William Allen Philpot

THE SHELBYVILLE GAZETTE. SHELBYVILLE, BEDFORD COUNTY, TENN., APRIL, 1926
ESTABLISHED 1873

OLDEST SON OF SHELBYVILLE ——————— Celebration of His 90th Birthday
and Some History ———————
Editor Shelbyville Gazette:
W. A. Philpot, old Confederate Veteran, was born April 2,1836. His 90th birthday fell on Friday, April 2, 1926. That event, as had been the usual custom, was celebrated on the Sunday nearest thereto, this year being Sunday, April 4, and on this day, this event was properly observed at the home of Mrs. J. B. McFarland, daughter of this nonogenarian, three miles south of Shelbyville, Tenn., near the little village of Himesville. Relatives, neighbors and friends numbering - more than 100 adults and a great swarm of little children were in attendance. The dinner, arranged to take place after the religious services of the day, was served at 2 o'clock, p. m., and proved to be most excellent, in fact every thing that could be desired as a repast. It was spread on snow white linen placed on a sunny lawn just north of the McFarland home and was presided over by the Rev. S. A. Jones, pastor of the Nazarene church at Himesville, where he had conducted services that day. After his pronouncement of the appropriate thanks and blessings for the day, the occasion and its environments and accessories, all fell to picnic fashion regaling to satiety. In this, the writer was especially provided for with a chair right next to a table which was laden with coffee pots and cups, a most appealing position. To say he did justice to the occasion expresses but very mildly his satisfied feelings. There is not room here to this writeup to describe the good things displayed or the apparently satisfactory facial expressionspictured on every face during the ruthless confiscation of these good eats. The writer wished here to give credit for his participation therein to his good friend and neighbor, Eliza Montgomery, who had cart blanche entrée by special invitation from the immediate members of the Philpott family, and who came by my place of abode, and picked me up in his (car?) No, his buggy, for company, for which the writer here expresses his gratitude to Mr. Montgomery. And to digress a little, referring to the interrogative car above, Eliza said that he was to write to Henry Ford begging him for the gift of a car, having faith that Henry would comply when he heard of the remarkable history of himself as an old Hard Shell Baptist, a gallant soldier under the great For rest, a fighter and whipper of Yankees, a poverty worn American after nearly eighty years in the very arduous struggles of life. He asked me to frame up and type the said letter for him, and I promptly made promise. And right here, my wife comes in from another room and announces receipt of message over the telephone, that Eliza Montgomery died this morning at three o'clock. So, that is life! In its midst, we are in death! And so, Eliza will neither need nor want Henry's car. He is now transported in a faster and better car then Henry ever did or ever will make, a car bound as we sincerely believe bound for the pearly gates, jasper walls and golden street of the New Jerusalem. As a tribute to his memory, I am here expressing the sentiment, "Peace to his ashes, rest and happiness to his soul."

And now a further word about uncle Billy Philpott, as he is reverently called and known. His birthplace is Shelbyville, and he claims, as doubtless he has the right, that he is the oldest living citizen who can claim nativity at Shelbyville, Tenn. Born April 2, 1836, he was contempapy with Andrew Johnson, Andrew Jackson, Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln. His birth occurred less that one month after the death of David Crockett at the Alamo.

Andrew Jackson was then President, Andrew Johnson and Jeff. Davis were then 27 years of age, and Abe. Lincoln 26 years old, these three hardly having begun their great and honorable careers. Two of these, Jackson and Johnson, were Tennesseans and at the very apex of greatness.

Uncle Billy said that he cast his first vote for Johnson for Governor, which must have been in November, 1856, when the race was between him and Meredith P. Gentry, who then headed the "know-nothing party here in Tennessee. As will be seen that election took place a few months before uncle Billy was twenty-one years old. But he was so near the proper age, the contest so warm, and the democratic judges so loyal to the party, it is guessed that uncle Billy easily passed muster at that, his first exercise of citizenship.

Uncle Billy's Civil War record was remarkable. The reputation of that record is untarnished. That of no private stood higher. He was attached to Ca. A. 23 Tenn. Regiment. Most of that company was drawn from Rutherford county, having been mustered in at Murfreesboro. He was in many close places where death and danger lurked. But he seemed to have a charmed life. Many times his clothes were perforated, one minnie passed between his ear and skull, grazing and burning each, and once a foot was struck with such violence that it actually jerked and twisted his leg that the hip joint was dislocated, crippling him so that it rendered walking quite difficult for a time. During that time it became necessary to make a extended march, and he asked to ride in the wagon train, but was refused by General Hood himself to whom he had appealed. His company officer then told him to throw his gun in the wagon and thus relieve himself of that burden. He said that he was so mad over his treatment that he then and there resolved to throw his gun through the wagon sides or bed, and exerting himself for bracing for making the said violent throw, his hip joint slipped back with a snap and crack that could have been heard for quite a distance, and so relieving him of pain and further disability, and being thus so suddenly and pleasantly relieved, he stopped short without delivering the throw, shouldered his gun and took his place in the line of march.

At the time of the battle of Murfreesboro, Uncle Billy was at his home on a several days furlough. When he heard the guns, he knew the battle was on, and he rushed to his command and went into the thickest of the fight. His regiment suffered perhaps more casualties there than any other, and perhaps did greater execution to the enemy ranks. They were in and about the point where General Sill was killed, where stands his monument near the railroad which the Federals erected to his honor. Uncle Billy says that he actually stepped over the dead body of General Sill right where he fell, and noted his fine uniform, handsomely trimmed in shining buttons, and his fine sword. He saw one fellow clip some of the buttons as souvenirs, and saw an officer of his own company take the general's fine sword for use in the place of the one he had, a heavy, rough cavalry sabre.

Uncle Billy never tires of talking of the long ago. Told me that he was present at my mother's wedding, 1850, when he was 14 years old.

Asked about the big snow of 1813, and the big freshet of 1856, he showed a vivid remembrance. Said his father pitched him out into that snow when he was six years old and he sank in it to his waist.

Uncle Billy reached into his pocket, extended his hand toward me and dropped into my hand what proved to be the remnant of a once beautiful pocket knife, bladed at each end, handle of some transparent substance, like celluloid, all showing much age, but in good preservation except the blades, which were all more or less broken from rough usage. Under the handle, beneath the said transparent substance, were printed in clear type, the name of the donor, _________ Sacket, (I do not recall the initials) Co. __, (letter not recalled,) ______ Regiment, Wis. (No. regiment not recalled), year, 1864. Well, I said to myself, this looks like uncle Billy had rifled some dead yankee's pocket on the battlefield or elsewhere. So, I ventured to ask him how he came in possession of this knife. He said that a doctor at Bell Buckle, where he now resides, gave it to him as a war souvenir. Said he did not want to take it and at first refused it, but on pressure from the doctor finally took it. He says that he aims to advertise in the papers for its former owner or some of his near relatives or friends to who he wishes to return the knife with its unknown thought certainly romantic history.

And now we conclude this story by giving the names of all the adults who were present at this birthday celebration, which are as follows:

Mrs. J. B. McFarland, hostess, W. A. Philpott, honoree. Guy Reed, Alive R. Landers, Euless Philpott, J. L. Hutson, Mrs. Tom Thomas, Mrs. Ona Philpott, Mrs. Frank Kimery, nee, Birdie Philpott, W. C. Philpott, Mrs. W. I. Haynes, Mrs. T. B. Philpott, Mrs. L. S. Himes, Mrs. Carl Reed, Mr. And Mrs. Huston Sudberry, ( Mr. And Mrs. J. P. Petty, E. G. Montgomery, Herbert Thompson, G. F. Himes, Pattie B. Davidson, Euless Rogers, Kate Kimery, Eugene Himes, E. M. Davidson, J. S. Kimery, Lee Philpott, Thomas Crowell, Ora Mae Collier, Katherine Lentz, Kelly Gardner, Andrew Philpott, T. M. Thomas, John Dixon, Lawrence McFarland, Greer Kimery, Mary Philpott, Mrs. Herbert Thomas, Mrs. J. B. Phillips, Rev. S. A. Jones of Cleveland, Tenn., pastor, Nazarene church, Mary Alice Himes, Ed Dixon, Columbus Parker, Edmund Philpott, Lawson Petty, Charles Thomas, Coy Simmons, Ollie Himes, Whi--- Philpott, Marvin Simmons, Beth Brown, Addie Belle Philpott, William Henry Turner, Clyde Landers, Emma Thomas, Isabell Thomas, Tommie Carpenter, Angeline Holl, Irene Day, Virginia Thomas, Thos. Cartwright, Virgin Landers, Frank Lentz, Mr and Mrs. J. S. Stevens, Ervin Stewart, Clifton Philpott, Frances Kimery, Janie Philpott, Virginia Simmons, Ruth Simmons, Bennie Phillips, John Raymond Phillips, Robert B. Phillips, O. C. Welch, Thomas Philpott, J. B. McFarland, Ray Davidson, John Henry Brantley, Henry Brantley, Mrs. Jas. Horseley, Thomas Brantley, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Philpott J. C. Muse, Jas. Stewart, Elaine Delff, Nowlin Philpott, Mrs. J. D. Philpott, Mrs. Kelly Gardner, Mrs. Andrew Philpott, Mrs. Huston Sudberry, Mrs. Carl Reed, Irene Clanton, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mullins, Josephine Mullins, George Welch, Paul Welch, Louise Kimery, Austin Thompson, Velma McFarland, James Davidson, Mrs. Mitch Davidson, Katie Lee Philpott, Wilson Bomar, Edwin Kimery, William Davidson, Virginia Ha-ty Elizabeth Phillips, Addis Parker, Irene Petty, Sam Stewart. It is possible that some names have been omitted, and that some have been duplicated, unintentionally. Rushing to get this to the printer for publication this week, I have not had time to properly inspect and check up on errors.

I find that I have omitted one matter regarding the death of Gen. Sill at the battle of Murfreesboro. Uncle Billy Philpott says that he examined carefully the death wound which was a bullet wound in the central part of the General's forehead, made by a very small missile, much smaller than any ammunition that the Confederates then used in battle. Uncle Billy believes this wound to have been made by a pistol shot, and believes that it was self-inflicted, for the reason that General Sill had that day made a serious tactical blunder causing serious and unnecessary losses to his command, and that he therefore destroyed himself rather than face reprimand for his conduct on the field of battle.

                                       J. L. HUTSON.

Links to:
Remembering Bedford Co Tennessee
Philpot Family Resources
Family Genealogy Connections