1863

A redoubt (earth fort) is built east of Germantown to guard the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. [This ‘fort’, known as Fort Germantown, still remains today at the south end of Honey Tree Road.]

Union troops all along the Memphis & Charleston RR are ordered to build fortifications for the protection of bridges and trestles on the line. The Union army begins the recruitment of ex-slaves into the army.  Part of Company I, 1st West Tennessee Infantry Regiment of African Decent enrolled at Germantown. This regiment was later renamed the 59th US Colored Infantry.   Later in the month a second company was formed and added to the 2nd West Tennessee Inf (A.D.), which became the 2nd U.S. Tennessee Volunteers (A.D.), and later the 61st US Colored Inf. 

Part of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade camp locates in Germantown on the “old Nashoba Tract one mile north of the railroad and one-fourth of a mile south of the Wolf River.”

The second battle of Collierville; US Col. Hatch counterattacks from Germantown.

The devastation to the area in and around Germantown was well documented by Fletcher Pomeroy of the 7th Kansas Cavalry.  The 7th Kansas wintered in Germantown for three and a half months in 1863.  In Pomeroy’s “War Diary” he describes the duties and living conditions while living in Germantown and also the conditions of the area in general.  While stationed in their winter camp across from present-day Germantown High School they were not idle.  Pomeroy states they “made themselves as comfortable as possible by stockading the tents and building stables for the horses.  Other duties were the care of the horses, a little drill and every day some part of the regiment was out on scout because of the bands of Confederate cavalry prowling about.  

The roads were knee-deep in mud or snow.  The men had to sleep in wet clothes, on ground saturated with moisture, with but a single blanket for cover and the available wood was too green to burn.” Pomeroy made the comment “on the whole it was difficult soldiering.”