Anthony Bennezette Hurt's Chronology of Confederate Service

22nd Tennessee Infantry Brigade
12th Consolidated Tennessee Infantry Brigade

July 1861 thru May 2, 1865

Prologue

A. B. (A. Bennezette) Hurt joins for duty and enrolls as a Private into Confederate service, Captain W. A. Marshall's Company, at Trezevant, Carroll County, Tennessee in July 1861. A casualty list remarks he is "slightly wounded" at the battle of Murfreesboro, TN on December 31, 1862. Company muster rolls (and a clothing receipt) of the 22nd TN Infantry Regiment and later the 12th Consolidated TN Infantry Regiment confirm his presence in these units through March 1864 (through winter quarters in Dalton, GA following battles in and around Chatanooga, TN and before retreat to Atlanta).

In 1870, James Mann Hurt, Sr.’s last will and testament includes the following: "Article 10th: I have made advancements to my son A. B. Hurt with which I do not charge him on account of his labors, sufferings and exposures during the late war."

In 1906, Sophie (Monie) Collins Hurt applies for a pension allowed indigent widows of Tennessee soldiers. In a sworn, notarized supporting statement, David Marshall, same company, states A. B. Hurt performs regular military duty "from his enlistment to the close of the war". Likewise, John Walker states he is with A. B. Hurt at the April 1865 surrender in Greensboro, North Carolina.

About 1920, Confederate veteran Jessie Hilliard Jackson (of Trenton, Gibson County, Tennessee and formerly of the 22nd TN Infantry) is one of over 1600 Tennessee Civil War veterans to complete a questionnaire about his life before and during the war. Ben Hurt is specifically remembered and listed by Mr. Jackson as a fellow soldier in the 22nd Tennessee.

Private Hurt's exact military actions are uncertain. But known documents record him with his Regiment, "which bore itself so gallantly on so many fields--indeed, in all the battles of the Army of Tennessee--made up of as noble, true, and brave officers and soldiers as wore the gray on any field." The chronology of this military unit follows:

22ND TENNESSEE INFANTRY REGIMENT

May 9, 1861: Tennessee Governor Isham Harris activates the Provisional Army of Tennessee. This force becomes the backbone of the Confederate Army of Tennessee after a military alliance between the Tennessee and Richmond, VA governments are cemented.

July 1861: A. B. Hurt joins for duty and enrolls into W. A. Marshall's Company, variously known as "A" and "G" Company, at Trezevant, Carroll County, TN. His enlistment obligation is for 12 months in the Provisional Army of Tennessee.

July-August 1861: Camp of Instruction, Trenton, TN. The 22nd TN, like sister unit the 12th TN Infantry (Col. Robert Milton Russell's) Regiment, likely spends the summer drilling, taking target practice, having measles, and "talking war talk".

The typical enlistee in the Army of Tennessee is in his early twenties, born in a rural setting with limited public education and who farms for a living. He typically lacks the discipline and military rigidity characteristic of those in the Army of Northern Virginia. Many exhibit a “sort of don’t-care-a-damnativeness” attitude about military life. Most enlist to protect their homes and have an “immense faith...in themselves”.

Many Army of Tennessee soldiers prefer to wear the course homespun jackets and trousers made by their mothers and sisters. Colors range from gray to brown (butternut) and many in the 22nd TN wear the popular felt “slouch” hat. Throughout the war clothing is in general good supply. But many often go shoeless, even in the dead of winter.

If the 22nd TN is typical, many of the troops are either unarmed or have brought weapons from home. This includes shotguns, flint lock and percussion muskets from earlier wars. Many calibers are represented, making ammunition supply most difficult. As the war progresses, arms captured from the enemy and supplied by ships successfully running the coastal blockades enhance the army’s firepower. Although not as effectively armed as their Federal counterparts, the Southern troops never loose a battle due to a scarcity of arms.

August 10, 1861: W. A. Marshall's Company becomes Company "D" in the 22nd TN Infantry (Col. Thomas J. Freeman's) Regiment at Trenton, Gibson County, TN in the service of the Confederacy; the "Ordinance of Secession" of Tennessee having been approved.

Col. Thomas J. Freeman’s Infantry; BG Benjamin Franklin Cheatham’s Brigade; BG Gideon Pillow's Division; MG Leonidas K. Polk’s First Division, CSA Western Department

September 1861: The 22nd TN Infantry is included in an invasion scheme formulated by Generals Pillow and Polk who envision a bold sweep toward St. Louis. But because the Southern army is neither seasoned nor healthy, the vision is soon aborted. Disregarding Kentucky's neutrality, Pillow convinces Polk to seize Columbus, KY about 20 miles south of Cairo, IL and directly across the Mississippi River from the steamboat landing at Belmont, MO. At the terminus of the Mobile and Ohio railroad, Columbus lays low and flat between two sets of bluffs, about 150 feet high. Those south of town are known as the “Chalk Bluffs” because of their bright coffee color. Above town, facing north, the “Iron Banks” (so named by explorers Marquette & Joliet because of the hint of iron colors) project sharply into the Mississippi. The Confederates believe the bluffs control the Mississippi River and if properly fortified no northern gunboat can pass.

September 7, 1861: The 22nd TN Infantry arrives in Columbus, KY. As summer gives way to autumn, the unit joins fellow Southern troops in military drills and erecting fortifications eventually placing 140 guns within embrasures. A gigantic anchor and chain is constructed and strung across the Mississippi River in an attempt to close navigation. It later proves ineffective.

Col. Thomas J. Freeman’s Infantry; Col. Robert Milton Russell's Brigade; BG Gideon Pillow's Division; MG Leonidas K. Polk’s First Division, Western Department, CSA

November 6, 1861: Union BG Ulysses S. Grant, facing his first Civil War engagement, brings a force of 3,000 men down the Mississippi River from Cairo on four river transports accompanied by two gunboats. About 11:00 p.m. the flotilla ties up on the KY side at the bottom of Island 1, the site of old Fort Jefferson, eleven miles above Columbus.

November 7, 1861: Battle of Belmont -- About two and one-half miles up-river from Belmont, and just out of sight of the Columbus batteries, the Federals disembark about 8:00 a.m. on the Missouri side at Hunter’s farm and march toward the CSA Camp Johnston at Belmont. Here, Col. James C. Tappan commands a small force of infantry, cavalry and artillery. Belmont itself consists of no more than a small log house with an outbuilding and a shed. When Grant's troop movement is detected the 22nd TN Infantry is one of five such regiments sent with BG Gideon J. Pillow to the Missouri side. Pillow's force advances quickly to meet Grant's approaching bluecoats.

The 22nd TN is positioned in the center of the five infantry units along a low ridge in an open corn field northwest of Camp Johnston. The 22nd TN comes under fire and suffers heavy casualties. After two hours, Pillow's troops are severely cut-up as “balls of the enemy were falling thick as hail”. The Federals get the upper hand and push the Confederates back to the Mississippi River bank. Not a single Confederate company remains intact as the Confederates retreat back toward Camp Johnston. At this point, Col. Freeman deserts his command by catching a craft back to the KY side of the river. Cheatham is sent by Polk to reinforce the Confederates with three additional brigades bringing the total Southern force to about 5,000 angry, vengeful men. After many causalities, Grant removes his troops onto the transport boats abandoning vast quantities of goods. Casualties are about equal--over 600 on each side (killed, wounded, missing or captured). The battle is strategically worthless, but provides both sides an opportunity for combat. (Years later, Mark Twin includes a brief description of the battle in his book, "Life on the Mississippi".)

Col. T. J. Freeman’s Infantry; Col. Robert Milton Russell's Brigade; MG Leonidas Polk's Division; Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston's CSA Western Department

November 1861-March 1862: The 22nd TN Infantry remains in winter quarters at Columbus, KY. One Tennesseean notes: “Our beef is so tough that we have to boil it nearly all day!”

February 6-16, 1862: About 60 miles east of Columbus, KY the Federals exploit the Southern weakness when BG U. S. Grant's troops join forces with a Union flotilla brought up the Tennessee River and force the fall of Fort Henry. Grant then marches his troops a dozen miles to the east and, again aided by Union gunboats, forces the capitulation of earthen Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River (15,000 Confederate troops under the inherited command of BG S. B. Buckner surrender; BG Gideon Pillow escapes).

March 2, 1862: In the wake of the disastrous fall of Forts Henry and Donelson, Polk evacuates Columbus, KY. He sends his heaviest guns and 7,000 soldiers down-river to New Madrid and goes south with the remaining 10,000 troops (including the 22nd TN Infantry) to Humbolt, Gibson Co., TN for two weeks.

March 17, 1862: The 22nd TN Infantry leaves for Jackson, TN.

Col. T. J. Freeman’s Infantry; Col. Robert Russell’s First Brigade; B Charles Clark’s First Division; MG Leonidas K. Polk’s First Corps; Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston’s CSA Army of the Mississippi

March 20, 1862: The 22nd TN arrives by rail in Cornith, MS.

April 4, 1862: Russell's Brigade (including the 22nd TN Infantry) begins northward 20 mile march along Michie Ridge Road toward Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh), TN. Roads are nearly impassable due to drenching rains.

April 5, 1862: The 22nd TN Infantry camps within mile of Federal troops about 3/4 mile west of Fraley Field (Shiloh battleground).

April 6, 1862: Battle of Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing) -- The 22nd TN Infantry is first engaged in Rhea's field south of Shiloh Church. Col. Russell's brigade is on the left wing of a column that attacks across the 53rd Ohio's camp then swings left, toward the position of the Federal Waterhouse Batteries, with the 57th Ohio Infantry in support on the left. Federal troops are under command of General U. S. Grant.

In the words of a 1st TN Brigade member: "We stormed the ridge across the open field under such a terrific fire (canister and grape shot), it was to my disbelief of any man's survival. In our advance, we were compelled to charge over many of the dead, which had fallen in the first charge. They lay so thick it was if they acted as a pavement covering the field. The field lay hidden beneath their corpses." It is in this charge that General Clark suffers a near-mortal wound, though he survives. General Alexander P. Stewart steps up to take Division command.

The 1st TN Brigade then moves north of Shiloh Church passing through Sherman's vacated headquarters. They proceed onward in an attack on Schwartz Federal Battery, advance on Federal lines near Water Oaks Ponds, and swing left toward Tilgbman Creek from where Confederate Infantry attacks attempt to dislodge the Federals in a line of battle north of the Sunken Road (Hornet's Nest). Russell moves south of Calvary Road toward the river. The Federal resistance is heavy and a long encounter ensues; the conflict here being probably the hottest action on the battlefield.

Russell's Brigade advances through hard fighting. Occupying a hill just north of "Hell's Hollow", they attack Federal General Prentiss' flank. Private Simms of the 22nd TN Infantry is one of first to reach the Federal encampment, capturing General Prentiss and turning him over to Col. Russell, who delivers Prentiss to General Polk. After continued fighting the 22nd TN is ordered back because of insufficient numbers. During the day's fighting the CSA Western Army General Albert Sidney Johnston is mortally wounded. [A. B. Hurt's first child, Joseph Albert Sidney Hurt, is later named, in part, for this fallen leader.] Col. Freeman is also severely wounded. General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard takes command and eventually orders all Confederate troops to withdraw.

April 7, 1862: Battle of Shiloh-2nd Day: Russell's Brigade, camped at the southwest corner of Jones Field, awakes to picket-fire. The Federal army makes a frontal assault resulting in a retreat of the Confederate line. General Bragg orders Russell's Brigade to advance to Duncan Field to prepare for attack upon Federal General Buell's fresh troops. At 11:00 a.m. Russell's Brigade in General Bragg's Battalion, advances across Duncan Field in advance of the entire Confederate Line. This is considered the most vulnerable spot of any force in the battle to this point. It is murderous. Russell, still in advance of the general line, holds for a time. But after an ill-fated contest the Confederates retire to Shiloh Church. After a few additional attempts to save the day, the Federals eventually force their bone-weary enemy into hasty retreat.

Union losses: Total 13,047: (1,754 killed; 8,408 wounded; 2,885 captured).
Confederate losses: Total 10,694 (1,723 killed; 8,012 wounded; 959 missing).
Americans suffer more casualties at Shiloh (23,741) than the Revolution, War of 1812 and Mexican War combined.

April 7-9, 1862: Through whistling north winds, driving sleet, partridge-egg sized hailstones, roads that are quagmires, and a rear attack by the Federals, the shattered Southern command returns to Corinth, MS.

April-May 1862: Under General Beauregard, the CSA Western Army slyly evacuates Corinth and retreats to Tupelo, MS about 50 miles south.

June 2, 1862: Morale plunges as the hardships of soldier life and reality of battle sets in. During this week, the 22nd TN suffers 100 desertions and the 12th TN looses 77 with 8 more deserting the next week.

Bio of Anthony Bennezette Hurt

Thanks to Mike Parsons for supplying this military chronology.

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Anthony Bennezette Hurt's Chronology of Confederate Service