Claunch and Stewart Families

Unit Details:

40th Regiment, Georgia Infantry
OVERVIEW:
40th Infantry Regiment was organized during the fall of 1861 and raised its companies in Bartow, Calhoun, Gordon, Whitfield, Paulding, and Haralson counties. It moved to Tennessee, then Mississippi, and was placed in Barton's Brigade, Department of Mississippi, and East Louisiana. The 40th participated in the conflicts at Chickasaw Bayou and Champion's Hill and was part of the garrison surrendered at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. After being exchanged it was attached to General Stovall's Brigade, Army of Tennessee, served on many battlefields from Chattanooga to Nashville, and ended the war in North Carolina. The regiment reported 36 casualties at Chattanooga, totalled 223 men and 105 arms in December, 1863, and had 74 effectives in November, 1864. It surrendered on April 26, 1865. The field officers
were Colonel Abda Johnson, Lieutenant Colonel Robert M. Young, and Major Raleigh S. Camp.

Letter from Henry Clay Hunt to one of his brothers

Camp Vicksburg, Miss.
January the 7, 1863

Dear Brother,

I received a letter from you while we were station at Manchester, Tenn. dated Nov. the 12 and it is the only letter that I have received from home; I know that you write but I surpose your letters are misplaced. I would like very well to have a few lines from home to know how Ma is getting. James Ingles told me that she was mending very fast when he left, I hope however she is well long before this. I have tried every means that I could to get off but it was all in vain, though I have the promise of a furlough now.

We are not station at Vicksburg, Miss. That is, the Genl. Hd Quarters are in the city, the troops are encampt about three miles. We arrived here on the 27 of December and on the 28 we went into entrenchments and were there three days and knights before they were relieved. They fought very bravely. The loss of the 40th was 4 killed and 15 wounded. We only lost one out of Company D. and that was Hamp Gray. He was killed early Sunday morning by a shell. Our Regiment was exposed more than any that was in the engagement. They had to support a battery. They were in a road behind the battery and when they would shoot at the battery if they missed them it would fall over on us. They kept up the fire from 4 o clock in the morning until 3 in the evening. It as a perpetual roar all the time. You could not hear yourself talk. Genl Pembleton says that it was the heaviest cannonading that he ever herd. We were in about 3/4 of a mile of them when the fireing commenced and when it ended we were about 20 steps a part. The enemy's loss was eleven hundred. Our Brigade lost 15 killed and forty wounded. Col. Johnson was wounded slightly in the shoulder and Henry Darnall was sitting playing his jus-harp and a cannon ball hit the fence and knocked a rail cross his back and he rose cursing the yanks. I acted courier for the Genl part of the time and the balls fell around me like hail but I came out safe. I think they have fallen back to Nashville. It is reported here this morning that Genl Bragg has fallen back to Tullahoma after whipping them at Murfreesboro and has shiped all the commisaries back to Chattanooga. The enemy's loss is reported to be thirty thousand. Our loss was great if this report be true. I expect that we will be ordered back to Tenn. soon for they can't never take this place. Our natural line of defence is twenty odd miles long from Warren below to Maddison above the Azoo. We are on the Miss. River and it is the largest river that I ever saw.

We left Reederville, Tenn. the 19 of December and was on the road 8 days but still I did not get tired of riding. We took the cars at Murfreesboro and from there to Chattanooga & from there to Atlanta & from there to West Point and from there to Montgomery, Ala. & from there to Mobile & from there to Jackson, Miss & from there to Vicksburg. I had a very pleasant time. We came through Calhoun on Sunday. I saw old Dick tied in Adairsville but did not see Gran. Genl tole me that they were going to law-over in Atlanta until the Brigade came up and he would let me go back, but he got orders to not stop. I want you to write as soon as you get this. I sent 125.00 dollars by Alvan Chandler and a horse. Let me know if he brought it through. I gave him 5 dollars to pay for the horse and tole him if it was not enought that you would pay hime. I want you to send me my watch the 1st opportunity that you have. Give my love to all. Tell Sis to write and Jim & Sallie also. Nothing more at present. I remains your affection. brother

Henry C. Hunt

As I was in the act of sealing of my letter Genl handed me a letter from Sallie dated Dec. the 13. I am sorry to hear of Ben Black's death. You say that Gabe thinks that he will have to go back in Service. Tell him to stay out as long as possible but if he will have to come back, write to me soon. David Wylie & Hall has fell out and Dave is thinking of quitting the company. They all want me to come to the company if he does, and say that they will give me 3rd Lt place, and you could get it again if you want it. Write and I will see what I can do for you if you want it, but I would try and get on the cars as bagage master or conductor. Let me know if you will have to come. I will not say anything about it until I hear from you.

Tell all the negroes Hody. I want to know what you mean in asking me what I think of my large estate. Please explain your-self in yore next letter.

H. C. Hunt

Direct your letters to

Mr. H. C. Hunt
Vicksburg, Miss.
Care of Genl Barton

Battle of Chickasaw Bayou (December 26-29, 1862)

Also called the Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs and Battle of Walnut Hills, this skirmish took place in Warren County, Mississippi under Union Commander Major General William T. Sherman and Confederate Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton On December 26th, General Sherman led three Union divisions to approach the Vicksburg defenses from the northeast. Sherman and his troops disembarked at Johnson’s Plantation on the Yazoo River, while a fourth division landed farther upstream on the 27th. That same day, the four divisions of Union troops pushed their lines forward through the swamps toward Walnut Hills, which were strongly defended. On the 28th, several futile attempts were made to get around these defenses.

On December 29th, Sherman ordered a frontal assault which was repulsed with heavy casualties. Sherman then withdrew. This Confederate victory frustrated Grant’s attempts to take Vicksburg by direct approach. Estimated casualties were 1,776 Union and 207 Confederate.

General Sherman then suggested a combined land and naval movement against the Arkansas Post 50 miles up the Arkansas River from its confluence with the Mississippi River, a base from which Confederate gunboats were attacking Union shipping. The Battle of Arkansas Post occurred on January 9-11, 1863, resulting in a Union Victory.

In the meantime, General Ulysses S. Grant spent the the rest of the winter constructing alternative waterways so that troops could be positioned within striking distance of Vicksburg, without requiring a direct approach on the Mississippi River under Confederate guns. Termed “Grant’s Bayou Operations,” these initiatives including canals, dikes, and small dams was unsuccessful and Grant turned his attention to other maneuvers.

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ms-civilwarbattles/3/

Letter from Henry Clay Hunt to his sister:

Battle Line 4 miles from Nashville, Tenn
December 6, 1864 **Footnote 1** - one week after the defeat at Franklin, Tn.

Dear Sister

After two weeks hard marching and one of the hardest fought battles of the war, I take the pleasure of writing you a short note this morning, as I have the opportunity of sending it as far as Columbia by a scouting party that will leave Brigade HdQrs at six oclock, hoping there will be a regular mail line from there. We left Florrence, Tenn on the 20th of Nov. At Columbia we had to fight and at Franklin we commenced fighting at 4 oclock in the evening, and fought until about 2 oclock at night.

Cheathams' corps lost about two-thirds of its no. Stuarts' corps lost about 1/3 of its no. Our Division was not in the fight. Six Brigadier Genl was killed on the field and one Maj Genl and ten others wounded. When Major Gen Glaborn fell, his horse was upon the enemy's breast works. We are now in four miles of Nashville and are closing upon the enemy gradually. It is the opinion that we will take Nashville. Henry Darnall is act Q.M. of the 40th. I am with the Brigade Quarter Master. Say to Gran that I suceeded in getting his mare that was at Tuscumbia after a week's hard work, and that I had to pay three hundred and three dollars before I could get her. Tell him that I will write him all the particulars as soon as I Have time. Did Gabe have to go into service? If so, what Regt did he go in - has Dennis been home yet? James Ingles & Maj. Camp left us on the 19th of Nov. for home. I wrote to you all and sent them by Ingles. I guess you herd from me. I have not herd a word from home since I left. I am in very good health at present and our army is in fine spirits. I will close for I have no idea that this will ever reach you. Give my love to all and write soon.

Have you heard from Brother James?

I remain as every your affec brother

H. C. Hunt

Direct Stovall's Brigade
Claytons Divin
Army of Tenn.
Care of Capt. Newman

Battle of Franklin

The Battle of Franklin was fought on November 30, 1864, in Franklin, Tennessee, as part of the Franklin–Nashville Campaign of the American Civil War. It was one of the worst disasters of the war for the Confederate States Army. Confederate Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood's Army of Tennessee conducted numerous frontal assaults against fortified positions occupied by the Union forces under Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield and was unable to break through or to prevent Schofield from executing a planned, orderly withdrawal to Nashville.

The Confederate assault of six infantry divisions containing eighteen brigades with 100 regiments numbering almost 20,000 men, sometimes called the "Pickett's Charge of the West", resulted in devastating losses to the men and the leadership of the Army of Tennessee—fourteen Confederate generals (six killed, seven wounded, and one captured) and 55 regimental commanders were casualties. After its defeat against Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas in the subsequent Battle of Nashville, the Army of Tennessee retreated with barely half the men with which it had begun the short offensive, and was effectively destroyed as a fighting force for the remainder of the war.

The Confederates suffered 6,252 casualties, including 1,750 killed and 3,800 wounded. An estimated 2,000 others suffered less serious wounds and returned to duty before the Battle of Nashville. But more importantly, the military leadership in the West was decimated, including the loss of perhaps the best division commander of either side, Patrick Cleburne, who was killed in action. Fourteen Confederate generals (six killed, seven wounded, and one captured) and 55 regimental commanders were casualties. Five generals killed in action at Franklin were Cleburne, John Adams, Hiram B. Granbury, States Rights Gist, and Otho F. Strahl. A sixth general, John C. Carter, was mortally wounded and died later on December 10. The wounded generals were John C. Brown, Francis M. Cockrell, Zachariah C. Deas, Arthur M. Manigault, Thomas M. Scott, and Jacob H. Sharp. One general, Brig. Gen. George W. Gordon, was captured.

Union losses were reported as only 189 killed, 1,033 wounded, and 1,104 missing. It is possible that the number of casualties was under-reported by Schofield because of the confusion during his army's hasty nighttime evacuation of Franklin.[43] The Union wounded were left behind in Franklin. Many of the prisoners, including all captured wounded and medical personnel, were recovered on December 18 when Union forces re-entered Franklin in pursuit of Hood.

The Army of Tennessee was all but destroyed at Franklin. Nevertheless, rather than retreat and risk the army dissolving through desertions, Hood advanced his 26,500 man force against the Union army now combined under Thomas, firmly entrenched at Nashville which numbered more than 60,000. Hood and his department commander Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard requested reinforcements, but none were available. Strongly outnumbered and exposed to the elements, Hood was attacked by Thomas on December 15–16 at the Battle of Nashville, defeated decisively and pursued aggressively, retreating to Mississippi with just under 20,000 men. The Army of Tennessee never fought again as an effective force and Hood's career was ruined.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Franklin_(1864)

Letter from M. J. Parker to Henry Hunt:

Calhoun, Georgia
April 13th, 1862

Absent Friend,

I was very happily surprised a few moments ago when a letter was brought me and when opening it find it from you. It is a source of great pleasure to know that I am not entirely forgotten by my friends when absent and especially those who have so many scenes to occupy their minds and time as the soldier boy.

Yesterday the whole community were thrown into quite an excitement by supposed enemies to their country taking the engine and some two or three passenger boxes and making off with them from Big Shanty while all were at breakfeast, leaving the passengers there. The conductor obtained another engine and with some forty of fifty armed men pursued on after them with rapidity. The Linevintes cut telegraph wires between Atlanta and Dalton, tore up the rail-road track so as to hinder those in pursuit, but finding that were about to be over taken and not having time to replenish their wood & water, they left their engine and run into the woods beyond Ringold - the last accounts were they had not been taken but would probably be soon as they were making quite an effort to get the strangers. Where they came from no person knows, or what their intentions were; Certainly this was one of the boldest and most daring acts I ever heard of. I hope more of them will soon be brought at lights -

Mrs. Cabot & myself went out to your house and spent the day with your mother and Sallie yesterday. We found them all well and had a fine time and a most excellent visit. I regretted very much that you werent there - Report says the Toomby Volunteers will be home soon as their time is out on the 20th. Then a party is expected to come off. Would you not enjoy the time if permitted to be here? O, I must tell you what a nice school I have and when I mention the young ladies who are attending surely you will consider it interesting. Mary Gresham & Lovvery Alice Randel, Susie Mays, Mattie Rembert and Alice Beull. Do you not think so?

Henry, I just from the tenor of your letter that you are inclined to be a little homesick, if it is so, you must give up that idea, keeping good courage will be half of the battle. I so much hope that these terrible times will not last long and this dreadful ware will soon end -

I think you will have no reason to complain of my long delay in answering your letter as I shall return on by the next mail - Henry, I hope to hear from you again - do not feel any hesitancy as regards your letters being welcomly received for rest assured it will always afford me a great deal of pleasure to hear from you. I hope your soldiers life may not be one of many troubles toils and hardships but that it may be short and pass pleasantly away and soon very soon you may have the pleasure of returning to your family and friends -

No more this time as I have already written quite a lengthy letter -

Ever the same -
M. J. Parker

Henry Hunt

Great Locomotive Chase or Andrew's Raid:

The Great Locomotive Chase or Andrews' Raid was a military raid that occurred April 12, 1862, in northern Georgia during the American Civil War. Volunteers from the Union Army, led by civilian scout James J. Andrews, commandeered a train, The General, and took it northward toward Chattanooga, Tennessee, doing as much damage as possible to the vital Western and Atlantic Railroad (W&A) line from Atlanta to Chattanooga as they went. They were pursued by Confederate forces at first on foot, and later on a succession of locomotives, including The Texas, for 87 miles (140 km).

Because the Union men had cut the telegraph wires, the Confederates could not send warnings ahead to forces along the railway. Confederates eventually captured the raiders and quickly executed some as spies, including Andrews; some others were able to flee.

Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton awarded some of the raiders with the first Medal of Honor. Private Jacob Wilson Parrott, who had been physically abused as a prisoner, was awarded the first. Later, all but two of the other soldiers who had participated in the raid also received the medal, with posthumous awards to families for those who had been executed. As civilians, Andrews and Campbell were not eligible.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Locomotive_Chase

http://www.aboutnorthgeorgia.com/ang/The_Great_Locomotive_Chase

Letter from Henry Clay Hunt to a brother

Hd. Qrs., Kinston, N. C.
January 13th, 1864

Dear Brother

Your very kind and interesting letter dated Dec. 26th was received a short time since, which I read and reread with feeling of much pleasure, and would have responded long since but I have been very busy for the last few days. Brother, as there is no news in camps worth relating I will not weary your patience with a long letter. There is a Lieutenant in the 38 Va. Regiment by the name of Ben Clement. I surpose he is a relation of ours, as I have been enformed by a number of the company, that his brother was kill about three years ago by Wicker, in a court house in Pittsylvania County, Va. If they are relations to of ours what is the extent of it, and also to Ma? As we are station near the enemy and are liable to be captured at any time, and if I should be so unfortunate as to fall into the hands of the enemy, I would be sent North. I would like to know Aunt Salli Sharp's Post office and the county, and Uncle William Lacy's.

Our pickets had a fight at Greenville, N. C. a few days ago. Our loss was eight (8) men. Yesterday every thing was in perfect confusion. It was reported that the enemy was advancing on Greenville with a large force. Our Brigade had orders to be ready to march at a moments warning. Genl Mead is concentrating the most of his forces to that point. We are expecting a fight at Wilmington. The weather is very cold here at present. The ground has been covered with snow for the last week. How does the wheat look and has Ma concluded to move?

Johnson County in this state held a convention instructing her delegates to secede from C. S. and go back to the union. I saw in the paper last night that congress has passed a law to take in all those who had substitutes by the 1st of February. I have herd a great many say that they would go to the enemy first. Have you herd from Brother yet? I am very anxious to hear. I hope he is not in the enemys hand. Hoping to hear from you soon, I will no bring my uninteresting letter to a close. Give my love to all, and write soon.

I remain your affectionate bro.

H. C. Hunt

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https://www.thetomahawk.com/this-that/johnson-county-tennessee-civil-war/