Hohenwald in Lewis County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Civil War in Lewis County
Foragers and Guerrillas
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, March 13, 2012
1. Civil War in Lewis County Marker
Inscription.
Civil War in Lewis County. Foragers and Guerrillas. During the war, many Lewis Country men enlisted in Confederate regiments, including the 3rd, 24th, and 48th Tennessee Infantry and the 9th, 10th, and 19th Tennessee Cavalry. Almost all of the young men marched away to war, leaving the elderly, women, and children behind to farm. The few local slaves largely disappeared when Union forces first arrived in mid-1862., Federal control, however, was tenuous, and foragers from both sides pestered local residents. In December 1863, Union authorities took "money, cotton, or stock" form the county's "known rebels" to pay $800 in damages that Perry Nicks suffered from "guerrillas, citizens, &c." Even with Union detachments from Columbia patrolling the country's roads, confederate sympathizers found numerous ways to aid Southern efforts., Riverside residents, for example, provided safe haven for Gen. Nathan B. Forrest's troops during his withdrawal from Middle Tennessee in 1863. , Confederate Col. Duncan B. Cooper's guerrillas wreaked havoc on railroad tracks and bridges, stole Federal horses, mules, and cattle, and harassed local Unionists. In February 1864, a detachment of the 7th Iowa Infantry surprised and captured Cooper and ten of his men on Swan Creek. Cooper spent the rest of the war in prison. He returned to Tennessee to launch a successful business and newspaper career. , The only time that a large body of Federal troops appeared here was in January 1865, after the Battle of Nashville. Union Gen. Jacob D. Cox marched 20,000 men through the county en route to the Tennessee River at Clifton. There, the soldiers boarded transports and steamed north.
During the war, many Lewis Country men enlisted in Confederate regiments, including the 3rd, 24th, and 48th Tennessee Infantry and the 9th, 10th, and 19th Tennessee Cavalry. Almost all of the young men marched away to war, leaving the elderly, women, and children behind to farm. The few local slaves largely disappeared when Union forces first arrived in mid-1862.
Federal control, however, was tenuous, and foragers from both sides pestered local residents. In December 1863, Union authorities took "money, cotton, or stock" form the county's "known rebels" to pay $800 in damages that Perry Nicks suffered from "guerrillas, citizens, &c." Even with Union detachments from Columbia patrolling the country's roads, confederate sympathizers found numerous ways to aid Southern efforts.
Riverside residents, for example, provided safe haven for Gen. Nathan B. Forrest's troops during his withdrawal from Middle Tennessee in 1863.
Confederate Col. Duncan B. Cooper's guerrillas wreaked havoc on railroad tracks and bridges, stole Federal horses, mules, and cattle, and harassed local Unionists. In February 1864, a detachment of the 7th Iowa Infantry surprised and captured Cooper and ten of his men on Swan Creek. Cooper spent the rest of the war in prison. He returned to Tennessee to launch a successful business and newspaper
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career.
The only time that a large body of Federal troops appeared here was in January 1865, after the Battle of Nashville. Union Gen. Jacob D. Cox marched 20,000 men through the county en route to the Tennessee River at Clifton. There, the soldiers boarded transports and steamed north.
Erected 2012 by Tennessee Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1865.
Location. 35° 32.926′ N, 87° 33.132′ W. Marker is in Hohenwald, Tennessee, in Lewis County. Marker is on North Park Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 North Park Street, Hohenwald TN 38462, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Courtesy of Lt. Col. Gerald A. Kincaid, Jr. (USA Ret.)
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, March 13, 2012
5. Union bushwhackers attacking Confederate cavalrymen,
engraving by Junius Henry Browne, 1865
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, March 13, 2012
6. "Beer for the Army"
Courtesy Library of Congress
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, March 13, 2012
7. Gen. Jacob D. Cox
Courtesy Library of Congress
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,125 times since then and 89 times this year. Last updated on April 7, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on March 15, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.