Mount
Olive Cemetery Historical Preservations SocietyMilitary History
101st U.S. Colored Infantry
Regiment
Organized in Tennessee in 1864
Colonel R. D. Mussey, Commissioner for Organization of Colored Troops, in a report written in Nashville on October 10, 1864, stated that in February 1984, Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas authorized the formation of an invalid, or laboring regiment. The regiment was to be composed of men unfit for field duty, but fit for ordinary garrison duty. The men could either be new enlisted or transfers from other regiments.
On September 25, 1864, Brigadier General John F. Miller, Nashville Command Post, listed the 101st U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment, organized with about 300 men, as one of the organizations at Nashville not attached to the garrison troops
On October, 10 1864, Captain Ben S. Nicklin; 13th Indiana Battery Commanding at Gallatin, said he sent Lieutenant Gable, with 15 men from the 101st U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment to the South Tunnel to guard the tunnel against guerrilla attacks.
Colonel Mussey's reports went on to say that on October 10, the Regiment had about 600 men, they had done fatigue duty, some of the so-to-speak business duties of soldiers; and had furnished guards for the contraband camps at Nashville and Clarksville. He continued, "I have endeavored to select as officers for the 101st, from whom chiefly came the superintendents for the contraband camps, men who have had previous experience in their old regiments as quartermaster or commissary sergeants, as possessing a better knowledge of business than other applicants."
On December 31, 1864, Lieutenant Stephen H. Eno, Company F, was reported in the forces under Colonel James Gilfillan, on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.
On January 8, 1865, Lieutenant John E. Hull, Company E, commanding a detachment guarding the water tanks at Scottsboro, Alabama, reported he was attacked by Confederate forces under Brigadier General H.B. Lyon, and after defending the deport for some time, was driven out by artillary fire, and marched his men to Larkinsville, Alabama, where he reported to Brigadier General Charles Cruft. He reported six men wounded.
On March 19, 1865, the "Rebel Colonel" Mead, in an attack on the garrison at Stevenson's Gap, Alabama, commanded by Lieutenant Belcher, was reported to have captured nine men form the 101st.
On July 1, 1865, an order was issued relieving the 101st from further duty at Clarksville, and ordering it to report for duty at Nashville, to Brigadier General C.B. Fisk, Assistant Commissioner Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, etc. for Tennessee and Kentucky
This was the last mention of the Regiment found in the Official Records. Dyer's Compendium states it was mustered out of services January 21, 1866.
Cited: "It's A Black Thing!" Publish By Kids in Control of Clarksville, TN
Organized in Tennessee in 1864
Colonel R. D. Mussey, Commissioner for Organization of Colored Troops, in a report written in Nashville on October 10, 1864, stated that in February 1984, Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas authorized the formation of an invalid, or laboring regiment. The regiment was to be composed of men unfit for field duty, but fit for ordinary garrison duty. The men could either be new enlisted or transfers from other regiments.
On September 25, 1864, Brigadier General John F. Miller, Nashville Command Post, listed the 101st U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment, organized with about 300 men, as one of the organizations at Nashville not attached to the garrison troops
On October, 10 1864, Captain Ben S. Nicklin; 13th Indiana Battery Commanding at Gallatin, said he sent Lieutenant Gable, with 15 men from the 101st U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment to the South Tunnel to guard the tunnel against guerrilla attacks.
Colonel Mussey's reports went on to say that on October 10, the Regiment had about 600 men, they had done fatigue duty, some of the so-to-speak business duties of soldiers; and had furnished guards for the contraband camps at Nashville and Clarksville. He continued, "I have endeavored to select as officers for the 101st, from whom chiefly came the superintendents for the contraband camps, men who have had previous experience in their old regiments as quartermaster or commissary sergeants, as possessing a better knowledge of business than other applicants."
On December 31, 1864, Lieutenant Stephen H. Eno, Company F, was reported in the forces under Colonel James Gilfillan, on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.
On January 8, 1865, Lieutenant John E. Hull, Company E, commanding a detachment guarding the water tanks at Scottsboro, Alabama, reported he was attacked by Confederate forces under Brigadier General H.B. Lyon, and after defending the deport for some time, was driven out by artillary fire, and marched his men to Larkinsville, Alabama, where he reported to Brigadier General Charles Cruft. He reported six men wounded.
On March 19, 1865, the "Rebel Colonel" Mead, in an attack on the garrison at Stevenson's Gap, Alabama, commanded by Lieutenant Belcher, was reported to have captured nine men form the 101st.
On July 1, 1865, an order was issued relieving the 101st from further duty at Clarksville, and ordering it to report for duty at Nashville, to Brigadier General C.B. Fisk, Assistant Commissioner Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, etc. for Tennessee and Kentucky
This was the last mention of the Regiment found in the Official Records. Dyer's Compendium states it was mustered out of services January 21, 1866.
Cited: "It's A Black Thing!" Publish By Kids in Control of Clarksville, TN
Black Montgomery Countians Who Served in The Union Army During The Civil War
Sgt. Jacob Danish, from New Providence enlisted in "G" Company 101 US Infantry discharged in 1866
Pvt. Benjamin Herring, from New Providence enlisted in 1864 in 13th U.S. Cavalry, discharged in 1866.
Pvt. John Wuler, from Woodlawn enlisted in 1863 in "G" Company 13th U.S. Cavalry
Known Listed Troops Buried in Mount Olive Cemetery, Clarksville, Tennessee
| First Name | Last Name | Company | Unit |
| Nicholas | Adams | CO. G. | 14th U.S.C.T. |
| Lucien | Barker | CO. K. | 101st U.S.C.T. |
| Marshall | Burr | CO. I. | 15th U.S.C.T. |
| Thos. | Campbell | CO. H. | 16th U.S.C.T. |
| Shelby | Clark | CO. G. | 16th U.S.C.T. |
| Chesterfield | Dabney | CO. F. | 16th U.S.C. INF. |
| Joseph | Dorris | CO. B | 13th U.S. CLD. VOL. INF. |
| Robert | Faulkner | CO. H. | 101st U.S.C.T. |
| Charles | Griffey | CO. A. | 15th U.S.C.T. |
| William H. | Harris | 24th INF | |
| High | CO. C. | 14th U.S.C.T. | |
| Stephan | Kimbrough | CO. D. | 15th U.S.C.T. |
| William | King | CO. B. | 59th U.S.C.T. |
| William | Logan | CO. H. | 12th U.S.C.T. |
| John | Mabery | CO. C | 16th U.S.C. INF |
| Leonard | Mabry | CO. B. | 15th U.S.C.T. |
| Alexander | McNeil | CO. C. | 59th U.S.C.T. |
| Martin | Means | CO. H. | 101st U.S.C.T. |
| Benjamin | Mimms | CO. A. | 14th U.S.C.T. |
| Wilson | Thomas | CO. I. | 15th U.S.C.T. |
| Robert | Vass | CO. H. | 101st U.S.C.T. |
| Givins | Watkins | CO. H. | 101st U.S.C.T. |
Distinguished Black Military Units In Tennessee
Several of the black units organized in the Clarksville-Montgomery County Tennessee area are described in the next brief outlines of their formation. The last pages of this section are copies of "mustering" certificates used to verify black enlistees status
2nd Tennessee Heavy Artillery Regiment (African Decent)
March 11, 1864
9th Us Colored Heavy Artillery Regiment
Organized at Clarksville and Nashville Tennessee in 1864
13th U.S Colored Infantry Regiment
(Originally called 2nd U.S. Infantry Regiment (Colored)
Organized in Middle Tennessee, Summer, 1863
16th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment
Organized in Tennessee late 1863 to early 1864
17th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment
Organized in Tennessee in Fall of 1863
"Black Regiments" 1863-1865
Early in the Civil War, Clarksville was a center for raising companies for the Confederate Army. Later Clarksville was also an important recruiting post for the Union Army. But the service of these men has been less well noted in local history and lore. The bulk of these troops were ex-slaves who entered the refugee camps that sprang up after Union forces occupied the city in 1862 Beginning in 1863 black laborers who had been working on the Union fortifications around Nashville and outlying posts at Murfreesboro, Gallatin, and Clarksville were organized into regiments, officially designated "U.S. Colored Infantry" and commanded by white volunteer officers.
Two of the regiments, the 12th and the 13th which comprised together some 1,200 men compiled particularly enviable records. Originally they were raised to assist in the construction of the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad, built to link Nashville with the Tennessee River at Johnsonville. The new railroad, designed to supplement the overtaxed Louisville and Nashville Railroad and the steamer supplying the Cumberland, was a crucial link it the Union supply lines stretching toward the vast armies doing battle around Chattanooga.
Three other units, composed of ex-slaves recruited at Clarksville, were the 9th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, 16th U.S. Colored Infantry, and 101st U.S. Colored Infantry. The best estimate is that 3,000 ex-slaves from as far away as Louisville, Kentucky, were recruited at Clarksville from 1863 to 1865 for service in the Union army, Many of these men played significant roles in constructing railroad and fortification, in defending essential post against determined attack, and in doing battle in the horrendous struggles at Nashville and Chattanooga.
"For Americans, one test of worthy citizen is willingness to fight for freedom. These men deserve to be remembered as ones who met the test."
Richard Gildrie