Greer's Regiment, Tennessee Partisan Rangers
Historical Notes:
Greer's Regiment, Tennessee Partisan Rangers was raised in West Tennessee, 1863; broken up and consolidated into other organizations February, 1864.
Greer was born 1 March, 1839, died 1 June, 18??. Married Hortense Randals January 2, 1861, Van Buren County, TN. Private Co. D, 1st Tennessee Cavalry. Greer was later appointed assistant commissary, captain (?). and then sent to raise partisan ranger regiment.
The partisan ranger unit was raised in West Tennessee in 1863. Greer had served in the 3rd (Brazelton´s) Tennessee Cavalry. In June, 1862, he resigned and went to West Tennessee to raise a command of Partisan Rangers. Operated in Kentucky and Tennessee.
There are around 200 POW records showing captures in West Tennessee during the fall of 1863 and early 1864 from Greer´s unit.
In February, 1864, Major General N.B. Forrest consolidated a number of irregular organizations and Greer was listed as appointed Lt. Colonel by Forrest of the 20th (Russell´s) Tennessee Cavalry Regiment (also called the 15th).
There seems to be a great deal of confusion regarding Henry C. Greer. The book Tennesseans in the Civil War lists him as being captain and Asst Commissary of Substance, 3rd Brazelton’s Tennessee Cavalry Battalion, who resigned in June 1862. There was however a Capt W. C. Greer with the 3rd NOT Henry C. Greer.
Greer was originally from Henry County, Tennessee. He enlisted in the 5th Tennessee Infantry Regiment, I Company, as a 3rd Lieutenant. He was not reelected at reorganization of the regiment after the Battle of Shiloh. In June of 1862 he probably returned to Henry County and enlisted his partisan unit.
This partisan unit was raised in West Tennessee and broken up and consolidated into other organizations. The unit is first known in a letter from Lt.Col. G.B. Black, 55th Tennessee Infantry:
“Lt.Col. H.C. Greer and Major T.L. Fletcher have raised a battalion of partisan rangers west of the Tenn. river who have not been mustered into service, and whose operations have been confined principally to the valley of the Tennesse River. If this Battalion was ordered across the river to remain there permanently, there would be a nucleus around which a recruiting force could rally. If, Mims, Greer, and Fletcher were commissioned, they could swell the command to from 500 to 700 men in the Western District.” (letter dated October 8, 1862; OR)
Another report is covering a federal expedition from Peducah, Ky to McLemoresville:
“Faulkner, Bell and Greer were at Paris, Tn raiding to Murry, Ky. Forces about 800 men. Found their armed forces only about 300 men, besides 200 to 300 conscripts, all-well mounted.
Also, got information that Bell and Greer with conscripts had crossed the Tenn. River.” (report dated September 30, 1863; OR)
Officers:
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Clay Greer and Major T. L. Fletcher
Assignments:
served in west Tennessee
Battles:
Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 60 men. We do not have a copy of this roster.
Bibliography for Research:
Source:
https://grayguerrillas.wordpress.com/2014/07/25/n0-284-ciw-chapter-15-tennessee-greers-confederate-regiment-partisan-rangers-na/
Greer was born 1 March, 1839, died 1 June, 18??. Married Hortense Randals January 2, 1861, Van Buren County, TN. Private Co. D, 1st Tennessee Cavalry. Greer was later appointed assistant commissary, captain (?). and then sent to raise partisan ranger regiment.
The partisan ranger unit was raised in West Tennessee in 1863. Greer had served in the 3rd (Brazelton´s) Tennessee Cavalry. In June, 1862, he resigned and went to West Tennessee to raise a command of Partisan Rangers. Operated in Kentucky and Tennessee.
There are around 200 POW records showing captures in West Tennessee during the fall of 1863 and early 1864 from Greer´s unit.
In February, 1864, Major General N.B. Forrest consolidated a number of irregular organizations and Greer was listed as appointed Lt. Colonel by Forrest of the 20th (Russell´s) Tennessee Cavalry Regiment (also called the 15th).
There seems to be a great deal of confusion regarding Henry C. Greer. The book Tennesseans in the Civil War lists him as being captain and Asst Commissary of Substance, 3rd Brazelton’s Tennessee Cavalry Battalion, who resigned in June 1862. There was however a Capt W. C. Greer with the 3rd NOT Henry C. Greer.
Greer was originally from Henry County, Tennessee. He enlisted in the 5th Tennessee Infantry Regiment, I Company, as a 3rd Lieutenant. He was not reelected at reorganization of the regiment after the Battle of Shiloh. In June of 1862 he probably returned to Henry County and enlisted his partisan unit.
This partisan unit was raised in West Tennessee and broken up and consolidated into other organizations. The unit is first known in a letter from Lt.Col. G.B. Black, 55th Tennessee Infantry:
“Lt.Col. H.C. Greer and Major T.L. Fletcher have raised a battalion of partisan rangers west of the Tenn. river who have not been mustered into service, and whose operations have been confined principally to the valley of the Tennesse River. If this Battalion was ordered across the river to remain there permanently, there would be a nucleus around which a recruiting force could rally. If, Mims, Greer, and Fletcher were commissioned, they could swell the command to from 500 to 700 men in the Western District.” (letter dated October 8, 1862; OR)
Another report is covering a federal expedition from Peducah, Ky to McLemoresville:
“Faulkner, Bell and Greer were at Paris, Tn raiding to Murry, Ky. Forces about 800 men. Found their armed forces only about 300 men, besides 200 to 300 conscripts, all-well mounted.
Also, got information that Bell and Greer with conscripts had crossed the Tenn. River.” (report dated September 30, 1863; OR)