By Thomas Zei
Next to the very large headstone of Lt. Col. J. D. Elliott (see related story) lies the standard headstone marking Grave 3068 in Section H. Here lies the grave of Charles G. Penfield. Although the two headstones are very different just like their military background, their stories had a very common tragic ending.
Penfield enlisted in the 18th Michigan Regiment on August 26, 1862. During his time with the regiment, he was promoted to sergeant. The unit did not fight in any major battles based in Kentucky and then moved to Nashville.
But the headstone provides a different glimpse at his military story. The headstone on Grave H-3068 states that Charles Penfield was a captain in the United States Colored Troops, not a sergeant in the 18th Michigan Regiment. And what is a USCT grave doing in Section H instead of in Sections A and B with the Black USCT soldiers. As discussed in the article on USCT burials, these soldiers were supposedly buried separately in Sections A and B. But when is a USCT not a US colored soldier in the troop. Captain Penfield was not Black. As was the usual case, all officers of the United States Colored Troops were White, not Black. Blacks were only allowed to be non-commissioned officers.
In September, 1864, he mustered out of the 18th Michigan Infantry and was transferred to the 44th U.S. Colored Troops where he shortly was promoted to captain. A soldier that was only an NCO in a White regiment was quickly placed in charge of an entire company of Black soldiers. Was this because of his leadership qualities or just his willingness to work with the Black soldiers? Was he enticed by the entitlements of being an officer?
His USCT 44th Company A was formed in Chattanooga starting in April, 1864. In October, many of the USCT 44th Regiment soldiers were captured in Dalton, GA while protecting the railroad. It was the largest capture of Black soldiers in the Civil War. Many of the soldiers were forced back to their original slave owners or were assigned as personal servants to Confederate officers. Captain Penfield was able to make it back to Chattanooga where more emancipated Blacks were added to the regiment. At some point, he was transferred to Company E of the regiment.
By November, Penfield and his troops were detached from the main unit and deployed under General Steedman to defend Nashville as CSA General Hood made his advance north through Tennessee. Initially, the unit was assigned to Block House Number 2 on the railroad southeast of Nashville. The block house came under attack by Hood’s advancing troops. Penfield was able to escape his captives and made his way to Nashville.
The USCT units under General James Steedman played a pivotal role during the Battle of Nashville. The actions of the USCT regiments are well documented on The Battle of Nashville Trust website. Their heroics during their first taste of battle ended with substantial casualties but kept the Confederate Right Flank engaged during the initial day of the fight.
Hood’s army met with a substantial defeat at Nashville and was forced to retreat back to the south towards Alabama. Steedman’s USCT units were tasked with chasing the Confederate forces and trying to cut off their escape routes across the Duck, Elk and Tennessee Rivers.
Captain Penfield did not immediately join his troops in their pursuit of Hood. One account stated he was sick and exhausted. Eventually, Penfield sets out with four other officers to catch up to their units. They rode down Nolensville Pike until they got to the small crossroads of Triune. Here they found a small inn. A fateful decision was to be made between the five officers. Should they stay or go? What each decided at that Triune inn changed their lives forever.
Part Two will explore the events at the inn and how Charles Penfield’s life tragically compares to Lt. Col. JD Elliott, more than just being buried next to each other.
Next to the very large headstone of Lt. Col. J. D. Elliott (see related story) lies the standard headstone marking Grave 3068 in Section H. Here lies the grave of Charles G. Penfield. Although the two headstones are very different just like their military background, their stories had a very common tragic ending.
Penfield enlisted in the 18th Michigan Regiment on August 26, 1862. During his time with the regiment, he was promoted to sergeant. The unit did not fight in any major battles based in Kentucky and then moved to Nashville.
But the headstone provides a different glimpse at his military story. The headstone on Grave H-3068 states that Charles Penfield was a captain in the United States Colored Troops, not a sergeant in the 18th Michigan Regiment. And what is a USCT grave doing in Section H instead of in Sections A and B with the Black USCT soldiers. As discussed in the article on USCT burials, these soldiers were supposedly buried separately in Sections A and B. But when is a USCT not a US colored soldier in the troop. Captain Penfield was not Black. As was the usual case, all officers of the United States Colored Troops were White, not Black. Blacks were only allowed to be non-commissioned officers.
In September, 1864, he mustered out of the 18th Michigan Infantry and was transferred to the 44th U.S. Colored Troops where he shortly was promoted to captain. A soldier that was only an NCO in a White regiment was quickly placed in charge of an entire company of Black soldiers. Was this because of his leadership qualities or just his willingness to work with the Black soldiers? Was he enticed by the entitlements of being an officer?
His USCT 44th Company A was formed in Chattanooga starting in April, 1864. In October, many of the USCT 44th Regiment soldiers were captured in Dalton, GA while protecting the railroad. It was the largest capture of Black soldiers in the Civil War. Many of the soldiers were forced back to their original slave owners or were assigned as personal servants to Confederate officers. Captain Penfield was able to make it back to Chattanooga where more emancipated Blacks were added to the regiment. At some point, he was transferred to Company E of the regiment.
By November, Penfield and his troops were detached from the main unit and deployed under General Steedman to defend Nashville as CSA General Hood made his advance north through Tennessee. Initially, the unit was assigned to Block House Number 2 on the railroad southeast of Nashville. The block house came under attack by Hood’s advancing troops. Penfield was able to escape his captives and made his way to Nashville.
The USCT units under General James Steedman played a pivotal role during the Battle of Nashville. The actions of the USCT regiments are well documented on The Battle of Nashville Trust website. Their heroics during their first taste of battle ended with substantial casualties but kept the Confederate Right Flank engaged during the initial day of the fight.
Hood’s army met with a substantial defeat at Nashville and was forced to retreat back to the south towards Alabama. Steedman’s USCT units were tasked with chasing the Confederate forces and trying to cut off their escape routes across the Duck, Elk and Tennessee Rivers.
Captain Penfield did not immediately join his troops in their pursuit of Hood. One account stated he was sick and exhausted. Eventually, Penfield sets out with four other officers to catch up to their units. They rode down Nolensville Pike until they got to the small crossroads of Triune. Here they found a small inn. A fateful decision was to be made between the five officers. Should they stay or go? What each decided at that Triune inn changed their lives forever.
Part Two will explore the events at the inn and how Charles Penfield’s life tragically compares to Lt. Col. JD Elliott, more than just being buried next to each other.