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."

Trousseau Pieces, ca. 1911, Dresden TN

Like many well-to-do young ladies Virginia Shumate assembled a trousseau as part of the preparations for her November 22, 1911, wedding to James Henderson Moran III.  Trousseau's could be exceedingly extravagant and contain custom made day and evening dresses for the newly married woman as well as new accessories including shoes, hats, gloves and the myriad of undergarments that a lady would wear.  Or, for those less well off stores offered  inexpensive ready to wear trousseau sets. These pieces are all that remain of Virginia Shumate Moran's  trousseau: a basque, one cap, and a blue sash.  

Basque, frontview

Basque, closeup of neckline

Basque, sideview

Basque, backview

Basque, backview open

Cap

History of the Shumate Family by Robert S. Riley - A Brief Review

Imagine my surprise and excitement at having found a copy of Robert S. Riley's History of the Shumate Family inside the Moran family home.  I've been researching the Moran-Shumate connection and had heard about and seen the book referenced many times.  I had even searched for it online only to find one copy selling for $100 which was out of my reach but here it was now in my hot little hands and was I ever ready to see what Mr Riley had to say about ~our~ Shumates in Kentucky.

So tonight I pulled the book out and did a quick search for Virginia Shumate Moran's father, Nathan M. Shumate, and her uncle, Quincy Shumate.  Both gentlemen were sons of Champ Shumate and his first wife Martha J. McClary.   They were nowhere to be found in this 798 page tome which had been written to correct "errors" that the author says he found in a book by Theodor-Friedrich von Stauffenberg entitled The Shumate Family.  What gives?

Nathan M. Shumate (youngest son of Champ Shumate)
 with his mother Martha J. McClary Shumate, taken about 1867.

I readily admit that I have only spent about 15 minutes with this book but right off the bat I can see the following errors:

1. Riley says that Champ Shumate's first wife was named Martha Jane Oliver. Actually, her name was Martha Jane McClary and her first husband was P.D. Oliver.  She and Oliver had one child, Newton Jasper Oliver (1840-1852), and he was living with Champ and Martha at the time the 1850 Census was taken.  At this time I don't know anything about her first husband and since he isn't a direct relative  to us any research on him is secondary.  
2. Riley mentions the Census Records as if he had used them as sources.  The only children that are listed in the census records from 1850 - 1900 are Jason (1849-1924), Quincy (1851-1941), Belle (1853-1940), Harriet N. (1857-1863), and Nathan (1858-1899).  Riley lists an Emma J, two Eula's, Lou B., Laura and Myrtle as children of Champ Shumate.  I have found no evidence to support that.
3. Riley says that Champ had a daughter named Lou B.Shumate.  He says that information comes from "incomplete family notes".  It's conjecture on my part but I would like to point out that Champ's son, Quincy, married a Louise Elizabeth McLean (1855-1930) and she was known as Lou Shumate and they went on to have several children of their own.  Perhaps Riley's Lou B is Quincy Shumate's wife.
4. Riley also says that Champ had a daughter named Myrtle Shumate and as with Lou B, he says the family notes are incomplete and so he has no other information about Myrtle.  I would like to mention that Champ's youngest son, Nathan M. Shumate, was married twice. First to Margaret (Maggie) Jane Adams (1866-1896) with whom he had three daughters, May Belle (1885-1960), Virginia (1888-1970) and Louise (1891-unknown).  His second wife was Annie E. Purcell and he and Annie had one child together named Myrtle S. Shumate. (1897-unknown).  Perhaps Riley's Myrtle is the daughter of Nathan Shumate.

I don't know what sources Robert Riley used for his book and I'm sure a lot of what he reported is true but as to the information regarding Champ Shumate and his descendants Riley left out two entire branches of the Shumate tree while adding several that the evidence doesn't seem to support.

I hope the research and documentation that we present and continue to research in regards to Champ Shumate and his children will fill the huge gap that has been missing in the Shumate history of Kentucky.