The Battle of Collierville

I discovered the following account of the Battle of Collierville by Captain Patrick J. Carmody using Graduate School research search engine tools. I haven’t seen any reference to this in any of the local materials on the subject so this may be new information. This document was read by Captain Carmody at a reunion in 1909 about his experience in the Battle od Collierville. I typed this information from a hard copy of the origional.

                              The Battle of Collierville

                                              A REMINISENCE

                                                          BY

                                         Captain Patrick J. Carmody

                                              Of Saint Louis, MO.

Read by Captain Carmody at a joint meeting of the society of the Army of Tennessee, and Loyal Legion of Ohio, at Columbus, Ohio, November 3 and 4, 1909.

The Booklet is called “The Battle of Collierville” and it has a handwritten inscription on a page with a picture of Captain Carmody- “To my friend W.T. Sherman”.

On a lovely October morning the battalion left Memphis by rail.  It was the 11th day of the month,-Sunday-1863. The battalion consisted of the headquarter guard with General Sherman and his staff, destined to reinforce Grant at Chattanooga.  We got away from Memphis about 10 o'clock, General Sherman, the staff and officers occupying the coaches.  The rest of the battalion took places on top of the cars.  Everything went smoothly until we got to Collierville, a small station about twenty-six or seven miles out of Memphis.  I did not feel exactly right that morning; I had a premonition that something was going to happen, and, as first Sergeant of E Co., 13^th U.S. Infantry, I was over-vigilant. I took particular pains to see that the men did not remove accouterments.  Within something like a mile from Collierville, as the train panted along, I discovered three men riding hard towards the track.  They were armed with crow-bars instead of guns.  One of our men let fly a shot at them, and the battalion was immediately in arms. The train stopped at the station.  It was nearly mid-day and no time was lost in action.  The first work of General Sherman was to telegraph to Germantown, about 12 miles away, for hasty reinforcements, saying that he had to cope with a division of Confederates numbering 3100, with five pieces of artillery. It was the one opportunity of a generation for the Confederates to make a great capture; and the result would have been simple if those three men with crow-bars and wire cutting apparatus had got in their work in time. But it was not to be; fortune was on our side and the telegram for reinforcements reached it’s destination in time. The battalion was detrained and ordered to form line of battle.  I will never forget that line.  I looked to the right and to the left, scanning about two hundred and forty as good and brave officers and men as ever met an enemy.  We marched in battle line two or three hundred yards from the train towards the enemy, and were ordered to lie down.  We observed that communication was being made in the rebel lines with the flag of truce. This communication was received by Col. Irish, commander of the little dismantled Fort with 240 or 250 men stationed at that point.  General Chalmers demanded the unconditional surrender of General Sherman, his troops and supplies.  He added that refusal would mean a useless sacrifice of lives, because he had 3100 cavalry, infantry, and artillery in his command.  What do you think you're “Uncle Billy” said? “Give my compliments to General Chalmers,” said he, “and tell him the government pays me to fight, not to surrender.”

As soon as the rebel aide rode back to his command, the ball opened with grape and canister; but they overshot us and only a few were wounded. They threw four or five rounds into us, and the order was given to stand up and then to fall back on the fort and entrenchments. This was done in fairly good order, but let me tell you, comrades, we made awfully fast time in the three hundred yards to the fort. I cast the heel of my shoe-- shot off.

The men were disposed of to the very best advantage.  It was an easy matter to distribute the 240 of our battalion, and I suppose Col. Irish with his six companies of the 66th Indiana did not have much trouble in placing them where they would do most good. Well, here we were partially protected by a rifle pits, a dismantled Fort, and a train of cars—480 man against an army of 3100.  Comrades, think of it! I had been paid at Memphis and I had two fifty dollar bills with me.  I was so sure of being captured; I cut the sole of my shoe open and slipped the two fifties in there. I knew that if we were taken prisoners, they would shake his down; and made up my mind that the money would help my chances of escaping during the night if captured.  It was hammer and tongs until about four o'clock in the afternoon.  This was the first time I had seen General Sherman under fire, and he was certainly worth watching.  He was mad as a march hare at being trapped in such a manner; something was wrong in the line of communication-- somebody had made a mistake.  But he was Sherman all the time that afternoon.  I could not help studying this remarkable man whenever I got the opportunity.  Great as his anger was at the beginning, he became later on, calm and resolute.  The interior of this earthwork contained about thirty or forty men and quite a number of cooks, waiters and followers of the headquarters’ guard. The general with his hat off in the broiling sun was a marvel to look at.  When a man was shot he would get one of these headquarters’ employees and say to him, “Don't you see that man is killed?  Take his cartridge box and his gun and load it.  Fight for your country, sir.”

I had four men with me in defending one point. Two were wounded, which left myself and two others, Privates Warner and Klineham. Pretty soon Warner was shot in the neck and killed instantly.  The rebels had gotten in the trees around the fort, and were doing serious damage to those inside.  The general was ever moving about, and I was afraid they would hit him. The only one of my companions from my company was shot in the breast, and, I supposed, mortally wounded.  When he was hit he said to me, “Sergeant give me my knapsack, I want to go home.” I said, ” Harry, what is the matter?” “Huh,” he said, and pointed to his breast.  The blood was spurting from his wound and I put my finger to his back to find out if the ball had gone through.  My finger sank into a cavity, and I thought he was done for.  I put him in a protected position and went direct to General Sherman, who was only a few feet away.

I said, “General of these men are being killed from the trees and you will surely be hit if you don't keep under cover.” What do you suppose I got for an answer? “Sergeant,” said the General, “Attend to your business, sir; attend to your business, I will take care of myself, sir.” I stopped at once making suggestions to the General as to his safety.

Of course I was not in a position to see anything of the fighting outside.  I was a “lone fisherman” guarding my post.  I was the only one left.

The behavior of the battalion in this earth-works and other shelter enabled us to hold our own until reinforcements came about four o'clock.  The first man to reach the fort and report to Gen. Sherman was Col. Tim O’Meara and his orderly bearing at Green Irish flag of the 90^th Volunteer Irish Regiment.

The advance of reinforcements caused the rebels to fall back-- without Sherman and his “Little Battalion of Regulars,” as he always called them.

The next order of business was to look after the wounded and bury the dead, which was done as soon as possible.  It was now dark.  Officers were being congratulated by the General with instructions to convey these congratulations to their men.

A singular thing happened that night.  A captured rebel lieutenant was shot through the kneecap, which was shattered by the ball.  Amputation about the knee was necessary.  He waited calmly until his turn came to be treated.  He was a fine handsome fellow.  I felt sorry for him.  He was a large heavy man.  I helped put him on the improvised operating table and held his limb while the surgeon was taking it off.  He wore high cavalry boots up to the knee.  In removing the boot, I discovered a paper inside.  It was a pass through the lines for the day before.  This man was evidently the spy who brought news of Sherman's departure for Iuka, Sunday morning.

In conclusion I think we did a good day's work, even if it was the Sabbath day.  The 13^th U.S. Infantry in the 66^th Indiana Volunteers are entitled to equal credit in this memorable engagement.  They displayed the highest soldierly qualities and genuine American manhood.

After we had taken an invoice of the humanity on hand, we found that we had lost in killed, wounded and missing a little over twenty-five percent of our command.  I shall never forget the moment I saw that green flag and poor Col. O’Meara saluting the General after the battle of Collierville.  Being an Irishman myself, I naturally felt proud that the flag of the Emerald Isle had led the way to help save Sherman.

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NOTE: Additional information about the author:

He is listed as one of the Civil War Officers who were Original Members of the Missouri Commandery

A listing of MO Commandery members from 1885 thru 1908: 

 CARMODY, Patrick J., Captain, 15th USCT

Letter:

Battle of Collierville, Tennessee

This letter appeared in the Indianapolis Daily Journal on October 20, 1863 on page 2 column 4. The spelling and punctuation are unchanged from the original publication.

Battle of Collierville-66th Indiana Engaged
Capt. Charley Smith, of the 13th Regulars, has a hand in it.

The following private letter from Quartermaster Campbell Hay to his brother in this city gives quite an interesting account of the fight near Memphis, on the 11th inst.:

Quatermaster’s Office, 66th Ind. Vol.,
Colliersville, Tenn., Oct. 12, 1863.

Dear Brother: No doubt ere you see this you will have heard of the battle at this point between the forces here and Chalmers’s command, numbering from three to five thousand. Our forces engaged were the 66th Indiana, 15th Regulars, and a few of the 7th Illinois Cavalry—in all 500.

For some two or three weeks the rebels have been approaching from the south in several columns, for the purpose of tearing up the railroad at various points. For the past week they have been tearing up the railroad and cutting the wires, both above and below this point. This being the case, the fact was almost conclusive that we would be attacked.—Col. Anthony was on the close lookout for them, making every preparation that a cool, cautious, commander would. Night before last the rebels destroyed the road some two miles above. Next morning Col. A, with some men, went up to examine the road. While absent the picket firing commenced, growing fiercer constantly. The men were ordered into line, and I ordered a wagon to haul the ammunition to the magazine within the fort. At this juncture a train from Memphis, containing soldiers came up. I rode into the fort and waved my hat at the engineer to stop; he nodded in the affirmative. In riding out of the fort, I discovered that the train checked but little in speed. I rode up to the first crossing and inquired for the commander of the troops on the train, giving the order of Col. A. to stop the train; they backed down opposite the fort. The troops on board immediately formed in line to the left of the 66th in the open field in front of the fort.—They were the 13th Regulars, commanded by Capt. Charles Smith, of Indianapolis. Gen. Sherman and staff, and Gen. Ewing and Gen. Lightburn, were also on the cars; they all came into the fort, and handled the musket with about fifty convalescent of the same regiment. At this moment a white flag was seen coming down the road. Col A. rode out and met it; they demanded a surrender.—The Colonel told them to fight for it. In a few moments the firing became general, they using four pieces of artillery on us. The firing commenced at 10 o’clock A. M, and closed at 3 o’clock P. M., lasting five hours. A charge was made on the right by our forces about this time, breaking their column, and ending in a hasty retreat on their part.

Our camp was somewhat riddled with balls. The frame building occupied by the Quartermaster’s Department received one six pound shot. I have the ball, and would like to send it home.

Too much praise can not be given to all hands. The 66th and 13th did their whole duty nobly, without a single exception. My entire department need [sic] the musket in the fort.

C. Hay,
Q. M. 66th Ind.