John A. Lawler
Enlisted as a Private (date unknown).
"A" Co. TN 7th Cavalry
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- Index to Compiled Military Service Records
7th TN Cavalry
( 3-years )
Organized: Grand Junction & Trenton, TN on 8/28/62
Mustered Out: 8/9/65 at Nashville, TN
Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded: 0
Officers Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 1
Enlisted Men Killed or Mortally Wounded: 8
Enlisted Men Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 328
(Source: Fox, Regimental Losses)
Seventh Cavalry
TENNESSEE
(3-YEARS)
Seventh Cavalry. -- Lieut.-Col., Isaac R. Hawkins; Maj.,
Thomas A. Smith.
This regiment was recruited in Carroll county and vicinity and
was mustered into service Nov. 14, 1862, under the command of
Lieut.Col. Hawkins, of Huntingdon.
On Dec. 18, Sergt. Doss, with a detachment of the regiment,
reported to Col. Engelman of the 43d Ill. infantry, and with
his command made a demonstration before the enemy at Jackson,
Tenn., and the conduct of the men in the gallant affair was
admirable.
The regiment then joined the command of Col. Robert G.
Ingersoll at Lexington and marched with it to Beech Creek,
about 5 miles east of Lexington. Lieut. Fox, with a
detachment of the regiment, destroyed one of the bridges over
Beech Creek and picketed the road while the command fell back
to within half a mile of Lexington.
On the following day Col. Hawkins, with two companies of the
regiment, was sent to defend a crossing on a road leading into
Lexington, where he was attacked by the enemy in superior
numbers and was forced to retire in confusion. The troops
being not very well equipped, and having never before been
under fire, could not succeed in making a stand, although they
were rallied three times.
On Dec. 20 a portion of the regiment, under command of Col.
Hawkins, was in the unfortunate affair which resulted in the
surrender of the post at Trenton, Tenn., to Gen. Forrest.
Col. Hawkins, Capts. Hawkins and Belew, and Lieuts. Allender,
Hawkins and Robinson of the 7th Tenn. cavalry were
complimented in the official reports for their efficiency and
bearing during the gallant defense of the place.
During these movements the regiment was a part of the force of
Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut, who was in command of the
district of Jackson, Tenn. In the affair at Trenton 300 men
of the regiment were included in the surrender, and after
being paroled by Gen. Forrest were sent to Camp Chase, where
they remained until Aug., 1863, before being exchanged.
During Feb. 1863, Sergt. Mize, with 14 men of the regiment,
served with a scouting party and did effective work in the
vicinity of Clifton, Tenn. On the morning of April 29, 1863,
80 men of the regiment left LaGrange, Tenn., with the command
of Col. Edward Hatch of the 2nd Ia. cavalry, to attack the
enemy concentrating at New Albany and Pontotoc, for the
purpose of intercepting the supposed return of Col. Grierson.
The expedition returned to La Grange on May 5, bringing in
about 400 head of captured stock and 20 prisoners. A
battalion of the regiment participated in the fight at
Collierville, Tenn., in Dec. 1863.
On Jan. 11, 1864, a detachment of 100 men of the regiment was
sent to Lexington, Tenn., where some prisoners were captured
and 1 guerrilla was killed in the very act of robbing. On
March 12 the regiment had a running fight for 10 miles, in
which 2 of the enemy were killed, 1 severely wounded and 1
captured. The regiment also captured 6 horses.
At Union City, Tenn., in March, after fighting for 6 hours and
repulsing the enemy four times, the regiment was compelled to
surrender to Gen. Forrest. On Sept. 2, 1864, Lieut. Murray,
with 70 men of the regiment, came up with Capt. Churchill and
Col. Dawson's Confederate command at Union City, and dispersed
them, killing 6 and capturing 11 men.
The members of the regiment who enlisted for one year were
mustered out Oct. 26, 1863, by reason of expiration of term of
service, and the remaining men were mustered out Aug. 9, 1865,
in accordance with orders from the war department.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 385