Several Errors Corrected

Confederate Veteran
Volume 6, Number 8, Page 374 - 375
August 1898

Gen. John M. Claiborne writes from Rusk, Tex., June 14,1898:
Statements in the Veteran will, in after years, be incorporated in history, or, at least, be made the base for both historical and biographical writings. Opinions of men may honestly differ in statement, but should not upon facts. Men are prone to hero worship, and are frequently led into error unwittingly by their ideal hero.

In the August (1897) Veteran, pages 402 405, is a statement by Robert Adamson in an interview of Col. George W. Adair with ex Gov. Harris, of Tennessee. In this interview he states: "A few weeks after Gov. Harris and I were detailed to go to Rough and Ready, to accompany Maj. Sinclaire, one of Hood's staff officers, to represent the Southern army," etc. Hood had no staff officer by the name of Sinclaire. Continuing again "Harris and I left Hood's army shortly after leaving Atlanta, and went to Mississippi and joined Forrest. We were at Grenada. Brownlow had a reward out for Harris, and he borrowed $1,000 in gold from a gambler named Sherman and refugeed to Cordova, Mexico."

Hood, soon after the fall of Atlanta, began to make the celebrated rear move into Tennessee, Sherman not driving him to the sea. On that campaign, after crossing the Tennessee River at Florence, Ala., I was with Gen Hood at least once each week until the battle at Franklin, and was then with him almost every day until the day after the battle of Nashville. I was in charge of the secret service during the entire campaign until sent to Florence, after the defeat at Nashville, to aid in putting in the pontoon bridge, Gov. Harris being near Hood during the entire movement. Afterward he went to a plantation in Red River County, Tex., where his negroes had been previously taken. Then Brownlow offered the reward, and he went into Mexico and to Maximilian. Instead of leaving Forrest at Grenada for Texas, he came with Forrest to Hood, at or near Florence, Ala. (if with Forrest at all).

Hood had a staff officer, Maj. Clare, who married Miss Mary Hadley, the stepdaughter of Maj. John L. Brown, of whom you have a sketch in your March (1898) number, page 128.

The error is in the entire statement, and especially that Harris went to Mexico until after Forrest and Taylor surrendered, in May, 1865, and this after Lee had surrendered and Johnston quit fighting, for want of men, ammunition, and food. The men fought without clothes, but hunger and no powder and ball forced them to quit trying.

On page 417, same edition, I find an article from the pen of Judge J. A. Wharton, of Jackson, Miss., concerning Maj. Gen. John A. Wharton, in which there are errors. I was the adjutant of Terry's Texas Rangers. John A. Wharton recruited Company B, Archer Grays, and was their first captain. He was not the law partner of Col. Terry. Terry was a planter. Col. Terry was not killed at Shiloh, but at Woodsonville (or Rowlett's Station), in Kentucky, December 17, 1861. Wharton's law partner was Clint N. Terry, who was a volunteer courier to Col. John A. Wharton at Shiloh, and was wounded there April 6, 1862, dying from the effects of his wound in a few days. The writer says it is believed that Wharton was promoted for gallantry in every battle in which he was engaged. He was elected captain of Company B, and, upon the death of Terry and Lubbock, he was elected colonel of the regiment. Up to that time he had never been under fire. Then, according to this biographer, he was in only two battles, in one of which he was promoted to brigadier general and in the other to major general. This is unjust to his memory. He was in several battles. General Order No. 12, by Gen. Polk, I never saw before. The facts are: Wharton was colonel commanding a cavalry brigade near the fair grounds at Bardstown, Ky., October 4, 1862, when he was surrounded. He obeyed Folk's order to remain at a given point until a given minute. The enemy were met, Rangers in front. The enemy in their front were on a pike (macadam road), with a five foot stone fence on each side, and in column of platoon of sixteen file. They were charged by the Rangers and repulsed, by the bugle sound of charge, but no man gave the order. It was the quick perception of the situation by the bugler, Ben C. Polk. Wharton's gray mare was shot in the fore leg by the first Yankee platoon. In the confusion every man fought on his own hook. The Federals reported two hundred and eighty four killed and wounded, but it freed the army of Bragg for three days, or until the 7th of October, when there was planned by Bragg and executed by Wharton the most brilliant move he ever was connected with, culminating in the saving of Bragg's army at Perryville, Ky. October 1, 1862. The charge was led by the Rangers, as usual, every man doing his level best to get in first and do all the damage he possibly could by staying in and shooting all the time and hitting a man in a vital spot every time he shot. This charge was one of three made by Terry's Rangers that surpassed any others made by any troops during the war. "In the charge at Perryville they killed three times their number."

In the list of the celebrated Shannon Scouts, as given in same number, page 419, there are errors: Lou, instead of Lon Compton, Maverick, instead of Mavic, Haggerty, instead of Hogarty, Oliver, instead of Evan Walker. Emmett Lynch was murdered by his prisoner. Absolute accuracy is sought for the Veteran, so contributors are urged to special care in writing names.