Historical Notes:
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.
Predecessor unit:
1st (Eakin's) Infantry Battalion [also called East Tennessee Battalion] was organized in February, 1862, with five companies. Its numbers gradually increased, and in June it became the 59th Tennessee Infantry Regiment. The unit was commanded by Major W.L. Eakin.
Officers:
Colonels James B. Cooke and William L. Eakin, Lieutenant Colonel James P. Brown, and Majors Chares M. Alexander and James F. Love.
Assignments:
A.W.Reynolds' Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana.
General Vaughn's brigade Battles:
Vicksburg
Knoxville
Shenandoah Valley Campaign Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 1921 men.
Company 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.
Company K - Captains John A. Russell, John S. Duckworth - Some men from Polk County.
Bibliography for Research:
Crute, Joseph Units of the Confederate States Army Midlothian, VA: Derwent Books, 1987. Concise summary of the units service.
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Historical Notes:
