Caswell Cobb Tipton

Notes:

On April 27, 1865, on the Muddy Mississippi River Union troops were being returned to Champ Chase, Ohio from a Confederate prison in Alabama. They had left Vicksburg on a long roundabout ride to be mustered out of the service. Many boats were pressed into service to carry Union soldiers. The steamer sultana was in Vicksburg having its boiler repaired. The soldiers were packed on board. Many troops of Company L. 3rd Tennessee Calvalry at Maryville Tennessee were on board. Most of these men came from Sevier, Blount and Knox County. In a letter from Robert L. Tipton he tells of his grandfather Caswell C. Tipton, Tennessee 3rd Cavalry, and his horse that were on board when the steamer exploded and sank just above Menphis.

Caswell Tipton and his horse were on the steamer. As the boat was going down, Caswell and his horse plunged into the flood swollen river. His horse was swimming as hard as it could, but the river bank was too far. Caswell knew that his horse would not make it to shore with him hanging on its back. Just as his horse was about to go under, Caswell saw a drowned horse floating nearby. He jumped from his horse's back and took hold of a dead horse. He was swept down river, but up to the bank and survived. After getting home he told everyone that he traded his live horse for a dead one and said that was the best trade he had ever made. He was glad to change horses in midstream.
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Reference:
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 35, 358.

Caswell — Lucinda Brooks. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

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Reference:
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 36, 358.