October 1, 2025 • 19 mins
At the Battle of Mill Springs, 19 January 1862, SGT McMurray and the 20th Tennessee marched through the night in a persistent rain to attack a Union Division encamped approximately 10 miles to the north. Armed with flintlock muskets, SGT McMurray and the Tennesseans formed on the right flank of the Confederate battle line and were soon flanked by a brigade with men from their own state: the 1st and 2nd Tennessee (Union) Regiments.
McMurray, William J. History of the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment Volunteer Infantry, C.S.A. The Publication Committee, 1904. https://archive.org/details/histtwenttennreg00mcmurich/page/n6/mode/1up?view=theater.
Scott, Robert N. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. ser. 1, vol. 7. Government Printing Office, 1882. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079609545&view=1up&seq=3.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:02):
The federals kept extendingtheir line to the left by
bringing their reinforcementsinto action.
The Mississippians moving totheir right to keep from being
flanked.
And the 20th Tennessee.
Trying to keep in touch with theMississippians left a gap in the
left of the 20th Tennessee andres guns in the road.
(00:24):
And in the dense mist of therainy morning general Zoff odent
to this gap on the right to theroad up to the fourth Kentucky,
whom he mistook for the 20thTennessee.
As that regiment was the onlyregiment between the
Mississippians and Cockrellbattery, and was fired on by a
(00:44):
portion of Fry's regiment, andhe and his aide were both
killed.
(01:14):
hi, my name is Bill Coghlan andhost the first person Civil War
podcast.
While the generals of both sidesget most of the recognition, the
Civil War was fought by the menin the ranks, and they told
their stories during and afterthe war.
Follow me as I reveal what thesemen witnessed in the battles of
(01:35):
the Civil War.
Episode 52 is entitled SergeantWilliam j McMurray and the 20th
Tennessee at the Battle of MillSprings and relies on his book
history of the 20th TennesseeRegiment, volunteer Infantry
CSA, which he published in 1904.
(01:58):
William Joseph McMurray was bornon 22 September, 1842 in
Williamson County, Tennessee,and lived in that county until
the beginning of the war withhis family.
Due to his upbringing.
When the Civil War began williamMcMurray was eager to enlist.
(02:18):
This young soldier said thatwhen he was a child, he often
heard his father speak of thewar that was soon to take place
between the north and the south.
So when the first bugle blastswept over the hills of
Williamson County, this countryboy was among the first to
respond to its call.
(02:39):
William McMurray traveled to thetown of Nolansville, where men
from his county formed a companyof infantry in April of 1861.
He enlisted as a private, andthe men were organized as
company B of the 20th Tennessee,commanded by Colonel Joel.
A battle.
By late 1861 Private McMurrayand the 20th Tennessee were
(03:03):
assigned to Brigadier GeneralFelix k Zla coffers brigade and
guarded the region around theCumberland Gap, which is a pass
through the AppalachianMountains and the vicinity of
Kentucky, Virginia, andTennessee.
Guarding the Cumberland Gapwould deny the pro-Union East
Tennessee, a connection by landto the North and was also part
(03:26):
of a larger defensive linedevised by General Albert S.
Johnston that stretched furtherwest across Tennessee.
Brigadier General Zophereventually determined that
defenses were sufficient aroundthe gap.
And decided to march furthereast into Kentucky to link up
with more confederate forces.
By December, william McMurraywas a corporal, and the 20th
(03:50):
Tennessee found themselves atMill Springs, Kentucky along the
Northern Bank of the CumberlandRiver.
That same month, brigadierGeneral Zoff offer's brigade
fell under the command of MajorGeneral George b Crittenden's,
district of East Tennessee, whoarrived in person with his
second brigade to Mill Springsin early January of 1862.
(04:14):
With the Union Army.
Aware of the Confederatesposition, Brigadier General
George H.
Thomas.
Headquartered in Lebanon,Kentucky.
Received orders to march hisdivision toward Mill Springs.
Link up with a nearby brigade inSomerset and push the
Confederates back across theCumberland River.
(04:34):
After marching through the rain,brigadier General Thomas's
division arrived at Logan'sCrossroads on 17 January and
affected a linkup with the 12thbrigade from Somerset as
Brigadier General Thomasconsolidated his command, he
placed a strong guard on theroad leading south down to the
Confederate camp whose picketsskirmished that night.
(04:57):
For two days, Brigadier GeneralThomas's division remained at
Logan's crossroads while hedetailed two regiments to March
on a suspected Confederate camp,but nothing was found.
Aware of the union presenceMajor General Crittenden sent a
letter on 18 January, generalJohnston of his intent to attack
(05:18):
the enemy.
I am threatened by a superiorforce of the enemy in front and
finding it impossible to crossthe river.
I will have to make the fight onthe ground I now occupy.
The Confederates left their campat approximately midnight on 19
January to make the 10 milemarch up the Mill Springs Road
(05:42):
toward Logan's Crossroads Thelead was Brigadier General Zla
Hoffer's Brigade, who threw histwo cavalry companies out front
with the 15th Mississippi andthe 20th Tennessee.
With now Sergeant McMurray asthe lead infantry regiments.
Through the early morning hours.
The rain was persistent and atapproximately 6:30 AM the lead
(06:06):
elements of Brigadier GeneralZla Hoffer's Brigade found the
union pickets and opened Fire.
Sergeant McMurray now formed inline of battle with the 20th
Tennessee.
The Battle of Mill Springs hadbegun.
At daylight.
Our cavalry advance came uponthe enemy's pickets two miles
(06:27):
from their camps.
The skirmishing began and a lineof battle was formed, A cold
winter's rain pouring down atthe time the enemy was not taken
by surprise, and besides, theyhad affected a junction, ZLA.
Kafer formed his line of battleby throwing the 15th Mississippi
(06:47):
and the 20th Tennessee to theright of the road.
The 10th, Indiana was drawing upin line of battle waiting, the
Confederate attack.
Lieutenant Colonel William cCAEs, commander of the 10th
Indiana, receive the alert fromhis picketts, and quickly formed
his regiment to meet theConfederate attack.
(07:11):
When I got within 75 yards ofthe three companies, then hotly
engaged, I formed the regimentand line of battle and rapidly
disposed it for fighting fivecompanies extended through the
woods on the right of the road,and the remaining companies on
the left.
A regiment of rebels wereadvancing in line of battle, and
(07:32):
their treasonable colors wereseen flaunting in the breeze.
Having selected as good aposition as practicable.
I took a stand and ordered theregiment to fire.
Which order was instantlyobeyed.
The 10th, and Deanna, thoughinitially pushed back was
(07:52):
eventually re reinforced by tworegiments of Kentucky Cavalry on
their left flank.
Advancing upon the Kentuckianswith Sergeant McMurray and the
20th Tennessee.
The 15th.
Mississippi moved forward on the10th Indiana, which was
stationed in the heavy woods andwas pressing them back when
(08:13):
Colonel Mason ordered the fourthKentucky Regiment on our Colonel
Speed S fry to his support atabout this juncture battle's
regiment, the 20th Tennessee ofZola Coff's Brigade engaged the
fourth Kentucky and attempted toflank them, but was checked by
(08:34):
Carter's brigade of EastTennesseans.
When the first and secondTennessee Union regiments opened
upon the flank of the 20thTennessee Confederate, these men
were witness to one of therarest instances of the Civil
War.
Men from the same state underopposing flags firing at each
(08:55):
other.
It was not the first occurrence,nor would it be the last.
The first and second TennesseeUnion regiments belonged to
Colonel Samuel Perry Carter's12th Brigade, which also
included the 12th Kentucky andthe first Kentucky Cavalry.
Save for the first Kentucky,which extended the fourth
(09:17):
Kentucky's line.
The rest of the brigadeapproached the battlefield from
the north and linked with theunion line, but instead of
facing East, they faced SouthColonel Carter's Tennessean, and
Kentuckians opened with aflanking fire.
Soon after these positions weretaken by the Tennessee and 12th
(09:38):
Kentucky regiments I receivedfrom one of your aide's
information that the enemy wasadvancing through the woods and
not on the road.
We were guarding.
The brigade was immediatelyadvanced to meet him.
After reaching the woods, thethree regiments were closed in
on the enemy's right, the firstTennessee deployed into the
field, pressing the enemy'sright up the hill, firing at
(10:04):
him, and capturing someprisoners, among whom was
Lieutenant Colonel Carter of the20th Rebel Regiment of
Tennessee.
In this advance, the 12thKentucky, which was on the
extreme left of the line, had abrisk skirmish with a part of
the enemy's forces, and capturedseveral prisoners.
Second East Tennessee Regimentalso came up with and captured
(10:28):
several of the enemy.
Though almost evenly matched interms of manpower, major General
Thomas was able to bring more ofhis regiments into line faster
than the Confederates couldwhile brigadier general Zla
coffer strove to extend his ownline, sergeant McMurray in the
20th Tennessee facedinsurmountable odds to the north
(10:50):
of the road.
Colonel McCook with the ninthOhio and second Minnesota was
ordered up to the support of the10th Indiana, a section of
Kenny's battery and the fourthKentucky.
Which made eight regiments andone section of artillery that
the 15th Mississippi and 20thTennessee were fighting.
(11:12):
Zla Cfer attempted to form hisline on the left of the road
with the 19th Tennessee and the25th Tennessee regiments while
he placed the only artillerythat he had in the road.
This section of two guns wereunder the immediate command of
Lieutenant Rell and was the onlyartillery that was fired by the
(11:32):
Confederates.
Sergeant McMurray recounts itwas at this critical moment
while striving to form hisbrigade on heavily wooded and
uneven terrain that brigadierGeneral Zla coffer was killed.
The federals kept extendingtheir line to the left by
bringing their reinforcementsinto action.
(11:55):
The Mississippians moving totheir right to keep from being
flanked and the 20th Tennessee.
Trying to keep in touch with theMississippians.
Left, a gap between the left ofthe 20th Tennessee and re's guns
and the road.
And in the dense mist of therainy morning general Zla Cfer
rode into this gap on the rightof the road up to the fourth
(12:17):
Kentucky, whom he mistook forthe 20th, Tennessee, as that
regiment was the only regimentbetween the Mississippians and
Res battery and was fired on bya portion of Fry's regiment, and
he and his aide were bothkilled.
(12:37):
Colonel Speed s Fry's reportafter the battle says nothing
about his regiment firing uponbrigadier general Zla coffer.
But interestingly enough, majorGeneral Thomas's report mentions
Zla Z's death at the hands ofColonel Fry.
Colonel, SR Fry fourth Kentuckywas slightly wounded.
(13:00):
Wilted regiment was gallantlyresisting the advance of the
enemy during which time GeneralZeffer fell from a shot from his
Colonel Fry's pistol, which nodoubt contributed materially to
the discomfort of the enemy.
With the death of Brigadiergeneral Zla coffer, the cohesion
(13:22):
of the first brigade began tounravel.
But by this time, the secondbrigade under Brigadier General
Carroll was deploying along theMill Springs Road.
To the Northeast.
Sergeant McMurray and the 20thTennessee were beginning to
break under the concentratedunion fire.
The 19th, 25th and 29thTennessee regiments that were on
(13:47):
the other side of the road.
Were being engaged.
But not near so heavily as the20th Tennessee and the 15th
Mississippi, as Zla Hoffer'sbrigade began to be forced back.
Carol's brigade was formed, butcould not stem the tide of the
confusion that was caused by thedeath of General Zla cer.
(14:07):
Forcing back the 15th,Mississippi and 20th Tennessee,
who had bravely borne the bruntof the battle up to this time,
the 20th, Tennessee being armedwith Flintlock muskets.
Not one in five would fire onthe account of the incessant
rain.
The Flintlock musket was by thistime obsolete, but at this point
(14:31):
in the war, it was still in use.
While loading his musket,Sergeant McMurray had to pour a
gunpowder in a flash pan andload his rifle.
When he pulled the trigger, apiece of Flint struck the metal
covering the flash pan to whichsparks ignited the gunpowder and
discharged the weapon.
The East Tennesseans that facedSergeant McMurray were most
(14:54):
likely issued with modernpercussion cap rifles, which
replaced the flintlock mechanismwith a weapon that could fire in
any type of weather.
Eventually, two regimentsmarched to the support of
Sergeant McMurray and the 20thTennessee, and for a time
bolstered the right flank.
(15:16):
The 29th Tennessee under ColonelPowell came to the rescue of the
20th Tennessee and 15thMississippi, by pouring a
galling fire into the enemy atclose range.
It was here, that its Gallant.
Colonel was wounded the 16th,Alabama under Colonel WB Wood
(15:37):
also rendered good service, butthe battle was lost.
Even with the second brigadedeploying in line of battle, the
Confederates eventuallyretreated back down the Mill
Springs road.
But the battle was not yet overfor Sergeant McMurray and the
20th Tennessee.
(15:58):
A combination of circumstanceswas against the Confederates,
namely.
the loss of their principalofficer.
At the opening of theengagement, the incessant reigns
that rendered one third of thearms of the confederates useless
and the superior arms of theenemy, a retreat was ordered
back to Beach Grove and it didnot take much ordering.
(16:22):
And the federals followed upthat evening and by dark we're
throwing shells into our camp.
Crittenden Recrossed his armythat night on a little Steamboat
named Noble Ellis.
Leaving his camp Equipage.
12 pieces of artillery, about1000 horses and mules, and a
number of small arms and theworst of our wounded.
(16:46):
The Battle of Mill Springs wasone of the first significant
victories for the union andbrought the collapse of General
Johnston's defensive plan forEastern Kentucky.
For the time being, theinitiative was in the union's
hands, which now had access toEastern Tennessee.
Mill Springs also marked thedecline of major general
(17:07):
Crittenden in the Confederatearmy, whose career was
effectively finished by late1862.
Though, the District of EastTennessee disbanded in the wake
of Mill Springs, the 20th,Tennessee shifted further west
and fought at Shiloh StonesRiver, Chicka Maga, the Atlanta
(17:28):
campaign, and finally Nashville.
Following the war, William jMcMurray became a doctor.
Beginning in 1874.
Survivors of the regiment heldannual reunions around 19
September, the Battle of ChickaMaga.
It was at one of these reunionsthat William McMurray was
(17:49):
appointed to write the historyof the 20th Tennessee.
At the meeting in September,1900 at Antioch, it was
determined that the history ofthis command was worthy of
perpetuation and by unanimousvote I was appointed to write
the history and was madechairman of the publication
(18:09):
committee.
With these corrections andalterations, it is most
respectfully submitted to adiscriminating public with a
statement that if the author isincorrect in his views, the same
is chargeable to the 65survivors of the regiment who
rejoiced together in their hoursof brilliant achievements and
(18:30):
who mourned in unison in thosetimes of joint trial,
tribulation and trouble.
Thank you for listening to the52nd episode.
The link to Sergeant McMurray'sbook is now available on the
podcast website, first personCivil war podcast.com.
(18:51):
On Facebook, Instagram, x andLinkedIn.
This week you will find apicture of Sergeant McMurray
sometime after the war.
In two weeks time.
Father Henry Clel of the Dioceseof Savannah, provides next
episodes first person account ashe tends to the prisoners at
(19:14):
Andersonville.
My name is Bill Coghlan, andthank you for listening to First
Person Civil War Podcast.
The federals kept extendingtheir line to the left by
bringing their reinforcementsinto action.
The Mississippians moving totheir right to keep from being
flanked.
And the 20th Tennessee.
Trying to keep in touch with theMississippians left a gap in the
left of the 20th Tennessee andres guns in the road.
(00:24):
And in the dense mist of therainy morning general Zoff odent
to this gap on the right to theroad up to the fourth Kentucky,
whom he mistook for the 20thTennessee.
As that regiment was the onlyregiment between the
Mississippians and Cockrellbattery, and was fired on by a
(00:44):
portion of Fry's regiment, andhe and his aide were both
killed.
(01:14):
hi, my name is Bill Coghlan andhost the first person Civil War
podcast.
While the generals of both sidesget most of the recognition, the
Civil War was fought by the menin the ranks, and they told
their stories during and afterthe war.
Follow me as I reveal what thesemen witnessed in the battles of
(01:35):
the Civil War.
Episode 52 is entitled SergeantWilliam j McMurray and the 20th
Tennessee at the Battle of MillSprings and relies on his book
history of the 20th TennesseeRegiment, volunteer Infantry
CSA, which he published in 1904.
(01:58):
William Joseph McMurray was bornon 22 September, 1842 in
Williamson County, Tennessee,and lived in that county until
the beginning of the war withhis family.
Due to his upbringing.
When the Civil War began williamMcMurray was eager to enlist.
(02:18):
This young soldier said thatwhen he was a child, he often
heard his father speak of thewar that was soon to take place
between the north and the south.
So when the first bugle blastswept over the hills of
Williamson County, this countryboy was among the first to
respond to its call.
(02:39):
William McMurray traveled to thetown of Nolansville, where men
from his county formed a companyof infantry in April of 1861.
He enlisted as a private, andthe men were organized as
company B of the 20th Tennessee,commanded by Colonel Joel.
A battle.
By late 1861 Private McMurrayand the 20th Tennessee were
(03:03):
assigned to Brigadier GeneralFelix k Zla coffers brigade and
guarded the region around theCumberland Gap, which is a pass
through the AppalachianMountains and the vicinity of
Kentucky, Virginia, andTennessee.
Guarding the Cumberland Gapwould deny the pro-Union East
Tennessee, a connection by landto the North and was also part
(03:26):
of a larger defensive linedevised by General Albert S.
Johnston that stretched furtherwest across Tennessee.
Brigadier General Zophereventually determined that
defenses were sufficient aroundthe gap.
And decided to march furthereast into Kentucky to link up
with more confederate forces.
By December, william McMurraywas a corporal, and the 20th
(03:50):
Tennessee found themselves atMill Springs, Kentucky along the
Northern Bank of the CumberlandRiver.
That same month, brigadierGeneral Zoff offer's brigade
fell under the command of MajorGeneral George b Crittenden's,
district of East Tennessee, whoarrived in person with his
second brigade to Mill Springsin early January of 1862.
(04:14):
With the Union Army.
Aware of the Confederatesposition, Brigadier General
George H.
Thomas.
Headquartered in Lebanon,Kentucky.
Received orders to march hisdivision toward Mill Springs.
Link up with a nearby brigade inSomerset and push the
Confederates back across theCumberland River.
(04:34):
After marching through the rain,brigadier General Thomas's
division arrived at Logan'sCrossroads on 17 January and
affected a linkup with the 12thbrigade from Somerset as
Brigadier General Thomasconsolidated his command, he
placed a strong guard on theroad leading south down to the
Confederate camp whose picketsskirmished that night.
(04:57):
For two days, Brigadier GeneralThomas's division remained at
Logan's crossroads while hedetailed two regiments to March
on a suspected Confederate camp,but nothing was found.
Aware of the union presenceMajor General Crittenden sent a
letter on 18 January, generalJohnston of his intent to attack
(05:18):
the enemy.
I am threatened by a superiorforce of the enemy in front and
finding it impossible to crossthe river.
I will have to make the fight onthe ground I now occupy.
The Confederates left their campat approximately midnight on 19
January to make the 10 milemarch up the Mill Springs Road
(05:42):
toward Logan's Crossroads Thelead was Brigadier General Zla
Hoffer's Brigade, who threw histwo cavalry companies out front
with the 15th Mississippi andthe 20th Tennessee.
With now Sergeant McMurray asthe lead infantry regiments.
Through the early morning hours.
The rain was persistent and atapproximately 6:30 AM the lead
(06:06):
elements of Brigadier GeneralZla Hoffer's Brigade found the
union pickets and opened Fire.
Sergeant McMurray now formed inline of battle with the 20th
Tennessee.
The Battle of Mill Springs hadbegun.
At daylight.
Our cavalry advance came uponthe enemy's pickets two miles
(06:27):
from their camps.
The skirmishing began and a lineof battle was formed, A cold
winter's rain pouring down atthe time the enemy was not taken
by surprise, and besides, theyhad affected a junction, ZLA.
Kafer formed his line of battleby throwing the 15th Mississippi
(06:47):
and the 20th Tennessee to theright of the road.
The 10th, Indiana was drawing upin line of battle waiting, the
Confederate attack.
Lieutenant Colonel William cCAEs, commander of the 10th
Indiana, receive the alert fromhis picketts, and quickly formed
his regiment to meet theConfederate attack.
(07:11):
When I got within 75 yards ofthe three companies, then hotly
engaged, I formed the regimentand line of battle and rapidly
disposed it for fighting fivecompanies extended through the
woods on the right of the road,and the remaining companies on
the left.
A regiment of rebels wereadvancing in line of battle, and
(07:32):
their treasonable colors wereseen flaunting in the breeze.
Having selected as good aposition as practicable.
I took a stand and ordered theregiment to fire.
Which order was instantlyobeyed.
The 10th, and Deanna, thoughinitially pushed back was
(07:52):
eventually re reinforced by tworegiments of Kentucky Cavalry on
their left flank.
Advancing upon the Kentuckianswith Sergeant McMurray and the
20th Tennessee.
The 15th.
Mississippi moved forward on the10th Indiana, which was
stationed in the heavy woods andwas pressing them back when
(08:13):
Colonel Mason ordered the fourthKentucky Regiment on our Colonel
Speed S fry to his support atabout this juncture battle's
regiment, the 20th Tennessee ofZola Coff's Brigade engaged the
fourth Kentucky and attempted toflank them, but was checked by
(08:34):
Carter's brigade of EastTennesseans.
When the first and secondTennessee Union regiments opened
upon the flank of the 20thTennessee Confederate, these men
were witness to one of therarest instances of the Civil
War.
Men from the same state underopposing flags firing at each
(08:55):
other.
It was not the first occurrence,nor would it be the last.
The first and second TennesseeUnion regiments belonged to
Colonel Samuel Perry Carter's12th Brigade, which also
included the 12th Kentucky andthe first Kentucky Cavalry.
Save for the first Kentucky,which extended the fourth
(09:17):
Kentucky's line.
The rest of the brigadeapproached the battlefield from
the north and linked with theunion line, but instead of
facing East, they faced SouthColonel Carter's Tennessean, and
Kentuckians opened with aflanking fire.
Soon after these positions weretaken by the Tennessee and 12th
(09:38):
Kentucky regiments I receivedfrom one of your aide's
information that the enemy wasadvancing through the woods and
not on the road.
We were guarding.
The brigade was immediatelyadvanced to meet him.
After reaching the woods, thethree regiments were closed in
on the enemy's right, the firstTennessee deployed into the
field, pressing the enemy'sright up the hill, firing at
(10:04):
him, and capturing someprisoners, among whom was
Lieutenant Colonel Carter of the20th Rebel Regiment of
Tennessee.
In this advance, the 12thKentucky, which was on the
extreme left of the line, had abrisk skirmish with a part of
the enemy's forces, and capturedseveral prisoners.
Second East Tennessee Regimentalso came up with and captured
(10:28):
several of the enemy.
Though almost evenly matched interms of manpower, major General
Thomas was able to bring more ofhis regiments into line faster
than the Confederates couldwhile brigadier general Zla
coffer strove to extend his ownline, sergeant McMurray in the
20th Tennessee facedinsurmountable odds to the north
(10:50):
of the road.
Colonel McCook with the ninthOhio and second Minnesota was
ordered up to the support of the10th Indiana, a section of
Kenny's battery and the fourthKentucky.
Which made eight regiments andone section of artillery that
the 15th Mississippi and 20thTennessee were fighting.
(11:12):
Zla Cfer attempted to form hisline on the left of the road
with the 19th Tennessee and the25th Tennessee regiments while
he placed the only artillerythat he had in the road.
This section of two guns wereunder the immediate command of
Lieutenant Rell and was the onlyartillery that was fired by the
(11:32):
Confederates.
Sergeant McMurray recounts itwas at this critical moment
while striving to form hisbrigade on heavily wooded and
uneven terrain that brigadierGeneral Zla coffer was killed.
The federals kept extendingtheir line to the left by
bringing their reinforcementsinto action.
(11:55):
The Mississippians moving totheir right to keep from being
flanked and the 20th Tennessee.
Trying to keep in touch with theMississippians.
Left, a gap between the left ofthe 20th Tennessee and re's guns
and the road.
And in the dense mist of therainy morning general Zla Cfer
rode into this gap on the rightof the road up to the fourth
(12:17):
Kentucky, whom he mistook forthe 20th, Tennessee, as that
regiment was the only regimentbetween the Mississippians and
Res battery and was fired on bya portion of Fry's regiment, and
he and his aide were bothkilled.
(12:37):
Colonel Speed s Fry's reportafter the battle says nothing
about his regiment firing uponbrigadier general Zla coffer.
But interestingly enough, majorGeneral Thomas's report mentions
Zla Z's death at the hands ofColonel Fry.
Colonel, SR Fry fourth Kentuckywas slightly wounded.
(13:00):
Wilted regiment was gallantlyresisting the advance of the
enemy during which time GeneralZeffer fell from a shot from his
Colonel Fry's pistol, which nodoubt contributed materially to
the discomfort of the enemy.
With the death of Brigadiergeneral Zla coffer, the cohesion
(13:22):
of the first brigade began tounravel.
But by this time, the secondbrigade under Brigadier General
Carroll was deploying along theMill Springs Road.
To the Northeast.
Sergeant McMurray and the 20thTennessee were beginning to
break under the concentratedunion fire.
The 19th, 25th and 29thTennessee regiments that were on
(13:47):
the other side of the road.
Were being engaged.
But not near so heavily as the20th Tennessee and the 15th
Mississippi, as Zla Hoffer'sbrigade began to be forced back.
Carol's brigade was formed, butcould not stem the tide of the
confusion that was caused by thedeath of General Zla cer.
(14:07):
Forcing back the 15th,Mississippi and 20th Tennessee,
who had bravely borne the bruntof the battle up to this time,
the 20th, Tennessee being armedwith Flintlock muskets.
Not one in five would fire onthe account of the incessant
rain.
The Flintlock musket was by thistime obsolete, but at this point
(14:31):
in the war, it was still in use.
While loading his musket,Sergeant McMurray had to pour a
gunpowder in a flash pan andload his rifle.
When he pulled the trigger, apiece of Flint struck the metal
covering the flash pan to whichsparks ignited the gunpowder and
discharged the weapon.
The East Tennesseans that facedSergeant McMurray were most
(14:54):
likely issued with modernpercussion cap rifles, which
replaced the flintlock mechanismwith a weapon that could fire in
any type of weather.
Eventually, two regimentsmarched to the support of
Sergeant McMurray and the 20thTennessee, and for a time
bolstered the right flank.
(15:16):
The 29th Tennessee under ColonelPowell came to the rescue of the
20th Tennessee and 15thMississippi, by pouring a
galling fire into the enemy atclose range.
It was here, that its Gallant.
Colonel was wounded the 16th,Alabama under Colonel WB Wood
(15:37):
also rendered good service, butthe battle was lost.
Even with the second brigadedeploying in line of battle, the
Confederates eventuallyretreated back down the Mill
Springs road.
But the battle was not yet overfor Sergeant McMurray and the
20th Tennessee.
(15:58):
A combination of circumstanceswas against the Confederates,
namely.
the loss of their principalofficer.
At the opening of theengagement, the incessant reigns
that rendered one third of thearms of the confederates useless
and the superior arms of theenemy, a retreat was ordered
back to Beach Grove and it didnot take much ordering.
(16:22):
And the federals followed upthat evening and by dark we're
throwing shells into our camp.
Crittenden Recrossed his armythat night on a little Steamboat
named Noble Ellis.
Leaving his camp Equipage.
12 pieces of artillery, about1000 horses and mules, and a
number of small arms and theworst of our wounded.
(16:46):
The Battle of Mill Springs wasone of the first significant
victories for the union andbrought the collapse of General
Johnston's defensive plan forEastern Kentucky.
For the time being, theinitiative was in the union's
hands, which now had access toEastern Tennessee.
Mill Springs also marked thedecline of major general
(17:07):
Crittenden in the Confederatearmy, whose career was
effectively finished by late1862.
Though, the District of EastTennessee disbanded in the wake
of Mill Springs, the 20th,Tennessee shifted further west
and fought at Shiloh StonesRiver, Chicka Maga, the Atlanta
(17:28):
campaign, and finally Nashville.
Following the war, William jMcMurray became a doctor.
Beginning in 1874.
Survivors of the regiment heldannual reunions around 19
September, the Battle of ChickaMaga.
It was at one of these reunionsthat William McMurray was
(17:49):
appointed to write the historyof the 20th Tennessee.
At the meeting in September,1900 at Antioch, it was
determined that the history ofthis command was worthy of
perpetuation and by unanimousvote I was appointed to write
the history and was madechairman of the publication
(18:09):
committee.
With these corrections andalterations, it is most
respectfully submitted to adiscriminating public with a
statement that if the author isincorrect in his views, the same
is chargeable to the 65survivors of the regiment who
rejoiced together in their hoursof brilliant achievements and
(18:30):
who mourned in unison in thosetimes of joint trial,
tribulation and trouble.
Thank you for listening to the52nd episode.
The link to Sergeant McMurray'sbook is now available on the
podcast website, first personCivil war podcast.com.
(18:51):
On Facebook, Instagram, x andLinkedIn.
This week you will find apicture of Sergeant McMurray
sometime after the war.
In two weeks time.
Father Henry Clel of the Dioceseof Savannah, provides next
episodes first person account ashe tends to the prisoners at
(19:14):
Andersonville.
My name is Bill Coghlan, andthank you for listening to First
Person Civil War Podcast.
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