By Stewart Cruickshank
The Tennessee State Legislature passed “An Act for the Benefit of Disabled and Indigent Ex-Confederate Soldiers of Tennessee” in 1889. This allocated funding for the building of The Confederate Soldiers Home on the property of former President Andrew Jackson, “Hermitage” in Nashville, TN. The Confederate Soldiers Home functioned from 1892-1934. In 1935 the property was returned to the Ladies Hermitage Association and afterwards the Home was torn down. The Confederate Cemetery containing the graves of approximately 483 soldiers is all that remains today.
On June 3, 1941, Confederate Memorial Day, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Tennessee Division and the Tennessee General Assembly erected Memorial Gateposts for the Cemetery, which face Lebanon Road. State Highway Marker 3A54 also notes the final resting place of these Confederate Veterans. However, today the entrance to the cemetery is from Old Hickory Blvd.
There are fifteen veterans of Confederate Kentucky units buried in the cemetery. Their war-time service makes for interesting reading. Their service and personal sacrifices should be remembered always:
Robert Hocker Pride: Grave #409, Born 5/19/1834, Died 4/9/1924 Pride enlisted in the “Kentucky Minute Men”, 1st Kentucky Infantry Regiment, Co. K, in June of 1861, at Keysburg, KY. He contracted chronic diarrhea at Mannassas, Virginia and was hospitalized until his discharge 2/4/1862. He entered the Soldiers Home in April of 1907.
H. D. Bomar: Grave #436 Born 7/24/1840, Died 9/4/1926 Bomar, from Clinton County, KY originally enlisted in “The Kentucky Braves”, Co. F, 22nd Tennessee Infantry Regiment. In his Confederate Pension Application Bomar recalled fighting at Vicksburg, Port Hudson, Brice’s Crossroads, Harrisburg, Athens and Sulphur Springs Trestle. Near the end of the war Gen. Buford sent Bomar and 15-20 others itno West Tennessee to recruit and arrest deserters. When hearing of the surrender, Bomar’s squad disbanded and returned to their homes. After the war Bomar was a clerk in Shelby County, TN, until entering the Soldiers Home in April of 1903.
Jeffery T. Bynum: Grave #420, Born 2/25/1840, Died 1/20/1925 Bynum enlisted in Co. E, 12th Tennessee Infantry at Jackson, TN, on June 2, 1861. As a member of that organization he fought at Belmont, Shiloh, and Corinth. On May 15, 1862 Co. E was transferred to the 3rd KY Infantry, becoming Co. L of that regiment. Bynum recalled combat at Coffeeville, Vicksburg, Paducah, Brice’s Crossroads and Harrisburg. At the later battlefield also known as Tupelo, he was struck by grapeshot July 4th, 1864. When he heal one leg was shorter than the other. When he was discharged from the Confederate Army he held the rank of 1st Corporal. Bynum entered the Home in September of 1920.
H. Ewell Hord: Grave #442, Born 5/10/1846, Died 2/9/1927 Hord, from Union County, KY, enlisted in Co. D of the 3rd KY Infantry Regiment 9/1/1862, at Jackson, MS. He broke his arm while fighting in Paducah, KY in 1864, and was knocked down by an artillery shell concussion at Harrisburg. Hord was captured at Selma, AL. He was paroled at Nasvhille, TN, in May of 1865. He entered the Soldiers Home in February of 1901.
Zack R. Hutcherson: Grave #370, Born 6/11/1836, Died 12/9/1920 Hutcherson, or Hutchinson, from Green County, KY, originally served in the 8th KY Cavalry Regiment as a member of Co. K. He enlisted at Springfield, KY in September of 1862. He transferred to Co. E, 4th Kentucky Infantry Regiment 9/13/1862, at Lebanon, KY. He fought as a member of the 4th at Jackson, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Rocky Face Gap, Resaca and Dallas among other locations in Georgia. At Dallas on 4/28/1864, he was shot in the right shoulder and the bones were fractured. After healing he returned to the 4th and continued service until paroled at Washington, GA in 1865. He took the oath in Nashville and then returned home to Warren County, KY, where he farmed after the war.
Thomas D. Ruffin: Grave #264, Born in 1837 or 39, Died 1/1/1913 Ruffin enlisted in “The Pillow Guards”, Co. K, 21st Tennessee Infantry on June 13, 1861. This company was withdrawn in the Spring of 1862 to form Co. E, 1st KY Cavalry Battalion. This unit was also known as King’s Battalion, KY Cavalry. Its designation was later changed to “Kentucky Mounted Rangers”. Even later in the war it was designated the 12th Confederate Cavalry Regiment. Co. A of this regiment was composed of the original men from King’s Battalion. It was often on detached duty as escort for Generals Van Dorn and Forrest. Ruffin recalled combat at Fort Henry, Paris, Shiloh, Lockard’s Mill and Blackland. The later place is now known as Guntown, MS. His horse was shot frum under him at Guntown and he was discharged on July 13, 1862. He remained in Confederate hospitals until the Summer of 1863. He left Knight’s Mill near Tupelo and went home to finish recovering. Later he went to Panola, MS and attempted to join Gen. Chalmer’s Cavalry. Ruffin stated in his pension aplication that Gen. Chalmers commissioned him a Captain, and ordered him to purchase supplies in Northern Mississippi. Ruffin was captured at Coldwater in 1864. He was held as a P.O.W. in Memphis, TN. Due to his lameness from the horse falling upon him in 1862, he was released. Afterwards he made his way to the Confederate lines and served until paroled at Greensboro, NC, on April 25, 1865. His commission as Captain is unverified, however his parole shows him detached on Provost Duty. After the war Ruffin was a gunsmith in Shelby County, TN.
Robert Searcy: Grave #20, Born 1/21/1821, Died 12/21/1895 Searcy originally served in the “Oak Grove Rangers” a Tennessee State Guard unite let by Thomas Woodward. This organization later merged into Helms’ 1st KY Cavalry Regiment. Searcy chose to escape capture at Fort Donelson, TN, by riding out with Gen. Forrest. In December of 1863, Searcy was discharged from the Confederate Army with severe rheumatism.
Samuel Siminson Edmondson: Grave #406, Born 4/6/1844, Died 2/26/1924 Edmondson or Edmundson enlisted in Co. L Morgan’s 2nd KY Cavalry Regiment August 15, 1862, at Hartsville, TN. He was wounded at Augusta, KY 9/27/1862. He was wounded a second time, in the right foot at Knoxville, TN. He was discharged as a cripple in 1864.
William Samuel Holloway: Grave #478, Born 9/25/1842, Died 9/9/1933 Holloway enlisted in Co. H, Woodward’s 2nd KY Cavalry in October of 1862. He participated in combat at Trenton, Garrettsburg, and Hopkinsville. He was discharged in October of 1863. He took the oath in Williamsport, TN.
William H. Brewer: Grave #407, Born 6/24/1842, Died 3/21/1924 Brewer originally enlisted in Co. I, 30th Tennessee Infantry Regiment on November 22, 1861. He was captured at Fort Donelson and was sent to Camp Butler as a P.O.W. Suffering from piles and chronic diarrhea, he was released upon taking the oath. After recovering he joined Rogers’ 1st East Tennessee Cavalry Regiment. He was wounded in the right leg by a piece of artillery shell at Cumberland Gap. When captured again in 1863, Brewer was a member of Co. L, Woodward’s 2nd KY Cavalry. This unit was also known as the 15th KY Cavalry Regiment. He was exchanged on October 24, 1864. He rejoined the army, serving until paroled May 10, 1865.
Ashbell S. Brown: Grave #13, Born 12/1834, Died 7/21/1894 Brown enlisted in Co. A, 5th KY Cavalry Regiment 9/2/1862. He was captured in July, 1863 and remained a P.O.W. until March of 1865. He was a boat millwright after the war.
William B. Feland: Grave #476, Born 11/29/1846, Died 9/9/1913 Feland originally joined Co. A of the 7th TN Cavalry Battalion, October 9, 1861. After participating in the Battle of Shiloh, he was discharged as underage. Feland then joined Co. A of the 6th KY Cavalry Regiment. He fought with that unit at Hartsville, Green River, Lebanon and Mount Sterling. He was captured at Cheshire, OH, July 20, 1863. He was a P.O.W. in Camp Douglas thirty days later. On March 2, 1865, he was transferred to Point Lookout for exchange. On March 12, 1865, he was paroled on the James River at Boulware’s and Cox’s Wharves.
George Y. Harris: Grave #206, Born 12/12/1835, Died 1/19/1910 Harris enlisted in Co. G of Gano’s 7th KY Cavalry Regiment 8/26/1862, at Keysburg, KY. This unit is also known as the 3rd KY Cavalry Regiment. Harris was shot through his left lung at Mount Sterling, and was captured. After a period of time as a P.O.W. in Camp Morton he was released and hospitalized. He was paroled from a hospital in White Sulphur Springs (W.) Virginia.
Benjamin W. Herring: Grave #74, Born 8/28/1833, Died 1/4/1901 Herring enlisted in Co. K of the 14th TN Infantry Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant on May 28, 1861. At the reorganization of the Regiment on April 27, 1862, he was “thrown out of office”. He then joined Co. G, of the 7th KY Cavalry Regiment 8/25/1862 at Keysburg, KY. During combat at Milton, TN, he received a slight flesh wound. Herring was captured at Clarkesville, TN, while recruiting 10/31/1862. He remained a P.O.W. until February 21, 1865. He was paroled at Washington, GA as a 2nd Sergeant, May 9, 1865.
Daniel C. Whitney: Grave #322, Born 8/19/1839, Died 1/3/1917 Whitney originally served in Wheat’s Special Battalion of Louisiana Infantry. He enlisted in New Orleans April 25, 1861. His Company B, “The Tiger Rifles” was the only company to wear a full Zouave uniform. Sent to Virginia, Whitney participated in combat at 1st Mannassas, Kernstown, Winchester, Yorktown, Chancellorsville, Gaines Mill and the Seven Days Battles. At Gaines Mill a piece of artillery shell wounded him in the left kneecap. After being hospitalized at Chimborazo in Richmond he received a disability discharge. By that time Wheat’s Battalion had disbanded. At some point later Whitney enlisted in Co. E of the 11th KY Cavalry Regiment. He was captured at Mount sterling on March 30, 1863. On May 3rd he was exchanged at City Point, VA. Rejoining his comrades, he was recaptured at Jonesboro, TN, in the Fall of 1864.
Sources: The Confederate Cemetery Headstones at “Hermitage”, Tennessee Confederate Veteran Pension Applications, History of the 3rd, 7th, 8th, and 12th Kentucky C.S.A. by Henry George History of the Orphan Brigade by E.P. Thompson Sumner County, TN in the Civil War by Ferguson Parts 1 & 2 Confederate Veteran Magazine Ordeal by Fire by Cross, Louisiana Confederate Military Units 1861-1865 by Bergeron Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky: Confederate Vols. 1 & 2, Confederate Soldiers of Kentucky by S. Lynn
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