Editor's Note #1: Before Tennessee succeeded from the Union on May 1, 1861, Tom Williams first enlisted with 136^th Regiment of Tennessee Militia on April 23, 1861 and was elected Captain.  He later enlisted in the regular Confederate States Army in December 1861, in Company H, the “Obion Avalanche”, 9^th Tennessee Infantry Regiment and was detailed Orderly Sergeant.The 9^th Regiment assembled in July 1861 at a Camp of Instruction in Union City,  Tennessee. After undergoing training at the Camp Of Instruction, the 9^th Regiment removed to Camp Blythe, New Madrid, Missouri.  Later moving to Columbus, Kentucky the Regiment went into winter quarters.  The Regiment subsequently changed locale to Corinth, Mississippi in March 1862 where it was placed on post duty at Bethel Station, Tennessee until April 4, 1862. On April 6^th and April 7^th,  1862 the 9^th Regiment fought bravely at the Battle of Shiloh under the leadership of Colonel George Maney, who commended the regiment for its gallantry in action. Colonel Maney stated that their action that day won him his promotion to General. Casualities at Shiloh was 60 men. Orderly Sergeant Thomas Spencer Williams was released in July 1862 for being 35 years old, so he was present at the decisive Battle Of Shiloh,  together with my great-great grandfather Captain David Washington Self. After Sergeant Williams left the regiment,  it subsequently was involved in: (1) the invasion of Kentucky,  (2) the Battle of Perryville, (3) the Battle of Murfreesboro,  (4) the fighting around Chattanooga and Atlanta,  (5) returned to Tennessee and the moved to North Carolina. From a starting size of 838 men in July 1861, the 9^th Tennessee Infantry Regiment dwindled to 40 men who surrendered and were paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina on May 1, 1865.

Editor’s Note #2: Look for references to TOM WILLIAMS. He was Thomas Spencer Williams (05/29/1826 to 08/15/1900), father of Amanda Henrietta Williams (Smith) (01/10/1856 to 06/06/1929), mother of John D. Smith (07/06/1884 to 11/06/1972), father of Hurtis Alvin Smith (10/20/1916 to 02/20/1987), father of Rita Yvonceile Smith (Sollie), Barbara June Smith (Parsley) and Donald Bernard Smith.

The author wrote this from his memories as a member of Company H, when he was 85 years old. It is included in the book, “Glory And Tears, 1860 - 1870”, by Rebel C. Forrester (No Copyright).

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Tom Williams joined the Avalanche in Troy in April 1861.  At the time he had a wife and family, the eldest of whom was a girl of fifteen (Editors Note: that would be Mary Ann Williams, birth: 1847). Tom was about thirty-eight or forty years old at the time he joined. He was known as “Fighting Tom”. He might truthfully be called a diamond in the rough. He as a tender hearted man as ever went to war. He was discharged at Tupelo, Mississippi, in July 1862, because he was over thirty-five years of age. He died in the home of one of his sons in Dallas, Texas, about twelve or fourteen years ago. In 1866 Tom was riding from Troy to his home in company with one of Berry’s Scalawags.* They rode quietly and amicably, until Tom turned to go home, when the other, with the treachery of a coward, shot Tom in the thigh and then put spurs to his mule and rode rapidly away. Though bleeding profusely, Tom followed him for one mile and a half, then fell exhausted from the loss of blood. This act of the “scalawag” illustrates the character of the very few men of Obion County who were known as thieves at that time.

Captain Berry, a Southerner, commissioned by the Federal authorities to search out Rebel sympathizers and soldiers on leave. Berry went beyond that to terrorize and murder. He led a gang of fifty men. He was captured and executed in Union City.

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Jack Williams, brother of “Fighting Tom”, joined the Avalanche in Troy in April 1861. He served through Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro and Chickamauga and was a real good soldier. Jack’s full name was John Sumpter Williams, but few knew it. It was said of Jack that he could smell a chicken at a distance of three miles, he was so good as a forager. Just previous to the battle of Missionary Ridge, Jack, with several others, was captured. They got their choice, whether they would go north and stay until the close of the war or be sent to prison. they chose the former. All returned home after the close of the war except Billy McGaw. Jack moved to Coffeeville, Kansas. From there he moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he died a few years ago.

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Seary Williams joined the Avalanche in Troy in 1861. He was of the same family as Tom and Jack Williams (Editor: He was Joel Seary Williams, brother to Tom and Jack, born in Sumner County, Tennessee, 1844). He served with the Avalanche until  after Chickamauga. He suffered acutely from hemorrhoids all his life. It was with much difficulty that he returned home in 1863. He died in Union City, Tennessee twenty-five or thirty years ago.

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This regiment was organized May 22, 1861 at Jackson, Tennessee; reorganized May 8, 1862; consolidated into a field organization with the Sixth Tennessee December, 1862; formed part of Company E, 1^st Consolidated Tennessee Infantry, April 9, 1865; paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina, on May 1, 1865.

Company H of this regiment was composed of men from Obion County, Tennessee. It was know as the “Obion Avalanche”. Orginal captain was John W. Buford. Later J. W. McDonald and H. W. Head served in this capacity. Captain Buford was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel. The company was recruited near Troy, Tennessee. First Lieutenant was S. T. Swanson;  second Lieutenant was S. M. Howard; third Lieutenant, Warren McDonald; Orderly Sergeant, Thomas S. Williams. At Corinth, Mississippi the company was reorganized. At Murfreesboro, the company was consolidated with Company G, known as the “Hickory Blues”, and June Hall was placed in command.

This regiment went into the Camp of Instruction at Union City, Tennessee, and was reported there in July, 1861 with 838 men, armed with flintlock muskets. From there they moved July 1861 to New Madrid, Missouri and was assigned to Cheatham’s Division. They wintered at Columbus, Kentucky, fought in the Battle of Belmont.  In April, 1862 they fought in the Battle of Shiloh, then the Battle of Murfreesboro. The regiment was at Chattanooga, in the invasion of Kentucky and the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky. They were consolidated before the Battle of Murfreesboro and served at Missionary Ridge and the battles around Atlanta, including the famous “Dead Angle”. They suffered heavy losses and formed part of the rear guard on the retreat into North Carolina.

Obion County History

By E. H. Marshall

Published by Goodspeeds, 1887

Proceeding with Alexander Reelfoot Lake 1925

Reprinted by H. A. Lanzer Company, Publishers

Union City, Tennessee

(Out of copyright)