James Monroe Bailiff
A local soldier's story
I will attempt to recreate from various sources and family oral history, the role that my great-great grandfather, James Monroe Bailiff, took in the South’s last great victory… the Battle of Chickamauga.
James Monroe Bailiff was born on December 2, 1845 near Temperance Hall, DeKalb County, Tennessee. He descended from a slaveholding family. The Bailiff slaves had been freed by his grandfather, Thomas Bailiff, by 1854.
Monroe and his older brother, Columbus Allen Bailiff, enlisted in Company A of R.D. Allison’s Battalion of Cavalry on February 25, 1863. He served as a private.
From various official records we learn that R.D. Allison’s Squadron during the battle of Chickamauga was under the command of Col. George G. Dibrell of Forrest’s Brigade, who was under the command of Brig. Gen. Frank C. Armstrong of Armstrong’s Division, who was under the command of Brig. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest of Forrest’s Corp.
Monroe Bailiff was wounded on Saturday of the battle. Our concentration will begin on that date.
According to Civil War Virtual Tours (internet), at or about 8:30AM on Saturday, September 19, 1863, General Forrest brings up Dibrell’s Brigade to reinforce Davidson’s Brigade of 1,600 cavalrymen north and west of Jay’s Mill. They were engaging Col. Croxton’s (US) 2,200 man brigade.
At or about 8:45AM, Dibrell advances north and west in an attempt to outflank Croxton. Unknown to Dibrell, Col. Van Derveer (US) is advancing cautiously down Reed’s Bridge Road and will soon be in a position to protect Croxton’s flank.
North of Croxton, Dibrell runs headlong into Van Derveer’s brigade. Van Derveer is deployed on a large hill, the highest elevation in the area. After a short fight, Dibrell withdraws.
At or about 11:50AM, Dibrell crosses Reeds Bridge Road in the hopes of outflanking Van Derveer’s position. Van Derveer races north to counter him.
Van Derveer deploys minutes before Dibrell launches his attack. The attack is fierce, but ultimately the strength of the Union infantry and devastating canister from the artillery halt the advance. Dibrell retires back into the woods.
My grandfather, Charlie Bailiff (1911-2001), recalled his grandfather, Monroe Bailiff, talking of the battle at Chickamauga. Monroe Bailiff told that he was horseback, riding a mare that he had brought from home. The fighting was intense. He was near the rear of his company. He was in a gallop and thought that they had cleared the fighting. Then, he noticed a lone Union soldier by a tree taking aim at him. He had only enough time to draw his firearm and fire. However, the enemy had already pulled the trigger. Monroe Bailiff felt the bullet go through his cartridge box and hit his rib. His mare panicked. He never knew if he struck the Union soldier. His mare was wounded, and he tried running her into the trees to slow her down and stop. Monroe Bailiff told that his unit left him behind wounded and with his brother, Columbus, who was sick with Typhoid fever. A local family took them in. He told that he took his mare to a spring and washed her wounds. She survived.
In an affidavit given on December 23, 1918, Monroe Bailiff stated:
"James Monroe Bailiff, a private of Company A, Allison's Battalion of Cavalry, in the War Between the States, Confederate, was wounded in the Battle at Chickamauga on Saturday, the second day of said battle in the right side by a ball from an Enfield rifle, and the ball is still in him. The ball went through his cartridge box before entering between two ribs the third from the bottom rib disabling him. In a few days, two or maybe longer, he had a brother, Columbus Allen Bailiff, who after said battle being a soldier in said company, was taken sick with Typhoid and Pneumonia fever. And when the army retreated from Chickamauga, his company left him with his brother at a private house to aid in taking care of his brother. In December after said battle in September, his brother was able to walk, and they were taken prisoner by the enemy and carried to Chattanooga. They remained there about a week, then shipped to Nashville. While at Nashville his brother was in such a condition that it was unsafe for him to be moved to another prison. For that reason, he decided to take the oath of allegiance to the United States government in order to, if possible, save the life of his brother. But after taking the oath they were shipped to Louisville, Kentucky and banished across the Ohio River until sometime in February of 1864 when they made their way back to DeKalb County in no condition to do any sort of military service. And after arriving home, he was taken down with Rheumatism and unable during the year of 1864 to walk. He had it on his mind at the time that he took the oath, in the event that his brother lived through his sickness, that he could do service and would rejoin his company. He took the oath for the reason of saving his brother's life and not for the purpose of serving the United States government. He has all the time since been true to his principals and democracy and to the United States government since the Confederate Army surrendered."
In a letter to the Tennessee State Board of Pension Examiners dated April 14, 1916, William M. Bailiff (son of Monroe Bailiff) writes:
"He is getting very old, his locks have been whitened by the snows of more than four score winters – but he hopes to live a few years longer. In his younger days, when the North and the South were arrayed against each other, he faced the cannon’s mouth for his loyalty to the South – our Dixie’s land. He followed Lee and Johnston and Forrest, our great generals of the South and fought with an army of the bravest men that the world has ever known. He helped accomplish some of the most illustrious deeds of valor and heroism we shall ever know."
"He has always stood gallantly by the Democrat party, and labored conscientiously for its welfare. And before the reaper from across the river of time shall call him away, I would be glad to see the great state of Tennessee help the old man financially in his declining years."
Monroe recuperated from his wound and returned home to DeKalb County, Tennessee. He married Eliza Jane Foster on October 6, 1865. He and his wife reared nine children on their farm, which remains in the Bailiff family, in the Dry Creek Community. He was active in the Dry Creek Missionary Baptist Church and served as one of its early deacons.
James Monroe Bailiff succumbed to cancer on May 8, 1927, and was laid to rest in the Snow Hill Baptist Cemetery. His wife joined him on January 22, 1928.
contributed by great-great grandson, Kevin Bandy
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