44th Tennessee Company K

10/21/2026

Quick picture before the rest arrived on Saturday.

10/19/2026

Communications of/regarding General Zollicoffer, Part 4/4:

Camp Flat Lick, Knox County,
October 24, 1861.

On the 21st I reached the enemy’s intrenched camp, on Rockcastle Hills, a natural fortification, almost inaccessible. Having reconnoitered in force under heavy fire for several hours from heights on the right, left, and in front, I became satisfied that it could not be carried otherwise than by immense exposure, if at all. The enemy received large re-enforcements.
Our loss was 42 wounded and 11 killed and missing. We captured 21 prisoners, about 100 guns, and 4 horses. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded unknown.
The country is so poor we had exhausted the forage on the road for 15 miles back in twenty-four hours. Our subsistence nearly exhausted. Under these circumstances I deemed it proper the next day to fall back. Enemy’s camp said to be 7,000 strong, with large reserves near at hand.

Very respectfully,
F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,
Brigadier- General.

Source: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Series 1, Vol IV, Chapter XII, Pg. 210)

10/17/2026

Communications of/regarding General Zollicoffer, Part 3/4:

Report of General A. S. Johnston, C. S. Army.
Bowling Green, October 21,1861.

General Zollicoffer telegraphs to-day from London, Ky., as follows:

One Ohio regiment said to be 12 miles distant; another regiment of the enemy a few miles beyond. I will feel of them to-day with two regiments and some cavalry. My force here is about 5,400.

The above is the dispatch from intelligent gentlemen. I learned the day before yesterday that 6,000 men at Camp Dick Bobinson had an advanced force of 4,000 towards Cumberland Gap under Garrard and from the camp stretching back to Cincinnati 10,000 more. I have no means of adding to Zollicoffer’s force at present, important as I think it.

A. S. JOHNSTON, General

Source: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Series 1, Vol IV, Chapter XII, Pg. 209)

10/16/2026

Communications of General Zollicoffer, Part 2/4:

Camp near Rockcastle River,
October 20, 1861.

Sir: I have advanced 4 miles north of London, under disability to an embarrassing extent for want of subsistence and transportation. The country is very poor indeed. The enemy occupy a strong position 8 miles ahead. We had a skirmish between pickets day before yesterday, in which we killed 1 man and captured another. We lost yesterday 1 man killed. We had a force yesterday 3 or 4 miles ahead, but, for want of water, subsistence, forage, and transportation (our wagons having been by an accident detained at and near London), had to return here to camp.

Very respectfully,
F. K. ZOLLICOFFEB,
Brigadier-General.

Source: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Series 1, Vol IV, Chapter XII, Pg. 209-210)

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079601088&seq=217

10/13/2026

Since we're five days out from the Battle of Camp Wildcat reenactment, let's follow some of the messages/reports from or regarding General Felix Zollicoffer's brigade leading up to the battle. Part 1/4

Brigade Headquarters,
Camp Ten Mile, October 16, 1861.

Colonel Murray, Camp Myers:
Sir: I am 10 miles on the march toward a camp of the enemy on Rockcastle River, having left Cumberland Ford this evening with the greater part of my command. I learned that the enemy at Albany has retired. My plan has been to fall in their rear and cut them off. Now that Colonel Stanton and our cavalry have left the neighborhood of Jamestown, the enemy may return in force near the line. I have ordered stores of subsistence for my troops to be placed at Jamestown by the 25th instant, and have ordered the same cavalry companies to return to that neighborhood almost the same time, to prevent the enemy from seizing and appropriating the stores. Perhaps the cavalry from above would not be sufficient to prevent an incursion. I expect to pass down by Somerset and Monticello or by Columbia and Burkesville, in the hope of capturing any forces they may be threatening your position with. As secrecy is the element of success, I must beg of you not to mention to any solitary person this enterprise. My object in writing to you is to ask you, about the 25th, to move in such a way as to insure, by the aid of the cavalry, the safety of the stores, until I can reach the neighborhood. Inform General Caswell at Knoxville what you can do, and he will communicate with me.

Very respectfully,
F. K. ZOLLICOFFEB,
Brigadier-General.

Source: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Series 1, Vol IV, Chapter XII, Pg. 212)

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079601088&seq=220

10/06/2026

Franklin may be over, but we've got one more event to go this season. We'll be reenacting the Battle of Camp Wildcat (aka Wildcat Mountain), Kentucky (October 21, 1861) on October 17 and 18. The 44th wasn't formed until December 1861, so we'll portray the 20th TN for this event.

If any civil war reenactors in that region wish to join us, please send us a DM for details. In the meantime, if you want to learn more about this early battle, "The Battle of Wildcat Mount" by Dr. Kenneth Hafendorfer is a good starter.

10/04/2026

If you are able, please consider donating to the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to preserve land at Shiloh and Stones River, two battles where the 44th fought. Your efforts are greatly appreciated by us who portray the 44th, and I'm sure they're appreciated by the Trust.

This one is going to be down to the wire. Right now, 127 acres spread across four battlefields in the Western Theater are ready to be preserved. Five...

10/04/2026

A little muddy after the battle today.

10/01/2026

Another side quest. Although the land upon which the 44th fought has not been saved from development, it's still informative to see where it fought and maneuvered. These pictures are from the remaining saved land.

09/30/2026

Quick side quest while on the way to the Franklin national reenactment.