Confederate Heroes
| Thomas Benton Smith Thomas Benton Smith was born February 24, 1838 in the middle Tennessee village of Mechanicsville. He was destined to become a soldier like his father, James M. Smith, who fought alongside Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812. At the age of sixteen, Benton entered the Western Military Academy in Nashville, Tennessee. Also a student there was “Boy Hero of the Confederacy” Sam Davis. When the war came along, Thomas Benton Smith helped organize a local militia that later became the 20th Tennessee Infantry Regiment. (Read More) DeWitt S. Jobe DeWitt S. Jobe was born June 4, 1840 the tiny now-forgotten village of Mechanicsville, Tennessee. His father was a woodworker who specialized in furniture, coffins and cotton gins. DeWitt followed his father’s trade until the Civil War in Tennessee came along. He then joined Company D of the 20th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry Regiment. His first cousin, Thomas Benton Smith, a lieutenant, recruited him. DeWitt S. Jobe was in most of the major battles fought by the Army of Tennessee. After the Battle of Stones River, like Sam Davis he joined Coleman’s Scouts delivering valuable information from behind enemy lines. (Read More) General John Hunt Morgan On few Confederate leaders was so much praise heaped as was on General John Hunt Morgan, at least while he lived. He was called the “Thunderbolt of the Confederacy”, the “Rebel Raider” and “Our Southern Marion” by southerners. He was idolized as the perfect southern gentleman. He was the role model every young boy should emulate. He was the kind of man every southern woman could love. In the north, he was hated just as much as he was loved in the south. Some Yankees grudgingly called him the “Great guerrilla” but more often they called him the “Great freebooter” or the “King of horse thieves.” (Read More) Sam Davis Sam Davis, “Boy Hero of the Confederacy”, was born in Smyrna, Tennessee on October 6, 1842. On November 27,1863, Sam barely 21 years old was captured and executed by the Yankees. Before he died, he uttered the famous words that would endear him to all true southerners and provide inspiration to those that followed: “If I had a thousand lives, I’d give them all rather than betray a friend.” DeWitt S. Jobe who, like Sam Davis, gave his life rather than betray a friend was not given the same publicity as Sam was. John Bridges’ book, Three Cousins from Mechanicsville, tells Jobe’s story including his relationship to Sam Davis. (Read More) |