John C Rigdon

Historical Sketch And Roster Of The Tennessee 59th Infantry Regiment John C Rigdon

The Tennessee 59th Infantry Regiment was organized in June, 1862, using the 1st (Eakin's) Tennessee Infantry Battalion as its nucleus. Its members were from the counties of McMinn, Monroe, Carter, Knox, Grainger, Hamblen, and Polk. For a time the unit served at Cumberland and Big Creek Gaps, then was assigned to A. W. Reynolds' Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. It fought in the Vicksburg Campaign and was captured on July 4, 1863. After being exchanged and reorganized as mounted infantry, the regiment was placed under the command of General Vaughn. It went on to take part in the operations around Knoxville and in May, 1864, an inspection report showed the 59th with 241 present. The unit participated in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, and during the spring of 1865 it disbanded in Southwestern Virginia. CompaniesCompany A - Captains James B. Cooke (to colonel), Benjamin A. Prophet, John M. Van Dyke Mustered in at Firestones, McMinn County. Company B - Captains James Pryor Brown (to major), Charles F. Wilson - Mustered in at Madisonville, Monroe County. Company C - Captains James Brooks, Jacob M. Hays - Mustered in at Elizabethton, Carter County. Company D - Captain Reuben Giles - Mustered in at Knoxville, Knox County. Company E - Captains John R. Stradley, Joseph A. McDermott, John D. Wilson, John Smith - Mustered in at Madisonville, Monroe County. Company F - Captains Henry D. Giesler (to major), Jacob J. Giesler - Men from Sullivan County. Company G - Captains Josiah I Wright, John W Stratton - Mustered in at Madisonville, Monroe County. Company H - Captains John B. Cobb, William M. Cass, Edmond H. Benton - Mustered in at Athens, McMinn County. Company I - Captains William H. Smith, Reuben G. Clark - Mustered in at Morristown, then Grainger, now Hamblen County.