I also learned that Mr Brown was born 11/18/1840, in New Market, Madison county, Alabama. When he was nine years old he moved with his parents to Unionville, TN, where he lived until the beginning of the civil war. He joined the Confederate army when he was 20 years old. He was married to Miss Callie Hoover in TN in April 1863. They moved to Texas in 1880 and settled a short distance from Gainesville before moving to Gainesville in 1885. Callie died in 1894 and Mr Brown later md Mrs Mattie Weaver of Gainesville. She died in 1926. In 1934 Mr Brown had one son, W Joe Brown of Dallas, TX.

After the battle of Shiloh, our army returned to Corinth where we re-organized and volunteered for two years more as we first volunteered for one year. We elected a new set of Officers, J.P. Lytle ¹¹ being elected Captain, Dan Stallings, First Lieutenant, A. M. Winsett, Second Lieutenant. The old Officers retired and returned home. We moved from Corinth in May to Tupolo, Miss. Camped there for the Summer, 1862. In the fall of that year, we moved by the way of Mobile, Ala. to Montgomery by boat. Shiped by rail to Chattanooga, Tenn. Camped there for a short time across the river on Walden’s Ridge. In the fall, made a raid in Ky., fought the battle of Perryville, Ky. I was left on detail at Chattanooga. Joined the Army after they came back at Estelle Springs¹² in Middle, Tenn. That was the only battle I missed. We camped that fall near Shelbyville¹³ in 1862. Fought the Battle of Murfreesboro on Dec. 31-62 - Jan. 1-63. The weather was very cold and we suffered great agony as we had no tents. After that battle, we went into Camp at Tulahoma,¹⁴ Tenn. for the winter. In the Spring of 1863, the army moved us to Bedford, County, Tenn. My home County, but soon left for East Tenn. Part of my Brigade camped at Calhoun and Charleston, Tenn. On September the 18th, 19th and 20th, we fought the Battle of Chicamauga. On the night of the 19th, we had a heavy frost and how we suffered from the cold. As we were facing the enemy, could not have any fire. A very hard fought battle as your History tells you. On Sunday Evening on Snod Grass Hill, we fought fresh troops; it being our 3rd day without relief. It was charge after charge. Finally, we drove them after dark into Chattanooga. We were worn out for sleep and food. I think it was one of the hardest fought battles of the war. The present generation does not know what it is to be without food or sleep. Our army remained there until the Battle of Missionary Ridge was fought in November. I was not in this Battle. General Longstreet was sent to Knoxville, Tenn. to attack Gen. Burnsides of the Federal army. He had him surrounded in the City. My division was sent from the Ridge to reinforce him. Bush Rod Johnson’s Ten. Brig. and Gen. Gracy’s Ala. Brig. got there a short time before Gen. Bragg was defeated. The Federals sent a force of troops up the Valley to Knoxville, when we were compelled to retreat into East Tenn. Burnside was about ready to surrender. We were compelled to go into East Tenn. for the winter of 1863 and 1864 where we suffered for clothes and shoes and food. Many days, 2 ears of corn was a days ration. Our feet were tied in rags. We were without tents or wagons to haul our cooking utensils and had to carry everything we used and had to take the weather as it came. On May 2, we left Tenn. for Richomnd, Va. It was snowing to beat the band and I well remember we got to Richmond about the 8th. The hardest looking bunch of men you ever saw, but as brave as could be. We marched up to the Capitol for President Davis and our Congressman to see us next day. They sent us clothes and how we did strut when we got all dressed up, but not long. We had to go into battle the next day in that month, May, 1864. We fought the Battle of Swift Creek, May 5, Walthall Junction May 6th, Bermuda Hundred, May 18th, and Drury Bluff, May 16th. This Battle was between Richmond and Petersburg, just 22 miles apart. Gen. Lee was fighting the Battle of the Wilderness when we reached Richmond, just in time to save the two cities. On Jun the 15th, we were ordered to Petersburg and were just 11 miles away. Gen. Grant was making for Richmond and Petersburg. Gen. Hancock’s Division of 15,000 troop had gotten to Petersburg and taken the outer works. We got there with 2000 troops in the night between the Yanks and the City. We made rifle pits and quick as possible, skirmishing through the day until just before night. They charged us with 15,000 troops against 2000. Gen. Buckner was our Commander and were fighting 15 men to our 2. We fought them two days and nights, without anything to eat or sleep. We held them off until Gen. Lee came in on Saturday morning, June 18th, about 3:00 o’clock that morning and after they quit charging us, we fell back to the main line where we had hundreds of negroes building Brest works. I never saw such a slaughter during my war experience. They couldn’t use cannons without killing their own men. We had 20 pieces of artillery along our line, using double charge of canester shot. Their loss was between 10,000 and 11,000 men. We lost but few men. We were hard looking bunch of boys the morning of the 18th, with sunken eyes and cheeks, black faces, but the good women and children in the City cooked for us. They sent us a breakfast that morning, I shall never forget. Made coffee by 60 gal. barrells. We surely did enjoy it. I can almost taste it yet. Now for the seage of both cities. Our lines had to take in both Cities, 50 miles in length. Then we were for 10 months under shell and shot with no relief. So on the morning of the 2nd of April, Sunday Morning, Gen. Grant attacked Gen. Lee who had 40,000 troops in our lines, he came against us with 140,000 at daylight. Soon broke our lines and we retreated as history tells you as far as Apomaddox, about 100 miles from Richmond. On Sunday morning the 9th, we had to surrender. My how we did hate to do that. Gen. Meade asked Gen. Lee how many troops he had in line when they broke our line morning; he answered 40,000. Gen. Meade said to him, I am astonished Gen. Lee, but knowing you as I do, I believe what you say. Gen. Lee served under Meade as a Colonel in the Mexican war. Gen. Grant sent an officer to see how many available troops we had, he came back and reported 8,000 men and 120 cannons. Gen. Grant said, we can’t fire any salutes on his surrender. Now we Tennessee Boys had a long journey before us. We left on the morning of April 13 for our homes. They gave us 2 days rations, All they would give us on the long march of 600 miles as there was very little in the country to get. Just before we got out of Virginia, I and another Comrad killed a 3 year old steer. We camped near a farm house to get fire. If we had anything to cook, we got his wash kettles and cooked the beef that night. We ate him without salt or bread. My what fine eating we had. I arrived home on the morning of April 30, Sunday Morning. How glad my mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers and my Sweetheart were to see me. We walked all night Sataurday night. Found our county in bad shape, but we were game and went to work to re-build it again. Our brave men and women have accomplished so much.

I enlisted in the War at the age of 20 years and served in the Army of Tennessee for 3 years and in the last year served with Gen. Lee in the Army of Virginia. I was Sargent Major of the Regiment. W. C. Brown

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