This incident is posted at other sites, and probably also here. I just received some added info, and thought I'd share.

Confederate Private John N. T. Hammonds (or Hammond), wrote from Camp Brown, Knoxville, Tennessee to a "Dear Uncle," February 10, 1862. (Courtesy Special Collections Library, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville).Hammonds served in the 1st East Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, later designated as 5th (McKenzie's) Tennessee Cavalry C.S.A.

"I seat myself to write you a few lines to inform you that I am well hoping that those few lines may find you all well. I have nothing of importance to write to you at this time. My company is know [sic] station on Cumberland Mountain. All but a few of us that was detailed to stay here to mind the tents & take care of some sick boys that we had sick here with the measels. We will all leave here in the morning. We had a small chunk of a fight with the Lincolnit[es] the 2 day of this instant. We killed six of them & taken one prisoner & wounded ten more. Jack Thomas a colored person that belongs to our company killed one of them".

About a month later, On the morning of March 14th, 1862, while the 1st was guarding the Cumberland Mountain passes, two companies of the 1st were surprised by a night march of the 49th Indiana. Besides several casualties, and prisoners taken, the regimental standard was captured in the brief fight. Two of the rebels that died were Hammond and Thomas.

Thomas was actually listed on the muster roll as Jackson Thomas, no mention of his race in his record.

1. Both men are in the 1860 census of Polk County, TN. Polk County was one of six east Tennessee counties that voted solidly in favor of secession. Company E (originally Co.D of the 1st east Tennessee Cavalry) was the only company in McKenzie's 5th from Polk County.

2. They lived in close proximity of one another, (at least for that day), and could have been acquainted. On one file card Jack is listed as being age 30, on another, 35. The Census lists him as 43.

3. Jack Thomas
United States Census, 1860
Name Jack Thomas
Event Type Census
Event Date 1860
Event Place 5th District, Polk, Tennessee, United States
Gender Male
Age 43
Race Black
Race (Original) Black
Birth Year (Estimated) 1817
Birthplace Georgia
Page 97

4. Jack and wife Hannah had 8 children, ages, 2-21. A white man named P.M. Carson lived with them. All members of the household were born in Georgia, so they hadn't been in Tennessee very long.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................

1. John Hanmon
United States Census, 1860
Name John Hanmon
Event Type Census
Event Date 1860
Event Place 5th District, Polk, Tennessee, United States
Gender Male
Age 18
Race White
Race (Original) [Blank]
Birth Year (Estimated) 1842
Birthplace Tennessee
Page 99

2. John lived with his parents and 7 siblings, ages 7-23 and probably a 65 year-old maternal aunt or grandmother. John's parent's are age 50, they and his oldest sibling (a sister) were born in South Carolina.

File Cards from their CMSR's