The Tennessee sections at McGavock Confederate Cemetery and the stories behind the 196 identified Tennessee boys

buried there.

By Kraig McNutt kwmcnutt@yahoo.com

A presentation prepared for the August 2008 Franklin Civil War Roundtable meeting.

Table of Contents Cover page . . . .

The Tennessee sections at McGavock Confederate Cemetery and the stories behind the 196 identified Tennessee boys buried there. Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Tennessee sections at McGavock Confederate Cemetery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Five 13th Tennesseans rest at McGavock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Two boys of the same name die at Franklin - Moscow Pitts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Hope brothers both fought and died together at Franklin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Pictures of Tennessee Confederate soldiers identified and known buried at McGavock Confederate Cemetery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8 Maj. Joseph E. McDonald, 55th TN Adj. Robert B. Hunt, Jr., 55th TN Sgt. Thomas Lindsey Murrell, 6th TN Sgt. Marquis L. Bryan, 28th TN Lt. Robert B. Hendricks, 46th/55th TN Pvt William A. Thomas, 31st TN Adjutant Robert B. Hurt, Jr., 55th TN; Sec. 51, plot #2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Lt. Robert B. Hendricks, Henry County native, fought for the 46th/55th TN Infantry, mortally wounded at Franklin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 George W. McDill, the 9th TN infantry, writes to his sister, heartbroken after the Battle of Franklin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Captured soldiers at Franklin escape death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Appendices lists of TN soldiers buried at McGavock by sections, last names, list of officers, Regiments, and Brigades

Tennessee sections at McGavock Confederate Cemetery

230 Confederate soldiers are buried in the Tennessee sections at McGavock cemetery. They are contained in sections 51-66. 200 are positively identified, but four of those are not TN soldiers. So, there are 196 positively identified TN boys buried at McGavock. These TN boys served in the following Brigades (in order of highest casualties): Gordons Brigade had 51 killed; 11th, 12th, 13th, 29th, 47th, 51st, 52nd and the 154th TN. Carters Brigade had 42 killed; 1st, 4th, (prov), 6th, 8th, 9th, 16th, 27th, 28th and 50th TN. Quarles Brigade had 37 killed: 42nd, 46th, 49th, 53rd and 55th TN. Strahls Brigade had 29 killed; 4th, 5th, 19th, 24th, 31st, 33rd, 38th and 41st. Smiths Brigade had 3 killed; 2nd, 10th, 15th, 20th, 30th, and 37th TN. Granbury had two killed; Ricker, Biffle, and Gist each had one killed. The escorts of Bates and Cheatham had one killed. Other interesting facts about the TN section: 1. 65 of the 200 IDd men are officers, or 33%. 22 were Sgts; 17 were LTs; 14 were Cpls; 10 were Captns; and one was a Lt Cl, and one was an Adj. 2. There is one Reverend buried; Rev. David L. Dickey. Plot #93. 47th TN, Company K, Gordons Brigade. 3. There are eight plots with additional larger headstones added to the traditional granite block marker. They are plots: 2, 41, 76, 77, 91, 147, 222, and 226. #2 is Adj. Robert B. Hunt. Jr., (see picture of Hunt) 4. Only three sections have ALL fifteen men buried positively identified: sections 59, 60 and 61. 5. The four non-TN soldiers buried in the TN sections are plot #s: 25, 124, 184 and 200. 6. There are 61 (of 230) soldiers whose Brigade is unknown buried in the TN sections.

Five 13th Tennesseans rest at McGavock

Major Williams J. Crook, 13th Tennessee Infantry, was lucky enough to survive the Battle of Franklin. The 13th was part of Vaughans Brigade, under Brig Gen George B. Gordon. The 13th TN fought with the 11th, 12th/47th, 29th and 51st/52nd TN Infantries at Franklin. The 13th TN was on the furthest right of the advancing Gordon Brigade, just west of the Columbia Turnpike. Gordons men overtook Wagners (Union) men as they retreated back behind the Federal line in the opening battle sequence. Once reaching the Federal line in front of the Fountain Branch Carter farm, Gordons Brigade and he 13th TN met fierce resistance from Opdyckes and Stricklands Brigades. There was brutal hand-tohand fighting here.

This hat was worn by Crook during the Civil War. Picture credit: Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy, (p. 16) Five of Crooks fellow regimental comrades - 13th Tennesseans - rest peacefully from the guns at McGavock Cemetery in Franklin.

Two boys of the same name die at Franklin Moscow Pitts.

The 39th MS fought at Franklin; Frenchs Division, Sears brigade. The 39th MS also fought with the 4th, 35th, 36th, 39th, 46th Mississippi; and the 7th Mississippi Battalion. McGavock records show a Moscow Pitts (probably Moscow T. Pitts) from the 39th MS, Company E, Sears brigade as buried at McGavock [Section 41 Mississippi]. Another Moscow Pitts with the 4th TN, Company K, is listed as buried at McGavock [Section 60 TN]; Strahls brigade. The 4th TN fought with the 5th, 19th, 24th, 31st, 33d, 38th, 41st Tennessee regiments. How strange is it that two men, both with the same name die at Franklin in 1864; one in a Mississippi regiment and another in a Tennessee?

Hope brothers both fought and died together at Franklin, for 46th TN, Company D
The 46thTN fought with Quarles brigade, Walthalls division, AOT at Franklin. The 46th TN fought alongside the 1st Alabama; 42d, 48th, 49th, 53d, 55th Tennessee at Franklin. Lt. William L. Hope (# 14) buried in section 52 TN. He is listed as a LT., in the 46th TN, Company D., Quarles brigade. Also Captain Plesant M. Hope (#33) with the 46th TN, Company D, Quarles brigade. Marker below. These are the only two Hopes listed in the 46th by CWD. According to Eric Jacobson, For Cause and Country (2006); p. 315-16; William and Pleasant were brothers. Jacobson also includes a touching letter from Pleasant wrote to his infant daughter, whom he never saw.

April 25, 1864 It is with pleasure and delight that I write you a few lines, which will be the first letter you ever received, and one too which I hope you will preserve until you can read it. By the misfortunes of war, I have been separated from your Momma, but by the blessings of God, I hope to soon return to you, never more to leave you, until death shall separate us. My dear and only child, be a good girl, ever love and obey your affectionate Momma, and dont forget your first letter writer, who has not nor never will forget you, who daily prays to God, in his infinite mercy, to spare, bless and protect you amid the troubles of this world, and should you live to be old, may God bless you and prepare your soul in this life to go to that happy world after death. Your father, P.M. Hope
Source: The Carter House Archives

Pictures of Tennessee Confederate soldiers identified and known buried at McGavock Confederate Cemetery

Maj. Joseph E. McDonald, 55th TN.

TN sec 51, plot #1.

Adjutant Robert B. Hurt, Jr., 55th TN

Section 51, plot #2.

Sgt. Thomas Lindsey Murrell, 6th TN

TN sec 52, plot #7

Sgt. Marquis L. Bryan - 28th TN.

TN section 58, plot 22.

Lt. Robert B. Hendricks, 46th/55th TN T. Burgess, says Hendricks is buried in Section 52, Grave #14. Jacobson says we can not know for sure.

Pvt William A. Thomas Co.K. 31st TN Infantry, Strahl's Brigade, age 26. Pvt Thomas was killed as he charged through the Carter garden, toward the Federal breastworks. On the battlefield that night were 4 of his 5 brothers. His sixteen year old sister, Emiline, later came to Franklin to receive his body and return it to western-Tennessee for burial in the family cemetery. He is buried in TN sec 66, plot 219.
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Adjutant Robert B. Hurt, Jr., 55th TN is buried in Tennessee Section 51, plot #2.
Adjutant Robert B. Hurt, Jr., 55th TN is buried in Tennessee Section 51, plot #2.

According to military records, Hurt enlisted when he was eighteen years old, as a private in the 6th TN Infantry, Company H (Southern Guards), in Jackson, TN, in May 1861. In October 1863 Hurt became an adjutant for the 46th/55th TN Infantry at Mobile, Alabama. His regiment joined Quarles Brigade in the defense of Atlanta. He somehow managed to escape the disaster at Ezra Church his regiment saw, however, he would not be so lucky at Franklin (30 November 1864). The commanding officer of the 55th TN - Maj. Joseph E. McDonald - also went down with Hurt. Source for picture: Portraits of Conflict: A Photographic History of Tennessee in the Civil War, McCaslin, 2007: p. 240.

Lt. Robert B. Hendricks, Henry County native, fought for the 46th/55th TN Infantry, mortally wounded at Franklin
Lt. Robert B. Hendricks, a Henry County native, fought for the 46th/55th TN Infantry. Originally from Henry County, TN, Hendricks enlisted as a private in Company K, 46th TN at Paris, TN in November 1861. He was captured at Island No. 10 in 1862 and he spent months in prison at Camp Chase and Johnsons Island before he was exchanged. Later when his old regiment was re-organized he became a lieutenant in his old company. When the 46th was sent to Port Hudson in 1863 it merged with the 55th TN. These two regiments 46th/55th - served together the rest of the war. Having barely escaped at Ezra Church (Georgia), Hendricks fought at Franklin (November 1864). He fell with many other boys from the 46th/55th, including Captain Pleasant M. Hope and his brother William. This regiment was 250 before Franklin and only 25 answered the call after. Hendricks was mortally wounded at Franklin and died on December 2nd at the age of 32. He was survived by his wife Sarah J. Warnick and two daughters. According to historian T. Burgess, Lt. Robert B. Hendricks is buried in the McGavock CSA Cemetery, Tn. Section 52, Grave #14. Historian Eric A. Jacobson writes that William L. Hope is buried in that plot.

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George W. McDill, the 9th TN infantry, writes to his sister, heartbroken after the Battle of Franklin
The battle of Franklin was one of the great trials of my life. Uncle John McCreight (sec 62: #160), brother William (sec 62: #159), Calvin McQuiston (sec 62: #21) and Al Templeton (sec 62: #158), all killed. I was the only one of the old mess that was in the ranks that was left. There were four of us that formed a file. Uncle John stood tall, marched at the head of the company. We had stood side by side in hard fought battles and marched side by side in many a long march, but after the battle when we were ordered to fall into line and march to Nashville, I looked around for my old comrades but they were gone. I shed tears and wished I had died with them.

Source: The McGavock Confederate Cemetery, Eric A. Jacobson, pp. 19-20.

William McDill TN sec, plot #159

John McCreight Tn sec, plot #160.

Al Templeton TN sec, plot #158

Calvin McQuiston, TN sec, plot#21.

Captured soldiers at Franklin escape death

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Some Confederates managed to survive the bloodbath at Franklin being captured. The two soldiers on the left prisoners of war casualties at Franklin. L/R are Charles H. Bailey (49th TN), Edmond R. Read (49th TN), and Charles D. Shanklin (23rd TN, did not fight at Franklin).

The 49th TN had 129 effective fighting men at Franklin. 20 were killed, 36 wounded and 36 were missing (either killed or captured). At least eight identified 49th boys rest in McGavock. The 49th TN was part of Quarles Brigade. Picture credit: Portraits of Conflict: A Photographic History of Tennessee in the Civil War, McCaslin, 2007: p. 242.

EXTRA
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Pictures of Confederate soldiers who fought and died in the Battle of Franklin, from the Carter House archives

Private Wesley Smith Dorris 30th TN, Smith's Brigade. Pvt Smith was one of the hundreds killed near the locust grove during the charge. It is not known if he is buried at McGavock for sure. If so, he is in an unknown grave.
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Carter House Archives

Sgt. Marquis L. Bryan (wife wife), 28th TN. He is buried in TN section 58, plot 22.

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Maj. Joseph E. McDonald, 55th TN. Buried in TN sec 51, plot #1.

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Major John Holman (left) 28th TN, Carter's Brigade Maj. Holman was killed inthe midst of the charge, near his friend Lt. Spencer Talley. Holman's command was turned over to Talley upon his death. Lt. Spencer Talley (right) 28th TN, Carter's Brigade Lt Talley suffered a severe concussion by the swinging of a musket on the Federal works as the locust grove. Carter House Archives

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Additional pictures from CHA to add:

53 34 Capt Sims, W.V. 31st TN I Strahl

CV July 1911 9th Tennessee Regiment Inf. CASUALTIES IN A COMPANY. [Company C] A booklet has been published by S. E. Sweet, compiled by Ordnance The "Southern Confederates," which became Company C. of the 9th Tennessee. Regiment Infantry, was organized at Clopton Camp Ground in Tipton County,Tenn., in 1861, sworn in at Jackson May 24, 1861, and discharged by surrender at Greensboro, N. C., in April, 1865. Sergt. John R. McCreight was killed in battle November 30, 1864, at Franklin, Tenn. Corp. H. M. Lynn was captured at Franklin, Tenn. McQuiston, Hugh C., mortally wounded at Franklin. McDill, William J., killed in battle at Franklin. McDill, George. Was severely wounded at Perryville, Ky., twice taken prisoner, but was exchanged and was present at the last roll call in 186[2]. Sweet, John H,. killed in the battle of Franklin, Tenn. Templeton, Al, killed in battle at Franklin.

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