Officers
SCV International
Headquarters
DRIVING TOUR STOPS
From the Trousdale County Courthouse, travel 0.8 mi. south on Hwy. 141 and turn right on Puryears Bend Road. Go one mile and turn left (still on Puryears Bend Rd.); follow this road 1.5 mi. and take the right fork (still on Puryears Bend Rd.). Go 2 mi. and turn right; go 0.3 mi. and turn left on Willow Lane. Go to the end of the road and follow the map to begin your tour.
PLEASE RESPECT PRIVATE PROPERTY ALONG TOUR ROUTE, AS MOST OF THESE STOPS ARE AT PRIVATE RESIDENCES OR FARMS.
Stop 1 PURYEARS FERRY:
Arriving from Lebanon across the river at 10:00 P.M. on the night of
December 6,1862, Colonel John Hunt Morgan assembled his troops for their
crossing of the Cumberland River. Wanting to cross in five hours, he sent
Colonel Basil Duke's Cavalry a few miles down river to cross. Morgan, with
the Artillery, Infantry, and a small part of the Cavalry, began the
difficult task of moving horses, heavy cannon, and men across the swollen
Cumberland in two leaking flat boats that had been supplied by a local
citizen, 74 year old Oliver Goldsmith "Oilie" Dickerson. (Dickerson was sent
to prison for this, but was paroled after six months.) Due to the harsh
conditions, the crossing took seven hours instead of the allotted five.
(Go back out the way you came and stay to the right until you reach Stop #2)
Stop 2; HOME OF COLONEL JAMES DEARING BENNETT
(1816 -1862):
He was Commander of the 9th Tennessee
Cavalry, which included many local men. Most of the 9th Cavalry were men
from Hartsville, Coatstown (now Westmoreland), and Richland (now Portland).
Earlier in the war, Bennett had formed the 7th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion.
Col. Bennett was reported to be a fine man who was respected by his troops.
He died of typhoid-pneumonia on Morgan's Second Kentucky Raid in
Elizabethtown, Kentucky on January 23, 1863. He was brought back to
Hartsville by his faithful servant, "Jeff" and buried here. Fourteen years
later his widow, Martha (Hutchison), had his body reinterred in the
Hartsville Cemetery, (see Stop #17)
Stop 3: HAGER'S SHOP:
At this site was the blacksmith shop
of Andrew Jackson "A. J." Hager (1824-1918). This was the planned rendezvous
point for Morgan and his men. Taking 30 minutes from Puryears Ferry, Morgan
arrived about 5:30 A.M. with Colonel Thomas Hunt, commander of the infantry.
Col. Duke (having been sent further down river and having trouble finding a
place to cross) arrived only minutes before Morgan. After arriving at this
predetermined crossing (which is thought to be Averitt's Ferry), Duke found
the river too high to cross. Therefore, his scouts directed him to a ford
that was far from any known road (believed to be the area that later became
known as Watsons's Landing). A narrow bridle path was the only access to the
river. With each mount and man going down the slippery path, led by Col.
Bennett's 9th Tennessee, the men plunged into the river from a four foot
ledge. Most of the men became completely submerged in the freezing water.
The first men across built fires to warm themselves, but 15 men were so
badly frozen they had to be left behind. By 3:00 A.M. with fewer than half
his men across the river, Duke realized he had to hurry to meet Morgan,
leaving the other half of his men on the south side of the river with orders
to hurry on. So at this spot Colonels Morgan, Duke, and Hunt prepared their
final plans for their attack on the Federal camp, just two miles away to the
east.
(Continue ahead and take the first right, Lytle Drive to the end)
Stop 4: THE WIDOW HALUBURTON:
Here was the home and burial site of Letty Halliburron (1796-1865). This
lady was instrumental in helping many of the wounded after the battle. A
yellow flag was hoisted above her home, a sign for the wounded that this was
a place for help. After the battle, wagons with wounded soldiers were
brought here for care. She used her entire supply of bed linens as bandages
for the Confederate wounded, as they occupied every room of her home. Dr.
John Orlando Scott, of the 2nd Kentucky, and the only Confederate surgeon
left after the battle, said, "It is a grand sight to see the men in blue
assisting his brother in gray in all kindness and affection."
(Turn left out Boat Dock Road 1.3 mi. to Old Hwy. 25 and turn right 0.2 mi. for Stop #5)
Stop 5: FINAL APPROACH:
After leaving Hager's Shop (and
following the route you just drove) here Morgan detached Col. Bennett's 9th
Tennessee Cavalry to set up a roadblock on the Hartsville-Castalian Springs
road and other points to cut off any escape the Federals might try to find.
Bennett took the rest of his regiment to Hartsville one mile away. Morgan
and the rest of his troops crossed here through the lowest point and made
his initial approach toward their objective, still undetected.
(Go straight ahead into town)
Stop 6: TOWN OF HARTSVILLE:
Here the remainder of Col. Bennett's
Cavalry made their way into town. The 9th succeeded in capturing 450
Federals, including Co. A, 104th Illinois, who were posted to guard the
town. The soldiers had occupied many buildings in town including the Locke
Hotel on the comer of Main St. and Broadway (at the site of the Old Bank of
Hartsville building). Two buildings used as hospitals stand today. At the
corner of Church and West Main stands the Hager Building (now Total Image),
built in 1838. This building housed the bed patients. Behind here on Church
Street stands the Old Methodist Church (now Russell's Popcorn) built in
1843. Here the soldiers with less severe wounds were cared for. (Get out and
stretch your legs. Look around Historic Hartsville)
(Go back out Hwy 141 S 0.6 mi., turn right oh Rom Lane to Stop #7}
Stop 7: THE REBELS ARE COMING:
As Morgan approached this hill from
the valley between the two hills to the northwest, (Stop 5) he sent a small
force dressed as Union soldiers to capture the pickets stationed north and
west of the Federal Infantry Camp. The reserve pickets observed this and
fired the first alarm, as Morgan approached with his main task force and
artillery from the northwest. He dispatched Col. Cluke's and Col. Chenault's
cavalry units toward the camp white he accompanied Colonel Hunt and Cobb's
Battery southward to occupy a position to observe the Union Camp and adjust
their artillery firing on the Federals.
(Follow this drive to the end and turn left)
Stop 8: MORGAN PUSHES ON:
At this point Morgan's Infantry and
Cavalry spread out and deployed on a low ridge overlooking the Infantry
camp. The cavalry dismounted (Morgan's Cavalry often fought as Infantry) and
moved to the left to flank the Federals. The Infantry pushed onward toward
some 2,100 Federal troops who had formed a line of defense on the hill
(behind the Highway Dept. Garage). The Federal Artillery on this hill was
forced to move back to the bluff on the river. Here the fiercest part of the
battle was fought.
(Go to the river 0.4 mi.)
Stop 9: COBB'S BATTERY:
Here, across the ravine, (high atop this hill behind the water plant, and to
the right) Colonel Robert Cobb's Battery set up for the artillery assault on
the Federal camp upon the hill to your left. As Col, Morgan stood there
during the battle, one caisson was completely destroyed by a direct hit from
the Federal cannons, killing David Watt who was sitting upon it. Colonel
Morgan's young aide, William Craven Peyton, was mortally wounded. He was
taken to the home of a Mrs. Lee, where he died of blood poisoning.
(Cross the river bridge)
Stop 10: STONER'S BATTERY:
Here on the south side of the river on the elevated ground to the left,
Major Robert G. Stoner set up his battery of two Mountain Howitzers. Knowing
that these guns would not reach the Federal camp, his job was to keep the
Federals wondering if they would, (turn around here and go back to the river
and pause) Afterwards, Stoner's men forded the river several times, bringing
a prisoner back across each time. The back side of the bluff to the right
was the camp of the Union Army, The ridge ahead and to the left is Stop #7.
(Back across the river 0.6 mi.; turn right on Cemetery Road and go 0.5 mi.)
Stop 11: UNION CAMP SITE:
Arriving here from Tompkinsville, Kentucky viĞ the Goose Creek Valley on
November 28, 1862, the Federal Garrison of the 39th Brigade, 12th Division,
under the command of Col. Joseph R. Scott, relieved Col. John Marshall
Harlan (later Associate Justice of the U. S, Supreme Court) of the Tenth
Kentucky Infantry, commanding the Second Brigade, First Division, who had
been in Hartsville about two weeks. Col. Scott's forces consisted of the
104th Illinois Infantry, 106th and 108th Ohio Infantry,'2nd Indiana Cavalry,
Co. E, 11th Kentucky Cavalry, and two cannons of the 13th Indiana Battery,
approximately 2,400 men. On December 2, Col. Absalom B. Moore of the 104th
Illinois, and ranking officer, relieved Col. Scott as he was called to
Nashville. Here a large part of the fighting and surrender of the Federal
garrison took place some one hour and fifteen minutes after the battle
began.
(Go to the end of this road)
Stop 12: THE CUMBERLAND RIVER:
Imagine crossing this river in chest deep water with a 4" snow on the
ground, bitterly cold, and 2 or 3 men on horseback. It was done with such
success that it still amazes not only the common man, but military minds as
well, Morgan sent most of his men and prisoners here to cross the ford,
while sending the wagons and cannons 1/2 mile upriver to Hart's Ferry. (See
Stop 16)
(Turn around and go 0.3 mi. and turn right on Herod Road)
Stop 13: The BATTLEFIELD AND RETREAT:
Stop here and look to the right. In the far distance (a clear view in
winter) is the Federal Camp and Battlefield. Across these ravines, some
4,000 men, both North and South, were making quick time to leĞğe. this area
before Colonel Harlan arrived from Castalian Springs some nine Miles away
with 4,000 reinforcements. Of course the Federal soldiers had a little help
in persuading them to do so!
(Continue on this road)
Stop 14: AVERITT-HEROD HOUSE:
Atop. the hill overlooking the battlefield, this beautiful home was built
about 1834 by Peter Averitt, Sr. During the battle, Peter'* ion, Richard,
and his family lived here. According to tradition, wounded confederate
soldiers were brought here to be cared for after the battle, and it was
where Federal Col. John M. Harlan pardoned them. There is a large bloodstain
resembling a man's face in the floor on the east side of the house.
(Continue on this road)
Stop 15: FEDERAL CAVALRY CAMP:
Here the 2nd Indiana and Co. E. 11th
Kentucky Cavalry camped and were positioned to guard Hart's Ferry. The
entire Cavalry force moved up to support the Infantry, but participated very
little in the battle. They suffered only three casualties, and most escaped
capture.
(Go to the curve)
Stop 16: HART'S FERRY:
Located some 400 yards from here at the river, Hart's Ferry was started in
1798 by James Hart (for whom Hartsville was named). From here. Col. Morgan
began his exit from Hartsville with all his captured goods, two pieces of
artillery, ammunition, supplies, and wagons. Just as Morgan was getting the
last of his men across the river, Union Col. John M. Harlan arrived and
opened fire, but did not pursue them. One of the cannon shots barely missed
Morgan and his staff, as it hit a tree limb above them. The Federals
destroyed three wagons in the river as the Confederates made their exit from
Hartsville.
(Go to the end of Herod Drive and turn around; go back to Cemetery Road and turn right.)
Stop 17: HARTSVILLE CEMETERY:
This is the eternal resting place for
over 50 Confederate Veterans, among them Colonel James Dearing Bennett,
commander of the famed 9th Tennessee Cavalry. After the battle, Winslow Hart
(the son of James Hart) and other citizens buried both Federal and
Confederate dead on a knoll at the rear of the cemetery. Some of the Union
dead were later moved and returned to their homeland or reinterred at the
National Cemetery in Nashville.
Upcoming Meeting:
April 24, 2008
Family Picnic
May 10, 5pm
Don Fox Park