Lumsden's Battery. 2nd Alabama Light Artillery, Army of Tennessee.

[Will Carry]

Sorry for putting this in the Handgun section.

Isaac Mason was his name. He was 15 when he joined as a Tuscaloosa Volunteers. During the Battle of Nashville, Lumsden's Battery was overrun by Yankee infantry. They lost 23 men and all of their guns. That took place less than 1/4 mile from where I lived in Nashville. Isaac Mason was my Great Grandfather. He surrendered in Meridian Mississippi after the battle of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely at the age of 18.

After the war, Isaac said that the only time he held a rifle in the war was at the battle of Fort Blakely, the last battle. When the fort was overrun he escaped up into the swamps with a few hundred others. He settled in Stockon Al. along the very path of his escape. The old home place is still their in Stockton.

Edited March 14, 2010 by Will Carry

[Shima]

Interesting story, but not sure why you put it in the Handguns forum. I went ahead and moved it to general off topic.

Edited March 13, 2010 by Shima

[Will Carry]

DOOOH! I thought I was on general off topic.

[Guest BEARMAN]

Isaac Mason was his name. He was 15 when he joined as a Tuscaloosa Volunteer. During the Battle of Nashville, Lumsden's Battery was overrun by Yankee infantry. They lost 23 men and all of their guns. That took place less than 1/4 mile from where I lived in Nashville. Isaac Mason was my Great Grandfather. He surrendered in Meridian Mississippi after the battle of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely at the age of 18.

Will, was that particular battery (Lumsden's) positioned on Montgomery hill...east of Hillsboro rd. and over ran on the first day of battle, during the inital attack by Federal forces?

Bearman

Edited March 13, 2010 by BEARMAN
spelling

[Will Carry]

There is a marker on the side of the road noting the postion of rebout #4. Here is the marker number I got off a google search.

N 1 7

Lumsden’s Defense

Dec. 15, 1864

0.3 mile west was Redoubt No. 4 in Hood’s detached supporting works. Garrisoned by Lumsden’s Battery of smoothbore Napoleons, supported by 100 men of the 29th Alabama Infantry under Capt. Foster, it was finally overrun by the assault of 12 infantry and 4 dismounted cavalry regiments, supported by four Federal batteries.

Location: TN 106 (Hillsboro Pike), at Hobbs Road

It is written (A History of Lumsden's Battery) that Capt. Lumsden stayed with his guns even as his men began to run. It wasn't until someone grabbed the bag of fuses and ran with it, that they convinced Lumsden to leave the battery. The 29th did a fine job in staying in line until Lumsden got clear.

[Guest BEARMAN]

Thanks Will, always been interested in the "War of Northern Aggression" especially the western theater.

I had two great, great uncles who fought for the Confederate cause in Tennessee, one Cavalry, one Infantry.

[Guest rystine]

Thats really interesting to know that kind of family history. I really should study more about my family. I know I had a relative fight for a regiment from Mississippi, but thats about it.

[Will Carry]

The Army of Tennessee gets a bad rap. Tennessee had been the frontier just a few decades before. Them easterners did not understand that moving an Army around in Tennessee was next to impossible. Virginia had roads and railways. Tennessee had mud and high water. Pines barrens where horses and cattle couldn't feed. Canyons and gullies, bad roads and little or no fodder. Not to mention huge rivers like the Cumberland and the Tennessee River. Our boys had to fight the terrain more than the yankees.

[Guest BEARMAN]

The Army of Tennessee gets a bad rap. Tennessee had been the frontier just a few decades before. Them easterners did not understand that moving an Army around in Tennessee was next to impossible. Virginia had roads and railways. Tennessee had mud and high water. Pines barrens where horses and cattle couldn't feed. Canyons and gullies, bad roads and little or no fodder. Not to mention huge rivers like the Cumberland and the Tennessee River. Our boys had to fight the terrain more than the yankees.

Exactly, and add to the fact that The Army of Tennessee had the worst General Officer staff in the Confederate Army...Bragg, Hood, Johnson, Beauregard, comes to mind.

I wonder what Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest could have done with The Army of Tennessee, if he would have had the reins turned over to him, after the debacle at the Battle of Stones River...(Murfreesboro)?

[Will Carry]

Forrest! The most feared man in the Confederate army. His tactics are studied in every military institute in the modern world. I think if Forrest had been given command he would have been a nightmare for the union forces.

Forest once consoled General Stephen Lee after Lee got his ass kicked. "Don't feel bad general. If I had me a West Point education, the yankees would be whoppin' me too."