Private John T. Malone
The following information was taken from the "Confederate Veteran" magazine, Volume Six - 1995, Page 13. What you are reading is an autobiographical account of John's service in the 29th Mississippi. This account however was written several years after the war. Grammar and spelling occur as in the original in all quoted materials.
Private John T. Malone joined the Confederate Army at Hernando, Desoto County, Miss. about the 7th of March, 1862 at age 16. Co. 1,29th Miss Regiment formed at Grenada. Company commanded by Capt. J. Bright Morgan, the regiment by Col. C. C. Walthall, the brigade by Gen. Chalmers, division by Gen. Withers, Polk’s Army Corps, Bragg ‘s Army of Tennessee.
First fight I participated in was at Farmington, Miss. Then we undertook the
Kentucky Campaign. In this campaign we took a part in the battle of Green
River at Mumfordville. KY The yankees surrendered this turn to us in regular
military form. On then to Camp Dick Robinson. Our command did not take a hand
in this battle. VW captured great stores of provisions from the yankees. We
were very hungry and made ourselves sick from over eating. We went to Tennessee.
On t/is return I became very sick with bronchitis, had no clothes to change,
and lay in the hospital about one month at Knoxville, Tennessee. Then I got
well enough to join the army at Murfreesboro, Tenn. Here we had our third
battle December 30th and3lst, 1862 where Iwas wounded and was sent to hospital
at Ringgold, Georgia where I remained about six weeks. Then I joined the army
at Atlanta, Georgia where we pressed horses into army service. Then the next
was the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia 19th and 20th of September, 1863. (A
few days later John lost his knapsack during thefutile attempt to hoidLookout
Mountain.) Thirty-two percent of Walthall ‘s Brigade was killed or wounded
in thi.’ battle. North Georgia winter campaign of 100 days Ican say,
in the language of Gen. Bates, ‘When every moment was a battlefield
and every battlefield a graveyard.’For 100 days the cannons thundered
and muskets flashed. And for 100 nights the stars looked down on new made
graves and new battle lii ies stained with blood. And all of which Walthall
‘s llrigade took a conspicuous part. And so on or an und Jonesboro and
Atlanta, this included Atlanta and Jonesboro in the campaign. I went through
Atlanta but was wounded twice at Jonesboro, once in the right hip and the
left thigh. Then on to the ill fated field of Franklin, Tenn. where 6000 out
of less than 15000 went down.
This was the only battle General Waithall led h brigade in that
I was not there. (It should he note that this was ahvays a sore pointfor John
afterward Perhaps he felt guilty that so many comrades die in a battle in
it’hich he was ordered not to partic pate. Having been temporarily appointed
to the rar of sergeant major and not carrying a musket ( sword was told by
Major G. W. Reynolds, You wi do no good in this battle, as you have no gun.
Gii me your canteen of water, take my horse and go bac to the rear, and report
to me at daylight tomorro morning. A disgruntled young John trudged backi
the hospital and helped with reception of th wounded all night. At dawn the
next morning Joh went back to find Major Reynolds. He found the Major‘s
body on the overrun enemy breastwork riddled with bullet holes, five of which
were receive in the head.)
Then on our retreat on Christmas Eve our br gade had to wade Shoal Creek. The water in some places was up to our arm pits. Rocks so slick th every man had a fall. This gave me a severe chil That night the men who were well enough built pontoon bridge across the Tennessee River for th army to cross on. I was too sick to walk. Next dci they brought me in the ambulance with several othc sick men. When they went to cross the bridge all g off excepting one. I was too sick and said! had soo died for a sheep as a lamb. The bridge was narroi and no banisters and mules were much frightene and did not want to cross. We next went to Greensboro. North Car. Hood was relieved of command the army and Joseph E. Johnson (sic) succeeded I the command of the army. Then he proceeded to n organize the army again. Then Walthall's Brigade consisted of five regiments, 24,27,29, 30 and 31) were consolidated with one regiment under the con mandofCol. R. W. Willaimson. Then Iwas appointe 2nd Lieutenant of Company A, 24th Miss. Regimen acting adjutant and was surrendered in that capac ity on the 26th day of April 1865. Southern arm commanded by Joseph E. Johnson [sic]. The federal army was commanded by Sherman.
John T. Malone was considered a very courageous soldier and much admired by his counterparts. John received a commendation just before the battle at Lookout Mountain but lost it in the battle on that same day - September 24th, 1863. General Edward C. Walthall personally copied this order and sent it to John in 1895 after meeting John’s younger brother Judge Walter Malone in Memphis. The order hung in an honored spot in the Malone parlor from the day it was received until long after John’s death. (confederate veteran, VOL.VI, 1995, pg. 16)
Like many men of the 29th Mississippi, John T. Malone
did not wait on parole papers after the wars end. What is so amazing is that
he kept a log of his journey home from Greensboro, NC the day the Army surrendered.
Below is his journal of his journey home.
April 26 Left Greensboro, North Carolina & camped
near High Point.
Distance of 15 miles
May 3 Left H. P. transfered near Lexington Station.
Distance 20 miles.
4 Left Lexington Station crossed Yadkin River & camped 4 miles west of
Salisbury.
Distance 22 miles
5 Camped 9 miles east of Charlotte.
Distance 27 miles
6 Passed through Charlotte crossed the State Line & camped 12 miles west
of Charlotte,NC.
Distance 21 miles
7 Crossed the Catawba River at RR bridge camped 13 miles
N.E. Chesterville. S. Carolina
Distance 20 miles.
8 Passed through Chesterville & camped 10 miles from town.
Distance of 13 miles
9 Crossed Broad River at Hugheys Ferry & camped 2 mil es of the River.
Distance 25 miles
10 Passed through Newberry & camped 5 miles west of town.
Distance 20 miles.
Whole distance 193 miles
11 Crossed Sadaltie (1) River and Saluda River & camped near the R.
Distance 20 miles
12 Camped 15 miles cast of Savanah River.
Distance 27 miles
13 Crossed Little River marched 5 miles & crossed Savanah R. & camped
one mile west of the river.
Distance 16 miles.
14 Camped 8 miles N.W. of Washington, GA.
Distance 18 miles.
15 Camped 1 1/2 east of Crawfordsville. Distance of 22 miles.
16 Passed through Crawfordsville & White Plains.
Distance 23 miles
17 Crossed the Oconec River & camped 2 1/2 east of Eatonton.
Distance 23 miles
Whole distance 342 miles.
18 Passed through Eatonton & camped 1 1/2 west of Hilisboro.
Distance 22 miles.
19 Crossed Ocumulgee River passed through Forsyth & camped one mile west
of town.
Distance 22 miles.
20 Passed through Bar nesville & camped 7 miles east of Zebalon.
Distance 15 miles.
21 Crossed Flint River passed through Woodbury & camped 2 miles west of
town.
Distance 28 miles.
22 Crossed Flatshoal Creek & camped 18 miles east of East ("West"
is scratched out here) Point.
Distance 24 miles.
23 Left West Point to the left passed through Lagrange crossed the State Line
& camped at Hickory Flat. Alabama
Distance of 23 miles
24 Camped 1/2 east of Dudleyville
Distance 24 miles
25 Passed through Dudleyville crossed Tallapoosa River & camped 1 1/2
miles east of Youngville.
Distance 24 miles
26 Passed through Youngville & Socapatoy & camped near Simpson’s
Factory
Distance 12 miles
Whole distance 536 miles
27 Camped 7 miles east of Ft Williams.
Distance 25 miles.
28 Crossed Coosa River passed Shelby iron works & camped 11 miles east
of Montevallo.
Distance of 22 miles
29 Passed through Montevallo & camped 4 miles east of Cahawba.
Distance 23 miles.
30 Crossed Cahawba River & camped 18 miles S. E. of Tuskaloosa.
Distance 23 miles.
31 Passed through Tuskaloosa. crossed Black Warrior R.& camped 7 miles
north of town.
Distance 23 miles
June 1 Crossed Sipsy River & camped & camped near Newtonville.
Distance 25 miles.
2 Camped 9 miles east of the state line
Distance 20 miles.
3 Crossed the State Line & camped one mile east of Tomb igby River.
Distance 25 miles
4 Crossed Tombigby River passed through West Point & camped 10 miles west
of town.
Distance 20 miles
5 Crossed Big Black 6 camped 7 miles south of Hopewell.
Distance 24 miles.
6 Crossed Yallabusha River & camped 7 miles east of Scabner River.
Distance 22 miles.
7 Crossed Scooner River & arrived at Coffeeville at one o’clock
P.M. Left Coffeeville at 4 o’clock rode 10 miles & stayed all night
with Mr. Mattock.
Distance 25 miles.
8 Left Mr. Mattok’s, passed through Oakland & arrived at TH at 12
o’clock.
June 19 Left Dr. Scott’s passed through Ureka, Panala & crossed
Tallahatchee and stayed all night 20 miles south of
June 20 Crossed Coldwater, passed through Hernando & arrived at home at
three o’clock P.M.
Distance 35 miles.
Whole distance 904 miles.
John T. Malone, 2nd Lieut
Co."A," 24th Miss Regt.
Much thanks to Thomas H. McKnight III for his help in finding this information. You can visit his genealogy site Here.