History of Athens, (McMinn County) Tennessee United States of America

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Local History Notes:

Athens, Tenn., Sept. 25, 1863. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps. On this Date the brigade, commanded by Col. R. K. Byrd, became engaged with a superior force of the enemy at Calhoun and was forced to Fall Back Toward Athens. When within 2 Miles of that Place Byrd was reinforced by Col. Wolford's mounted brigade and the two commands took up a strong position to resist the further advance of the Confederates. As soon as the enemy appeared Byrd's battery, and Law's battery of mountain howitzers, which was with Wolford's brigade, both opened upon him, temporarily checking his progress. The 8th Mich. Cavalry, armed with Spencer rifles, was then pushed well to the front and joined with the batteries in the action. After an engagement of an hour the Confederates withdrew. Casualties not reported.

Athens, Tenn., Aug. 1, 1864. Detachment of 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps. About 8 a. m. some 60 or 70 men belonging to Vaughan's Confederate cavalry attacked a Union outpost of 8 Men Near Athens. A prolonged fight occurred, notwithstanding the great odds in numbers, the Confederates losing 2 killed, 3 wounded and 1 captured. Lieut.-Col. M. L. Patterson, commanding the brigade stationed at Loudon, Sent about 90 men of the 1st Ohio Heavy artillery, under Capts. Bivens and Preble, in pursuit. The Confederates were overtaken at Murphy, N. C., about 11 a. m. of the 2nd. The Federal advance charged and routed the enemy, killing 1O, and capturing 18 horses, 6 mules, 20 guns, 4 revolvers, 2 pistols and other stores and equipments. One of the pursuing party was killed.

Athens, Tenn., Jan. 28, 1865. About 300 Confederates of Vaughan's and Wheeler's Cavalry, with some Bush-whackers, attacked the Federal garrison at. Athens and got away with about 20 prisoners of the 7th Tenn. mounted infantry with a loss of about 50 in killed and wounded. The Federal loss was 6 wounded. The fort and court-house were guarded, but the Confederates most of the time kept well out of musket range. The Federals were without cannon, with which they might have fought them at longer range and with greater success, and also without horses with which to pursue them when they retired.

Athens, Tenn. Feb. 16, 1865. A detachment of 75 men of Vaughan's Confederate cavalry defeated and captured the Federal garrisons at Sweetwater and Athens, commanded by Lieuts. Wiley and Smith. taking 60 men of the 2nd Ohio Heavy artillery, with their horses and equipments.

Athens, Tenn., March 2-4, 1865. Detachment of 7th Tennessee Mounted Infantry. Capt. W. A. Cochran reporting from Athens Under Date of March 4, 1865, says: "The guerrillas made a raid into this country the night of the 2nd. We pursued them within fourteen Miles of Murphy, and killed 5 of them, captured 15 horses, 2 Spencer rifles, 2 carbines, 2 fine pistols, and other property. * * *"

SOURCE: The Union Army A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65 -- Records of the Regiments in the Union Army -- Cyclopedia of Battles -- Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. 8 vols. Madison: Federal Publishing, 1908.

Biographies:

George Washington Bridges, lawyer, was born at Athens, Tenn., Oct. 9, 1821. He received a classical education at the East Tennessee university, was admitted to the bar, and elected, in 1848, attorney-general of the state. To this office he was re-elected each year until 1859, when he resigned. In 1860 he was presidential elector on the Douglas and Johnson ticket. He was elected a representative to the 37th Congress in August, 1861, and started for Washington, but the Confederates arrested him on his way, and he was for more than a year held captive in Tennessee; managing to effect his escape, he took his seat Feb. 25, 1863; his term expiring March 3, 1863, a week later. He then entered the Federal army as Heutenant-colonel of the 10th Tennessee cavalry, and at the close of the war was elected a circuit judge. He died March 16, 1873.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Tyler Morgan, senator, was born in Athens, Tenn., June 20, 1824; son of George and Frances Irby Morgan and grandson of Gideon Morgan, a merchant. His mother was a relative of Chancellor Tyler of Virginia. His parents removed to Alabama in 1833, settling in Calhoun county, where he studied law in the office of William P. Chilton in Talladega, and was admitted to the bar in 1845. He was married Feb. 11, 1846, to Cornelia, daughter of Joshua Willis, a merchant of Madison county, Ala. He practised in Talladega, 1845-55, and then removed to Dallas county, practising first in Selma and afterward in Cahaba. He was presidential elector on the Breckinridge ticket in 1860, and a delegate from Dallas county to the state convention which passed the ordinance of secession in 1861. He joined the Confederate army as a private in the Cahaba Rifles, was commissioned major of the 5th Alabama regiment in April, 1861, promoted lieutenant-colonel, and served in Virginia for a year. He was promoted colonel in April, 1862, and returning to Alabama raised the 51st Alabama cavalry, which he liberally aided in equipping. In the fall of 1862 he re-entered the service with this regiment, first in Forrest's and then in Wheeler's division, Army of the Tennessee, and took part in the battle of Stone's River. He was soon after assigned to the head of a conscription bureau in Alabama and Lieutenant-Colonel Webb succeeded to the command of his regiment. He was commissioned brigadier-general at the request of Gen. Robert E. Lee after the battle of Chancellorsville, May 1-4, 1863, and given the command of Rhodes's brigade. On reaching Richmond and hearing of the death of Colonel Webb of. the 51st Alabama cavalry, he declined the promotion and returned to the command of the regiment. He commanded the 1st brigade, Martin's division, Wheeler's cavalry corps, at Chickamauga, Sept. 19-20, 1863. He was promoted brigadier-general a second time in November, 1863, placed in command of the 1st, 3d, 4th, 7th and 51st Alabama cavalry, and commanded a division of Wheeler's cavalry at Knoxville, Nov. 17-Dec. 4, 1863. He was afterward engaged in the Atlanta campaign under Generals Johnston and Hood in the protection of the flank of the Confederate army, and continued with Wheeler's cavalry on detached service until the surrender of Johnston's army. He resumed practice in Selma, Ala., in 1865, and was a presidential elector on the Tilden and Hendricks ticket in 1876. He was elected to the United States senate as a Democrat in 1876, and was re-elected in 1882, 1888, 1894 and 1900. While in the senate he served as chairman of the committee on foreign affairs, 1893; was appointed with Justice John M. Harlan arbitrator on the Bering sea fisheries by President Harrison in 1892, and was one of the commissioners to organize the government in Hawaii after the passage of the annexation bill by President McKinley in July, 1898.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Robert Joseph Fisher, inventor, was born in Athens, Tenn., Jan. 23, 1857; son of Richard M. and Ann M. (Gettys) Fisher; grandson of James and Hannah (Dixon) Gettys, and great-grandson of the founder of Gettysburg, Pa. He was educated at the East Tennessee Wesleyan university at Athens, and entered business life as a dry goods clerk, followed by service as assistant cashier in the Cleveland national bank. He organized the First national bank of Athens, Tenn., in 1884 and was its cashier, 1896. He invented a typewriting machine for writing in bound books, beginning his experiments in 1892 and completed the invention in 1898. He then organized and became president of the Fisher typewriter company, and erected an extensive plant at Athens, Tenn., to manufacture the machine. He was married June 9, 1892, to Alice M. Gauche of New Orleans, La.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor