Historical Notes:
The Tennessee 26th Infantry Regiment completed its organization in September, 1861, at Camp Lillard, near Knoxville, Tennessee. The men were recruited in the counties of Washington, Cocke, Grainger, Rhea, Hamilton, Knox, Roane, and Sullivan. It moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, then Fort Donelson where on February 16, 1862, most of the men were captured. After the exchange it was assigned to G.J. Pillow's, J.C. Brown's, Brown's and Reynolds' Consolidated, and Palmer's Brigade, Army of Tennessee. In April, 1863, the unit was reduced to eight companies and in October consolidated with the 18th Regiment. It participated in the difficult campaigns of the army from Murfreesboro to Atlanta , returned to Tennessee with Hood, but was not engaged at Franklin and Nashville. Later the regiment was involved in the North Carolina operations. At Fort Donelson it reported 96 casualties of the 400 engaged before being captured. The 26th had 110 men disabled at Murfreesboro and of the 229 engaged at Chickamauga, forty-three percent were killed, wounded, or missing. During December, 1863, the 18th/26th totalled 423 men and 290 arms. Only a remnant surrendered in April, 1865.
Officers:
Colonels
John M. Lillard
R. M. Saffell
Lieutenant-Colonels
James I. Odell
James L. Bottles
A. F. Bogess
Majors
Thomas M. McConnell
R. M. Saffell
A. F. Boggess
Assignments:
Assigned to G.J. Pillow's, J.C. Brown's, Brown's and Reynolds' Consolidated, and Palmer's Brigade, Army of Tennessee.
In April, 1863, the unit was reduced to eight companies and in October consolidated with the 18th Regiment. Battles:
Fort Donelson
Murfreesboro
Chickamauga
The Atlanta Campaign
The Carolinas Campaign Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2100 men.
Abijah F. Boggess, Co. A, men from Meigs County.
J. L. Bottles, Talbot Greene, Co. B. Consolidated with 2nd "H" April 5, 1863 from Washington County.
Edwin Allen, George Stuart, Co. "A". Men from Cocke County.
William McConnell, Levi Mobley, Co. "D". Men from Grainger County.
John Crawford, James A. Cash, Co. "E". Men from Rhea County.
Hugh L. McClung, John F. Butler, Co. "F". Men from Knox County.
C. D. McFarland, G. T. Willis, Co. "G". Became 2nd Co. "K", 1st Confederate Infantry November 8, 1862. Men from Hamilton County.
James Clark Gordon, 1st Co. "H". Became 2nd Co. "I", 1st Confederate Infantry November 8, 1862. Men from Hamilton County and North Georgia.
Robert N. Duffie, Benjamin F. Welcker, Thomas B. Brown, Co. "I". Men from Roane County.
James J. C. Odell, John R. Morrell, Co. "K". Men from Sullivan County.
Jesse B. Bundren, Talbott Greene, 2nd Co. "H". Originally organized to form part of 61st Tennessee Infantry, but there were aleady ten companies in that regiment, and this company was transferred to the 26th Regiment late in 1862. Consolidated with Co. "B" on April 5, 1863. Men from Grainger County.
Bibliography for Research: