Charles Reagan (1824 - 1864)

Born 29 Jun 1824 in Grainger, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy Mariah (Percifield) Reagan — married 1858 in Grainger, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 31 Mar 1864 at age 39 in Richmond, Virginia, United States

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This profile is Genealogically Defined.

Biography

Charles Ragan, the oldest child of Jesse Ragan and Sarah (Clark) Ragan, was born in Grainger County, Tennessee in 1824^{[citation needed]}. By 1850, he had left his father's home and was working as a school teacher in Grainger County, and living with the Haynes family.^[1]

Private Charles Reagan served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 1863
Mustered out: 23 Oct 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 8th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry, Company HG,

Charles enlisted as a Private in Company H, G, of the 8th Regiment of the Tennessee Cavalry, which was formed in 1863 to fight on the side of the United States, enlisting at London, Kentucky at the age of 40.^[3] The company fought in several battles: on 25 May 1864 at New Hope Church, Georgia, on 6 September 1864 at Readyville, Tennessee, on 26 September 1864 at Rome, Georgia, and at Chickamauga. According to the Chickamagua after-battle report of Col. George G. Dibrell, Eighth Tennessee Cavalry (SPARTA, August 18, 1863):^[4][5][6]

On August 17, I started a scout from Company I to go as far as Rock Island in the direction of McMinnville. They went as far as the Eleven-Mile House, and there met Col. Minty again with a very large cavalry force, said to be seven regiments, or 3,500 men, and with one of my slaves as a guide. They immediately charged our scouts and running fight ensued back to camp just across the Calfkiller River, from where we were encamped before. The 200 re-enforcements under Col. McLemore had arrived only a day or two before. We rallied our men and repulsed those that pursued our scouts to the river. The enemy at Sparta divided, part going up to our camp 2 miles on each side of the river. I posted Col. McLemore with his 200 men at our former battle-ground (the mouth of Wild Cat Creek), and took the Eighth Tennessee to Meredith's Mill, above, on the Calfkiller River. The enemy pursued us on to the creek and the river, and from 2 o'clock until dark the skirmish was heavy, and many efforts on their part to charge us and force a crossing was repulsed with heavy loss. We could only defend ourselves, owing to the smallness of our forces. At least half of the Eighth was absent on leave to get up supplies. But we held our ground and punished them severely. After dark the enemy withdrew a short distance and went into camp, and fearing that [they] intended renewing the attack in the morning, I ordered Col. McLemore to withdraw his command back to where the Eighth was, and would retire about 2 miles to the top of Cumberland Mountain, on Forster's road, place that we could not be flanked out of. As McLemore was withdrawing his men under Capt. McGregor the enemy in his front made a fierce charge on him. His men rallied promptly near the barn of the Widow Fisk and repulsed them handsomely, killing 6 men and 6 horses. After that we retired to the top of the mountain, leaving scouts and pickets to watch the enemy. Early on the morning of the 18th, our scouts reported the enemy moving in the direction of Sparta. Thinking they would attempt to ascend the mountain at Bon Air Springs, we moved rapidly to that place. But upon arriving there we could see the enemy moving in the direction of Pikeville. They were too far off and our force was too small to attempt pursuit.

We returned to our old camp to-day, and find our loss is 2 killed, 6 wounded, and 4 captured. The enemy's loss was heavy as we had every advantage in position, and their men reported to citizens their loss in killed at 40 or 50 and wounded 200 or 300. We have buried 5 dead to-day they left on the field, found in a sink-hole, in [into] which it is supposed they were thrown by negroes they had sent out to gather in. They arrested and carried off a number of citizens, and said there was a general move of Rosecrans' army on Chattanooga. As they went in that direction I am of the opinion their army is moving on Chattanooga. I will report again to-morrow.

Very respectfully,

G. G. DIBRELL, Col., Comdg.

Maj. J. P. STRANGE, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

Charles died of disease at Richmond, Virginia, with his wife receiving a widow's pension, in 1865.^[7]

Research Notes

His wife is buried at Cabbage Cemetery in Washburn, Tennessee but there is no mention of Charles. Cabbage is the married name of their daughter, Martha.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCDX-8FV : 4 April 2020), Charles Ragen in household of Sarah Haynes, Grainger county, Grainger, Tennessee, United States; citing family 1701, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8T8-NXN : Mon Jul 17 23:55:13 UTC 2023), Entry for Charles Ragan and Nancy Ragan, 1860.
3. ↑ "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSP4-BPG : 4 December 2014), Charles Ragin, Private, Company HG, 8th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry, Union; citing NARA microfilm publication M392 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 12; FHL microfilm 821,900.
4. ↑ Historical Data Systems, Inc.; Duxbury, MA 02331; American Civil War Research Database Historical Data Systems, comp. U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009. [1]
5. ↑ Official Records; PAGE 527-51 KY., SW. VA., TENN., MISS., N. ALA., AND N. GA. (CHAP. XLII. Series I. Vol. 30. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 51.)
6. ↑ National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online, acquired 2007. National Park Service. U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
7. ↑ The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; NAI Title: General Index to Civil War and Later Pension Files, ca. 1949 - ca. 1949; NAI Number: 563268; Record Group Title: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007; Record Group Number: 15; Series Title: U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934; Series Number: T288; Roll: 383; Quino, Marcelino--Rambo, William. National Archives and Records Administration. U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. T288, 546 rolls. Ancestry Record 4654 #270601 with attached Image