2ND (SMITH'S) TENNESSEE CAVALRY REGIMENT
From "Tennesseans in the Civil War" - pages 54-55
Organized as a battalion February 1862. Increased to regiment April 1862, disbanded May 1862.
Field Officers - Colonel E. S. Smith, Lieutenant Colonel Zachariah Thomason
This regiment had a short life, and little is known of it. It appears to have been organized as a battalion at Camp Cheatham with eight companies which had been mustered into Confederate Service bewteen November, 1861, and January, 1862. A ninth company was added March 13, 1862, and it was constituted as a regiment in April 1862.
The original companies were as follows;
Captains -
Peter T. Rankin. Mustered into Confederate Service at Camp Cheatham January 1, 1862. From Marion County (Tenn.) Muster roll bears note that this company was ordered away from Camp Weakley, Nashville, before enrollment was completed. Became Co. "H", 4th (Starnes') Tennessee Cavalry Regiment.
Samuel P. Thompson. Mustered into Confederate Service at Camp Cheatham January 3, 1862. From Wilson and Smith Counties (Tenn.) Muster roll bears note that this company was ordered away from Camp Weakley, Nashville, before enrollment was completed. Became Co. "G", 4th (Starnes') Tennessee Cavalry Regiment.
Allen Lea. "The Lookout Rangers." Mustered into Confederate Service at Nashville, November 1, 1861. Men from Marion County. Captain Lea and some of his men later served in the 2nd Alabama Cavalry Battalion, of which Lea was first captain and later major.
John F. Thomason. Mustered into Confederate Service at Camp Tronsdale, November 4, 1861. Men from Marion County. Roll bears a note "arrived at rendezvous October 25, 1861." Most men re-enlisted in Co. "C", 11th Alabama Cavalry Battalion.
Robert C. Bass. Mustered into Confederate Service at Camp Cheatham December 13, 1861. Roll bears a note that the company was orderd away from Camp Weakley before enrollment was completed.
Samuel Y. Barkley. Mustered into Confederate Service at Camp Cheatham January 2, 1862. Roll bears a note that the company was orderd away from Camp Weakley before enrollment was completed.
John D. Wheeler. Mustered into Confederate Service at Camp Cheatham December 23, 1861.
Thomas P. Kinney. No Muster Roll. Organized January 16, 1862. A letter was found requesting that the company be transferred to Colonel Bennett's Battalion.
__________ Malone. No Muster Roll. Organized March 13, 1862. Possibly formed by division of Captain Lea's Company, as there was a 1st Lieutenant Richard T. Malone in that Company.
The battalion was at Camp Cheatham on February 14, 1862, as evidenced by a requisition for sabres, belts, and shotguns, signed by Lieutenant Colonel E. S. Smith.
It was next reported as being near Chattanooga on March 14, 1862. A report from a Federal scout dated April 6, 1862, placed Rankin's Company, 80 men, on the south side of the Tennessee River, opposite Bridgeport, Alabama.
The last record was found in instructions sent by Major General E. Kirby Smith to Brigadier General D. Leadbetter, commanding at Chattanooga, dated April 28, 1862: "Colonel Smith should be arrested on the first pretext, and his regiment placed under the commandd of an efficient officer. If this cannot be done, select the best companies and organize them into a battalion, and report the remaining ones that they may be dismounted or some other disposition made of them."
The regiment was disbanded, two of the companies were transferred to the 4th (Stranes') Tennessee Cavalry Regiment. A number of individuals from other companies later served in Alabama organizations.
*Note - As stated at the first of this document, the above is an excerpt from the book, "Tennesseans in the Civil War" and I assume it is now part of the public domain. If otherwise, please let me know.
*My great-grandfather, Calvin Jones Andrews, was in the 2nd Tennessee Cavalry Regiment until he joined the 3rd Confederate Cavalry. His muster roll dated May 8, 1862 states the following:
Company A, 3rd Cav., CSA
C. J. Andrews
Pvt {Capt F. M. Corn's Company, Howard's Batt'n Confed Cav
Age 21 years
Appears on Company Muster-in Roll of the Organization named above. Roll dated Camp Kirby, Tennessee, June 19, 1862. Muster-in to date June 19, 1862.
Joined for duty and enrolled:
When reorganized May 8, 1862. Where - Running Water Bridge, Tennessee. By whom - Capt. Corn. Period 2 years 5 mos. (* due to the period of enlistment, I assume that he enlisted in the 2nd Tenn. for a period of 3 years.)
Further notes from the muster roll: This company subsequently became Company A, 3rd Confederate Cavalry. The 3rd Regiment Confederate Cavalry (also known as the 12th?, the 18th, and Howard's Regiment Confederate Cavalry, and as Howard's Battalion Confederate Cavalry and the 11th Battalion Alabama Cavalry), completed its organization August ? 1862, with ? companies A to K. Some of the men had prior service in the 2nd (Smith's) Regiment Tennessee Cavalry.
email - rifleman@cei.net