Civil War Soldiers from Savannah & Thereabouts

My name is Amy Marshall and my father's ancestors are all native to this area prior to the Civil War. Many of them left memories of the great battle that brought in thousands of soldiers to this small, obsecure town on the banks of the Tennessee River. My Marshall ancestors remember standing on a fence watching the soldiers marching on the road by their house- which is probably Coffee Landing Road that is right on the river (which intersects Marshall Road).



My granny's grandmother (Martha Melissa Shirley) was only a child during the Civil War but she remembers the roaring of cannons at Shiloh a few miles south. She also recalls her mother sewing money in one of her brother's caps so the soldiers wouldn't find it. Her father (Frank Edward Shirley) was a Confederate prisoner in Alton, IL and died there in 1864.


Shiloh shortly after the battle

All of these men are native to the Hardin/McNairy/Chester Co. area of lower West Tennessee. Almost all of these are serving in West Tennessee Regiments, although the Wilkinsons spent some time serving in a Sumner Co. Unit (in Northern Middle TN). I am currently including only direct lines and brothers of siblings in my direct line. All of these men are Confederate Soldiers (which is not a given in Tennessee since it is one of the states that had regiments on both sides).

Bingham, Charles M.
Regiment(s): 21st TN (Wilson's) Calvary, Co. F, CSA

Shirley, Franklin Edward
Regiment(s): 18th TN Calvary (Newsome's) Company N/A., CSA

Other Info: He Died at Alton, IL (Union Prison for Confederate Soldiers) in 1864. Native of Hardin and Chester (then Henderson) Counties, TN.

*Wilkinson, Robert (Sergeant-Major) and middle intial is uncertain
Regiment(s): (All CSA) 7th TN Calvary Co. C. This was later known officially as 22nd Tennessee Cavalry Co. D but I believe he died before it was reorganized. 27th TN Infantry Co. K (which he helped to form) He was nominated to be Sergeant-Major and an account of a fellow soldier recounts him with this rank but because he died during the Battle of Shiloh he is listed as a private because this was before anything was made official.
This fellow soldier recalls in a book Regimental Histories and Memorial Rolls "I believe it was on this day, and in his native county, that Maj. Robert Wilkerson (mispelling) was killed, being in a few miles of his wife and children. He was a good soldier and a most estimable gentlemen."
Another place indicates that "On Monday morning (the second day's fighting), before sunrise, the enemy advanced and opened fire upon the brigade to our right and left. We were started forward to the assistance of the forces on the left, when the enemy's batteries commenced a heavy firing upon us, and a retreat was ordered tot he tents. After the cessation of the fire from the battery we were afain ordered to move in a direction inclining to the left about the distance of a quarter of a mile, whre we met the enemy near the pond, and after a severe fight of ten or fifteen minutes, succeeded in preventing theenemy from flanking our forces on the leftand caused him to retreat. It was here that our last gallant field officer, Major Love, was killed, after commanding the regiment in a fearless manner during the day. Sergeant-Major Wilkinson was also killed while leading a company to the charge. He bore himself most gallantly during the fight. After the fall of our major our regiment began to disperse, and were not rallied again during the day. We returned to camp, near Corinth, on Tuesday."

Other Info: He died in the first day of fighting at Shiloh on April 6, 1862. Born in Virginia and native to the Coffee Landing Area of Northwestern Hardin County, TN. (today around Morris Chapel)

*Wilkinson, J.T. "Tom" (Lieutenant)
Regiment(s): 7th TN Calvary Co. C. This was later known officially as 22nd Tennessee Cavalry Co. D but I believe he joined after it was reorganized, as well as serving as Lieutenant of the 27th TN Infantry Co. K with his brother Robert.

Other Info: Born in Virginia and native to the Coffee Landing/Right/Morris Chapel Community of Northwestern Hardin County, TN. at least since 1840.

Strongly believe this family is related to Charles W. Wilkinson and George W. Wilkinson of the Sumner County, TN area. Both of these men served in both 27th TN Infantry Co. K and 7th/22nd TN Calvary Co. D (the latter a Sumner Co. regiment) alongside J.T. and his brother Robert. They are possibly first cousins, younger brothers of their father, or possibly even older brothers of theirs who didn't live with the family in 1840 Hardin County.

*Wilkinson is often mispelled Wilkerson

The Battle of Shiloh took place in Hardin County, Tennessee about nine miles south of Savannah

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@2001, Kim F. Marshall
For questions or comments:
southsideofsavannah@yahoo.com