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Capt. Robert Cantrell's Company (C)
Twenty-third Regiment, Tennessee Confederates

Capt. Robert Cantrell's Company (C) recruited around Smithville, became a part of the Twenty-Third Regiment of Tennessee Confederate Infantry. Its commander was later elected lieutenant colonel. G. W. Hicks was elected colonel and later Erastus D. Foster. Other promotions were of Lieut. W. D. Rhinehardt, Lawson W. Lee, and A. P. Cantrell. The company saw service in Virginia and at Shiloh. After fighting at Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge, and going through the Georgia campaign, it was at Franklin and Nashville and surrendered in North Carolina. Capt. John C. New, of Cannon County, writes: "After the Twenty-Third had served about twelve months, it was reorganized. At this time Captain Cantrell was elected lieutenant colonel, but soon resigned. Ras Foster was elected captain of the company, and after serving some time he left and carried many of his men with him. The company was consolidated with mine. Zeb Lee was a member of the company and lost a leg at Chickamauga. His brother, Lieut. Lawson Lee, was killed." Colonel Cantrell was for several years a distinguished circuit judge of Tennessee, residing at Lebanon. He was born November 9, 1823, and died February 9, 1903.

Captain Robert Cantrell

Capt. Perry Adcock's Company

Capt. Perry Adcock's company was also raised in the Smithville section. It was difficult to trace this company, but the Adjutant General of the War Department explained that Captain Adcock's company was designated as C in Colms's First Battalion of Tennessee Infantry and afterwards as Company K, Fiftieth Tennessee Confederate Infantry. The company surrendered in North Carolina in April, 1865, after having served in numerous engagements in various States, from Fort Donelson to the close of the war. Captain Adcock had served also in the war with Mexico. He was born March 4, 1829, and died January 11, 1908.

Allison's Battalion of Cavalry

Allison's Battalion of Cavalry, raised by Col. R. D. Allison, John S. Reece, and Robert V. Wright at Alexandria, consisted of three companies and was, besides taking part in a number of the most important battles of the war, very active in DeKalb County during Morgan's occupation and afterwards. It was with Wheeler on his last raid through East Tennessee in the summer of 1864; but it seems from Du Bose's "Life of Wheeler" that it was, with other companies, sent under Gen "Cerro Gordo" Williams to attack a Federal garrison at Strawberry Plains. Finding the garrison too strong, it marched to overtake Wheeler, but did not succeed. It followed close on his heels through Sparta, Liberty, and Alexandria, and went into camp near Murfreesboro, soon, however, taking the Woodbury Pike and returning south across the mountains, engaging in considerable fighting on the way.

After the war Colonel Allison removed to Texas, where he thrice represented his county in the State legislature, and died at an advanced age. Captain Reece removed to Nashville, becoming prominently identified with the city's interests, though his sight was greatly impaired before the close of the war. As Colonel Allison was old and Captain Reece with impaired sight. Captain Wright commanded the DeKalb Countians, who had been consolidated with Shaw's Battalion after Missionary Ridge, in the later months. Captain Reece was born in Virginia in 1814, and died in February, 1868, only fifty-four, but a veteran of the war with the Seminoles, the Mexican War, and the War between the States. Captain Wright also located in Nashville, where he won splendid business success. He was living in 1914, somewhat more than eighty years of age.

This from Lieut. B. L. Ridley's published diary gives in a small way an idea of the horrors of war. It is dated Smithville, N. C, March 27, 1865: "This afternoon went with General Stewart to the depot, where we found Colonel Allison, a Tennessee cavalryman, on his way westward with the body of his son, who was killed a day or two ago near Goldsboro trying to rescue some ladies from the clutches of the enemy."

By the way, still as illustrative, General Forrest and his escort were on a road three miles from Selma, Alabama, one night after the retreat from Nashville. Suddenly the cries of women in distress reached them. "Guided by the sounds," to quote the diary of Ben Hancock, of the Second Regiment of Cavalry, "Forrest and some of his men dashed thither, to find a neighboring house in the possession of four Federal bummers who, having rifled it, were engaged in the effort to outrage the women who lived there. Summary was the fate of these wretches. The escort was now getting excited, and, meeting a number of these fellows loaded, down with plunder, they did not hesitate to slay them on the spot. Hearing the sounds of what was happening ahead, Forrest, to check it, took the conduct of the advance upon himself." It is not believed that any DeKalb soldiers on either side were ever charged with assaulting women.

DeKalb County | Tennessee