Edwin Bell Cobb

Narrative:

      Edwin Bell Cobb was born on 29 Oct 1843 in Tennessee.^7,8
     He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Stewart Co., Tennessee, in the household of his parents, Dr. Joshua Cobb and Marina Turner Bryan.^13,14
     He moved to Clarksville with his parents in 1851.^15,16,17 He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, in the household of his parents.^18,19
     He attended Stewart College, later Southwestern Presbyterian University, in Clarksville, appearing in the 1859-60 catalog as a member of the freshman class.²⁰

Enlisting in the Confederate Army --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Edwin enlisted 24 May 1861 at Clarksville, Tennessee, as a private in Company H, 14th Tennessee Infantry, C.S.A.²¹ There were about 1,000 men in the eleven companies that made up the 14th Regiment. The fairgrounds, located near Dunbar Cave, became the Regiment's temporary headquarters, known as "Camp Duncan." After about two weeks it moved to a site about 10 miles farther out on the Louisville and Nashville railroad, known as "Camp Quarles," where it remained several weeks. There they trained and received their arms, which were antiquated, having been changed from flint to percussion locks.^22,23
     About 1 Jun 1861 Gov. Isham Harris ordered the 14th Regiment, along with the 1st and 7th, to report to Brig. Gen. S. R. Anderson in Nashville. They remained in their temporary camps until tents, arms, etc. could be supplied, which took several weeks.²⁴

Shipped Off to Virginia --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     The 14th was then ordered to Virginia to join the forces of Gen. Beauregard, then commanding the army on the plains of Manassas.²² The 14th Regiment left Clarksdale by train on 12 Jul 1861, arriving in Nashville that evening. They marched two and a half miles to the fairgrounds, where they spent the night.²⁵ The Regiment was ordered to proceed at once to Virginia, according to one account "to the great delight of the men, most of whom feared that the great impending battle would be fought, Southern independence gained and the war ended without the Regiment having an opportunity to fire a gun."²⁶
     The next morning they boarded a train to Chattanooga, where they again changed trains.²⁵ The trip to Knoxville was made in open rail cars, through what was described as an unseasonably cold night.²⁵ They continued to Haynesville, now known as Johnson City, in a blinding rainstorm.²⁵
     There they pitched tents and waited. Before transportation could be arranged the Confederate victory at the First Battle of Manassas occurred. Their orders were then changed, and they were ordered to Staunton, Virginia, to the department of North-western Virginia, commanded by Gen. Robert E. Lee.^22,24 They were transported to Staunton by rail, then westward into the mountains to Millboro.²⁴ From Millboro they marched over the mountains to Valley Mountain, a distance of over 60 miles. They arrived in mid-August, tired and foot-sore from the long march.^24,27
     Soon after they reached Valley Mountian Gov. Harris sent a paymaster and paid the men with Tennessee money from the time of their enlistment until they were transferred to regular Confederate service.²⁴
     Edwin was recommended as a cadet by John F. House, member of the Provisional Congress of the Confederacy from Clarksville, in Aug 1861. This presumably referred to admission to the Virginia Military Institute, though that is not clear. The recommendation was evidently never acted upon as Edwin remained a private in the same unit throughout his service.^28,29

First Battle --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     On 9 Sep 1861 the Regiment received orders to cook five day's rations and be ready to march by sunrise the next day. They left the next morning with the rations in their haversacks for Cheat Mountain, much of the way on stock trails, marching single file. The 14th received it's baptism by fire as they attacked Federal forces at the Battle of Cheat Mountain, but the poor weather, mountainous terrain, and dense forest lead to an un-coordinated attach that achieved little. A weary three-day march took them back to their camp.^24,30
     The Regiment established winter quarters a few miles south, near Hunterville, where the men enjoyed "a fine living on venison" until December.²⁴ About 12 Dec 1861 the Regiment was ordered to Winchester. They marched back over the mountains and up the Shenandoah Valley to Strasburg, some 150 miles. They rested there until 25 Dec.³¹ They were then ordered to move on to Winchester, where they rested a few days again.³²

The Romney Campaign --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     On 31 Dec 1861 the Regiment was given orders to cook two day's rations and be ready to move by sunrise. The next morning they marched northward, as part of Gen. Thomas J. Jackson's plan to drive the Federal forces out of northern Virginia. The following day they struck mud so deep they spent the entire night advancing their wagons less then 300 yards. Then it turned cold, well below freezing. Eventually they reached Bath Springs (now called Berkley Springs), where the Federal troops made little resistance.³² The 14th pursued the retreating Federal troops until they crossed the Potomac River to Hancock, Maryland. With six or eight inches of snow on the ground and very cold temperatures, they camped for the night. In the morning they built a pontoon bridge while under heavy artillery fire. The bridge was not used as the enemy had evacuated the town, and the Regiment returned to Bath Springs.^32,33
     They next marched some 40 miles to Romney, but found the Federal troops there had withdrawn. They remained several days there, guarding a bridge over the Potomac, then returned to Winchester.³²

Off to Eastern Virginia --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     In the wake of the unproductive Romney campaign the army was reorganized, and the 14th was ordered to Fredericksburg.³² The Regiment marched from Winchester to Manassas, a distance of over 50 miles, in the latter part of February.³² They then traveled by rail from Manassas to Fredericksburg.³²
     About 1 Apr 1862 the Regiment was ordered to Yorktown, on the Virginia Peninsula. They camped there for a short time, then moved back toward Richmond where they were engaged in a number of skirmishes defending the Richmond Road from Federal forces advancing up the York River.³²
     They had been camping on the outskirts of Richmond for a time when they were engaged in the Battle of Seven Pines, on 31 May 1862. They were held in reserve during the day, then ordered in just before nightfall. The fighting was fierce and the Regiment suffered heavy casualties.^34,35
     In the Seven Days Battles, taking place from 25 Jun to 1 Jul 1862 near Richmond, Gen. Robert E. Lee drove off the Federal forces attempting to take the Confederate capital. The 14th was involved in three of the bloodiest battle in that event, suffering heavy casualties.³⁵ The Battle of Gaines's Mill, sometimes known as the Battle of Chickahominy River, took place on 27 Jun 1862, at Cold Harbor, in Hanover Co. The 14th was part of the Tennessee Brigade that made a direct advance on Federal forces entrenched on a hill as a diversionary action. Just as they were driven back the hidden Texas Brigade attacked, driving the Federals off the hill. A large number of small arms were captured, providing members of the 14th with their first modern rifles.³⁶
     The 14th was held in reserve until the Battle of Glendale, also known as the Battle of Frayser's Farm, which took place on 30 Jun 1862, in Henrico Co. Gen. Lee tried to cut off the retreating Federal forces. The Regiment was engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat with bayonets and rifle butts, the first time it had experienced this ordeal. While the Confederates won the field the Federal army was able to escape.³⁷
     The final battle of the series, the Battle of Malvern Hill, also known as the Battle of Poindexter's Farm, took place on 1 Jul 1862. The 14th, exhausted from the previous day's battle, was held in reserve all day but was under fire from the Federal guns on the hill until the Federals finally retreated. The Regiment was ordered back to Richmond.³⁸

Marching to Northern Virginia --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Having driven the Federals from the peninsula, Lee turned his attention northward. After a short stay in Richmond the Regiment marched to Gordonsville, over 80 miles.³⁹ The 14th was part of the Battle of Cedar Mountain, on 9 Aug 1862, again taking heavy losses in intense fighting in the woods.⁴⁰
     The 14th then moved northeastward to the plains of Manassas. On 30 and 31 Aug it was hotly engaged in what is called the Second Battle of Manassas, holding it's position in line for 26 consecutive hours. It again suffered heavy casualties, including the death of it's commander, Col. W. A. Forbes. He was replaced by William McComb, who was promoted to Colonel.³⁵ The Battle of Chantilly followed the next day.³⁵
     The Regiment was soon on the move again, taking part in the capture of the Federal garrison at Harper's Ferry, with 12,000 men and valuable stores, on 15 Sep 1862. The 14th spent the next day guarding the captured stores, and filling their haversacks with what they found there. Many also found fresh, thought blue, uniforms. The next day they looked like a Union troops except for their battle flags.^35,41
     In the early dawn of 17 Sep 1862 the 14th began a forced march of 20 miles, then forded the Potomac River, holding their guns and cartridge boxes high to keep them dry. They and the rest of the division arrived on the field at Antietam, Maryland, in time to save the rest of Lee's beleaguered army there.⁴²

Taken Prisoner --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Lee's Army returned across the Potomac and the Regiment made camp between Harper's Ferry and Winchester to rest and recover. They saw little action until late November, when they were ordered to Fredericksburg, which they reached 28 Nov 1862.^43,44
     Federal forces attacked on 13 Dec 1862, with Brig. Gen. James J. Archer's brigade, of which the 14th was a part, in a woods overlooking the plain. Fierce fighting ensued, with the Federal troops at one point managing to flank the brigade on the left and attack the 14th and 19th Georgia in their rear and flank. They were forced to retire, leaving about 160 prisoners, including Edwin, in enemy hands.^45,46
     Edwin was returned four days later in an exchange of prisoners.⁴⁷
     After the Battle of Fredericksburg, the 14th along with the rest of Archer's Brigade, went into winter quarters at Guiney's Station. There they had warm cabins, which even had functional chimneys.⁴⁸

His Last Champaign --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     By Apr 1863 Gen. Lee's army had resumed its positions in Fredericksburg to face the expected attack by Union Gen. Hooker. On 1 May 1863 the 14th joined Lieut. Gen. T. J. "Stonewall" Jackson's 2nd Corps as it marched from the lines near Hamilton's Crossing toward Chancellorsville to flank the Union Forces. Just outside that village Federal advance forces were encountered, and after some skirmishes the Confederates set up camp for the night.^49,50
     The next morning the Regiment moved on but left Company L and Company H (Edwin's company) on the front lines as a skirmishing detail, with Capt. W. S. Moore commanding. When they were relieved later in the day they set off to rejoin their Regiment. After marching about a mile and a half Capt. Moore was approached by officers requesting his help in defending the train behind them that was under attack. He lead his two Companies back "at a double-quick" and found the 23rd Georgia Regiment, which was defending the train, falling back in confusion. They rallied them and defended the train until it made its way out of danger. Then the two companies hurried to rejoin the Regiment, reaching them as they halted for the night.⁵¹
     The next morning brought heavy fighting as the Confederate forces attacked. The 14th suffered an officer, Capt. W. W. Thompson, and 6 enlisted men killed, and 9 officers and 47 enlisted men wounded. Among them was Edwin, who was wounded by a bomb shell. He was taken to a hospital in Richmond.^52,53,54
     Edwin died on 10 May 1863 in General Hospital #9, Richmond, Virginia, at age 19, from wounds suffered a few days before.^9,10,11
     Eight years later, on 23 Mar 1871, he was buried in his father's plot in City Cemetery, later known as Riverview Cemetery, in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.^12,2