Two Sons of the Confederacy: James Henderson and John Williamson Moran

James Henderson Moran Jr was the youngest brother of John Williamson Moran.  The brothers served in the War of the Rebellion on the side of the Confederacy.  James (Jimmie) served with Morton's Battery and died near Nashville during The Guntown Fight on Dec. 2, 1864.  John W. Moran was part of Company I, 31st Tennessee Regiment.  He surrendered in North Carolina with the Army of Tennessee at the end of the War, 1865.

This is Jimmie's story.

A Bit of History.
A few days ago we ran across a copy of the Enterprise published in May, 1884--twenty-three years ago--containing the following bit of interesting history and we publish same, feeling it will be read with interest by many surviving friends and acquaintances of the young her:
"JIMMY MORAN--MEMORIES OF A WEAKLEY COUNTY HERO."

Originally published in
The Nashville American 1864,
republished in The Dresden Enterprise 1884,
then again in the
Dresden Enterprise in 1907.
 We believe the story of
Jimmie Moran's death with
Morton's Battery is worth
another publication in 2011.

"Our fellow-townsman, Mr. J.W. Moran, returned from Nashville last Saturday, bringing with him the remains of his brother James, one of the heroes of Capt. John Morton's famous battery.  The remains were deposited in the Moran burying ground one mile north of Dresden. Sunday's Nashville American contains these allusions to Jimmie's brave record. "The remains of James H. Moran, a member of Morton's battery who was killed in the attack on block house No. 1 on the Chattanooga railroad about five or six miles from this city, on Gen Hood's campaign into Tennessee, was removed to the family burying ground in Dresden.  Jimmie Moran joined Morton's battery on Gen. Forrest's raid into West Tennessee, and made as brave and as true a soldier as the confederacy had.  He was a gun-driver, and was wounded in the left arm at Tishomingo creek, but refused to leave his team until the fight was ended.  At Harrisburg he jumped from his horse, when he saw one of the gunners fall at his piece, and supplied his place.  He was fighting as a gunner when he was killed.  He was lame and walked with difficulty and was rather weakly of constitution, but he had in him the heart of a true man and a brave soldier.  He was one of those men who would always respond to the occasion.  No man in the battery was more beloved by his comrades than this boy.  He was a model soldier in camp; always kind and sweet tempered and active in the discharge of his duties."
"The above reference to his heroic conduct at the battle of Tishomingo creek, also known as the guntown or Bryce's cross roads fight in Mississippi, in June 1864, is also found in a work entitled the "Campaigns of Gen. Forrest," page 476.  We quote literally:
"the spirit that animated the men may be illustrated by the behavior of one--Jimmy Moran of Morton's battery--who, when shot through the arm, on being told by his officers to go to the rear, invariably replied: "No, sir, I'll stay with you as long as I can stand up," and continued to drive his gun team with his arm in a sling, through the entire fight."
"The Guntown fight terminated in a complete Confederate victory, and when we read of the brave spirit and cool determination there manifested by the rebel soldiers, of which Jimmie Moran's action was a fair sample, we need not wonder that they were conquerers against great odds.  We are informed that a large number of Weakley county men were engaged in that memorable battle, and perhaps they will readily call to mind the incidents contained in this article."