Morton's Battery was organized on December 27, 1862, during General
Nathan Bedford Forrest's first West Tennessee raid. Named for it's
Captain, John W. Morton, Jr., the Battery began with two captured 3" steel
rifled Rodmans, and two borrowed guns from Freeman's Battery. Morton's
Battery received it's baptism under fire at the Battle of Parker's
Crossroads, Tennessee on December 31, 1862.
The Battery served for three very distinguished years under General
Forrest and fought in approximately twenty-eight major engagements until
the end of the war. Some of those included Chickamauga, Okolona, Brice's
Crossroads, Johnsonville, Franklin and Nashville.
John W. Morton was the youngest Confederate artillery Captain in the
War for Southern Independence. He was 20 years old when he was assigned to
General Forrest's command and formed his Battery. In April 1863, Captain
Morton was appointed Chief of Artillery for Forrest Cavalry, making him
the youngest Chief of Artillery in either the Confederate or Union Army.
Captain Morton and General Forrest became close companions during the
war. Morton was a valued advisor to the General, and often charged with
the responsibility that meant the success or failure of General Forrest's
battle plan.
The Battery was re-activated into service of the South in 1960 to
participate in the Civil War Centennial, 1961-1965. Morton's Battery has
been active in re-enactments, living history demonstrations, parades, live
competition shoots, and memorial services ever since. Probably one of the
oldest re-activated units in the country, and one of the first artillery
units allowed to put on firing demonstrations on National Military Parks
in their VIP program.
The Battery has participated in several motion picture films including,
"North and South", "Gettysburg", "The Ironclads", "Gods & Generals" , and
numerous documentaries and National Park Service films. We also have
participated in most of the major 125th and 135th anniversary battles in
the eastern and western theater of the war.
The unit currently has approximately 60 members, with 10 full scale
original and reproduction cannons in it's arsenal. The cannon below is one
of ours.
