a fearful rate' and were thrown back.  They now rallied and tried a second time but 'there was a battery on our left that was giving us grape and canister and the bullets were singing around us,' again they are stopped.
        A. P. Stewart's Brigade now came up and formed on the left supporting the 15th Tennessee which relieved of the severe crossfire from the left.  With the Federal movement to the Brigade's righta heavy force was now massed in front, and on the right of the Regiment.  The Federal line bent around the right flank of the Regiment, near an old log cabin, and they proceeded to poor in musketry and artillery fire into that flank.  The Regiment held its ground for half an hour when George Maney's Brigade came up and formed on it's rightthey started forwards again and this time the Regiment overran the battery.
        Here it was found that they had killed Brigadier James S. General Jackson,'he was standing on some part of a cannon with his hat in his hand, urging his men to put it to us.  Our men demanded his surrender but he would not notice a word they said and in the conflict some one shot him dead.'
        With this advance the Federal troops fall back to their second line some 300 yards back comprising John C. Starkweather's Brigade, and David C. Stone's and Asahel K. Bush's batteries, these they engaged before, at about 1700, they were, together with the rest of the Brigade, pulled back and entered into reserve for 30 minutes.
        As the sun was setting they were sent forwards again but were soon stopped under orders to cease pursuit.  They now occupied the ground they were on for the night.
        The Regiment suffered 199 casualties including Savage who was wounded twice, and had his horse shot from under him during the battle.  Savage 'when he saw the terrible execution among his men, he dropped down at the foot of a tree and cried like a child."
         After the battle Bragg outnumbered and short of supplies withdrew southwards  before dawn on the 9th, leaving behind the wounded who fell into the hands of the enemy. During this retreat the Division was to be the rear guard and as such were heavily engaged in skirmishing with the advancing Federal forces.  The Army was on the march to Harrodsburg passing through eastwards until eight miles beyond here they stopped late at night in the vicinity of Camp Dick Robinson.
        On the 10th a strong Federal reconnaissance found the Army 'in line of battle' before they marched three miles to Bryantsville and here they camped through the 12th and 13th..
        The 14th saw them on the march through Camp Dick Robinson, Lancaster and on in the direction of Cumberland Gap.
        15 October saw them set of at 0300 when they marched all day and camped that night on the north bank of Rockcastle River.
        Once again on the 16th they were up early and set off early, at 0400.  They marched until they had passed south of Wildcat Creek.  Here the Division returned to the creek to hold back the close pursuit of the Federal forces.
        On the 17th the marched off at 0500 passing the town of London about 1100 and continued on about six miles towards Barboursville where they camped by a creek.
        With the Federal forces stopping their pursuit the march on the 18th didn't start until 1100 and didn't stop until after dark when they has marched 18 miles and had reached Barboursville, on the Cumberland River.
        The 19th saw them set off at 0700 moving along the river bank crossing at Cumberland Ford!
        On the 20 October they set off before sunrise and reached two miles into Cumberland Gap by 1300 when they camped.
        The 21st saw them cover only three miles before camping by the Powel River.
        Once again the 22nd saw them set off at daylight covering about 20 miles having passed Gazwell and crossing the Clinch River before camping.
        23rd they were off at daylight passed through Maynardsville headed south for three miles before camping, having covered 13 miles.
        Off at daylight on the 24th when after covering 13 miles they camped five miles from Knoxville.
        The 28th saw men sent home to procure winter clothing as none had been forthcoming from the Government and snow to the depth of five inches had fallen on the 26th.
        On the 29th the Division moved to Knoxville at 1400.  The left here for Chattanooga, by train, later that day.  After traveling all night they arrived at Chattanooga about 1100.  After waiting 4 1/2 hours they boarded another train for Bridgport, where they reached at 2200.  Here they remained until morning.
        With the railroad bridge over the Tennessee River not complete the troops carried the baggage down to the river and ferried it across, completing this task about 1100 on the 31st.  They remained on the river bank until the train arrived at 1700 which they boarded so arriving at Tullahoma at 2200.  This day also saw the arrival of 180 new recruits.
        This 200 mile retreat had been a dreadful affair as many of the troops had no shoes and their clothing hung in shreds.  Supplies were scarce and the men survived on parched corn and during this time more than 15,000 men were struck down with typhoid, scurvy, dysentery and pneumonia.
        The 1 November saw them move outside of town and near the graveyard they set up camp.  Here they remained until the  22nd when they set out, with the Brigade in the lead, at 1000 and arrived at Manchester at sunset crossed the Little Duck River and camped for the night.
        Somewhere about this time target practice was started so that the best marksmen in the army could be found.  J. D. Phillips, Company A, 16th Tennessee, won, and the prize a Whitworth rifle.
        The 23rd they set off from Manchester at 1100 and camped two miles north of Beechgrove, on Garretson's Fork.
        On the 24th they were on the march this time at 0800 and arrived at Murfreesboro at 1600 and continued for one mile down the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad before camping.
        The 26th and the Brigade crossed the railroad and moved closer to town before camping.
        The 5 December saw the Brigade march out at 1100 set out for Lavergne, where they arrived just as nigh fell.  The Regiment was sent out in front of the two Brigades present.
        On the 6th they set out at 1000 marched three miles, halted until sunset, then returned to the camp of the evening before.
        The 7th they set off at 1200 and marched to Murfreesboro arriving after sunset, having marched through snow storms.
        On the 13 December the Army of Tennessee was reviewed by President Davis 'It was a truly imposing scene...'
        The 27th saw them set off at 1300 when the advanced with the Army two miles from Murfreesboro.
        On the 28th the Brigade are in reserve, along with the Division, they form line of battle stack arms at 0900 and wait.  They are positioned with two of the Companies across the railway lines and are on the brow of a hill, some 300 yards from the 'White House', owned by a Mrs Jones's.  Here they stay under occasional shelling.
        The 29th see them move from camp at dawn cross Stones River and take position immediately west of the river and parallel with it.  Here they wait all day.  With Polk's Corps on the right once again the Regiment are positioned as the most right hand unit in the Army.
       Murfreesboro (Stone's River), 30 December-3 January.  On the 30th they wait all day in the cold rain and during the night relieve Chalmer's Brigade and stay in this position the remainder their until 0400 when they return to their old position.
        At some time on the 31st the Division move forwards to the front line under 'under shot and shell of every description'  from half a dozen batteries massed on a low ridge along the Nashville Turnpike, the artillery being obscured by trees at the Confederate position.
        On arrival the Regiment are sent in to the attack, with three Companies of Chester's Regiment, against a thick woods known as 'Round Forest', the eight Companies to the left advance between the railroad track and the Turnpike, in front of the Cowan house, across open ground and engage a battery and infantry stationed in the woods only 150 yards to their front.  Those two Companies on the right advance through a corn-field and finally at close range opened fire.
        Due to the numbers they were engaging they halted their advance.  The 39th North Carolina came up on the right and joined the battle line until they were forced back.  With Federal forces advancing on their right the Regiment fell back.  To deceive the Federals as to their true strength the Regiment now fought as skirmishers.  Part of Blyth's Mississippi Regiment and three Companies of the 51st Tennessee advanced and stopped the flanking maneuver.
        Having held their position for three hours they were relieved by Adam's Brigade.  After this Brigade was thrown back the Regiment retired with it but to reformed, with those of the 51st, and again move forwards to near a burnt out gin-house!  Here they stayed the rest of the day.