The Fifth Tennessee (Confederate) Regiment was raised in Henry County (a few in Benton and in Carroll) and organized at Paris May 20, 1861, with W E Travis, colonel, with twelve companies. It occupied Humboldt and Union City until September 4, 1861; then moved to Columbus, Ky., and at the battle of Belmont supported the artillery. It formed part of Stewart's brigade, Cheatham's division, Polk's corps. When Donelson fell the regiment moved to New Madrid, where several skirmishes were had with the Federals. The Fifth marched to Corinth, and April 6 and 7 fought with notable bravery at Shiloh, losing heavily. It then moved to Tupelo; thence to Chattanooga. In September it moved on the Kentucky expedition, and at Perryville sustained a heavy loss. For the Fifth this was one of the sharpest fights of the war. It then moved via Knoxville to Murfreesboro, where it was consolidated with the Fourth under Col. Lamb, and was desperately engaged at the battle of the latter name. In the movement south it skirmished at Guy's Gap. The Fifth fought in the bloody battle of Chickamauga for two days, and at Missionary Ridge, in November, 1863, was one of the last to leave the ridge, and was then used to cover the retreat. It checked the victorious Federals until 2 AM the next morning, though overwhelmed with numbers. On the retreat it fought all the way to Ringgold Gap. It wintered at Dalton, and in the spring, on the Atlanta campaign, fought almost continuously to Atlanta. Col. Lamb was mortally wounded at Ellsbury Ridge, and was succeeded by A J Kellar. It moved north with Hood, fought at Franklin and Nashville, retreated south, and in the spring of 1865 a mere remnant was surrendered in North Carolina. Source: http://www.tngennet.org/james/regthist.htm#5tncreg

Josephus Fowler