Reserve Brigade, Army of the Potomac
Colonel W B Bate, 2nd Tennessee Infantry
Second Tennessee Infantry, Provisional army of the Confederate States
Mustered in Confederate servive for three years 14 and 17 May, 1861, dated 6 May, 1861. Arrived at Camp Wigfall, on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad, near McLean's Ford, on the Bull Run River, 20 July, 1861
COLONEL W B BATE
Captain W B Bate, 2nd Tennessee Infantry, Company I,
was appointed colonel, 2nd Tennessee Infantry, at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, on 6 May 1861, dated 17 April, 1861.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL D L GOODALL
Captain D L Goodall, 2nd Tennessee Infantry, Company H, was appointed lieutenant colonel, 2nd Tennessee Infantry, at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, on 6 May 1861, dated 17 April, 1861.
MAJOR W R DOAK
W R Doak was appointed major,
2nd Tennessee Infantry, on 6 May, 1861, dated 17 April, 1861.
- Company A Old Guard: CAPT. S N WHITE
The company was accepted in state service at Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee, on 1 May, 1861, and arrived at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, on 2 May, 1861. The company was mustered in state service for one year at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, for one year on 6 May, 1861. - Company B: CAPT. J G ANDERSON
The company was accepted in state service at Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee, on 1 May, 1861, and arrived at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, on 2 May, 1861. The company was mustered in state service for one year at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, on 6 May, 1861. - Company C Cumberland Rifles: CAPT. H J CHENEY
The company was accepted in state service at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, on 10 April, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year on 6 May, 1861. The company was consolidated with the 2nd Tennessee Infantry, Company G, on 1 September, 1863. - Company D: CAPT. J Denniston
The company was accepted in state service at Bell Buckle, Bedford County, Tennessee, on 1 May, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, for one year on 6 May, 1861. - Company E Carolina Greys: CAPT. C W HUNT
The company was accepted in state service at Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, on 22 April, 1861, and arrived at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, on 2 May, 1861. The company was mustered in state service for one year at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, on 6 May, 1861. - Company F Rutherford Blues: CAPT. T D WHITE
The company was accepted in state service at Millersburg, Rutherford County, Tennessee, on 1 May, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, for one year on 6 May, 1861. - Company G: CAPT. J H EaRTHMAN
The company was accepted in state service at White Creek's, near Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, on 1 May, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, on 6 May, 1861. The company was ordered to proceed by the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad to Lynchburg, Virginia, on 7 May, 1861, and was consolidated with the 2nd Tennessee Infantry, Company C, on 1 September, 1863. - Company H Hartsville Greys: CAPT. W G Henry
The company was mustered in state service at Hartsville, Sumner County, Tennessee, under the command of Captain D L Goodall, on 27 April, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year, under the command of Captain W G Henry, at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, for one year on 6 May, 1861. Captain D L Goodall, 2nd Tennessee Infantry, Company H, was appointed lieutenant colonel, 2nd Tennessee Infantry, the same day. - Company I Sumner Legion: CAPT. J P TYREe
The company was accepted in state service at Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee, under the command of Captain W B Bate, on 27 April, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year, under the command of Captain J P Tyree, at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, on 6 May, 1861. Captain W B Bate, 2nd Tennessee Infantry, Company I, was appointed colonel, 2nd Tennessee Infantry, at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, the same day. - Company K Sumner Greys or Legion: CAPT. H BATE
The company was accepted in state service at Castalian Springs, Sumner County, Tennessee, on 1 May, 1861, and was ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, on 3 May, 1861. The company was mustered in state service for one year at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, for one year on 6 May, 1861.
Source
"The First Battalion of the Second Regiment of Tennessee volunteers, about five hundred strong, reached Lynchburg early Sunday morning last."
The Richmond daily Dispatch, 15 May, 1861 - Arrival of Middle Tennessee troops
"An accession to the number of volunteers stationed at Richmond took place yesterday morning at 2 o'clock P. M., the Danville train having arrrived at that time with 2d Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers, composed of 952 men, and commanded by Col. Wm. B. Bate, a distinguished lawyer of Gallatin county, Tenn., as also a well-tried soldier upon the fields of Mexico."
The Richmond daily Dispatch, 22 May, 1861 - More Tennessee Volunteers, the Walker Legion
"The first battalion of the Middle Tennessee Regiment, known as the Walker Legion, under command of Col. Wm. B. Bate, reached this place about two o'clock yesterday evening. Though the time of their coming was not generally known, quite a large concourse of our citizens, including a number of ladies, assembled at the depot and gave them an East Tennessee welcome. Col. Bate and Lieut.Col. L. L. Goodall accompanied them. There were about five hundred, and as fine a body of soldiers as have passed through here."
The Richmond daily Dispatch, 27 May, 1861 - Tennessee column Rolling on
"On 19 July, 1861, the brigade joined Beauregard's forces at Manassas, preparatory to the battle of 21 July. Holmes' Brigade was placed in support of Brigadier General R S Ewell's Brigade, and was not actively engaged in the fighting, although it came under heavy fire while shifting position in the afternoon of the battle."
Tennesseans in the Civil War Part I: A military history of Confederate and Union units with available rosters of personnel, in two parts, published by the Civil War Centennial Commission, Nashville, Tennessee, 1864
"Holmes' brigade, an independent command ordered up from Aquia Creek, consisted of two regiments, reported by Beauregard at a total of 1,355, and 6 guns."
The army in the Civil War, Volume 1: The outbreak of rebellion, by John G Nicolay, private Secretary to President Lincoln
"His tall-crowned M1858 forage cap, quartered with yellow piping, was exactly the same style as that worn by members of Bate's 2nd Tennessee Infantry."
The Confederate Army 1861-65 (5): Tennessee & North Carolina, text by R Field & illustrated by R Hook
Supplement to the Official Records: Part II, Record of Events: Record of events for Second (Bate's) Tennessee Infantry (Provisional Army), August 1861-July 1863, edited by James B Hewett
The Daily Nashville Patriot, 17 and 24 May, 1861
The military annals of Tennessee, Confederate: First series embracing a review of military operations, with regimental histories and memorial rolls compiled from original and official sources, edited by John Berrien Lindsley, M. D., D. D.
The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Volume 69, No.2, April 1961, pp149-180: The military orders of Daniel Ruggles, Department of Fredericksburg, 22 April to 5 June, 1861, by Meriwether Stuart
The Rebellion Record: A diary of American events with documents, narratives, illustrative incidents, poetry etc, with twelve portraits of steel, and various maps and diagrams, First Volume, edited by Frank Moore, author of "Diary of American Revolution"
Notes
The 2nd Tennessee Infantry, Provisional Army of the Confederate States, was accepted in Confederate service on 25 April, 1861, and was mustered in state service for one year at Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, on 6 May, 1861.
Note: The 2nd Tennessee Infantry was also known as the Walker Legion in honour to the Secretary of War L P Walker.
Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, to Lynchburg, Virginia, Companies E, F, H, I, & K, 9-12 May, 1861: The 2nd Tennessee Infantry, Companies E, F, H, I, and K, under the command of Colonel W B Bate and Lieutenant Colonel D L Goodall, were ordered to proceed by the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad to Lynchburg, Virginia, on 9 May, 1861, and and arrived by the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad via Chattanooga, Hamilton County; Knoxville, Knox County; and Bristol, Sullivan County, Tennessee, in the morning on 12 May, 1861.
Nashville, Davisdon County, Tennessee, to Lynchburg, Virginia, Companies A, B, C, D, & G, 15-17 May, 1861: The 2nd Tennessee Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, and G, under the command of Major W R Doak, arrived by the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad at Bristol, Sullivan County, via Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, at 9 AM on 15 May, 1861, and were ordered to proceed by the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad to Lynchburg, Virginia, the same day. Companies A, B, C, D, and G arrived at Lynchburg, Virginia, on 17 May, 1861.
Mustered in three years, Lynchburg, Virginia, 14 & 17 May, 1861, dated 6 May, 1861: The 2nd Tennessee Infantry, Companies E, F, H, I, and K, were mustered in Confederate service for three years at Lynchburg, Virginia, by Major & Assistant Adjutant General H L Clay, Confederate States Army, on 14 May, 1861, dated 6 May, 1861, and Companies A, B, C, D, and G on 17 May, 1861, dated 6 May, 1861.
Note: The 2nd Tennessee Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, and G, under the command of Major W R Doak, arrived by the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad at Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee, on 14 May, 1861, and were accompanied the 1st Arkansas Infantry, Companies F, G, H, I, and K, to Bristol, Sullivan County, Tennessee, the same day (See the 1st Arkansas Infantry).
Lynchburg to Richmond, Virginia, 20-21 May, 1861: The 2nd Tennessee Infantry was ordered to proceed by the Southside Railroad to Richmond, Virginia, on 20 May, 1861, and arrived by the Richmond & Danville Railroad at 2 PM on 21 May, 1861. The regiment was stationed at Camp Lee, the Hermitage or New Fairgrounds, near Richmond, Virginia, between 21 and 26 May, 1861.
Battery No.1, Aquia Creek Landing, overlooking the Potomac River & Aquia Creek, 8 May, 1861: Major T H Williamson, Virginia Corps Engineers, was assigned to build a battery at Aquia Creek Landing, overlooking the Potomac River and Aquia Creek, on 8 May, 1861, and Captain W F Lynch, Confederate States Navy, was assigned to command the naval batteries on 14 May, 1861.
Note: Commander R D Thorburn, and Lieutenants H H Lewis and J Wilkinson, were assigned as assistant comandants to the naval batteries at Aquia Creek Landing, overlooking the Potomac River and Aquia Creek, on 14 May, 1861, and a detachment of twelve men of each company stationed at Camp Mercer, near Fredericksburg, Virginia, was assigned to the naval batteries on the Potomac River, under Captain W F Lynch, Confederate States Navy, by General Orders No.13, Headquarters, Department of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, Virginia, on 22 May, 1861 (See the 30th Virginia Infantry). Major T H Williamson was ordered to Manassas Junction, Virginia, by Special Orders No.16, Headquarters, Department of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, Virginia, on 25 May, 1861 (See Engineers, Army of the Potomac).
Richmond to Brooke's Station, Stafford County, Virginia, 26-27 May, 1861: The 2nd Tennessee Infantry was ordered to proceed by the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad to Fredericksburg, Virginia, by Special Orders No.119, Paragraph II, Headquarters, Virginia Forces, Richmond, Virginia, on 26 May, 1861, dated 25 May, 1861, and arrived via Hanover Junction, Hanover County, Virginia, on 27 May, 1861.
Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Brooke's Station, Stafford County, Virginia, 28 May, 1861: The 2nd Tennessee Infantry was ordered to proceed by the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad to Brooke's Station, Stafford County, Virginia, by General Orders No.16, Headquarters, Department of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, Virginia, on 28 May, 1861, and arrived at Camp Jackson, near Brooke's Station, Stafford County, Virginia, the same day.
Note: Colonel W B Bate, 2nd Tennessee Infantry, was assigned to command the District of Stafford and King George, except the Naval Batteries, by General Orders No.16, Headquarters, Department of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, Virginia, on 28 May, 1861.
Skirmish at Aquia Creek Landing, overlooking the Potomac River & Aquia Creek, 31 May & 1 June, 1861: The 2nd Tennessee Infantry was ordered to proceed by the Richmond, Fredericksburg, & Potomac Railroad to Aquia Creek Landing, overlooking the Potomac River and Aquia Creek, in the morning on 31 May, 1861, and was accompanied by the Fredericksburg Guards, the Fredericksburg Rifle Greys, the Caroline Greys, the Chilesburg Light Infantry, and the Caroline Light Dragoons. The regiment arrived at Aquia Creek Landing, overlooking the Potomac River and Aquia Creek, at 1 PM the same day and was ordered to proceed by the Brooke's Station, Stafford County, Virginia, in the evening on 31 May, 1861. The 2nd Tennessee Infantry was ordered to Aquia Creek Landing, overlooking the Potomac River and Aquia Creek, in the morning on 1 June, 1861, and was engaged in a skirmish between 11.30 and 4.30 AM the same day.
Note: The Fredericksburg Guards, the Fredericksburg Rifle Greys, the Caroline Greys, the Chilesburg Light Infantry, and the Caroline Light Dragoons, were ordered to Fredericksburg, Virginia, under the command of Colonel D Ruggles, in the evening on 31 May, 1861, and arrived at Camp Mercer, near Fredericksburg, Virginia, the same day.
Distribution, Aquia Creek Landing, overlooking the Potomac River & Aquia Creek, 1 June, 1861: Two companies of the 2nd Tennessee Infantry, three 6 pounder Parrott rifles of the Purcell Artillery, and the Caroline Light Dragoons, under the command of Captain S A Swann, at Brent’s or Symmes' Point, opposite Aquia Creek Landing, overlooking the Potomac River and Aquia Creek (See the Purcell Artillery); seven companies of the 2nd Tennessee Infantry as a reserve near Aquia Creek Landing, overlooking the Potomac River and Aquia Creek; and the 2nd Tennessee Infantry, Company E, under the command of Captain C W Hunt, at Battery No.2, Aquia Creek Landing, overlooking the Potomac River and Aquia Creek; one 6 pounder Parrott rifle of the Purcell Artillery, under the command of Cadet P Robertson, 2nd Tennessee Infantry, at Battery No.1, Aquia Creek Landing, overlooking the Potomac River and Aquia Creek; and the 1st Virginia Infantry, Companies E (1st) and F (1st), at the rear of Aquia Creek Landing, overlooking the Potomac River and Aquia Creek, on 1 June, 1861 (See the 1st Virginia Infantry).
Note: Colonel W B Bates was temporarily assigned to command at Aquia Creek Landing, overlooking the Potomac River and Aquia Creek, in the morning on 1 June, 1861, and Colonel D Ruggles arrived by the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad at Aquia Creek, on the Potomac River, at 12 PM the same day. Five companies of the 1st Arkansas Infantry and 2nd Tennessee Infantry were assigned to Lieutenant Colonel R M Cary on 3 June, 1861 (See the 30th Virginia Infantry).
Brooke's Station, Stafford County, Virginia, to Coan Creek Landing, overlooking Coan River, 27-29 June, 1861: The 2nd Tennessee Infantry was ordered to Coan Creek Landing, overlooking Coan River, as part of an expedition to capture the steamers St Nicolas, Monticello, and Mary Pierce at 10 PM on 27 June, 1861, and arrived at Fredericksburg, Virginia, at 1 AM on 28 June, 1861. The regiment was ordered to proceed by the steamer Virginia on the Rappahannock River to Coan Creek Landing, overlooking Coan River, on 28 June, 1861, and arrived via Heathsville, Northumberland County, Virginia, at 7 AM on 29 June, 1861.
Brooke's Station, Stafford County, to Manassas Junction, Virginia, 19-20 July, 1861: The 2nd Tennessee Infantry was ordered to Manassas Junction, Virginia, under the command of Brigadier General T H Holmes, Confederate States Army, by Special Orders No.224, Paragraph IV, Headquarters, Virginia Forces, Richmond, Virginia, on 19 July, 1861, dated 17 July, 1861, and was accompanied by the 1st Arkansas Infantry and the Purcell Artillery. The regiment arrived at Dumfries, Prince William County, Virginia, in the evening the same day and at Camp Wigfall, on McLean's Farm, near the intersection of Union Mills and Hooe's Hill Roads, in the morning on 20 July, 1861. The 2nd Tennessee Infantry was assigned as a reserve to the Second Brigade, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Brigadier General R S Ewell, Confederate States Army, stationed at Union Mills, on the Bull Run River, on 21 July, 1861 (See the Second Brigade, Army of the Potomac).
Note: Colonel D Ruggles, Confederate States Army, was temporarily assigned to command the Department of Fredericksburg between 19 and 23 July, 1861, and the 30th Virginia Cavalry, Company K, arrived at Dumfries, Prince William County, Virginia, in the evening on 19 July, 1861 (See Scott's Squadron Cavalry).
After the first battle of Manassas the 2nd Tennessee Infantry arrived at Camp Wigfall, on McLean's Farm, near the intersection of Union Mills and Hooe's Hill Roads, in the afternoon on 23 July, 1861.
Note: The 2nd Tennessee Infantry was ordered to Brooke's Station, Stafford County, Virginia, by Special Orders No.147, Paragraph I, Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Camp Pickens, near Manassas Junction, Virginia, on 22 July, 1861.
Camp Wigfall, on McLean's Farm, near the intersection of Union Mills & Hooe's Hill Roads, to Brooke's Station, Stafford County, Virginia, 24-25 July, 1861: The 2nd Tennessee Infantry was ordered to Brooke's Station, Stafford County, Virginia, in the morning on 24 July, 1861, and was accompanied by the 1st Arkansas Infantry and the Purcell Artillery. The regiment arrived at Brooke's Station, Stafford County, Virginia, in the afternoon on 25 July, 1861.
Reorganised, 4th Tennessee Consolidated Infantry, 9 April 1865: The 2nd Tennessee Infantry and the 3rd, 10th, 15th, 18th, 20th, 26th, 30th, 32nd, 37th, 45th Tennessee Infantry, and the 23rd Tennessee Battalion Infantry were reorganised as the 4th Tennessee Consolidated Infantry on 9 April 1865.
Surrendered at Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina, 26 April, 1865: The 4th Tennessee Consolidated Infantry surrendered at Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina, on 26 April, 1865.
Colonel D Ruggles, Confederate States Army, Department of Fredricksburg, 22 April-5 June, 1861: Brevet Lieutenant Colonel D Ruggles, 5th United States Infantry, resigned on 19 April, 1861, and was appointed lieutenant colonel, Provisional Army of Virginia, on 22 April, 1861. Lieutenant Colonel D Ruggles, Provisional Army of Virginia, was appointed colonel, infantry, Confederates States Army, dated 16 March, 1861, and was assigned to command the Department of Fredericksburg including the Potomac River between Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, Virginia, and the Rappahannock River between 22 April and 5 June, 1861. Colonel D Ruggles, infantry, Confederates States Army, was appointed brigadier general, Confederates States Army, on 9 August, 1861, and was ordered to Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida, by Special orders No.130, Paragraph XII, Adjutant & Inspector General's Office, Richmond, Virginia, on 21 August, 1861.
Note: Colonel D Ruggles, infantry, Confederates States Army, was assigned to command the troops from the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, and Westmoreland by Special Orders No.39, Paragraph I, Headquarters of the Division, Richmond, Virginia, on 10 May, 1861.
Brigadier General T H Holmes, Confederate States Army, Department of Fredricksburg, 5 June, 1861: Major T H Holmes, 8th United States Infantry, resigned at Fort Columbus, Governor's Island, New York Harbour, on 5 April, 1861, dated 22 April, 1861, and was relieved from duty as superintendent of the United States General Recruiting Service, Department of the East, Headquarters, Fort Columbus, Governor's Island, New York Harbour, by Special Orders No.57, Headquarters of the Army, Manhattan (New York County), New York City, New York, on 6 April, 1861 (See the United States Battalion Infantry). Brigadier General T H Holmes, Provisional Army of North Carolina, was stationed at Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, on 16 April, 1861, and was ordered to Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, on 17 April, 1861. He was appointed colonel, infantry, Confederate States Army, at Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, on 20 April, 1861, dated 16 March, 1861, and was ordered to Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, by Special Orders No.32, Paragraph I, Adjutant & Inspectors General's Office, Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, on 22 April, 1861. Brigadier General T H Holmes, Provisional Army of North Carolina, was assigned to command the Coast Defenses, Headquarters, Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, on 26 April, 1861, and the Coast Defenses, Southern Department, Headquarters, Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, by General Orders No.2, North Carolina, Adjutant General's Office, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, on 27 May, 1861. Colonel C C Tew, 2nd North Carolina State Troops, was assigned to command the Coast Defenses, Southern Department, Headquarters, Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, by Special Orders No.8, North Carolina State Troops, Adjutant General's Office, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, on 1 June, 1861, and Colonel T H Holmes, infantry, Confederate States Army, was appointed brigadier general, Confederate States Army, at Richmond, Virginia, on 5 June, 1861. Brigadier General T H Holmes, Confederate States Army, was ordered to Fredericksburg, Virginia, by Special Orders No.64, Paragraph IV, Adjutant & Inspectors General's Office, Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, on the same day.
Note: Major W H C Whiting, corps engineers, Confederates States Army, was appointed inspector general to Brigadier General T H Holmes, Provisional Army of North Carolina, at Headquarters, Coast Defences, Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, between 6 and 16 May, 1861 (See the Engineers, Army of the Shenandoah).
The Department of Fredericksburg, under the command of Brigadier General T H Holmes, Confederate States Army, was reorganised as the Aquia District, Department of Northern Virginia, on 22 October, 1861.
The 2nd Tennessee Infantry was assigned to Walker's Brigade, under the command of Colonel J G Walker, on 13 September, 1861.
OFFICIAL REPORT NO.115: Series I, Volume 2 (Serial No.2), Chapter IX, pp565-566
Brigadier General T H Holmes, Confederate States Army, Reserve Brigade, Army of the Potomac, Brooke's Station, Stafford County, Virginia, 24 July, 1861
Orders of Battle
The above painting, 'The Fourth Alabama', is by Don Troiani, modern America's finest historical artist.