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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.

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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

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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):

Gordon’s Brigade had 51 killed; 11th, 12th, 13th, 29th, 47th, 51st, 52nd and the

154th TN.

Carter’s 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.

Strahl’s Brigade had 29 killed; 4th, 5th, 19th, 24th, 31st, 33rd, 38th and 41st.

Smith’s 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 Bate’s and

Cheatham had one killed.

Other interesting facts about the TN section:

1. 65 of the 200 ID’d 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, Gordon’s 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.

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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 Vaughan’s 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. Gordon’s men overtook Wagner’s (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, Gordon’s Brigade and he 13th TN met

fierce resistance from Opdycke’s and Strickland’s Brigades. There was brutal hand-to-

hand fighting here.

This hat was worn by Crook during the Civil War.

Picture credit: Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy, (p. 16)

Five of Crook’s fellow regimental comrades - 13th Tennesseans - rest peacefully from

the guns at McGavock Cemetery in Franklin.

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Two boys of the same name die at Franklin -

Moscow Pitts.

The 39th MS fought at Franklin; French’s 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]; Strahl’s 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?

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Hope brothers both fought and died together at

Franklin, for 46th TN, Company D

The 46thTN fought with Quarles’ brigade, Walthall’s 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 Hope’s 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.

Source: The Carter House Archives

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 don’t 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

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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

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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.

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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 Johnson’s 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

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

William McDill John McCreight Al Templeton

TN sec, plot #159 Tn sec, plot #160. TN sec, plot #158

Calvin McQuiston, TN sec, plot#21.

Captured soldiers at Franklin escape death

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.

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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, 55

th 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.