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Commence Fire!
"It is well that war
is so terrible, else we should grow too fond of it." General Robert E. Lee
Hand-to-Hand Combat at Strawberry Plains Tennessee - November 8, 1861
Reconnoitre of Chattanooga Tennessee - June 1862
In May 1862, Companies
A and L of the Sixteenth North Carolina Infantry Regiment reorganized into Thomas’ Legion, however, they transferred to the legion after they fought in the Battle of Antietam. Soldiers from the Sixteenth North Carolina had fought in the battles of Seven Pines, Antietam, Seven Days Battles around
Richmond, and Second Bull Run. Thomas' Legion warmly welcomed these battle-hardened soldiers. In June 1862, Colonel Thomas and 40 men from the legion reconnoitered
Union positions at Chattanooga, Tennessee. While reconnoitering, the legion captured one Union soldier, a vidette, and hoped for their baptism of fire. "The Indians say as I took the first prisoner each of them must take one to be even," stated Thomas in a letter to his wife on June 25, 1862. Subsequently,
as they marched toward Chattanooga, Union Brigadier General James Negley was ordered to retreat. General Negley was a veteran
of the Mexican-American War and, after the Civil War, he served as a U.S. Congressman. Although deprived of their opportunity
to fight, the Thomas Legion reconnoiters wouldn’t have to wait long.
Cherokees in Battle - September 13, 1862
In 1862 the Confederacy experienced the War's major turning point and, in 1862, according to Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, several companies of the Sixty-ninth
Regiment were ordered to Powell's Valley, which is located between Jacksboro and the Cumberland Gap. On September 13, 1862, one Indian company returning to Baptist Gap, which is located near the Virginia state line and about ten miles north
of Rogersville, TN., was ambushed by a Union reconnaissance force. The Indiana regiment's soldiers shot and killed
a soldier of the 69th, and, instead of the standard retreat, the Cherokees immediately rushed the enemy, which surprised
and confused the Yankees. Without reloading their weapons, the Cherokees valiantly fought hand-to-hand with the soldiers and
before the Union army retreated the Indians had killed and wounded several Federals. Stringfield recalled that "the
Indians were led by
Lt. Astoogatogeh, a splendid specimen of Indian manhood and warrior, who was also killed in the charge." The Indians were furious at the death of Astoogatogeh and
before they could be restrained they had scalped several of the Federal wounded and dead. That behavior caused Colonel
Thomas to rebuke his company and he further commanded the soldiers of Thomas’ Legion to never mention the scalping,
stating that it would only make matters worse. Word of these fierce fighting Cherokees rapidly spread through
the Union ranks. Many Cherokee leaders were Christians, including John Astoogatogeh (also Astooga Stoga). He was a man of faith, a professed
Christian, his efforts greatly contributed to the New Testament being translated into the Cherokee language by the American
Bible Society, and he was the grandson of Chief Junaluska. Junaluska had saved General (later 7th President) Andrew Jackson's life at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. From September 1862 to June 1863, there was "little to break the monotony of camp life and provost duty." The Thomas Legion enforced conscription, apprehended
saboteurs and insurgents, and, also guarded bridges, block houses, and railroads. It "was hard, disagreeable
work."
Battle at Strawberry Plains Bridge Tennessee - June 20, 1863
In January
1863, Western North Carolina had witnessed the Shelton Laurel Massacre. On June 20, 1863, West Virginia
was admitted into the Union and the newly formed “Mountain State” bid farewell to her divorced Virginia.
However, this day dealt another blow to the Confederacy. Thomas’ Legion was spread through out East Tennessee, and at
Strawberry Plains 400 Confederates guarded the
highly
coveted Strawberry Plains
Railroad Bridge. 200 soldiers
were from Berry's and Whitaker's Companies, Walker’s Battalion of Thomas’ Legion, and another 200 were convalescents
and soldiers from mixed units. Union Colonel William P. Sanders, Army of the
Ohio, with about 1500 (numerous units as stated in O.R., 23, i, pp. 386-389. Includes Sanders' detailed report) flanked their position and attacked. As
the advancing Union army received murderous grape and canister shots, the Federals realized that Levi’s Battery was
included in the 400. Ironically, many Confederates retreated to the northern end of the bridge and proceeded into the Old Stringfield Cemetery. The Old Stringfield Cemetery, adjacent to the Holston River, is where
William Stringfield's father, mother, two brothers, and a sister were buried and the cemetery's four-foot stonewalls
provided excellent protection for the "fighting highlanders." The mixed elements fought handsomely against the Yankees, but
many were compelled to surrender. About 140 surrendered and most of them were from Thomas’ Legion. They signed parole
papers stating that they would return to their homes, but about half of the parolees immediately returned to the legion while
the rest returned to their homes in North Carolina (the latter eventually
returned to the legion or served as Home Guard). The Union army, however, also captured Levi's four pieces of artillery and eleven of the battery's men. Colonel Sanders reported that his army had "destroyed the splendid bridge over the
Holston River, over 1,600 feet long, built on eleven piers. The trestle-work included, this bridge was 2,100 feet in length."
The Federals accomplished their goal by destroying the Strawberry
Plains Bridge, which was also considered the most important bridge in East Tennessee. U.S. Military Academy graduate and Union General, Ambrose Burnside, pleasurably stated,
“It will take months to rebuild it” (O.R., 23, i, 385). Also see East Tennessee and American Civil War Railroads.
Thomas & the Cherokees Deploy to the North Carolina Mountains - September 1863
In the fall of 1863, Colonel Thomas ordered Captains Parker, Cooper, Whitaker, Berry, Nelson and Loudermilk to enter Cherokee County and press into service absentees and furloughed men of his and other commands. When the Confederate forces in the Cumberland
Gap capitulated on September 9, 1863, Colonel Thomas and the two Cherokee Companies
were guarding the passes of the Smokies (O.R. 1, 30, pt. III, p. 661 and O.R., 1, Vol. 18, p. 811). Thomas was following General Buckner’s Orders and on Sept. 2, 1863, Thomas and the two Cherokee Companies departed
Strawberry Plains for Western North Carolina. With the exception of the Skirmish at Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in December
1863, Thomas and the Cherokees would spend the remainder of the Civil War in the North Carolina mountains. While in North Carolina, Thomas and the
Cherokees were responsible for recruitment duties, fighting bushwhackers, and engaging the Union army (O.R., 53, pp. 313-314).
During the first week of September 1863, part of the Sixty-ninth and most of Walker's Battalion, which many believed was now a regiment, with detachments of the Twenty-ninth, Thirty-ninth, Sixtieth and Sixty-second North
Carolina Regiments, retreated to the gap of the Smoky Mountains. They retreated to the North Carolina line to guard against an
invasion of that region (O.R., i, 30, iv, p. 537). The greater part
of the Sixty-ninth, with part of Singleton's, Berry's, Whitaker's and Aikin's companies of the Eightieth, fell back towards Bristol, Va. Immediately upon his occupancy of Knoxville, General Burnside "sent forces up the railroad,
which had been surrendered without a struggle, for the destruction of a bridge." He also ordered cavalry to Blount,
Sevier, Cocke and Washington counties, Tennessee, to "guard against surprises from that direction," and this threatened North
Carolina by way of Murphy, Webster, Waynesville and Asheville. Burnside also attempted to capture "Colonel Thomas' forces
and good turnpike roads penetrating the mountains." But the "fighting end of
Thomas' Legion was not idle; it marched and counter-marched in every county in East Tennessee, and up to Saltville,
Va." Counter-marching also promoted the impression of a much larger force. (O.R., i, 30, iv, p. 26 and O.R., i, 30, iv, p. 537).
Battles at Telford and Limestone Station Tennessee - September 8, 1863
The same day that General Burnside occupied Knoxville, Thomas,
with the two Indian Companies and many whites, which totaled several hundred men, withdrew from Strawberry Plains and
passed through Sevierville to the North Carolina line. Thomas was pursued by the Federals and had "quite a skirmish near Sevierville
on September 7 or 8, 1863." Thomas, however, crossed the Smoky Mountains and at once securely blockaded all the
roads leading in that direction from Paint Rock to Ducktown. Lieutenant-Colonel Love and Major Stringfield, with 600 to 700 men, were ordered
to fortify and hold Carter's Depot at the railroad bridge across the Watauga, about twenty miles west of Bristol. General Alfred Jackson advanced with reserves, the balance of the Sixty-ninth North Carolina (Walker's Battalion: O.R., i, 30, ii, pp. 643-644), the Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, Sixteenth Georgia Cavalry, and Burrough's Battery; and learning that the enemy (100th Ohio
Federal Infantry) was fortifying in and around the old limestone blockhouse and a stone mansion near by, the Sixty-ninth was
ordered to advance at 3:00 a.m. On the 8th, the Sixty-ninth forced the enemy from Telford's depot
to Limestone, where they made a determined stand and were "evidently being handled by some veteran officers." Closing in upon
them on all sides, the Sixty-ninth forced their surrender, with an "enemy loss of 20 killed, 30 wounded, and 290
prisoners, and they captured 400 splendid small arms (Enfield Rifles)." The Sixty-ninth's loss was 6 killed
and 15 wounded, but it was immediately armed with the desperately
needed Enfields. Major Stringfield also received the sword from the Union's Lt. Colonel Edwin L. Hayes. And in 1901,
Stringfield recorded that they had "captured 314, wounded 30, and killed 20. Our loss 6 Killed and 15 wounded."
Regarding the enemy's losses, the preliminary or initial account appears to be more accurate. The Union report stated
that they only suffered 1 killed, 2 wounded, and 200 captured (O.R., i, 30, ii, 578), while Dyer's Compendium states that the Confederates captured 240 men from the 100th Ohio
Infantry Regiment.
The Fate of the Cumberland Gap
General Ulysses S. Grant, traveling through the Gap in 1864 noted: "With two brigades of the Army of the Cumberland
I could hold that pass against the army which Napoleon led to Moscow."
In early July of 1863, the South had suffered two major defeats: the Battle of Vicksburg and the Battle of Gettysburg. The North had accomplished its Anaconda Plan by successfully dividing the South. With the capture of Vicksburg, the River Campaign was complete and the
South was totally cut-off from the west. By defeating Lee at Gettysburg, the South abandoned its Campaign of the North, and the Confederacy was again fighting a defensive
War. The Confederates surrendering the Cumberland Gap was one more ghastly defeat.
To: Brig. Gen. John S. Williams, Abington, September 9, 1863
Saltville via Glade Spring:
Colonel Love, of Thomas’
Legion, reports the enemy re-enforcing at Fuller’s Depot, this side of Greeneville. [They are] supposed to have eight *pieces of artillery. Hurry forward to Jonesborough, leaving directions for your troops
to follow as soon as possible.
Sam Jones
Major-General
Without any resistance, General John Wesley Frazer surrendered the Cumberland Gap to General Ambrose Burnside on September 9, 1863. Jefferson Davis stated that Frazier's surrender
possibly "presents a shameful abandonment of duty." Although Frazer surrendered several regiments and the Cumberland
Gap, Thomas' Legion remained faithful to the region (O.R., i, 30, iv, p. 26, O.R., i, 30, iv, p. 537, and O.R. i, 30, iii, p. 661). The legion's Will Stringfield stated that "when Tennessee was fully surrendered,
great gloom gripped the soldiers from the border states, and many Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and North Carolina troops
returned to their homes." Stringfield believed that General Braxton Bragg's army had a "muster roll of 83,767, but that
they only had about
40,000 guns." After the surrender of the Cumberland Gap, General John S. Williams assumed command of the
Department of East Tennessee. Williams was a native of Kentucky, Mexican-American War hero, and
after the Civil War served as a United States Senator.
Battle of Blue Springs Tennessee - October 10, 1863
Will Stringfield recorded that on "October 5, 1863, the cavalry fought
at Greenville, killing seven, wounding twelve and capturing ten of the enemy, and with a loss of three killed and seven wounded.
General Jno. S. Williams, of "Cerro Gordo" fame, was commanding our troops...and after several days of skirmishing with
the enemy, General Williams gave battle at Blue Springs with his 1,800 dismounted men, holding in check Burnside's 7,000 veterans."
On October 10th, General Burnside "advanced a cavalry brigade to Blue Springs, where they found the enemy strongly posted
and offering a stubborn resistance." Burnside's cavalry was supported by an infantry division, which routed the Confederates
at Blue Springs (O.R., Ser. I, Vol. 30, pt. II, p. 547). The Confederate army not only engaged Burnside's forces at Blue Springs, but they continued fighting as they
retreated toward Abingdon, Virginia. Edward O. Guerrant, a staff officer to General Williams, recorded on October 10, 1863, that "when several miles
beyond Greenville on the road to Jonesboro, Genl Jackson's advance (Genl. Jackson Brigade of 500) constituted our advance
Guard, was fired upon just at daylight. It was within two miles of Hendersons mill--where we were going to Camp, and I was
going to the front by order of Genl. Williams to halt the column there. The beautiful morning star, harbinger of coming day,
was shining like a diadem on the brow of night--& we were peacefully, tho' regretfully pursuing our way--when all at once
a volley of musketry into the head of the column woke up to the feast of death." General A. E. Jackson
and Love's Regiment had arrived at Greeneville and were approximately 7 miles from Blue Springs, and Walker's Battalion was stationed at
Carter's Depot. Love's Regiment was the only infantry support for General Williams and was en route to Blue Springs when
the battle commenced. During the night, Williams retreated to Greeneville and joined Jackson and Love. The Confederates
retreated to Henderson's Mill where they made a determined stand. The "fight" with Burnside's army would continue for several
days.
Battle at Henderson's Mill - October 11, 1863
The Sixty-ninth was ordered to support General Williams, but hearing of a flank
movement of the enemy was ordered to retreat towards Jonesboro, and finally to Abingdon, Va. In its retreat, three miles
above Greenville (Henderson's Mill), its cattle, wagons, artillery and infantry, in order named, were surrounded. General
Burnside had thrown General Foster with 3,000 cavalry in their front, attempting to capture them. The first intimation the
Sixty-ninth had of their presence was in the capture of its Adjutant, L. C. May; and Captain Tip (H. H.) Taylor, Acting Adjutant-General
of the brigade. Captain May escaped and gave the Confederates warning, and Colonel Love hastily withdrew the wagons and ordered forward the Sixty-ninth at double quick. He deployed the
Sixty-ninth in a line-of-battle across the road, advanced their artillery, and began at the earliest dawn of day
a furious artillery fire upon the enemy that was in the corn fields. Stringfield stated that "fortunately for us, the shells
were bursting in their very midst. Before they could
realize the sudden change of the situation, the Sixty-ninth, with the bear hunter's rebel yell, was upon them. Our men realized
at once that quick and deadly work must be done, or we would all be captured. At sunrise, all 600 men dashed forward at the enemy in a heavy skirmish line; Love upon the right and Stringfield
upon the left, with company officers all in place, all cheering and directing their men. Lieutenant Welch, of Company F, afterwards
killed at Winchester, was shot through the thigh by the side of the writer; and very few others were wounded. This was a running
fight for ten miles. Two Federals were killed in the yard of Senator Patterson, the son-in-law of President Johnson. Twelve or fifteen others were [also] killed. General Williams, while slowly retreating before Burnside, heard our artillery
open upon the enemy. Dashing forward at a gallop, he materially aided us in the achievement of one of the most brilliant retreats
of the war." General Burnside dismissed the intensity of the Battle at Henderson's Mill by reporting that the
Union forces "allowed the Confederates to pass with only a slight check," however, he conceded that the "enemy made a stand
at every important position" (O.R., Ser. I, Vol. 30, pt. II, p. 547). The Confederates retreated sixty-two miles in
thirty hours and, during their retreat on October 11, skirmished near Rheatown with the loss of only a few
men. The retreat concluded at Virginia, where they fortified their position at Abingdon with the brigades of Corse and
Wharton, Virginia troops, under General Robert Ransom. Subsequently, while spending
a few days near Blountsville, Tennessee, their cavalry, under General William E. Jones, advanced and made a nice capture
of twelve or fifteen hundred of the enemy's cavalry at Rogersville, and nearly 100 wagons of the Second Tennessee (United
States) and Seventh Ohio. Stringfield professed that "the citizens, here-abouts were mostly our friends, something unusual
in East Tennessee, and had noble kindred in our army, mostly with General Bragg. While around Blountsville, company and regimental drill was daily enforced. Lieutenant Thomas Ferguson, a good soldier,
afterwards made Captain and later captured at Piedmont, joined us here with 75 recruits. A painful example for discipline
was made here. One poor fellow of Company K, a Tennessean, with two others of Tennessee troops, who were captured at Rogersville,
Tenn., by General W. E. Jones, in the uniform of the enemy, were court-martialed and shot at the stake." On October 14, 1863, General John Williams wrote to James Love and was "profuse in his compliments,
personally and in special orders, noting the regiment's valor at Henderson's Mill."
Captain Goldman Bryson's Federal Mounted Company, or so-called “Mountain Robbers,”
was an estimated force of 120-150 troops and during the Civil War it raided numerous Western North Carolina communities. The
unit warranted tremendous hatred for several reasons. On August 31, 1856, Goldman Bryson was implicated in the murder of John Timson, a Cherokee constitutional convention delegate that resided in Cherokee County. Goldman's brother and sister testified and provided Goldman's alibi and, because his accuser was a mixed-blood
Cherokee, the murder charge was dismissed (Cherokee intermarriage with whites was most characteristic along
the Valley River, near Murphy, Cherokee County). Although Goldman was acquitted of murder, many Cherokee County
residents viewed him as a murderer. Bryson was born in Haywood County,
in Western North Carolina, and during the Civil War, he terrorized the very people, kindred,
and communities that once loved him, thus epitomizing the “brother killing brother” during the war. Goldman Bryson is related
to Colonel Thaddeus Bryson, one of the founders of Bryson City, in Western North
Carolina. The North Carolinians, furthermore, referred to Goldman as a “Home Yankee.” Bryson City, through the years, had been referred
to as Tuckoritchie, Tuckaleechy Town, Big Bear’s Reserve, and Charleston. The ominous maelstrom awaiting the Bryson Troops
climaxed with its last raid on the town called Murphy, in familiar Cherokee County. Goldman and his tories entered
the city, arrogantly marched the streets, and then sacked the town. Now, the Cherokees, Western North Carolinians, General
Braxton Bragg, Governor Zebulon Vance, and Thomas’ Legion were steadfast in their determination to eradicate the Bryson
Gang and finally halt these egregious and deplorable acts.
Without stopping or eating, the Cherokees of Thomas’ Legion tracked the “gang” for two days. When
the Cherokees located Goldman Bryson, Lt. Campbell H. Taylor, a Cherokee, demanded Goldman Bryson to halt, he refused, and then Lt. Taylor shot him.
Bryson ran and was shot several more times. Next, the Cherokees wore Goldman's bloody clothes and proceeded through the
streets of Murphy. General Bragg and Governor Vance publicly applauded and congratulated Thomas’ Legion for
exterminating “Goldman and his Robbers.” It was rare
to be recommended by name to one of the eight generals in the Confederate States Army, and Lt. Campbell Taylor
received that honor when he was commended to General Bragg. There were four general grades in the Confederate
States Army: brigadier-general, major-general, lieutenant-general, and general being the highest attainable rank. During
informal communication, however, each may be addressed as general.
Report of Lieut. C.
H. Taylor: Thomas’ Legion C. S. Army.
Murphy, N.C.
November 1, 1863.
Sir: on October 27, General Vaughn, with a detachment of his mounted men, overtook Goldman Bryson, with his company of mounted robbers, in Cherokee County, N.C.,
attacked him, killing 2 and capturing 17 men and 30 horses.
On
the 28th, I left Murphy with 19 men, taking Bryson’s trail through the mountains; followed him 25
miles, when I came upon him and fired on him, killing him and capturing 1 man with him. I found in his possession his orders
from General Burnside and his roll and other papers.
My men all acted nobly;
marched two days, and without anything to eat.
Yours, Respectfully,
C. H. Taylor
Lieutenant, Comdg,
Co. B, Infantry Regt., Thomas’ Legion
Lieutenant-Colonel
Walker
Commanding Battalion,
Thomas’ Legion
[Enclosure of General
Burnside’s papers found on Goldman Bryson]
Special Field Orders,
No. 56: HDQRS. Army of the Ohio: Knoxville, East Tenn., October, 22, 1863.
VI. Capt. G.
Bryson, First Tennessee National Guard, is hereby ordered to proceed with his command to North
Carolina and vicinity, for the purpose of recruiting, and will return here within a fortnight,
when he will report in person at these headquarters.
By order of Major-General
Burnside:
Edward M. Neill,
Major, and Assistant
Adjutant-General
General Bragg:
Permit me, general,
to recommend to your notice C. H. Taylor, lieutenant, who commanded the Indians at the killing of Captain Bryson. You will pardon me, general, in not sending this
through the proper channel, as we have no mails.
W. C. Walker,
Lieutenant-Colonel,
Comdg. Battalion, Thomas’ Legion
O.R. 1, Volume 31, pt I, p. 235
Cherokees Skirmish at Gatlinburg Tennessee - December 10, 1863
On December 8th, some Thomas Legion's scouts were captured
by Unionist Home Guard at Sevierville and imprisoned in the local jail. Thomas was furious. Rapidly advancing to Sevierville
with about 200 men, the Cherokee companies, Thomas surprised and captured the guard and then released his imprisoned
men. He also captured about 60 Home Guards, six Federals, and their guns and ammunition. In hot pursuit of Colonel Thomas
and the Indians was Colonel William J. Palmer's 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry. At Gatlinburg, Palmer engaged Cherokee pickets
and for about an hour they exchanged volleys. Thomas and the Cherokees had wisely camped at
the foot of a "steep wooded ridge," which allowed them an easy retreat into the mountains, "where they continued fighting
from behind the thick cover for several hours." (See Cherokee Indians: Weapons and Warfare.) Once they exhausted their ammunition, Thomas and his Cherokees casually
retreated into the familiar Southern Appalachian Mountains. Although Chief Thomas recovered the legion's scouts, he recorded
that two Indians were wounded during the skirmish. On the other hand, Colonel Palmer stated that they had
wounded 3 Cherokees. He further reported 3 Federals wounded: a sergeant with a minor flesh wound and two captains with
serious wounds, one in the arm and the other in the knee. Colonel Palmer also exclaimed that they had captured Colonel
Thomas's hat. O.R., 31, i, pp. 438-440.
Battle of Bean's Station Tennessee - December 14, 1863
While Thomas had retreated, Palmer's cavalry encountered
fierce resistance near Morristown (O.R., 31, i, pp. 441-442 and O.R., 31, i, p. 448) as they engaged Longstreet's pickets that extended ten miles from what is historically referred to as
the Battle of Bean's Station. Meanwhile, the Thomas Legion's regiment and battalion were assigned to Jackson's Brigade, Ransom's Division,
Longstreet's Corps, and it also comprised Brigadier General Alfred Jackson's entire brigade (O.R., 31, i, p. 454). Was it a legion or a brigade? This conflicting command structure had not only caused friction
between Thomas and Jackson (which led to Thomas's first court-martial), but ultimately took its toll on the legion's
morale. Stringfield commanded a rear guard of two companies
and recorded the action at Morristown: Dec. 15. [1863]. Camp[ed] near Beans Station.
A pretty hard march brought us here. I was in command of rear guard of 200 men. I did not reach camp on the immediate
South of Beans Station. [The battle] started AM West of Moristown road. [The] Cold [weather] has moderated a little. Cannonading
[was] distinctly heard in the direction of Rutledge. The fight here yesterday was quite severe. Enemy [was] driven from Morrisburg
to 1 mile west of here. Our loss 14 Killed; 50 wounded. [Total] Enemy [casualties] not known. 2 dead and 2 mortally wounded
found. They took shelter in the large Hotel and the sharpshooters hurts us much till our cannon riddled the Hotel with shot
& shell. The marks of deadly conflict can never be effaced from that and other Buildings near. We are likely to stay here
for a day or so. I say go on.
Stringfield hastily recorded on December 29, 1863: Broke camp & moved toward Austin
Mills & Russellville, Ten[n]. Sgt. Geo W Bryson, Co. “F” died here a day or so ago. [He was a] splendid man.
The ford being too deep our wagons went by upper ferry. After a march of 10 miles we came to camp 1 ½ miles North of Whitesburg.
This day ends the campaign of 1863 an eventful one. I came in at S[trawberry] Plains Jan. l—[18]63 and closed here about
34 miles from the beginning.
...continue
to 1864-1865 (Skirmishes and Battles)
Highly
Recommended Reading: Storm in the Mountains: Thomas' Confederate Legion of Cherokee Indians
and Mountaineers (Thomas' Legion: The Sixty-ninth North Carolina Regiment). Vernon H.
Crow, Storm in the Mountains, spent 10 years conducting extensive Thomas Legion's research. Crow was granted
access to rare manuscripts, special collections, and privately held diaries which add great depth to this rarely discussed
Civil War legion. He explores and discusses the unit's formation, fighting history, and life of the legion's commander,
Colonel William Holland Thomas. Continued...
Numerous maps and photographs allow the reader to better understand and
relate to the subjects discussed. It also contains rosters which is an added bonus for researchers and genealogists. Crow,
furthermore, left no stone unturned while examining the many facets of the Thomas Legion and his research is conveyed on a
level that scores with Civil War students and scholars alike.
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