Coryell Co., TX - Cemeteries - DAVIDSON-(BLACKFOOT) CEMETERY
Vandiver, C.M.
Military Stone
Charles M. Vandiver 2-17-1847 7-20-1937
Forrest's Provost Guard CSA
This would be Charles Mack Vandiver of Lawrence, Tennessee?
Shown on the rolls of surrender and parole at Gainesville, Ala.
Company B, Capt. C. H. Gilbert is shown in company with Company A, Capt. W. D. Stratton, in the Provost Guard of the Corps, on June 1, 1864. Captain W. D. Stratton is listed as killed at the battle of Harrisburg, Miss., July 13-15, 1864 and as a member of the 19th Tennessee (Newsom's).
....
Being that he was in the Provost Guard, which is supposed to be a light duty detail anyway and not a front line outfit, he may have been lightly armed with only a sword although most likely combined with some firearm. I have found references to complete companies of some provost guards only issued with swords. This would keep the heavier arms in the hands of the front line troops. A Confederate law signed March 9, 1865 stated that provost guards must be composed of either reserve soldiers or men who had been disabled but were still fit for light duty. I don't know how this law affected Forrest's staff,escort and provost, most probably very little.
I found these in relation to Forrest use of Provost Guards...
"
GENERAL ORDERS, - HDQRS. FORREST’S CAVALRY CORPS,
No. 99. West Point, Miss., March 3, 1865.
The following are the rules and regulations for the government of the
troops of this command:...
ON THE MARCH
There must be a field officer, with a suitable rear guard, to march in
the rear of each regiment; a company officer from each company in the
rear of their respective companies; and the brigade provost guard,
under the supervision of the brigade officer of the day, in rear of each
brigade. The duty of these shall be to see that there is no dropping
out of ranks, or straggling from their places by officers or men. They
will arrest and forward all such through the ascending channels to
division headquarters...
also...
HDQRS. FIRST Div., FORREST’S CAVALRY DEPARTMENT,
Mayhew Station, March 9, 1864.
Lieutenant-Colonel WILLIS,
Commanding Second Brigade:
COLONEL: The brigadier-general Commanding directs that your
command be supplied with 40 rounds of ammunition to each ef-
fective man and four days’ rations, with as little delay as possible,
and that it be held in readiness to move at a moment’s notice as
soon as these supplies are obtained
When a movement is made no wagons will be taken except those
belonging to brigade and regimental headquarters and a sufficient
number to transport the cooking utensils of the command. The
ordnance wagons will be sent to Columbus to be put in complete
repair, and the others will be parked near this place in charge of a
proper officer. The Eighteenth Mississippi Battalion will be sent
forward to-morrow to Panola to collect forage and build a pontoon
bridge across the Tallahatchie. The Second Arkansas Regiment
will be detached from the brigade, and will report at these head-
quarters as provost guard. The dismounted men and those with
disabled horses will be encamped near this place but a distance from
the wagon train, tinder the charge of an efficient officer, who will
enforce a strict discipline among them.
The order in regard to roll-calls and drills will be strictly carried
out, and a proportion of the cooking utensils will be left with these
men.
I am, colonel, your obedient servant,
W. A. GOODMAN,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
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My opinion is he could of easily been issued and carried a saber, even under the command of Gen. Forrest.
_______________________
David Upton