Fayette County Historical Society Bulletin (April, 1976 to April, 1994).
(Note: Notebook located at Fayette Co. Public Library: white 3-ring notebook titled, “Fayette County Historical Society Papers ” )

Fayette County Sesquicentennial, Inc. (Sept, 1974). 150 Years in Fayette County, Tennessee 1824-1974.

The Goodspeed Histories of Fayette and Hardeman Counties of Tennessee (1887).

Marshall, John Walker (1991). Mason: A Glimpse into the Past.

McNamee, Sarah Rhea (1993). A History of Joyner’s Camp Meeting, Joyner’s Campground (1893-1993).
(Note: Joyner’s Campground is located 9 miles north of Somerville).

Morton, Dorothy Rich (1975). Moscow: “Queen City of the Wolf River Valley” A Brief History.

Morton, Dorothy Rich (1974). Nineteenth Century Homes of Fayette County. Self-published.

Morton, Dorothy Rich (1989). Tennessee County History Series: Fayette County (edited by Charles W. Crawford). Memphis, TN: Memphis State University Press.

Sims, H.C. (1979). Between Two Rivers: The Story of Moscow, Tennessee (1828-1978).

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Record Loss

Boundary Changes

Populated Places

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:^[7]

Source:  Fayette County, Tennessee Genealogy • FamilySearch

Originally 1st U.S. Tennessee Volunteers (African Descent):
Also called 1st West Tennessee Infantry Regiment (African Descent)

Mustered in at La Grange, Tennessee, June 6 and June 27, 1863.

FIELD OFFICERS

• Colonels-Edward Bouton (to Brevet Brigadier General)
• Lieutenant Colonels-Robert E. Phillips, Robert Cowden
• Majors-Robert Cowden, James C. Foster

CAPTAINS

• James C. Foster, Co. “A”. Enrolled at La Grange, Fayette County, in May, 1863; mustered in June 6, 1863.
• Henry W. Johnson, Co. “B”. Enrolled at Moscow, Fayette County, May 17, 1863; mustered in June 6, 1863.
• Henry Fox, Co. “C”. Enrolled at Bolivar, Hardeman County, June 1, 1863; mustered in June 6, 1863.
• Christopher Fox, Co. “D”. La Grange May, 1863; mustered in June 6, 1863.
• Noah R. Smock, Co. “E”. La Grange May, 1863; mustered in June 6, 1863.
• Albert O. Marsh, Co. “F”. Grange May, 1863; mustered in June 6, 1863.
• Samuel Martin, Co. “G”. Enrolled at La Grange in May and June; mustered in June 27, 1863.
• Jesse H. Darnell, Co. “I”. Enrolled at La Grange and at Germantown, Shelby County, in June; mustered in June 27, 1863.
• Henry W. Hobbs, Co. “K”. Enrolled at La Grange in May and June; mustered in June 27, 1863.

This regiment was first reported in the Official Records on October 31, 1863, as the 1st Tennessee Infantry (African Descent), with 815 men, under Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Phillips, as an unattached regiment in the XVI Corps commanded by Major General Stephen A. Hurlbut, but spent its entire term of service in West Tennessee and North Mississippi.

On November 8, 1863, Brigadier General John D. Stevenson, at Corinth, Mississippi, reported it as part of the troops under his command. On December 31, 1863, under Major Robert Cowden, as the 1st West Tennessee Infantry (African Descent) it was still at Corinth.

On January 31, 1864, under Colonel Edward Bouton, it was reported in the 1st Colored Brigade, District of Memphis, composed of the 1st Alabama, and 1st and 2nd Tennessee Colored Regiments. On March 11, 1864, in accordance with the policy adopted of no longer listing colored troops under state names, the official designation was changed to 59th U. S. Infantry Regiment (Colored). On April 11, this was changed to 59th U. S. Colored Infantry Regiment.

By April 30, Colonel Bouton was in command of the brigade, and Major Cowden of the regiment. The Memphis Light Battery had replaced the 1st Alabama Infantry in the brigade. By May 31, Major Cowden had been promoted to lieutenant colonel, and the report bore a note that the regiment had been at Memphis since May 9, 1864.

In June 1864, the regiment went with Brigadier General Samuel D. Sturgis on his expedition into North Mississippi culminating in the Battle of Brice’s Cross Roads on June 10, where he was disastrously defeated by Major General Nathan B. Forrest. In this campaign, Colonel Bouton commanded the 3rd Brigade of Colonel W. L. McMillan’s 1st Division. The brigade consisted of the 55th and 5~h Infantry Regiments, and the Memphis Light Battery, now called Company “F” 2nd U. S. Colored Light Artillery Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Cowden was severely wounded, and command of the regiment fell upon Captain James C. Foster. Colonel Bouton reported the regiment entered the campaign with 27 officers and 580 men; casualties were three officers, 143 men killed, wounded and missing.

The next expedition of note was with Major General Andrew J. Smith, from July ~21, during which the battle of Harrisburg was fought on July 14, with Confederate forces under Lieutenant General Stephen D. Lee and Major General N. B. Forrest. In this campaign Colonel Bouton commanded the 1st Brigade, and Major (formerly Captain) James C. Foster the regiment. Casualties were one killed, ten wounded, three missing.

The regiment returned to Memphis, remaining in the same brigade until January 7, 1865. Lieutenant Colonel Cowden had resumed command by September 30, 1864. On January 7, 1865, in the organization of the Post and Defenses of Memphis, the 46th, 55th, 59th and 61st U S. Colored Infantry Regiments formed the 2nd Brigade, under Colonel Frank A. Kendrick. On February 23, this brigade, with the exception of the 59th was ordered to New Orleans, and the 59th was sent to Fort Pickering, Defenses of Memphis, where Colonel Ignatz P. Kappner was in command. On March 7, the regiment reported 725 effectives, aggregate present and absent 869. The regiment remained at Fort Pickering until July 14, 1865, when, in the organization of the District of West Tennessee,

Colonel Kappner was given command of the 2nd Brigade, of which the 59th was a member, with orders to report to Brevet Major General Augustus L. Chetlain, Commanding the Post and Defenses of Memphis. On August 18, 1865, Brevet Major General John E. Smith, commanding the District of West Tennessee, listed the 59th as one of the regiments on duty in his district. This was the last record found in the Official Records, but Dyer’s Compendium states the regiment was mustered out January 31, 1866.

Mustered in at La Grange, Tennessee, June 30 and August 27, 1863.

FIELD OFFICERS

• Colonel-Frank A. Kendrick
• Lieutenant Colonel-John Foley
• Major-Edmund R. Wiley, Jr.

CAPTAINS

• Lorenzo Jean, Co. “A”. Enrolled at Jackson, Madison County, in May, 1863; mustered in June 30, 1863.
• Walter W. Kelley, Co. “B”. Enrolled at Jackson, May, 1863; mustered in June 30, 1863.
• Jacob Gruse, Co. “C”. Enrolled at La Grange, Fayette County, June, 1863; mustered in June 30, 1863.
• Malte Stuth, Co. “D”. Enrolled at Germantown, Shelby County, June 11, 1863; mustered in June 30, 1863.
• Thomas O. Hoss, Co. “E”. Enrolled at La Grange, June, 1863; mustered in August 27, 1863.
• Samson Harris, Co. “F”. Enrolled at La Grange, June, 1863; mustered in June 30, 1863.
• Henry Sturges, Co. “G”. Enrolled at Collierville, Shelby County, June, 1863; mustered in June 30, 1863.
• Daniel W. Roberts, Co. “H”. Enrolled at La Grange, July and August, 1863; mustered in August 27, 1863.
• Charles S. Graff, Co. “I”. Enrolled at Collierville, July and August, 1863; mustered in August 27, 1863.
• Charles R. Riggs, Co. “K”. Enrolled and mustered in at La Grange, August 27, 1863.

The first mention of this regiment found in the Official Records was dated September 16, 1863, when an order was issued from the Headquarters 2nd Division, XVI Corps, at La Grange, Tennessee, to the Commanding Officer of the 1st Brigade: “The 2nd West Tennessee (African Descent) will proceed to Moscow, Tennessee to relieve the 7th Iowa Volunteers.” On October 31, 1863, a report from C. W. Foster, Assistant Adjutant General for Volunteers, listed the 2nd Tennessee Volunteers (African Descent) under Lieutenant Colonel Foley, with 610 men. On the same date it was reported in the 2nd Brigade. Colonel Elliott W. Rice, Left Wing, XVI Corps, with a note that the regiment was detached at Moscow.

The regiment was still at Moscow on December 4, when that place was attacked by the Confederate cavalry under Major General Stephen D. Lee and Brigadier General James R. Chalmers, who were driven off by the Federal cavalry under Colonel E. Hatch.

On December 31, 1863, the regiment, still at Moscow, was reported as part of the forces in the District of Corinth, under Brigadier General John D. Stevenson. By January 31, 1864, the regiment was at Memphis, where, with the 1st Alabama and the 1st Tennessee (African Descent), they constituted the 1st Colored Brigade, under Colonel James M. Alexander. In April, 1864, the official designation of the regiment was changed to 61st U. S. Colored Infantry Regiment, in accordance with the policy of no longer listing colored troops under the names of the several states. On April 30, 1864, Colonel Edward Bouton was in command of the 1st Colored Brigade, at that time consisting of the 5th and 61st Regiments and Battery “F” of the 2nd U. S. Colored Light Artillery. Bouton’s Brigade took part in the expedition under Major General Andrew J. Smith into North Mississippi July 5-21, during which the battle of Harrisburg took place on July 14. The brigade was only partially engaged on the 14th, but on the day preceding was under constant harrassment by the Confederate forces. Colonel Bouton reported: “I think the work done by my brigade in the rear of the column on the 13th was a severe test of the soldierly qualities and powers of endurance of my men. We moved at 4:00 A.M., marched twenty miles, and went into camp at 9:00 P.M., 17 hours under arms without rest.”

In this campaign the regiment lost one officer, seven men killed; four officers, 28 men wounded; 16 missing. It returned to Memphis on the 22nd of July.

When General Nathan B. Forrest made his raid into the city of Memphis on August 21, his men surprised and overran a detachment of the 61st, under Captain Charles R. Riggs, which was camped a few miles outside Memphis.

The detachment consisted of five officers, 200 men, of whom Captain Riggs reported only one third were fit for duty. In the affair three men were killed, eight wounded, and five missing. During the course of the raid, Colonel Kendrick of the 61st was wounded.

On September 30, the regiment, along with the 120th Illinois, and Company “G”, 2″d Missouri Light Artillery, all commanded by Colonel George B. Hoge, left Memphis on a transport, and proceeded via Cairo, Illinois, to Johnsonville, Tennessee, arriving October 4, 1864. From here they proceeded upstream to Eastport, Mississippi, where, on making a landing on October 10, they were attacked by Confederate forces under Colonel D. C. Kelley, 3rd (Forrest’s Old) Tennessee Cavalry. The Gunboat Undinewas disabled, the transports Aurora and Kenton were set on fire, a battery of four guns lost, and the landing repulsed. Colonel Hoge, in his report, commended Lieutenant Colonel Foley, commanding the 61st, as a brave and efficient officer. The 61st lost 18 killed, 21 wounded, three missing. The expedition returned to Johnsonville on October 11, and subsequently the 61st returned to Memphis.

On December 31, 1864, in the organization of the Post and Defenses of Memphis, Colonel Kendrick, of the 61st, was given command of the 1st Colored Brigade, composed of the 55th, 59th and 61st Regiments, with the 61st commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John Foley. On January 7, 1865, the brigade was called the 2nd Colored Brigade, and the 46th Regiment added.

On February 23, all of the brigade except the 59th were ordered to New Orleans, Louisiana, where Brigadier General T. I. McKean was in command of the District of Morganza. At this time the regiment reported 724 effectives, 817 aggregate present and absent. Colonel Kendrick commanded the 1st Brigade, composed of the 61st, 65th and 67th Colored Regiments.

On March 17, the 61st was ordered to Barrancas, Florida; from there on April 7, it was ordered to join the division of Colored Infantry stationed near Blakely, Alabama. It did not actually move until April 15, by which time Mobile had fallen. On April 30, 1865, the 61st was reported in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division U. S. Colored Troops, in the U. S. Expeditionary Force commanded by Major General Frederick Steele.

This Expeditionary Force was ordered to move to the Rio Grande in May, 1865, but it is not known whether the 61st made the move. Dyer’s Compendium states that the 61st remained on duty in the District of Alabama until mustered out of service. A list from the Adjutant General’s Office in Washington, D. C. gives December 12, 1865 as the date on which the 61st was ordered mustered out of service.

“The topographical features of Fayette County are not very strongly marked. The northern portion is slightly undulating, the middle and western rather hilly with extended plateaus, the southeast hilly with fertile valleys, and the extreme southern portion an unbroken level, the latter being the Wolf River bottoms.

“The formation underlying the surface of the county is, as seen in the bluffs, railroad cuts, washes, etc…., generally a stratified mass of sands, more or less argillaceous, which when exposed to the weather, are of red, yellow and orange colors, and is known as the LaGrange sand. This, however, is often concealed by the Orange sand and the drift. No minerals are found.

“The soils are generally sandy, with more silicates in those in the southern portion of the county, and a gradual increase of clay in the northern portion. Generally the soils are quick, and produce good crops, the principal ones being wheat, corn, oats, sweet and Irish potatoes, tobacco and cotton. The soil easily washes into gullies, sometimes very large, but this is prevented to a great extent by the horizontilization system of cultivation, which is generally adopted. This system of levels has each row to carry off its own water.

“The timber, of which there now remains none for export, was heavy and grew in abundance, consisting of cypress, oak, walnut, poplar, hickory, bum, ash and beech.

“The water courses of the county are the Wolf River, the largest which passes across the entire southern portion of the county; the Loosahatchie, which arises in the eastern part of the county and runs west nearly through its center; the North Fork of Wolf River, which also rises in the eastern part and joins the main stream at Moscow, and Beaver, Bear, Bennett, Bluff, Muddy, Town, Treadwell, Jones, Laurel and Cypress Creeks“

• Fayette County Newspapers on Microfilm – list from the Library of Congress

• Union Provost Marshall Database – info re Fayette County individuals (TN State Library & Archives)

• 1790-1950 Tennessee Marriages – free database from FamilySearch with images included