John M. Claiborne, Co. "D', Terry's 8th Texas Cavalry Regiment.

Several Errors Corrected, Confederate Veteran Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 8 (August 1898), Pages 374-75

I find an article from the pen of Judge J. A. Wharton, of Jackson, Miss., concerning Maj. Gen. John A. Wharton, in which there are errors. I was the adjutant of Terry's Texas Rangers. John A. Wharton recruited Company B, Archer Grays, and was their first captain. He was not the law partner of Col. Terry. Terry was a planter. Col. Terry was not killed at Shiloh, but at Woodsonville (or Rowlett's Station), in Kentucky, December 17, 1861. Wharton's law partner was Clint N. Terry, who was a volunteer courier to Col. John A. Wharton at Shiloh, and was wounded there April 6, 1862, dying from the effects of his wound in a few days. The writer says it is believed that Wharton was promoted for gallantry in every battle in which he was engaged. He was elected captain of Company B, and, upon the death of Terry and Lubbock, he was elected colonel of the regiment. Up to that time he had never been under fire. Then, according to this biographer, he was in only two battles, in one of which he was promoted to brigadier general and in the other to major general. This is unjust to his memory. He was in several battles. General Order No. 12, by Gen. Polk, I never saw before. The facts are: Wharton was colonel commanding a cavalry brigade near the fair grounds at Bardstown, Ky., October 4, 1862, when he was surrounded. He obeyed Polk's order to remain at a given point until a given minute. The enemy were met, Rangers in front. The enemy in their front were on a pike (macadam road), with a five foot stone fence on each side, and in column of platoon of sixteen file. They were charged by the Rangers and repulsed, by the bugle sound of charge, but no man gave the order. It was the quick perception of the situation by the bugler, Ben C. Polk. Wharton's gray mare was shot in the fore leg by the first Yankee platoon. In the confusion every man fought on his own hook.

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