I am writing a history of the 43rd Tennessee, but unfortunately proceeding at a glacial speed.

There has been one written account of the regiment, East Tennessee's Forgotten Soldiers, The Forty-Thirtd Tennessee Infantry Regiment, Donn Patton Brooks, Westpum Publishers, 1995. I do not believe it is in print today.

The referenced "A Fit Representation of Pandemonium," is a solid and well researched book of the East Tenn. troops, by the late Professor Bill Taylor covering the Vicksburg campaign in which Garren participated, March through June, 1863. Following parole, the regiment was marched out of Vicksburg toward Enterprise, Miss., from there, they took the train to Mobile, Alabama, then steamer to the head of the bay, and train through Alabama and Georgia to East Tennessee. En-route, they were given paroles for 30 days. Most men reached home the end of July.

The History branch, Cleveland [Tenn.] Public Library, holds a copy of the diary of Lt. Issac J. Stamper, Fife Major, 43rd Tenn. It's about an inch thick and contains a rather detailed history of the regiment during the Vicksburg campaign. Believe they will still reproduce copies at a reasonable price.

Following exchange, they reformed, but not more than 250 men ever returned to the command. Their first muster roll was dated March 10, 1864, Garren was not present. There are no following muster records available. However, it would seem doubtful that he ever returned.

We have a descendants organization, the website is: http://www.43dtenn.com/
It contains a brief history of the regiment taken from my old website.

Please respond to me at my address and we'll get you involved with our group.

George Martin, ggmartin55@att.net

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Garren, S. J., Pvt., Co. A, enlisted February 13, 1863 at Hiwasee Mines, Tenn., bounty due, captured and paroled at Vicksburg July 4-9, 1863, recorded as absent on the Jul. & Aug., 1863 muster roll, conducted March 10, 1864 at Big Creek, Tenn. (M268 Roll 291)

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43rd Tennessee Infantry, [5th East Tennessee Volunteers]

Company A, Called into service at Hiwassee Mines, Tenn., October 19, 1861
The fifth company to enter the Confederate Army from Polk County was made up at Ducktown in the fall of 1861, and organized by electing the following commissioned officers:

Dr. John Goodman, Captain

W. H. Wimberly, First Lieutenant

John Tonkin, Second Lieutenant

Charles Taliferro, Third Lieutenant

Garren was most likely brought back to the regiment in Vicksburg by Sgt. Wade. The regiment was at the time in camp about four miles south of Vicksburg, serving picket duty at the marine battery at Warrenton, about 10 miles below Vicksburg on the Mississippi river.

Excerpt from my draft regimental history.

01 22 1863 [Thursday]

Special Order No. 48

1st Lt. J. M. Bryant of the 43rd Tennessee Reg’t. is detailed to proceed to East Tennessee for the purpose of obtaining recruits and securing conscripts and apprehending all stragglers, for said regiment or any regiment in this command and report to his command within six week, Col. A. W. Reynolds, commanding brigade

1st Sgt. James H. Wade, Co. A, 43rd Tenn. was recipient of the same orders (M268 Roll 294)

The above orders were issued in response to a circular order from Gen. S. Cooper in Richmond which LGen. Pemberton ordered MGen. C. L. Stevenson to send back to Tennessee no more than 5 officers and/or non-commissioned officers per regiment, for a period up to six weeks for the purpose of collecting and returning to their regiments stragglers (NA Endorsements on letters received Dept. of Mississippi & East Louisiana 1862-1863)