November 19, 1863 The 13th US Colored Infantry Mustered

#OTD1863 On November 19, 1863, the 13th US Colored Infantry was mustered in at Fortress Rosecrans in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. At that point, the regiment was fully staffed with officers and 1,000 enlisted men. According to one account, on that day, the regiment was:

“presented with a fine silk flag by the colored ladies of Murfreesboro. The presentation was deeply impressive. The officers, all in front with heads uncovered, and the entire regiment kneeling received the “Star Spangled Banner” they had just sworn to support and defend. The mustering officer who presented the flag in the course of his address said, “though that flag had hitherto been borne by the red, the white and the blue, he rejoiced to think that henceforth it would be borne by the Black also.”

A recreated image of the flag of the 13th US Colored Infantry

Of all the Black regiments organized in Middle Tennessee during the Civil War, perhaps the most notable - and rightfully so - is the 13th US Colored Infantry.  The formation of this regiment was begun in July 1863 from laborers working in Middle Tennessee cities and towns - including Franklin. At least 64 men with ties to Williamson County, Tennessee, served in the 13th USCI.  Almost 17% of Williamson County’s USCT soldiers served in the 13th. Twenty-two of them enlisted at Franklin during the late summer and fall of 1863. They were then sent to Murfreesboro where they were mustered in on today’s date 1863.

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Negro recruits taking the cars for Murfreesboro', Tenn., to join the Federal Army" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1893. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-3fb5-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

For roughly the first six months of service, the regiment was utilized as laborers to finish the construction of the crucial Nashville and Northwestern (N&NW) rail line from Nashville to the Tennessee River. After the railroad was completed in May 1864, the regiment guarded the rail line against guerillas and the enemy.  During this time, the men were learning to read and write. According to one officer, “they carry [spelling books and readers] constantly in their pockets and every spare moment they may be seen pouring over them.”  

Nearly one year after mustering in, on November 4-5, 1864, part of the regiment was at Johnsonville when they fought an attack by Confederate General Nathan B. Forrest’s forces. Colonel Mussey of the 100th USCI wrote in a report of the day:

The behavior of the colored troops at Johnsonville, Tenn., during the recent attack upon that place was, I am informed by several eye-witnesses, excellent. . . . . Some of the Thirteenth U. S. Colored Infantry, who were at Johnsonville, were upon the river-bank as sharpshooters, and armed with the Enfield rifle, and did good execution. The affair was slight, but it has gained credit for the colored troops.  

Later that month, following the Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864, the 13th USCI and several other regiments of USCT were sent to Nashville to help fortify the city. On December 15 and 16, 1864, the 13th USCI distinguished themselves at the Battle of Nashville. Colonel Hottenstein, leading the 13th USCI, reported the regiment went into action with 556 men. Of the enlisted men, 51 were killed, and 161  were wounded. This was a casualty rate of nearly 40%. Of those, five of the dead men and six of the wounded were from Williamson County. The regiment then participated in the pursuit of Hood's troops through Franklin and Williamson County to Alabama. Following the Confederate surrender, the 13th US Colored Infantry returned to the N&NW railroad until they mustered out in January 1866.

Many veterans of the 13th USCI returned to Williamson County and the surrounding area, where they reunited with loved ones, married, and raised families. A few have headstones that have been identified. Others have left no permanent marker of their lives or their service to this country. During this time of Thanksgiving, please consider sponsoring a brick paver in their honor through the Slaves To Soldiers project. You can learn more here: https://www.slavestosoldiers.org/home/how-to-donate

You can learn more about the Williamson County men who served in the 13th US Colored Infantry here https://www.slavestosoldiers.org/us-colored-troop-veterans/infantry-regiments/13th-us-colored-infantry

First Black Alderman in Franklin, TN

This year, the race to elect a new Mayor and four at-large aldermen for the City of Franklin has been a heated one. Mayor Ken Moore is being challenged by Alderman Gabrielle Hanson, and the contest has received national attention - particularly because of Hanson's involvement with white supremacists. 

More than 60 years ago, in October 1961, Franklin was also receiving attention for its local election.  The city was selecting a new mayor, and the race was the first contested election for the position in 35 years. However, unlike the current election, local media was reporting that there had been "no public campaigning for the position by either of the candidates"- Earl Beasley and Asa Jewell. Estimates for the number of votes to be cast were "as high as 1,500." The newspaper reported that of a population of about 7,000 people, more than 4,000 were registered to vote, "including 667 Negroes."  By contrast, there are currently about 85,000 citizens in Franklin, of which 60,950 are registered voters. About 76% of the population identifies as white. 

As I have written before, the Fall of 1961 was a significant time for the Civil Rights movement in Williamson County. In August 1961, the Williamson County Committee of Christian Men (WCCCM) urged city and county leaders for greater representation on jury duty and in leadership positions in city and county government. They also were successful in pushing for desegregation of City schools. The Franklin Special School Board agreed to desegregate the schools in the City for elementary and middle school students beginning the following school year. It is important to note that this was seven years after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision.

1961 The all white, all male Williamson County Court
(precursor to the Williamson County Commission)
Photo courtesy of Rick Warwick

In addition to the 1961 mayoral race, the four Ward Alderman positions were up for election. Four candidates were vying to represent the 4th Ward - including a Black man and a woman - the first of each category to run for Alderman. Henry T. Moore was a 53-year-old World War II veteran and a successful brick and stone mason. Moore and his wife Annie lived at 254 Natchez Street in Franklin. Additionally, Helen Hawes Hudgins was also running to be 4th Ward Alderman. She was a songwriter, newspaper columnist, and historian.

Nashville Banner
Tuesday, October 17, 1961

The_Tennessean_Tue__Oct_24__1961

The winner, W.L. Henry, received 518 votes, while the third candidate, Jimmy Lanier Jr, received 336 votes. Moore received 290 votes, and Hudgins came in last with 149 votes. 

Nashville Banner

25 Oct 1961, Wed · Page 2

Asa Jewell was elected mayor and served until 1969, when he announced that he would not seek re-election. That October, the election was held to choose a new mayor and four aldermen. Rev. William Scruggs unsuccessfully ran for 2nd Ward Alderman. Scruggs was a leader in the AME Church and ran for political office several times in Franklin.

The_Tennessean_Wed__Oct_14__1987

At the same time, Fourth Ward Alderman Ed Woodard ran for and won the position of Mayor, leaving his Alderman seat vacant. After taking office, Mayor Woodard and the other Aldermen were tasked with filling the position. Mayor Woodard advocated for the appointment of 43-year-old Edward J. Parrish Sr., a Black man, to fill the vacancy. In a secret 4-3 vote, Parrish was narrowly appointed to the seat over the other nominee, Reedy Edgmon, a local fabric store owner. Parrish worked in a research department at the VA hospital in Nashville. He had grown up on Lewisburg Pike in Franklin and was a US Army veteran of World War II. Parrish served on the Board’s public relations committee.

The_Tennessean_Wed__Dec_10__1969

Ed Parrish Sr.
1926-2006
Photo courtesy of Rick Warwick

The following October, Parrish campaigned for the seat outright but was defeated.  He lost to Reedy Edgmon, who had been the alternative candidate to his appointment a year earlier.

Political advertisement for Edward J. Parrish, Sr
The Review-Appeal, Franklin, TN October 22, 1970
Image courtesy of Rick Warwick

It was not until 1985 that a Black person was elected to serve on Franklin's Board of Mayor and Alderman. Bradley Baugh III was a banker in Franklin and served from 1985-1989. He had previously served on the Franklin Special School District Board.

Although not successful in their bids for Alderman, both Moore and Hudgins began to crack at the glass ceiling. In 1972, two Black men, Charles Miller and Sam Steele were elected to the Williamson County Court to represent District 11. A year later, when Steele moved out of the District, Emily Brown, a Black woman, was appointed to fill his term. Brown retained the seat in the 1973 special election and maintained the three-person representation for the Black community. In 1976, Gordy Campbell was elected to be the first female alderman in Franklin. Eleven years later, her daughter Lillian Stewart was the first woman elected to be Mayor of Franklin. 

For more information about Black leaders in local politics, please see this excellent compilation by the Wiliamson Herald.