Which 3rd Tennessee unit is he talking about? I always thought the 3rd Tn. was captured at FT. Donelson, and went on to fight at Raymond Miss, Jackson, Miss, and thru the Atlanta Campaign.
Were there two 3rd Tennessee units?
The 3rd Tennessee he talks of was in the Virginia area at first, then went to Knoxville, TN, onto the Cumberland Gap…
Here are some Dates/info from the early part of the war from his Diary, showing some of his movements…
May, 1861… joined /mustered into what would become Col. J. C. Vaughn’s Regiment, becoming 3rd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry
Sept 5th, 1861… picket duty at Fairfax, Virginia
Dec. 9th, 1861…witnessed execution of two Louisiana “Tiger” men from Wheat’s LA. Battalion, for trying to release two of their men from the guard house
Feb. 21st, 1862…arrived at Knoxville, Tn.
May 14, 1862…Reelections in the Company has Col. J. C. Vaughn reelected as Col.
May 21, 1862…Located 7 miles from Cumberland Gap, Tn.
August 20th, 1862…transfer’s out of the 3rd. Tennessee Vol. Inf. and joins the Second Battalion Tennessee Cav, Co. D.
January 21, 1863…the Second Battalion becomes filled out, and is named the 5th Regiment, Tn. Cav.
The rest is History.
Kevin Dally