Hardison Family Military Info

This page revised: 11/27/2012

" . . . I will give the names of my best soldier friends who stood by me in the struggle: Capt S L Hardison, Eff Hardison, Orin Cheek, E Journey, John Barham, Same Clymore, J H Clymore, Bill Lee. All soldiers were considered as friends but I believe those mentioned would have divided the last crumb with me, even died for me. I lost some of my best friends in battle: W T Lee, Dick Mills, Van Johnson, James Kinnard, H Cranford. All of those mentioned on this page were my mess mates from time to time. 8 in a mess, as one was lost we would add another." (Historic Maury, Vol 13, 1977 p 167 - Hardison & Allied Families by Fred L Hawkins & Dorothy Westmoreland Gilliam, Columbia, TN 1922 p 250)

"General: My scouts on the Shelbyville road have reported that they ran on to a small squad of the enemy, supposed to be Sam Hardison's guerrilla band. . . The country is full of guerrillas. . . Very Respectfully, Horace Capron, Col . . . " (The War of the Rebellion, Official Records, Seires I, Vol 45, Part I p 1097 - Hardison & Allied Families by Fred L Hawkins & Dorothy Westmoreland Gilliam, Columbia, TN 1922 p250)

1st Sergt David M Hardison, shot at Shiloh, flesh of right arm; captured 6/20/1864; remained in prison till end of war; living on the county line of Marshall, 1 mile west of Berlin. Co G opened fight at Shiloh, about sunrise on Sunday morning. All casualties at the time except Dave Hardison later. Eight men died in line and sixteen wounded in first fire before the riflemen fired a shot. (Hitory of Maury Co, TN, Frank H Smith, 1969, pp 269, 273,274 - Hardison & Allied Families by Fred L Hawkins & Dorothy Westmoreland Gilliam, Columbia, TN 1922 p268)

Original Roster of "TheDuck River Riflemen" - Maury Co, TN: Captain, James Marshall Billington, (resigned April 1862); 2nd Lieut. Joel L. Hardison, (killed at Murfreesboro, Dec. 31, 1862); 1st Sergt. David M. Hardison, (living near Old Berlin); George C. Daimwood (wounded at Shiloh, living near Columbia in 1904); David M. Hardison (wounded at Shiloh); George W. Hardison (wounded at Franklin, died at Hillsboro, TN); James Hardison (died from measles at Camp Trousdale Oct. 1861); Martin V. Hardison (wounded three times, once at Shiloh, living near Hardison's Mill in 1904; Dr. Sam T. Hardison (inclined to Calvary 1865, banker in Lewisburg in 1904); William Duncan Hardison (captured twice, living near Rock Springs in 1904, buried in Charles Hardison Cemetery); William Joshua Hardison (contracted measles, sent home to die, buried in Joshua Hardison Cemetery)
(Information from: Duck River Riflemen - Maury Co, TN)

Hardships Caused Much Sickness During the Early Days. The regiment was in Kentucky in the autumn of 1861, forming a part of the Central Army, under the command of Albert Sidney Johnston. These troops were so largely recruited from the rural districts, that they were soon suffering from diseases which, in a more urban population are usually incident to childhood, and comparatively harmless. Mumps, whooping cough and measles were the chief of these, and were almost epidemic. While many of the Duck River Riflemen were in the hospital only three cases terminated fatally: James Hardison, Samuel Jones and Sam Secrest. Dying in October 1861, from measles contracted at Camp Trousdale. These were the first losses this Company sustained. Judge Spences History of Hickman County gives the names of ten members of Company H, and eleven of Company I of this regiment, who died of sickness in the eight months preceding the battle of Shiloh. (Information from: Duck River Riflemen - Maury Co, TN)

The Riflemen at Shiloh In the battle of Shiloh, April 6th and 7th, 1862, Capt. Billington commanded the company, and Lieutenant Colonel Peebles commanded the Regimen.
George G. Daimwood was wounded in the thigh. Sert. David M. Hardison received a flesh wound in the right arm. Martin V. Hardison was wounded in the arm.
Edom Edward was shot through the chest and lay on the battlefield from early Sunday morning until Monday night; the litter corps though his sound so certainly mortal that they would not bring him in. Monday night he was put in a wagon and carried to the field hospital, where Dr. Hutton said it would be a waste of time to even dress his wound when there were so many others needing care that had a chance of life. He laid out in the rain all that night, and Wednesday morning Dr. Sam Hardison (now a banker at Lewisburg) began attending him by drawing a silk handkerchief entirely through the wound from front to back. Edwards never fully recovered, but was discharged and died many years after the war at Joe Allens on Bear Creek. (Information from: Duck River Riflemen - Maury Co, TN)

Had No Money The pay roll shows that the soldiers were about four months in arrears for pay. The privates were due eleven dollars a month, in confederate money, that was then greatly depreciated, the United States soldiers were paid thirteen dollars and later sixteen in green backs. There were five, R. D. Clark, John H. Derryberry, George W. Hardison, B. F. Roberts, and H. D. P. Hogan, who were in hospital, and entitled to commutation for clothing, averaging about one hundred and twenty dollars each. (Information from: Duck River Riflemen - Maury Co, TN)

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