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.
It is rather difficult to determine just who among Vaughn's brigade remained behind in East Tennessee. Once in a while you'll find
that information on OR correspondence or CSRs.
What is for sure is that Cols. Lilliard of the 3rd and Bradford of the 31st/39th Tennessee remained in East Tennessee with Bradford in overall
command and Lilliard a sub section.
Based on Vaughn's July 15th letter, it appears that the 3rd Tennessee did not accompany the brigade into Virginia
[Late May] Gen. John C. Vaughn’s brigade was ordered from near Newton, N.C., to Bristol, Tenn., for what purpose we privates had not the least idea. (31)
05 30 1864 [Monday]
The regiment [43rd Tenn.] was in camp at Preston’s Farm, VA with orders to move by rail to Lynchburg, most likely the next day. “Every tenth man is to be left behind to take care of the horses and baggage.” (S. A. Key to Lizzie Key, UNC Special Collections))
Moved to Bristol - and dismounted for Staunton VA At Preston Farm (254)
Pvt, John W. Henshaw, Co. ‘B’, 12th Battalion Tennessee Cavalry died in action at Greenville, (TN?) (4, pp. 756
After recruiting, about one-half of the brigade was ordered to the Valley of Virginia in the spring of 1864, under command of Gen. Vaughn; and the other half, under the command of Col. Bradford of the Thirty-first Tennessee was ordered to remain in the vicinity of Bristol, to protect that place and the railroads and public stores from raids and depredations. (4, p. 465)
A detachment of the brigade under Colonel W. M. Bradford, with 504 effectives, was in the neighborhood of Bristol and Bull’s Gap, Tennessee. (Tenn. In the CW, Pt. 1, p. 180)
Vaughn’s men had left their horses in Bristol, Tennessee, when the brigade departed for the Shenandoah Valley. For the next month and a half, Vaughn’s Brigade fought as infantry. (38, pp. 95)
07 15 1864 [Friday]
Near Leesburg Va.
July 15, 1864
My Dear Col: [N. J. Lilliard, Col. Commanding 3rd Tenn. Inf.]
One line this morning as I have a chance to send it by hand to Charlottesville. I have no special news to write you - Only we are all well & in good spirits - Our Campaign has been a perfect success. Since we defeated Hunter at Lynchburg we have had several heavy skirmishes & one hard fight - It was near Fredric MD - We killed over 400, took 600 hundred prisioners - We were skirmishing two days around Washington within three miles of the Capital. I feel certain we could have taken the city on our arrival there, but Gen’l Early should know better than I. The supplies captured & destroyed have been immense - we destroyed the Baltimore & Washington Rail Road between the cities badly - also the Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road badly for near one hundred miles - the [canal?] we have damaged badly, also - this has been the greatest raid of the war - our infantry force is not over____I will not say as this letter may be captured. we have brought out four or five thousand head of fine cattle, about three or four thousand fine draft horses - If Col. Carter had come up with our horses I would have exchanged them for good ones, but I hope to have a chance yet soon. Our horses are now at Winchester - we will get them tomorrow night. Our boys are in fine health. I am sorry the old Third was not with me but I could not help it. Many live now that would have fell at Piedmont as they would have been put in the thick of the fight. I cannot speak of our next movements - The enemy is now within three miles of our rear - only a mounted force I think. Our cavalry under Gen’l Bradly Johnston was within two miles of Baltimore - I hope Grant has started a large force afer us - have no news from any quarter for five days. I hope all is well with you. I will write you again soon. The stage runs now to Winchester, write me immediately. Tell Capt. Allen [illegible] to do so - Order Dr. Parshall to to report to me for duty immediately - under the new staff bill I give him a position if he desires it - Tell him to write or come immediately. Keep everything well up, collect all our men of the Brigade. Gen’l Early says I shall return very soon to my old position. Give me all the news, send all the mail by Parshall. Let him come up Rail Road to Staunton & then stage to Winchester - if we change our position he will hear of it, I will [write?] him to Staunton. My best respects to all the boys & all friends. I have not lost any men, only by straggling & sick who had to be left.
Your devoted friend
J. C. Vaughn
7 17 1864 [Sunday]
A diarist of the Thomas Legion (69th N.C.) wrote that “Vaughn’s horses arrived from Grayson County (Virginia). (38, pp. 45)