Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-07-26
CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES
OF THE
18th TENNESSEE REGIMENT.
Copyrighted June 9TH, 1884. All rights re.
served.
BY II. A. HEAD.

BY II. A. HEAD.
The Confederates continued to re.
treat from Baldwin to Saltillo, and
thence to Tupelo, where they arrived
on the 10th of June, and encamped on
range of ridges about three miles west
of the depot. The men were worn out
with fatigue after SO long march, but
they soon recuperated. Clearing off
the timber for their encampment they
enjoyed the benefits of rest and quiet.
Finding that good water could be OBJ
tanned by digging short distance, the
men began sinking wells, and in day
or two good wells could be found over
the encampment. Supplies were plen-
tiful, for the resources of the Confed-
eracy were not so severely taxed as at
subsequent periods. The men here be-
gan to have their first experience in
high prices. The troops were supplied
with clothing. Everything was plenti-
full, and the men were in good spirits
General Bragg was now in command
of the whole army. The greatest care
was devoted to the drilling and discip-
lining the troops. The army remained
here until the latter part Of July, when
it started on its celebrated campaign
into Kentucky.
REORGANIZATION.
We will now return to the reorgani-
cation Of the 18th Tennessee regiment,
and of the whole army, which took
place at Corinth during the earlier part
of May, The greater portion of the
Confederate troops enlisted for twelve
months, and while at Corinth their
time expired. The enemy had this
circumstance IN view and had organi-
zed tremendous armies in front of Cor
NTH and Richmond, and seemed to be
leisurely awaiting the discharge of the
twelve months troops of the Conteder>
ates, whose time would expire the lat
ter part of April or early in May,
1862. The Confederate authorities
had considered this circumstance care
fully, and saw that if they disbanded
the regiments as their time expired
that the cause of the Confederacy
would be hopeless. A general con-
scription was promptly decided upon,
as recommended to the Confederate
Congress in special message from the
President, and general CONSUMPTION
act was passed by that body about the
middle of April By the terms of this
act all soldiers between the ages of is
and 45 were to be retained in the ser
vice to the close of the war. such sol.
diers as were over fortyNfve and under
eighteen, were to be discharged, and q
bounty was offered to all such for re-
enlistment. The commissioned officers
had the privilege of resigning, and tC
all who were not included in the cata
logue Of exemptions, certain time
was given them to choose the branch
of the service they were to enter. The
same provisions that applied to soldiers
applied also to civilians, and enrolling
officers were to be stationed in eact
civil district to enforce the provisions
This placed an armed force in every
neighborhood. The enrolling officer
and their men gathered up the people
and sent them to the army, and thu
ranks were recruited in this manner
Many saw the approach of the conscrip
and enlisted. Such men made goo(
soldiers. Of the conscript force thu
majority went under protest. Of thi
number there were few effective sol
diers. Some fought we'll in the differ
ant battles, and many deserted at tn,
first opportunity, persistently avoiding
all participancy in the war. To lool
after this class required the service o
efficient soldiers. With this class o
recruits the rolls were enlarged and tn
Confederate ranks nominally strength
ened, but practically weakened.
The conscript act had reference frs
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