Blackburn's and Garrison's Federals

Lieut. Col. Joseph H. Blackburn's Fourth (Union) Regiment of Mounted Infantry, with the exception of Company B, was recruited at Liberty, Carthage, Alexandria, Pulaski, Livingston, Shelbyville, and Nashville from September 1, 1864, to April 22, 1865, to serve one year. Company B was made up of Memphis home guards and was mustered out of service June 1, 1865; the other companies were mustered out August 25, 1865. Colonel Blackburn was appointed lieutenant colonel November 26, 1864, at the age of twenty-two years. Thomas Waters was appointed major February 7, 1865.

Colonel Blackburn was born in Wilson County, near Cottage Home, in 1842, his father having come from North Carolina. He married Miss Jennie Barger, of Liberty, in 1861. His company (A), of Stokes's Regiment, elected him captain at the age of eighteen. As shown, he raised a regiment after resigning from the Fifth Cavalry. He was in quite a number of battles and skirmishes, receiving one wound, probably made by Oscar Woodworth, a Federal, while a battle was on with Morgan's men at Liberty. After the war he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention at Nashville, but refused to sign the schedule because of the poll tax provision as a qualification for voters. He was also United States marshal for the middle district of the State. Shortly after the war he, with others, created a sensation in Nashville by attacking and wounding Gen. Joseph Wheeler. Colonel Blackburn died in May, 1913.

In Goodspeed's history of the State (biographical section) this statement is made: "Colonel Blackburn was in several battles, the most important of which were Nashville, Chattanooga, Snow's Hill, and Milton. He also cleared of guerrillas White, Putnam, DeKalb, and Jackson Counties by capturing Champe Ferguson, after which even Rebel sympathizers felt more secure. He is said to have been in two hundred and seventeen engagements, in all of which he was successful. He was wounded at Liberty." In the same history it is stated that in 1864 R. B. Blackwell's guerrillas made a raid into Shelbyville, Tenn. The depot was guarded by twelve of Blackburn's troops, who were captured, escorted into the country, and shot. Were these members of Company A? Blackbum's companies were:

DeKalb County | Tennessee

Source: History of DeKalb County, Tennessee. By Will T. Hale, Nashville, Tennessee, Paul Hunter, Publisher, 1915.