Historical Society Meeting

The Lewis County Historical Society was given an interesting talk by Doug Dewitt, a military historian, about Lewis County’s involvement in the Civil War. He asserted that there were no more dedicated and brave soldiers than those from Lewis County who contributed mightily to the cause. Of all the states in the South, Tennessee sent the second most number of people to fight- 135,000. At the beginning of the war there were 518 voting age men in the county, 400 volunteering to go, but by the end there were no men of voting age.

Tennessee was mixed in the decision to leave the Union. The East voted to stay, the West wanted to leave, and the middle was mixed. In fact, the East wanted to leave the state when the rest left to join the Confederacy.

The Confederate records of the war were “a mess”, according to Dewitt. But the men from Lewis County fought in many of the well known battles, including Shiloh, Corinth, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge. And it wasn’t just the people who engaged in battle, but one particular horse should be noted. He was shot in the forehead in Georgia. His rider had a hard time getting from underneath him when he fell and he mourned for his lost stead. However, several months later he showed up in Columbia, Tennessee. It was the same horse because he had a scarred, healed wound on his forehead.

Important maneuvers occurred in nearby areas, particularly Columbia, Spring Hill, and Thompson Station, and Franklin between General Schofield and General Hood. There was movement towards Columbia for control of the Duck River with Schofield arriving 2 hours before Hood. He then traveled to Spring Hill where a particularly bad decision on Hood’s part took place. He was at Rippavilla eating, drinking, and socializing in the night when Schofield’s army moved through very close by undetected. The Confederate Soldiers heard them, but thought they were their own.

General Hood tried to stop them at Thompson Station but couldn’t. They moved on to Franklin on top of a hill. They also had repeating rifles that could shoot 10 rounds per minute whereas Hood’s men were armed with guns that could only shoot 3 if they were lucky. 1750 men on the Confederate side were killed.

While there was a battle in Lewis County, Union General Jacob D. Cox marched 20,000 Federal troops through Lewis on their way to Clifton to the Tennessee River where soldiers boarded transports and steamed north after the Battle of Nashville.

Mr. Dewitt explained the need for more recognition of the bravery and sacrifice of people in Lewis County during this war. He has suggested some historical markers be placed to help people be aware of the engagement of people here. He would also like to form a discussion group on aspects of the Civil War, including family involvements and stories and general information about this time in our history.

The Historical Society is open to all who are interested in Lewis County’s history. Meetings are the first Monday of each month at the Senior Center.